I'm Michelle, the photographer and owner behind White Design & Photography. My love of photography began with a love of art. I studied graphic design and photography, with a minor in marketing and business, before beginning my career at a national advertising agency. In 2003, I combined my background in design and photography and founded White Design & Photography. More than two decades later, I still love what I do. My background in design, photography, advertising and professional retouching influences the way I approach every image. • I think about the light. • I think about the composition. • I think about the expression. •I think about how the finished image will look hanging on a wall or sitting in an album years from now. And after more than 20 years of photographing people, I've learned that the most meaningful photographs aren't always the ones where everything is perfectly posed. They're the ones that feel like you.
My photography journey began with film, when a roll gave you only 12, 24, or 36 chances to get it right. There was no instant preview, no deleting, and no second chance. You learned to slow down, study the light, consider your composition, and trust your eye. Then you waited—sometimes a week—to see what you had captured. My degree in Art deepened that foundation, giving me a lasting understanding of composition, color, balance, creativity, and visual storytelling. Film taught me to be intentional; art taught me to see. Those lessons continue to shape the way I photograph today. Technology has changed dramatically, but the fundamentals haven't. I still believe the best images come from understanding light, anticipating the moment, creating connection, and knowing when everything in the frame simply comes together. Years of education. Years of experience. A lifetime of seeing things creatively.
