Meet Michael Rizza

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Rizza.

Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
During my senior year in high school, I decided to pick up my mom’s old Nikon DSLR and see where my creativity would take me. I was inspired by a few photographer’s around the world that started their own “365 project” – a challenge to post a unique and interest portrait photograph every day for an entire year. A few weeks later I decided to ask my crush, now fiancé, to model for me.

From that point on, I knew two things – I LOVED portrait photography, and I had a keeper! Fast forward a few months later, I decided I was ready to start working with clients and photographed my first engagement session. People started reaching out almost immediately after and I haven’t stopped growing since!

I got the opportunity to photograph a few friends’ weddings in the beginning of my career, and totally fell in love with the magic of what a wedding day is! Since then, I’ve been photographing weddings alongside my fiancé for four years now! Every year we grow more and more and get to celebrate and capture so many beautiful weddings together!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Overall, my business has had a pretty smooth road. There have been a few times where I became very, very busy with college and running my business at the same time, but that drive and motivation to keep going and never stop learning has brought me to where I am today. I believe that many struggles can be seen as learning experiences and opportunities to grow even more. I’m super grateful to have had such a great opportunity and so many clients that trust me, my creativity, and my work!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Michael Rizza Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in wedding and engagement photography both around Atlanta and destinations worldwide. My style is bright, colorful, and timeless. I strive to make sure that when our couples look back at their photos 10, 20, and 50 years from now – they can remember their wedding day perfectly, smile at every photo, and fall in love all over again! My goal at every wedding is to capture the raw emotions, candid moments, and details that make up the unique and true essence of every wedding day. I pride myself on capturing gorgeous newlywed portraits, as well as family & bridal photos!

We choose to photograph in a fun, friendly, and relaxed approach to make sure our couples are having fun and can loosen up to allow us to capture their unique personalities and spontaneous moments or happiness. We combine this fun approach with experience, skill, and professionalism. All these are important to us – but having a personal connection and friendship with our clients allow us to make the difference between great photos and outstanding wedding photographs!

Through many years of being a wedding photographer, I know that weddings are deeply personal and unique. They are about capturing more than just the moments of our couples becoming husband and wife. They are about capturing their proud parents, childhood friends, and sweet grandparents. These relationships are what make wedding memories unique, joyful, and filled with so much love. I want our couples to remember exactly how it felt to live and love that day!

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am so excited for my future and the future of my business. Personally, I just got engaged to my beautiful fiancé in July, and we are planning our wedding together! I couldn’t be more excited for this time in our lives and I am finally getting to enjoy the fun times that our clients get to enjoy when they are engaged! For my business – I am always planning, coming up with new ideas, and finding new ways to improve my client experience! It’s my number one goal to have my clients burst out in happy tears, smiles, and uncontrollable excitement after they see their photos for the first time.