Dream your perfect day & i will capture it
Chicagoland area, Destination Photographer
Travels up to 10000 miles See details
Videography services available
Michelle Mereness
MAIN PHOTOGRAPHER/OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (8X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Based near Plainfield IL, Red Photography by Michelle is a wedding photography company. Understanding that no two weddings are alike, this professional goes the extra mile to capture what makes your celebration unique. She is happy to travel throughout the Chicagoland area and further afield for destination celebrations.
Owner Michelle Mereness's love for photography started when her grandfather gave her her very first camera. She loves being able to freeze a moment in time, giving her clients a way to relive their most treasured memories. Michelle has been documenting weddings for more than 15 years and has worked with more than 700 couples.
Michelle takes a photojournalistic approach to her work, preferring to capture candid, natural moments and interactions. She is happy to work with a second photographer to make sure no detail goes unnoticed. Some of the products and services offered by Red Photography by Michelle include drone footage, wedding albums, printed enlargements, and digital files. Engagement photoshoots are also available.
Hispanic or Latinx-owned and Woman-owned Business
20+ years in business
Speaks English, Spanish
Details
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
Boudoir
Bridal Portraits
Engagement
Photo & Video
Digital Files
Drone
Online Proofing
Photo
Printed Enlargements
Same-Day Edits
Second Shooter Available
Social Media Sharing
Wedding Albums
Photo & Video Styles
Artistic
Classic
Documentary
Dramatic
Lifestyle
Modern
Vintage
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Wedding
After Party
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Showing slide number 1 out of 2
- Michelle MerenessMain Photographer/OwnerI got my first camera from my Grandfather when I was 9 ,He was a Professional Photographer in the Dominican Republic. Since then I tell people I have Super Powers, I can freeze time. That's what Photography is to me, A way to Freeze Time , to capture moments & to have them forever. I Started shooting Weddings 18 years ago , I have shot over 1,000 Weddings. I adore Weddings, Every Wedding is different and unique. I Love being able to capture Love stories, It warms my soul . My style is artistic Photojournalistic. The magic is creating moments so the images don't look super staged/posed, making it seem like I just got lucky :) Let's Chat!!
- Casandra McReynolds2nd PhotographerSince picking up a camera, Casandra has never felt like she has worked a day in her life -because photography isn’t just a profession; it’s a true calling. Every click of the shutter is fueled by creativity, emotion, and a deep love for the art. Whether it’s a candid smile, a breathtaking landscape, or a once-in-a-lifetime event, she is dedicated to preserving the beauty of each moment with authenticity and style. With a fun-loving approach and a keen sense of artistry, she makes every photoshoot an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0163 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Michelle receives glowing reviews from multiple clients, expressing her talent, professionalism, and ability to capture stunning wedding photos that exceed expectations. Clients appreciate her attention to detail, ability to make them feel comfortable in front of the camera, and the seamless process from planning to delivering the final photos. They praise her for capturing the essence of their special day and creating lasting memories through her artistry and dedication. Overall, Michelle is highly recommended for her exceptional photography services for weddings and other special occasions.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Sarah W
5.0
3/02/2026
Michelle is absolutely amazing at what she does! Both my husband and I aren’t the biggest fan of taking pictures and she made the experience so comfortable. After meeting with her ...
and talking about what the vision for our wedding was, the pictures were better than I could’ve ever imagined. She is professional, experienced, fast, and her attention to detail was amazing.
rikki d
5.0
2/28/2026
michelle did an absolutely fantastic job photographing our wedding! she totally captured our vision and i even remember my husband and i both saying “wow…we didn’t know we looked ...
THAT good!” we also did our engagement session with her, and loved her right from the start. many times, we feel so awkward when being told how to pose or move. michelle completely alleviated that feeling for us. our pictures are truly the highlight of our wedding day, and michelle knows she is stuck with us (and even my extended family!!!) for life. i couldn’t recommend her anymore for your wedding day.
Any questions?
Jennifer S
5.0
2/18/2026
Michelle is absolutely incredible. Her energy is unmatched, and she makes the entire experience feel effortless and fun. The final photos are always flawless (I’ve been booking her...
for years prior to my wedding) — she truly has an eye for capturing magic. I am always so happy with the entire process working with her.
Anna G
5.0
2/18/2026
Michelle is simply the BEST! She has shot my headshots, shower, wedding and now my maternity shoot. She will be my photographer for life. She makes you feel comfortable, listens to...
your vision and completely brings it to life in photos! I would recommend her for ANY AND ALL of your photog needs. Not only is she great and accommodating but so is her team of dedicated staff!! For my wedding day, I swear her and her team shot everything from every angle! Then after shoot day, she will stay in touch with you, build albums, edit photos, etc. whatever it is that you may need. I will never go to anyone else!! She is the very best and I would 100% recommend her over and over again and give her stellar reviews every.single.time!! 🤍😊
Brittany F
5.0
2/17/2026
We truly cannot say enough amazing things about Michelle! From the very beginning, she was so easy to work with — organized, calm, and genuinely invested in making our day special....
She really listened to what we wanted, understood our vision, and made us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. I told her what we were looking for and what we did not need or want and she made sure it happened! On the wedding day, she was the one to keep everybody on time (even though we were running late) she made sure we still got all of our pictures and poses. She knew exactly what she was doing and guided us so naturally that everything felt effortless. Her confidence and experience gave us so much peace of mind.
When we received our photos , we were blown away. Every image captured the love, joy, and emotion of the day so beautifully. She didn’t just take pictures — she told our story. We didn’t have to wait months for them either- she made sure to get them quickly so we could share with all of our friends & family! We are beyond grateful for Michelle’s talent and heart. If you’re looking for someone who truly loves what she does, listens to her clients, and delivers stunning work, she is the one. We will cherish these photos forever! Highly recommend!!
Madeline B
5.0
12/28/2025
Michelle was fantastic for our wedding! She went above and beyond to capture our day. She made us feel very comfortable and is so talented at what she does. We couldn’t have asked...
for a better photographer!
Alexis D
5.0
12/21/2025
Michelle did an exceptional job capturing our wedding day through her photography. She truly brought our vision to life and documented every detail with remarkable care and artistr...
y. The photos beautifully reflect the emotions and moments of our celebration, and we could not be more pleased with the results.
Hailey M
5.0
11/11/2025
Michelle is super fun to work with (and her outfits are impeccable). This is someone who knows what she's doing and is super passionate about the work she does.
Michelle is very fr...
iendly and knows how to make big family wedding photos a smooth process. She was very patient with my crazy family. I also had her husband, lan do my wedding videography. She did an amazing job with my engagement photos, so I know when I receive my wedding photos and video, they will be amazing. She even gave me a sneak peak of my wedding photos to tie me over! When I need professional pictures in the future, I’m going to Michelle!
Geysa P
5.0
10/27/2025
Michelle did an amazing job taking our wedding pictures. I can say that some things were going a little wrong on our wedding day and Michelle made a huge difference for me (bride)....
Her experience, assertiveness and good energy made me feel at ease, and everything went well. She made sure to take as many photos as possible from my Pinterest board. We are both in love with the pictures she took and happy to recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer.
Courtney S
5.0
10/18/2025
Amazing!! Michelle was so in tune with my husband and I are the whole day. The photos came out beautifully. Highly recommend her!
Emily B
5.0
10/03/2025
Michelle did an amazing job photographing our wedding day! She is creative, talented, and genuinely cares for the couple and took the extra care to help me navigate around in my dr...
ess. She makes sure you hair and everything is set for pics and has a great personality. She was on time and very organized. She also got us sneak peaks the very next day with a very fast turnaround time for the rest of the photos. I can't recommend her enough! Our pictures turned out gorgeous!
Alayna P
5.0
9/25/2025
If you are looking for an extremely talented photographer for your wedding or any needs, Michelle is truly the one for you! Michelle has captured photos of me since high school, bu...
t just recently captured my wedding. There just aren’t enough words to describe how incredible these photos turned out! She was an absolute pleasure to work with as well from day one. She has done so many weddings and knows exactly what to do to make sure your day runs as smoothly as possible! I truly could not have gotten through the day without her. Also if you are a bride I highly recommend doing a boudoir shoot with her as well! Those photos are out of this world. Like I said if you want stress free incredible work Michelle is the photographer for you! Thank you for everything you have done to make all of our dreams come to life on our wedding day! 💜
Randa Lynn O
5.0
9/23/2025
Could not recommend Michelle enough. Worth every penny and more! She has immense skill, charisma, helpful and pure love for the work that she does. She truly goes above and beyond ...
and made our day so very special!
Carley D
5.0
8/26/2025
I can't say enough good things about Michelle. She went above & beyond for my wedding day. She captured every moment and her photography skills were outstanding. 10/10 have are rec...
ommended her to two other brides.
Lindsay L
5.0
8/05/2025
Michelle is a dream photographer! She is so friendly and for two people who don't like getting their picture taken, she made us comfortable in front of the camera. She is also ve...
ry quick to turn around pictures - we received all our engagement pictures the day after our shoot, and highlight album the day after our wedding.
Michelle was an absolute pleasure to work with.
Caitlyn K
5.0
7/24/2025
Highly recommend Red Photography by Michelle for your wedding! She was very responsive to texts and emails along the way. We absolutely love our engagement and wedding photos! We h...
ave gotten told by multiple people that our photographer did such a good job. We received thousands of photos back to choose from and got them back just a few weeks after the wedding.
Dan D
5.0
7/02/2025
We had a wonderful experience working with Michelle! She was incredibly professional and made me feel at ease throughout the entire wedding day. The photos turned out beautifully, ...
and I was particularly impressed with their ability to capture the candid moments. I highly recommend her!
Carleigh T
5.0
6/30/2025
I don’t think I could possibly say enough good things about Michelle. The photos are AMAZING!! She is AMAZING!! I am screaming over how amazing of a job she did. She showed up read...
y to go and got right into it! She was fun, kind, patient and professional. She made sure she got the pictures we wanted and then some!! She got pictures we would have never thought to get! She is the BEST of the best. Our day wouldn’t have been complete without her! And can we talk about how well she fits in with any and all of our families?! Everyone LOVED her. She truly is such an amazingly talented person and we wouldn’t have wanted anyone else!! If anyone is looking for a photographer.. she’s your girl!!
Alexandra S
5.0
6/28/2025
not only was michelle a wonderful photographer, she made our wedding day so special and made sure that neither myself or my husband were stressed about anything. if you want amazin...
g photos and an amazing wedding day with a new friend who will get down on the dance floor with you, hire michelle!
Alexandra C
5.0
6/22/2025
Michelle was absolutely incredible throughout our whole wedding process! She truly goes above and beyond and is incredible at her job. She made our wedding day so so special and th...
e pictures are absolutely amazing. We would recommend Michelle to anyone!
Meredith P
5.0
6/08/2025
Michelle came highly recommended by our friends, and we know why! From our engagement session to our wedding day, she made every moment effortless and fun. She has a gift for makin...
g people feel comfortable in front of the camera, which resulted in the most stunning photos. She truly captured the joy and emotions of our special day beautifully.
Not only is Michelle incredibly talented, but she is also organized, professional, and lightning-fast when it comes to delivering the final images. We were blown away by how quickly she got our wedding photos back to us, and each one was beautiful.
We absolutely loved working with Michelle and her team, and we couldn’t recommend them enough to anyone looking for an amazing photographer! We will absolutely look to Michelle for future photography sessions!
Susan C
5.0
5/31/2025
I was lucky enough to see Michelle photograph my friends wedding, which made me want to hire her! After our first meeting I was very excited for my wedding photos. We had a game pl...
an, a list of shots and poses I wanted, and she offered many suggestions for things I would’ve never thought of. She knew how to command the room to get the shots needed, while also perfectly being in the background getting the best candid photos. Wedding photos are the one thing you’ll have long after the day has flown by, and I tear up going through them well after our wedding. She did an amazing job, and I look forward to using her again for family photos!
Brittany S
5.0
5/22/2025
I can’t even begin to rave enough about my experience with Michelle—she is AMAZING! I spent so much time looking into photographers & knew right away Michelle was it once we talked...
with her! She is a great human being who is so personable, friendly, and hilarious! We worked with her for our engagement and wedding day.
She takes time to plan the day, will show previews to make sure you like the photos, and addresses all the details to make sure everything is captured perfectly! She may have been my photographer, but she went above and beyond and helped with my veil, dress buttons & I truly couldn’t have made it through the day without her. We recieved the photos in a timely manner and cried because they are BEAUTIFUL, everything we hoped for and more! I can’t wait to use her again in the future for photo needs. Book her, you will not regret it!
Jamie H
5.0
4/13/2025
Michelle photographed my wedding and delivered on all fields. As the bride, there were many things I did not get to experience firsthand (cocktail hour, guests arriving, our weddin...
g party walking down the aisle, my husband getting ready, etc) but thanks to her I have photos to look back on to see how all those events unfolded. I’m so grateful for her professionalism and enthusiasm of her craft. We love Michelle so much that we continue to see her every year for our family Christmas photos. She is one you do not want to pass up!!
Jeremy G
5.0
3/23/2025
Michelle has been taking my pictures since I was in junior high! She has gone from taking amazing action shots of jumps, stunts, and tumble runs throughout our cheer seasons, she h...
as taken beautiful and creative photos for all proms and homecoming dances throughout high school, and now she does weddings! Michelle gracefully captures the beauty of love in her photos and she puts time and effort into making everyone comfortable throughout the experience. My fiance and I have officially hired her for our 9/20/25 wedding, and we could not be more excited to have such an incredible photographer on our side. We LOVE our engagement photos that she took, and we can’t wait to see the magic she captures on our special day.
Anna B
5.0
3/22/2025
My fiance and I can’t recommend Michelle enough! She has been there to capture so many special moments in our lives—from our high school photos to our engagement shoot, and now our...
upcoming wedding. She is incredibly talented, professional, and makes every session feel effortless and fun. Our engagement photos turned out absolutely stunning, and we can’t wait to see the magic she creates on our wedding day. If you’re looking for a photographer who truly cares and delivers beautiful, timeless photos, Michelle is the one!
Jaclyn G
5.0
3/22/2025
Michelle is great! She’s very nice, helps a lot with poses and fixing hair and little details. Gets everything done quickly, and isn’t afraid to move you around to get the absolute...
best pictures! 1000% book her and you won’t be disappointed!
Rachael H
5.0
2/26/2025
We cannot recommend Michelle enough! From the moment we started working with her, she went above and beyond to ensure our wedding photography was nothing short of perfect. She firs...
t captured our engagement photos at a beautiful forest preserve, making the entire experience fun, natural, and effortless. The pictures were absolutely stunning, and we knew right then that we had made the best choice for our wedding photographer.
Michelle traveled with us to Punta Cana and not only documented our wedding day beautifully but also researched and organized an incredible off-resort location for pre-wedding photos. Her dedication, creativity, and attention to detail were truly unmatched. She was there for every special moment—from getting ready to the ceremony and all the unforgettable moments afterward—making us feel comfortable and capturing breathtaking images we will cherish forever.
If you're looking for a photographer who is not only talented but also genuinely invested in making your wedding memories last a lifetime, Michelle is the one. We are beyond grateful for her and couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
Kellie H
5.0
1/16/2025
Michelle was great to work with and we absolutely love our wedding and engagement photos! She gave us and everyone in our wedding party directions to have the best photos possible....
She had phone call meetings with us leading up to our wedding day to discuss our wants and recommendations for best flow/to get the most of our day. She definitely delivered! I would recommend Red Photography by Michelle!
Taylor H
5.0
11/26/2024
Michelle is the coolest photographer around! So personable and fun to be around. We aren't super familiar with posing, and she made all of our photos from the engagement session so...
natural and provided plenty of direction so we didn't look or feel awkward. On the night of our reception, she kept us on track and within our timeframe so I did not have to worry about it at all. She is open to any ideas we had and the feel we wanted for the pictures, and knows exactly how to make it happen. Her work is exceptional and I can not wait to see all of the photos when they are ready. Highly recommend working with her!! Thank you Michelle!
John D
5.0
10/09/2024
Michelle was absolutely amazing! Our pictures all turned out so perfect. We got so many compliments about how awesome she was from our guests. We definitely recommend using Michell...
e if you’re in need of a photographer!
Madisyn D
5.0
10/06/2024
Michelle is amazing! She captures every moment of your special day!! Definitely recommend michelle to be your photographer for any special event ❤️❤️❤️
Abby Z
5.0
8/17/2024
Michelle did an absolutely amazing job!! Our photos and our album are gorgeous and I can’t wait to see our print. Her vibe was so genuine and easy going and it made my husband and ...
I (who almost never take photos of ourselves) feel so comfortable and at ease! 10/10 would recommend if you want to love your photographer.
Erin B
5.0
8/03/2024
Michelle was very professional and efficient with pictures. The end results were stunning. Would highly recommend her for any photo shoot.
Shannon S
5.0
7/24/2024
We just want to thank Michelle so much! We both thoroughly enjoyed her first for being an amazing human being, AND an amazing photographer with a great eye! Thank you for capturing...
us so beautifully. Thank you for bringing the calm to the wedding day when things were starting to go left... we appreciate all that you did for us. She really went above and beyond and we have gotten so many compliments on our engagement photos and wedding photos. Thank you for bringing elegance and professionalism all while being down to earth and easy to work with. We just love you! And how quickly you turn around the finished product definitely exceeded our expectations.
Emily M
5.0
7/23/2024
Michelle was great, she was friendly and easy to get along with. She is super experienced and definitely knows what she is doing! But she was also open to any specific photos or id...
eas we had too. We got some photo highlights the very next day!! and we got the full inventory of our photos in only a few weeks, I have never seen a photographer get back so many photos that quickly! She has affordable prices and great talent, you won't regret choosing her as your photographer.
T.L. B
5.0
7/19/2024
We hired Red Photography by Michelle for our May 2024 wedding and we could not be more pleased with our photos.
From start to finish, Michelle was there to answer questions, prov...
ide reassurance, and offer ideas when needed. She was available whenever we had questions or were simply unsure. We are excited that we hired Michelle and will definitely hire her again for any photography needs.
Thank you again, Michelle.
Hannah H
5.0
7/17/2024
Michelle is absolutely amazing! I could not have asked for anyone better to take our wedding portraits. I hate pictures of myself, but I can confidently say that Michelle makes me ...
feel beautiful in every single photo she takes of me. Communication was outstanding, our pictures were back extremely fast! The next morning, we already woke up to highlight photos! Cassandra was our second photographer in our package and she was absolutely wonderful! Everything flowed well and felt so natural!
The timeline of the day was perfect and we persevered through the rain and had beautiful shots. If you are looking for a photographer for ANYTHING, Michelle is always the way to go!
Sierra S
5.0
7/12/2024
Awesome photographer! Made our special day so much fun, and made lasting memories for us(:
Jenn W
5.0
7/11/2024
Michelle was amazing! My photos came out fantastic and I couldn’t be more pleased. Highly recommend Michelle's photography. On a day when you’re going to be stressed no matter how ...
well you plan, she’s prompt, creative and very fun to work with. I seriously cannot recommend her enough!
Alyssa H
5.0
7/11/2024
Michelle does a wonderful job! Our wedding pictures and engagement pictures came out even better than we could have imagined! I definitely recommend Red Photography for all your ph...
oto needs :)
Paige C
5.0
7/08/2024
Michelle was amazing to work with and she provided the most beautiful pictures for my wedding. She went above and beyond to make sure I had every photo I wanted and gave me ones I ...
will cherish forever. 🩷
Jenny C
5.0
7/08/2024
Michelle takes some MAGICAL pictures!! Please book her for all candid shots and needs! She is totally down to add her own flare, but also is great at listening to make specific vis...
ions happen. My husband and I didn't really have a specific theme or pose in mind, and she was ontop of it. Communication was easy, results were earlier than expected and with amazing quality! Thank you!!!
Vanessa K
5.0
6/05/2024
Michelle is amazing!!! She captured every moment and every smile at my wedding!! I felt like I was reliving my own wedding (I cried) such beautiful quality. She definitely understo...
od the assignment ! Loved her
Danielle M
5.0
2/07/2024
Michelle is absolutely amazing! She is very organized and fun to work with. She made sure we got all the best shots for our most special day. Highly recommend working with her for ...
all your photography needs!
Gemma P
5.0
1/28/2024
Michelle exceeded our expectations for our wedding day. Her professionalism was evident throughout the entire process, from planning to execution. It was clear that she has conside...
rable experience in wedding photography, as she effortlessly navigated the day capturing every special moment with precision and artistry. Michelle's attention to detail ensured that no aspect of our big day was overlooked.
Alayna H
5.0
1/27/2024
I have known Michelle for quite some years now and nothing beats her work. My family and I love her. Michelle’s images are always clear and sharp. She is extremely dedicated, accom...
modative, and professional. She will make you feel very comfortable during your sessions. Her personality is described as outgoing, bubbly, and fun. You will not be disappointed by booking her for your next session.
Haley E
5.0
1/27/2024
Hands down one of the best photographers in our area. Not only is Michelle’s work phenomenal, but she was also fairly priced for her work. She did a mini Christmas shoot for us, a...
nd did our wedding pictures in September of 2023. I have gotten so many compliments on our wedding photos, and I had an even bigger problem narrowing down what pictures to get big print outs of. My husband and I couldn’t have been happier with our wedding photos. Not only were Michelle and her assistant very professional, but they were also super fun to work with. They made it super easy throughout the whole process, and it was awesome Michelle sent me like a 80 photo preview the next day after our wedding. 100000% would recommend her for any photo occasion.
Ashley P
5.0
10/02/2023
If you are looking for the absolute best wedding photographer, Red Photography by Michelle is the way to go! My husband and I have had the honor of working with Michelle since we w...
ere in high school. From the very beginning of the wedding planning process, Michelle was in constant communication with us. She frequently checked in on us to see if we needed assistance with anything. When it was time to create a timeline for the big day, Michelle sat down with us and helped create it. Our wedding was captured perfectly in every single way. We have had so many people tell us how beautiful our pictures are. Choosing Michelle for our wedding photographer was the best decision we made. If I could give her more than 5 stars, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Alexa S
5.0
9/25/2023
Where do I even start! Michelle is amazing!!! She took our engagement pictures, wedding, and a boudoir shoot as well. She made us feel so comfortable for each shoot, and she made s...
ure we got all the pictures we wanted before she was finished. She is the only photographer that we will continue to use throughout our lives. I could not recommend Michelle enough!!
Service area & Contact info
Travels up to 10000 miles
Additional charges may apply
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Red Photography by Michelle
Michelle Mereness
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Main Photographer/Owner
Typically responds within 24h
Wedding vendors in McHenry
Red Photography by Michelle
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