Meet Mikkel Paige Photography!

Our paths constantly cross, from styled shoots to weddings. Mikkel Paige is someone we feel so lucky to have befriended in the wedding industry – she always brings such positive energy and light, whether it’s on the aisle or via email, and so today we’re so excited to pick her brain a little on what it’s like being a wedding photographer!

Read on to see what she has to share!

1. When was the first moment you knew you wanted to do this for your career? 

I’ve wanted to be in the wedding industry for a long time but it’s morphed since childhood. I wanted to plan Disney Fairy Tale Weddings as a child. Then I wanted to do party planning in college and interned with a huge event planner in Manhattan one summer (which changed my mind!). When photography came into my life it was a no brainer: I knew I wanted to photograph weddings.

2. What do you do to understand a couple’s vision and bring it to life? 

I love knowing what they’re excited about – whether the band, the dress seeing each other for the first time that day, etc. I then take those key moments and ensure they’re highlighted on their personalized wedding day photography timeline I create for them. I get extra photos of the things they were most looking forward to and I’m always sure to communicate with couples efficiently and in a timely manner so they know they’re my #1 priority. Because they are!

3. What advice do you have for couples about hiring a vendor in your category?

Be sure you feel comfortable with the person/vendor and trust your gut. If you get a great feeling go with it. If you don’t, be cautious! Also be sure to take note of if they’re replying to you quickly or taking forever and a day. That communication is likely to stay the same not improve after you hire them. Also be sure you like the photos and they are consistent. You don’t want to hire a photographer only to find out their editing style changed after the wedding. (This is usually only the case with newer photographers who are still trying to find their style.) Also know that when a photographer costs more, it’s likely it’s because you’re getting more whether that means more experience, client care or products.

4. What is the biggest misconception about vendors in your category and/or what you do? 

That all we do is “show up and shoot.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. About 95% of my job is at a computer, editing files, writing emails, doing accounting, writing timelines, ensuring things are backed up properly, caring for my photography equipment and dealing with website and social media. Only about 5% is the actual wedding day and traveling to/from the location.

And now for some rapid-fire fun questions…

5. Favorite song lyric?

“Clock strikes upon the hour…and the sun begins to fade…ohhhhhh, I wanna dance with somebody…”

6. You can bring three things to a desert island where you’ll be living the rest of your life. What are they?

My camera, my husband and the throw blanket on my couch!

7. Who or what is your spirit animal?

Dachsunds 🙂

8. How do you decompress after a hard day?

Hot bath and a glass of wine!

9. What was the last vacation you went on?

The Netherlands. We have a travel website so we travel a LOT!

10. What’s one thing in your closet you can’t live without?

My Reef flip-flops!

Follow @mikkelpaige on Instagram now to see her work in action!