Michael Busse is one of the best photographers and best humans I have ever had the pleasure of working with and knowing. He has an amazing artistic eye (making me look good is no easy feat) and a way with everyone in our wedding party that was kind, gentle, and efficient. I feel truly blessed and lucky to have had Mike and Chellise do our wedding photos.
Our time with Chellise was filled with laughter, smiles, beauty, and genuine interest in us as a couple entering a new stage of our lives together. We felt immediately at ease with her, and as a result, her photos are gorgeously candid, so natural and in the moment. She showed a genuine concern in getting exactly the right shot she's after, but these are by no stretch your typical wedding photos. The light she finds is unbelievable and placement is so intimate and real. She went so far above and beyond what we expected that we haven't stopped talking about the experience. We can't recommend her highly enough, seriously.
My husband and I hired Danny, the newest member of the Chellise Michael team, for our wedding in Brooklyn this past June. Our photos from both our pre-wedding shoot and wedding are truly amazing. We've had numerous friends and family tell us they're some of their favorite wedding pictures they've ever seen. More importantly, Danny was a pleasure to work with and made us feel totally at ease - you don't realize how involved the photographer will be on the actual day and having someone who is nice to be around is important! I couldn't recommend him and the whole Chellise Michael team enough.
I got married in June and Michael shot our wedding with a backup shooter. This company as a whole was totally easy and a pleasure to work with. We did first look photos which was an extremely intense moment for me. Mike couldn't have acted more like a friend throughout the afternoon. He kept it super light hearted and fun while being totally focused and professional. That was the exact feedback I got from my husband who was with Rijard. They were both great at managing our family photos also. The photos I have seen so far have captured all the things I want to remember about the day and all the feelings. I can't wait to see more! Total pros. I strongly recommend them to anyone looking for a personal experience that translates straight to the photos.
This is not your average wedding photography team. There are no cliche photos here these people make ART. I knew from the moment I saw their work several years ago that I wanted them to shoot my wedding and I m so glad they could make it happen! Danny was an absolute boss with the camera, shooting digital, Polaroids, and 35mm film. He was so dang personable and everyone in my family told us how much they loved him. It may have poured rain on our wedding day but our photos are drop dead gorgeous!
We are simply enthralled by the incredible artistry and creative narrative vision of Mike, Chellise, and their team. Their ability to capture authenticity, beauty, and meaning went way above and beyond any of our expectations.
I was absolutely captivated by their portfolio-- the narrative, colors, composition, perspective. We were having a very small casual wedding, so I honestly wondered, would it still make sense to invest ourselves in photos? I am so glad that we did.
I searched high and low online, but I kept coming back to their portfolio --beautiful yet edgy, current, and distinctive. After meeting with Mike at his Bushwick studio, we decided to go for it. I keep thinking of the word Zeitgeist (if that happens to mean something to you)-- the idea that art and culture are intertwined, that individuals and their works are products of their time and culture-- this is what you have with Mike & Chellise-- the ability not only to create beautiful amazing portraits and memories of important moments but also to be part of the artistic and inspired zeitgeist of Brooklyn/NY now. It's like you have the chance to be doing your band photoshoot, except that it happens to be your engagement photoshoot.
Our portrait session photoshoot was as fun, memorable, and as exciting as our wedding itself... and the photos are simply incredible. Not only that, but they bring genuine positive and relaxed energy, which is really important, especially for the wedding day. Mike and his team are friendly, professional, timely, and super-efficient and effective. We really loved working with them.
True talented artists! We're beyond happy with our photos.
My husband and I had the dream team of Chellise & Michael to photograph our private elopement in the Catskills in November. Since it was just the two of us (no guests!) it was important to us that we be super comfortable around our vendors for the day, as well as loving their work. As a wedding planner, I've seen Chellise & Michael in action many times with my clients, and their easy, down to earth approach to photography was what we needed. They're passionate about what they do, they're excited about what they do and they're FUN. They captured all the small moments of the day perfectly, ate cake with us, toasted with us and signed our marriage license, so we're connected for life.
My husband and I hired Mike for our wedding day and we were beyond happy with our experiences. When we were planning the wedding, a friend mentioned it was important to interview your photographer before hiring. Really? Interview them? Yes, she said! They are around you for most of the day - you want to make sure you don't have a dud. So in came Mike! We already knew he was capable of taking great photos, but we loved his chill vibe. He made us feel totally relaxed when we had him over at our apartment for our portrait session, he's extremely easy to talk to. When our big day came, he felt like he was a friend, part of the wedding party. I lost track of how many of my guests came up to me raving about how awesome he was. He captured the best memories of our wedding - there wasn't a shot he missed. So grateful to have found Mike - I hope to find another reason to hire him again!
My partner and I were looking to do things our own way when we decided to get married: just us, City Hall, no fancy dress, no guests. But what we did want was a fun way to look back on our "wedding" even if it was just us two, my bruised heel, some carrot cake, and a lot of laughing.
We wanted to hire a photographer who got our vibe-- and Chellise Michael Photo was just what we were looking for and more! Everyone involved was such a gem-- talking with Chellise and Amber via email (thanks y'all!!) and our day long jaunt around City Hall and Bushwick with Danny was so so much fun, even for two people who don't often pose for pictures like us!
Through the whole afternoon, Danny kept things light and put up with me having Opinions and my partner wanting to make a Weird Face in every photo. We got so many great photos from it and I can SURELY say that none of them look like anyone else's "wedding photos"-- they're 100% well and truly US. <3
I will also mention that for anyone who is looking for 35MM Film work, this is the company to work with! They are film pros and do traditional as well as experimental film work! Highly recommend!
1000 out of 10, run don't walk to work with this team!
Cannot speak highly enough of the incredible job Chellise did for us. She's an absolute pro and hiring her was the best decision we made throughout our wedding planning process.
The second we picked our venues in Greenport, we knew we had to have a team behind it to capture how funky and unique it was!!! I came across Chellise Michael on instagram and we set up a time/place to meet them!
We instantly loved both Chellise & Michael's vibe and booked immediately! We then were going back and forth with videographers and Chellise let us in that they were bringing one on the team! Another win! Emily is just amazing.
Having this team for our wedding, MADE our wedding! Not only are they talented beyond recognition, they do so in such an ease that I had more compliments throughout the night with just how they get the shot in 5 seconds, opposed to others photogs/videogs that do multiple takes, hold up dancing, etc.
WE LOVE THEM, we already miss them, and our final videos and photos - made us cry and relive the day/night over and over.
Just book them, plain and simple.
Chellise Michael photography & videography was absolutely the right decision for our wedding (and, with large amounts of confidence, your wedding too). They were professional + warm. Their work is more aesthetically pleasing than I thought possible in a wedding photo & comprehensive, too. Plus, we couldn't be happier with the support we received throughout the wedding planning process. Chellise/Amber/and Michael were kind, responsive communicators throughout the process and Falcon + Emily were a rockstar duo for the photography and videography. They made everyone at the event feel comfortable and relaxed. In fact, they were so notably chill that we decided it must be a prerequisite for joining the Chellise Michael Photography team. I didn't need to send reminders about locations, event timing, photo preferences, etc - they were organized, proactive, and made us feel fully supported and at ease. There are two things that I think make Chellise Michael Photography fly high above the rest: the creativity+'rawness' of their photos and their thoughtfulness to the client throughout the process. Not only do I continue to look at my own Chellise Michael photos, but I've created a new pastime of looking through their blog and Instagram feed just because they are pretty, interesting, soulful pictures. It's not just work that would appeal to a matrimony-obsessed bride - it's work that's relatable to a wider audience, work that I'd actually want to see on a stranger's living room wall. It's high quality, non-cheesy, thoughtful. Second thing - we knew we'd be receiving a highlight video clip of our wedding but Chellise, Michael & Emily surprised us with additional footage that Emily happened to capture of our family's speeches + vows. It meant the world to me and my husband and made us realize just how "human" this brand is. Do yourself a favor and check out this company - you'll be glad you did!
Working with Michael was one of our favorite parts of getting married! We were lucky enough to have him photograph us 3x in one month and missed him once it was all over! We couldn t ask for better energy or better photos. 10/10 would recommend!
We had a couples portrait shoot with Danny and it was the best experience! My partner and I are awkward to begin with and were worried about getting a photographer who would make us look overly posed or uncomfortable. Danny was the complete opposite! He took the time to get to know us and made the entire process so easy and fun. We were blown away when we got the photos back and got so many compliments on how natural our photos looked. We can t thank Danny and the entire Chellise Michael team for making everything so comfortable and easygoing!
These folks are the BEST! Amazing work, super chill, true artists. You'll be well taken care of :)
We were looking for non-traditional wedding photos. The moment we set eyes on their portfolio, we knew we had to have CMP at our wedding. Their style was incredible.
On our wedding Day, Michael took control and made everything light, fun and easy. From First Look all the way through family portraits, Michael quickly changed shots and scenes, re-arranged and mixed family, bridesmaids and groomsmen.
But, the party pics is where he truly shined. Michael captured a stunning array of wedding guests partying and posing. He got so many moments that we never knew were happening, and it was so much fun seeing them months after our wedding.
The pictures Michael took that day surpassed what we could ve hoped for. We were truly stunned at some of the shots that he was able to capture and we couldn t be more thrilled with what Chellise Michael Photography delivered.
If I wasn t clear enough in the previous paragraphs, allow me to do so now. If you have the opportunity to book Chellise Michael Photography - DO IT RIGHT NOW.
If your search for a photographer has lead you here, LOOK NO FURTHER!! You have found the perfect one,
these guys are absolutely amazing! BOOK THEM!
We hired Danny as our wedding photographer and Emily as our videographer. Both insanely talented individuals. Our photos and video came out better than we could have even imagined!! Not to mention, they are both extremely fun to hang with (which you will do a lot of if you are smart and book these guys).
Every single person I have spoken with from Chellise Michael since day one has been amazing. We planned mostly everything via email with Amber (Big shout out to Amber for being ON IT, thank you so much. Nothing would ve come together without you being so responsive and helpful ).
We took engagement photos with Danny in Brooklyn, the summer before our wedding. We had so much fun that day, we will remember it forever!! Luckily for us, we have the most gorgeous pictures to remember it by.
The day of our wedding went perfectly. We spent time with Danny and Emily roaming around the farm, having some good laughs! My husband and I proudly consider ourselves fairly socially awkward individuals that don t necessarily love having their picture taken-but this really just felt like hanging out with friends. These guys are the best, I m telling you! Because they re so awesome and you feel relaxed, your photos and video turn out exactly as they should.
After waiting impatiently like a child on Christmas Eve, our video arrived and KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF! And then knocked everyone else s socks off that watched it. Emily killed it!! This video she whipped up for us made us feel about 300 emotions all under five minutes. We didn t request any specific music, but it was chosen perfectly! SO AWESOME.
Shortly after, Danny s photos arrived! We knew for sure these would be great because of how beautiful our engagement photos came out. Surely they were!! Better than we could ve imagined. Danny s brain works in a crazy way where he just looks at regular things/spots/lighting and knows it will make for a great shot. He is truly talented and fun to watch!
Thank you so much to everyone from Chellise Michael, you are all truly spectacular. My beautiful Granny (the gorgeous lady in the sparkly gold pant suit that night) passed away just after our wedding. I am more grateful than you can even imagine for you being there to capture her last night out. She was captured beautifully by both of you. I will cherish both of your work forever!
Trust in these fabulous people to capture your moments! I PROMISE you won t be disappointed!!
Dear Chellise, Dan, Michael and Sarah,
We just finished watching the photos (took us 2+ hours) and perhaps we are biased, but these are the most incredible wedding photos we've ever seen. It brought butterflies goosebumps and even a few tears as we relived the day. As you can imagine, the wedding day was a whirlwind day, but seeing these really helped recreate the day for us. You captured the essence of everything we wanted to portray. We can't thank you enough for all the care and thought you all put into these. We will be forever grateful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Love,
Jenny & David
Chellise is THE ABSOLUTE BEST. When we were starting to plan our wedding, my husband and I must have considered at least 5 different venue options in 5 different states, and even one in Mexico. Chellise was amazing and super helpful the entire time we were trying to decide. We finally settled on a venue but later needed to change it due to the pandemic, and she was so understanding and more than willing to make the switch. We had a total blast getting to know her during our portrait session and couldn t wait to hang again at the wedding a few weeks later. Our photos just came in a few days ago and oh. my. god. They re literally AMAZING and we re obsessed with every single shot!! Chellise was a pleasure to work with and she s an insanely skilled photographer. We re hoping to host a larger reception next year post-covid and I will def be reaching out to her again :)
Chellise clearly stood out among all of the photographers we looked at. Her work is distinctive in its authenticity and vitality. Taking the time to get to know us must be the secret. From our first introduction where we chatted in her studio for probably two hours, we felt she was a trusted friend. Many months later she came to our apartment for the portrait session. Taking these in your home is such a great idea and produced some photos that will be awesome to look at years from now. She captured not only us but the art, toys, and furry kitties that are part of our daily life. It's our personal New York experience, which honestly is most often at home =)
On the day of Chellise showed up full of energy and ready to go. She shot well over 1,000 photos: us, the venue, the guests looking their best and some totally real moments too, the food, the flowers, the performers, Japanese glow in the dark toys everything. We had a few performances lined up for our wedding and she got great shots of all of them, getting out on the dance floor and capturing all of the action. Some video captured her nearly getting hit with a whip of a Dominican Diablo Cojuelo! Google it.
Our wedding theme was Wicked Garden with a dark side driven by the 1977 Italian Giallo horror film, Suspiria, directed by Dario Argento. This part really came out at the reception with lighting, decor, and some amazing centerpieces from Hudson Botanica. What really nailed it was Chellise's Lit Lounge where our guests got portraits amidst a variety of Suspiria-influenced lighting and an awesome backdrop that Chellise sought out specifically to make it even more awesome. Props also to Rijard who shot all the portraits and did his homework on Suspiria!
We got a sneak peek of some shots just 4 days after the wedding. You don t really know what you re going to get but these shots and the rest that followed just in time for Christmas let us reminisce every time we see them. Chellise captured the day as we saw it.
I'm not very good at writing reviews and to be honest, I don't often do it (I know that s terrible because I rely on them so much) but I must try to convey how thankful I am that we hired Chellise Michael Photography for our wedding. From the very start Sarah & Daniel were true professionals but also really cool people that would want to be at your wedding. We hung out a few times and they took the time to really get to know our personalities. This was extremely evident in the photographs they took for our engagement shoot as well as the wedding.
The talent these two possess is incredible, they truly are rock stars at what they do. And to top it off, If taking awesome photos is not enough, the editing skills of Chellise is off the charts. Everyone who sees our wedding pictures is amazed at the way they turned out. So thank you again for capturing our wedding and personality so perfectly. We couldn t have asked for better photographers and hope to use you again for something one day!!!!
My wife and I were so, so lucky to have Mike, Danny and Emily do our photo and video at our wedding. They are seriously the dream team. From the beginning at our portrait session, Mike made us feel so comfortable and at ease right away. The process was so easy from start to finish. And not only was it so much fun, but the photos are nothing short of GORGEOUS. The light they find is unbelievable and nothing is forced or awkward. The day of the wedding, it felt like I just had three friends palling around with me all day :) These guys are not only incredible artists, but also just a damn good time!
I seriously can't thank Falcon and the team at Chellise Michael enough for capturing the celebration of our marriage so beautifully! They do such an amazing job capturing and editing moments in a beautiful and artistic way and looking at my pics was like reliving the special day all over again. And even when there was a bit of drama and time constraints in the beginning, Falcon always kept her calm and discreet demeanor and I m so thankful for that as she was able to pull off some epic shots that we were absolutely blown away by! :)
So a million THANK YOUS to the amazing team at Chellise Michael Studio for being an absolute joy to work with from start to finish and I absolutely would not hesitate to hire them again!
Best,
Janice and Will
chellisemichaelphotography.com
