Michael was my sister's wedding photographer back in 2003. When my husband and I got married last year, I knew that I had wanted to work with him since he did such an amazing job on my sister's wedding. Michael did not disappoint. We hired him to shoot our engagement photos, Chinese ceremony and wedding day photos and the photos turned out just as amazing as my sister's wedding photos. Michael likes to shoot a lot of candids from long lenses so he is able to capture the purest moments of people laughing, talking, smiling, crying etc. For our wedding, he was able to capture everyone's emotions that I am able to re-live our wedding day over and over again just by looking at his photos. Michael is very organized, responsive and professional. He was one of the easiest vendors to work with and my husband and I enjoyed getting to know him from a personal level. He was also able to complete our photo album two weeks after the wedding, which is unheard of. He work is priced very reasonably compared to the other photographers we interviewed. If you are looking for a photographer who takes genuine non-cheesy wedding photos, Michael is your guy! read more

Michael was such a pleasure to work with ! He went to the photo shoot sight ahead of time and was well prepared ! Every picture captured different moments and great memories. Michael was very responsive in email and phone calls and we got our pictures super fast ! It was overall a great experience. Also prices are very reasonable! read more

Michael Jonathan Studios - Photographers Near Me - Orange, California

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We couldn't be happier with our decision! Even after all the beautiful portfolio pics, amazing references, and complete personal comfort level there are always questions, but Michael and Andy knocked it out of the park like we never imagined! I'm not sure if they're part ninja or ghost, but I'm amazed by their ability to be everywhere all the time while never imposing. Even his direction for the "posed" shots was subtle. I'm pretty camera shy, but Michael made me feel completely comfortable throwing my head back and laughing out loud by myself. And the pictures look natural and better than any photos I've ever had! He's so lighthearted and fun that it's impossible to feel self-conscious! We had so many guests comment on how friendly and attentive our photographer was and how he didn't miss anything, but it was so very evident when we saw our photographs (which was surprisingly quick, BTW). Each detail that we put our thought and hearts into was captured, and more importantly we now have an unbelievable representation of our entire day with everyone we love and cherish depicted in a beautiful photographic story that we can enjoy forever. Thank you more than words can say Michael and Andy! -Kimberly and Joe read more

Michael is a genius, pure and simple. One visit to his website and you can see how well he captures all of the special moments at a wedding. He was a ton of fun to work with and our album is absolutely stunning. He was in charge on the day of the event and made sure that we got all of the shots, but also had lots of time to enjoy our wedding. He was completely unobtrusive during the wedding. We have so many amazing shots where I think "How did he get that? I don't remember seeing him there"...but he was! We had so many incredible photographs to choose from, it made the task of "cutting" very difficult! Our friends and family still comment on what an amazing job he did. Our wedding photographs were a BIG deal to me and I wanted ot make sure I had an incredible photographer. If you are the same way, look no further. Michael will not disappoint...he's just amazing! read more

Michael photographed my wedding back in 2000 back before digital cameras he did an amazing job I still look at his photos of the wedding he does and they are amazing. Michael knows what he is doing behind the camera. read more

Michael at is an amazing professional who's work speaks for itself. Some photographers post only their best and only get a few great photos, but every one of our 800 images from our wedding were absolutely gorgeous. Not to mention our GORGEOUS book. He is a master of lighting and knows his equipment well, and he has a passion for what he does. We were so glad he agreed to travel to do our wedding, and everyone at our small wedding loved him. He also got us our images edited in record time. While other couples waited 6months to get theirs, we had our images in our hands and our book done in less than half that time. I would highly recommend him for any event, big or small. read more

Five stars, indispensable, best decision I made about the wedding (aside from marrying my husband, of course). He: - Made me feel even more beautiful than I did on my wedding day (I liked my hair, makeup and veil BETTER after seeing the photos) - Helped PLAN my ceremony & reception (I would ask him, "How long should I schedule for photos with the grandparents", and even "What time do you think I should start getting ready"). He reviewed our entire schedule - Made me promise to spend at least 1 hour for "one-on-one photos" with my husband after the ceremony/before the reception, making possible my favorite photos from the entire day - Corralled our large family (he calls it "herding cats") and kept the pace, yet somehow still remained "invisible" - Helped us take the sweetest most personal photos by encouraging us to laugh, hold hands, lean into each other, close your eyes, etc...the photos from these poses are drop-dead-gorgeous, and the direction he gave us never felt intrusive - Took photos when I didn't know he was there (capturing moments I deeply treasure) - Wowed my entire family ("Wow, that photographer really knows his stuff", "Wow, that pose you guys did by the fountain looked like you were in a magazine shoot", "Wow, he has the best energy") - Throughout the year leading up to the wedding, sent me photos from other weddings asking for my opinion, so that he could get a feel for my favorite poses/styles/lighting - Has the most amazing eye for "good light" -- trust him when he takes you to an area with "good light," they will be your favorite photos! - Referred me to our DJ - Spent 1 hour on the phone the night before the wedding, going over details, telling me what to expect. This was indispensable information for a nervous bride. - I will forever be grateful to this talented, dedicated, and kind dude who loves his job so much, it's inspiring!! read more

Michael photographed my daughter's wedding this March and was professional, helpful and talented. During the pre-wedding months, he was always available to answer questions and offer direction. We are very pleased with the gorgeous photos. We also loved that he moved through the entire day quietly and discreetly to obtain those wonderful, "fly on the wall," candid shots. We recommend him highly. read more

Our daughter was married June 2011, and our entire family and wedding party was scattered all over the country before the event. We never had a chance to meet Michael, and needless to say, everyone was nervous and excited. Michael and his assistant were so calming and positive, they managed the event perfectly, and it felt like we all knew each other within 10 minutes. The photos were beautiful- they were not overly done up (I have a particular enmity to too much photoshop) and they captured the tone of the wedding- fun, not too formal, and very family focused. His prices are reasonable and he keeps in close touch with you as his process continues. He is professional, very experienced and very personable; you cannot ask for much more. read more

Michael photographed our wedding in Summer '10. The photos are absolutely stunning. Not only is his work exceptional, but it is very pleasant to work with him. He is professional and also very warm, friendly and accessible leading up to our event. I would not hesitate to recommend him to a friend or use him again for our photography needs. read more

Michael did both our engagement photographs and our wedding photographs in 2010. He did a wonderful job with both. When we were searching for our wedding vendors, everyone told us that the photographer was the most important - we needed to like his work and like him. We hit the jackpot with Michael - he is an amazing photographer, he's a great person, and his rates were incredibly reasonable. He was very easy to work with and very accessible to us both before and after our event. Our posed photographs were fantastic, and his candids caught some of the best moments in our wedding. Any couple would be lucky to have Michael as their photographer, and I would not hesitate to recommend him. read more

I am very particular with my photos, especially when it's "candid" shots. So, I was very nervous picking out the right photographer for the most important day of my life! We found Michael and our intial meeting, you could tell how much passion, hardwork and dedication Micahel puts into each of his photos. I was blown away by his work and knew immediately I couldn't miss the opportunity for him to take pictures at my wedding. His warm personality and professionalism also sealed the deal. On our wedding day, he knew how to handle everyone and how to capture those special moments. He took more than a thousand photos and there wasn't one I was disappointed with. They were all beautiful and I've received so many compliments on my wedding photos. I look at them at least once a week because he captured our wedding perfectly. You will NOT be disappointed if you hire Michael. He is the best in Orange County, hands down. read more

Michael did the most wonderful job as our wedding photographer and I would recommend him to anyone. He was absolutely wonderful to work with, very professional and excellent at getting people to do what he wanted them to do to get the perfect shot. I was extremely impressed and was so happy with every single picture he took. I have no complaints at all about my experience and now that the wedding is over and I have seen the final product with all my photos, I would encourage anyone to use him. Michael was the the best part of the wedding that I spent money on and I could not be more pleased. read more

Michael was the photographer for our wedding and he did an absolutely fabulous job. The guy was an absolute pleasure to work with and he really put forth so much time and effort. If you want a photographer who is a perfectionist and will get you the absolute best shot, he's your guy. If you want a photographer who is going to be on point, on time, and get your family and friends in line to get the pictures done just right, he's your guy. He was worth every penny and we're so glad we chose him as our photographer. read more

My daughter got married on New Years Eve 2010. I asked her what was most important to focus on and she said the 1) photographer, 2) venue and 3) dress. She said after it was all said and done, apart from the memories, we would only have the photos so they had to be amazing. My daughter is a school teacher and very particular about every detail. She had seen Michael's work before at a friend's wedding and was so impressed that we looked no further than him. He is so easy to work with and will take as many hours as necessary to review photos and crop different shots until everyone is satisfied. Even on New Years Eve, he stayed with us for over 10 hours! He is the best and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who expects the highest level of service. His prices are very reasonable and he has proofs to you for review before you know it. He also photographed the engagement pictures. This is a good idea so the bride and groom can develop a rapport with him early on. I suggest you book him early as there is only one of him and once he is booked, you will have to go to second best! read more