"What I really love about weddings is when I’ve made a bride and groom excited about their wedding pictures. That is the biggest reward for me. Seeing their reaction excites me and really validates my purpose in this industry. Besides that, I find weddings challenging. They push me to be really creative and work really hard. I find myself constantly searching for the perfect shot. It’s motivating and keeps me fresh. And I think it excites my brides, knowing that I am always looking for something new and original for them. I also love the history. We are responsible for images that our couples’ future children will one day see. I still look at my parent’s wedding album and wonder if their photographer knew that her children would be looking at the photos. It reminds me of how important this job is that I do every weekend."
Michelle began her professional photography career shooting weddings for friends over ten years ago. She has been honing her craft ever since. With her Brooks Institute of Photography education as the foundation, Michelle is always striving to get the perfect shot. Her incredible drive helped her lead the way to publish a photo-documentary book based on her travels to Cuba with her Brooks class. After graduation, Michelle was again drawn to the wedding industry. Having freelanced for several photographers before co-founding Mi Belle has given Michelle an edge over her competition. She learned the good and the bad from all of them. What she has done is kept the good parts and thrown out the bad. She prides herself on her honesty and integrity. She stresses the importance of communication between her company and their clients. What really makes her feel good is being able to look her clients in the eyes knowing that she gave her heart and soul to them, with each and every event.
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"I love weddings! Where else do you get to see love all over the place, smiles on everyone’s faces, and get the opportunity to document it with a camera in hand? I take pride in the fact that what we do is document family history. We make memories that might go unseen or unnoticed and bring them to life with a photograph. For me, a huge part of what I do is knowing that down the road, when all is said and done, the party is over, the honeymoon is paid for, and the memories begin to fade, the photographs will always be there. They will bring smiles to faces and hopefully bring an artistic vision with it as well. I also love the fact that the family history of such an important day will be passed down from one generation to another."
At age 15 Josh started assisting his father, who was a professional wedding photographer, learning the ropes and witnessing close to one hundred events before the age of 20. Josh is still excited about what he does. His constant quest for perfection is only magnified by his competitive nature. Being pushed by his team to come up with new and exciting images keeps everyone fresh and motivates him to excel and push the limits of what he is capable of.
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“Because I love movies. I envision weddings like a movie, telling a story between two people. It’s different every time and I get to capture something that is fresh and new. That’s what keeps it exciting for me. And it feels really good when at the end of the night the bride and groom tell me how great it was to work with me and how comfortable I made them feel amongst the craziness of the day. It’s a nice feeling to have every weekend.”
It was a no-brainer to bring her along when Mi Belle was formed. Her consistent style and calming demeanor offer a wonderful combination to brides that might be a bit overwhelmed. Not only does she deliver amazing photos every time she shoots, but she also consistently forms a bond with the couple, the bride especially. She has more friends than she ever imagined through photographing weddings.
She has such a softness to her work. I love it. This may sound a bit cheesy, but I really think that Vanessa uses her camera to look so deep inside people that you really see who they are. You cannot hide your true person when Vanessa is aiming at you.
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“It’s ultimately the most intimate moment between two people and I get to view and document it. It’s an adrenaline rush and I’m addicted to it. I love the spontaneity. I love capturing the next thing that will happen and you never know what it might be.”
Johnny, as he is known in the Mi Belle world, shot his first wedding when he was a senior in high school in 1991. He was working at a camera store when a customer came in and offered John $300 to shoot the event. John had no idea what was in store for him. He was on his feet the whole time, the time flew by, and John learned on the fly how to pose, think on his feet, and manage the chaos of the day. He was hooked. Pursuing his passion for photography, John received his Associates Degree in Applied Science of Photography in 1994. He continued his education at Northern Michigan University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Photography in 1997. He officially turned pro in 1997 and has been shooting weddings ever since. He also focuses on the fashion and advertising side of things by working with several prominent agencies shooting numerous assignments for clients in the fashion world.
John is our “dancing monkey”. He is a ball of energy that never stops. His years of experience are conveyed at every event he shoots for us because he knows what he wants and he knows how to get it. He is not afraid to get in there and get the shot and is always looking for the next great challenge.
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“Are you kidding? It’s one of the most important moments in people’s lives and I get to capture it. I love it! I have so much fun when I shoot a wedding. It’s my job to capture moments and give something historic to the bride and groom and the future generations that will come from this new couple. I get to capture memories that might otherwise be indescribable.”
Being one of the newer members to Mi Belle, inc. Kristi brings a fresh outlook and amazing energy. She is a sponge, absorbing knowledge and putting it into effect each and every time she is in the field. She brings with her a Brooks Institute education and a quest to become better every time she touches her camera. Kristi made a radical professional change when one of her closest friends passed away unexpectedly. At that point in her life, Kristi was an associate with Eddie Bauer putting in 80-hour work-weeks, constantly missing out on the things that she is enthusiastic about, such as travel and photography. With her tragic loss came an epiphany; Life is too short to not to do what you are passionate about. Fast forward to the present and Kristi is wasting no time with her new profession. Officially pro for two years, she has already been published in the magazine “Ventura Life and Style” for a river rafting profile. With numerous weddings already under her belt, Kristi is quickly becoming a mainstay with Mi Belle, inc.
This girl is extremely passionate. She is smart, articulate and eager to accomplish her goals. She has a big vision and knows how to bring her subjects to life with excellent photography skills. We love having her as part of Mi Belle, inc.
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why hire a wedding photographer if you can’t get what you want?
This is the exact question that we asked ourselves when we set out to create the perfect package. We asked ourselves, “What would we want?” It wasn’t tough. We decided we would want it all - the album, the proofs, online access, and the high resolution images to do our own printing.
That’s what we give you. All of it. Every one of our packages is designed to be all-inclusive.
They include:
- 4x6 proofs. These are yours to keep.
- Online Viewing: Friends, family and all of your guests can access your images via the web.
- High Resolution DVD: It’s like having your negatives so you can make prints anywhere you choose, even on your home printer.
- The Album of your choice: Choose your favorite.
We offer the most contemporary styles on the market from cutting edge companies like La-Vie Custom Albums and Asuka Books. If you are the traditional type we offer top-of-the-line Leather Craftsmen albums. It’s your pick.
All of our packages are designed around the album. These are top-of-the-line products that will last you forever, literally. Built to be handed down from one generation to the next, you can be assured that the quality we deliver to you is guaranteed to last.
package one - $3000
package two - $4300
package three - $5500
package four - $8500
extras
Mi Belle, Inc. (pronounced “My Bell”) is a photographic collaboration between Josh Beller and Michelle Ferry. The name is symbolic of the two accomplished professional photographers who have teamed in an effort to advance the experience of wedding photography. Together, they have made Mi Belle into an innovative company that delivers a sense of style and creativity that is unmatched in their industry. The partnership at Mi Belle functions so well due to clearly defined roles for both Josh and Michelle, as well as their photographic team. Michelle, the epitome of an artist, is the creative and imaginative driving force at Mi Belle. Her sense of album design is original and one of a kind. She designs her albums with the belief that every bride should feel as if they belong on the cover of the latest bridal magazine. Michelle demands the highest quality from both herself and her team, which is consistently evident in her work. Beyond her creativity, Michelle prides herself in the genuine relationships that she develops with her clients. Her brides consistently tell her that she is a friend, not just their photographer. It is not uncommon for brides to call Michelle to discuss not only the photography details, but also the details of the wedding itself: what color the flowers should be, what the bridesmaids should wear, different ideas for centerpieces, etc…(and Michelle loves this aspect of her work!) Josh is not only an extremely talented wedding photographer, but within Mi Belle, he has adopted the “business end” of the job. Josh is constantly working with numerous vendors to keep Mi Belle at the forefront of their industry. Josh always strives to deliver the best product and service available by understanding the needs of Mi Belle’s individual clients. He prides himself on his loyalty and consistency in delivering the highest quality work. Josh also brings a competitive energy to the company that pushes Mi Belle’s photographic team to perform to the highest level. His goal is to help his team evolve and continually develop their artistic and professional skills. The monthly review, which involves gathering over pizzas, is a fun way for everyone to get together to critique one another’s work. With prizes at stake, this contest allows the Mi Belle staff to competitively bring out the best quality in one another. This photographic team that Josh and Michelle have assembled is another critical component of Mi Belle. They have a core group of loyal photographers that have gone through rigorous training to ensure that all Mi Belle work is consistent in form and exceeds the expectations of the client. It is required that all staff photographers train with both Josh and Michelle in order to make sure that styles and personalities mesh. At its core, Mi Belle is a company that strives to produce the highest quality photographic images. The company understands the significance of one’s wedding day and it is Mi Belle’s goal to capture this day in its most beautiful form. Mi Belle prides itself on its honesty, its creativity, and its ability to consistently produce beautiful wedding images and albums. Mi Belle is the product of people who enjoy taking photos, who enjoy their clients, and who take pride in their work. This is what makes Mi Belle different.
robin & jeff
april 2, 2005
ventura, ca
"Finding a great photographer was one of the most important factors in planning my wedding. I am thrilled with how my photos turned out and my album not only captures what the day was about but it is also a beautiful work of art. You are both professional, artistic, patient, inspiring and delightful to work with. I couldn’t have made a better decision for my wedding photographers. Thank you so much for capturing the memories!"
jessica & seth
july 22, 2005
los cabos, mexico
"Josh and Michelle were gracious enough to follow Seth and I to our dream wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was important to us to have photographers at our wedding that not only took breath-taking photographs and caught the mood of the day but also were people that we felt comfortable with and would be able to blend in as guests at our wedding. We were not disappointed! As I mentioned before, Josh’s work speaks for itself so I was never concerned that my photos would not be perfect. To top it all off, these two are very professional but not so professional that we didn’t feel that we couldn’t be ourselves in front of them and their cameras. We couldn’t have chosen a better company to provide our photography services."
errin & scott
october 8, 2005
palm springs, ca
"Once again I can’t begin to tell you how happy Scott and I are with how the photos turned out. We couldn’t have picked a better studio to shoot our special day, and are reminded of it every time we look at our photos! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!"
heather & john
march 11, 2006
palm springs, ca
"The two most important questions a bride must ask herself when planning her wedding are: 1 ) Who am I marrying? And 2 ) Who will be my photographer? We had no influence over the first one, but we are elated to have chosen you as our daughter’s wedding photographers. From the first time we visited your studio we were captivated by your enthusiasm and love for what you do. After having visited other studios we were immediately convinced that you were the ones to do the job, and boy were we right! The wedding day was fabulous. You took every element and made it into a memorable keepsake moment, from the traditional to the unexpected. Heather and John will have their photographs to relive their wedding day over and over again. You didn’t just take pictures, you captured a beautiful wordless story of their day that will last a lifetime. Thank you so much! Sincerely, Bruce and Jennifer, Parents of the Bride. p.s. Heather made wise decisions on both questions."
alex & matt
april 1 & april 9, 2006
santa barbara, ca
"Michelle you are a genius!!! I looooove these photos. You are right; we are going to have the hardest time narrowing down the photos. I can’t get over how beautiful they are. You’re amazing. Matt and I are in awe. The setting seemed to have worked out perfectly huh? I am so excited right now I can’t even begin to explain it! THANK YOU. I am so impressed with you and Josh and the photographers with whom you are associated. Matt and I haven’t stopped raving about you. Your spunk and professionalism was a perfect match for us. Thank you so much for all of your hard work."