Clients Share Their Stories
The Demers Family
MRS. DEMERS HAD JUST BECOME A GRANDMOTHER TO A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL NAMED SOLEIL, WHICH MEANS SUN IN FRENCH. HAVING SEEN MICHEL'S WORK AT THE GALLERY, MRS. DEMERS INTRODUCED HIM TO HER SON, CHRISTIAN.
CHRISTIAN HAD RECENTLY MOVED INTO A STUNNING HOME THAT HE DESIGNED AND WANTED A TIMELESS PIECE OF HIS FAMILY AND ONE FEATURING SOLEIL ALONE. MICHEL SUGGESTED THE FAMILY MEET AT THE SHORELINE AT SUNRISE FOR A SETTING THAT UNDERSCORED THE MEANING OF SOLEIL'S NAME AND THE START OF A NEW JOURNEY IN THEIR LIVES AS PARENTS. THE FINISHED PIECES ARE PRESENTED ON BRUSHED METAL TO COMPLEMENT THE HOME'S CONTEMPORARY DECOR.
To my friend Michel,
On behalf of my family, I would like to thank you for creating timeless pieces of art of my family.
Your process from concept to finished artwork was one of comfort and ease. We all appreciated the fact that you put so much heart into our project and took time to get to know us and understand our family's dynamics. You carefully considered our wants and desires prior to picking up the camera. This just goes to show your personal commitment to understanding your clients' unique needs. Before we began the process, you had already thought of the location, the potential size requirements of the portrait, installation option in our home, and color considerations.
In today's world where everything feels rushed and detached, your approach was just the opposite. The way you captured our family far exceeded any of our expectations. This work will be something that can, and will, be passed from generation to generation. In addition, your follow-up is appreciated and demonstrates your sincerity and professionalism. You were able to realize something we thought was impossible: capturing a man's love for his family in a single frame.
Our sincerest thanks,
Christian, Ajie, Soleil, Serge and Florence Demers
The Healey Family
WHILE MICHEL WAS CREATING IMAGES OF HARRY'S NEW BABY SISTER, SARAH, CURIOUS HARRY WAS LOOKING ON, ASKING QUESTIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT HE WAS A PART OF THE ACTIVITY. WHEN MICHEL NOTICED HARRY WATCHING OVER HIS SHOULDER FROM A REGAL ANTIQUE CHAISE, HE MOVED HARRY INTO THE LIGHT TO CREATE THIS UNFORGETTABLE IMAGE. THIS PIECE IS ENTITLED “PRINCE HARRY” BECAUSE OF HARRY'S ENGLISH HERITAGE AND HIS UNDENIABLE ROYAL DEMEANOR. PRINCE HARRY JUST SUITS HIM!
Dear Michel,
We met over 20 years ago and you've been creating portraits of my five children ever since. Although I am generally a hands- on person, where you are concerned I am uncharacteristically comfortable stepping aside and giving you complete freedom to come up with the concepts and make them come to life. Over the years, you have consistently impressed me with how you get the children (including the teenagers) to enjoy the process. Your ability to capture the moment, coupled with the artistic ways you present the finished pieces, is why I keep coming back year after year. The children are growing up very quickly and I am glad we have the pieces you have created for us gracing the walls of our home.
Richard Healey
The Maiuro Family
THE MAIURO FAMILY CAME TO MICHEL AS A REFERRAL FROM ANOTHER CLIENT. DURING THE DESIGN CONSULTATION MICHEL LEARNED THAT THEIR HOME WAS MEDITERRANEAN IN STYLE WITH RICH ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS. MICHEL PROPOSED THAT THEIR FAMILY PIECE BE CREATED IN A SITE WITH AN OLD WORLD EUROPEAN FEEL THEN SEARCHED AND FOUND A SITE THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVED.
Michel,
The large family piece we did with you is by far the most admired item in our home. Guests are taken aback by how unique and beautiful the collection is. They always want the details of how they came to be. We enjoyed the process immensely, even though we had to gently persuade our three-year- old daughter with a giant cookie to put on her dress. We will always remember the lengths you and your team went to in order to ensure the experience was enjoyable and the finished product spectacular.
I recall thinking that it would be impossible to narrow down the selection from all the images you created—you made it difficult to select just a few. Thank you for making the process from the creation day to the slide presentation to the unveiling of our pieces enjoyable and easy. We are very fortunate to have met you.
Joe and Michele Maiuro
The O'Leary Family
THE O'LEARY FAMILY'S DESIGN CONSULTATION BEGAN WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT TEENAGERS WOULD BE INVOLVED, AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE FUN FOR THEM SO THEY WOULD BE COMFORTABLE PARTICIPATING.
MICHEL ASSURED MRS. O'LEARY THE PROCESS WOULD BE SIMPLE AND TIME-EFFICIENT SO AS NOT TO IMPOSE ON THEIR VACATION. ONCE ON LOCATION, MICHEL SCOUTED THE ISLAND AND FOUND AN INTERESTINGLY SHAPED TREE ON THE BEACH. TO COMPLETE THE VIGNETTE, MICHEL ADDED SOME DRIFTWOOD PLANKS TO SERVE AS A TABLE AND SET OUT REFRESHMENTS. AFTER A DAY OF ACTIVITIES ON THE ISLAND, THE FAMILY WAS ABLE TO SIMPLY STEP INTO THE VIGNETTE JUST BEFORE SUNSET.
Michel,
Your suggestion to travel to Harbour Island in Eleuthera, one of our family's favorite vacation spots, was a great idea. You found the ideal natural setting and created the perfect piece for our home. The attention to detail and work that went into to setting up the scene is unmatched. We could not have asked for anything more.
It hangs over the fireplace in our living room. Every time I walk by, it makes me smile. You created a memory that will be cherished forever. We absolutely love it.
Nan O'Leary
The Ryan Family
MRS. RYAN CALLED MICHEL TO TELL HIM THAT THEIR BEAUTIFUL HOME ON FIRE ISLAND WAS REQUIRED TO BE DESTROYED AND REPLACED BY SAND DUNES TO PROTECT THE ISLAND FROM FUTURE STORM EROSION. THEY WANTED TO CREATE A PIECE THAT FEATURED THE HOME WITH THEIR FAMILY TO REMEMBER HOW THEY SPENT SUMMERS TOGETHER. THE CANVAS FEATURING THE RYAN'S SUMMER HOME WAS MOUNTED ON A GALLERY WRAP STRETCHER AND FINISHED WITH OILS. IT HANGS IN THE FAMILY'S PRINCIPAL HOME IN LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.
Dear Michel,
Working with you is such a beautiful experience. You first created pieces for us 12 years ago and have been with us as our family has grown. You have helped us document the most important moments in our lives. Your attention and passion is warm and continually familiar. Every experience with you inspires the next piece.
Allegra, Cecelia, Denise and Kevin
The Fago Family
DURING THE INITIAL DESIGN CONSULTATION, MICHEL LEARNED THAT THE EXTENDED FAGO FAMILY REGULARLY GATHERED FOR DINNERS. SPANNING FOUR GENERATIONS WITH THE YOUNGEST BEING ONLY A FEW WEEKS OLD, MICHEL CREATED A VIGNETTE WITH A TUSCANY FEEL TO CAPTURE THE FAMILY TALKING, LAUGHING, AND CATCHING UP WITH ONE ANOTHER AS THEY WOULD NATURALLY.
Michel,
The most essential part of being a genuine artist is to be sincerely passionate about your work. The final piece of art is the outcome and reflection of the process that got you there. In this case, the process becomes very personal because you reveal what is most sacred: family. In order to be able to fully capture my family, it was essential to connect with the artist. Working with you, I was able to trust your process and to feel very comfortable in knowing that you understood how to depict those special moments with my family. This is what makes you a true craftsman.
Making time with your family is the most important part of life. Though they cannot continue forever, they are memories that remain in your heart. Because of your exceptional work, we will be able to relive and remember this great time in our lives.
To trust someone with something so valuable is a very significant and important decision. But once I got to know you, I knew that I had made the right choice.
The pieces that you created are displayed in several of my family's homes. Not only do they reflect those beautiful moments, but they show the passion and care that went into their creation.
Elizabeth Fago
The Tiano Family
THE TIANO FAMILY WAS REFERRED TO MICHEL AND IN THEIR DESIGN CONSULTATION THEY WERE DELIGHTED TO LEARN ABOUT HIS APPROACH TO CREATING VISUAL ART AND HIS SPECIALIZED WHITE-GLOVE SERVICES. FOR THIS COMMISSION THOSE SERVICES INCLUDED: SCOUTING FOR A TROPICAL ISLAND-STYLE VIGNETTE WITH LUSH PALM TREES, IDENTIFYING A SITE THAT NOT ONLY MET MICHEL'S VISUAL CRITERIA BUT ALSO OFFERED ACCOMMODATIONS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE SO THE FAMILY COULD SIMPLY WAKE IN THE MORNING AND WALK OUT ONTO THE BEACH WHERE MICHEL WOULD CREATE, AND PREPPING THE SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS READY TO BE ENJOYED.
Dear Michel,
When you visited our new home for our design consultation, we explained that we wanted to create a homier look by incorporating a few relaxed beach scenes for our first family piece with our new foster son, Will. You researched and recommended three different locations and we chose Islamorada in the Florida Keys as our site.
My five children initially dreaded the idea of getting up at the crack of dawn to have their pictures taken, however, they found the experience to be one of the best memories they have of our family being together.
Your passion to capture the personality of each family member in one piece is truly a gift from God. You are not just a photographer, you are an elite artist. I walk by your art every day in my home and it warms my heart. We are forever grateful to you and you have become a dear friend. Thank you Michel!
Love,
The Tiano Family
