Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Kuo.
Hi Michael, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We’re Michael and Amy, the owners behind Author Made Photography & Videography here in Central Florida. Our journey really began eight years ago while planning our own wedding. Like so many of the couples we now serve, we were looking for an affordable Orlando wedding photographer who could capture our day beautifully—without forcing us to choose between precious memories and starting our life together financially strong.
A few years later, with a camera in hand and our fluffy dog @winstonfluffybutt by our side, we started taking fun portraits of him around the Orlando area. Those photos unexpectedly gained some local attention, and soon people were asking us to photograph them with their pets. That’s when something clicked—what if we could build something bigger?
After a lot of prayer and dreaming, Author Made was born. The name reflects the heart of what we do: every love story deserves an author, and we wanted to help couples tell theirs through thoughtful, intentional photography and videography. From the very beginning, our mission has been to provide affordable wedding photography in Orlando—especially for couples planning small, micro, or intimate weddings that don’t always get the spotlight.
Now, we specialize in capturing elopements and intimate weddings across Orlando, Winter Park, Winter Garden, Daytona Beach, and Central Florida. We know that just because a wedding is smaller doesn’t mean it should feel any less grand or memorable. Whether you’re looking for a cheap photographer in Orlando FL or just someone who understands how to make your day feel true to you, we’re here to help tell your story beautifully—and affordably.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road definitely hasn’t been smooth — but looking back, every bump has helped shape Author Made Photography & Videography into what it is today. When we first started, even though we positioned ourselves as an affordable Orlando wedding photographer, many couples were hesitant to book us because we simply didn’t have the wedding portfolio yet. We knew we were offering great value and quality, but in this industry, experience matters.
So we got creative. While we worked hard to build up our wedding portfolio, we also began collaborating directly with local Orlando Florida wedding venues. We started writing detailed wedding venue reviews, highlighting some of the best affordable, intimate wedding venues across Orlando, Winter Park, Winter Garden, Daytona Beach, and Central Florida—especially options perfect for small, micro weddings and elopements. This allowed us to not only build relationships with other Central Florida wedding vendors, but also to become a helpful resource for couples planning affordable weddings in Orlando.
Over time, word spread. Now, many couples find us through our blog—especially our popular post on wedding venues under $2K in Orlando. Locally, we’ve also become known by venues as “that styled shoot company” because we regularly organize styled shoots that showcase both new vendors and hidden gem venues. Those early struggles really pushed us to find unique ways to serve both couples and our vendor community—and that’s led to the steady growth we’re grateful for today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Author Made Photography & Videography, we believe your happily ever after truly begins after your wedding day. Too often, couples in the Orlando area face overwhelming costs when planning a wedding — with the average wedding here costing over $33,000, and nearly a third of that often spent on photography and videography alone. That’s a huge financial burden to carry into married life.
Our mission is simple: help couples create beautiful, intimate wedding memories without sacrificing their financial future. As an affordable Orlando wedding photographer and videographer, we offer high-quality wedding photo and video packages starting at just $1,000. This allows couples—whether planning a small wedding, micro wedding, or intimate elopement in Orlando—to capture their day with luxury-style photography at a truly accessible price point.
What sets us apart is not just our pricing, but the intentional way we approach each wedding. We specialize in intimate wedding photography in Orlando, elopement photography, and small micro weddings across Central Florida, Winter Park, Winter Garden, Daytona Beach, Lakeland, and St. Cloud. Every wedding is a unique story, and we see ourselves as the authors helping to capture those candid, emotional, documentary-style moments that make each love story special.
We’re incredibly proud of the brand we’ve built—one that empowers couples to dream big for both their wedding day and their future together. And the feedback we receive most often from our couples? “You made us feel so relaxed and present on our wedding day.” That’s what we want people to know about us: we handle the details, so you can soak up every moment.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
There have definitely been a few key resources that have shaped both Author Made Photography & Videography and my own personal journey. From a business perspective, I’ve learned so much from Taylor Jackson’s courses on wedding photography. His approach to creating a sustainable, client-focused photography business has massively influenced how we structure our affordable wedding photography packages in Orlando, and how we serve couples planning small weddings, elopements, and micro weddings here in Central Florida.
On a personal level, my faith plays a huge role in how I approach both life and business. I spend a lot of time reading and studying the Bible, and I’m deeply passionate about sharing my faith with others—even in the context of the wedding industry. One of the voices that’s been especially impactful for me is John Piper; his teachings have helped shape how I think about work, marriage, and purpose.
Running Author Made isn’t just about taking beautiful photos—it’s about helping couples step into one of the most important commitments of their lives. I hope that everything we do reflects not just excellent service, but also care, integrity, and the kind of love that’s grounded in something bigger than ourselves.
Pricing:
- 6 Hour Photo Coverage $2400
- 8 Hour Photo Coverage $3000
- 10 Hour Photo Coverage $3600
- 12 Hour Photo Coverage $4200
- Add on videography $1000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://authormadephoto.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/authormade
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormade
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyeWhfw11ADpeoUHizjnKYw
