Weddings Winter 2009 > Planner

Patricia Kantzos Photography

917-608-9074; kantzos.com

Kantzos works in digital format, which lends itself readily to online slide shows and photo-album production. Kantzos’s basic package starts at $2,500, which includes four hours of coverage, a second photographer, and a CD with high-resolution jpegs. Other packages include film photography, prints, and travel for destination weddings.

Peter Doyle Photography

917-621-5407; peterdoylephoto.com

In his twenty-year career as a documentary photographer, Doyle’s work has been exhibited and critically lauded at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His pricing packages are designed to be customized with à la carte options such as custom-designed photo albums, a professionally lit portrait station, and use of color or black-and-white digital photography. His rate for eight hours and a DVD of digital images is $2,500.

Philippe Cheng Photography

180 Varick St., near Charlton St., Ste. 416; 212-627-4262; philippechengweddings.com

Cheng has an unconventional approach to wedding photography, turning the small details—the bouquet, the bride’s shoes—into some of the most beautiful pictures of the event. With a unique mastery of color and emotion, Cheng shoots with poignant results. From $10,000.

Punam Bean

917-238-2496; punambeanweddings.com

A born romantic, Bean ditched her acting career for wedding photography shortly after her own nuptials. She officially opened up shop in March 2008 and has been booked ever since. Bean offers an eye for drama, unconventional compositions, and a hint of edge¬—attributes that have garnered her an international client base and reputation. Packages start at $5,500.

Radhika Photography

646-519-4493; radhikaphotography.com

For almost twenty years, Radhika Chalasani has been discreetly documenting people and events around the world—from Vietnam to Rwanda to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina—in her signature photojournalistic style. Her gift is to blend in and put everyone at ease, which enables her to photograph genuine and intimate moments. Prices start at $3,200 for the full day, including a DVD and online gallery.

Raquel Reis

212-995-1972; raquelreis.com

Creative professionals such as photo editors and art directors are frequent clients of Reis. She uses her experience as an international photojournalist to artfully tell the story of a wedding. She also loads all photos onto a password-accessible website, where guests can browse images and order prints. Destination weddings are no problem for Reis. Rates start at $8,000.

Richard Jopson

646-221-7137; rjweddingsnyc.com

For the past five years, Jopson has been chatting up wedding guests around New York (and as far away as Yosemite or Greece) to get the relaxed, photo-documentary style he’s after. He considers himself simply “a guest with a camera.” Shooting film rather than digital, “for its aesthetic qualities,” he also personally prints the black-and-white album images. From $2,900.

Robert London Photography

78 Fifth Ave., at 14th St., ninth fl.; 917-459-5647; robertlondon.com

London’s wide range of photography packages can accommodate any wedding budget, all the way from the $800 “Shotgun Package” deal (two hours of photographing and 100 four-by-six proofs) to the grander “My Rich Uncle Said He’d Pay for Everything” option which, for $13,000, includes unlimited time, a second photographer, rehearsal-dinner portraits, engagement portraits, and leather-bound albums.

Robert Sukrachand

508-333-4371; sukrachand.com

With a background in documentary and editorial photography, Sukrachand looks at each wedding as a chance to tell a story. For him, that translates into a natural, free-flowing photographic style, with results that reflect the spirit of the day. Rates start at $3,500.

Samantha Isom

917-723-7984; weddingsbysamantha.com

If you’re looking for an alternative to staid, conventional wedding photographs, the versatile Isom is a good fit. She brings an artistic bent to everything from musician portraits for CD covers to wedding photography in both documentary and formal style, and she prides herself on her personalized attention to each client’s needs. Prices upon request.

Sara & Sarma Photography

917-470-9773; saraandsarma.com

Sara and Sarma both take part in each wedding gig, telling a cohesive story of the day in an editorial style. They tailor packages to each couple after meeting with the clients. Prices start at $4,950, and include eight hours of shooting. Digital files are handed over with album purchase.

Sarah Merians Photography & Company

104 Fifth Ave., nr. 15th St., fourth fl.; 212-633-0502; sarahmerians.com

Merians and her team of thirteen photographers have been shooting New York City weddings for more than twenty years. Working in styles and techniques ranging from photojournalism to classic portraiture, Merians has built a reputation for producing spirited images. From $4,000.

Sara Press Photography

212-252-3782; sarapressweddings.com

With twelve years of experience, Press documents her subjects with the natural skill of an artist who never runs on autopilot. She likes to have fun with her brides and is particularly fond of portraiture that captures light-hearted exuberance. From $4,000.

Sara Wight

917-648-3968; sarawightphotography.com

With ten years of shooting experience, Wight has an inspired, refined approach that stems from her fine-art style. She produces images with a simplistic beauty, capturing the uncomplicated charm of stolen glances, guests laughing, or a table setting before the party begins. From $3,000.

Sarah Merians Photography & Video Company

104 Fifth Ave., nr. 15th St., fourth fl.; 212-633-0502; sarahmerians.com

Merians and her team of thirteen photographers have been shooting New York City weddings for more than twenty years. Working in styles and techniques ranging from photojournalism to classic portraiture, Merians has built a reputation for producing spirited images. From $4,000.

Scott Whittle Photography

917-771-3285; scottwhittle.com

Whittle, who has an MFA in photography from the School of Visual Arts, turns out sophisticated, candid shots with an artistic flair. In addition to standard-format cameras, Whittle shoots with a panoramic, digital, and even a Holga toy camera to render diverse, painterly photographs. Prices start at $5,500, negatives included.

Sebastian Thaw Photography

111 Fourth Ave., nr. 11th St., Ste. 4A; 646-765-6276; sebastianthaw.com

Thaw started out as a portrait photographer for magazines, design, and advertising firms before turning his focus to weddings seven years ago. His work involves close attention to details—the table settings, the cake, and the place cards—as well as the city or landscape, wedding guests and atmosphere. His rates, starting at $3,000, are fixed by individual consultations.

Sharon Schuster

147 W. 15th St., nr. Sixth Ave., Ste. 100; 212-620-7877; sharonschuster.com

Schuster uses her strong background in fashion and beauty to focus primarily on the mood of a wedding, shooting in both black-and-white and color. She particularly enjoys capturing moments as the bride gets ready, as well as those immediately after the ceremony. Schuster will also display your photos online if you wish. From $6,000.

Shira Weinberger Photography

646-467-4637; shiraweinberger.com

Specializing in what she calls "artistic photojournalism," Weinberger draws unique inspiration from surroundings to suit each couple. The $4,500 classic package includes eight hours of shooting with Weinberger and another photographer, a DVD, 300 professional prints, and online slide show.

Silk Studio Weddings

315 W. 39th St., nr. Eighth Ave.; 212-494-0004; silkstudioweddings.com

Married couple Shari and Joshua Silk shoot all their weddings together, merging distinct yet complementary artistic styles. Packages start at $5,500 and include the two photographers, an unlimited number of photos, a full set of proofs, a wedding website, and a hand-crafted album. Unlike many photographers, they also offer hand-coloring.

Stephanie Badini

34 Watts St., nr. Sixth Ave., Ste. 14; 212-966-9524; stephaniebadiniphotography.com

An instructor at the ICP, Badini cut her teeth with celebrity photographer Julie Skarratt, and is a regular photographer for New York society galas. Her classic, elegant photos capture everything from the minute details to posed group shots. A day of photography by Badini and one assistant begins at $6,000.

Steve Worth Photography

212-986-5730; steveworth.com

Steve Worth and wife Kira Yustak offer clients the opportunity to capture their wedding from two different viewpoints. While Worth enjoys snapping action and candid shots, Yustak has a knack for the small details (like a closeup of the bridal bouquet), and the more unusual moments of the day. Package rates are usually $3,000, which includes proofs, a DVD of all images, and an online photo gallery.

Stylish & Hip Weddings

646-249-3855; stylishhipweddings.com

A magazine photographer with a specialty in editorial portraiture, MacFarlane describes her aesthetic as “stylish, hip, creative, and fun.” Her candid photos always evoke the spirit and mood of the day, with even posed shots appearing spontaneous. She prides herself on having a well-trained eye for natural light and composition. From $1,600.

Susan Baker

212-665-0617; susanbakerphotography.com

Baker takes a cinematic approach to her photography, creating a strong narrative using glamorous portraiture. She captures each moment beautifully. Her packages include a number of hand-printed images, optionally arranged in artisanal silk albums. Prices start at $5,500.

From the Winter 2009 New York Wedding Guide