I am a mother of three incredibly talented children and we have lived in a small country town all of our lives. I love photographing them and recording parts of their stories. Being able to try new ideas out on them first is much easier than asking new clients! I love the country life and the open fields that surround us here. I feel blessed to have a successful career that is also my passion. I would be nowhere in life without my incredible family behind me in this journey.

I opened Country Rose Designs in the fall of 2006 primarily as a painting business. Though I enjoyed painting murals and fine art canvases, my love for photography and the demand of incoming portrait clientele inspired me to put the paint brush down. My passion for capturing people's personalities and God's beauty around us fueled me towards refining my gifted vision.

In late 2018, so much in my life had changed and feeling a need for a fresh start, I updated my look and business name to Michelle Cook Photography. Cook is my maiden name and I felt it was a more accurate representation of who I am inside; I'll always be that little girl looking for beauty in the simplest of things. The feather I chose has great meaning to me. To be free and spread your wings, flying in the direction God has planned for your life, is the greatest feeling and through it all - "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." Psalm 91:4

My drive to capture and create has allowed me to be recognized nationally and internationally in award competitions.

I was selected from thousands of photographers to represent Kodak and my winning image was displayed on their marquee in Times Square, NY.  I love to compete in print competitions and have been awarded as a Top 7 Photographer in Michigan (PPM) for 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. I have won several awards in PPM including the Award of Merit and Court of Honor. I was recognized in Professional Photographers of America (PPA) as a Platinum Photographer of the Year and have been selected into the Top 10 three times; winning 1st place in Animal category with a perfect score of 100 and 4th in Illustrative category in 2018.

I look forward to furthering my career and opportunities in portrait and fine art photography, giving back to my small town community and to the community of photographers that uplift me.