Born in Russia, Emin moved to New York City in 2001. Currently, he lives in The Bronx, NY. A self-taught photographer, Emin credits WPJA and the WPJA photographers for inspiring him to become a wedding photographer. He says, “WPJA helped me to create a vision and grow as a photographer. When I photograph a wedding, I am motivated to do it better, to be more creative.” Emin, the only person to ever simultaneously win Photographer of the Year for both WPJA and AG|WPJA, is clearly a competitive force. However, he says he doesn’t try to win in any competition. “I started my own competition in my head,” he says. As such, he claims he is never nervous about results and credits the organization as a mentor through the many inspirational images he finds there. Emin’s foundational philosophy about his work is that a photographer’s images are directly tied to their own personal experience. He attributes successful images as “luck, multiplied by your experience,” and, of course, your camera skills. “It the camera should be just an extension of your hand or eye.” He believes that pressing a shutter button will not create an exact replication of a moment. Rather, the ability to capture moments is shaped by one’s own individuality, and thus the creative process renders an image as a vicarious expression of self and subject. As he explains, “Merely holding a camera does not mean the gods will give you the shot. You must have something inside you. If so, it will be immediately visible within the photo.” 2008 - Photographer of the year in the AGWPJA. 2009 - Top 5 WPJA Photographer for 2009 2011 - Photographer of the Year in the WPJA. 2012 - WPJA POY First Runner Up 2014 - Photographer of the Year in the WPJA. 2014 - Photographer of the Year in the AGWPJA. [Bronx Wedding Photographer]

When Tim had his first encounter with a DSLR camera he was so fascinated he couldn’t put it away. He soon understood it was so much more than a toy. Not long after, he decided to make his new passion his profession. During the next few years, he received a great deal of training from top photographers, learning what weddings were all about. During this time his eyes opened up to the real meaning of being a wedding photographer. Tim states, “I wanted to document the tears, laughter, excitement, and love between the couple so that when they look back, they can relive the day. My images will tell a story that words cannot describe. I capture moments that will never come back. I learned how to be a true storyteller.” Since then, he has been working hard to make each and every wedding a sparkling and memorable day for decades to come. As a single man, Tim never thought much about anything related to weddings. His perspective of wedding photography changed entirely as soon as he got married. “I started to see people, hear their stories, feel their wedding jitters.” He wanted to tell the story of the day through his photographs. “I realized what a blessing, challenge, and responsibility it was to be a part of the happiest day of a beautiful couple’s life.” Tim feels happiest when he receives letters from the newlyweds saying that the wedding images he has taken were more than they had expected and that they had already framed and hung some of them around their home. “I take it very personally”, he admits, “I treat every wedding as if it was my own. I want all of them to be perfect!” [Manhattan Wedding Photographer]

I remember my dad taking pictures with a Russian Zenith ET which was later passed on to me becoming my first camera. I got into serious photography as early as in 1998. Since then I have been working as a photographer for several press agencies and a major national newspaper in Warsaw, Poland, during which time I gained a lot of experience. After several years of freelancing I am currently mostly committed to wedding and food photography. I am a visual storyteller who not only makes sure that the newlyweds have the memorable images that they always dreamed of but also that the bride and groom feel comfortable and unworried throughout the whole wedding experience. [Manhattan Wedding Photographer]

My inspiration for photography is greatly influenced by literature, music, cinema and personal experiences. I try to approach my work as if it's a magical, timeless film, beautiful music composition, a memorable novel or a poem that one is constantly drawn to come back to and every time finds something new. My lifelong involvement with fine art and documentary photography lets me intimately capture the emotions, grace and light in all of the priceless moments of a wedding day, as well as the fleeting moments between those moments. I am also involved in curating film programs for several international festivals and constantly working on my personal film and photography projects. My preference is to take on limited amount of wedding commissions per year to enable myself to keep a fresh, open-minded approach and genuine excitement about every single one I select to photograph, providing my clients with undivided attention and creative energy they deserve. [Brooklyn Wedding Photographer]

I love what I do. I love telling the story of someone’s love, life, and happiness in one frame. While I started out wanting to be a screenwriter and spent many years toiling away in the financial world, the instantaneous thrill of capturing a memory by simply pressing the shutter button hooked me in 2004 and I have been a visual storyteller ever since with work featured in such publications as Martha Stewart Living and New York Magazine. I’ve lived all over the world and I am from Florida originally, but I’m proud to call New York City home. The vitality of NYC is something I pack into each and every photograph. I’m constantly roaming the streets and subway for new inspiration. So if you see me on the street with camera in hand, stop and say hi. I’d love to show you the city through my lens. [Queens Wedding Photographer]

When I obsessively started taking tons of photos back in high-school, I never imagined that years later I would have hundreds of amazing weddings in my portfolio. I've always followed my passions, and after spending many years DJing around the world, I wanted to create art that was more original. And I fell in love with photography. Choosing to shoot such glamorous and tear-jerking weddings (no, I am not immune, either) came naturally, partly because I am a bit of a romantic myself, and because I was always drawn to people’s real emotions. I love what I do so much that sometimes I forget it's work, because it’s different every time – no two weddings, locations or couples are the same, and this makes things incredibly exciting for me. Wedding photography has taken me all around the world. I've shot in about a dozen different countries on 4 different continents and had some unforgettable experiences in remote places like Mongolia, Phuket, India, and Belgium. So no matter where your wedding is, whether it's in a village on the other side of the world, an exotic beach, or an intimate backyard wedding in NYC, I'll be there with you. Memorable Images that Will Stay with You Forever I enjoy everything about weddings, but my favorite moments to document are when couples get ready, showing genuine, real emotions. The morning always feels unlike any other part of the day. And portrait sessions, when we can get creative, possibly take an adventurous pursuit to find a unique location, and make photos that can also standalone as works of art. Despite Personal Victories I Never Cease to Strive for Perfection I feel really proud of all the awards I have won over the years for my wedding work, and the shots that have been published in national wedding magazines, but I'm most proud when I can cook a tasty dinner for friends and family without the smoke alarm going off! My Aim - Creating Outstanding Lifetime Memories Feel free to explore STAK Studios, a kaleidoscope of smiles, tears of joy, and people dressed to the nines! If you are getting married, I would be truly honored to capture your big day, so get in touch and share your vision with me. We’ll make a great team and turn your wedding into a work of art. [Manhattan Wedding Photographer]

Jorge Garcia Photography has been capturing wedding day memories for over 9 years. His assignments have taken him from local venues to cross country events. His approach to each and every wedding is fun and relaxed, yet still professional which results in candid and natural looking photos. He has been published in magazines such as The Knot, Bride's NJ and Martha Stewart Weddings. I would love for yours to be next! [Manhattan Wedding Photographer]

Simplicity. Beauty. Contours of passion. Reality of Love. I embrace the art of photography - of freezing what is meant to pass in a millisecond. As a wedding and a fine art photographer I have received such compliments as AGWPJA's top 10 awards and the Harnisch Family Journalism scholarship in the recent years. I feel honored to have been able to witness and capture the unique wedding traditions across the United States and around the world, in locales ranging from the bright elegance of Florida and wondrous beauty of Yosemite, to Russia's crisp architecture and organic beauty of the Greek isles. Originally from Saint Petersburg, Russia, where my intrinsic connection to the arts was born, I came to New York to study journalism and photography. I have had the privilege of being a documentarian at diverse venues ranging from the beautiful Plaza Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, the Rainbow Room, the lovely Pierre Hotel, to the city's avant-garde gems like the Galapagous Art Space and the New Museum on the Bowery. My fine art and photojournalistic work has been exhibited at New York's Cielo, and has been published on Grace Ormonde's website, the Knot, Manhattan Bride, the Bride, and the New York Times' wedding section. From as early as I can remember I absorbed energies around me and when I would see someone happy or sad I automatically reflected the feeling in some way. The mechanism became ingrained in my photography and ultimately became the reason for me loving the craft- being able to evoke the truth of the moment and reflect the innate, uninhibited emotions of my subjects. Be it the intimate celebration in a garden of a home where one grew up as a child or the baroque fireworks of the grand ceremonies and intricate traditions, it is infinitely inspiring to me to see how unique each person is, and I greatly value the opportunity to be part of the bride and groom's celebration and the opportunity to create great memories. Yuliya Skya Cosmopolitan Photo and Films [Manhattan Wedding Photographer]

Modern style, documentary wedding photography by Steve and Kira, a husband and wife duo. Capturing candid moments of your day with superior quality photography, and an artistic eye. NYC based husband-wife photojournalists. Specializing in Weddings. Also, Events, Commercial Assignments, Sports, and Portraits. [Manhattan Wedding Photographer]

During the younger (more formidable) part of my years, I studied the art of Science. For over 15 years my life was filled with syringes, pneumatic tube systems, medications, and IV calculations and after painstakingly and finally acquiring a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, I decided to chase this crazy dream of becoming a wedding photographer! It was one of the easiest/most difficult decisions I ever made but felt great to finally toss that white lab coat and pill-counter aside and with the help and unconditional support of those nearest, I did what just felt right! [Queens Wedding Photographer]

My journey in photography began when I was 17 years of age. My mother showed me how to shoot, develop, and print black and white photographs in her makeshift darkroom set up in our basement. I was completely blown away by the whole process and instantly became infatuated. I started photographing what I knew best, which at the time was skateboarding. I even made my own skateboard magazine using my photography. [New Jersey Wedding Photographer]

Shaun grew up studying film and television with the dream of becoming a director. He graduated college with six production certificates and his bachelor’s degree in communications. Shortly after his college graduation, Shaun put the video camera down and picked up a DSLR. He was constantly looking for something to photograph. Something with meaning, a purpose. He shot his first wedding in 2009 and never picked up a video camera again. Shaun lived in NYC for 7 years with his wife Keri and their two dogs. They now reside in San Diego, CA. Shaun is very humble about how he makes his living and is honored everytime he is chosen to photograph a wedding. [San Diego Wedding Photographer]

Will is the co-founders of SW Photo Studio. He is a passionate photographer who has grown up and resided in many different places such as Malaysia, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Japan, and China. The rich experiences of traveling and crossing between those different cultures have made him a fully open-minded person. Will has not only appreciated those lessons life had taught him but also tried to get inspired and fulfill them into his photography works. [Taipei Wedding Photographer]

I may be a little bit geeky, and my wife describes me as an "infuriatingly positive person". I am smitten with rock climbing, science fiction, surfing, travel, and being invited into the inner circle of a family on a wedding day. I am one of the only wedding photographers in the world shooting entirely on the highest end camera system and lenses in the world, the Leica. I am a hopeless romantic and thrive on the intricacies of a wedding day. My own wedding was the most overwhelming (fun!) experience of my life, and I treat every celebration with that gravity. I will tell the story of your day with sensitivity, artfulness, and attention to every detail. I work in a photojournalistic, candid and unobtrusive style throughout the day (apart of when we are making portraits or family formals). [Boston Wedding Photographer]

I love working with couples who are authentic, fun, down-to-earth, and want to celebrate their individuality. For over 10 years, I’ve been providing couples with dedicated caring service as they’ve trusted me to document and capture one of the most important days in their lives. I’m honored that people invite me to be a part of their wedding day and that my photos will tell their story for years to come. I’ve always enjoyed working with and getting to know all sorts of different people – I loved meeting new people during my days as a newspaper photographer and wedding photography has allowed me that same joy. My business has always been firmly rooted in inclusivity and equality. So if you’re looking for an experienced New York/New Jersey photographer who will honor the uniqueness of you, your partnership, and your wedding—then look no further than Studio A Images. [Hoboken Wedding Photographer]

Michael describes himself as “a real-moments photographer”. He strives to create bold, artistic portraits that are worthy of celebration. His unique perspective and down to earth personality translates well with clients, and he takes time to get to know all of his wedding couples. Michael likes to push the limits of creativity and thrives off of spontaneity. He focuses on the story of the day and how it unfolds, documenting the romance and love. When Michael was in high school, his grandfather gave him his first camera, a Kodak Ektra 100 and he began shooting film. It was during this time that the seed was planted for Michael’s unique eye for composition. A lifelong soccer player, Michael played goalkeeper in high school and college. As a goalkeeper, you have to anticipate movements, much the same way you have to anticipate special moments happening at a wedding. His documentarian style captures these fleeting moments creating images that are authentic and timeless. Each year, Michael shoots around 50 full-day weddings, including many destination weddings. An avid outdoorsman, Michael enjoys traveling to new places and exploring the beauty of the natural world. He loves all activities on the water including fishing, boating, and surfing. Michael is inspired by nature, light, abstract design and the love he witnesses between his couples. [Key West Wedding Photographer]

Here is a little bit about me, Denise Chastain. I sold my first photograph when I was fifteen years old to my music teacher. That same year, my first published photograph appeared in 16 magazine. Four years in high school I studied Photography. I went on to further develop my photography skills at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. After graduation, I pursued my freelance career, shooting an array of diverse assignments. My first big break was photographing the late great Ronnie Dawson, rockabilly hero, in 1996. The story was published in Option Magazine. Soon after, I photographed personalities such as Marc Anthony, Joan Jett, Missy Elliott, Nas, Ozzy Osbourne and former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. During this time, the late Elyse Weissberg was at first my business consultant and soon after, she became my agent. We had a great friendship and working relationship. With her help and expertise, we branched out into the world of advertising, cultivating AT&T, Chase, North Point Communications, Janssen Products, LP, The United States Postal Service, Ogilvy and Mather NYC, Grey Advertising San Francisco and Foote Cone & Belding as both new and ongoing clients. In 2004, I was approached by NKH Enterprises to be part of their “New York Streets” Magazine Show (Japan’s version of ’60 Minutes’). It was a 20 minute segment about my photography and how I use NYC as a backdrop for my images. They had a hard time finding the right photographer to feature for this segment and it was a great honor to be part of the series. During most of my career, I photographed weddings as well. My client base grew from my connections in the editorial and commercial world. In 2006, I was invited to be a member of the great Wedding Photojournalism Association. [New York - Long Island Wedding Photographer]

I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in County Meath, Ireland and I absolutely love what I do. I started shooting weddings back in 2002 and it’s been an epic adventure that’s taken me to every single corner of this gorgeous little island I live on. I’ve picked up a bunch of awards along the way including a very recent one from the US-based Wedding Photojournalist Association. My aim when I shoot a wedding is to observe and capture the day as it naturally unfolds. I don’t direct anything. This allows everyone to relax and just enjoy the moment. I love to tell the story of the day, to capture the true atmosphere so that when you look back at my pictures you’ll not only remember how it looked but how it felt. A little about myself… I live just 20 km outside Dublin City in the countryside of County Meath with my wife Natalia and my 5-year-old son Zac. In my spare time, I love to mountain bike, snowboard and ride my motorcycle. [County Meath Wedding Photographer]

A self-learned photographer, David Zaoui was born in 1982 of Eurasian and Franco-Algerian parents. Growing up, his diverse background provided an ideal environment where artistic sense, open-mindedness and multiculturalism were omnipresent. Through both his grandfather who was a Painter and his mother who attended the Beaux-Arts school, David realized the true impact a simple image can have on a person. During his own wedding, he discovered the art of wedding photography, and became friends with a talented photographer who soon became his mentor. Through his love for both travelling the globe and photography, David is today a confirmed wedding photographer both in France and abroad. Through his images, he tells a story aimed at showing true emotions, cultural diversity and the natural beauty of landscapes all of which emanate from the Ceremonies he captures. In 2014, David became a member of two prestigious International Wedding photographer affiliations, one being the WPJA which has further comforted him in his professional and life choices. In 2015, he became Ambassador to a famous international camera brand. In 2016-17, he won 12 world wedding photography awards, speaker for Nikon France and lives now in Miami. [Miami Wedding Photographer]

I discovered photography when I was living in Australia. I wanted to show my family and friends the beautiful landscapes of this very singular country and to share my new life and adventure with them. Later on I started taking portraits of people and life scenes. Photography became an excuse to please my curiosity, to discover new angles of human beings and their cultures. I wanted to go where I had never dared to go before. When I take pictures, I am traveling and experiencing new ways of living in which I can express myself and feel fullfiled. With that same idea in mind of taking pictures in the heat of the moment, I started photographing weddings. I first took pictures of my friends’ weddings, and then little by little, through networking, I was brought to this very peculiar wedding universe that I enjoy. What is important for me is to capture the moment and keep it real and authentic; every action has to remain spontaneous, every emotion has to be caught in an instant. That is why I am an active member of the WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALIST ASSOCIATION. Every wedding picture is a challenge. I am 100% involved, living the emotion, and trying to keep it as real as I can in my photo reports. Over the course of one day I tell your story and keep your memories . . . [Miami Wedding Photographer]

Marta is an Italian professional wedding photographer. Born in 1978, she lives in Venice
. Specialized in reportage, portrait, wedding. She graduated from the University of Venice in Philosophy and she worked in Venice for an international co-operation project and cultural exchange programmes aimed at the diffusion of a peace culture. European Master of Professional Photography from the ISFAV (Istituto Superiore Fotografia e Arti Visive) Institute in Padova.

 She worked as a professional photographer from 2006. [Venice Wedding Photographer]

Hi, I’m Orlando, a wedding photographer from Denver, Colorado, but I currently call Atlanta, Georgia, my home. Along with my wife, Lissette, I run Viridian Images Photography. We shoot mainly for candid moments when our subjects are camera unaware, while lightly blending in natural portraits. For the past ten years, wedding photography has taken us all over the world. From the spraying waterfalls of Iceland to the warm beaches of Mexico and the colorful landscapes of India. Not to mention countless cities here in America. How cool is it that we get to meet new people, document the best day of their lives and gain new friends; all while doing what you truly love in the process? It’s fantastic! We like good music, interesting design, vacation getaways, volunteer work, dining out with friends and all things Italian. Most of all, we love photography as our way to express a sense of what’s happening in the moment. So the feeling comes through even years from now. We don’t take pictures. We make fine art from your memories. [Atlanta Wedding Photographer]

Joseph Gidjunis is an independent photojournalist who specializes in editorial and event photography, as well as video production and directing. He served as a reporter and photojournalist for 10 years at multiple publications, including The Courier-Post (NJ), and as a correspondent for USA Today. Gidjunis founded JPG Photography in 2005, now shooting more than 1,000 weddings through photography and video with his staff. In 2016, the Wedding Photojournalist Association awarded him 3rd place in the world for his work. In 2015, Gidjunis captured the iconic image of Pope Francis kissing Michael Keating on the airport tarmac. In addition, he serves as a freelance videographer and photojournalist for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. He is a 2004 journalism and political science graduate of The George Washington University in Washington D.C. Gidjunis is an elected member of the Manayunk (MDC) board, where he lives with his wife, Rebecca, his infant son, Gabe, and their dog, Gus. [Philadelphia Wedding Photographer]

When I was a child, my father, Francesco Armocida, used to bring me to his little dark-room in our home in Brooklyn, where I was born. He was working as an artist and re-toucher for a large advertising agency in New York at the time. He had the great fortune to meet photographers like Avedon and Kertesz, who would shoot and print their photos where he worked. The dark-room was like a rebirth for me. It was a magical feeling to see the images appear slowly. This was my fantastic introduction to photography. We soon moved to Calabria, Italy, where I now live with my wife and children. As a young university student I adored photographing the wonderful aspects of nature. I loved using selective focus and shallow depth of field to create magical atmospheres that reminded me of my father’s paintings. I soon developed a great interest in portrait photography and studied lighting techniques. I took portrait courses and followed many wedding photographers helping them during wedding shootings: then I found out that not only in wedding photography you have to be a good photographer but you really should also have a certain behaviour to achieve a certain kind of photography, the one I was and still seeking for today: capture moments with low photographer ‘interference’. I prefer the documentary style, the one that captures the real, emotional moment. Unlike ‘fixed’ pictures and concocted scenarios, I am aiming to capture genuine life-moments. It is an honour to be part of the WPJA. Not only is it a guideline for B&G, but it is also a tool to help photographers meet couples’ needs. [Reggio Calabria Wedding Photographer]

Tachpasit is a Thai photographer who is deeply passionate about photography. He has been shooting for more than 6 years back in Thailand and pursue his dream here in New York City and he has just graduated from the International Center of Photography in 2017. He's experienced in both studio and outdoor shooting but mainly focusing on narrative of wedding. He is a professional wedding photographer for lot of clients and celebrities when he was in Thailand. He was nominated as one of the winners from Asahi Thailand Fine Art Photography Contest in 2011. One of his works has been published in CRP&A (Center for Railroad Photography and Art) in the United States. [Bangkok Wedding Photographer]

Michelle Peters began focusing on her multiple creativities at a young age, but did not get involved in the photography area until a pro photojournalist offered her a mentorship, after she finished her education at the Pennsylvania State University. She was guided into Wedding Photojournalism and loves to capture all the moments of your special day, while maintaining an unobtrusive view. Although she still likes to hide in her 'secret studio' and shoot macro, her joy is now shooting the joy of your wedding day! [State College Wedding Photographer]

Dylan McBurney is an international award-winning wedding photographer covering the whole of Ireland from his base in Carrickfergus, County Antrim just north of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Dylan discovered wedding photojournalism after his own wedding in France to Caroline and after discovering the legendary work of the master of the decisive moment Henri Cartier-Bresson in 2004. Since then he has been finding his own decisive moments for his clients and looks forward to shooting every wedding he participates in. [Belfast Wedding Photographer]

China was born and raised into a photographic family in New York City. She got her first camera at six, which she used to photograph the kids on the block where she grew up in Chelsea. She studied filmmaking at Bard College. After graduating college and working in the film industry in New York, China left the States to live in Europe. There she began to pursue photography, first working as a photo assistant to fashion photographers in Paris, then working as a photographer in Prague. When she returned to New York China started to freelance for The Associated Press. China Jorrin photographs wedding throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond. She brings her experience as a documentary, portrait and fine art photographer to her approach in photographing weddings. Her style is contemporary with a major photojournalistic emphasis. While remaining unobtrusive, she captures the candid and key moments that create an intimate and beautiful record of the day. [Hudson Valley Wedding Photographer]

William began his career as a professional photographer in 2006 and has photographed more than 600 weddings throughout the United States and around the world. William's unique style is a natural result of his interest in art, design, and culture. With a background in business development and graphic communications, William has worked with a diverse group of clients, such as MTV, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Architectural Digest, The New Yorker, Men's Journal, Bon Appétit, and Artforum. When he's not working on an assignment, William likes to relax at home with his amazing wife and three beautiful daughters. William is proud to be a member of the WPJA. [New Jersey Wedding Photographer]

At 38, Morgan Davis has been documenting weddings since 2014. She remains inspired by the work of Cari Mae Weems, Marilyn Nance, and Gordon Parks. With a passion for international humanitarian photojournalism, she shoots a limited amount of weddings to be available to travel abroad to, in her own words, "tell the stories that often go untold." When Morgan is not shooting weddings or other lifestyle portraiture concepts, she can be found working out at the gym, listening to 40's jazz, by the ocean, or enjoying her family. She has been married to the love of her life Chris for 19 years and together they have 3 children. [Baltimore Wedding Photographer]