We were lucky to catch up with Paige Michels recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paige, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I taught myself photography through a lot of trial and error, honestly. I didn’t go to school for it — I just picked up a camera one day and couldn’t stop. I started by photographing anything and everything, but over time, I realized I was most drawn to capturing people in honest, in-between moments — the quiet glance, the belly laugh, the fleeting touch. That naturally led me to weddings and couples, where emotion runs deep and storytelling matters most.

Looking back, I think I could’ve sped things up by not being so afraid to ask for help or connect with other photographers sooner. Community is everything, and when you’re learning on your own, it’s easy to feel like you have to figure it all out alone. The most essential skills for me have been how to read light, how to make people feel comfortable, and how to anticipate emotion before it happens. You can’t fake connection in photos — you have to earn it.

One of the biggest obstacles was self-doubt. When you’re teaching yourself, it’s hard to know when you’re “good enough” or when your work is actually connecting. It took time to trust my eye, lean into my style, and not compare myself to everyone else. That’s still a work in progress some days — but that’s the beauty of it. You’re always learning.

Paige, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Paige Michels, and I’m the photographer behind Paige Monet, my wedding and engagement photography business — named after my middle name, Monet. I’m based in South Florida but also work in New York, New Jersey, and travel often for destination weddings and sessions. My style is a mix of editorial and documentary, and I focus on capturing moments that feel real, emotional, and true to the people in front of my lens.

I didn’t go to school for photography — I learned through a lot of experimenting, observing, and just showing up again and again with a camera in hand. What started as a creative outlet quickly turned into a full-time career when I realized how much I loved documenting the in-between, unscripted moments that unfold on a wedding day. I’m not here to force you into stiff poses or stage every second. My goal is to tell your story in a way that actually feels like you — candid, honest, and beautifully imperfect.

At Paige Monet, I offer wedding photography, engagement sessions, and elopements. I also help my couples plan their timeline, location, and overall experience so that their day runs smoothly and authentically. The service I provide goes beyond delivering a gallery — I bring calm energy to what can be a chaotic day, help people feel comfortable in front of the camera, and make sure the focus stays on what matters most to them.

What sets me apart is how personal I make the process. I don’t treat weddings like a checklist or just another job. I get to know my couples, pay attention to their unique dynamic, and photograph their day with intention. Whether it’s a quiet first look, a spontaneous champagne pop, or a late-night pizza break — I’m all about the real stuff, not just the highlight reel.

I’m most proud of the trust I’ve built with my clients — so many of them turn into friends. And at the end of the day, the thing I want potential clients and followers to know is this: if you’re looking for photos that feel staged or filtered, I might not be your person. But if you want your love documented honestly, artistically, and with heart — I’d be honored to tell your story.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Yes — photography started as a side hustle and has now become my full-time career, which still feels surreal to say out loud. For years, I worked full time as a legal assistant at a law firm. It was stable and structured, but creatively, it wasn’t fulfilling. On the side, I started taking photos — first for friends, then for friends of friends. I spent weekends shooting, evenings editing, and my lunch breaks answering inquiries and building my business one step at a time.

There was definitely a long stretch where I was balancing both, and honestly, it was exhausting. But I knew photography was what I wanted to do — it was the thing that lit me up, made me feel like myself, and gave me purpose in a way that my 9–5 never could. Over time, my bookings started increasing, word of mouth spread, and I realized I had built something real.

A few key milestones made the leap feel possible. The first was when I fully booked a wedding season months in advance — that was a huge confidence boost. The second was when I raised my prices and clients still kept coming. But honestly, the biggest turning point was internal. I realized I was holding onto the law job out of fear — fear of instability, of failing, of not being “ready.” Eventually, I had to trust myself more than I trusted my backup plan.

Leaving the law firm to go full time with Paige Monet was scary — but it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Now, I get to do what I love for people I genuinely care about, and I’ve built a brand that feels 100% me. It wasn’t overnight, and it wasn’t without a lot of late nights and self-doubt, but it was absolutely worth it.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think one thing non-creatives might struggle to understand is how personal this work is. When you’re a photographer — especially one who shoots weddings — you’re not just showing up with a camera and pressing a button. You’re pouring so much of yourself into it. Your eye, your intuition, your ability to connect with people — it’s all tied to who you are, not just what you do.

So when someone questions your pricing, your style, or even just sees it as “fun” or a hobby, it can feel really disheartening. This isn’t just art — it’s also a business. There’s a lot of pressure to wear every hat: artist, editor, accountant, marketer, and therapist all rolled into one. And because the work looks beautiful on the outside, people don’t always see the behind-the-scenes — the long hours, the self-doubt, the emotional toll, or how hard it is to rest when your passion and your income are the same thing.

But at the same time, there’s so much beauty in it. There’s nothing like knowing your work made someone feel something — that a couple will look at your photos 30 years from now and be taken right back to that moment. That’s the magic, and that’s why I keep showing up, even on the hard days.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://paigemonet.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paigemonetphotos