In a city known for its rich culture and layered history, Muriel Oelschlaeger has carved out a space of quiet, emotional resonance. Based in Montreal but originally from Germany, Muriel is the kind of photographer who doesn’t just show up to a wedding to capture images — she shows up to feel them. With a camera in hand and an eye trained on the subtleties of human connection, she has built a body of work defined by emotion, intention, and vintage soul.
From Germany to Montreal: A Personal Migration Becomes a Professional Mission
Muriel arrived in Canada at 20, planning only a short work-and-travel stint. Life had other plans. She fell in love — with the country and with the man who would become her husband — and decided to stay. But long before her passport changed, her passion for photography had already taken root.
Her father, a meticulous documentarian of family life, was her first artistic influence. “I still have every single photo he took of my childhood, all neatly classified,” she says. It’s not hard to see how that early immersion in memory-keeping shaped her current philosophy. “Those photos are worth so much to me,” she explains, “and I want to create that same kind of value for other people.”
This idea — that photographs are a legacy, not just a service — underpins everything Muriel does.
Craft, Camera, and the Quiet Moments in Between
Muriel studied commercial photography at Collège Marsan, but product shoots and perfect lighting ratios never inspired her. “I could never connect fully with the idea of finding the perfect studio lighting for a bottle,” she laughs. Her true subject was — and still is — human connection.
That sensitivity to emotion has become her signature. She shoots with Olympus micro four-thirds cameras, a choice that surprises some of her colleagues in a full-frame-dominated industry. But for Muriel, it’s about more than specs. Olympus cameras are compact, resilient, and allow her to move through a wedding day unobtrusively. “I like to blend into the background,” she says, “so my couples can fully immerse themselves in the moment without feeling watched.”
Her work is emotional and candid, with a vintage aesthetic that runs deeper than just filters and tones. “I’m inspired by that nostalgic feeling you get when you look at an old photograph,” she says, citing William Eggleston and Mona Kuhn as artistic influences.
A Photographer for All Families
Muriel’s lens doesn’t discriminate. “I photograph all skin colours, religions, sexual orientations, genders,” she says. “There is no place for discrimination.” That inclusive philosophy is part of what draws people to her — not just as clients, but as humans. Her couples are usually easygoing and open-minded, drawn to her energy as much as her style. And in return, she gives them space — not just to pose, but to be.
“I approach a wedding more as a fun day than a shoot day,” she explains. “If my couple needs a break, I go photograph guests or details. It’s their wedding — not my content day.”
It’s a mindset that puts people at ease, and one of the reasons so many of her couples leave glowing reviews about how comfortable they felt in front of her camera.
Balancing Motherhood and Memory-Making
Since becoming a mother in 2023, Muriel has taken on fewer weddings — 10 to 15 per year — focusing on quality over quantity. But the experience has also deepened her perspective. “I didn’t have a wedding photographer when I got married,” she shares. “We didn’t have the budget, and my dad couldn’t come from Germany. I handed my best friend a camera… most of the photos were blurry.”
It’s a regret she now channels into passion. “Photos aren’t just images — they’re memories. And I want my couples to never look back wishing they had prioritized photography.”
Muriel’s own wedding plans aren’t done, either. She dreams of renewing her vows in the future — this time, with a professional photographer on hand.
Behind the Camera, Beyond the Day
The off-season doesn’t mean downtime. Like many photographers, Muriel grapples with the physical and emotional toll of wedding days followed by long hours of solitary editing. She offsets it with yoga, creative hobbies like pottery and embroidery, and soon — outsourced editing.
Her personality, too, is well-suited to the rhythm of the job. “I’m an ambivert,” she says. “I love chatting and being around people, but I need to retreat when my energy is spent.” That duality serves her well — social and intuitive on the weekend, focused and quiet during the week.
Looking Ahead
Muriel’s goals are simple but deeply personal: to continue working with couples who trust her vision, to travel more, and to slowly scale her business once her daughter is older. “More dream clients,” she says with a smile. “That’s the goal.”
In a world where wedding photography is often driven by trends, volume, and performative aesthetics, Muriel Oelschlaeger is a reminder that the quietest images are sometimes the most powerful — and that the best photographers don’t just take pictures. They bear witness.
Website: murieloephoto.com
Instagram: @murieloephoto