Kate Michelle Photography Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
122 reviews
100% recommend it
Awards
-
![GodzGhozt]()
Godzghozt Sent on 11/11/20242024 Proposal
Kate was so awesome to deal with. Helped us pose and stand in the right places for the best shots. Super easy to work with and made our day so much more special. Thanks so much for everything Kate! -
-
![Vanessa]()
Vanessa R. Sent on 01/12/2025The best in the biz!
I cannot say enough good things about the amazing experience of working with Kate! My fiancé were engaged in October of 2020 and spent 3 long years dragging our butts in the planning process. The only thing we knew is that we wanted to get married in the sierras near Yosemite, a very special place to the both of us throughout our relationship. The first thing I wanted to lock down was a photographer to capture the beauty of this special place. I spent months researching area specific photographers and Kate’s name kept coming up. Diving into her portfolio I fell in love with her candid style and intimacy that came through in her shots. I knew we had to work with her. As luck would have it, a spot became available and she accepted our date!!
Our first meeting was for our engagement shoot. My fiancé and I were both so nervous about being in front of the camera (we both a little awkward and we had never had professional shots taken before). Within the first minute of meeting Kate, all our anxiety dissipated and we ended up having the most fun and amazing morning shooting in the freezing cold overlooking half dome.
Kate was an unmatched guide throughout the whole wedding planning process, recommending amazing vendors (many of which we ended up going with) and helping set up a minute by minute timeline. She’s the whole package!!
She was such a calm and supportive presence on the actual wedding day. Her vision is simple, clean, and touching. She captured intimate moments with family members and guests. I can’t say enough good things about working with Kate! We love her and plan to hit her up for the next big milestone we want captured :) not to mention her insanely fast turn around with the shots!!!
We love you Kate! Thank you for everything. You really are THE BEST! Xox :) -
-
Sydney A. Sent on 12/24/2024
Look no further for a Photographer!
We hired Kate twice, once for our engagement photos and again for our wedding. She is punctual, responsive, and well-prepared. The style of Kate's photos are not of the typical photographer, and felt more personal than posed. If you feel you're the type of person that isn't photogenic, or you feel awkward taking photos, Kate excels at making people feel comfortable and capturing naturally beautiful moments--there wasn't any sense of pressure to get the 'right' photo. Kate returned the finished photos in a timely manner through an online portal, which you can use to favorite, download, and share very easily. We would absolutely recommend anyone to hire Kate for their photography needs. (For those that are wondering, Kate is LGBTQ+ friendly.)
-
-
![Taylor]()
Taylor S. Sent on 01/15/2025So amazing !
We couldn’t be happier with Kate as our wedding photographer! She did an absolutely amazing job capturing our special day in Yosemite. From the heartfelt moments during the ceremony to the pure joy on the dance floor, every photo was stunning. Kate has a real talent for candid shots, perfectly capturing the love and emotions of the day without us even noticing the camera was there.
Not only did she document our wedding beautifully, but she also joined us for an incredible adventure shoot the next day. The photos from that session are breathtaking and truly reflect our love and the awe-inspiring beauty of Yosemite.
Kate was so easy to get along with and made us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. Her professionalism, creativity, and genuine passion for her craft made the experience unforgettable. We’ll cherish these photos forever. Highly recommend! -
![Athena]()
Athena V. Sent on 10/10/2024Just book her, you will NOT regret
We had the BEST experience with Kate! She is extremely personable, funny and calming. Her photography skills and editing style was just the cherry on top. Straight out of a magazine!! I would recommend her for your wedding needs, you will not regret it!! (Full review in google, limited text here)
-
-
![Alex]()
Alex B. Sent on 08/09/2024Phenomenal Photos and a Super Fun Shoot
Kate was responsive, friendly, and just plain fun to work with. She captured our big day perfectly, being able to slot into our plans and capture some great candid shots, as well as posing the unruly group to get important family shots.
We had a couple hours of getting shots around the valley with Kate before the ceremony, and I think that honestly that was my favourite part of the day. We got to spend two hours having fun in beautiful locations, and Kate was fantastic at drawing out poses and making us feel natural. Highly recommended! -
![Robert]()
Robert T. Sent on 11/21/2023Above and beyond all expectations and can't imagine our day without her
What do you want out of your wedding photographer? Good photos. And if that was all we were reviewing Kate on she’d get 6 out of 5 stars every time. She has an incredible eye. As an amateur photographer, I know enough that it’s easy to make Yosemite look good but it takes real artistry to capture it uniquely, showing the size and expanse and conveying such incredible emotion, and there’s only a small few who can do that and even fewer who can do that effortlessly. Kate is that upper echelon with the eye, talent, and experience.
Why we are so inclined to recommend Kate above anyone else though is the immeasurable. Once you get great photographers, the air is thin but weighing who to go with should be more than just stylistic preference. Kate was incredible with follow-up and communication and made us feel confident with the choice from day one. We knew we could trust her advice and expertise. And when the day came, she made us feel comfortable. She was warm, empathetic, encouraging, and most of all kind. She built trust quickly so we could be ourselves and let our love shine through her photography. And I’m so grateful we followed her advice and it was just us the day before the event in the park. So that the next day there was no time lost.
Now I think her unique talents shine most in the first look then moving into bridal party photos. We had the incredibly intimate moment of seeing each other for the first time and Kate knew how to comfort our nerves on the way in, disappear when the look began, and when we were done reappear to bring in the bridal party and fit in so neatly. She did this throughout the night. When she wanted to be seen she truly felt like a guest at the wedding, fitting in and getting along with everyone (we got a lot of great comments on how much people loved her), and when she wanted to disappear she did and captured incredible candids where we were left saying “wow! How did she get that?”
Which, speaking of pictures: incredible turnaround!
Now we’ve been to a lot of weddings to know this triangle of talent, personality, and work ethic seems to be a pick 2 (sometimes even 1) but with Kate, you get all 3 in spades as well as so much more.
If this was TLDR let me summarize: if you want great photos, no stress, and someone you can rely on and enjoy the process with, go with Kate.Kate Michelle Photography's reply:
I couldn't have asked for a better last wedding to end 2023! You two and your loved ones were so FUN! And sweet :D. I am so happy we all had a good time and I had the honor of witnessing your love and personalities. I wish you the best in life, love, health and prosperity. Thank you for your kind words and for trusting me with such a big day in your life! -
-
![Lindsey]()
Lindsey S. Sent on 10/19/2023Obsessed with our engagement photos in Yosemite!
Kate is amazing!! We are so grateful that she squeezed us into her busy schedule last minute for engagement photos. She has great communication by email and text. Kate made our time together so special, and she captured the most beautiful photos. We went to four different locations within the same area and the backdrop of Yosemite Valley is unreal. She got our engagement photos back to us in less than 2 weeks and the gallery is gorgeous. Book the photo shoot with Kate, you won't regret it!!Kate Michelle Photography's reply:
Lindsey, you are a natural at having your photo taken! Alex, you're a natural as well, at following directions and reading Lindsey's body language and expressions. I can tell you two are going to dance through life just fine. Much love! -
-
![Savannah]()
Savannah M. Sent on 11/15/2023Best Yosemite Wedding Photographer
Working with Kate was an absolute joy from start to finish. She is very well organized and was always very professional and timely in all of her communication with us. We decided to do an extra day of photos with Kate around Yosemite National Park to get different locations, and it was a fabulous experience. Her expertise as a local was immeasurable; she knew where all the best spots were for the lighting at that time of day/year. She also gave us options for what kinds of shots we really wanted and how we could make them all happen. Kate also made us feel really comfortable the whole time, like she was an old friend we’ve known for a long time. She was great about giving us clear direction, if we needed it, and expressing her excitement when something was turning out well which made us feel excited too. On the day of our wedding at Glacier Point, Kate took charge and made sure there were no tourists in our shots during the ceremony, she directed our guests well and made sure we got every family formal shot we wanted, and she did a great job watching what was going on at the reception and took some amazing candid shots. She did an excellent job quietly taking detailed shots while we were busy doing something else. While we were getting hair and make-up done, she was taking detailed dress and ring shots. While we were eating, she was taking detailed vows and ring shots. Her attention to detail was fabulous and she really was paying close attention to how she could best capture every moment of the day. We couldn’t be happier with how the photos have turned out. We LOVE them! They are absolutely breathtaking and many of our friends and family have complimented the photos saying, “They look like they are from a magazine!” We can't over emphasize how happy we are that we chose Kate to document our wedding, and I cannot recommend her more highly!Kate Michelle Photography's reply:
Your Ceremony at Glacier Point was a blast! From the weather to the tourists to your vows. I found it so sweet that you, Savannah, spoke to Jong in his native language during a part of your vows. And your mom did a beautiful job at officiating your ceremony, I can only imagine how emotional that could be for a Mother. The reception at The Wowona Hotel is always an impressive feeling, pair that with your decorations and I felt like I was in an eclectic and colorful nature fairy tale from the 30s. Thank you for trusting me on your wedding day and our hike to Taft Point! That was such a stunning sunset! Your dress was as dreamy as the sky. -
![Tyler]()
Tyler S. Sent on 10/07/2023Just Book Her
Listen, not to be disrespectful to any other photographer, but don’t waste your time shopping around. Kate is an incredible person to work with. From the beginning she wants to understand who you are as a couple and whether or not she thinks she would be a good fit for you. And that alone speaks to her character as a person. But you’re here to know if she’s worth booking as a photographer. And the answer, is undoubtedly yes. Even with the preview comprising of roughly 12 photos she sent a few days later, we said “if this is all that we get, it’s worth what we paid”. And then she proceeded to send us hundreds more a couple weeks later. She knows how to direct you while also making herself feel invisible in the intimate moments of your wedding day. Going through the photos, my wife and I said, multiple times “where even was she for this shot? I didn’t see her”.
We booked Kate because, as a photographer, I wanted someone who could capture my wedding day with the attention to detail that I would want to capture myself. The care and attention that she put in to the time we spent with her made a world of difference. You can trust her to know exactly where to be and when, and her eye is unmatched.
tldr - just book her. She’s worth it. (Also book the second day. The best decision we could’ve made)Kate Michelle Photography's reply:
You were all so much fun! What I loved most about that weekend was having. your family and friends join us on the hike to Taft Point. I get so much joy from seeing my clients witness the beauty of the ark, that was multiplied when your family joined! Tyler, I appreciate your artistic style in photography. I cant wait to see how that style and other artistic ventures bloom. Take care, loves! -
-
![Stephanie]()
Stephanie C. Sent on 10/05/2023Perfect energy and incredible photos
Kate was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. She was truly everything we wanted in a photographer. We got married in Mammoth and she traveled ahead of time to scout out locations. She was so prepared and everything from formals to photo dashes went so smoothly. We wanted a photographer with a love for the mountains like us and it shows in her photos. We are so happy with all of our photos. She got so many shots of our guests having the time of their lives and we get to relive our favorite day over and over now (even moments that we didn’t get to see day of!). Her energy is so calming and we would book her again in a heartbeat! Thank you Kate!!! -
-
![Halo]()
Halo K. Sent on 10/24/2023Just Who We Were Looking For!
Our July wedding was supposed to take place in Yosemite. However, the roads into the eastern side of Yosemite were still closed due to the record-breaking snow last winter, but we couldn't change our lodgings as it was too close to the date. We were holding out for hope. Fortunately, Kate was familiar with the Eastern Sierras and was able to show us some neat spots for photos. She provided us with coordinates on the possible spots she was thinking of and made the stressful experience SO much easier for us. Because we had recently gotten a puppy who had severe separation anxiety, we needed to have a friend watch our pup during the shoots. Kate was very accommodating and understanding in having our friend and pup join us. Additionally, my spouse and I usually hate taking photos, so we've never been photographed professionally, but she made the experience fun. You wouldn't have been able to discern any awkwardness from our photos! What's more is that she allowed us to have a very special, memorable experience gazing into each other's' eyes during the sunrise. It felt magical! We're incredibly grateful to have hired Kate because she made our wedding and photoshoot run smoothly. We had to change the location of the wedding and find a venue that day, but her suggestions gave us ideas on what we could do. Our only regret was that we couldn't have her during our ceremony because we had to make some changes to accommodate other family members and were concerned about having to pay for a different venue (although she did offer to extend her time). Her work is utterly stunning, and she is absolutely pleasant to work with!Kate Michelle Photography's reply:
Even though we had to redirect at the last minute I feel it all turned out perfect! Sunrise at Mono Lake was the perfect start to the day. And getting to meet your pup was the topper to such a great morning. I wish you the best in life and love :D -
![Erin]()
Erin W. Sent on 08/08/2023Wedding Photos that will leave you beaming
Kate photographed our June 2023 Evergreen Lodge Yosemite Wedding, as well as a sunrise photo session the day before our wedding in Yosemite National Park.
We could not have had a better experience with Kate, and are so grateful not only for the gorgeous photos she took, but for adding to the overall experience of our wedding in such a positive way.
We have the best memories of waking up super early and meeting in park for sunrise photos and being guided to all the cool spots. Glacier Point wasn't open yet, but we traveled from Tunnel View through the Valley and took advantage of the morning light and epic waterfalls. Kate took us to many secret spots and hidden gems, as she has tons of experience in the park and knows where to navigate. She made us feel so comfortable, especially my partner who had never done a photoshoot before.
On our wedding day, we went to the most beautiful wildflower-filled meadow which Kate spotted on her way in for our first look. I will never forget how it felt to be in that moment with my partner in the sunshine surrounded by the cutest unique flowers and all the bug friends we made :)
Kate also got all the moments we could have wanted captured, from our getting ready time, to the ceremony and reception - our friends, our family, the reception setup and flowers, everything was so artistically captured. She really was able to amazingly blend in the background and pop up at just the right moments.
Kate is an absolute pro at observing, navigating different personalities and energies, finding solutions and adjusting as needed, getting photos done in a timely matter, photo editing, and adding calming and peaceful vibes to your wedding day. We felt totally at ease whenever we had to pose for photos either by ourselves or with our family, and she just made it a great experience overall.
We absolutely fell in love with our wedding photos which we got in a very timely manner and are so stoked to have the memories and works of art to look at for the rest of our lives to come. If you're looking for someone smart, reliable, talented, and kind, look no further than Kate Michelle Photography - We highly recommend her!Kate Michelle Photography's reply:
You two rock stars really gave your guests a good time during the reception! Your planner and designer, Roshel, did such a great job with everything! The day went seamless and was a dream for details. And let's not forget about the field of flowers on the way to Evergreen! I do love the image I got of you two with wildflowers in the foreground. I hope you two have a great life together and prosper in whatever your dreams are, and will be. -
![Joseph]()
Joseph N. Sent on 05/10/2021Incredibly talented with the local knowledge you NEED!!
When I first began planning how I was going to propose to my [then] girlfriend, I knew two things. That I wanted to do it on Glacier Point Road in Yosemite and that I wanted to make sure there was someone there to photograph this special time. So I started scrolling and very quickly found myself looking through all of Kate's incredible work. Unfortunately, due to the time of year, Glacier Point Road had not opened for the season yet. Kate suggested a few alternate locations that would offer a similar aesthetic. Then, the day before, Glacier Point Road opened unexpectedly early. Before I knew it, Kate messaged me with the good news, informing me of the new plans and timing for the best lighting. There are plenty of great photographers out there that can capture a proposal, but there are none with the local knowledge and intimate connection with Yosemite that can truly capture the entire moment. Kate's ability to photograph the abundant Yosemite scenery while still catching all the emotions is truly unique. I could not be happier with the entire experience. Every time we look at these pictures, it takes us right back to the best day of our lives thus far. For that, we are truly grateful. -
-
![Jennysanford]()
Jenny S. Sent on 10/20/2022The best Yosemite photographer
Kate is amazing. She planned out our entire day in Yosemite and drove us around to all of our locations. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the park and we learned so much during our day! Communication leading up to our elopement date was great and she was always available if I had a question or concern. We never felt awkward and her presence is very calming. Our pictures are STUNNING and we will cherish them and the memories from our elopement day forever. (She had the edited and delivered in 5 days!!)Kate Michelle Photography's reply:
You two are so sweet :D. Thank you for bringing me to one of my favorite places in Yosemite, Tenaya Lake. The rays of light as the sun rose were magical! I'm so happy you're happy. Much love to you two :D -
Brittany H. Sent on 08/09/2022
Perfect Wedding Day/Wedding photos EVEN IN THE RAIN!
100 out of 10 stars for Kate. I cannot say enough positives about the entire experience. Amazing communication leading up to our wedding. She planned our entire morning, had amazing suggestions for spots to go to in Yosemite. We didn’t have to think for a second the entire day of what to do, she had it all planned! She even picked me up at my hotel so she could drive me into Yosemite, so my soon to be husband didn’t see me prior to our first look! We could not have asked for more stunning photos, and speaking of photos, she had them edited and back to us FOUR days after our wedding! Absolutely unheard of! I cannot recommend her enough. If you need a photographer around the Yosemite area, do not look any further. You won’t regret it for a second! -
-
![Erin]()
Erin B. Sent on 10/25/2022Perfect Yosemite Photographer
I have been following Kate for over a year admiring her beautiful work in Yosemite before I even knew I was getting married there. As soon as we booked our venue I emailed Kate that same day and booked her for our wedding and photo shoot in the park the day after and I suggest that she's your first contact too! She will capture your day perfectly, is such a joy to be around, and is an expert when it comes to photo locations in Yosemite. She's perfect. And her work is flawless, if you're lucky enough to snag her for yourself.Kate Michelle Photography's reply:
ERIN! I'm a little obsessed with you, Matt, and your baby! AND ROSSIE! Erin, you are so much fun and Matt you are radiating kindness! Someday I'm going to meet Rossie and Finny in person. Family photos in LA sounds like a great idea, I'll come to you lol. -
-
![Chris]()
Chris A. Sent on 12/31/2022Elopement in Tuolumne
We had such a precious day with Kate, saying our vows and running barefoot around the granite domes and alpine beaches of Tuolumne. Kate made the day a whole lot of fun, we almost forgot we were being photographed! We walked away feeling like we'd had a full, beautiful day in the high country with a great friend. And the photos... stunning!!! Kate did an amazing job of capturing the moments between us and the nature around us. People have said they are the best wedding photos they've ever seen (can I agree?!) Her work is gorgeous, professional, and worth every penny. I would not hesitate to choose Kate for your special day.Kate Michelle Photography's reply:
AWE :D!!!! making me cry on this new year day! Thank you, Chris, for the kind words. I means so much to know you felt this way. I want our time together to be an experance and laid back, thank you for confirming thats happening. You two were so great! I loved that we walk barefoot and explored the high country. So happy for you two, i mean you three :D! -
Are you interested?
Are you interested?