YOUR WEDDING STORY
Imagine breathing the sigh of relief you crave, having hired a trusted wedding photographer (aka like an extra bestie / bridesmaid), to lead you throughout the entire wedding planning process so that by the time your once-in-a-lifetime day arrives, you are guaranteed a joy-filled, stress-free experience for your entire day (envision spending your wedding day as if you were a guest, without a care in the world instead of running amok, afraid you’ll miss any of the important details.)
Fun-loving, feels-like-you authentic wedding photos for laid-back REAL couples who value images that tell YOUR heartfelt story
a fun, fine art wedding photography experience
L
L
AS SEEN ON
REAL photos for REAL couples, who celebrate authentic emotion, intimate moments & images that tell your heart-led story
experience
the
let's Work together
You don’t need to spend your wedding day looking over your shoulder, praying that your photographer isn’t missing a single detail that you spent loooooong months designing and creating (not to mention your beloved family and friends who came all this way for you, just to be forgotten?? No thanks!)
You've got enough on your plate
in all your wedding photos, to reflect your REAL relationship (not the cookiecutter ‘gram photos you see everyone else spew, but REAL moments captured for REAL couples)
Authentic heart & story-telling
will lead you from stress to ease, as I manage every situation / person / event the day of your wedding, ensuring you can relax and enjoy your day, as if you were a guest at your own wedding (count me as your extra bridesmaid bestie who knows exactly what you need so you feel supported and understood all day long)
My trusted award-winning wedding service
as a Traverse City wedding photographer guarantees a full 800+ pictures in your photo gallery that will highlight the most pivotal once-in-a-lifetime bridal moments you’ve dreamed of your entire life
My unparalleled 15+ years experience
^ ^ Because your moments matter…
You don’t deserve to be cheated out of the most special event of your life!
These are the kinds of photos that will always bring you back to these fleeting moments, to remind you why you fell in love in the first place.
Because all of those little not-so-perfect things you love about your partner - the way he attempts to smooth your hair and only makes it soooo much worse; the way he is stubborn and difficult yet the most lovable (and secret softie when it comes to dogs); the way he always knows to bring you your favorite Brownie when you’ve had a bad day - those are the things that make beautiful, meaningful relationships (and therefore deserve to be showcased as the REAL you, even on a hectic day like your wedding!)
We have the same goal in mind - to highlight your authentic love story that sparks your memories, keeping your wedding day (and heart-felt story) alive for decades to come.
Cassandra, traverse city mi
I
NO
Melissa was absolutely wonderful, she made my wedding day so much smoother as she stayed completely relaxed despite all the ongoing chaos of the day. She worked very well under a short timeline, she was able to get in our desired photos including some very complex family photos which we really appreciated. She had a wonderful attitude throughout and stayed positive!
MAY & PETER, traverse city mi
"Working with Melissa was a dream. She made our day so enjoyable. We felt totally comfortable and loved every second of it. Our photos turned out perfect. I would absolutely recommend working with her for any event."
II
No
Simon & Liz, traverse city mi
III
No
Melissa was perfect! I cannot say enough good things about her. We had an engagement session with her and she also was our wedding photographer. We were in constant communication about details, our wedding timeline, and shots that we wanted for our wedding day. She was also helpful with decor suggestions and other ideas about what she had seen in the past and what she had done personally. Her photos are beautiful and she makes you feel so comfortable behind the camera. She loves loves loves weddings and it shows in her attitude and photos. We had a wonderful experience with Melissa, she is awesome!
Your wedding photos are the only part of your day you get to take with you for the rest of your life (imagine if you had one of the most important moments of your life - your grandma holding you for the first time after you say “I do” as if to say, “welcome to the sisterhood of marriage”, lost forever to you?!) I know this pain! And I NEVER want you to feel this lifelong regret.
it’s no secret...
got married and started our own family with the greatest love of my life
2023 /
engagement couples, families and portrait shoots in beautiful northern michigan
800+ /
years awarded the knot's best wedding photographer in michigan award
4 + /
experience as a fine art wedding photographer in michigan and landscape painter
15 yrs /
weddings in traverse city, glen arbor, petoskey and northern michigan
300+ /
YEARS
Through the
Introducing our unparalleled, luxury experience for the fun-loving bride who values story-driven images that are authentically YOU
Once you book with us, receive a life’s worth of inspiring step-by-step wedding advice (especially if you’re planning a destination wedding in Traverse City), customized Day-Of Timeline, Family Shot Lists, Outfit Guidelines, and Posing Instructions to feel candid and REAL - all to easily set you up for success - so you can experience your wedding day in Northern Michigan with vibrancy and joy in a way that works for YOU… all designed and curated so you can receive the best gallery of photos you will ever have!
This process is the exact method I have used to perfect the wedding experience of over 300+ brides, and 15+ years photographing weddings in Traverse City of award-winning experience for brides JUST like you, looking to hire a wedding photographer that feels more like another bestie, rather than a random vendor and stranger.
curated for
our lux light brides
PACKAGES
our custom
An online gallery with unlimited downloads (FREE for you, your family, and your guests so they can enjoy your pictures as much as you) Including an option to order prints, canvases, and albums directly from your gallery, without the hassle of trying to figure it out all on your own
Online Gallery
600-800 beautifully curated images to tell your authentic story, edited with an artistic light & airy style (no slapping on random filters - I personally hand-craft each and every single photo that I create for you)
800 Fine Art Images
8 Hrs of Coverage
8 hours of wedding day coverage, from your mimosa toastin’ to your droppin-it-down dancin’
Custom designed Wedding Package, designed specifically for you to achieve your dream wedding vision for yourself and your spouse
Custom Package
With the push of a button, you will have a photographer (aka like another best-friend / bridesmaid who always has your back) here to take care of every detail from today until after your wedding, so you can always feel fully supported and understood
Book today, and you’ll walk away with all this good stuff. Every wedding package includes:
Book today, and you’ll walk away with all this good stuff. Every wedding package includes
Want to dive deeper into our fun-loving photography package?
All-you’ll-ever-need Outfit Guide and Posing Guide (+ a secret Pinterest Board for your dream outfit inspo)
Outfit & Posing Guide
BONUS 3
A 70+ page Bridal Magazine that will walk you through the next 12 months of wedding planning so you don’t have to spend hours scouring the internet for answers - it’s all put together in a beautiful digital magazine exclusively for our Lux Light Brides
70+ Page Bridal Magazine
BONUS 2
A personalized Wedding Timeline that is tailored to a successful outcome for all your bridal details, favorite locations, pose inspiration, and more (written exclusively by me, for you!)
Wedding Timeline
BONUS 1
A Family Shot List for the day-of, so you don’t have to fear leaving anyone out and feel guilty later on
Family Shot List
BONUS 6
A Style Kit that I personally assemble for your wedding day that matches your theme, vision and color scheme (a style kit can include loose florals, hand-dyed ribbon, vintage stamps and delicate velvet ring boxes to showcase your most beautiful dress, jewelry, perfume and invitation details)
Bridal Detail Styling Kit
BONUS 5
Coordination with your ceremony and reception venues + vendors so you don’t have to play the middle-man
Vender Management
BONUS 4
Unlimited monthly communication with me so you can rest assured someone always has your back and knows exactly what you want executed, down to the smallest detail
Unlimited Communication
BONUS 9
Hand-edited images all fine-tuned personally by me (no computer-generated, lack-luster filters used here!)
Hand-edited Images
BONUS 8
Fast turnaround time to receive your edited images after the wedding day (don’t be one of those horror stories that has to hound their photographer for a glimpse at their pics even months after the day!)
Receive Your Images Quickly
BONUS 7
bonus 10
The best heart-led wedding photos of your life. Period.
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roberta robinson
from
Melissa was a dream to work with. Such a great communicator prior to my big day but on the actual day, her creativity just flowed"
“
What brides & their moms are saying
01/04
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may + peter swift
from
Melissa was an absolute joy to work with!! Highly recommend!!! From the moment we booked she had incredible communication and many words of wisdom and advice along the way. On our wedding day she was very professional and also made us feel very comfortable and at ease. We can’t say enough great things about our experience with her.
“
What brides & their moms are saying
02/04
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simon + liz smith
from
Stop what you're doing right now and reserve Melissa! The images she captured are once-in-a-lifetime & gorgeous!”
“
What brides & their moms are saying
03/04
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amiee danson
from
I feel like there are not enough words to describe how truly amazing our experience with our choice for Melissa as our photographer for our wedding. Not only was she incredible with constant communication. She made us feel at ease with everything."
“
What brides & their moms are saying
04/04
You’re not a one-size fits-all kinda girl, and your Wedding Package shouldn’t be either
Couples typically invest $3900-$6500
And in order to give you the
once-in-a-lifetime experience you deserve,
I only take 10 weddings per year.
With this one click, you’ve procured a best-friend and photographer all-in-one. I’ll be in touch monthly to help you create your perfect timeline, shot list and more. Expect me to be your voice and backbone from today until even after your wedding date
Pop the Champaigne
Once you choose your Wedding Package, you’ll receive a digital invoice to pay your deposit (50% down) and sign your contract. This will officially save your date for your Northern Michigan wedding!
Select Your Custom Wedding Package
Fill out an inquiry form with your wedding date and the vision you have for your day. I will then be able to send you our Pricing Guide with any custom packaging needs to help you achieve your dream day
Contact Us
IS EASY:
BOOKING
Led by her heart-and-soul, who takes the time to genuinely get to know you and what truly will warm your heart (and your home’s walls) for decades to come.
Beware the big-box companies who love to sell all the fluff, and then assign a random associate to show up who “snaps and prays” they got it right.
Hire a best-friend-turned-photographer you know and trust,
with over 300+ weddings under her belt
Because your dog is more than just family, and you’re more than OK with goofy dog faces, running with him in the sand, and dippin’ into Lake Michigan for a swim (obsessive fur baby lover over here!)
You bring your dog to your engagement shoot (and hopefully wedding)
No, things aren’t going to go perfectly on the day of…but you’re ok rolling with the punches and enjoying the intimate moments with your new husband.
You cherish the present moment and want to enjoy the experience of your wedding day (presence over perfection, please!)
You’re more about the REAL moments and REAL laughter that feels like you.
You don’t want a wedding gallery full of awkward looks and weird unfamiliar poses
You’re in the right place if
adventurous
well-traveled
planning their next trip
playful
unapologetic
thoughtful
wine enthusiasts
avid-readers
adventurous
well-traveled
planning their next trip
playful
unapologetic
thoughtful
wine enthusiasts
avid-readers
adventurous
well-traveled
planning their next trip
playful
unapologetic
our clients are
who we work with /
PSA - Our brides typically book 12-18 months in advance
And because we truly value our service to you (AND we fully support you step-by-step throughout the entire process), we take a limited 10 Northern Michigan weddings per year.
Yes! I want to see if my wedding date is still available!
let's Work together
Because I am so confident in the service and high-end photos that I PROMISE to deliver to my couples, I am only a click away from any communication, questions or support that you need throughout this entire wedding-day planning process. I’m here from start to finish for YOU (no fear of ghosting here). My service is tailored and customized to you (which is why I am VERY LIMITED to only 10 weddings per year).
Your happiness, guaranteed (aka I’ve always got your back!)
Hey, I’m Melissa, and I believe in creating dreamy, REAL wedding photos for REAL couples, who value joy over hustle, fun in the present moment, and laughing at the imperfect moments of life.
Because your wedding is more than just a one-and-done sorta day. It’s a huge milestone that you’ve been waiting for your entire lifetime for. And as a professional painter-turned-photographer, I’m here to tell the visual story of your day, led with heartfelt emotion and genuine experiences with the people you cherish most to share in this magical day.
Years from now, I don’t want you to look back and feel like your photos are just another digital folder on your desktop that you should do something with. Everytime you view your gallery, my goal is to transport you right back to the moment, so you can relive and fall head over heels in love, all over again.
I’m your sunset chaser, dog lover, probably-dance-at-your-reception kinda girl
About melissa
As someone who ACTUALLY promises to be dedicated to your happiness, I will be here for you, day in and day out, to be your cheerleader and support system and to personally guarantee that you will LOVE your wedding portraits.
over 145+
5-star reviews
we love our lux light brides
We love our Lux Light Brides and the unique stories that define who they are (stories that are now preserved for all time)
signature
WORK
BROWSE our
Thompsonville, Michigan
location
Jenni & Arty,
Crystal Mountain
Wedding
Suttons Bay, Michigan
location
David & Belle,
Black Star Farms
Wedding
Mackinac Island, Grand Hotel, Michigan
location
Aiden & Taylor,
Mackinac Island
Wedding
Traverse City, Michigan
location
James & Jillian,
Northern Michigan
Wedding
frequently asked questions
we love open and candid conversations
For most of your wedding day, I have a photo-journalistic style. This means that I am constantly documenting the laughter that turns to tears, the moment your hubby brushes back your wind blown hair, and the single tear he tries to hide as you walk down the aisle. It’s real. It’s raw. It’s beautiful. These are the pictures that reflect the one goal I have for you - to transport you back to the realness of who you are as a couple, and how you’ve chosen to celebrate with your most cherished friends and family.
But let’s be honest - we all (and I include myself in this category) are secretly dying for those wind-swept veil pictures, the vivid sunset images with a romantic dip kiss, and the ONE photo that will make us swoon everytime we see it. These moments often come with a little help and suggestion from me - which is why we also spend some time posing in natural, golden light, and setting yourself up for a gorgeous mix of both candid and posed images. You never have to choose just one or the other - I guarantee you will see both styles reflected in your wedding gallery for you to love.
You’re not alone in this feeling. Most of my couples come to me with the admission that they’ve never hired a professional photographer before. But this is great news! It means we get the opportunity to be REAL with each other. I am here to coach and direct you every step of the way. We most often will start off with some more posed and smiling pictures (just to get those creative juices flowing.) As the session progresses, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how fast you start laughing and becoming more at ease in front of the camera. This is when we start incorporating a great mix of both posed and candid images. They tell a story - your story! Led with true heart and genuine emotion. And you never have to worry about choosing a photographer who is only good at posing, or who refuses to pose you and leaves you hanging for “candid” images. I’ve got you (and you can count on both styles in your gallery!)
I pride myself on a quick turnaround (I don’t want you to become one of those horror stories where you practically have to track down your photographer to get your hands on your images!) You will receive your entire gallery of images (all hand-edited personally by me) quickly, so that right away, you can keep your love and enjoyment of your wedding day alive!
The photos will all be delivered to you in an online digital gallery. Unlimited downloads for you, your family and your guests (if you choose to share the gallery with them) is guaranteed!
Ummmm yes! I’m a Pinterest-aholic myself. So I love a good inspiration board. Send ‘em all my way and guarantee that you and I are on the same page for the duration of your engagement and wedding day together.
Inquire through my Contact Page, or send me an email to melissa@luxlightphotography. Because I believe in offering you a personal, white-glove service, I only take 10 weddings per year. Contact me ASAP, to see if I still have your wedding date available.
Absolutely - today’s economy is hard. But don’t let that stand in the way of a lifetime’s worth of happiness and memories!
Our normal payment plan is 50% down payment due on the day you sign your contract. The remaining payment is due on the day of your wedding.
If you’d like an additional payment plan, I can create a 3-month payment plan to customize your financial needs. Contact me to inquire about this option today!
Keep the memories,
the genuine laughter,
& the feels-like-you fun spirit of your relationship alive with the right photographer!
Save your wedding date today
Everyone says your wedding will be a blur, but it doesn’t have to be…
SUBMIT >
ready to book? have questions?
Please, fill out the form below with as much information as possible-this will give you the best answer from me! email me at melissa@luxlightphotography.net If you don't hear back within 24 hours, please check your SPAM!
Please check your SPAM folder if you do not get a response from me within 24 hours! This will ensure that you can get your wedding info and photography booked as quick as you need it!
Please note that office hours at 12-4pm, M-F. I will respond to your email within that time frame. If you email me on the weekend, I will respond the following Monday. Thank you!