We hired Michelle later in our wedding planning process, which could have easily added more stress, but Michelle handled everything with such a calm and collected presence from the very beginning.

Michelle and her husband, Eric, made everyone feel comfortable, relaxed, and genuinely happy throughout the entire process and on our wedding day. They were also so much fun to be around, which made the experience even more enjoyable and helped everyone feel at ease in front of the camera.

Michelle was confident and organized, and she had no problem taking charge when it came time to gather everyone for photos, give direction, and explain her vision. That was incredibly helpful, especially in the moments when we weren’t quite sure what to do or where to go next.

She guided us when we needed it, while still making everything feel natural and enjoyable. Michelle was kind, professional, respectful, and wonderful with every person she interacted with.

We were also so impressed with how quickly she returned our photos. The turnaround was amazing, and when we received them, we were absolutely blown away by how beautiful they were. She captured the day so perfectly and gave us photos that we will truly treasure forever.

We’re so grateful we found Michelle and Eric and had them there to capture such an important day for us. They made the entire experience easy, comfortable, fun, and memorable, and we would absolutely recommend Michelle Zapanta Photography to anyone looking for a photographer they can trust on their wedding day.

Michelle was an incredible photographer! We could not recommend her enough. We did a destination wedding in Ireland and she made the process so smooth. Michelle answered all of our questions and would send follow up emails or send a link to jump on a zoom to ensure nothing fell through the cracks in the planning stage leading up to the big day. Michelle did an awesome job rallying both of our large families. Getting a group of 30+ people all in one photo is no easy task and Michelle made her voice heard and got us lined up with no problems. Michelle worked with us for various locations and photo ideas we had in mind along with bringing her own creative and fun ideas to the table. Michelle checked all of our boxes for a photographer and we would absolutely use her again for future photos. She made us feel comfortable and brought out the fun effortless vibe we wanted in our photos. She is the best!

We were drawn to Michelle because of her beautiful, light and airy style — it was exactly the vibe we wanted for both our engagement and wedding photos. Her portfolio really stood out, and we appreciated how creative and approachable she was from the start. Her website made it easy to understand her packages and get in touch, and setting up an in-person meeting felt effortless.

Michelle is incredible! Her warmth and genuine eye for storytelling really shine through in her photography. From the moment we met her, she made us feel comfortable and excited. She met us at a location of our choosing and walked us through more of her work — I was blown away by the creativity behind the poses and how natural everything felt. She also knows the Chicagoland and Chicago area inside and out, and can suggest the perfect spot for whatever vibe you're dreaming of.

Michelle’s communication was impeccable throughout the entire process. She responded quickly to any questions or ideas I had and was always one step ahead when it came to scheduling, sending reminders, and sharing things like the print release. She made the planning process feel seamless and stress-free.

On the day of our wedding, Michelle and Erick were absolute troopers. It was the start of a Chicagoland heatwave, but they stayed upbeat, professional, and full of good humor the entire time. Michelle took the time to learn and use everyone’s names — a small touch that made a big difference — and was incredibly thoughtful in how she worked with our family and friends. She always asked before gently posing people, which made everyone feel comfortable and respected. I truly loved working with both of them.

Michelle and Erick were respectful, fun, and engaging with everyone they interacted with — from us, to our guests, to our wedding party. They struck the perfect balance between giving direction and letting moments unfold naturally, which helped keep the atmosphere light and enjoyable all day long.

Our final wedding gallery is absolutely perfect — even better than I could have imagined. Michelle captured the ideal mix of beautifully posed portraits and genuine, candid moments. Her creativity in using our venue was impeccable, and every photo feels intentional and full of emotion. We’ll treasure these images forever.

One moment that really stood out was when Michelle pulled out an entire styling kit to enhance our detail shots — I was blown away by the care and creativity she brought to even the smallest elements. And her use of my veil led to some of the most stunning, romantic photos I’ve ever seen. She truly elevated every aspect of the day.

I received a set of teaser photos just a week after the wedding, and the full gallery was ready within two weeks — which was amazing. The delivery process was smooth and easy to navigate, and getting to relive the day so soon after was such a gift.

We would absolutely recommend Michelle and Erick to anyone looking for photographers who are professional, creative, and truly care about capturing your story. Their talent, warmth, and thoughtful approach made our wedding experience even more special.

Words cannot describe how thankful we are to Michelle and her team! She truly made our wedding day PERFECT! She was amazing from the first day we booked her. She is so knowledgeable, responsive and organized and you see it carry over into her work. She was professional and friendly too. She was the perfect amount of suggestive and assertive when she needed to keep us on our timeline for the day and with some of the wedding guests and family that needed it :) Michelle made me feel at ease the whole day and throughout the whole planning process. That is priceless to me.

I am very picky with photography because I love it so much and was anxious with how the pictures would turn out. They were STUNNING! I don't know how she is so skilled and made us look that good! If I had to do it all over again, I would hire Michelle 100x over. No regrets and absolutely speechless with her photography and how she made my wedding perfect. She also had all of my 1700 photos ready for us while we where still on our honeymoon! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Michelle!
Jeremy & Amanda 10/11/24

Michelle went above and beyond to make our day amazing. She was on top of all the photography timelines and questions throughout the entire planning process and especially the day of the wedding. Michelle will make you feel comfortable even if you are not great at posing or taking pictures. She is very professional and responsive throughout the entire process and will help tailor to whatever requests you have. The pictures turned out amazing and she lets you save down all her photos without an extra charge. I highly recommend her as your photographer!

We hired Michelle as our wedding photographer, and we could not be happier with our decision to do so. Right from the beginning, Michelle was extremely kind, caring, & helpful. She went out of her way countless times to ensure our visions came to life! She made us feel comfortable in front of the camera and made all our shoots light and fun. On our wedding day, it ended up raining which ruined a lot of our plans. Thankfully, Michelle was able to think quickly and came up with new locations for photos that resulted in beautiful pictures! All of our family told us how nice & professional our photographer was after our wedding. Do yourself a favor and hire Michelle for your big day! You will be SO glad you did!

Michelle is a phenomenally talented photographer. Her eye for composition, color, and texture makes every photo feel like it belongs to a luxury lifestyle magazine. Working with Michelle is a dream, she communicates well as a vendor, arrives with enough to time for set up before shooting, and is prepared with her own accents to seamlessly incorporate into your detail shots. Michelle can visualize and execute stunning portraits by utilizing surroundings and lighting. She is also able to coach virtually anyone and make them feel comfortable in front of the camera. Michelle is extremely efficient when working! I am so impressed with the number of quality and unique images she supplied in such a short time. My only regret working with Michelle is that our schedule for the day could allow more time with her behind the camera.

Michelle
Our family has worked with Michelle on multiple occasions, from engagement pictures to weddings. If you’re looking for a photographer for anything, then you are in the right spot.

Michelle is naturally one of the most kind, generous, and funny people I have worked with in the wedding industry. Her passion for photography shines in her hard work and dedication to everything she does.

One of my biggest fears going into a photoshoot was feeling awkward about how to pose, smile, and where to put my hands. I don’t know what it is about Michelle, but she makes this so fun, easy, and natural. I felt so comfortable the entire time and the pictures we received were above and beyond.

I have left every session feeling like Michelle is part of our family and an amazing friend. If you have the opportunity for Michelle to bring her husband along, then you’re really in the right spot for a photographer. Michelle and her husband are an amazing team and do everything to get the perfect shot.

Lastly, Michelle puts her heart into every session she does. She gets to know the space, and focal points and lighting of where she will be shooting. She shows up to the event with a plan and a vision on how she’s going to capture the day.

All I can say is, you will not be disappointed when that email comes through with your completed album. 10/10 would recommend.

Michelle made the whole process relaxing and provided enough couching to ensure our pictures were the best they could be. It was our first professional photo shoot and Michelle made it feel like it was a normal day for us as she captured beautiful photos.

Genuine and caring photographer!