Best Photographer?
December 9th, 2007 @ 1:07 pm by Mrs. Bee
I’m working on a special project and I won’t reveal what it is until later, but I need your help!
Who do you think are the top wedding photographers in the field today? As far as fame, name recognition, and editorial coverage?
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125 Responses to “Best Photographer?”
I would say my favorites are…
Jessica Claire http://www.jessicaclaire.net/
Becker http://www.beckersblog.com/
Rae Leytham http://www.raeleytham.net
I agree that there are too many to list! These three are just my absolute favorites.
Of the ones I researched or have seen in action at weddings, these are my faves:
Laura Novak (PA, DE)
The Wiebners (PA)
Brian Dorsey (NYC)
jessica claire!
Liz Banfield’s work is amazing!
Charlotte Geary
I Love Bumatay Studios, Barnet Photography, Aaron Delesie Photography, Bleu Cotton Photography, and Skye Blue Photography.
My favorite is Bobbi Sheridan and her husband Mike from Indiana, http://www.bobbiandmike.com
er… lisa lefkowitz? I don’t knpw too much about this category, but she’s famous!
The photographers that I researched work in Upstate NY (some in NYC and Canada too) … but in my opinion the top 5 photographers in the NY state region are:
Tim Forbes - http://weddings.forbescreative.com
Gary Ventura - http://www.garyventura.com
Luke Walker - http://lukewalkerphotography.com
Rae Barnes - http://www.raebarnes.com
Liesl Cowley - http://lieslcowley.com
San Diego- Trailbrook Photography
Orange County- Apertura
annie leibowitz…although thats really art photography….
becker
jessica claire
studio 306
joe buissink
oh and this is suuuuper random but i just saw your little profile here on the side (love the new feature!!!) and i saw you like extreme sports! Thats awesome! will you do a post on some of them?
D.C. area - Matt Mendelsohn, Holland Photo Arts, Vantage Pictures
Arizona - Rebecca Bouch
http://www.brookemayo.com is her addy 
she was my wedding photog and she was awesome.
I would say Bebb Studios, by Jennifer & Stephen Bebb, at http://www.tyingtheknot.net . They were named one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world by American Photo Magazine. They also have a blog at bebbblog.squarespace.com .
Stacy Kaine
My vote is also for Bobbi and Mike from Indianapolis. They are AMAZING (and also my wedding photographers…I can’t wait!) They are really starting to attract a lot of attention in the area.
Huy Nguyen from f8 studio in Dallas: http://www.f8studio.com
He’s AMAZING!!
NYC: Agaton Strom, Angelica Glass, Something in Blue
NJ: Laura Novak
For the SF area, I think it’s:
Todd Rafalovich (sp?)
Gene Higa
Jen Skog
John Griffin
but look out for Augie Chang too, he’s right up there and getting more popular all the time.
Anne Ruthmann!
becker, jessica claire, and something in blue are my favorites.
If money were no object I would go for Christian Oth (NY), Liz Banfield (MN), Elizabeth Messina (CA)
I also love Mark Staff (SC) and Meg Baisden (FL)
EVERYONE Miss Jasmine listed!! I check their blogs daily!!
Scott Robert Lim is pretty darn talented! And oh so popular in the blogosphere, I’m surprised he hasn’t been mentioned yet.
Something in Blue.
I don’t know that many, but here are a few of my faves:
NY: Tony Yang (wish he was more accessible for us)
HI: Chrissy Lambert (the photog I’ve chosen for out wedding)
L.A.: Eugene Kam (i wish i could afford him)
O.C.: Jessica Claire
Steven Fox in the Holland MI area is amazing!!! He was not my photographer, but he is extremely talented!
Justine Ungaro (LA & DC) http://www.justineungaro.com
She’s won multiple photography awards including the coveted title of International Event Photographer of the Year (Esprit Award) in 2005 and 2006. She was also named among Washington D.C.’s top wedding photographers by Washingtonian Magazine from 2003-2007. My FAVORITE photographer, wedding and portraits!
Something in Blue, Jessica Claire, and Apertura
Anna Kuperbert deserves a mention.
Jessica Claire, as just about everyone else has said! I’m also a big fan of LaCour, here in Atlanta…(www.lacourphoto.com)
the image is found!
apertura photography (southern california)
Apertura Photography and Luna Photography (SD)
Suzy Clement and Julie Caine in SF:
Christian Oth
Brian Dorsey
jessica claire, jose villa, the image is found, apertura, huy nguyen
I’ll second the vote for Justine. Her work is amazing!!! I always look forward to her blog posts.
It’s nice to watch a high school classmate follow her passion and be so successful at it!!
Sorry - that’s Justine Ungaro
definitely the image is found! nate & jac are so cool!!
Jessica Claire
Image is Found
James Day (Australia)
Charlotte Geary
Yervant (Australia)
Jesh De Rox
Jerry from XSight (Australia)
Jessica Claire (CA)
And Kenneth & Elaine Soong from Just Married Photography
(Alberta, Canada but they travel everywhere).
I would say:
The Wiebners
Joel Flory
Cameron Ingalls
David Jay
They all are both my faves and the ones I hear about the most in the photography world.
I LOVE Angelica Glass
Maybe this isn’t the most “famous” photographer, but I lovelovelove
Nataly Lemus - LA/Orange Co., CA
Her prices and attention to detail are wonderful and show that spending a little doesn’t diminish quality.
I think I must be clueless about the others that have been mentioned because they were so out of my range. :-S
Ok, i have several friends all over and here is the list we all like for wedding photographers:
Anna Kupenberg: http://www.kuperblog.com/
Our Labor Of Love: http://www.ourblogoflove.com/
The Image is Found: http://www.theblogisfound.com/
Ira Lippke :http://www.iralippkestudios.com/
White Box Weddings: http://whiteboxweddings.squarespace.com/
I look at most of these blogs everyday and i am always impressed. They are all slightly different so find the one that suits you…
Definately Cliff Mautner-surprised no one mentioned him yet and of course Joe Bussink can’t beat a photog that has done some big name weddings like jessica simpson and jennie garth to name a couple
Yes, I agree with one of the PPs: Anne Ruthmann is the best! http://www.anneruthmann.com
Based in Florida travels all over.
http://www.heatherfunk.com
Check out the editorial section- Bee-u-tiful..
The Image is Found, Jessica Claire, Jose Villa, Apertura, Alisha & Brooke are the ones that I’ve heard mentioned most often.
I also really love Anna Kuperberg’ work, like, a LOT.
Scott Robert Lim, Jen Skog & Todd Rafalovich,
jessica claire!
the becker (orange county, ca)
jesh de rox (vancouver, bc)
mike colon - love his work (orange county, ca)
ira lippke (los angeles, ca)
angelica glass (new york, ny)
jennifer skog
the image is found
leigh miller
aaron delesie
scott robert photography
kenny kim (chicago, illinois)
love this site
Todd Johnson !! tjweddings.com (Los Angeles, CA)
I’m a third vote for bobbi+mike!
in my circle of ppl, it’s
GH KIM Photography (seattle + more)
http://www.ghkim.com/
kenny kim photo in chicago seems to pop up a lot as well
Another vote for Jessica Claire!
fourth vote for bobbi+mike! their photos are so much fun and full of personality!
LaCour, hands down!
In Chicago, I think the top 3 are:
Ocken Photography
ZR Weddings
Artisan Events (Amanda Sudimack)
Agaton Strom
Cliff Mautner
I think California is CLEARLY influencing this list.
In terms of editorial coverage, the real weddings featured in mags are often shot by the following:
Meg Smith
Liz Banfield
Mallory Samson
Elizabeth Messina
Cappy Hotchkiss
Suzy Clement
Susan Baker
Angelica Glass (www.angelicaglass.com) - she’s got a distinct style, but manages to give every wedding it’s own unique vision!
I think Julie Flynn has the most outstanding wedding pictures, it’s so vintage and so anthropologies style
hello!
here are my favorites:
Jasmine Star: http://www.jasminestarblog.com
(She’s actually going to be my wedding photographer =) Great personality and work! She is awesome when it comes to capturing the emotions of the wedding and none of the photos are posed. It comes off natural and would be a wonderful fit for someone who is camera shy.)
Ben Chrisman: http://www.benchrisman.blogspot.com
(He travels all around the nation and his work is amazing. It has an artisitic quality I have not seen as of yet amongst many photographers. )
The Image is Found:
http://www.theimageisfound.com
(One of my favorites and top choices as well. His work screams fun and artsy)
Boutwell Studio:
http://www.boutwellstudio.com/blog
(Their use of color and editing creates an image that may seem surreal and airy. Loved them as well and their “Totally Rad Actions” pak for photo editing.)
Hope this helps! =)
absolutely favorite:
ben chrisman
David Jay
Personal favorites:
jen kroll - jenkrollphotography.com
Mclellan studio - mclellanstudio.com
- LaCour Photo (Georgia)
- Jessica Claire (California)
- Susan Stripling (Florida)
- Jose Villa (California)
oh, and how could i forget… Gary Fong.
kenny pang in nyc
I don’t know much beyond the people I was looking at personally, but I do know Jose Villa (www.josevillaphoto.com)! Even my own photographer worships him….
Cappy Hotchkiss is amazing, is featured in tons of magazines and is my wedding photographer. Love her!!!
I second the vote for Cappy Hotchkiss in NYC- she does amazing work!
I would second LaCour Photography: http://lacourphoto.com/
I’d also add:
Merakoh Photography http://www.merakoh.com
and La Storia Foto: http://www.lastoriafoto.net (One of Oprah’s exclusive event photographers and they shot Eva Longoria and Tony Parker’s wedding among others.
Another vote for
Todd Rafalovich (My photographer so I maybe biased :-D)
Gene Higa
and Anna Kuperberg
Becker
Jessica Claire
Jasmine Star
Jessica Strickland
The Boutwells
and of course my photog: Kenny Champange (www.kennychampagne.com)
oh yes! And jesh de rox
and as everyone mentioned these are just a few of my favs.
for sure the very artistic and unique yvonne wong : http://www.yvonne-wong.com from seattle
Junshien and Scott Robert
scott robert lim!!
http://www.autumnlin.com
new york
I would have to say Next Exit Photography:
My sister found Our Labor of Love (Atlanta) in the Knot and she used them for her wedding and their photos are the best I have ever seen, bar none. They captured the feeling of the day brillaintly- fun, fresh, modern - not stuffy like so much wedding photography I see on a regular basis. When my sister has her baby I know she is going to hunt themdown again to do the same for her family photos. I would recommend them to everyone, they are great people and really talented.
Celebrity-worthy fame… just look up the guestlist to Gary Fong’s wedding =)
I would say the top are:
David Beckstead
Mike Colon
Bob Davis
Joe Buissink
My partner and I used Our Labor of Love in the ATL. http://www.ourlaboroflove.com They were/are AMAZING. I hate to be photographed but they not only made me feel at ease, they also made me look great in nearly every shot. Musta been some kind of voodoo…
TriCoast Photography
I love Jessica, Beck, and Jasmine.
have you seen Angela Hubbard @ http://www.hubbardphotography.com
I actually don’t know many of the photographers around. These are the names that I know…photographers I would never be able to afford myself.
http://www.mikecolon.com, CA
joebuissink.com, CA
kkphoto-design.com, OR
denisreggie.com, GA
Jessica Claire
Susan Stripling
Boutwell
The Image is Found
becker
Elizabeth Messina
Christian Oth
absolutely….
yvonne wong (seattle) - http://www.yvonne-wong.com
jesh de rox (canada)- http://www.jeshderox.com
Jacklyn Greenberg of JAGstudios in New Haven, CT is an amazing, absolutely remarkable artistic wedding photographer. She makes her clients feel like they’re family and has the uncanny ability to make EVERYONE look beautiful! She travels all over the world, and has recently won “2007 Best of New Haven” for her photography work after only a year in business! Check her out at http://www.jagstudios.net She’s worth every penny and then some, and runs an environmentally conscious green business- what’s better than that!!!. Watch out for her, she’s hot!
Something in Blue (NYC)
Jeffrey Lau (NYC)
Tony Yang (NYC)
Suzanne Neville!!
Aaron Delesie
Apertura
Jessica Claire
Julie Weaver
Jennifer Skog
Ira Lippke Studios Are amazing, in LA & NY
Also Aaron Delise, Mel Barlow
My absoltue fave!
McLellan Studio - http://www.mclellanstudio.com
and Jessica Claire is really awesome, too
Something In Blue http://www.somethinginblue.com(Brooklyn, NY)
Angelica Glass http://www.angelicaglass.com (Queens, NY)
Jasmine Star http://www.jasminestarphotography.com (Orange County, California)
Studio By Carmen http://www.studiobycarmen.com(Miami Florida)
Trista Lerit http://www.tristalerit.com(Orange County, Calfirnia)
Bobby + Mike http://www.bobbyandmike.com (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Shawn Starr http://www.shawnstarr.com (Oahu, Hawaii)
More votes for Jessica Claire and Becker!!
I also love the Amys.
Amy Martin http://www.amymartinphotography.blogspot.com
Amy Squires http://www.amysquires.com
I love so many! My favorites are Bobbi and Mike (www.bobbiandmike.com) Jesh deRox (www.jeshderox.com) the Image is Found (www.theimageisfound.com) Roxy and Kai (www.roxyandkai.com) and Eclectic Images (www.eclecticimagesphotography.com). Too bad I can’t afford any of them 
Darn, my links didn’t work. How do I fix that?
http://www.bobbiandmike.com
http://www.jeshderox.com
http://www.theimageisfound.com
http://www.roxyandkai.com
http://www.eclecticimagesphotography.com
I guess thats why I never post anything. I’m too dumb!
timwill photography is my FAVORITE! they incorporate every style in their photography (antique, vibrant, fun, romantic….)
great work! http://www.timwill.com
Lots of talent listed here! I go for consistency: check out your photographer’s blog and see how busy they are, how consistent their weddings are, and you can get to know them
http://bumataystudio.blogspot.com/
http://chrispluslynn.blogspot.com/
http://www.andrenaphoto.com/blog/
The McLellans!
http://www.mclellanstudio.com
http://www.mclellanblog.com
For chicago weddings:
http://www.sarahannephotography.com
Comment about Kenny Kim-yes he is talented and many people are using him.
However, it’s sad to see how fame has gotten to him in the past few years. Have known the guy since college, but now he doesn’t give you the time of the day if you’re not “important”
or “cool” enough for him. And when I recently contacted him about doing our wedding photography, he acted as if he didn’t know me!
So for chicago brides, check out Sarah Anne! She’s so personable, friendly–and she actually LOVES to work with people!
So I got Nataly Lemus’ name off this board. I loved her photos. I contacted her a month ago, she said she had my date available, and we set up a time to meet…I threw out several dates, and she picked this Saturday, 3/22 at 11am. I get a message from her at 8:30AM telling me she booked my date last night AFTER confirming with me on THURSDAY that we were meeting.
Personally, I think that’s incredibly unprofessional. There was no ‘hey, someone else is interested in your date’, no ‘would you like to meet earlier’ just a mesage that said ’sorry. I booked your date last night. I know we were meeting today, but it happened last night.’
As my fiance puts it, better to find out about her unprofessionalism NOW then our wedding day.
Boutwells, McLellans
i’m using http://www.galvanphoto.com/ after all the shopping arund i did, i know they are the best husband and wife team. I am so excited to have found them!
I LOVE bobbi+mike!!!!!!!!
http://www.bobbiandmike.com
http://www.bobbiandmike.com/blog
Of course: susan stripling, the image is found, jessica claire.
Let’s venture out of the standards to the wonderful state of Oregon.
How about: http://www.jasminephotography.com, http://www.josephmilton.com, http://www.bmac-photo.com to name a few. Too many more to list!
Paul Van Hoy, owner of Fotoimpressions in Rochester, NY photographed my wedding and the work far surpassed anything I’ve ever even seen - he’s truly an artist and extraordinary talent - you should check him out
sorry forgot the link - Fotoimpressions Wedding Photography in Rochester, NY - visit http://www.fotoimpressions.com
Sean & Mel at McLellan Studio! mclellanstudio.com
Ben Chrisman and Anna Kuperberg for sure! David Jay, when he was shooting was fantastic too!
Jesse and Whitney the dynamic force behind Our Labor of Love photographed our September 2007 wedding, and I must say these are the most fantastic photographers available. Our wedding was featured in the Wedding Unveiled Winter 2008 publication as a result of their innovative artist perspective. Our entire experience with them was stellar! They pay exceptional attention to detail and still manage to make you feel like you’re with old friends at the same time. I look back at our wedding photos now and feel even more connected and moved by the imagery than I thought possible. If you don’t book them, you’re missing out. Check out our link if you need more proof. http://ourlaboroflove.com/darkroom/share/?client/laurenchadslide
Ben Chrisman
Jesh De Rox
Dror Eyal
def TriCoast
Mrs. Bee, New York
Age and Occupation: 29, Weddingbee Publisher
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Internet
Engagement Date: May 7, 2004
Wedding Date: March 5, 2005
Venue: Westside Loft, New York
About Me: Yes, my name really is Bee! I love my blogging, wikis, and tabasco sauce!
So many to list! Here are some of my favorites:
- Becker (Orange County, CA)
- The Image is Found (San Diego, CA)
- Jessica Claire (Orange County, CA)
- Jasmine Star (Orange County, CA)
- Fred Egan (Texas)
- Marisa Holmes (Orange County, CA)
- Boutwell (Orange County, CA)