Project:
Michelle Marie Photography
Archived Under:
Core Aesthetics:
Summary:
Location: Long Island, New York Specialty: Elopements + Weddings Vibe: Vintage. Earthy. Authentic. In Business Since: 2021 “I think my WHY is simply that I want to be able to create art for a living, on my own terms.” Michelle Sosna is a Long Island-based elopement and wedding photographer who has been building something genuinely […]
Michelle Marie Photography
Location: Long Island, New York
Specialty: Elopements + Weddings
Vibe: Vintage. Earthy. Authentic.
In Business Since: 2021
“I think my WHY is simply that I want to be able to create art for a living, on my own terms.”
Michelle Sosna is a Long Island-based elopement and wedding photographer who has been building something genuinely beautiful since 2021. She shoots candid, emotionally present, true-to-color work. She is the kind of photographer who sends her clients questionnaires before their sessions, memorizes their answers, and brings them up mid-shoot so that a couple forgets they are even being photographed. Her clients come back to her again and again. Michelle was the kind of client who makes this work easy and exciting all at once.
The Old Brand Felt Cheesy
Michelle was not precious about her old brand. She does not love her logo anymore. She does not love her copy, which she described plainly as cheesy. The whole thing felt thrown together because it was. She is a person with a very specific aesthetic, a very specific emotional approach to her work, and a very specific vision for the clients she wants to attract. None of that was coming through.
She knew what she wanted the new brand to do. When someone lands on her website, she wants them to already know a little bit about her and what they can expect from the experience they are signing up for. She wants her best and most creative photos front and center so that a prospective wedding client is genuinely excited before they even reach out.
A Website That Feels Like Her Before Anyone Reads a Word
She thinks about her work in terms of legacy. The idea that her photographs will be a small part of family histories. That decades from now, people will look back at photos of someone who has passed and feel the emotion and joy of that moment, all because Michelle was there to capture it. That is not a marketing line. That is genuinely how she thinks about what she does every time she picks up a camera.
She is an empath who went to college for business, taught herself to do everything creative she ever wanted to do, and eventually built a life where her creativity is the product.
This Is What Happens When You Finally Stop Playing It Safe
Michelle Marie Photography deserved a brand that looked as intentional as the work she produces. She had been building real client relationships, refining a genuinely distinctive visual style, and growing through referrals for three years, all while her website sat there looking like it was put together in an afternoon because it was.
She already knew who she was. She already knew who her clients were. She already knew the feeling she wanted people to have when they found her online. She just needed a brand and a website that could finally deliver on all of that before a single email was sent.
Authentic. Magnetic. Purposeful. It was always in there. We just finally built something worthy of it.
Ready for a brand and website that’s worthy of who you really are? Step one starts here.
Ready to tell your own story?
Xoxo, Mikaela
Working with Robyn - Wild Cacti Creative has been one of the most fulfilling, fun, and inspiring experiences I’ve ever had as a creative business owner. Robyn was an absolute joy to work with - warm, incredibly responsive, and genuinely invested in getting to know me as a person, not just as a brand.
She asked thoughtful questions, pulled ideas out of me I didn’t even know were there, and fully immersed herself in my world to deliver the most tailored, intentional, and authentic brand design I could’ve dreamed of. Her process is magical - but even more magical is the way she somehow understands your vision even when you don’t. I came to her feeling unsure, unclear, and honestly pretty lost… and she held space for all of it. She never rushed me, never made me feel like a burden. Instead, she stood by my side, gently guiding me through the fog until I saw what she saw all along - a beautiful, aligned brand that finally feels like me.
"If I could leave a 100-star review, I would in a heartbeat!!"
Xoxo, Anna
I cannot express enough how THRILLED I am with the outcome of my final designs- website + personal branding created for my photography business!! From the very first consultation, Robyn took the time to truly understand my vision and brand identity! The attention to detail in my branding designs IS INSANE- or just scroll through my website and you'll be stunned by the artistry of her craft!
The design is not only visually beautiful but also user-friendly- highlighting my portfolio. Robyn showed me a way to view my own work that I did not even see before- so THANK YOU!
My website is now a power tool and is transformed into something beautiful to look at as a bonus! If you are looking for someone to truly bring your thoughts to life, Robyn is the person for you! Thank you for an amazing branding experience, I feel like a completely new version of myself and a better one!
"Robyn showed me a way to view my own work that I did not even see before"
Xoxo, Jordan
One year ago today, my business, Catchlight Film & Photo Co., launched a major rebrand -- a rebrand that simply would not have been possible without Robyn's talent and guidance. I would give her every star in the sky as part of this review -- not just the five that I'm allowed.
Over the past year, I cannot begin to count all of the compliments and kind words that I've received on my website, its design and its functionality. What I can count, however, are the additional inquires that I've received since launch.
My inquiries are up 37 percent. The return on my investment in Robyn's services came quicker than I could have ever imagined.
If you're on the fence about investing in your business, your brand, your website or all of the above, don't be. Hiring Robyn was the best decision that I could have ever made -- and I know it will be for you, too.
"The return on my investment in Robyn's services came quicker than I could have ever imagined."
Xoxo, Caroline
The day I was trying to pick a brand & website designer, I was meeting with so many, but Robyn just stood out amongst the rest. She just understood my vision from the moment I asked her if she'd ever seen 13 going on 30 (spoiler, she had.) & read Tiger Beat magazine as a pre-teen (she also had), that those were my main inspirations, but didn't know where to start on making it seem "luxury" or cohesive.
Robyn took my little idea and RAN with it. She ran so far with it and made into something absolutely phenomenal!!! We went away from the beige look I had and into my 12 year old fantasy and I couldn't be happier, but it's also a beautiful place to showcase our work!!!
Thank you thank you thank you, Robyn. You are amazing.
"She ran so far with it and made into something absolutely phenomenal!"
Xoxo, Luke
She reminded me why I started and helped me fall in love with my work all over again. When I first approached her, I was completely burnt out—drowning in work, overwhelmed, and behind on editing and every other part of my business. I’d poured my heart into my couples and my craft, which had carried me far. After 5 years and over 200 weddings, though, I felt stuck in a relentless grind. At 27, I worried I was sacrificing my life for work, with regrets looming on the horizon.
Since launching my new site, my inquiries have skyrocketed. More than that, it’s given me peace of mind. My website now feels like me—a reflection of my work, my team, and everything I’ve built. I can’t stop looking at it. It feels like home.
Robyn’s work is worth every penny and then some. I’d give her 5 million stars if I could.
"Robyn reignited my passion for my business."
