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What do you get when you roll up a former student filmmaker, writer, and all around helpless romantic: the photographer you’ve probably been searching for.

Every time I pick up my camera, my goal is create something beautiful and real using a client-focused, artistic mindset. Not one to yield to whichever aesthetic trends permeate the influencer-dominated landscapes of social media, I endeavor to look inward - capturing instead the essence of the real human beings I photograph. This is especially true with my wedding and engagement photography. There’s only one you, and I empower you to shine through every frame.

I was born and raised on the Jersey shore, where I grew up on a diet of indie music and epic fantasy books, and was always more attracted to the offbeat and avant-garde. I was also difficult to pigeonhole, and as such I never quite settled on what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’d played banjo for a folk-rock band, been a photographer for a newspaper, won awards at film festivals, and began a career as an attorney. I never stopped imagining the different things I could become.

One day, my best friend asked me if I would take pictures of his proposal. I had never taken pictures of anything so important before, and the rush of capturing that once-in-a-lifetime moment and bottling it forever sent me over the moon. I would go on to shoot more moments like these for friends, family, and colleagues. I began shooting weddings, engagement sessions, events, parties, and more. My fondness for the “photographer half” of my life would continue to grow until finally, in 2021, I left the dull safety of my law career and made the decision to chase the dream of doing what I love: capturing the beautiful people, places, and moments around me every day.

I believe in delivering focused, consistent, and personalized experiences. For that reason I work alone as the sole photographer for all events, including weddings. I sacrifice being everywhere all at once for being in the places that matter most and seizing on those small, blink-and-you’d-miss-it moments that make all the difference.

Professional, high resolution photos are just my baseline. What has kept my referrals coming in over the years are the special touches, attention to detail, and a final product tailored to the uniqueness of each individual.

Thank you for taking the time to explore my portfolio, hearing my story, and considering me for your special moment. It really means the world to me.

~Michael Cort

(he/him)