Documentary-Style Wedding & Elopement Photographer
My name is Marybeth, and I am a travel wedding & elopement photographer. I live to capture vibrant art. As cliché as it is, when I was a kid, my favorite "toy" was my polaroid - that is what sparked my passion. Capturing your love story through timeless and nostalgic photographs is what fuels it. I will never forget the feeling of joy I get when I go through old photos of my first trip to Disney World, my childhood birthday parties, etc. Through those photographs, I can relive some of my greatest memories. And I want my clients to experience that for years to come.
Let’s document those fleeting moments and memories in a nostalgic and story-telling way, together.
She did an incredible job photographing for our wedding. Not just ability, but great taste, feel, and style. She did beautifully, capturing the moments, the atmosphere, and the memories. Would certainly recommend again and again!
— Sam & Cortney
wedding in the Hamptons
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the details
Every detail matters to me. Because capturing you in an authentic way is so important to me, I take the time to truly get to know YOU. Your comfort level, insecurities, and favorite features.
I want you to look and feel like your best self.
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the experience
Through questionnaires and consult calls, we collaborate to build the timeline of your dream wedding. Every step of the way, I am here for YOU - providing you with a seamless and personalized wedding experience. I’m not just your photographer - I’m a sounding board for every one of your ideas and concerns.
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the approach
As a documentary style wedding photographer, I focus on capturing the in-between moments. Moments you want to remember - like your spouses hand on your lower back in a moment of affection, or your guests watching you from afar. Adding in some intentional motion blur & grain, your final gallery is a timeless and nostalgic representation of your love story.
lover of the REAL and RAW moments.
TRAVEL SCHEDULE
TRAVEL SCHEDULE
PLACES 2023 TOOK ME:
St Augustine, FL & Jacksonville, FL
Scranton, PA
Anaheim, CA & Long Beach, CA
Lake George, NY & Lake Placid, NY
New York City
my approach
honest & intentional
What is Documentary-Style Photography?
The terms “documentary-style” and “candid” have become such huge buzzwords that their meaning have become somewhat misconstrued. So what do they REALLY mean?
Couples often thing “candid” "and “documentary” mean just photos that look and feel less posed and more natural. But it is so much more than that.
Documentary means capturing the day as it is truly happening. It means not directing every single moment of the day. It means not asking you to re-do your first look 3 times for different angles or putting your earrings on 4 times to get the “perfect shot.” Doing this takes up time that can be better spent making memories with your loved ones, while I capture TRUE candids.
Documentary style photography means having your “head on a swivel,” constantly watching and waiting for the perfect moment that CAN’T BE RECREATED to be able to capture it organically. It means prioritizing AUTHENTICITY over a perfectly posed and curated image.
It means not stepping in when the bride wants to hold her own train. It means not going off “shot lists” all day long, instead, planning your timeline intentionally to reflect what you want your wedding day to look and feel like, and allowing your photographer to lean into the real and raw moments. It means slowing down. Enjoying the company of your loved ones. It means your photographer is a fly on the wall.
check out some of my favorite recent work
“My husband and I had the pleasure of working with Marybeth from our engagement photos to our wedding and all I can say is how incredible she is. We cannot thank her enough for capturing such beautiful moments in our lives. I highly recommend her not only is she amazingly talented she is so kind and personable which elevated everything even more! Thank you so much again Marybeth!”
kind words
“It was an absolute treat to work alongside Marybeth during our most recent collaboration. Her beautiful photography is just the tip of the iceberg. Marybeth is professional, imaginative, true to her word, and passionate about her work. Our photoshoot took place on a rather dreary, cloudy, summer day. Yet, Marybeth was able to transform the ambiance into a magical, thrilling, and romantic scene with her photography. I highly recommend her services to anyone looking for photos to treasure for years to come.”
“I got married during covid, which means I had a whole wedding planned prior to the world ending, and then had to replan a whole different wedding in 30 days. Marybeth was the photographer we booked for the wedding day that actually happened. She took the dreamiest photos of a day I could never have imagined. She caught moments that I’ll treasure forever and made a really stressful time that much easier with her professionalism, great communication, patience, and eagerness to capture our wedding day. I can’t sing her praises enough. Your memories are safe in her hands!”
your love captured on film & digital
I am so excited to share my love for film photography with my clients.
If you are interested in film photography for your wedding day, I encourage you to check out this blog I wrote. Film is a stunning way to capture nostalgic, fun images of your wedding day. They are great for sharing on social media or printing in small formats.
Film photos are delivered digitally as part of your online gallery, at which point prints can be ordered. You receive a mini gallery including 35mm film and polaroids. I capture candids throughout the day, but all key moments (first kiss, ring exchange, etc) are focused on digitally.
Film photos are just so incredibly fun! The colors are stunning, and there is just something so special about capturing a moment on film that can't be recreated. With digital you have never ending opportunities to capture a beautiful moment, with film you only have a certain amount of photos that can be taken. It makes that one moment so much more special.
“Marybeth is the type of person who makes you feel comfortable instantly! I’ve worked with a lot of photographers and her personality is one of a kind which truly reflects in our photos. We could not stop laughing and carrying on… I felt like I’ve known her forever! I felt so at ease and like the pressure was off. We’ve gotten so many compliments that our photos look like they’re straight out of a rom com.. which is the exact vision I had and it is EXACTLY what she brought. Her moody, carefree, candid work is truly so special and I can’t wait to work with her again!”
bucket list destinations
Getting married at one of these destinations? Inquire for no travel fees!
Huntington Beach, California on Film
New York Documentary Wedding & Elopement Photographer