Meet Paige Michels | Engagement and Wedding Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paige Michels and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paige, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Ever since I was a little girl I knew I always wanted to do something creative. I also always knew I wanted to have my own Business. I didn’t know what that looked like or what it would be in. It took me a long time to figure out what that was for me and to get the bravery to take the leap. Growing up artistic careers were painted risky, and lazy. I was always told if you want to make it in this world you go to college for something practical and I did that. I ended up going to school for computer science and I tried to convince myself that it was creative enough for me. During that time in college I got more and more into photography. I never knew it could become my career, until one day a friend mentioned that I should go for it. For some reason I took that and ran with it and have not looked back. I feel so incredibly lucky that I get to photograph people as my job. It is truly a dream.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a photographer based out of Fort Lauderdale, FL. I am also lucky enough to travel and take on weddings across the USA. I specialize in Engagement and Wedding Photography, but I have dabbled in a range of business events, graduation, and artistic shoots. There is nothing I love more than capturing an authentic couples love story. Instead of focusing on traditional poses and forced smiles, I like to capture real moments. I strive to connect with my clients by meeting them beforehand to learn about their story and what they want to see in their photos. This way I know how to pull out their more authentic selves in front of the camera. My style is a mix of capturing candid moments while giving directions for unique posing. I want my clients to feel the intimacy of the moment, and forget the camera is there, I like them to get lost in the experience and not feel too mechanical. My goal is not only to deliver beautiful photos but also to foster an enjoyable experience for my clients—I want them to have fun. A little bit of my back story on how I got to where I am now. want to start by noting that it took a long time, a lot of introspection, and self-work to get me where I am today. I had a difficult childhood. Growing up I never felt like I had anyone in my corner supporting me or fostering my creativity. Upon reaching my teenage years I rebelled hard. I wanted to escape reality, I wanted to escape my low self-confidence. My actions quickly caught up to me and I ended up going to a treatment center at 19. Gratefully, I am now a few months shy of being 10 years sober. My life has changed dramatically; however, I still have struggled with feeling lost. I find my mind constantly pondering; “what am I going to be?”, “Who do I want to be?”, “what do I want to do?”. I also knew in my heart that I was to do something creative, but I was scared. People always say being an artist isn’t a Real Job, referring to the “Starting Artist” trope. That fear led me to push my dreams aside and I began a career in the restaurant industry. I became a manager of a restaurant at 20 years old and thought “I made it”. I was so proud of myself because I thought I had found a career. After a few years of working as a manager, my happiness diminished and the more, I realized it was not the path for me. This prompted me to go back to college; something I had convinced myself was necessary to make me worthy in the eyes of others. I pursued a degree in computer science, and I loved it. However, there was a voice in the back of my mind that this career did not align with my purpose in life. I love nothing more than connecting with people, and this career path completely cut off that avenue. As I was finishing my studies, I was exploring photography more and more, and I loved it. It came so naturally. But that fear remained, I did not think it was possible to make a living as a photographer, and I let those doubts hold me back. At this time, I was in a relationship and my partner encouraged me to pursue my dreams. He was the first person who helped me believe in myself and encouraged me to go after my passions. Although he is no longer in my life, I will always be grateful for him believing in me before I could believe in myself. Soon after I bought my first professional camera and took the leap. I started taking on clients and building my brand. Now, here I am a little less than a year later, with a successful photography business that just keeps growing. I cannot express how grateful I am that I get to do this job. I still have the occasional struggle with the Imposter Syndrome, but I remind myself daily that if I wasn’t good enough if it wasn’t meant to be, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First stop hands down is grabbing coffee at Wells. They have the best coffee in Fort Lauderdale and their staff is AMAZING. 10/1o would recommend the horchata cold brew. I would of course have to bring them down to the many beautiful beaches we have. Then we would pop down to Miami and visit Vizcaya Musuem and Gardens. I would have to take my friend to my favorite restaurant in town Loui Bossi. Lastly, would bop around to all the small local business. First business I would stop by is the wander shop it is the cutest boutique with really beautiful clothes along with some cute stationary and other nick nacks. And I could not leave out stopping and Blue Print Cookies they have the best cookies I have ever had in my life.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people in my life that I would like to thank for helping me believe in myself. All of my friends have been nothing but supportive of my dreams. Any time I struggle with self doubt or imposter syndrome they are in my corner cheering me on. The biggest thank you will always be to my friend who encouraged me to go after my dream. He helped me believe in myself and i will always be eternally grateful for that.

Website: paigemonet.com

Instagram: paigemonetphotos