Wedding Ceremony with tall pines as backdrop

SHONDA MICHELSON PHOTOGRAPHY

northern Michigan photographer

Documentary storytelling photography for

elopements, small outdoor weddings & engagement photos

Couple walking through a field
black and photo of a couple hugging in the middle of the woods.
Couple snuggling on the couch
Brides holding one another at sunset on the rocky beach of lake Huron.
Couple wrapped up in each others arms
What I do

I offer natural, stress-free photos that document your story authentically.

Northern Michigan Weddings

One of my specialties is documenting wedding day stories for adventurous and offbeat couples who crave natural, stress-free photos of their story.

Michigan Elopements

Elopements are special because you get to do your wedding day YOUR way, and I’m all about that! Let me document your story and help you plan a day where you can relax and enjoy every moment!

small outdoor wedding ceremony

Engagements & Couples

Let’s meet up and create some AMAZING photos together that are far from the usual ones you see everywhere. You’ll love how easy and fun it is!

INQUIRE
Photographer Shonda Michelson GIF
HELLO

I’m SHONDA

Hey!! I’m Shonda, a documentary wedding photographer in Grayling, Michigan. I love documenting elopements and intimate weddings of off-beat and adventurous couples who are madly in love. Couples who travel to the beat of their own drum & like to do things their own way. Evoking genuine emotion through art to create wonderful memories that convey your authenticity and love between you and your partner.

READ MY STORY

How it works

01.
REACH OUT

Contact me and let me know what you’re looking for. I’ll let you know my availability and then we can talk about details & I’ll send you my full price menu.

02.
BOOK WITH ME

After you select your package or session options, sign a photography contract, and pay the required retainer fee, you’re officially booked and we’ll start planning.

03.
BEST DAY EVER

When it’s time for your photos you’ll be able to relax and just let things happen without worrying about photos. You get to be yourself and have fun!

from the blog
MORE ON THE BLOG
THEY HAVE THE KINDEST THINGS TO SAY
“Shonda has an incredible gift for helping you connect with the genuine emotions and uniqueness of your relationship. We had so much fun and completely forgot we were at a photo shoot”
Katlyn + Rigo
Shonda was like a breath of fresh air during the chaos of the day, and she not only captured the beauty of the land — we now have pictures of loved ones in moments that we will treasure forever. Her craft and contribution was worth every penny… probably the most important expense of the whole day.
Liz + Mike
She knew how to make two people who hate their pictures taken to figure out how not to look awkward. It was well worth the money to book a photographer that knows how to work with people to bring out their best, natural selves in photos.
Anna + Jesse