Hello and Welcome!  

Thank you for taking time out of your day to visit my photography website.

I have been honored in the past 21 years of full-time Professional Photography to have served over 625 Weddings, and hundreds of family, senior, real estate, pet, headshots, and lifestyle photography sessions.

Each one of my Photography sessions is unique and reminds me of how much I love telling the story of the Wedding day, family, senior, or real estate.  I have captured Weddings located in Northern Michigan, all the Midwest states, Florida, California, Alaska, North Carolina, Spain, Caribbean islands, and Mexico.

I travel anywhere, and I welcome it with open arms.

Paul Retherford Photography is based on service first.  I grew up in the service industry.

I have had the pleasure of working with all sorts of different Clients from headshot photography all the way to extravagant Wedding photography, real estate photography, family photography, aerial photography, senior photography, and Photo Booth.

What you receive from me is much more than a typical “Photographer.”  I offer you support, advice, professionalism, and a smile during the entire process.  You are treated like my family.  I know that having the most professional people surrounding me helps enhance your experience and my photography.

For Weddings, Events, and Family Photography, my day typically begins way before Wedding Photography or Event Photography.  I scout the area both online and in person to locate the perfect image locations for you.  On the day of the Wedding or Event, I make sure to show up early to capture images of the venue or location and to make sure that I scout the area for other wonderful Wedding and Event locations too.  I speak with Wedding coordinators or people with local knowledge prior to the day to make sure that we have the absolute perfect match for you.

My mind is always thinking ahead of the current image frames and foreseeing what is going to happen.

If you would like a team of Photographers at your Wedding or Event I can set up as many Photographers as you wish.  I also work well as a team member with other vendors to relieve my clients of stress.

I like to draw attention to the Wedding and Event details using a variety of techniques.  My eye for composition and capturing pleasing personality images sets me apart from other studios.  I utilize off-camera lighting techniques to welcome the gorgeous colors of your destination Wedding day including the sky, lakes, and natural environment.  The off-camera lighting also brings images to life by creating three-dimensional images.  I will tell the true story of your Wedding day, just as it looks to you.

Paul Retherford Photography commissions only 20 Weddings per year.  If you love my gorgeous images, I will guarantee that you will love my service, communication, organizational skills, personality, and ultimately the final photography products.

The services that I offer are Wedding photography, fusion audio and video photography videography, aerial drone photography, multiple photographers, photo booth, time-lapse photography, family photography, headshots, real estate photography, pet photography, and senior photography.  My specialty is Wedding Photography.

Testimonials about my services are the highest compliment from the clients.  Please take the time to view my testimonials from a selection of my beautiful Brides! Over 135 reviews and counting on an online, independent source that I cannot remove and/or change.

Below are some quick facts about my life.  I look forward to hearing about your day and how I can help make your life easier.  I am also a great resource for Wedding and Event vendors too!  Other than a Wedding planner or coordinator, I am the one person who works directly with all of the vendors.  Even if you do not book my photography services, take some time to chat with me.

I look forward to working with you before, during, and after your Wedding day or Event Photography.  Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you.

 

Fun facts about Paul Retherford Photography in no particular order:

~Full-time Professional Photographer and Destination Wedding Photographer

~75% of my Photography is Wedding Photography

~The other 25% is family photography, engagements, vow renewals, real estate, photo booth, and seniors

~Commission 20 Weddings per year

~Captured over 625 Weddings and hundreds of real estate, families, headshots, and seniors

~Captured my first Wedding at the age of 18 in the country Spain

~100% satisfied client rating, see reviews at Paul Retherford Wedding Reviews

~Started formal Photography in 7th-grade Yearbook with my first Canon Rebel film camera

~Studied Photography through junior high, high school, and college

~College Graduate from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin

~Played high school and college varsity sports

~Yearbook Editor and Chief Photographer at St. Norbert College

~Volunteered two terms with AmeriCorps*USA in Northern California with California Fish and Game

~Originally accepted to Peace Corps for Ghana but leave date was on my best friend’s wedding day.   I declined

~Father of the three best kids ever and a cool dog

~Started Photography as a Nature Photographer where I learned photography composition, macro photography, motion photography, flash photography, manual photography, and more.

~Published photography, exhibited photography, stock photography, fine art photography, Internationally recognized photographer

~Canon Professional cameras and lenses, DJI professional drone

~Member of Canon Professional Services

~Fully licensed, lots of backup photography equipment, and insured

~Extremely fast turnaround time, you won’t believe it!

~FAA licensed drone photography and videography pilot

~Licensed 100-ton Master of Inland Waterways Captain

~Licensed Real Estate Salesman

~I have my mixologist license 🙂

~Pride myself on stress-free Photography

~Worked on fishing boat in Islamorada, Florida for a year while living in Key Largo

~Worked in Chicago as bartender at The Green Door Tavern and Stocks and Blondes

~Grew up in Alpena, Michigan

~Love the Great Lakes and photographing Weddings on Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario

~I have driven and photographed in all 50 United States

~My family recycles over 80% of our waste

~I grew up fishing on my father’s fishing boat in Alpena and Presque Isle, Michigan, and fishing Professional tournaments along Lake Huron.

~I lived in Washington D.C. for a semester in college

~Part of the International Environment and Development Semester which traveled to Kenya, East Africa for a month

~Spent time traveling Europe via Eurail pass

~Traveled to Panama, the country, and visited the Darien and San Blas islands with the Kuna Indians

~Traveled to St. Thomas, St. John, Isla Mujeres, and Cancun

~Spent time in Spain

~Love to travel!

~Love Sushi and pizza, separate not together. 🙂

~Guarantee everything that I do, or I will fix it

~Check out my photography on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, Vimeo, Flickr, and Pinterest

~We WILL have fun on your Wedding day

~My style of photography will soothe your nerves on your day.  I have been referred to as human Xanax, a magician, a ninja, a master, and more:-)

~I love Mackinac Island and capturing Wedding photography there on my bike

~Come visit us in Northern Michigan!  I have a Petoskey, Michigan downtown office now at 325 East Lake Street.

Services offered: Wedding Photographer, Engagement Photographer, Vow Renewal Photographer, Anniversary Photographer, Family Photographer, Surprise Engagement Photographer, Drone Photographer, Aerial Photographer, Real Estate Photographer, Property Photographer, Portrait Photographer, Studio Photographer, Senior Photographer, High School Photographer, Event Photographer, Corporate Photographer, Pet Photographer, Party Photographer, Bar Mitzvah Photographer, Birthday Photographer, Baby Photographer, Photo Booth, Photobooth