Delightfully fun wedding photography for old souls who’d rather live in the moment than pose for it.
I take story-driven, photojournalistic, documentary photos full of laughter, connection,
and the fleeting in-between moments that make your wedding - and your people - unforgettable.
♥ Real moments. No performance. ♥
I capture the natural, candid moments you can't recreate.
Relax. Be You. I've got you covered.
Your wedding day isn’t just a checklist of photo ops - it’s a whole story waiting to be told.
I’m there for the stolen glances, fits of laughter, the surprises you didn’t see coming (but will love reliving).
Basically, I help you piece together the moments you were too busy living to remember. I love what I do and you'll love seeing your day in a way you'll never forget.
This is my passion and happy place.
Sure, taking amazing photos is one of my superpowers. But so is helping you feel relaxed, not awkward, and actually enjoying your wedding day.
I’ll give you timeline tips, advocate for your priorities, and just enough direction so you’re laughing together instead of worrying about the camera.
Perfect for couples who LOVE and value photography, but are a bit camera shy and worried they'll feel and look awkward - spoiler alert - you won't! You bring the love, I’ll bring the magic.
How Do You Describe Your Wedding Photography Style?
I was a full-time photojournalist long before I photographed weddings, and that background shapes everything I do. While I love creating artistic, one-of-a-kind artistic epic portraits, my real passion is candid, documentary wedding photography - the kind that captures real moments as they actually happen. You’ll hear this style called documentary, candid, editorial, true-to-life, storytelling or "authentic" (too trendy for my taste). What it really means is this: your wedding photos look like your wedding day. Real connection. Real laughter. Real people being themselves. The style recipe is easy; A lot of documentary wedding photography with a side helping of artistry and a couple of spoonfuls of whimsy on top.
If you'd like to see visual examples of the difference between the wedding photography styles "traditional", "photojournalistic" and "fine arts", I have a
blog post showcasing these different styles.
I work solo, blend into the background, and let moments unfold naturally. Couples often tell me I’m "everywhere - but so stealth we didn’t even realize we were being photographed" … great for camera shy couples. Here's a fun article about what it's like to work with me. I’m known as one of the best-rated, most affordable Michigan wedding photographers in the Metro Detroit, Michigan area. What isn't my wedding style? Chasing trends like "dark and moody", "light and airy", "boho" or "cinematic". I want you to be able to look at your photos forever and feel the feels, not notice the weird filters.
What's Your Photo Editing Style?
Since I edit the images myself, (many, many photographers now send send their photos through an AI processor to be culled and edited), I would be tempted to say "time consuming", but I want my wedding photos be natural and have true-to-life colors. The wedding photos should look natural and realistic. I spend a lot of time making sure the photos look as close to what we all saw at the wedding.
How Long Does It Take To Get Our Wedding Photos Back?
I have a very quick turnaround time for your wedding photos. You'll have your finished, ready to use, high resolution digital files back within two weeks, but in reality the photos are usually ready earlier. As soon as they are ready I post a sneak peek on my pro Facebook page and then deliver them to you. Unless I have 2 weddings in a weekend, most couples get their wedding photos in a week. I'm terrible at procrastinating.
Do You Have Candid Photography Packages and How Much Does Your Wedding Photography Cost?
Let's face it - you have a budget, right? I believe in posting my pricing and not telling you, "my pricing starts at…", but rather being totally transparent and posting it on my wedding photography pricing and packages page so you know exactly what you're getting for your well earned money. Most couple need the 8 hour package ($2,900), but I also have packages from 2 hours ($1,500 for elopements) to 10 hour weddings for $3,300. I have kept my pricing intentionally affordable so I can work with couples who are searching for a top quality photographer, a rare find, want to stick to their budget and above all, value photography as one of the most important priorities on their wedding checklist.
Why is my pricing lower than you’d expect?
Short answer? I've learned that working with clients who thrive and love living in the moment and having that reality captured is priceless to me. It's more important for me to work with couples that love my style rather than pricing myself into a luxury market with all the gatekeepers. Building a bond with my clients is part of the secret sauce to having fun and getting great, natural photos.
Your Reviews Seem Too Good To Be True.
I hear that sometimes. The easiest way to check? Match my reviews to real couples and real photos - I post sneak peeks from every wedding on my professional Facebook page as soon as the photos are ready.
How Many Weddings Have You Photographed? I Need An Experienced Wedding Photographer!
Experience? I've photographed over 1,300 weddings and am still going strong. No two weddings are ever the same, and I love that. Twenty full-time years in, and every one still feels like a fresh story waiting to unfold.
Do We Need A Second Photographer? Can That Be Added Into Our Package?
I'm married to a fellow wedding photojournalist, so yes, I can easily add in a second photographer. The truth is though, that I prefer to work solo. It allows me to become invisible, move more quickly and pivot when we need to. Isn't that a lot of pressure to be on your own, Marci? Nope! This is my comfort zone and it makes you two and I a team. I photograph weddings by myself 99% of the time. But sure, I can add Rodney into the 8 and 10 hour packages.
Do You Have Backup Camera Equipment For My Wedding?
Of course! I carry three cameras and 6 lights with me. I know, I know. There are so many stories about photographers leaving weddings once their only camera broke. I like to be prepared. In triplicate.
Do You Have A Backup Plan In Case You Can't Photograph Our Wedding?
Yes, I do. I've got a built in backup because my fellow photojournalist husband, Rodney Curtis just happens to be the closest thing to me in experience, personality and style. We also are very connected to many, many photographers should both of us become incapacitated. He's been my replacement in two weddings out of over 1,300!
Is My Wedding Date Available?
Feel free to check my calendar. It's always up to date. Whether I am available or not, I will answer your query. If I am booked, I'm happy to recommend photographers for you.
Do You Have Liability Insurance?
Absolutely. Many of top wedding venues now require a Certificate Of Insurance. No worries.
Can We Share Our Wedding Photos?
Yes! Please use them and share them. We've created magic together capturing your wedding day and want everyone to see it.
Cool, Cool. But Who Owns The Rights To Our Photos and What are Those Rights?
Usually clients who are asking this question about photo rights, permissions and copyright are really wanting to know if they have permission to post the photos on social media, share them with guests and print from them. Yes, you can totally do all of that. My only caveat is that you must give me photo credit when you post wedding photos online so all your friends will know who to hire for their wedding 😉
Do You Require A Deposit?
Yes, 50% of the package is due with a signed contract. The rest is due the day of the wedding. If you're not sure how much time you need, I can give you a good guesstimate so you don't sign up for more than you need.
Do You Also Do Videography?
I don't. I'm a photographer, and not a videographer. I do know a lot of really good videographers I work with often that I'd be happy to recommend.
Can I See A Full Wedding Gallery And Not Just The Highlights?
You might be looking to see what my full day coverage of your wedding venue looks like, right? Here's the thing. Each wedding I photograph is different. The couple, their vibe, the look they're going for, their budgets, their guests. All of that blends to make each wedding take on a life of its own. I often get requests to see full albums from a wedding venue they've booked. While many photographers photograph each of their wedding to produce similar results and posed / set up wedding after wedding , mine are always different. YOUR wedding won't look like any other. I work to tell your unique wedding day story. You are hiring me to capture everything YOU bring to the wedding. Besides, while most photographers deliver around 500 images, I deliver closer to 1,500. It's a LOT of images. That's because I'm telling the story. A bride once told me looking through the photos was like watching a stop frame movie. It's to help you put all those pieces together. I do all the normal stuff; the details, getting ready, ceremony, family pics, wedding party, couple photos, reception, etc. If it happens, I'll capture it. My couples love and appreciate all those connecting parts of the day. It's what makes my wedding photography unique. But yes, if this makes you feel comfortable, I can share a gallery. Just don't say I didn't warn you. Usually seeing multiple full galleries shows up on "must ask the photographer about this" list, because you need to make sure the photographer can handle hard to light venues. All my "sneak peeks" include those as well for piece of mind.
Is My Wedding Date Available?
I keep my wedding calendar up to date, so feel free to check it yourself.
How Do You Get Couples To Feel Comfortable In Front Of the Camera?
Heck, that's my secret sauce! Keeping things moving along, bringing joy and humor to the day and capturing your connection naturally without the cheesy awkwardness is a big part of it.
We're awkward. Do You Help With Posing?
Almost all of my wedding clients are worried they will be or look uncomfortable in front of the camera. Yes, I'll give some light coaching, but honestly, I want you to relax, enjoy a breather from the wedding day hassle and connect with each other in natural, fantastic light. The wedding photos will capture the happy sweethearts you naturally are.
Which Wedding Venues Near Detroit Do You Have Experience With? Have You Photographed a Wedding at These Wedding Venues Before?
Well, after more than 1,300 weddings, it's always delightful to go somewhere new. But I frequent wedding venues like Planterra Conservatory, Waterview Loft, Addison Oak's Buhl Estate, The Roostertail, Shinola Hotel, The Gem Theatre, The Detroit Opera House, Colony Club, Ann Arbor City Club, LaFayette Grand, Infinity & Ovation Yacht, Meadowbrook Hall, the DIA, The Scarab Club, Henry Ford Museum, Lovett Hall, Westin Book Cadillac, Shepherd's Hollow, Iroquios Club, Pine Knob Mansion and hundreds more! I am a preferred vendor at some of these and I have photographed multiple weddings at all of these Detroit area wedding venues. If you're looking for the common denominator of these venues, they are all uniquely challenging to light in order to showcase them in all their glory. I specialize in commercial, industrial, performance spaces, and theater (theatre) wedding venues in Detroit. They are usually large spaces, dramatic with not a lot of available light. They are notoriously hard to light, or at least hard to make look as gorgeous in photos as they do in real life. That's why you want to hire a wedding photographer with lighting expertise. The goal is to make these beautiful, dark wedding venues look as theatrical and dramatic as they do in real life. With a theater background, I love photographing theatre wedding venues. This "high-wire act" is my happy place. To be able to create "high-effort" intentional images with dramatic, cinematic effect takes an enormous amount of technical skill. But my clients want things done spontaneously and effortlessly. To pull this off, I need to be able to get what is an artistic, high effort photograph within a minute or two. How do I do that? Experience! I call these photos "epic portraits". It's not enough to make them artistic with amazing lighting. Too easy! I also want these high effort wedding portraits to tell a story about their venue, or dramatic weather or some other unique aspect of the wedding day. That being said, some of my favorite weddings have been in amazing backyards. Life's a box of chocolates!
Um, Where Are You Located?
I'm based in Troy, Michigan near Detroit. I travel for free in a 50 mile radius from Troy and anything from 50-100 miles from Troy is a $50 travel fee. If you're father away (like up North), I have special Michigan Destination packages available on my pricing page. Flying off to a cool location? I have my passport and am ready to go.
Do You Offer Engagement Sessions?
Absolutely!I love hanging out, getting to know each other and seeing how great you look and feel working with a professional. I offer this a la carte and have all the pricing, locations and information about my engagement sessions.
Are You An Environmentally Friendly Photographer?
I am. In 2016 I made a lot of changes to my photography business to go as "green" as possible. To create an eco-friendly photography business, we added solar panels to our work space, now have all hybrid and electric vehicles and changed our delivery system to all electronic. Hopefully we've greatly reduced our carbon footprint. I don't for a minute believe I can save the world one photography business at a time, but I would be disappointed in myself if I didn't try to do my bit to make this world just a little bit greener and safer.
Looking For Wedding Photography Info: Pricing, Albums, Portfolio & Tips?
You’ll receive over 1,000 fully edited, high-resolution images—ready to print, share, and enjoy—within two weeks of your wedding day. All of my
wedding photo packages and pricing are listed online, so there’s no guesswork, no surprises. I keep my pricing transparent and affordable on purpose because it helps me connect with couples across Metro Detroit and Michigan who share my love of laughter, natural moments, and great storytelling.
Browse my
real wedding galleries from venues all around Metro Detroit to see authentic moments and diverse love stories—no cookie-cutter poses here.
For planning advice, check out my
wedding day tips and detailed
FAQ section. I’ve photographed hundreds of celebrations and love sharing what I’ve learned—ask me anything, anytime!
Who Are Detroit Area Wedding Vendors You Highly Recommend?
I've included links to my favorite and best Michigan and Detroit based wedding professionals in hopes of steering you towards people I've worked with and know bring something special to the celebration day experience. Anybody who is on this list is someone I've worked with enough times to know they are true professionals, LOVE what they do and can make "it" happen at each and every wedding.
No, Marci... I want PORTRAIT INFO!
Oh, sorry! Click for information about high school seniors, babies, maternity, boudoir, engagement, kids, family, branding, lifestyles, product and modeling photography.
Is there anything I don't photograph? Believe it or not, the portrait side of my career started with wedding couples asking for other sorts of photography.
Capturing personality filled portraits is so much fun. I try to keep the sessions moving along and upbeat.
If you're looking for super posed, typical portraits, I might not be the photographer for you.
Almost all of my sessions are outdoors, archiving who you are at this moment in your life. The images are dynamic and personality-filled images without the stress of perfection.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We Recommend Her Unreservedly and Enthusiastically"We couldn't be happier with our good luck in hiring Marci to photograph our wedding. She's a terrific photographer, first of all, who knows how to capture spontaneous candid photos of guests having fun as well as the more formal posed photographs and the ceremony itself. She's got a great eye for a memorable pic and is willing to do whatever it takes to capture her shot, even if it means getting herself a little dirty. But you can probably see her skill for yourself if you check out her portfolio.
What you won't be able to see is how great Marci is to work with in every other way. She's thoroughly professional, punctual, and quick to respond to any questions you might have in the weeks leading up to your event. She's also so knowledgeable about weddings that she can act in some ways as an unofficial wedding planner, reminding you (or informing you for the first time) of a dozen things you can do to make your event go more smoothly so that you're more free to enjoy yourself on the day.
She had terrific advice for us, ranging from how to wrangle relatives for photos to how to choose the kind of makeup that looks best under the lights. And to top all of this off, she's delightfully friendly and easygoing. Just having Marci in your corner is going to allow you to enjoy yourself more and focus on the most important parts of the day. And at the end of it you're going to have lots of amazing pictures! We recommend her unreservedly and enthusiastically."
- The Knot Review from Brad and Blake - June 2024, Detroit Opera House
I'm excited to learn more about you and how your story will unfold.
Office Tel. (248) 688-9294
So... Who Is Marci Curtis?
I'm an experienced, fun, relaxed, expert Michigan wedding photojournalist and lifestyle portrait photographer. I'm a total professional, a bit silly, and I enjoy the heck out of life. I also end up getting photographed quite a bit while working. Here are some photos of me taken in the last couple of years.
And if by chance, you're actually curious to know more about me personally, you can either check out my
bio or my
professional Facebook page to see my latest "Sneak Peeks" from every ceremony I photograph.
Who took all these photos of me working? I only took one of them. The rest were done by either my favorite husband and fellow wedding photojournalist, Rodney Curtis , clients, fellow wedding photographers or friends.
Marci, I'm sick of reading. I want to see more wedding photos and I want to see them now! Okay, hold on, Veruca Salt.
Here's where you can find some of
my favorite wedding photography galleries
from around the Metro Detroit area. See if you can see why I've earned a 99.8% satisfaction grade from customers and have a 5-star rating.
Does my wedding photography look any different to you than all the gazillion other wedding photographers in Michigan? Can you see tons of wedding day moments? As a true photojournalist by training, I can spot moments coming a mile off and capture them as they happen. Can you spot all the epic wedding portraits that highlight something unique about the couple or the setting they were in?
I love the challenge of quickly finding a way to create a really unique wedding day portrait of the couple that no one expects. That blend of candids, reality and amazingly unique portraits are also what set me apart from other wedding photographers in Michigan.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We Especially Loved the Candid Photos of our Family and Friends.
"Thank you so much!!!!! These photos turned out beautifully and we couldn't be happier with your services. We also loved the Facebook post, especially with all of the captions. We've heard great feedback from our family and friends as well from your Facebook post." - Facebook Comment and "She was easy to work with, was reasonably priced, was prepared with emergency items, and took amazing photos. We especially loved the candid photos of our family and friends."
- The Knot Review from Sarah and Rob - 2024, Gem Theatre, Detroit
Overwhelmed by wedding planning ?
Let me help you.
I am always happy to pitch in.
It can be overwhelming looking through all the zillions of wedding photographer's websites we have here in Michigan. After a while all the wedding photographers might start to look the same, right?
What makes me different? Lots of things, but mainly that I am a fun, relaxed, expert, creative, laid back, photojournalist who consistently provides ALL her clients a unique, fun, super chill wedding day experience for affordable wedding photography prices. Like EVERY time.
This whole wedding photography stuff may be new and stressful to you, but for me, this is my comfort zone. I quit counting after photographing 1,300 weddings. There is literally nothing that rattles me. I've seen it all before and I've got you covered.
How do you find a wedding photographer you LOVE? When you look through galleries, do they make you FEEL something? Can you see the story behind the wedding photos? Do you want to know more about what's going on in these wedding photos? If you are laughing, tearing up or stunned, you're onto something. You may have just found the perfect wedding photographer for YOU.
What is the average price of a wedding photographer in Michigan? We photographers have a huge pricing range usually based on experience, good reviews and what we feel we're worth. Yes, Marci, but what is the realistic budget of a good candid wedding photographer in Michigan? I surveyed a bunch of Metro Detroit wedding photographers and found that 79 % charge in the $3,000 - $6,000 range with the majority of photographers landing in the $3,233 - $3,951 range. This statistic is backed up by an article from
The Wedding Report which is about 10.5% of the total budget.
Partly because I'm a solo photographer and partly because I love the fantastic clients I attract at my price point, I'm considered on the low end at $2,900! Yes, this is my full time job, but it's more important to me to work with joyful, fun couples who are really into photojournalism and excited to have me there than it is to charge more money.
So why do I brag about winning "Couple's Choice Award for Best Wedding Photographer" near Detroit, Michigan over 15 freaking years in a row? Because I believe I am one of the ONLY wedding photographers in the Metro Detroit area who has earned this incredible honor. These awards are because of my fantastic clients and the good reviews they post about working with me. My couples love what I do and they want you to know that too! They sing my praises loudly, so try Googling my name to see all the great wedding photography reviews in Detroit I've received for yourself. I'm also a steal. No other Michigan photographers have this much experience, this great a reputation and love what they do this much. I'm not cheap, but my wedding photography is very affordable. Great bang for your buck.
And what is your style? Are you a photojournalist or a documentary style wedding photographer? Well, yes. Photojournalism and documentary (and editorial and realistic, true-to-life, natural candid wedding photography) all mean the same thing. The wedding photos don't have filters added in processing, they are correctly exposed and show the wedding day as it looked in real life. That means a lot of candid photos, a lot of people having fun (so even the posed wedding party photos represent your group in a more real way) and all those unguarded, behind the scenes moments. There will always be something timeless about a documentary / photojournalist's wedding photography style.
Will you use film or a hybrid of film and digital? Um, no. I used film (and slide) exclusively for all my photojournalism career. I was dragged kicking and screaming away from film, had my own darkroom for most of my life and did NOT want to "go digital". Until I did. My clients used to get 10 - 12 rolls of film, each with a max of 36 pictures. I look back at those now, not with nostalgia, but with total ambivalence. The grain, the missed focus, the exposures slightly off. I can be more artistic, more whimsical, take more chances with digital than I ever could with film. I believe almost every photographer using film at weddings never had to use it day in, day out. It's a novelty, a trend and I wouldn't do that to either of us.
Tooting My Own Horn
I rely on the happy referrals of my clients to keep my
wedding photography calendar full, but if you're looking for reviews from places like the Knot, where I'm in their "Hall of Fame", you'll find lots of reviews I've received over the years. Those all come from my Michigan couples who are happy to spread the good word! I do have a
rave review section, where I post thank you cards couples send me. I also love it when clients who love my photojournalistic style of wedding photography post their reviews on sites like; Wedding Wire so everyone can read about their experience with me and my photography services. I also made a "Top Rated Wedding Photographers" list several years running for "Top Wedding Photographers in Michigan" from Expertise! They reviewed hundreds of the top Metro Detroit wedding photographers. The list is super impressive; I'm psyched and honored to be on it! Thanks to all my Detroit area couples who voted for me as their "Best Detroit wedding photographer and Detroit wedding photojournalist" 15 years in a row!
Here Are Some Cool Awards I've Won And Wedding Websites Featuring Me And The Awards…
This is the 16th year I've been on the Knot's "Best of Weddings" award (or what used to be called their "Couple's Choice Award") and in The Knot's "Hall of Fame". This honor is 100% based on my happy clients providing in depth reviews about what it's like to work with me. I am the luckiest photographer on earth to attract great clients.
This is the most inspirational wedding photography site for everyone who loves candid, non manipulated, incredibly creative documentary wedding photography worldwide. I check back here all the time to fill my creative bucket. Can't believe I finally won an award here. The competition is CRAZY!
Gobsmacked that I've won the coveted "Top 3 Best Rated Wedding Photographers in Detroit, Michigan" from 2019-2026. Crazy cool, right?!?
The "Wedding Rule" site ranks all things wedding related. I'm ranked 5th in their top 28 Michigan Wedding Photographers for 2021–2025. Yay!
Super thrilled to be featured on the World's Best Wedding Photos site! The name kind of says it all! If you're looking for inspirational wedding photos, check out this site.
As Seen on "Zola". I like the transparency of this wedding site for wedding vendors and prospective clients alike.
I was invited to join the Better Business Bureau because of my stellar reputation as a highly rated wedding photographer in Metro Detroit! While I wouldn't pay the fee (seemed too pay to play) to stay accredited, they did give me an A+ rating after all the vetting.
And this award is also super cool. Only 19 out of 292 wedding photographers were picked by Expertise as "Best Wedding Photographers in Detroit, Michigan". This was my 6th year to win this one and this year I'm at the top of their list! And just like that, they're gone.
All About My Detroit, Michigan Portrait Photography
Looking for information about senior photos near the Metro Detroit area?
I'm obsessed with photographing high school seniors! I find them informative, inquisitive and I always learn something new from them. All my sessions are outdoors and scheduled Monday - Thursday in the afternoons and evenings. I've got tons of senior photo locations as well and a page with tips and help for seniors to get the most out of their sessions with me.
Yes! I do photograph pregnant women with their baby bellies. It's an interesting, strange time to have your body morph so completely and while I do take more traditional maternity photos, it's also fun to show how challenging and awkward your new body can be with a lifestyle maturity session.
That was such a long answer, I now HAVE a baby! Do you take photos of newborns and infants?
Honestly, I'm not sure there are better things in the world than photographing newborn babies. These sessions aren't rushed. They are calm and are all about cuteness without any stress. I don't put babies into awkward poses, I just celebrate who they are in their first week or two on earth.
Quit pushing babies, Marci... I am just looking to propose!
Congratulations! Proposals can be tricky and require a bit more planning on both our parts. Some locations need permits and/or permissions. I can help you with that and come up with a plan so it's not so obvious what's about to happen.
Yay! Check out my list of engagement session locations I love to use, or you can create a custom package if that's your thing.
Fantastic! Women find my sessions to be empowering and fun. I've got lots of ways to make you look your best and delight your partner. EVERYONE feels nervous. Honestly, the strangest poses can look amazing, but you'd never know that from looking at the photos.
Ugh. I Need New Headshots, Well, For EVERYTHING!
No worries! Whether you want to update your photos after you've freshened up your look and need something for your acting or modeling portfolios or you're just looking for nice images to use for whatever purpose, I've got you covered. These sessions are outdoors for a contemporary and modern feel that everyone is looking for. Let's show your personality off a bit, shall we?
Of course! Since a website is often the first thing potential clients and customers see about you, why not get personality-filled images that show off your space, your stuff and your staff to bring people to you? I can certainly help with that.
Oh Yeah - I've also had THREE children's books published as the Author and Illustrator!
I wrote and photo illustrated three children's books for Penguin Putnam that got picked up by the fabulous Dolly Parton and her "Imagination Library" book club, which means there are over 2,000,000 copies of my books all over the country!
My three published books are;
"Big Sister, Little Sister","Big Brother, Little Brother" and
"I Was So Silly; Big Kids Remember Being Little".
