For our engagement shoot and wedding weekend we were fortunate to have Mariana (and her team!) capture our special moments. She was incredibly responsive to all the questions we had for her in the year-long process between our engagement shoot and our wedding day. We found her while she was on location at another engagement. I was immediately drawn to how comfortable she made the other couple feel. I immediately knew I wanted her for our special day. Throughout our wedding weekend she checked in to make sure that we were okay and if there was anything she could do for us. On our wedding day, she had herself and a team of videographers and photographers that were a bit overwhelming at first with everything going on. However, they also put us at ease with their detailed direction and explanation of what they were doing. Our photos and videos came out so beautifully. My biggest regret is not being able to take more photos and videos due to our limited timeline (not an issue with Mariana, we stretched ourselves a bit thin and didn’t have as much time as we would have liked for photography).
Overall, I think the photos speak for themselves and I’d highly recommend her services to capture your special event.
Ann M.
5.0
The best photographer ever!! Mariana perfectly captured our elopement in Central Park and took the most beautiful pictures. A 5 star rating does not do her justice I need 10 stars!! She got our photos back to us so quickly and had very open communication throughout the entire process. 1000% will be booking again for our 5 year anniversary.
Olivia R.
5.0
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About this vendor
Mariana Soto
OWNER
AWARD WINNER (5X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Mariana Soto Photography is a wedding photography company based in New York, NY. Owner Mariana has an artsy, documentary style, perfect for capturing precious, authentic moments of love and delight. She wants you to help turn magical moments into a collection of beautiful, meaningful works of art you can keep and treasure forever.
Mariana has been passionate about photography for as long as she can remember. She has always particularly prized candid moments because they express the truth and beauty of real lives in motion. She wants to capture your wedding day from beginning to end. She’ll be there for the big set pieces, and she’ll be there to capture the little moments in between that you may not even notice at the time but which you’ll look back on with fondness in the years to come.
Mariana Soto Photography covers engagements, elopements, and wedding celebrations near and far, so wherever your love story may take you, Mariana is ready to follow. Her basic wedding package includes an engagement session, high-resolution digital images, prints, and more. Mariana is looking forward to helping make your wedding dreams come true. She can’t wait to meet you and get started.
Hispanic or Latinx-owned, LGBTQ+-owned and Woman-owned Business
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Hall of Fame
Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Mariana Soto
Owner
I'm thrilled to be your guide through the art of capturing life's most precious moments. As a Venezuelan wedding and couple photographer based in the vibrant heart of New York City, I bring a fusion of cultural richness and artistic flair to every shot. My journey into the captivating realm of photography began with formal studies at The New York Film Academy and the International Center of Photography. These immersive experiences honed my skills and ignited a passion for storytelling through the lens. With an artsy, documentary style, I specialize in crafting images that encapsulate the raw emotions and authentic connections shared between couples. Whether it's the tender exchange of vows or the spontaneous laughter shared between loved ones, I aim to transform fleeting moments into timeless works of art. My approach is simple: I strive to capture your wedding day in its entirety. I want to capture your wedding day from beginning to end. I will be there for the big set pieces, and I'll be there to capture the little moments in between that you may not even notice at the time but which you’ll look back on with fondness in the years to come. Together with my talented team, I am passionate about turning your dream photos into a reality. Let's embark on this unforgettable journey together and create memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0
59 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Mariana and her team are professional, warm, and responsive, putting couples at ease while skillfully guiding poses and timing. Reviewers praise her candid, romantic style, beautiful edits, quick delivery, flexibility in challenging situations, and fair pricing. Highly recommended for engagements, proposals, and weddings.
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Ann M
5.0
5/19/2026
For our engagement shoot and wedding weekend we were fortunate to have Mariana (and her team!) capture our special moments. She was incredibly responsive to all the questions we ha...
d for her in the year-long process between our engagement shoot and our wedding day. We found her while she was on location at another engagement. I was immediately drawn to how comfortable she made the other couple feel. I immediately knew I wanted her for our special day. Throughout our wedding weekend she checked in to make sure that we were okay and if there was anything she could do for us. On our wedding day, she had herself and a team of videographers and photographers that were a bit overwhelming at first with everything going on. However, they also put us at ease with their detailed direction and explanation of what they were doing. Our photos and videos came out so beautifully. My biggest regret is not being able to take more photos and videos due to our limited timeline (not an issue with Mariana, we stretched ourselves a bit thin and didn’t have as much time as we would have liked for photography).
Overall, I think the photos speak for themselves and I’d highly recommend her services to capture your special event.
Olivia R
5.0
12/24/2025
The best photographer ever!! Mariana perfectly captured our elopement in Central Park and took the most beautiful pictures. A 5 star rating does not do her justice I need 10 stars!...
! She got our photos back to us so quickly and had very open communication throughout the entire process. 1000% will be booking again for our 5 year anniversary.
Any questions?
Mahir G
5.0
12/16/2025
I am absolutely delighted with the service provided by Mariana Photographer. I trusted her with one of the most important days of my life, my wedding, and I couldn’t be happier wit...
h my decision. She is incredibly professional, warm, and attentive to every detail. I truly loved being in front of her lens and the entire experience of having her capture such a special day. The final results exceeded my expectations and made me so happy. I would choose her again without hesitation.
Alejandra R
5.0
11/04/2025
Mariana was such a joy to work with! She took time to get to know my partner and I prior to the big day and this really helped inform the photo sessions. It rained HARD on our wedd...
ing day and she kept her composure and made the photo shoot feel fun, personal, and efficient. Her vision really came through in the photos which we are so happy we get to look fondly at for the rest of our lives!
Scarly A
5.0
10/14/2025
Mariana is truly incredible. From the moment we met she was professional, sweet, and attentive to all the small details of our day. We chose the option of 2 photographers and Luis ...
was her partner that day. Both brought the best energy!! I sometimes forgot they were there to take photos because it felt like they were part of the family. When we received our gallery, we were in awe. We expected great photos but, we weren’t prepared for our day to look like a romantic movie. I couldn’t recommend Mariana enough if you want magic to be captured ✨
Jenny W
5.0
7/22/2025
We had a great experience working with Mariana for our small, family-only wedding at the Lotte Palace Hotel, and we couldn’t be happier with the photos. From start to finish, Maria...
na was warm, professional, and incredibly easy to work with. She spent about 3.5 hours with us, including joining us for dinner at a nearby steakhouse, and she was happy to go with the flow every step of the way.
Mariana made everyone feel comfortable and captured the day beautifully. She was also very reasonably priced and accommodating, which made the whole process feel stress-free. We’re thrilled with our gallery. Highly recommend!
Laura C
5.0
5/28/2025
Mariana was an absolute joy to work with! Her calm presence was such a gift especially with all the stress and drama that happened on our wedding day. She stayed grounded, kind, an...
d focused, capturing everything in her beautiful, candid documentary style. Mariana is bilingual, incredibly friendly, and made everyone feel at ease. Her team is professional, respectful, and clearly knows their craft. If you want genuine moments captured with the heart, Mariana is the one!
Gabriella M
5.0
2/18/2025
Mariana and her team went above and beyond to make our wedding day the most memorable day of our lives! The care, compassion and thoughtfulness of this team is beyond compare. We h...
ad our first look scoped out for the perfect background and spent time getting the absolute best shots. We recently designed our wedding book and couldn't believe how incredible all of the photos were. Mariana really told a story of our wedding day through her images and video. We are beyond grateful to her and her team! Thank you so, so much.
Alex C
5.0
10/31/2024
Mariana took pictures for our engagement shoot in Central Park, and we couldn't be happier! She guided us through different poses and made us feel comfortable throughout the sessio...
n. The finished photos were edited really well. She's down-to-earth and great to work with. We will be using her services for our wedding next year, and we highly recommend!
Kasey M
5.0
10/23/2024
We love Mariana and her photography work! She did an amazing job keeping things light and fun on our wedding day and at our welcome party. She got so many beautiful shots and was a...
joy to work with. She even overdelivered on her gallery timing and expectations. Highly recommend!
Dragon Y
5.0
10/19/2024
Mariana is amazing! When we reached out to her, she responded very quickly and provided us with all the information we needed. During the actual shoot, she brought us to many diff...
erent areas in Central Park so we could have a variety of pictures to choose from. We also really appreciated her teaching us how to pose and what positions to take since it was our first time. Most importantly, Mariana made us feel very comfortable posing for pictures and we had a great time!
Gustavo M
5.0
10/16/2024
Choosing Mariana for our special day was one of the best decisions we made! Mariana and her team were absolutely amazing kind, polite, and incredibly talented. They were profession...
al from start to finish, capturing every special moment with such artistry and attention to detail. The photos and video came out absolutely stunning, and we couldn’t be happier with how they captured our day. We’re so grateful for these beautiful memories and highly recommend Mariana for anyone looking for a wedding photographer!
Melissa C
5.0
7/07/2024
We couldn't be more thrilled with the exceptional work of our wedding photographer, Mariana. From the very beginning, she made us feel completely heard and understood, meticulously...
checking off every box on our wish list. We were clear that we didn't want traditional, posed photos but instead sought to capture genuine, "in the moment" memories. Mariana not only embraced this vision but exceeded all our expectations.
She went above and beyond to capture the precious moments of our special day. Our gallery is filled with beautiful images of our friends, family, and loved ones having a fantastic time and sharing in our joy. The candid shots are stunning and perfectly reflect the emotions and atmosphere of the day.
Moreover, Mariana's efficiency was impressive. We received our full gallery in less than a month, allowing us to relive our wedding day so soon after it happened. We are absolutely in love with the photos and highly recommend Mariana and her team to anyone seeking a talented, attentive, and professional wedding photographer.
Genna L
5.0
6/04/2024
Mariana was such a pleasure to work with! My husband and I did an engagement shoot with her and then decided to have her shoot our wedding as well. We had an intimate ceremony and ...
dinner style “reception” this April (2024). She made us feel very comfortable and we loved the photos she took! I can’t wait to work with Mariana again in the future for major life events :)
Carla A
5.0
5/27/2024
My husband and I were delighted to have Mariana as our photographer for our wedding. She was very professional, organized, very kind and flexible. She made us feel very comfortable...
when taking pictures and guided us with patience, making the process as seamless as possible. She sent us our pictures on time and they are beautiful! Our friends and family loved her work as well. We would highly recommend Mariana for your special day!
Muchas gracias Mariana! :)
Cayden H
5.0
5/03/2024
My Fiancé and I recently took engagement photos in Central Park with Mariana, and we absolutely LOVE them! Mariana did such an amazing job! She really did a whole lot with our sess...
ion and she was great at directing us for poses and prompts. She made us feel comfortable and confident. Her style of photography is so elegant and romantic. Her edits only enhanced the photos! The quality is amazing! I highly recommend taking photos with Mariana!
Jannet M
5.0
4/16/2024
Professional, kind, accommodating, all the best words to describe Mariana! She is the sweetest photographer and the best NYC has to offer. Truly will recommend her to everyone and ...
anyone!
Yan N
5.0
1/23/2024
As most couples we were nervous to choose our photographer, but as soon as we first spoke to Mariana, we knew we would be in great hands. She was very easy to communicate with, and...
really understood our vision for our photos. We were in love with the photos we received, and it was like we got to relive our wedding day. Mariana knew many areas in the neighborhood where we could pose and get some candid photos. She was constantly looking for the right shot, but was able to stay hidden and in the background. She even took some discreet photos in the church despite being restricted in doing so. Mariana was extremely friendly and personal with us and made our day even more special than it was. Don't hesitate to book Mariana for your wedding, she's the best !
Ashley S
5.0
12/15/2023
We could not recommend Mariana’s services more! She is an absolutely amazing photographer and most importantly such a kind person who is so easy to work with. We met Mariana for th...
e first time when she photographed our proposal and then chose to work with her again for our save the dates, rehearsal dinner, and wedding. Her candid, artistic style is unmatched and we are so happy with the photos from all of these occasions.
When choosing a wedding photographer, there is so much worry around picking the right person to capture these forever photos. If you want someone who not only has tremendous talent and skill but also makes you feel so comfortable to show your authentic love - then Mariana is the person for you!
Mariana is professional, communicative, and flexible. We could not be more more happy with our photos and hope to work with Mariana for more big life events in the future!
Kaila W
5.0
11/17/2023
Mariana & her team are truly the best. Super responsive and fair pricing.
Tatiana showed up early for our micro-wedding and was super helpful throughout the event and captured so ...
many perfect moments. Our gallery was delivered within the disclosed timeframe, which was appreciated and worth the wait!
Genna D
5.0
11/08/2023
Mariana was great to work with. She was able to guide us and made us comfortable the entire photo shoot. We booked an engagement shoot and were so nervous about the poses but with ...
Mariana we were in great hands! I would highly recommend her. She is very professional, friendly, and the shoot turned out great :)
Daniel F
5.0
11/01/2023
Mariana is an amazing photographer with a unique style. She made us feel really comfortable during the whole process of shooting our engagement pictures. Her editing and compositio...
nal choices are really unmatched! Her communication and professionalism was fantastic. Hire her!!!
Jason B
5.0
10/16/2023
Mariana was extremely helpful with planning and executing my surprise proposal. She was very detailed and thoughtful, making sure my fiancé and I felt very comfortable throughout t...
he photo shoot. She gave me advice on certain areas I suggested and was able to walk the site beforehand to make sure the background would fit my needs. I highly recommend anyone looking for a proposal photographer to hire Mariana!
Leah M
5.0
10/02/2023
Mariana is fantastic to work with - her photos are stunning and captured exactly what we asked. She listened, guided us with ease, and captured our event with memories for a lifet...
ime!
Lauren B
5.0
9/28/2023
I was lucky enough to have Mariana and her team by our side on our wedding day. We had a small wedding so we really wanted our photos to feel as intimate and special as it was. We ...
were so pleased with how beautifully candid and intimate our photos came out. They were punctual, creative and we couldn't have asked for more. We enjoyed their company on our wedding night. Thank you so much!
Sara D
5.0
8/14/2023
Mariana was wonderful to work with! Enthusiastic, prompt and creative, she captured our micro church wedding beautifully, working through a small space constraint and timing constr...
aints to produce beautiful memories of our day. Would absolutely recommend working with her! Thank you Mariana!
Awesta Z
5.0
7/11/2023
Mariana was wonderful to work with! We reached out to her on short notice and luckily she was able to accommodate us, as well as talk before the big day to make sure everything ran...
smoothly. I think she captured the Autumn vibe of our ceremony so perfectly. Thank you Mariana!
Alma H
5.0
6/18/2023
After Mariana took photos for my best friends engagement in 2022, when the time came for myself to get married and have a Central Park ceremony, I knew exactly who to get. Mariana ...
is an expert in capturing the special moments, both expected and unexpected. She captured the beauty of our relationship and stayed true to the classic feel we were looking for. Her photos hit the nail on the head of being both modern and timeless. She effortlessly led us through a variety of fun poses and prompts to get a wide variety of playful, fun-loving, sensual and romantic photos.
Mariana is also an expert on working on the fly, navigating a venue like Central Park like it's her own backyard. On the way to meet my partner for our First Look moment, she shot me a text to let me know where to meet us near Gapstow Bridge because foot traffic increased and she instead found the most beautiful nook for us. She graciously worked with various park-goers to get us the best photo spots, and then later quietly moved throughout our ceremony space to get those in-the-moment moments that we'll treasure for our whole life.
The work speaks for itself, but the person behind the camera is even lovelier!
Jocelyn C
5.0
6/08/2023
Mariana was so great to work with. Not only is her work amazing she is also a pleasure to work with. Her aesthetic and thoughtfulness about each photo is amazing. She made taking p...
ictures enjoyable and painless. She will deliver a gallery that is reflective of your whole day, and each shot was even more beautiful than I could have imagined! My only regret is that I should have booked her for more time!
Efren R
5.0
1/18/2023
Mariana made our wedding day so special. She was a delight to work with well organized, friendly and highly responsive. Her second photographer was super kind as well. On top of ev...
erything, Mariana’s personality while working made it possible for us to act natural in front of the camera. There isn’t a single picture we don’t LOVE. Highly recommended!!
Isabella L
5.0
11/29/2022
Mariana is a fantastic photographer and so wonderful to work with, every step of the way. She's incredibly easygoing as well as professional and experienced, particularly with wedd...
ing photography. It was very easy to communicate with her before the wedding. On the day of, it was like we had known each other a while because we felt so comfortable around her! She has an amazing eye and takes sensitive, beautiful photos. We loved the pictures we posed for AND the candid shots she got! Mariana sent us a well-curated, extensive gallery of photographs in very little time, all of them high resolution and easily downloadable. We truly can't believe how lucky we are that we got to work with her! She made our day feel extra special and we are so grateful that she was a part of it. We HIGHLY recommend hiring Mariana for any event but especially for a wedding!!!
Rosa F
5.0
10/22/2022
Mariana is a spectacular photographer! She made our wedding day so special and comfortable. She was a real pleasure to work with, organized, attentive, caring, and a real pro. Our ...
photos are stunning and we hope to use her services again and again!
Alexander W
5.0
9/09/2022
We love our wedding photos from Mariana! They came out perfect, variety of different angles and options to post for social media. She was very responsive and professional throughou...
t the process leading up to the big weekend. Would highly recommend! Another friend of ours decided to go with Mariana for their wedding too
Thomas Z
5.0
4/15/2022
Mariana was an absolute pleasure to work with. She took some amazing photos of my wedding and was able to capture all the moments I never want to forget. I highly recommend her to ...
anyone, especially for weddings! Turn around time was quick as well which is a plus somehow you manage quality, quantity, and time!!! How is that even possible!
JUAN A
5.0
3/15/2022
I want to thank you immensely from our part. The photos are AMAZING, we still can't believe how beautiful they are.
It has been a wonderful experience to be able to have your help...
on this special day for us. Thanks to these beautiful photos we will always have a precious memory of this special day in our lives. Thank you for helping to make everything Perfect.
Suzana E
5.0
1/08/2022
Mariana was wonderful to work with! She is warm and friendly and her calm demeanor immediately put us in a good mood and headspace for our photoshoot. She turned an experience that...
can be a little daunting (for people that are not used to posing for hundreds of photos) very relaxed and fun, and that came through our pictures in such a lovely way. She has a great eye which allows for beautiful, unique photos and she gives tons of direction to ensure you are not standing awkward or slouchy. Our photos came out better than I dreamed of, and I know it would not have been the same with someone else. She's the best!!
Zel R
5.0
12/16/2021
Mariana is heaven sent for me and my partner. She is very accommodating and prompt in her reply to our queries. She managed to squeeze us on a last minutes booking too.
When we req...
uested to have a video chat to discuss on our plans, we immediately clicked, it is as if we’ve been friends for a long time. She made us feel very comfortable during our wedding shoot and made sure that we were having fun as well.
She captured our pure emotions that day. After showing the pictures to some friends, they were all praises! All the raw emotions clearly shows on the photos.
If you want someone to capture your special moments or just have a fun shoot, I highly recommend her, you’ll just not have a photographer but will definitely earn a friend too!!!
Tej G
5.0
12/14/2021
Great photographer to work with. Mariana was energetic, engaging, and a lot of fun! We love our pictures! Would highly recommend Her to family and friends.
Barrie H
5.0
12/06/2021
Mariana was so lovely to work with for our engagement shoot! She was communicative, kind, funny, and made us feel very comfortable the entire shoot. I highly recommend her!!!
Thomas B
5.0
11/23/2021
Mariana is the best! Great service from start to finish in what was a life changing moment for me and my partner and a pleasure that Mariana was part of it! Highly recommended!
Trixie B
5.0
11/10/2021
Mariana is an awesome photographer! Very easy to work with and her aesthetic is gorgeous :)
Sanskriti J
5.0
11/01/2021
We actually had the honors for getting a family photography done by her. We just had a baby boy and these photosession meant a great deal emotionally to us. She was as loving as sh...
e could be to our baby and gave us the most beautiful shots of me and my husband and our family pictures. She’s the most patient, creative and sweet photographer you’ll ever meet.
Jaspreet B
5.0
10/12/2021
I am so glad that I stumbled across Mariana’s Photography. I contacted her two days before I wanted my Photoshoot, and she squeezed me in her schedule. On the day of the Photoshoot...
, she never rushed us when taking the photos. She was patient, funny, energetic, and engaging. I can’t say enough about how professional she is and the quality of work that she provides. I was so pleased with my session and final photographs, that I will continue to use her in the future!
Andie M
5.0
10/05/2021
Mariana Soto Photography made one of the best days of my life last a lifetime.
Mariana is very caring, profesional, she acknowledges every little detail. Mariana ensured my bride ...
and I would love these pictures time after time.
If you’re looking to share one of the most important days with someone who will care as much as you, Mariana Soto is your go to.
Thank you! We’re so happy!!
Emma B
5.0
9/27/2021
We LOVED Mariana! We had an engagement photo shoot planned with a friend who's a photographer, and as soon as we landed (we flew into NYC for the shoot) my friend told me he had a...
fever and couldn't do it. We were able to get Mariana day of (which is insane!), and she was SO nice and patient. We got stuck in traffic too, and she used the time to scope out the area and figure out the shots to get, really just such a professional.
During the shoot itself she coached us really well, made us feel comfortable and caught our goofy moments. She edited them in less than 24 hours (also insane) and we woke up the next day with GORGEOUS pictures. Even our photographer friend said "wow she did much better than I would have". Just book Mariana, she is not only a warm, kind person but an absolute master of her craft!
Stphany S
5.0
9/27/2021
Mariana was a dream at helping with a last second engagement shoot booking. Cordial, flexible and the upmost professional. The pictures were gorgeous and we were more than impresse...
d with her talent and quick turn around. Absolutely recommend!
Shriya P
5.0
9/22/2021
Working with Mariana was such a pleasure. She helped us pick a great time and spot for the surprise proposal! She was also very punctual and captured the best moments of the engage...
ment.
I absolutely loved all the pictures she took and I'm glad I made a great friend!!
Thank you so much for everything ❤️
Nidhi S
5.0
9/22/2021
Mariana took photos for my best friend’s proposal! She arrived early and helped me setup for their proposal. She was highly invested and very easy to communicate to! Her photos wer...
e wonderful and she delivered them promptly! I highly recommend her for couple photos!
Michael C
5.0
9/14/2021
Mariana is one of the unique talents in the world that you so rarely get a chance to work with. She is both professional and fun and willing to go above and beyond to making that s...
pecial moment in your life that much more memorable. Her creative energy is the true source behind her talent and we can't wait to work with her again.
Maria O
5.0
9/10/2021
I just really love to have her on the day of my proposal!! She really make us feel comfortable and we couldn’t be more happy for the result! The perfect accomplice for the perfect ...
day! I don’t know how she does to capture the feeling and who you really are in the pictures and that’s what I love the most. Thank you so much! I can wait to have you on our wedding day 💕
