Paul Retherford Photography

We had the distinct pleasure of working with Paul to capture our intimate wedding on Walloon Lake on 6/30/2018. Paul was absolutely 5 star from helping to offer suggestions for local vendors (we live in Northern California) to having access to the use of his drone & photo booth to make our day unique & special. Paul absolutely captured the essence of our wedding day vision and more. We are forever grateful & blessed. Thank you Paul More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul is phenomenal. He was my engagement and wedding photographer and the images he produces are nothing short of amazing. He is calm and collected and knows exactly what he’s doing. If I could rate more than five stars, I would. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

My wife Lindsay and I were married on Mackinac Island 5/27/18 and used Paul as our photographer with amazing, magazine quality results. Being from out of state and knowing nobody, we had to rely on recommendations of photographers in the area and he was highly recommended. Paul is an exceptional photographer and an all around great guy. We were only able to speak on the phone with him before the wedding day and he did an excellent job on the call of helping us plan the day and spots he and us needed to be at different times so we could maximize location opportunities. Upon meeting him on the wedding day, he was very laid back and easy to work with. He wasn't pushy at all and let us all do our thing with minimal direction, but enough to make our pictures natural while still coordinated. He knew the island and all of the best locations as well as how long it takes to get to and from each. We were able to get around in a timely manner to as many suggested spots as possible and we couldn't be happier about all the different views and places he chose. During the reception, it was as if he wasn't even there. He stayed out of the way as to not interfere with anyone or distract us or our guests from enjoying their time, but was all over the place getting great pictures of everyone. We would highly recommend Paul Retherford to anyone and would love to use him again in the future. Worth. Every. Penny. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Paul is fantastic. Our entire wedding day from start to finish was seamless. He had fantastic energy, excellent creativity and was fun to be around. Thanks for a wonderful day. Can’t wait for the photos! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

My wife Lindsay and I were married on Mackinac Island 5/27/18 and used Paul as our photographer with amazing, magazine quality results. Being from out of state and knowing nobody, we had to rely on recommendations of photographers in the area and he was highly recommended. Paul is an exceptional photographer and an all around great guy. We were only able to speak on the phone with him before the wedding day and he did an excellent job on the call of helping us plan the day and spots he and us needed to be at different times so we could maximize location opportunities. Upon meeting him on the wedding day, he was very laid back and easy to work with. He wasn't pushy at all and let us all do our thing with minimal direction, but enough to make our pictures natural while still coordinated. He knew the island and all of the best locations as well as how long it takes to get to and from each. We were able to get around in a timely manner to as many suggested spots as possible and we couldn't be happier about all the different views and places he chose. During the reception, it was as if he wasn't even there. He stayed out of the way as to not interfere with anyone or distract us or our guests from enjoying their time, but was all over the place getting great pictures of everyone. We would highly recommend Paul Retherford to anyone and would love to use him again in the future. Worth. Every. Penny. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul was an absolute pleasure to work with for our wedding day. He captured every moment and detail with beauty. We loved meeting with him before hand to get to know him and he got to know us and what kind of pictures we wanted. Thank you!

Reviewed on Facebook

We cant say enough about our experience with Paul! He is simply amazing. our wedding pictures turned out fantastic! we didnt even notice he was there, and he got so many spectacular candid and posed shots. he responded to emails just about instantly, and he was always super friendly with his responses. He captured all the excitement and love we had that day perfectly!Thank you so much Paul! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Paul was a pleasure to work with. He knew how to make us feel comfortable behind the lens as well as kids, family, and friends in the wedding. He met with us in person multiple times before the big day to gather details and get to know us as a couple. His pictures were high quality and provided a clear snapshot of our big day. He responded quickly to emails and provided us with edited wedding pictures within a week of our big day. Fast, friendly, and wonderful service! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Hands down, the best. Paul is so incredibly fun to work with and also very professional. He shot my engagement photos and they are beyond what I imagined. What sets Paul apart from other photographers is his eye for detail along with including the surrounding environment. His drone photos are phenomenal - a must-have! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Amazing photographer. Paul is so talented and not only was an amazing photographer but a wonderful guy to walk you through all moments at your wedding!

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul is so much more than just a photographer! He gave helpful tips throughout my twin's entire wedding process. I highly recommend him and would never trust such a big day with anyone else. You won't be disappointed!!

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul was so great to work with! We came in from out of state, so I didn't get to meet him in person until the day of the wedding. He was immediately so friendly and easy to be around. Our families and wedding party all made comments about how great Paul was and how simple he made the process! Not only is he efficient, but he lets you just be yourself without a million different poses and fake smiles. When we got our photos back - which was in record time, by the way - we were stunned at how beautiful they are! We are beyond thrilled with the work Paul did and the way in which he did it. Thank you, Paul! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul is the best! He is so much more than what we expected from a photographer. He was full of information and tips to help with our Mackinac Island wedding along with being a fabulous photographer with an awesome personality! !! He has a way about him to make you feel at ease and catch those special shots when you think nobody is looking. We can't say enough good things about him and the pictures he took of our wedding!!!! We are extremely happy with him and our pictures and wouldn't hesitate to call him again. Paul is definitely the best of the best!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul did such an amazing job, we honestly can't even express how much we appreciated his experience and his casualness pertaining to our wedding party (as crazy as it was). He had so many great recommendations on certain shots that we would have never come up with on our own. Would definitely, 110%, recommend him to anyone!! Thanks so much Paul!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Simply put, Paul rocks. If you are getting married or have other photography needs in the northern Michigan area, Paul is your guy. Right from the beginning, he was nothing but friendly, professional, and responsive. He always answered my many, many questions super quickly, and was really helpful brainstorming outdoor venues before we landed on our final spot. He never tried to push additional services or upsell us, and even talked me out of some things that would have added expenses he didn’t think were necessary (e.g. 2nd shooter).
The day of our wedding, he was amazing. He was both everywhere—he captured SO MANY amazing photos that I suspect he has the magical ability to be in two places at once—and nowhere—he was never in the way or sticking a camera in our face—at the same time. He also went above and beyond, including arriving an hour early at the venue to get shots of everything set up before the bridal party arrived for photos. We received multiple compliments from guests on how great he was, and the whole wedding party just wanted to hang out with him socially…he’s that wonderful. To top it off, our pictures turned out absolutely stunning AND he had them all back to us while we were still on our honeymoon. Paul was an amazing addition to our wedding team, and I cannot recommend him highly enough! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Thanks for being there when I needed you. When no other would even answer my calls, paul was there. Very professional and ninja smooth when secretly taking the pictures.

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul, you were amazing to work with! You have such a creative eye for the most gorgeous photos and you were always close by to capture every single heartfelt moment! Thank you for everything! 2017 Award for Best Wedding Photographer ever! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul did a fantastic job with our wedding. The pictures and poses were exactly what we wanted and helped make the evening unforgettable. Paul Retherford Photography is easy to work with, dependable and will help make your wedding a success! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Wow. What an amazing photographer. He was so helpful leading up to the wedding and even more so for the day of. He had many great ideas for images and incorporated everything we wanted as well. We also received a copy of all the images within a week and they are amazing. One thing I heard most about wedding planning was to spend the money on a good photographer and I think we found the best one!! Thank you again Paul!!!! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

We had Paul photograph our wedding at Bay Harbor early this August and he was one of our favorite parts of our wedding! He was so fun, but still very thorough. He made sure we got everything we needed and wanted in the time that we had. He kept things moving and he included everyone at our wedding. We had a small wedding, but it was very nice that he was able to take each couples' photos so everyone felt very involved! He was also very knowledgeable on the area, so he was able to give us some great advice on places to visit during our honeymoon!We had a small reception a few days later closer to home with more family and he had all of our pictures ready for us to display for the rest of our family to see. He was very easy to work with and was also a huge help even after everything was all said and done. Paul was one of the best decisions we made with our wedding! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Paul was absolutely wonderful. Not only were the pictures amazing but he was calm and collected the whole day when pretty much everyone else around him was not. I think his prices are very competitive for the area and well worth the price. I would highly recommend. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

As a wedding vendor myself, I have worked alongside Paul many times! He was has always practiced professionalism and is a great photographer! Great guy and great vendor!!!

Reviewed on Facebook

Wow! What a great photographer to work with. Thank you so much for everything on our wedding day yesterday at Castle Farms. You are such a talented and professional individual. We enjoyed having you with us yesterday and look forward to see all the pictures!!! Thanks again!!!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Hands down the best photographer! Not only are the photos absolutely gorgeous, but Paul makes you feel a sense of calm in the chaos of your wedding day. We got so many compliments from our guest about how wonderful he was! He took every photo we requested and then some and posted our pictures right away! Also, the photo booth was a blast. So many great props and kid and adult friendly. We can't say enough great things! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I'm so glad I called Paul Retherford Photography for our wedding photos. Very professional and very responsive to calls, emails, whatever you need! On my wedding day he made me feel so comfortable!! His work is exceptional, I would recommend him to anyone! He even put together a complementary video for us, so creative and so much talent! Thank you Paul Retherford photography!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul is the best!!! He did a wonderful job at capturing all the special moments on our special day. I am so grateful to have had him as our wedding photographer, I am able to relive our wedding day each time I go through our photos. He was a pleasure to work with and a truly talented/professional guy. Thanks for everything, Paul! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul photographed my friend's wedding on Mackinac Island this past July and he was absolutely fantastic! Very knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. He gave us ladies all kinds of flattering tips for posing, which was wonderful. I'd highly recommend him!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul did our engagement photos in July. We went in thinking they would be awkward, but when we are asked how it was our response is "actually really fun! " Paul made the whole experience so enjoyable, and on top of that, we couldn't be happier with the quality of photos. Paul is awesome to work with, an excellent photographer, and I hope we get to work with him again in the future. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul was the official photographer for my wedding and it was a pleasure to work with him. Within minutes of meeting Paul, I considered him to be a friend as opposed to a vendor. He genuinely cares about his clients and it is reflected in the quality of his photos. Thank you for everything, Paul! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul was the photographer at a wedding I was recently a Bridesmaid in. He was fantastic, fun, energetic and the photographs are amazing! Thank you for capturing the couple in a perfect & unique was in each photo. They will treasure forever. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I connected with Paul to setup a family photo session this past spring. He was extremely responsive (within the hour!) with details and information, including his availability. The date we established turned out to be a cold, wintry day in May (typical Michigan weather), and Paul did not hesitate to work with us to change the date. On the day of the photos, he again was accommodating as the weather was not the best, but he had a solution for another nearby location that worked out perfectly. He had originally promised me all the edited photos within three business days. I had them in less than 24 hours, and they were wonderful. He captured some great shots, even with two little boys under the age of two. I would absolutely recommend Paul Retherford--not only for his promptness, responsiveness and photography skills, but in general for being a personable, friendly individual! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Paul. He absolutely knew the island, the best places for photos and the most convenient way to get there. He has immortalized our daughter and son-in-law's wedding! Thank you so very much! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I really don't think I can express how happy I am that we chose Paul to be our wedding photographer. He far exceeded my expectations. I feel my husband described it best when he referred to him as a "magician" because he truly helped to make our day magical. From booking to wedding day, Paul was great with helping us decide what was right for our day, and it was nice to have someone who had worked with local vendors and could make excellent recommendations. He gave some great tips and tricks to looking great in photos, as well as some insider tips on exploring areas of Mackinac Island. On our wedding day, he was everywhere taking tons of photos (and video) and we could not be more happy with the outcome! I cannot express how wonderful it was to have Paul as our photographer, and would urge all the brides out there to book with him! You will not be disappointed! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Made a nerve racking experience fun! Great photographer!

Reviewed on Facebook

Hiring Paul was hands down the best decision we made for our wedding. From the second I started talking to him on the phone it was obvious that he was a total expert in his field - professional, knowledgable, and personable. Your photographer is with you your ENTIRE wedding day - you want someone with a great personality that creates a fun and relaxed environment for people to look natural in pictures. My rowdy groomsmen were coming up to me telling me that “my photographer was awesome” and I cannot tell you how many wedding guests commented on how “cool” my photographer was - the photos show that the guests love him! So many natural shots that completely capture the tone of the whole wedding day. I referred to Paul as half photographer/half wedding planner and that’s the truth - he was teaching girls how to pose in a flattering way, putting corsages on the guys, and provided me with wedding ideas leading up to the big day (including great vendor referrals!). We genuinely enjoyed him and felt like we were hanging out with a friend all day. Obviously, the most important thing is that we LOVE our pictures. They are truly beautiful - I honestly was in awe of them. He missed nothing - he knew every shot I wanted and he was constantly looking for the best light and trying to capture every moment. The equipment he has is down right cool - he even used a helicopter drone to capture aeriel images. A week after my wedding, I get a link to 2500 edited photos and each photograph is beautiful. Any photographer can take a couple great shots out of thousands - but Paul will give you a thousand beautiful shots that are all frame worthy. You won’t regret your decision in hiring him - you will have no worries on your wedding day with Paul as your photographer. Paul is a class act and worth every penny and then some. Thank you so much Paul - we would recommend you to anyone!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Jimmy and I can not say enough wonderful things about Paul. He is professional, calming, fun, he loves what he does and it shows! We are so excited to see our wedding photos! Thank you so much Paul for capturing our every part of wedding! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul is so easy going, friendly, and flexible to work with!! He went above and beyond for our special day! He showed up early, stayed late, and was extremely accommodating to our rowdy wedding party. On top of that, he offered us an amazing rate on LABOR DAY WEEKEND...... With an automatic photobooth station!!! ANDDD he had all of our wedding photos back to us before we returned from our week long honeymoon! But that's not all, when I messaged Paul with problems downloading the photos on my computer he apologized for the inconvenience and said he would mail me all my photos on a USB! What a great guy!! Not to mention the quality of the photos are out of this world!! Absolutely stunning!! If you want a dependable, friendly, professional wedding photographer....then Paul is your guy!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul was the most wonderful person to work with! He was able to capture the most incredible, genuine shots that are now priceless to us. There is no one better for these once in a lifetime special occasions! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

We had the pleasure of working with Paul for our small wedding on Mackinac Island last week, and we couldn't be happier! !! He was fantastic to work with, and the pictures came out beautifully. We absolutely recommend him and hope to use him again in the future!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

We had an excellent experience doing a family shoot with Paul! He went above and beyond to capture great photos of some very, uh, spirited kids. As a photographer, he offered great suggestions and was agreeable to anything we wanted to try. He really gets little kids and does terrific work! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I love the pictures you took of Mr.Mrs. Jordan and Jess Rimsa at the Toledeo Zoo,all the ways you took of everyone having a great time. I love all the animal pictures. You should of found some Love Birds or Butterflies at the Zoo,would of pretty picture. If I know any one that needs a photographer, will tell them to request you. Thank you for all the beautiful pictures of Jordan and Jess Wedding. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul, You rock at what you do! Your images capture raw emotions and tell a story. Thanks for everything!

Reviewed on Facebook

Our wedding was a destination wedding so we had no friend referrals when hiring vendors. The photographer was the most important hire we made in our planning process. I spent months searching for the "perfect" photographer from 100's of miles away. We could NOT have made a better decision when we hired Paul and his staff. I had 100 questions for him, and he answered every single one. He even let me email him pictures I'd found on Pinterest so he could recreate them. He was early the day of the wedding, walked in a disaster created by the reception venue, and a very stressed out bride. He jumped right in, helping where he could. It was freezing cold the day of our wedding and Paul was out running all over Leland with us (literally running at times). Our guest have still, two months later, not stopped talking about him. Even before anyone had seen the pictures, our guest were blown away by personality and overall workmanship. I just was back at the salon yesterday that did everyone's hair. The first thing my hair stylist and the girls who traveled with her said was how great our photographer was and how amazing our pictures were. They do a lot of wedding and complemented Paul over and over again because he was so easy to work with. They said that they typically struggle when it comes to trying to work with photographers in the same space. They said Paul was so helpful and respectful. I just created photo books for our moms and the quality of the pictures is amazing!! We were very lucky we have two great cakes, a beautiful ceremony and reception site, and great food but time after time people talk about how great Paul and his staff were when talking about the wedding. I am so pleased with our choice. He checked before leaving to make sure there were no more photos I needed taken. Which allowed for me to grab one last family photo and a high school friends photo. I feel like I am going on and on but we couldn't be happier with our photos. You cannot go wrong in picking Paul. You will be so happy with your choice. He really went above and beyond his job title to make our day so amazing and we can't thank him enough!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Paul is the best of the best. We did 3 photo shoots with Paul and love every single image. People are blown away by our photos and Paul was so easy to work with. We loved every moment of it.

Reviewed on Facebook

Great disposition...! Fun to work with...!

Reviewed on Facebook