• Bozeman Portrait Photography Meet Mike Greener

My name is Mike Greener

I’m a photographer

I’ve been working as a photographer for 23 years.

I originally came to Missoula from the Chicago suburbs. You might say I needed some elevation in my life. I quickly fell in love with this vibrant city and a love for telling stories with my camera. After college at the University of Montana, I worked in newspapers and began documenting the love and relationships at weddings around the country.

Eleven years back, I decided to return to Bozeman, Montana.

I wanted to be closer to the rivers and Montana mountains of my youth. When I wasn’t photographing for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle or at a wedding, I would be out fly fishing, mountain biking, or exploring the landscape with my labrador named Tippet. I knew Montana was my home and the joy I felt photographing wedding celebrations was a compass pointing me towards a new horizon.

When I first started Greener Visuals Photography, most wedding photography felt uninspiring and disconnected. But I wanted to show that wedding photos could be creatively candid, vibrant, funny, honest, and full of life. Also, I wanted to create photographs that could stand alone as works of art. So I brought my journalism work ethic, and my desire for creativity, and slowly built Greener Visuals Photography over the last 23 years. I bring that same mindset to my portrait work – families and headshots – as well.

Now I’ve returned to my favorite place where it all began… Missoula, Montana.

Greener Visuals Photography, a full-service photography studio in Missoula, Montana, specializes in wedding, family, headshot portrait, and commercial photography. Utilizing my candid, creative photojournalistic approach, I seek to capture real, intimate moments and bring out the best versions of you and your loved ones. Whether you are planning your wedding, a family trip to Montana or need to elevate your business visual brand, Greener Visuals Photography is the premier Missoula photographer.

Let’s get started capturing special moments by contacting me here.

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Bozeman Wedding Photography FAQ

When planning your wedding celebration, naturally wedding couples have questions. We are here to help. Below are some common questions we get that are asked a lot and our helpful answers that might benefit you below.

A phone call is always the best way to get your photography questions answered quickly. We’d love to hear from you and we are always happy to help.

I would describe my style as “candid, creative documentary.” I come from photojournalism background, meaning I’ll photograph your day as it unfolds naturally without interference from yours truly. However, I also put a lot of energy and time into your “creative portraits,” which are the photos of just the two of you. I’m constantly looking for interesting light, angles and backgrounds, and often use unusual, experimental techniques to turn your wedding portraits into works of art.

Yes. Working as a photojournalist for the past ten years I am constantly adjusting to the changing light conditions throughout the day. It has become second nature to me. Rest assured that regardless of what the light is doing I can handle it and will make you look your best.

The majority of my couples actually hire me without an in-person meeting. I’m very prompt, and very thorough, with emails. I’m able to answer most questions that way. However, I’m always happy to talk with you on the phone or schedule a chat on Skype or Facebook. A lot of of my out-of-town clients have done this, and it works out great! We can always find a time and method that works!

Yes! I help couples and families with creative visualization for styled photo sessions they will absolutely love. My portrait photography has always been a collaboration between myself and my subjects. I look forward to helping make your vision a reality.

Most of the time I am shooting a wedding by myself. It really comes down to the size of your wedding. If I feel a wedding could benefit from an extra camera or if you request it, I have many friends in the professional wedding photography community that I can call on to assist me. My top two wedding photography collections always have at least two photographers at each wedding. The second photographer is chosen from a short list of very talented people I am used to working with. The second photographer is responsible for photographing the groom getting ready, all details, providing a second angle on the ceremony and reception, and assisting the lead photographer with off-camera lighting for creative portraits.

It is important to me that you and your wedding is the sole focus of my day. Because of that, I only book one wedding per day.

Because we take such care in making sure all your edited photographs will look great for years to come, completion takes about six to eight weeks. At that time, your online gallery will be made available for you and all your friends and family to see. A sneak peek of a few favorites images of your wedding will be posted within a couple days of the event. The rest of the fully processed, edited, and downloadable printable high-resolution jpeg images will be posted in an online gallery within 6-8 weeks after the wedding ceremony.

Absolutely. You can print your photos wherever you want and you can distribute them around the internet too (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, e-mail, etc). I also sell prints and other artwork from my professional print lab if you want them done well.

Our goal is to tell your story… fully, completely and beautifully. In doing so, we emphasize quality over quantity, employing a “less is more” philosophy. We would rather give you a couple hundred “epic” photographs, than a couple thousand “so-so-mediocre” ones. Our couples usually receive 500 to 700 images, depending on the nature of their celebration. All will be edited with correct color and exposure to be exactly as we intend them to be.

I offer numerous photography collections each with different amount of photographic coverage and other offerings for my clients to choose from. There is never any limit on photos taken and I offer an option for unlimited coverage for any wedding package. I’m yours whenever you need me throughout the day.

Anywhere. I’ve photographed weddings throughout Montana, Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, North Carolina and many other places in between. I love to travel internationally as well and have brought my cameras to off places such as China, Mongolia, New Zealand, and all of South America. Don’t let distance cause you to hesitate one bit. A new place is just a fun, new canvas for me to explore and make creative photographs in. I relish at the opportunity! Give me a call and we can further discuss your destination wedding, portrait or family vacation photography needs.

All of my wedding packages currently include travel in or around Montana. For any other destination weddings, transportation be that airfare, rental car or gas to and from the event is required in addition to my rate. Please contact me for more information.

Typically, I will book my own airfare and rental car (if needed) after you have approved the price. I always look for the least expensive option that is also convenient for both you and I. For hotel, I ask that you reserve a room for me in the host hotel where all the other guests are staying. All travel expenses are reimbursed after the wedding.

I’m happy to come to your town or meet you at a fabulous destination of your choice. Please contact me for specific information.

Without question I am. I never work without it. I have both equipment insurance and liability insurance policy we can provide to your wedding venue if necessary.

Absolutely! You’ve put in a lot of work to make your wedding day décor special. A wedding photography collection would not be complete without making good details and family photos, and I take all the photographs you would expect out of any wedding photographer. But my goal is to also go past those expectations and give you photographs that you never even imagined.

When you contact us about shooting your wedding, we will send you a full gallery of a real wedding to look through. You will see that we are very thorough with my coverage, including photos of your dress, jewelry, shoes, flowers, food and reception décor. There is no need to give us a shot list. The only list we will ask for is your list of family group shots and the schedule of the day.

I grew up being raised on the motto of “Be Prepared.” I make sure before any wedding that I am packed and prepared for any situation that may arise. I shoot with high end, professional Nikon digital SLR cameras. They are my workhorses. I also will bring lenses, flashes, light stands, light modifiers, memory cards and back-ups for each, just in case.

Yes, we do require that the wedding party provide a meal for the photographers at the reception and ask that you include us on the guest list. This way we can keep up my energy and will be available at any time during dinner to shoot. So far, all of our wedding clients have gladly provided dinner for us at the reception with their guests and it has worked seamlessly.

Most venues will offer you a rain plan with a backup indoor location. We easily adapt to any situation. Our favorite wedding photos have a lot more to do with your personalities and your chemistry as a couple, than what kind of background you’re standing in front of. If you are happy and in love, that will show in your photos. Just remember that the poor weather doesn’t change the fact that you are surrounded by all the special people in your life who regardless of precipitation, will be there to honor and celebrate you. Sometimes attitude is everything. I see rain as a fun, adventurous twist that usually brings laughter and spontaneity.

The photo booth is totally customizable to you and your wedding. It’s a service offered exclusively for Greener Visuals wedding clients for their reception celebration. I can use the scenery around your wedding site or you can make your own in the color scheme of your wedding. In addition, have a box of props and other fun things to use but I find that it is more fulfilling for the bride and groom to add their own items to the mix. The possibilities are endless. Give me a call and I can tell you more about it.

We love a good challenge. Our goal is to leave you with a feeling that a good friend photographed your wedding and got the best photos of you. We are very calm, mellow people who tend to blend into the scene rather than bring attention to ourselves and our cameras. That, combined with our documentary style, will have you both comfortable with us within the first half-hour of your getting-ready time. Most couples tell us it felt like we were just one of the gang, hanging out with everyone. The only time you’ll really be aware of the cameras is during the family group photo and the creative portraits, and during this time we will guide you through everything. You can just be yourselves, and we will take care of the rest.

You bet. You can pay with cash, Pay Pal, credit card, check or even bitcoin.

Yes, it’s always a possibility, just ask on the contact form.

Contact us and we will double check that your date is available. If it is, we’ll schedule a phone consult, skype, or in-person meeting. After that, all we need is a signed photography agreement, that I’ll send you, and your 33% retainer check from your total fee to book your wedding.