Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
From before she was even in high school, Michelle Kauntz has been a photographer at heart. And she's been a wedding photographer even longer than she, herself, realized. Michelle shoots in what her brides call "a natural, easy" style, and she uses her photography talents to serve up wedding memories that couples can love for a lifetime – both locally and abroad.
With packages that start and end when the couple chooses, and a specialization in destination wedding photography, it's no surprise that Michelle has become quite popular among brides. Telling staff at The Ring, "I would never charge to photograph a wedding," we wanted to know more about Michelle's company, Captured Soul Photography. Let us tell you...
Personally speaking...
Michelle Kauntz was fourteen when she held her first Nikon. "It was a Nikon Manual FE camera. I shared it with my mom but when she realized that I was starting to monopolize it, she gave it to me and bought another." Michelle is pretty sure she never put it down after that, shooting her first wedding while still in high school. "It was a small, intimate wedding for twenty to thirty people, but it was the first of many..." Eventually, Michelle began taking her creativity more seriously. She went to York University and got her Bachelor in Fine Arts. "I graduated with a concentration in creative writing, but also avidly studied photography, screen writing, theatre and multimedia, and I use all of them with my weddings. I'm now a storyteller through photos."
For the fifteen years that followed high school, Michelle continued shooting both small and large weddings part time, mostly for family and friends. Never quite kicking her creative instincts, Michelle worked a day job until 2006 when she began looking for a career change. "That was when one of my friends pointed out to me that I already had a satisfying career in photography - wedding photography, to be more specific." That was the moment that Michelle's life began to make perfect sense. "I love shooting weddings. I get to see people at their happiest... All of the guests are joyful and there to celebrate. It's an honour to be a part of it."
Now, busier than ever through her company Captured Soul Photography, Michelle limits her weddings to ten local weddings per year in order to maintain quality, creativity, focus and the best service possible. When we met up with Michelle in January 2010 she was already full for the upcoming local wedding season. Luckily, Michelle also specializes in destination weddings and still has availability for Fall 2010 and is booking into 2011.
With the hopes of one day expanding her company, Michelle has taken on a photography intern, Lindsay, who attends every wedding with her (at no extra charge to you). She's like a second shooter, assisting Michelle for as long as needed, and offering the bride and groom some of her best photos in exchange for being able to use the images in her portfolio. Michelle describes Lindsay as "a photographer with raw talent. She has the right personality and is cool under pressure and stress."
To keep up-to-date on the latest technologies in the photography industry, Michelle is a member of NAPP (the National Association of Photoshop Professionals) and recently took courses in PhotoShop and album design through Kelby Training in Toronto.
Casual, candid and in it for the long run
When it comes to working with couples on their wedding details, Michelle is naturally relaxed, open, and laid back. When it comes to your wedding, she says it's all about getting as many memories on digital film as possible. Michelle describes her approach to photography as a mix of photojournalistic and portrait styles, aiming for shots the bride and groom will love that are "sometimes beautiful and romantic, sometimes just plain fun."
Recent bride, Sarah Rooyakker, fell in love with Michelle's photojournalistic style when she first met with her, saying that from her first meeting, she and Michelle just clicked. "She seemed to truly understand what we were looking for and we were quickly laughing and joking," says Sarah. She adds that throughout her wedding day, Michelle was everywhere at once, "catching the most beautiful photos of things that I would never have thought to capture," she told The Ring.
On any given wedding day, Michelle will be shooting with her digital camera, focused on the bride, groom, guests, faces and moments that she says make the day so important. "I'm always shooting… You just never know when the best photos are going to happen."
Michelle explains that most of the couples who come to see her aren't interested in "the formal stiff photography of years ago. They're choosing the light, fun shots that capture the emotions and spirit of the day so well. And they’re open to trying something new. They can be completely and utterly themselves."
Kristy and Ryan Cornell felt like they could be themselves for their engagement and June 2009 wedding photo shoots with Captured Soul, telling us that she made them feel comfortable and helped them relax. "She was more than just a photographer on our wedding day but a good friend and part of the family… she basically let us do our own thing and captured the moments rather than having us pose for pictures."
Even so, Michelle says she still honours those classic family shots your parents and grandparents will be looking for in your wedding albums. "I'm more than happy to accommodate any special requests you, or your family, might have."
On your wedding day, Michelle wants you to know that she'll be in it for the long run, if you need her. "I love to stay for the reception, if the bride and groom want me to. It's my favourite time of the wedding. It's the real celebration and you can always capture a lot of emotion and fun from your guests."
Sarah told us that throughout the planning process, Michelle was always available through email when she had questions. "Since our wedding, we have kept in contact with Michelle and I would happily count her on my list of friends," adds Sarah. "I think that's one of the greatest things about her, once you have been one of Michelle's brides, you have become her friend."
Your destination correspondent
From the very first destination wedding that Michelle booked, she says she was hooked. Now, she considers herself a destination wedding photography specialist. Michelle no longer takes bookings for local weddings from November to April as she strictly books destination weddings during that time. In fact, when we met up with Michelle early in 2010 she only had a few open spots for the year and was already booking for 2011. Most couples book Michelle six to twelve months before their destination wedding; but, you should book as soon as you know you want her.
For Michelle, wanting to shoot destination weddings isn't just about wanting to shoot on a beach, "It's more about it being an adventure; being able to go on excursions... The local market, the ruins... Being able to contrast the bride and groom and their personalities against the backdrop of foreign culture, architecture and environment..." Michelle will also get those great postcard shots of the resort and grounds.
Jessalyn Hanna and Rob Luke originally booked Michelle for their wedding that was planned for Ontario, and when they decided to have it in Jamaica during a one week cruise instead, Michelle immediately agreed and was flexible with their plans. Jessalyn says they're so glad they had Michelle with them during their week long February 2009 wedding celebrations. "We not only have beautiful photos of our wedding, but also photos of us and our guests having fun at the beach, relaxing on the ship and walking around the markets in Mexico that we absolutely love." She adds that Michelle's natural style of photography allowed her to capture their wedding beautifully without having to stop to pose. "Even in the family and group photos, everyone looks relaxed and they actually enjoyed having their photos taken," Jessalyn says. "We never felt uncomfortable…" Jessalyn and Rob also had engagement photos and a post-wedding honeymoon shoot in Mexico with Captured Soul.
The 'Destination' package is just $1600 (plus taxes, accommodations, etc.) and includes unlimited hours of coverage, unlimited locations, and unlimited photos on your wedding day, two additional photo sessions (up to four hours each) on prior or subsequent days, digital images on DVD and more. As well, it includes an online album, a hardcover proof book, and professional printing with a $200 voucher towards prints or gift purchases.
"Her prices are incredible," say Jessalyn and Rob. Photography was an area that the couple expected a higher cost on when planning their wedding; but, "Michelle's photos were our favourite and the price was below our budget," they say, compared to other photographers they checked out. Plus, they loved that Michelle was "easygoing and relaxed while still being professional."
Michelle will spend the entire week with you and your wedding guests and usually shoots an average of twenty hours. For the extra shoots, Michelle suggests taking her along on excursions to photograph people when they're relaxed, casual and having fun. Or, do a trash the dress session since the wedding day itself tends to be rushed. "It's great for more fabulous photos of the bride and groom, relaxed and enjoying themselves," Michelle says. Plus she adds, “The dress rarely ever gets trashed.”
Having been to her fair share of DW's, Michelle has some advice for couples who are planning to wed far from home:
• The best time for ceremonies is late afternoon to avoid the heat of the day.
• You can usually get travel vouchers and discounts (and in some cases free rooms) from your travel agent depending on the number of people you have going to your wedding, so it may cost you very little to take Michelle along with you.
• During off days, Michelle often joins your group and hangs out for the day. It helps guests relax and be more comfortable around her when she pulls out the camera on your wedding day.
• Before booking your DW, research locations to find great/unique places. "If you select a unique location, the people you invite are more likely to attend," says Michelle.
• Figure out what your most important features are (beach, pool, sites, food, etc) then find a place that fits your needs and desires.
Pricing & packages
With Captured Soul you get virtually all of your photos in every package - all of your many, many photos, that is. Michelle has been known to deliver as many as 2600 images to the bride and groom after their wedding, with her average running about 1200. These numbers depend on the day, hours, locations and circumstances of course. "I always shoot the wedding day for free," explained Michelle, whose package times start and end when the bride and groom choose. "What you're really paying for is the processing and editing time that goes into your images." With prices that range from $1600 to only $2950, Michelle's packages fit within most wedding budgets. She also told us that she will work with the bride and groom on a payment plan that works within their budget, if it will make things that little bit easier for them.
The 'Captured' package seems to be the most popular with her couples, says Michelle, likely because it includes unlimited hours of coverage, unlimited photos and locations, all for one $2950 price tag. The 'Captured' package also promises you get all of your memories in dual formats on DVD, a hardcover proof book, an online album and professional printing with extra options like an engagement and trash the dress session.
Kristy and Ryan felt that Captured Soul's prices were amazing for what you get. "They fell within our budget and went above and beyond the value we received." Kristy adds that she would absolutely recommend Captured Soul to other couples and is trying to figure out when she can have her photos taken with Michelle again, too.
A hardcover 'Bookstore-style' proof book is included with every package, along with a $200 voucher to apply towards print, gift and album purchases. Michelle also includes, at no extra cost, 200 km of travelling distance from Kitchener.
With Captured Soul you get all of your photos in every package. "I offer three versions of each image." The first version is a disc of lower resolution (web appropriate) images with a watermark on each image so that couples can share them online or send them by email to friends and family members. The second version is a disc of high resolution, unmarked images that are print-ready. The third version of your memories can be viewed through a personal online ordering and professional printing gallery.
Michelle assured us that all three versions of images you receive are optimized and artistically enhanced. "Each image is 'developed' for colour and contrast and artistically treated in the style that I feel best brings out the emotion and impact of that image. The way that Michelle processes her photos was something that Kristy and Ryan couldn't find anywhere else. They add that "The quality of photos and what you get is absolutely amazing."
For your online ordering gallery, Michelle uploads the files to her affiliate professional printing house in Montreal. She does this so that you can order your images online to be shipped to you (or your friends and family who can also be given access). Or you can print your memories locally at a printer you choose. For Michelle, it's all about keeping things simple, easy and convenient for her couples.
New ways to put it in print
Michelle says that after hunting through what seemed like every album company available, she finally found wedding albums she (and her brides) could fall in love with. "They're beautiful and simple. I say simple because the album itself does not steal the stage, it complements the photos, allows them to be the main attraction."
Michelle's new albums are wrapped with either Italian full-grain, soft leather or a durable, cleanable linen and come in three sizes (8x8, 10x10, 12x12). One of our favourite things about these albums is that they come in cool, fun colours like fire engine red. "They also come in a chic cloth bag for storage and extra protection." These new Captured Soul albums also include custom layouts of the best twenty to 100 images from your wedding day, displayed on ten double-page spreads, pre-designed by Michelle to tell the story of your day. You can add pages with more images if you want, as well.
Prints you order from Captured Soul are available in standard colour, true black and white prints, canvas prints, metallic prints, and even photo gift options.
"Working with Michelle was like working with an extremely competent, experienced, well-versed, adaptable, cooperative, supportive big sister," says Glen, who had Michelle photograph his engagement and June 2008 wedding photos. "At every step of the way, we felt cared for, attended and comforted... She knows her craft and her art and I quickly came to trust her eye for knowing what will work.
From before she was even in high school, Michelle Kauntz has been a photographer at heart. And she's been a wedding photographer even longer than she, herself, realized. Michelle shoots in what her brides call "a natural, easy" style, and she uses her photography talents to serve up wedding memories that couples can love for a lifetime – both locally and abroad.
With packages that start and end when the couple chooses, and a specialization in destination wedding photography, it's no surprise that Michelle has become quite popular among brides. Telling staff at The Ring, "I would never charge to photograph a wedding," we wanted to know more about Michelle's company, Captured Soul Photography. Let us tell you...
Personally speaking...
Michelle Kauntz was fourteen when she held her first Nikon. "It was a Nikon Manual FE camera. I shared it with my mom but when she realized that I was starting to monopolize it, she gave it to me and bought another." Michelle is pretty sure she never put it down after that, shooting her first wedding while still in high school. "It was a small, intimate wedding for twenty to thirty people, but it was the first of many..." Eventually, Michelle began taking her creativity more seriously. She went to York University and got her Bachelor in Fine Arts. "I graduated with a concentration in creative writing, but also avidly studied photography, screen writing, theatre and multimedia, and I use all of them with my weddings. I'm now a storyteller through photos."
For the fifteen years that followed high school, Michelle continued shooting both small and large weddings part time, mostly for family and friends. Never quite kicking her creative instincts, Michelle worked a day job until 2006 when she began looking for a career change. "That was when one of my friends pointed out to me that I already had a satisfying career in photography - wedding photography, to be more specific." That was the moment that Michelle's life began to make perfect sense. "I love shooting weddings. I get to see people at their happiest... All of the guests are joyful and there to celebrate. It's an honour to be a part of it."
Now, busier than ever through her company Captured Soul Photography, Michelle limits her weddings to ten local weddings per year in order to maintain quality, creativity, focus and the best service possible. When we met up with Michelle in January 2010 she was already full for the upcoming local wedding season. Luckily, Michelle also specializes in destination weddings and still has availability for Fall 2010 and is booking into 2011.
With the hopes of one day expanding her company, Michelle has taken on a photography intern, Lindsay, who attends every wedding with her (at no extra charge to you). She's like a second shooter, assisting Michelle for as long as needed, and offering the bride and groom some of her best photos in exchange for being able to use the images in her portfolio. Michelle describes Lindsay as "a photographer with raw talent. She has the right personality and is cool under pressure and stress."
To keep up-to-date on the latest technologies in the photography industry, Michelle is a member of NAPP (the National Association of Photoshop Professionals) and recently took courses in PhotoShop and album design through Kelby Training in Toronto.
Casual, candid and in it for the long run
When it comes to working with couples on their wedding details, Michelle is naturally relaxed, open, and laid back. When it comes to your wedding, she says it's all about getting as many memories on digital film as possible. Michelle describes her approach to photography as a mix of photojournalistic and portrait styles, aiming for shots the bride and groom will love that are "sometimes beautiful and romantic, sometimes just plain fun."
Recent bride, Sarah Rooyakker, fell in love with Michelle's photojournalistic style when she first met with her, saying that from her first meeting, she and Michelle just clicked. "She seemed to truly understand what we were looking for and we were quickly laughing and joking," says Sarah. She adds that throughout her wedding day, Michelle was everywhere at once, "catching the most beautiful photos of things that I would never have thought to capture," she told The Ring.
On any given wedding day, Michelle will be shooting with her digital camera, focused on the bride, groom, guests, faces and moments that she says make the day so important. "I'm always shooting… You just never know when the best photos are going to happen."
Michelle explains that most of the couples who come to see her aren't interested in "the formal stiff photography of years ago. They're choosing the light, fun shots that capture the emotions and spirit of the day so well. And they’re open to trying something new. They can be completely and utterly themselves."
Kristy and Ryan Cornell felt like they could be themselves for their engagement and June 2009 wedding photo shoots with Captured Soul, telling us that she made them feel comfortable and helped them relax. "She was more than just a photographer on our wedding day but a good friend and part of the family… she basically let us do our own thing and captured the moments rather than having us pose for pictures."
Even so, Michelle says she still honours those classic family shots your parents and grandparents will be looking for in your wedding albums. "I'm more than happy to accommodate any special requests you, or your family, might have."
On your wedding day, Michelle wants you to know that she'll be in it for the long run, if you need her. "I love to stay for the reception, if the bride and groom want me to. It's my favourite time of the wedding. It's the real celebration and you can always capture a lot of emotion and fun from your guests."
Sarah told us that throughout the planning process, Michelle was always available through email when she had questions. "Since our wedding, we have kept in contact with Michelle and I would happily count her on my list of friends," adds Sarah. "I think that's one of the greatest things about her, once you have been one of Michelle's brides, you have become her friend."
Your destination correspondent
From the very first destination wedding that Michelle booked, she says she was hooked. Now, she considers herself a destination wedding photography specialist. Michelle no longer takes bookings for local weddings from November to April as she strictly books destination weddings during that time. In fact, when we met up with Michelle early in 2010 she only had a few open spots for the year and was already booking for 2011. Most couples book Michelle six to twelve months before their destination wedding; but, you should book as soon as you know you want her.
For Michelle, wanting to shoot destination weddings isn't just about wanting to shoot on a beach, "It's more about it being an adventure; being able to go on excursions... The local market, the ruins... Being able to contrast the bride and groom and their personalities against the backdrop of foreign culture, architecture and environment..." Michelle will also get those great postcard shots of the resort and grounds.
Jessalyn Hanna and Rob Luke originally booked Michelle for their wedding that was planned for Ontario, and when they decided to have it in Jamaica during a one week cruise instead, Michelle immediately agreed and was flexible with their plans. Jessalyn says they're so glad they had Michelle with them during their week long February 2009 wedding celebrations. "We not only have beautiful photos of our wedding, but also photos of us and our guests having fun at the beach, relaxing on the ship and walking around the markets in Mexico that we absolutely love." She adds that Michelle's natural style of photography allowed her to capture their wedding beautifully without having to stop to pose. "Even in the family and group photos, everyone looks relaxed and they actually enjoyed having their photos taken," Jessalyn says. "We never felt uncomfortable…" Jessalyn and Rob also had engagement photos and a post-wedding honeymoon shoot in Mexico with Captured Soul.
The 'Destination' package is just $1600 (plus taxes, accommodations, etc.) and includes unlimited hours of coverage, unlimited locations, and unlimited photos on your wedding day, two additional photo sessions (up to four hours each) on prior or subsequent days, digital images on DVD and more. As well, it includes an online album, a hardcover proof book, and professional printing with a $200 voucher towards prints or gift purchases.
"Her prices are incredible," say Jessalyn and Rob. Photography was an area that the couple expected a higher cost on when planning their wedding; but, "Michelle's photos were our favourite and the price was below our budget," they say, compared to other photographers they checked out. Plus, they loved that Michelle was "easygoing and relaxed while still being professional."
Michelle will spend the entire week with you and your wedding guests and usually shoots an average of twenty hours. For the extra shoots, Michelle suggests taking her along on excursions to photograph people when they're relaxed, casual and having fun. Or, do a trash the dress session since the wedding day itself tends to be rushed. "It's great for more fabulous photos of the bride and groom, relaxed and enjoying themselves," Michelle says. Plus she adds, “The dress rarely ever gets trashed.”
Having been to her fair share of DW's, Michelle has some advice for couples who are planning to wed far from home:
• The best time for ceremonies is late afternoon to avoid the heat of the day.
• You can usually get travel vouchers and discounts (and in some cases free rooms) from your travel agent depending on the number of people you have going to your wedding, so it may cost you very little to take Michelle along with you.
• During off days, Michelle often joins your group and hangs out for the day. It helps guests relax and be more comfortable around her when she pulls out the camera on your wedding day.
• Before booking your DW, research locations to find great/unique places. "If you select a unique location, the people you invite are more likely to attend," says Michelle.
• Figure out what your most important features are (beach, pool, sites, food, etc) then find a place that fits your needs and desires.
Pricing & packages
With Captured Soul you get virtually all of your photos in every package - all of your many, many photos, that is. Michelle has been known to deliver as many as 2600 images to the bride and groom after their wedding, with her average running about 1200. These numbers depend on the day, hours, locations and circumstances of course. "I always shoot the wedding day for free," explained Michelle, whose package times start and end when the bride and groom choose. "What you're really paying for is the processing and editing time that goes into your images." With prices that range from $1600 to only $2950, Michelle's packages fit within most wedding budgets. She also told us that she will work with the bride and groom on a payment plan that works within their budget, if it will make things that little bit easier for them.
The 'Captured' package seems to be the most popular with her couples, says Michelle, likely because it includes unlimited hours of coverage, unlimited photos and locations, all for one $2950 price tag. The 'Captured' package also promises you get all of your memories in dual formats on DVD, a hardcover proof book, an online album and professional printing with extra options like an engagement and trash the dress session.
Kristy and Ryan felt that Captured Soul's prices were amazing for what you get. "They fell within our budget and went above and beyond the value we received." Kristy adds that she would absolutely recommend Captured Soul to other couples and is trying to figure out when she can have her photos taken with Michelle again, too.
A hardcover 'Bookstore-style' proof book is included with every package, along with a $200 voucher to apply towards print, gift and album purchases. Michelle also includes, at no extra cost, 200 km of travelling distance from Kitchener.
With Captured Soul you get all of your photos in every package. "I offer three versions of each image." The first version is a disc of lower resolution (web appropriate) images with a watermark on each image so that couples can share them online or send them by email to friends and family members. The second version is a disc of high resolution, unmarked images that are print-ready. The third version of your memories can be viewed through a personal online ordering and professional printing gallery.
Michelle assured us that all three versions of images you receive are optimized and artistically enhanced. "Each image is 'developed' for colour and contrast and artistically treated in the style that I feel best brings out the emotion and impact of that image. The way that Michelle processes her photos was something that Kristy and Ryan couldn't find anywhere else. They add that "The quality of photos and what you get is absolutely amazing."
For your online ordering gallery, Michelle uploads the files to her affiliate professional printing house in Montreal. She does this so that you can order your images online to be shipped to you (or your friends and family who can also be given access). Or you can print your memories locally at a printer you choose. For Michelle, it's all about keeping things simple, easy and convenient for her couples.
New ways to put it in print
Michelle says that after hunting through what seemed like every album company available, she finally found wedding albums she (and her brides) could fall in love with. "They're beautiful and simple. I say simple because the album itself does not steal the stage, it complements the photos, allows them to be the main attraction."
Michelle's new albums are wrapped with either Italian full-grain, soft leather or a durable, cleanable linen and come in three sizes (8x8, 10x10, 12x12). One of our favourite things about these albums is that they come in cool, fun colours like fire engine red. "They also come in a chic cloth bag for storage and extra protection." These new Captured Soul albums also include custom layouts of the best twenty to 100 images from your wedding day, displayed on ten double-page spreads, pre-designed by Michelle to tell the story of your day. You can add pages with more images if you want, as well.
Prints you order from Captured Soul are available in standard colour, true black and white prints, canvas prints, metallic prints, and even photo gift options.
"Working with Michelle was like working with an extremely competent, experienced, well-versed, adaptable, cooperative, supportive big sister," says Glen, who had Michelle photograph his engagement and June 2008 wedding photos. "At every step of the way, we felt cared for, attended and comforted... She knows her craft and her art and I quickly came to trust her eye for knowing what will work.
