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“Wedding Photographers Near Me” Why Hire Local

The Benefits of Hiring a Local Wedding Photographer

When choosing a wedding photographer, it’s common to ask yourself, “Where do I begin?” Sometimes, the where can be quite literal! There are so many incredible wedding photographers from around the world just by Google-ing. It can be an overwhelming process between recommendations and advertisements—but it doesn’t have to be. New York City is notorious for being one of the greatest cities in the world. It’s home to some of the best of the best in fashion, food, art, and photography. If you live in the city, why not keep it simple and start by hiring a local NYC wedding photographer?

Here are my top five reasons why you should hire a local, NYC wedding photographer for your big day.

Bride and groom riding in a vintage nyc taxi.
Bride and groom walking in the streets of New York City with a vintage taxi
Bride and groom kiss in the back of a vintage nyc taxi on their wedding day

Eliminate Travel And Accommodation Costs

The first reason is self-explanatory; weddings are expensive enough without the need to pay for an out-of-town photographer’s flights and hotel for the wedding weekend. Hiring a New York wedding photographer can instantly save you a nice chunk-of-change. Sure, your favorite celebrity’s wedding photographer might be based in Los Angeles. But why not spend that extra cash on something special for you and your partner (a spa day or fancy wedding gifts perhaps). In addition to the money saved, you can also have peace of mind knowing that travel for your special day will be minimized and everyone can remain that much safer amidst the ongoing pandemic.

Bride and groom hold hands in the outside of Radio City Music Hall at 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Bride and groom kissing at the Top of the Rock at 30 Rockefeller Plaza

NYC Wedding Photographers Know The Spots

As an NYC wedding photographer, I have been around the block and over the bridge. Literally. Over the past nine years that I’ve been professionally photographing in New York, it’s safe to say I have found several diamonds in the rough that only a local NYC wedding photographer would know about from years of exploring the big city. There are so many beautiful places to shoot wedding photography in New York, and a local NYC wedding photographer can help you find them!

Some of my favorite places in the city include Greenwich Village, Washington Square Park, Tribeca, and the West Village. I love to hear what my engaged couples have in mind for a setting and instantly know a place that will fit the concept. By hiring local, you are paying for a knowledge of the city that money can’t buy.

Access To The Best Of The Best

From photographers to florists, jewelers to caterers, the NYC wedding community is not only one of the biggest and best in the country; it’s also very tight-knit. Chances are if you hire an NYC wedding photographer, they will provide you with access to some of the best vendors in town (maybe even with a favor or two) to make your dream wedding a reality. They say it’s “all who you know,” and the NYC wedding community is no exception. 

The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States.
Two men smile after their gay marriage is approved in New York City.

Keep It Consistent

Photos of your big day are what we do, as wedding photographers. But what about the other milestones in your relationship? I have had the honor of working with clients on their wedding day and beyond, from engagement photos to first anniversaries to the first photos with their newborn baby. Being local to NYC makes this possible for my clients and me and ensures that these precious moments are all captured consistently through the same lens to make consistent memories when you look back at them fondly. 

Nothing Beats A Personal Connection

Finally, choosing a wedding photographer is a truly intimate experience—you are putting trust in someone to capture one of the biggest days of your life properly, so I believe it is important to have a personal connection with your photographer. By selecting someone local, there are plenty of opportunities to get to know each other before working together, whether it’s meet for a walk in Central Park or a coffee at your favorite cafe. Selecting a wedding photographer requires trust and a bond that can’t be formed in the same way digitally. I love being able to hop in a taxi and visit different neighborhoods to meet with my clients, and I am so lucky to continue to have many of them as friends for life. 

A groom dips his bride in a kiss with the New York City skyline in the background
An engagement couple sits on a park bench with the New York City skyline behind them

So, start spreading the news—hiring an NYC Wedding Photographer is the way to go if you live in the city. From Manhattan to Brooklyn to upstate New York, someone in the Big Apple is waiting to meet you and make your dreams come true for every style and budget. So, if you know someone in New York looking to hire a wedding photographer and they don’t know where to start looking, tell them to look no further than their own backyard.