Lifestyle and Brand Photography to Empower Success? Oh yes...

Michelle Lee November 20, 2019

If you’re on social media primarily for business purposes these days, you’ll well understand the importance of strong photos to captivate your audience. The trick behind a great shareable image that balances professionality with the ever-vital personal touch? Do away with a strictly curated look and hone in on the genuine nature of the subject. The light, unique character, and beauty will be front and center without attention-grabbing tactics that actually distract from the brilliance of the person, event, and brand.

While shooting for the Project Impact Retreat in Santa Barbara last month, the inspiration and curiosity from all the guests was palpable; and ripe for taking fresh, authentic, in-the-moment photos that individually and collectively tell the many stories of this amazing event. Case in point, scroll the slideshow below…

And, no less, near and dear to the heart is supporting an empowered community of women, veterans in business or brand new to the entrepreneurial adventure. In either scenario, there is a deeply held passion for expanding on a dream…and it is a joy to capture women in these moments of upleveling their lives…

Alisa Wilcox - Business Consultant

Julia Busby - Marketing Entrepreneur

Karina Ward - Personal Trainer

Contact Michelle to chat all the possibilities!

Method + Mastery = Artistry

Guest User January 27, 2017

On a recent trip to my home land in Hawaii, I photographed my long time friend Ray Carbullido. He is a Jedi master primarily focused on the cultivation of body intelligence, mental clarity, and emotional stability. Martial arts is the main medium through which he cultivates and knows himself. These photos capture his strength, inner peace and mad skills as a human.

Say Hello to the Cutest Baby in Town | Finnegan

Guest User August 22, 2016

I joined new mommas Jen and Annelyse, their baby Finnegan and their lab Kersee (named after olympic runner Jackie Joyner Kersee) for a fun photo shoot in their family home. Finnegan is a healthy, happy and oh so giggly little boy. Actually he's huge for an eight month old and growing fast! I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this family I hold so near and dear to my heart!

Best friends, play buddies and future partners-in-crime.

Finnegan's first taste of freedom. Crawling, walking, running and before you know it, driving! All with his personal body guard, Kersee, by his side.

Finnegan being a goofball with his momma.

Meet Health, Movement, and Fitness Guru Karina Ward

Guest User July 20, 2016

I loved shooting this cutie in her element — leggings and tennis shoes, sweating it out. She is a bona fide trainer extraordinaire that studied at the American College of Sports Medicine, is an exercise physiologist, a certified BASI Pilates trainer and a certified Foundation Training instructor. She specializes in restorative exercise, private training, dance fitness and more!! Her warm energy, radiating happiness and a spirited zest for life make her the perfect person to be by your side pushing you through a workout!

Cyclub

Guest User June 22, 2016

Getting groovy with the artists from Cyclub, a gypsy pyschadelic punk band featuring musicians from around the globe. Grabbed these awesome shots during their show at Tin Castle in San Francisco. Being a photographer is all about switching up it, capturing moments from different angles, viewpoints and perspectives.

Rickshaw Bagworks | SF

Guest User June 15, 2016

Here is a throwback to my days in the bay area. My time as a photographer there was so gratifying and I had the pleasure of working with happy, creative people doing great things that they are passionate about. One of the clients I had the privilege of working with was Rickshaw Bagworks. They are a small company that customizes top of the line bags, specifically designed with bike commuters in mind. Their products are inspired by urban mobility and distinguished by simple, functional design and high-quality materials and construction for people on the go. They also design many of their own fabrics, with sustainability and durability as a top priority. If only more companies followed in their footsteps!

L.O.V.E. Love

Michelle Lee March 21, 2016

Karina and James fell head over heels while playing like kids on a jungle gym. Their first date was at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara so James (a parkour master) could teach her some tricks of the trade and of course win her heart by showing off his ninja like skills. I was ecstatic when I found out these two were getting married and even more ecstatic when they asked me to photograph an engagement session with them. Their lively energies are contagious and my hope is that their spirit, happiness and love radiates through these photographs. My wish is that when they look back upon them in fifty years, it makes them fall in love all over again as they relive these memories captured in time!

The Narrative Loft is My New Home!

Michelle Lee February 24, 2016

I was born and raised in Hawaii and in '07, crossed the Pacific with my dog (Gypsy) in one hand, camera in the other, and made San Francisco my home. This is where I started telling stories through my lens and where Michelle Lee Photography was conceived. Three years ago, I made the journey down the coast and landed in Santa Barbara. I acquired a studio in an old lemon packing plant near an industrial area turned artsy district aptly named The Funk Zone. My heart and soul has poured into transforming it into a creative space fit for events and photography. Mission accomplished, it is now a little slice of heaven called The Narrative Loft.