Michael Freas

Contact Michael Freas

Documentary wedding photographer based in Asheville, NC. I photograph couples who want to stay present — no shot lists, no manufactured moments, no stopping every twenty minutes. Real light, real color, real day.

WPJA Top 150 globally, Top 50 in the United States. Published in Destination I Do, including a Biltmore Estate editorial. ISPWP member.

Sneak peeks within 3 to 4 days. Full gallery within one month, personally edited start to finish.

Serving Asheville, Western NC, Highlands, Greenville SC, Florida Keys, and destinations nationwide.

Where are you located? Do you charge a travel fee for weddings not in your location?

Based in Asheville NC. Serving NC and beyond!

How long have you been in business? How many weddings have you photographed as the main photographer?

I have been shooting professionally now for 10 years and average 30-35 weddings a year.

Describe your "style" of wedding photography.

Creative Documentary Wedding Photography

What's the typical wedding coverage package that you offer? What is the price?

Essential Coverage — $3,800 (8 hours, 1 photographer)
Full Story Coverage — $4,800 (10 hours, 1 photographer, engagement session, 35mm film)
Two Photographers — $5,800 (10 hours)
Photo + Video — $7,800 (Michael + Jesse + Matt, 8 hours each, highlight film, full ceremony film, engagement session, 35mm film)

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3 Fearless Awards

Collection 91

Collection 89

Collection 63

Photos of the Week

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Fearless Honors

30 Recommendations

To any couple considering Michael: book him, trust him, and let him do what he does best. He captured our day with so much beauty, intention, and care. We left our wedding experience not saying goodbye to Michael, but “see you later 🤙” because we genuinely hope to use him for all of our family photo sessions in the future.

We found Michael Freas by Googling Pretty Place Chapel photographers, and we were immediately blown away by his talent, his style, and the breathtaking photos he had captured for other couples. From the very first inquiry, Michael was incredible. He responded the same Read More day, shared full galleries from other Pretty Place Chapel couples, and spent the entire day communicating with me to help us choose a date that worked well for both him and us.

We basically let Michael pick our wedding date, and little did we know that would be the first of many decisions we would happily trust him with. Looking back, giving Michael full creative control was one of the best choices we made.

The day of our wedding was truly the best day of our lives, and so much of that is because of Michael. From well before dawn to well after dusk, he took on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with us and turned it into something we will never forget. He was on time, prepared, thoughtful, calm, and somehow delivered in ways that completely surpassed every expectation we had. Just a wedding photographer? No way. Michael planned, guided, encouraged, organized, and executed our entire day in the most seamless and meaningful way.

Even though we eloped, Michael made us feel like we had everyone we needed right there with us. He brought such a steady, joyful presence, and by the end of the experience, he felt much more like a friend than just our photographer. And the photos… WOW. They are breathtaking, awe-capturing, emotional, and beyond anything we could have dreamed of. Michael stunned us with a huge sneak peek and then delivered our full gallery in under one month. Everyone who has seen the photos has had the same reaction: stunning, beautiful, amazing, breathtaking. People keep telling us how happy and beautiful we look, and how incredible the landscapes are. We feel so blessed to have had Michael as our photographer and so much more.

MALLORY + MATT

We highly recommend Michael as a wedding photographer. When our wedding was rescheduled due to the Asheville hurricane in 2024, we found Michael—and we’re so grateful we did. Michael was incredibly attentive; before the wedding, he met with us during our venue tasting to understand what we wanted and regularly checked in as we approached our date. On our wedding day, he excelled at organizing everyone—even as rain and lightning approached, Michael made sure every photo we wanted was taken, sometimes with drill-sergeant precision but always with good humor.

Michael’s second photographer, Read More Jesse, was also wonderful to work with and helped make the experience enjoyable for everyone. Michael’s strong personality was perfect for us, and the photos are simply stunning—they capture who we are as a couple and look even better than we imagined. We wholeheartedly encourage anyone planning a wedding or event to give Michael a call.

RYAN + K

We could not have picked a better photographer for our elopement! We aren’t from the area so we had no idea of places, times or weather. Michael was absolutely on it! He called the sunrise perfectly and when the storm tried to ruin our sunset picture that evening he found the perfect spot on the mountain to be able to check the radar and pick a spot! We haven’t gotten all of our pictures yet but the ones we have seen so far have been so amazing! He checked all the boxes and is so knowledgeable and his photos are so perfect! I knew they would be because of how excited he got while taking them! Read More He deserves more than 5 stars!

TONYIA + KEITH

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I believe choosing a photographer for your wedding is one of the most important steps of your wedding journey. The photos are how you're going to relive the best day of your life.

I found Michael on Instagram after going through TONS of photographers. As soon as I found his page, I knew I'd found the right guy. There's not a single photo in his portfolio that I don't love. I don't know how he does it, but he captured every single emotion of the day from me as the bride, to my husband (!!), to all our guests. I only have the preview photos (which he had to us by the NEXT MORNING - after Read More taking like 10K photos the day before), but they are absolutely stunning. His editing style is EXACTLY what I was looking for. He doesn't zhuzh your photos up with the same boring filters. His photos feel real and rich.

My husband and I believe Michael was one of the best decisions we made about our wedding. All of our guests have already complimented on our much they love our 30-40 preview photos. I cannot wait for the rest of them to come in!

While also being incredibly talented, Michael is also very passionate about his work and the people he's shooting. We did an engagement shoot with him before the wedding and had a blast! He's a super fun guy who is really resourceful. He knows so much about the areas he works so feel free to ask him for recommendations!

We loved working with Michael and you will not regret it if you choose him!

STEPHANIE + NATHAN

Mike from Freas Photography truly made our wedding day memorable. He treated us like family, not just clients, and his expertise and professionalism helped us capture our dream wedding. Throughout the planning process, he was always available to answer our questions promptly, whether by phone or email. What stood out to us was that Mike not only captured the photos we requested but also took the initiative to capture moments he knew we would cherish as a couple. During the wedding day, Mike struck a perfect balance between ensuring we got the photos we wanted with our loved ones and giving us Read More the space to savor the precious moments. His attention to detail was evident as he navigated the event seamlessly, ensuring that each photograph told a beautiful story. The photos he delivered were truly breathtaking, and we are grateful to have these memories to cherish for a lifetime. We wholeheartedly recommend Mike and Freas Photography to any couple looking for a talented and dedicated wedding photographer. Every penny spent was worth it, and we are confident that you will love his work as much as we do. Thank you, Mike, for being a crucial part of our special day!

KENDALL + VICTOR

He shot our outdoor wedding and was AMAZING. I feel so lucky to have had a photographer so skilled at my wedding. I highly recommend!

SYDNEE + GIANCARLO

Michael Freas is the best photographer we could've possibly chosen. He is easy going and yet also professional at the same time. If you are looking for some quality photos where the color pops and stands out, along with some fun candid photos, you found the right person!
As soon as he pulled up to our venue he saw some flowers which were off to the side and knew immediately he would bring us over to the field where the flowers were. None of our guests even saw the field of flowers, he just has an eye for this stuff and knows how to control a camera phenomenally!
We loved working with him!

ASHLEY + JONAH

Once I found the Instagram of Michael Freas Photography in my early stages of wedding planning, I knew I had to inquire quickly....because I knew due to his quality of work, his schedule would book fast! He was my first vendor I booked early in my planning process, but with no regret! Michael brought the upbeat, creativity to our wedding weekend in Key Largo. He looked for all of the right angles for the shots and made the shots happen! I felt confident in Michael (and his quiet but hilarious assistant, Julio) during every part of our day. He took control when needed and blended into the day Read More seamlessly. He even sent me sneak peak photos the very next day! I will cherish these moments he captured forever. If you're looking for a fun, versatile, and adventurous photographer, Michael is your guy!

TAYLOR + JUSTIN

I highly recommend Freas photography. I hired Michael for an engagement shoot and he went above and beyond to help me plan and create a beautiful moment for me and my fiancé. The photos are amazing and great quality. He is a little bit more on the pricier side but honestly it’s worth every penny. Can’t thank him enough.

ARIEL + DELI

From start to finish, Michael was wonderful to work with. I appreciate that he not only wanted to take excellent pictures, but also get to know us as a couple. He was professional, fun, and above all, an AMAZING photographer. Guests who saw previews of our pictures all said that they were the best wedding pictures they had ever seen. He captured our day perfectly. Would highly recommend Michael to anyone!!

JULIA + JOHN

Michael was such an amazing photographer to work with. We were originally attracted to some of the photos we saw on his Instagram page- they were unique and stunningly beautiful especially the way he captured scenic backgrounds. He did not disappoint when it came to our photos. We not only got those amazing scenic photos- but he also captured all of the love, fun and the amazing celebration we had that day. Michael felt like he was another fun guest at out wedding. Everyone enjoyed his presence and energy that he brought to the wedding day! We could not recommend him more!

MICHELLE + MICHAEL

Michael was an absolute rockstar to work with. Not only is he INCREDIBLY talented, but just an amazing person. He does pretty much anything to get that perfect shot, and is a magician with lighting. He is the best of the best! Super flexible, but also is sure to do what he knows is best to get the most beautiful picture. WE LOVE MICHAEL!

LAUREN + NICK

My wife and I would definitely recommend hiring Michael Freas as your wedding photographer! While we could have gone with a cheaper photographer, we knew that we wanted great quality photos of our wedding. Before booking, we asked for him to show us some previous photos and they were significantly better than ALL of the other photographers we contacted. Michael Freas took outstanding photos at our wedding and was 100% worth every penny. He did an amazing job at capturing all of our special moments and perfectly coordinated all of our guests and family for the best shots.

Michael Freas is Read More down to earth and easy going. He’s dedicated and passionate about what he does, which is clearly reflected in his photos. A great photographer that really wants to get to know you on a personal level, so that he understands what type of photos you want. Michael really went above and beyond to make sure our photos came out absolutely spectacular, even to the point of yelling to a boat captain to turn his sail boat for an amazing photo (see photo below). If we need a photographer for any future events, we will definitely call him.

DANIEL + ARIELLE

We had a great experience with Michael! Not only are the photos amazing, he is knowledgeable and passionate about what he does. My partner and I are more than a little awkward, but he made us feel comfortable and worked great with our 11 month old and dog. He led us to some awesome spots and was extremely patient and flexible with us. We had a mix up with our dates and Michael barely batted an eye to accommodate us and get us the wedding shots of our dreams.

KALEY + DANIEL

Once I saw some of the stunning images online, I knew I had to hire Michael for my Key West wedding...we booked him before we even booked the venue. Mike is someone you kinda wanna hang out all day with...he just has this easy going way about him that makes you relax- key for my husband who HATES pictures. I wanted him to be able to relax and have fun during the process and the results def show that. We got so many amazing pictures that really captured the day. Don't hesitate, just hire him if you truly care about having gorgeous pictures!

LAUREN + JIM

Michael was very responsive from day one. He was able to book and then upgrade our session all within a short amount of time, which we really appreciated. Michael even scouted the area we were going to shoot our photos in the days prior to our session, so was very prepared. There was a high chance of rain and when we were supposed to shoot, but Michael reassured us it would all work out, and it did! The rain stopped just before our session time, just like he forecasted. Our photos also came out gorgeous, and he made the experience really fun.

BIANCA + JAMES

Mike Freas is absolutely phenomenal! He was the photographer at our wedding on 11/6/2021 and we are so happy he was the one to document our day!

Mike is very professional, easy to get in touch with, and timely. He gets to know you very well throughout the planning process so he can help document / portray your wedding story. We got so comfortable with him, we were able to truly relax and just enjoy the moment during our wedding day without being nervous about our pictures being taken.

His pictures are outstanding! So many of our guests are telling us these are the best wedding photos Read More they’ve seen. He has such an eye for catching those special moments. We relive our wedding day whenever we look at the pictures he took for us! From it being just me and my husband standing outside at our venue with the most gorgeous sunset in the background, to catching everyone busting a move on the dance floor, he captures the story of the night so well. He was able to document those moments beautifully so we can look at them for forever. That day goes so fast, it’s a whirlwind, Mike being there to document so we can relive those moments is so special. So so so happy Mike was our photographer!

Hands down, I would recommend Mike Freas. Mike, thank you so much for everything!! We appreciate you!

KRISTIN + SANDITO

We worked with Michael for our engagement shoot and wedding day, and he exceeded our expectations with our photos! We had to postpone our wedding date due to covid and he was very flexible and understanding of our change. When wedding day came around, Michael made photo-taking fun and stress-free. He’s an incredibly talented photographer, who doesn’t settle for posed pictures. He makes a point of getting to know the couples he works with, so he can better understand how to capture their special moments. He’s a storytelling photographer, and it definitely showed in the final product. We can’t Read More recommend Michael enough, so if you need a photographer for your special day…look no further!

KEESHIA + JOSEPH

My husband and I live over a thousand miles from Key West and decided to do a planned elopement there. Of course the one day it rained was our wedding day, but Michael knew the island and the people on it so well, took the stress off of us, helped us make a new plan, and took the best photos we could have ever asked for!

MIRANDA + BERRY

Michael was incredibly easy to work with from the first video chat we had. Extremely personable and professional and made our wedding day a blast. He's the kind of person you want there with you spending your special day with you. He handled all of the wedding drama like a true professional and was a hit with all of our guests. Prepare for Michael to be all over the dance floor doing whatever it takes to get the perfect picture. Michael is willing to go that extra mile throughout the entire day and really capture everything that makes your wedding day special.

WESLEY + ALLYSON

If you want a typical wedding photographer, he's NOT your guy. If you want someone who takes in every aspect of your day, carefully taking time to think about where the best shot is going to be, helping you with every step in planning, and who is seriously dedicated to his craft (and his clients) then he is DEFINITELY your guy. His work is ART. He fits in to the crowd, chatting with each guest to make them all feel comfortable and just like he's part of the day. We spent a year and a half planning and almost a full year of multiple postponements and he was with us every step of the way. When Read More we finally saw each other on the big day, he was just as excited as I was. It's been 2 weeks and we just got our gallery and whew, it's amazing! If you're still considering who to use, stop and book the dude ASAP.

MAGGIE + JERRY

We hired Michael to shoot our engagement. He did an incredible job. He was incredibly profession and timely with the work. We asked for candid shots of the moment and he did that. He got some amazing pictures of us at the sunset as well. He's an amazing photographer and we plan to book him for our wedding.

KEVIN + JESSICA

Michael was beyond professional and made everyone feel so comfortable in front of the camera. He captured beautiful candid moments of the entire day. Highly recommend !!

BRIANA + MARK

Working with Mike was an amazing experience. From the time I contacted him for pricing and info to the very end of our wedding reception. He is so down to earth and makes your pictures so much fun to take. We are blown away by how kind he was and our pictures are absolutely breath taking. Not choosing him would be an absolute mistake. We are beyond happy and can’t thank Freas Photography enough!

SARAH + ANDREW

Long after the food is cleaned away and the music has faded, the photos will remain to tell the story. Mike was a fantastic professional and understood our quirky sense of humor and knew exactly how to get our personality to show in all our pictures. Everyone who has seen our photos has commented on the vibrancy of the colors and the unique perspective. That had drawn us to Mike originally when we started researching who to use. Upon our first meeting we immediately knew he was our guy. Easy to talk to, easy to work with. He was always available to talk about any details or ideas Read More surrounding our pictures.

Our plan was the throw the party of the century and based on all the photo evidence it looks like we succeeded! Thank you, Mike, for making the great memories into some amazingly high quality mementos for us to cherish for years to come.

BOBBY + BRIANNA

We absolutely loved working with Micheal! He is amazing at his craft. He truly captured our personalities. I work in the wedding industry as a planner and I can say he was extremely professional, fun, organized, and creative. He made the day fun and relaxed. We were so happy when we received our pictures! They were perfect!
We highly recommend him for your wedding day!

KELLI + CHRISTOPHER

We loved all of the photos that Mike shot for us during our wedding! He was very easy to work with and knew exactly what we wanted captured during our wedding. He got all of our edited photos back to us quickly and was very responsive during the planning.

REBECCA + BEN

I cannot keep count of how many times someone has told me that our photos are the best wedding photos they've ever seen. Just yesterday I was looking at the photos in a public place, and a complete stranger said, "Those are the best wedding photos I've ever seen. Seriously, I feel like I have to say that to everyone, but I really mean it this time."

My husband and I had a private ceremony in Key West with no family or friends, so we were nervous about having a photographer be the only person with us on our special day. Mike was the best! There were no awkward moments. It was like hanging Read More out with an old friend who happens to be an amazing photographer.
Mike went above and beyond to help secure the ceremony location, find an officiant, and find great locations for photos. He took our ideas and made them better than we imagined.

One of the things that I love the most is that he doesn't edit the photos to make you look prettier or thinner. He uses light and angles to capture you at your best. You look like the best version of yourself, not like you were photographed with a filter. #NoFilterNeeded

The price was more than fair considering the quality of the photos. The only problem I have is trying to decide which photos to hang in our house! They are all so good!

If you are thinking about booking Freas Photography for your wedding, engagement photos, or any other event-- do yourself a favor and do it now. If he's not available on your date, you should change the date! He's that good.

ASHLEY + TAYLOR

My now fiancé hired Mike for a surprise proposal shoot in Key West! Everything was perfectly coordinated, and I had no idea there was photographer shooting photos just behind the bushes while we were on the beach. Then we had an amazing photo shoot and our happiness and excitement is captured in a variety of shots with the beautiful backdrop at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. We received our edited images so quickly as promised and I love them!

DANNY + RACHEL

Hiring Mike to shoot our wedding on January 19, 2018 was the best decision I could have made! With our wedding plans changing several times due to Hurricane Irma, Mike not only was accommodating but went above and beyond to make our day one to remember! He is the reason our wedding day was flawless. He takes pride in his work, loves his job and is one of the best photographers I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much!

KRISTEN + BEN