Kate is a wonderful artist who really captures beautiful moments in time. She helped keep our wedding day running smoothly. Great dialog and extremely organized leading up to our wedding. Clear and concise, and communicated effectively with multiple friends and family - not afraid to move people around in order to get good shots. We would absolutely recommend Kate to anyone getting looking for great photos in or around Yosemite! read more

THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO HIRE KATE!! Kate provided us with the most comfortable and professional experience while shooting our wedding. Her ability to stay present in all the chaos kept my bride so calm. Kate was able to capture the unique moments that made our day so special. She also helped guide me through proper poses that really translated to beautiful photos. I MEAN BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS!!!! Kate knows all the spots and has a true gift for her art. Thank you, Kate, for sharing your gift with us all. We will remember you forever. read more

When we were looking for a wedding photographer we wanted someone who would capture the small details. We hired Kate for our engagement photos as well as our wedding photos and it was the best decision we made! She was amazing to work with and made us feel some comfortable behind the camera. On our wedding day we had to pivot a few times due to rain and she was so amazing in helping us stay calm and still capture everything she needed for our day. Between her quick turnaround with our sneak peaks and photos to her editing style, I would recommend Kate any day! She also checked on us throughout the whole planning process to see if we needed anything. Truly an amazing person to work with! Thank you Kate we love our photos, thank you for capturing our love story read more

Kate Michelle Photography - Session Photography Near Me

I hired Kate for my fiance and I's engagement photoshoot during early June of 2025. Kate and I had an in-depth conversation of what I was looking for and she made it very easy by guiding me through the entire process. I gave her an idea of what I was looking for and she gave me reccomendations on time, place, and execution of the proposal. Leading up to the shoot I was confident in the entire process since we had a full plan of how it was going to go and even a backup just in case! I would say that it actually helped with the nerves tremendously as her planning allowed me to be present in the moment. During the shoot, Kate was very kind, professional, and empowering towards my fiance and I's shyness towards photos. She guided us through poses, photo ideas, and none of it felt forced. We simply were just being ourselves. One of the main reasons I was attracted towards Kate's services was her overall theme and she delivered exactly that. We were provided a sneak peek as she worked through editing our photos and the end package was beautifully edited. One thing that really stood out was her attention to detail and creativity with the beautiful scenary of Yosemite. I could not recommend Kate for your next photoshoot services. Especially if you like her editing style. Thank you again Kate for these photos. We will cherish and reminisce on these forever. read more

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We love Kate!!! About us: we are two awkward posing humans often struggling with what to do with our hands in photos. With that in mind, Kate made the overarching experience 100%! She was able to capture a lot of candid moments and knew how to pose us. She was so patient and knew what she was doing. We were camping Fri-Sun and scheduled our shoot with her Sunday morning. This meant we had to wake up at 4:30AM to pack and get ready, then head over to Glacier Point for our 6:30AM. WE DID NOT REGRET IT. We also took photos at Tunnel View and various spots across Yosemite Valley. Esp with her being from Yosemite, her knowledge of the area and profession really showed. She made our dream engagement shoot a reality and they came out AMAZING. Highly recommend read more

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She was absolutely amazing. Not only did my daughter's engagement photos turn out beautifully, but her personality and the way she made my daughter feel so comfortable were truly beyond words. read more

Having Kate as our wedding day photographer was an absolute dream. We got married in Yosemite in April and spent three hours the morning of the wedding getting pictures all over the valley and then Kate came back that afternoon for our ceremony. It was wonderful having someone know all of the good picture spots in the valley so we didn't have to worry about where to go or in what order to take any of the pictures. On top of that, Kate was the exact vibe we wanted for our wedding day - down to earth, relaxed, calm, and friendly. We aren't ones to ever get professional pictures done, but she made us feel relaxed in front of the camera and we truly had an enjoyable wedding morning with her. She rolled with it when we had already sent our rings off with the best man and she had to get pictures of them after the ceremony, and she was even the designated professional veil manager :). We have seen a few sneak peeks of our wedding photos so far and they are STUNNING. She perfectly captures the style we wanted, with a focus on the beauty of the Yosemite Valley while somehow still managing to capture the love my now husband and I share. If you're looking for someone who knows Yosemite like the back of her hand, someone who will be a calming presence on the biggest day of your life, and someone able to produce some epic pictures that will last a lifetime, Kate is your person! read more

We had a blast at our engagement shoot with Kate! We've never been professionally photographed before but she eased our nerves very quickly. We met for sunrise at Tunnel View in Yosemite & got to drive around for different backdrops. It was great getting a range of options to choose from & we were thrilled to share with family and friends! Kate was great to communicate with, fun to spend the morning with exploring the area, & delivered our album timely. Yosemite is our new favorite getaway and we're thankful to have these memories captured! read more

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Kate was incredible to work with. From the very beginning, Kate was quick to respond to any question or inquiry and such a joy to speak with. She made us feel comfortable right from the start. Kate does a great job planning the timeline so everything on the day of goes smooth. When we got to our wedding day, Kate had spent the morning scouting out the best locations and found us a beautiful spot in the forest. We did a first look out there that was romantic and serene. Kate is incredible at getting the shot but also being able to be as natural as possible so you don't notice the cameras too much on the day. We also did a day after shoot in Yosemite and Kate brought us to lots of beautiful locations around the park. My husband and I don't have a ton of experience taking photos but Kate made the process smooth, comfortable and easy. There was many special moments but a magical memory that sticks out is we were up at Glacier Point for sunrise and Kate told us to turn around and watch the first sunrise as a married couple. We will never forget that moment. We could not recommend Kate more, she takes gorgeous photos, has such a great eye for detail, and is so professional and kind. Thank you so much Kate, you are amazing!!! read more

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 :) read more

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It's hard not to say something along the lines of "there's no words to describe how happy we are with Kate", and it seems like that's a common theme in her reviews - which should tell you something GREAT! Our Experience: To start, let's just say that even if Kate did not produce a single photo, we would have been thrilled with the day's experience, and just hanging out with her on our big day! We decided to book Kate for an adventure elopement, shooting from sunrise in Cook's meadow, until we watched the sun dip below the horizon at Sentinel dome. Despite how surreal eloping in Yosemite's grandeur was, Kate was there to position us, get us in the right spots and lighting, all in a way that felt completely natural. Kate didn't just take stereotypical wedding portraits, she captured every moment, silly, intimate, and spectacular, blending photography with storytelling. There are moments we didn't even realize she was there to capture - slinging her cameras at the ready (literally like John Wayne drawing his 6-shooters from the hip LOL)! For a couple with very few photos besides selfies, she made us look like pros, and most importantly, made it organic and fun. The Facts: Its easy for anyone to take a good photo in Yosemite. We saw several other wedding shoots during the day - trying to cram through tourists, and take the same photos as hundreds of other couples before them have. If that sounds good, DON'T book Kate. Kate provided a deep connection to Yosemite that only someone who literally grew up in the park could ever claim. Despite the full day shoot, she kept us on a plan to maximize every location, without feeling rushed. We booked Kate almost a year out. From the start, her communication was top level, helping us make decisions, plan, and remain calm! Every photo in our album is unique, not just a bunch of mediocre edits. We requested a few photos so we could print them for our family party a month later, and Kate found time to deliver our entire album! Kate didn't just take photos, she captured memories and moments that we'll be able to revlive when we look back at our magical day. When we are old and grey and our memories fade, we'll have these memories preserved because of Kate, and we're beyond grateful for that! There really are "no words to describe how happy we are with Kate", but if you are considering a Yosemite adventure, our two words are most indefinitely - " BOOK HER!" read more

Kate is such an amazing photographer and person. We booked a couples session in Yosemite with her in October and I absolutely love how the photos turned out. She was very accommodating, relaxed and friendly and definitely brought my husband out of his shell too. We brought our dog along and thankfully she was able to fit him in along with us and when we got to tunnel view she offered to do a family portrait with my parents included which was really sweet. My mom absolutely loved that and loves how the photo of us came out too, and now she wants her copy haha. If we had gotten married in Yosemite or the surrounding area there's no doubt in my mind we would have chosen Kate as our wedding photographer, her work speaks for itself. It was especially helpful with her telling us how to pose, how to fix something, move a hand etc and it was all done so professionally. For those that don't get photos taken often she really makes you feel like a natural and doesn't make anything look like awkward family posing. Also, she was able to get our photos to us within the same day we took them which was absolutely amazing!! I totally wasn't expecting that but it was so great being able to immediately see her work and how beautiful the photos came out. Soooo excited to use our photos for holiday cards and to hang up around our home, we absolutely love them Kate! Thank you for making this Yosemite trip memorable, we'll definitely be back in the future for more family photos!! read more

Kate Michelle Photography - Session Photography Near Me

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Kate was fantastic! She was knowledgeable about the best places to shoot pictures with in Yosemite Valley. She was easy to work with and gave great advice about fun hikes to go on in the Valley as well. read more

If you are planning a wedding in the Sierras and want some GORGEOUS shots of the scenery as well as your party and guests, then I cannot recommend Kate highly enough! She is an outstanding photographer who can balance your timeline with creative and fun ideas, in a way that ensures you'll have zero stress all throughout the process. She also makes planning easy by staying in touch, readily available to consult and refine ideas with. Kate knows Yosemite and the surrounding areas, so she knows where and how to get the best shots of epic scenery. But she also knows how to get really beautiful candid shots of people, while never feeling intrusive - you won't even know she is there most of the time, but you'll LOVE the shots of your friends and family laughing together later. In short: beautiful black and white photos, amazing shots of the landscape, intimate moments with your friends and family that you'll treasure, and someone who can keep it all flowing effortlessly. That's what you get when you hire Kate! read more

Kate Michelle Photography - Session Photography Near Me

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Kate is an incredible photographer and so wonderful to work with! We had so much fun on our sunrise adventure shoot in Yosemite and were so grateful for all of Kate's inside knowledge of the park. She took us to the perfect spot to privately read our vows, and I can't get over how gorgeous all the photos came out. My husband and I had never had professional photos done before, and Kate truly put us at ease and kept everything lighthearted and fun. She also did an incredible job capturing all the sweetest moments and details at our ceremony the following day and we will cherish these photos forever. We cannot recommend Kate enough! read more

We had the BEST experience with Kate! She is extremely personable, funny and calming. We were anxious to get photos taken as we feel awkward and camera shy most of the time, and we had zero posing skills...but Kate managed to make us feel comfortable and the session was actually super fun and felt really natural. Gage and I can totally work a camera now and strike a pose...or TWO. We did the adventure package and went to a good couple of spots, we had a blast exploring Yosemite with her. She knows a lot of places!! Not to mention the photography skills and editing style was just the cherry on top. Straight out of a magazine!! Our family and friends LOVED every picture. I would frame every single picture if I could! I would recommend her for your wedding needs, you will not regret it!! read more

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! read more

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. read more

Kate was a dream come true, she literally made our whole day! Once upon a dream of eloping in Yosemite, we are now able to scroll through our photos and relive this dream. Kate was a whole experience, she is just a cool person for starters but to adventure through the park with her and have the most AMAZING photos taken of us just tops it all off! I will say I was nervous to be in front of the camera but Kate was very encouraging and my nervousness left quickly. I had so much fun with Kate and our day wouldn't of been what it was without her. Kate brought my dreams to life and made me feel so beautiful and I am forever grateful. During my planning process Kate was always available and one thing I can really appreciate is if she was going to be unavailable for any length of time she gave me a quick update so I was not left waiting and wondering. I reached out to Kate for a quote during my early stages of planning as I loved her work; her capturing techniques and talent. Kate has an eye and it sure was on point for our elopement as our photos have made my entire life! KATE all the way, no questions, DO IT!! Ryan & Chelsie (Georgia) read more

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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) read more

We hired Kate to photograph our wedding at the Brazilian Room in Berkeley and she did an absolutely wonderful job. Getting our photos back after the wedding was one of our favorite parts of the whole celebration. Kate arrived to the venue before the wedding and scouted out some great locations for our first look photos. We took most of our first look photos in a redwood grove a quarter mile from the venue. We were thrilled with the results and they are some of our favorites from that day. Kate also has a fantastic eye for candid shots. Kate captured a ton of great photos of people in the moment having laughing, dancing, making faces, or generally having a good time during the dinner and reception. She also did a great job of capturing every guest at the ceremony so we have something to remember everyone who was there. We loved the photos that Kate took at our wedding and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer. read more

Kate is no less than absolutely amazing. We didn't really think much about taking engagement photos (tip of life: always take engagement photos, it's totally worth it), but took the opportunity to spend the afternoon with Kate in Yosemite and it was just perfect. Neither of us had ever had professional photos of us taken but Kate made us both feel so comfortable and like total rockstars. She is so relaxed but tuned in to every little detail, making the day about you and your love in a beautiful setting. She is so easy-going and also makes you laugh, a lot, making for the most amazing, "in-the-moment" and candid shots. She has obviously honed her craft and it's so very obvious she loves what she does. She pushed us in the right directions but wasn't overbearing with directions on how to stand or what to do, resulting in natural and care-free looking photos. Her eye for light and place is stunning and we were so very impressed when we clicked through our album. She's also a total Yosemite local and knows all the ins and outs and the coolest places to go for the best shots. Kate is professional, she is easy-going, she is skilled in her craft and I would tell anyone I know to have her take their photos because it was the absolute best experience. A day (or more!) with her makes you feel like you are the most beautiful and perfect couple in all the world (because you are), and gives you stunning photos to treasure forever. read more

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I picked Kate to photograph my husband and me after our elopement in Yosemite and she *knocked it out of park*. She has such a warm, calm energy and her work speaks for itself. I have been obsessively reviewing my gallery and showing my pictures to anyone who will look. I despise taking pictures but Kate made it such a beautiful experience. I will forever be grateful to her for capturing this special day in my life. read more

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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!!! read more

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Communication: We had contacted Kate way back in mid 2019 to plan for an early June 2020 adventure elopement session in Yosemite. Throughout the year, she contacted us about the itinerary. Needless to say, June 2020 did not happen due to covid-19, and in the midst of my own personal crisis, I dropped the ball on the communication, but picked it back up, and Kate was so flexible getting us a new date at the end of August and we all pitched in getting the wilderness permit and was lucky to land one for May Lake. Close to the date, we chatted via phone, text, and email and she made sure we were set to go. Itinerary: Our plan was to meet at the May Lake trailhead in the early afternoon, bring our packs and set up camp at May Lake and hang out for a while until late afternoon, then we would head up to Mt Hoffmann for sunset photos. We then would take sunrise photos at the ridge at May Lake, and if we were up for it, take more photos elsewhere within Yosemite. Since we are from the Bay Area, SIP went on from March and was still in effect in August, and we hadn't done much to exercise, and was definitely out of shape by August. On top of that, coming from sea level, the elevation at the top of Mt Hoffmann took our breaths away, literally. Luckily, Kate "liked" breaks, though I think she only took them out of pity for us. Kate: Kate is GREAT! AWESOME! Insanely good at what she does! If you are looking for a photographer in Yosemite, please do yourself a favor and hire her. She knows Yosemite inside and out, she is personable, a yogi, a nature lover (she picks up the tiniest bits of trash that I don't even see to pack them out). She'll get you the photos you dreamed of and more. She'll bring the fun side out of you, and make taking photos with your significant other much less awkward. I actually had fun taking photos, and I'm usually the one behind the camera, not the other way around because I am camera-shy. Photos: Right after we said our goodbyes the next day, I wasn't planning on hearing back from Kate until at least a month later. WRONG! She sent some sample photos a few hours later, and I was wowed by how amazing they turned out, despite me not being wedding photo-ready at all. About a month later, we received our photo album and I'm still giddy at how amazing they are and still reminiscing about our fun little adventure in Yosemite. Everyone I showed the photos to were wowed by the epic views and how gorgeous everything turned out, and how well she captured our happiness and love. I love love love them, she even got a little dancing out of us, and we do not dance. At all. Thank you Kate for capturing the special memories of those two days and making 2020 a little bit brighter for us! :) read more

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We are so grateful to have met and worked with Kate. We knew we wanted to get married in Yosemite so when I started researching Yosemite -based wedding photographers, Kate's website is one of the first that I came across. Her website and portfolio seems so genuine that I immediately knew she is someone wonderful and exceptional to work with. I know many of the reviews already mentioned how wonderful it is to have a photographer familiar with the local area, so I won't go into further details there. What I will focus on is the way she works with us as a person. Kate did our engagement session and wedding, both in Yosemite. She is very thoughtful and attentive in the way she captured our special moments. There is no need to feel awkward or nervous around Kate if taking couple photos is a new thing for you. She has a calming presence that allows you to be yourself with your partner. When I came out of the car super nervous because I was about to marry my best friend, Kate reminded me to take deep breaths. And let me tell you, that is something that definitely made an impact. It brought me back to the present moment, which is the moment I think we all should be on our wedding day. Nothing else mattered. All of our friends and family who have seen Kate's work were very impressed by her photos. The friends and family who got to meet her in person told us numerous time how amazing Kate has been. She is there to capture the moments, but she did it in a way that doesn't feel intrusive at all. In fact, we felt as if she's part of the family. I truly enjoyed Kate's grounding and easy-going presence. Our wedding would not have been the same without her. Thank you, Kate! read more

If you're taking photos in Yosemite, you HAVE to choose Kate. From the beginning, Kate was quick to respond to any questions and concerns we had about our engagement photo shoot. Even leading up to the photo shoot, she would follow up with us to make sure we were in the loop about the logistics of our shoot. On the day of, Kate knew all the best spots to shoot in Yosemite. She made us feel comfortable the entire time during the shoot, and embraced our goofiness. Not only did our pictures turn out beautiful, but she also exceeded our expectations and sent us our pictures quicker than the promised turn-around time. Thank you, Kate, for such a fun experience and memories we can look back to forever! read more

If you're considering doing a family photo session in Yosemite then look no further than Kate! She captured AMAZING images of my family and I. She is extremely talented. She will make you feel comfortable and capture you and your family as you naturally are together. read more

Kate is truly amazing!! We hired her for our engagement photos in Yosemite, and we are so happy we did! The email and text communication with her was great, and she was incredibly helpful throughout the entire process, from outfit ideas to knowing the best locations in the park to our beautiful sunrise shoot. Kate made the whole process so fun, memorable, and comfortable. She is so sweet and very talented. We absolutely love our photos!! read more

Kate is such a remarkably talented photographer! She knows so much about Yosemite, she helped us plan our elopement and took us to some spots we would never have known about. She was such a calming presence on our wedding day. It's been four months and I still look at our photos almost daily because they're just so beautiful. If you've seen Kate's pictures, you know they're worth a thousand words and she is 110% worth the investment! Can't recommend her enough! read more

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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! read more

AMAZING PHOTOS for our Yosemite wedding and engagement shoot. She knows all the best and secret spots in the park! Spots with no crowds! I am not photogenic at all, and my husband also takes photos as a hobby and has a very high standard. We are so in love with our photos! My friends say our pictures are the dreamiest, most romantic photos they've ever seen! Kate made us feel so comfortable and helped lead us in the right direction! read more

Kate Michelle Photography - Yosemite wedding - Session Photography Near Me

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Kate was the most wonderful photographer! We booked her for our engagement shoot at Yosemite and it was the best choice I have made since being engaged. She was lovely to work with and helped us to feel comfortable. She also knows the park so well and was able to take us around the park to hidden spots that were intimate and beautiful. Our picture were AMAZING!! read more

Weddings have so many moving pieces, it's hard to really enjoy the moment and take it all in. Photos are one way to help cement the beautiful moments and create reminders for lasting memories. It was actually our honor to work with someone like Kate, a local to the Yosemite area, her dedication towards her craft left a lasting impression on us. Kate went above and beyond to capture majestic moments throughout our wedding day, and also creating a tailored plan to successful shoot our engagement and set wedding photos. You can never really expect or assume anything when shooting in nature. That's where having a local who is flexible and skilled really makes a difference. Yosemite having been such a major part of her youth, Kate is prepared to handle whatever Yosemite and the weather brings that day. The photos were amazing and breathtaking; something ourselves and our friends and families will cherish to remember the celebration. But for us the photos will remind us of much more than just the wedding, they will remind us posing in the cold, learning about Yosemite from a local, but most of all, learning about the person behind the camera, their journey, their perspective. Thank you Kate for making the entire experience unforgettable. We are grateful that through this experience of hiring a photographer to take our wedding photos, we were able to meet a brilliant Yosemite girl who we could call a friend. read more

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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. read more

Kate Michelle Photography - Session Photography Near Me

Kate is an amazing photographer local to the Yosemite area! Her familiarity with Yosemite and the surrounding areas alleviated a lot of stress regarding our wedding and photography because we could trust that she would know how to navigate the park, as well as know where to take beautiful photos with great views. She was also able to recommend specific places based on our desires for a specific background in our photos. Kate is also very plugged in with the local wedding vendor community and was happy to provide additional information on vendors. Although we also live in the area, had we been traveling to Yosemite for our wedding, I would have been extra thankful for Kate's expertise and knowledge of the area. Aside from her knowledge of the local area, Kate is also an extremely talented photographer and captured our wedding beautifully. I could have never imagined that my wedding photos would look like they were straight from a magazine! Kate has an eye for the small moments and details without missing the big moments. She is also responsive, helpful, and professional. I am so pleased with how our wedding photos turned out and so thankful that Kate was able to capture so many of the details I missed! read more

I knew the second I clicked on Kate's Instagram page, her work and style was one of a kind and exactly what I was looking for. From the jaw-dropping landscape shots to the absolutely gorgeous, soft intimate shots, her work literally made me gasp out loud. Love at first sight! Kate came to us as a recommendation after we were forced to reschedule our big wedding, originally planned at the Ahwahnee in May 2020, to the following May 2021 due to Covid. In the meantime, we decided to elope at Glacier Point on June 27th with a sunrise shoot then ceremony. In all transparency, I was more nervous about the photo shoot than the actual ceremony/getting married part as I am not one for photo shoots or taking pictures of myself. But Kate instantly made me feel at ease that morning. She is so calming and just a really cool, down to earth person. I felt an instant friendship/connection and like I had known her forever. She also has a true passion for the park, photography, and celebrating love that just exudes when you meet her. I felt so confident being in her hands. Her style is also incomparable to others and so unique. I originally thought I would prefer the more dramatic, jaw-dropping, landscape shots because, well, that landscape is probably the heart of ALL of our love affairs with the park and my main motivator for eloping on Glacier Point, ESPECIALLY with a sunrise shoot/ceremony. I don't get up at 2:30am for hair and makeup for just anyone... but when I do... it's for Yosemite. To my very pleasant surprise, her more intimate, candid, soft, tender shots were equally as beautiful and breathtaking. This really speaks volumes to her talent as a photographer and artist. To have such depth and scope and diversity and be able to capture ALL of the moments of that morning is incredible because it would be so easy just to lean on the beautiful backdrop. Needless to say, I had such a hard time choosing my favorites to print... that I ended up just printing them all :) Also side note, I would definitely recommend getting your prints from her. The quality is SO much better than say a CVS or Walgreens. We also purchased some canvases and they are STUNNING on our walls. True works of art. We are SO thankful Kate was a part of our special day and that the Covid craziness ended up leading us to something so beautiful. We are already planning other excuses to have Kate capture our moments: maternity, anniversary, just because lol. Beautiful, breathtaking, stunning, jaw-dropping, emotional, intimate, candid, tender, talented, patient, kind... that is Kate. We are forever grateful for her! read more

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Photos are the most important part of your wedding day because they are a reflection of the happiest day of your life. That being said, we couldn't be happier with how ours turned out with Kate! Not only did she capture formals and all the exact poses we wanted together, she also captured countless beautiful candids. Your wedding day is such a whirlwind that you can miss a lot of sweet moments with guests, but Kate captured all those which was so special to see after it was all over. Yes, we would most definitely go with Kate again! Not only is she super talented but she is kind, goes with the flow, did not add ANY stress to my day, stays on schedule, and comes prepared. She is organized and professional - which is what you need on your wedding day. We had her for the max amount of time and had her bring a second shooter, which I also recommend. It was also really important for us to NOT have a first look, which was not even an issue. We still had more than enough time for family photos, friend photos, and plenty of time for bride and groom photos. Thanks Kate for capturing so many beautiful memories on our wedding day! read more

My now husband and I decided to take a trip and elope in Yosemite National Park where my best friend performed the ceremony. My friend, who has been in the park for 15 years now, hired Kate for us as our wedding gift. She would know who the best or the best would be, so we let her take pick. I could not have asked for a better surprise than when we got our photos back in record time and they were perfect! We were so nervous for this part of our day, but Kate truly made us both feel so comfortable and confident. She captured all of the candid moments without us even noticing. This day was so special, but we will always remember it exactly as we should, due to the quality and professional work of our photographer Kate! read more

Warning, this is going to be a long review so you better pop a squat. Back in 2018 I found Kates Instagram (at that time she went by Over The Moon Photography). Her pictures were elegant, soft and light. They portrayed the happiness of her clients wedding day with such a beautiful perspective. In 2019 I became engaged so I reached out to her to inquire about wedding services. Her prices were more than fair so I made my deposit for our October 3rd 2020 wedding date. I had an almost two year engagement so I had a lot of time to plan, change my mind and plan some more. I reached out to Kate monthly and sometimes weekly with all of my questions and anxieties as I was planning a destination wedding. She always made herself available and went above and beyond what a normal photographer would. Over time, I turned to her about life questions and looked to her as an inspiration and a mentor. She has an IG account called "Sierra Grown", and I always look forward to the wisdom in her posts. Last year she rebranded herself as "Kate Michelle Photography" and has a great bio and blog on her website. She puts so much time into her work and has a passion for what she does. Everyone should check it out. She is a native of Yosemite which gives her a huge advantage on knowing the best spots and how to make the beauty of the forest, work for her. I've also seen her work for out of state weddings and it is exceptional as she has great vision with a creative eye. As my engagement journey progressed the world was suddenly caught off guard by Covid. I was so overwhelmed with wedding planning and having so much money on the line with wedding vendors. Kate put all my anxieties to rest and helped me survive 6 months of the "unknown". If you can't already tell, I am an over thinker and very anxious. Kates communication skills are loving and uplifting and she's always willing to help. The pandemic shook out most of our guests and we were down to 12. The original number was 44. We got to our month countdown and then the California fires started. This has been the most trying year of all time. Kate talked me through it and was confident that everything would be ok. A week before our trip, all but 2 guests canceled (including the friend who was supposed to marry us.) Kate asked her dear friend to marry us and he quickly committed. I swear Kate is magical... She even said she had a backup plan and we could travel away from the park if the fire hadn't subsided. Our special day finally arrived and went better than I could have ever imagined. It was small and intimate and lovely. Her friend married us and was a great addition to how perfect the day truly was. I was so comfortable with Kate as we had built a good relationship in the almost 2 years we were in touch. I'm actually happier that our group size was so small. Kate took us to some really amazing spots to capture our love and she made it so easy. We even got to christen a never before photographed place and she called it "The Russell spot". And holy moly was that the most gorgeous picture of all time. All of our friends and family said it looks like it's out of a magazine. Kate carried all of our things and paid attention to the littlest details like my necklace being in the right position. She incorporated all of the visions I had. She collaborated with us on some ideas we had like having our first dance on the beach with a Bluetooth speaker. At one point her and I looked over to a beautiful fern meadow and we saw had the same idea at the same time and just nodded at each other. My Fiance and I made our way over to the most dreamy spot. Needless to say, that shot didn't disappoint. The last place we ended up was the river as I wanted some shots in the water, and she was more than excited to make it happen for us. I didn't plan for that so I was soaked in a 20 pound dress after we got the shots. She offered me a spare outfit from her car. She is thoughtful and caring and puts her clients needs above her own. We have a reception back home to celebrate with our family on Saturday. I told Kate that and she got me some pictures over night in less than 12 hours so I'd have something to display at the party. Long story short, I didn't just find a wedding photographer, I made a friend for life. If you are considering having your wedding in Yosemite, you'll be in the best hands with Kate. Follow her work on Instagram and you will quickly see that she is not someone to overlook. My wedding day was the most magical day and she was a huge part in making it happen. I would hire her a hundred times again.... Jennifer Russell read more