Wedding Photographer NYC & NJ

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​​Pricing, Tips, and How to Find a Great Wedding Photographer in NYC & NJ

​In this guide, we'll explain how to find the right wedding photographer for you. Our goal is to simplify a process that could feel daunting into something simple and easy-to-understand!

By the end of this guide, you'll know:

• What to consider before choosing a wedding photographer in NYC or NJ
• How much wedding photographers typically charge, and what you should expect to pay
• How to find the right photographer for you – taking into consideration budget AND style
• How to plan your shot list for the big day
• Best locations for wedding photos,  plus the best times of day for photos
• Tips to look your best in your wedding photos – posing, expression, and more

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​Ready to get started?

Wedding Photographer NYC & NJ

Things to take into consideration:

• Beautiful portfolios are NOT everything. While a stunning portfolio is important, it's not the only factor to consider when choosing a wedding photographer in NYC or NJ. A great photographer should also create a positive and enjoyable experience for their clients. It's not uncommon for couples to be disappointed with their formal photos due to awkward expressions and poses. Choose a photographer who excels in directing expression and posing, ensuring your formals are a fun and pleasant experience.
• Your wedding photographer should prioritize what's most important to you. Some photographers focus on creating eye-catching images for their portfolio, but your wedding photos should be about your special day and the people who mean the most to you. Make sure your photographer understands your priorities and doesn't need constant reminders to capture important moments.
• Your wedding photographer should let you see the photos if you want to. Find a photographer who's willing to share their work with you during the event, particularly the formal portraits. Seeing test shots can help ensure you're happy with the results and avoid unpleasant surprises, like distracting backgrounds. Remember, what the photographer finds beautiful might not align with your preferences.
• Consider any specific needs you might have before hiring someone. Consider any specific needs you may have before hiring a photographer. For example, if you want engagement photos, find a photographer who offers this service. Think about additional services you may need, such as wedding albums, photo booths, drone photography, videography, or same-day edits. Choosing a photographer who can provide a package deal will simplify the process and give you peace of mind.

How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in NYC or NJ?

So how much do wedding photos cost in NYC or NJ? Well, prices can vary widely depending on location, photographer experience, and package offerings. Here are some guidelines to help you determine an expected budget for wedding photography:

• Determine Your Priorities: First, decide on what's most important to you. Is it the photographer's experience? The style of photography? What kinds of tangible products you'll be getting afterwards (albums, retouching, etc.)? Make sure whoever you hire will deliver on your needs (and even if they're just giving you the raw images, you should still make sure you'll have the rights to get them printed elsewhere).
• Do Your Research: Research different photographers and their pricing and packages. Look for photographers whose style and personality resonate with you. Read reviews and view portfolios to get a sense of their work.
• Set a Realistic Budget: Keep in mind that high-quality wedding photography can be pricey, but for a great experience and beautiful pictures of an event that's typically once-in-a-lifetime, it's worth the investment.

"Is $5,000 a lot for a wedding photographer?" In general, the average cost of wedding photography in NYC and NJ ranges from $2,000 to $5,000. Some photographers may charge as little as $1,000 for a basic package, while others may charge upwards of $10,000 for a premium package or destination wedding.

Factors that can affect the price of wedding photography include:
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• Photographer experience and reputation
• Time and travel expenses
• Length of shoot & number of formal portraits (the formal portraits is often the most challenging part of the day for the photographer)
• Editing and post-production time
• Add-ons, including albums, videography, photo booths, or anything else included in the package

As an aside, small wedding photographers in NYC or NJ, such as those who specialize in mini weddings in Central Park, might only charge $500-1,000 for a few hours.

How to Plan Your Shot List

​In addition to thinking about the specific people you want in your wedding photos, you should also have a sense of any specific types of photos you want your photographer to capture during the wedding. Examples might include "closeup of the rings," "First Look," etc.

Some photographers will offer a shot list ahead of time so you can look through it and decide which shots they should prioritize, but just in case you haven't found a photographer yet, or don't even know what's possible, we're including a shot list for you here.

Here are some things to take into consideration when putting together your shot list:

• Consider the logistics of your wedding day. Think about the timeline, the location, and any potential challenges or obstacles that could impact the photographer's ability to capture certain shots.
• Provide your photographer with a list of essential people you want to be photographed with well before the wedding day. We also recommend appointing a 'guide,' such as a wedding planner or a family member, to help the photographer identify these individuals without bothering you during the wedding.
• Be flexible and open to the photographer's suggestions and ideas. While it's important to have a clear idea of the shots you want, your photographer is a professional and may have creative ideas for capturing special moments and details that you haven't considered.
• Avoid overwhelming the photographer with an extensive shot list, as it may not be feasible for one person to capture everything. This could lead to missing unexpected moments or surprises on your wedding day. If your budget allows, consider hiring multiple photographers to cover a larger shot list more effectively.

Having said that, take a look at this comprehensive wedding shot list here (downloadable PDF) so you can make notes of what shots are most important to you.

Spots We Recommend

There are tons of great locations for wedding photos, but you should keep in mind two things when deciding: convenience and significance.

Is there a special place close to the ceremony or reception that you used to frequent with your partner? Or will your wedding be in a small town, and you'd like to highlight one of its landmarks? Consider shooting at at least one location that holds significant meaning to you and your partner, and then you can also consider some of the below general locations that work well for wedding photoshoots in NYC:

• Central Park: Central Park is a classic New York City location for wedding photos, with its lush greenery, scenic bridges, and iconic landmarks like the Bethesda Fountain and the Bow Bridge.
• Brooklyn Bridge: The Brooklyn Bridge offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and the East River, making it a popular location for wedding photos.
• Grand Central Terminal: Grand Central Terminal is a beautiful and iconic location with its Beaux-Arts architecture and bustling atmosphere.
• The High Line: The High Line is an elevated park built on a former railroad track, offering unique views of the city and a mix of urban and natural settings.
• The New York Public Library: The New York Public Library is a stunning location with its grand Beaux-Arts architecture and impressive interiors.
• The Empire State Building or Top of the Rock: The Empire State Building offers a classic New York City backdrop for wedding photos, with its Art Deco architecture and sweeping views of the city (just be sure to make reservations in advance because getting to the top and back down can take a while).
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a beautiful location with its grand entrance and impressive collections.

If your wedding won't be taking place in Manhattan, but you're still looking for a scenic spot, consider some of the following, more general locations for wedding photos:

• Beaches: If you're having a destination wedding at the beach, consider taking photos on the sand or in the water during sunset or sunrise.
• Parks: Parks offer nice, natural landscapes that can provide a great backdrop for your wedding photos.
• Historic Sites: Historic sites, such as castles, museums, or ancient ruins, can offer a unique and dramatic setting for your wedding photos.
• Gardens: Botanical gardens and other types of gardens can provide a colorful and serene backdrop for your wedding photos.
• Mountains: Mountain ranges can offer a majestic and stunning setting for your wedding photos, especially during the fall season.
• Vineyards: Vineyards can provide a romantic and picturesque setting for your wedding photos, with rows of grapevines and rolling hills in the background.
• Waterfalls: Waterfalls can provide a stunning and natural backdrop for your wedding photos.
• Rooftops: Rooftops with city views or other scenic views can provide a unique and romantic setting for your wedding photos.

The Best Time of Day to Take Photos

The ideal time of day for taking wedding photos largely depends on your schedule for the day, and what kind of aesthetic you're looking for. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
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• Before the Ceremony: Before the ceremony is great for the photographer to capture some formal shots. You can get some of the group shots out of the way, such as groom and groomsmen, or bride and bridesmaids, or even parents and grandparents. If shooting early in the morning, the soft morning light can create a soft, dreamy effect.
• Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Late afternoon to early evening, also known as "golden hour," is a popular time for wedding photos – especially for formal portraits of the wedding couple. The warm, golden light can create a beautiful and flattering glow on your skin, as well as a dramatic effect. This time also works well for skyline photos where direct sunlight might be hitting your face. Keep in mind that it requires specific planning around sunset ands you'll only have 10-15 minutes at most. It's best to organize golden hour shoots shortly before the reception starts. We recommend doing most of the formal portraits after the ceremony and before cocktail hour so that the wedding party doesn't start mingling with guests (when it becomes increasingly difficult to pull them away for photos), and then just having the wedding couple step away for some golden hour and sunset shots.
• Midday: Midday, between 11 am and 2 pm, can be challenging for photos due to the harsh overhead sun, which can cast unflattering shadows and contrast. However, midday works just fine for indoor locations, cloudy days, or shaded areas.
• Nighttime: Nighttime shots can be quite dramatic, especially if you're shooting against the city skyline or in a well-lit location. However, nighttime requires more lighting equipment and may be limiting in terms of the types of photos you can achieve. These typically work best for dramatic, stylized photos of the wedding party, but not as well for family formals.

In general, we recommend avoiding direct sunlight or harsh overhead light, which can create unflattering shadows and highlights. Soft and diffused light (shaded areas, overcast days, or indoor locations with large windows) typically work best.

The best NJ and NYC wedding photographers can quickly find where the light will look best, and some may opt to use reflectors or diffusers if needed to soften and bounce the light. Others may use a flash or artificial lighting to fill in shadows (or create dramatic effects).

Overall, the ideal time of day for wedding photos depends on the aesthetic you're going for, where the shoot is taking place, your schedule for the day, and the lighting conditions on site. However, with the right photographer, it's usually possible to capture beautiful and memorable wedding photos at any time of day.​

How to Look Your Best in Your Wedding Photos

So, how do you look your best in your wedding photos? Here are some tips:

• Know your best side in advance: Consider having your partner take a few photos of you with your face angled differently each time, while having a neutral expression. Slightly to the left, right, up down, etc. Then look through the photos and see which one you like best, if any. And then try to re-create that shot so you can figure out how to position your face to look your best.
• Do the "turtle" just a bit: Pushing your nose and forehead towards the camera by about an inch (not too much), can do wonders at slimming the face and minimizing double chins. This is a great trick to use during your formal portraits on the big day, and you can teach it to all your friends/family too!
• Laugh to get genuine smiles: Try to avoid fake smiles in your wedding photos. If the photographer isn't telling jokes or getting people to laugh naturally, say or do anything you can to get everyone in the photo to start laughing. By putting them in a great mood and making them laugh, everyone's smiles will look infinitely better, and you'll actually FEEL something when you look back at those family portraits years later.
• Look at the top of the camera to open your eyes: If you worry that your eyes look small or closed in photos, try looking about 1-2 inches above the camera lens. Just ask the photographer to let you see one of the first photos they take to make sure that it still looks like you're looking at the camera, and not above it. This simple trick can make your eyes sparkle and look significantly larger.
• Stand tall and lean your weight on your back foot: Avoid hunching and standing on your front foot because it can make you look short and stumpy. Instead, stand nice and tall and lean on whichever foot is furthest from the camera. You should also consider twisting your hips a bit so your belly is pointing perpendicular to the position of the camera. This will narrow your waist and create a nice hourglass or V-shape for your body.
• Keep in mind that photos can be retouched: Finally, don't worry too much about everything being perfect, as Photoshop and other tools will enable the photographer to fix flyaway hairs, blemishes, and more so you look your absolute best!
• Have fun! Finally, remember to enjoy the photoshoot. While it's not as fun as the wedding itself, the formals need to be enjoyable for everyone involved or your smiles will look awkward and fake. This is why it's so important to choose a photographer that knows how to direct people and their expressions!

Wedding Photographer NYC & NJ Prices

If you're still looking for a wedding photographer and you're based in NYC or NJ, we'd love the opportunity to work with you!

​With a rich history of 17 years and over 25,000 individual shoots (headshots, weddings, and more), our #1 goal is to create an enjoyable experience working with us, so you not only leave with photos you'll treasure forever, but also a feeling that you made the right decision with who you hired to shoot your wedding. We have over 300+ five-star reviews on Google, and it makes us smile ear to ear when our clients tell us that they "absolutely loved working with us and the photos are beautiful."

Our wedding photography packages typically start at $​2,700, but are all custom-quoted based on wedding length, number of shooters, etc.

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Get in Touch

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! We'd love to speak with you and see if we'd be a good fit for your big day.

Please email us at [email protected] for a free consultation, and we'll get back to you within a few business hours.

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​LGBTQ+ Friendly – We are an inclusive and accepting photography service, celebrating love in all its forms. We warmly welcome and support the LGBTQ+ community, and are committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all of our clients.