My fiancé and I booked Mike to do a little engagement shoot for us, and oh my gosh, it was incredible! First off, Mike is hilarious. We were laughing and able to ease into having a camera in front of our faces after just a few minutes. Mike told us exactly how he wanted us to pose, where to look, and what to do. There was no guesswork for us! On top of all of that, our pictures were INCREDIBLE. We are blown away. Seriously, these photos are going to last us a lifetime and we're going to be looking at them forever. They aren't even our wedding photos and we're that stoked about them! Villa Visuals is who you need to hire if you want incredible photos!

Mike is the best.

He shot my wedding a couple years ago, and he killed it.

Mike is an extremely talented photographer and a great human. He is a master of light and composition, and utilizes some of the best equipment available today for photographers. While he excels in his portraits, his style is more photo journalistic, as he finds creative ways to capture all of the events naturally during the wedding day. You won’t always notice Mike taking photos, because he is constantly finding unique angles to capture in the background, like a ninja. He is always present, but never intrusive, which allows you to feel relaxed and enjoy your special day.

I actually film wedding videos as part of my work, and have filmed a few weddings along side Mike. I have worked with hundreds of different wedding photographers, and I truly believe Mike is one of the elites.

Here are some reasons why:
-He is a confident shooter, and does not rely of burst firing his camera hoping he got the shot. Needs only a few shutter fires then moves quickly on to framing another perspective.
-He is a master of natural light and artificial light(flash). He can craft beautiful natural daylight, or stylize a moment with the accents of precisely positioned flashes.
-He owns and utilizes the best camera gear in order to deliver the best photos he possibly can.
-He takes the stress out of the wedding day. It is important to feel comfortable in front of the lens to exude the right emotions, and Mike knows how to get you to that level.
-He works well along side other wedding vendors (videographer, coordinator, etc) seeking to create an overall successful wedding day in all aspects

So if you admire the photos on Mike’s website and portfolio, I would not hesitate to book him for your wedding. He truly is a special talent, and consistent and confident in his work. His personality is infectious, and I guarantee you will have made a new friend by the end of your wedding day.

This review is two years late, but I hope the time gap only speaks to how much we still love and cherish the memories captured for us by Mike and his team. To start, I had Mike shoot two wedding receptions (one in the US, one abroad) since I wanted the photo styles to be consistent and story-telling to be cohesive. Right from the first consultation call, Mike put me at ease since he was laid back/flexible but also really knew what he was talking about. You’d almost be wrong to think he would be chill about how he shoots too since he was so easy to talk to. But if you are here reading this review, you already have an idea that he has pretty high standards for the perfect frame and the most impeccable angle for light. To this day, my family, partner and I regularly pull up his photos in awe. Mike hasn’t missed those big and small moments even if they only happened in a flash (no pun intended). He captured a photo of me and my friends that literally only happened for a second without warning.

With one of the receptions happening abroad, he also made all the logistics so easy on my part. So much happened behind the scene without me knowing (location scout in advance, his travel arrangements, gear, etc.), and I am so thankful I didn’t have to add another thing to my plate to check off. It is extremely important to have someone that fully has your back on your big day(s), and Mike made it so much easier to take stress of the day as a fun and supportive vendor.

I should also add that I was probably pretty picky and had quite a few ask, but Mike exceeded all of my expectations and added extra doses coolness. I’ve been telling all my LA friends about Mike, but he’s also clearly an adventurer should you consider him for any other cities!