Martha Swann Photography

ith us the entire time and was so helpful and thoughtful along the way. We really enjoyed our engagement shoot and the photos were beautiful! But honestly, the best part of our experience with Martha was our wedding day and the results. She was amazing the day of - so helpful, fun, and charismatic. We are so glad she was there with us! All of our bridal party and guests who interacted with her loved her as well - she is so personable. I was grateful for the direction she gave us and her ability to lead us/keep us on task throughout the day, and the way she gracefully navigated our divorced family awkward situations. She delivered our photos so quickly and we were absolutely floored at how beautifully she captured the day. We are genuinely obsessed with all of the photos - I seriously cannot stop looking at them. Her editing style is so timeless and gorgeous and we know we will be loving these photos forever. She captured so many little, meaningful moments and I am so grateful for that. I can't express how happy we are that we chose Martha to photograph our wedding!

ed by a large, multicultural celebration in June 2019. Martha caught it all wonderfully, including our second wedding complete with multiple outfit changes. She captured the spirit of us as a couple, the intricate details of our Hindu ceremony, and the energy of our families and friends who traveled countries and oceans to celebrate our union. Our wedding photos play on repeat on our Google home display in our kitchen -- we can't get enough of them 3+ years later. tldr; hire Martha as your wedding photographer, it's the best and easiest vendor decision you could make!

Martha is the absolute sweetest person, she was so easy to work with and made the entire process so easy and fun. She made sure we got everything we wanted out of our pictures, even if that meant climbing a mountain for our engagement session, and we couldn’t be happier!

era. She kept our large bridal party in check for photos and managed to wrangle all of our guests for a group photo. Our photos are absolutely beautiful and I can't recommend her enough!

photographer to document these special occasions could not have been any easier. She is thoughtful, kind, patient, and just genuinely fun to be around. These aspects of her personality lend themselves so well to the very challenging task of bringing her subjects out of their shells to show their love for one another, and their excitement for the moment being captured. When combined with her natural talent for taking beautiful photos, all of these qualities come together to create memories that are so unforgettable and unique. I cherish the photos Martha has created for my family and would highly recommend anyone to use her for their special day!

ntastic while taking us through our engagement photos (and the first time for both us in front of a camera together) all the way through to the wedding. She was extremely flexible (working to meet up with us in Brooklyn while she was also there to meet with friends), very communicative, and always prepared. To top it off she is incredibly talented and a genuinely wonderful person. Shockingly, the output of our wedding photos were even beyond what we were prepared for. We've found ourselves consistently going back to reflect on them and just feel so grateful that Martha was there to capture it in the detail that she did. We were initially worried about 1 photographer being enough, but Martha really kicked butt. There is no hesitation that we would pick Martha again. Best money we have ever spent given how long these memories will last us. P.S. - Martha, so sorry for the delayed review! Thank you for everything!

he snow with us to capture how beautiful a winter wedding in the mountains can be. Martha was a trooper and had all 8 bridesmaids, groomsmen, and even our dog laughing the entire time. We forgot how cold we were and she keep everything on schedule and running smoothly the entire day. It was so important for us to find someone who would balance pictures of people with our surroundings, since we got married in a place that's really meaningful to us. When we got the photos back, we realized Martha just how much attention to detail Martha paid the entire night. She captured a completely candlelit cocktail hour and dinner with stunning clarity, without super bright flashes that made the night look different than they were in person. Looking at our album is like reading the story of the whole night- her photos captured everything so perfectly. I can't recommend working with Martha enough.

a great job of helping to give me options when I had no vision. The actual wedding day went so smoothly thanks to Martha’s direction and her ability make us laugh so that she could actually photograph my husband’s natural smile (to be clear this is not an easy task)!! We felt so comfortable and Martha was completely open/flexible when I asked for a break from pictures or a new location for our first look. Most importantly the pictures turned out absolutely amazing and I would choose her a million times over!

nce on our wedding day. The photographs are stunning and we couldn't be happier with her work. On top of that, she is friendly, professional, unflappable, extremely well-organized, and thoughtful. A++++!

and small, from our wedding day, we couldn't be more grateful to have worked with such a warm, wonderful, and humorous photographer! She's quick to respond to emails and phone calls, thinks of a million details leading up to and throughout the day so that you don't have to, and has an incredible eye for when the lighting hits just right for that perfect shot. Martha clearly cares so much about each and every one of her couples - working with her on your wedding day doesn't feel like having a stranger following you around, but rather an old friend who knows just how to capture the day as it is to preserve the perfect and beautiful memories for years to come. Martha was attentive and professional and so compassionate - making sure that we got every combination of group shot we could want, ensuring that we were comfortable and well-hydrated, and keeping spirits high even on the hot and humid day that was our wedding date. Martha was so wonderful at collaborating with our videographer and between the two of them, I'm pretty sure that every possible angle of our day was covered - which we are so so grateful to have. While we wanted to make sure that we had photos and film from the day, we didn't want to spend too much time missing out on our own cocktail hour and preferred to spend our reception talking, eating, and dancing with our friends and families. Martha was so wonderful at striking that balance, checking in with us on timing, making sure that we got some of those absolutely stunning once in a lifetime shots during golden hour and sunset, without taking more than a couple minutes here and there from our reception time. We highly recommend working with M artha for engagement shoots and wedding day photography; we had so many members of our wedding party and families ask where we found such a warm, funny, and engaging photographer - even though they had only known her a few hours, they fell in love with her as much as we did over the past year!

to manage (herd) large groups of people for photographs in a way that looked easy. She is also so personable. It felt like we had known her for years. She made us feel comfortable all day and made the hours we spent together so much fun. She took time to get to know us and the elements of our wedding that were important to us. She captured every single one of those little things and the pictures are beautiful. Every time we look at our pictures re-live our day all over again. The pictures we have received are more beautiful than we can imagine. We can't say enough good things about her! We will definitely use her for any future photography needs!

es out of pockets and purses off of shoulders (sorry you had to hold all those Jesse!) just to make sure the photographs she took captured the day in a way we will never forget. She never made anyone feel awkward about it either! From meeting me right at the start of the morning and asking, "Hi beautiful! OK so just tell me what YOU want!" and making sure that she did all in her power to get us to cocktail hour, BEFORE it started, Martha (and her PIC Jesse) were so much more than we could have asked for. But what would you expect from someone who is so loving, outgoing, generous and oh did I mention amazing at making everyone feel comfortable and capturing all the moments that allowed us to share our contagious love throughout the day?! Martha showed up at the perfect time as we were just finishing getting ready in the morning in our rooms. She was able to capture some amazing moments of our Grandmother and Great Aunt who were able to help me get dressed and then quickly made her way to the church where she snuck in some photos of the groomsmen before the ceremony. Throughout the ceremony she caught so many beautiful moments, and even dealt with my "running out of the church in excitement" and still managed to get some amazing pictures. She made her way right behind us to a beautiful spot on the lake and just let us be us! She was all business and kept the photos rolling, just to ensure my only request of "making it to cocktail hour" was met, but the pictures she was able to capture for us looking nothing but rushed. She followed us, yet again, back to the Lodge where the reception was held and took us down to the water for some more, amazing, photos. This was actually probably my favorite time of the day. It was time for just the two of us to have a few moments alone, and that's exactly how it felt, even though Martha was there photographing us the whole time. The entire day felt like an eternity, living in each moment as long as we could. Having Martha there, and her amazing husband Jesse to help out, was the icing on our cake. She was able to capture each moment, as we remember it (and some we don't remember!) which is more than we could have asked for. Not once did we feel like we were being "watched", and not once did we feel like we were being photographed or posed in ways that weren't natural to us. I mean it, she even caught probably the best picture of our dog, which is hard to do because we're not sure who has the shorter attention span, us or Lady! Martha- we can't thank you enough, and can't say how much you mean to us. Each person that has come into our lives has made an impact on us and you AND Jesse (by the way, we got him without even knowing it, so bonus for us!) have made an impact that us, our friends and family will never forget. Thank you- thank you- thank you. Seriously, if anyone has any reservations about a photographer trying to capture the moments that you want to remember forever, throw them out the window if you're speaking with Martha. She is not only able to capture those true "in the moment" photographs, but she is an amazing person who you will want around you on your wedding day, and more. Thank you Martha- and we'll see you when you visit us in Brooklyn soon. All our LOVE- Maggie and Johnny.

ly, and warm - even our first phone call felt like a conversation between old friends. Any question I had throughout the months leading up to our wedding were addressed almost immediately. The day of our wedding, Martha was incredibly helpful (in addition to being an incredible photographer) from tips for our officiant to safety pins for a handful of wardrobe malfunctions. It was such a gift to have Martha as our photographer to document our special day - her photos are both flawless and natural. I know I speak for my husband and both of our families when I say that hiring Martha is a decision we would make again and again. She captured our love in the most magical, stunning photographs in addition to depicting us truly as we are. Sincerely can’t recommend her highly enough!

rtistry when we looked through her galleries online. Working with her was a dream- we were planning our wedding long distance, and she set up phone dates to get to know us and our style. In person (and on the phone), she is absolutely delightful. She seamlessly weaved through our wedding ceremony and reception capturing gorgeous moments, scenery and sweet candids. She has amazing attention to detail, making sure the men’s jackets were straight and all family members could be seen well in group photos. Our family and friends made a point to tell us how much they loved her! And the finished product- even better than we could have imagined! We were beyond thrilled with all the photographs and memories she captured. We were conscious of the cost for all of our vendors, and we can say without a doubt that investing in photography was absolutely the right choice. We can’t recommend Martha highly enough! Book her if you’re lucky enough to have a date when she’s free!!

tive, and easy to work with. Having her follow us around for 6+ hours was a dream, I can't imagine a better a person to have around on such a crazy day. Not only was working with her day of great, the photos themselves were unbelievably perfect. My husband and I couldn't believe the kind of magic she captured. You won't regret working with Martha, she is incredibly professional and experienced. Your wedding could not be in more competent hands!

ing planning process, Martha went above and beyond. She would consistently check in to see how planning was going and to inquire about wedding details. On the wedding day, Martha made sure everything ran smoothy and kept everyone on schedule, which I greatly appreciated and made my day stress-free. This was above and beyond. In addition to this, she would check in with me frequently to see if I needed anything (water, food, a break). She is thoughtful and sincere, and makes you feel like the most beautiful and special bride. And the pictures...WOW!! They are gorgeous and perfect. I was nervous about how I would look in pictures (I'm camera shy), but Martha made the experience anxiety-free and it shows in how natural, beautiful the pictures are.

She makes you feel comfortable from the moment you meet her and you just want to be around her! I knew she had our best interest at heart throughout the entire process! When it came time to take our engagement photos, Martha traveled all the way to NYC! She came to our apt before to discuss the entire shoot and walked us through everything! We took the pictures in central park and the photos are absolutely breathtaking. The way she captures the light and scenery is unlike any other photographer I've seen before! The pictures came so quick as well! She made sure we saw sneak peeks of everything! We had multiple calls after our engagement photos to make sure I liked everything and to start planning for the wedding. Martha was so organized and made sure she had a timeline and all pictures planned out that we wanted to get. She had a checklist for me and had so many helpful tips for the big day. At the actual wedding I received so many compliments about how nice and welcoming Martha was. She was so easy to be around and she felt like a member of our bridal party by the end! She was calm, cool and collected the entire night and had the best ideas for all the pictures. We had a winter wedding and we were able to take the most beautiful pictures in the snow. Again the light is amazing and I was so happy with the way everything came out. Do not have any hesitation about choosing Martha for your big day, it will be the best wedding decision you make!

eck-ins and questionnaires were very helpful in keeping us on track with the wedding planning process, she was extremely responsive when we had questions, and I always felt assured that she was on top of everything. As an added bonus, she has a great personality and put us at ease and kept us laughing throughout the process! We could not have asked for a better photographer. Our wedding photos are stunning and made great gifts this past Christmas!

e of my family members from Syracuse were not able to make the trip. So I asked Martha if she would be willing to do a portrait session where we all got dressed back up in our wedding attire and recreate a bit of the day so that I could have wedding photos with my family members who weren’t able to be there. She was so kind and supportive and encouraging that I didn’t feel the least bit awkward about being out in public in my wedding gown on a day that I wasn’t actually getting married. Not only was it such a joy to meet and spend some time with Martha (who is a beautiful person inside and out) but the photos turned out absolutely stunning. I would recommend Martha to anyone looking for a photographer!

nd joked with us like old pals. Her photography is beautiful and unique- couldn't be happier.

a joy from start to finish! Very flexible and clearly loves what she does. Would recommend her 100%.

nd family not only on the images we received, but how they noticed Martha's calm, cool & collected attitude...while she was seemingly everywhere she had a low profile. I am impressed by her dedication, her eye for detail & lighting. Martha was the last thing we had to worry about on our wedding day, we totally trusted her to do her thing and take charge, and that she did! She exceeded our expectations. THANK YOU! - Sarah & Greg

l beyond her years. She was an absolute joy to get to know and work with. She delivered beautiful engagement photos and worked with us to iron our every detail we were looking for on our wedding day. She truly goes above and beyond just a "photographer." She made me laugh and kept an order about the day, all with a huge smile on her face and a kindness that is so genuine. Our sneak from our wedding day looks beautiful - we are anxiously awaiting to see the rest of her beautiful work!

professional. We got some adorable shots under an umbrella. She has a great eye, and her shots were magazine quality. She took some really beautiful shots of my dress and jewelry. The portraits were lovely, too. She's a great coach, so we didn't look too stiff or posed.

Even though we booked far in advance (roughly 1.5 years prior to the big day), Martha continually checked in, helping us create timelines, sorting out the theme and feel for the day, and generally being a wonderful cheerleader. She was exactly what I wanted in a photographer for the day. She fit in beautifully with my family and friends, taking beautiful shots while having fun with us while we got ready and throughout the wedding itself. Martha has a unique and beautiful style, capturing natural scenery and natural moments between the couple. While we only have our "sneak peak" so far, I can't wait to see the rest of her pictures. The value for her services is truly incredible and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking in the Syracuse area!

knew what we wanted, she was happy to oblige; when we didn't, she had amazing suggestions that rounded out our wedding photo package beautifully. Making sure to capture every moment, she was both the first and the last person we saw on our wedding day, working tirelessly in between. The result was a photo spread that captured our wedding - and us - perfectly. Thank you Martha!

picked her as our wedding photographer! She was always very quick to get back to me when I had questions (very important during the stress of wedding planning!) and she worked miracles by somehow making my husband have fun while taking his picture, which he's normally not a fan of. Martha and her assistant Erin were so organized and a blast to work with on my actual wedding day and I couldn't have picked a better team! I haven't gotten back all of our wedding photos yet but the photos I've seen so far are gorgeous! I highly recommend Martha Swann Photography for your wedding or other special events!!! You will not regret it!!!!! =)

not charge us double. We were pleasantly surprised when we first met Martha and she said that we could work together to spread her "unlimited day of" over two days with fixed start and stop times, so it only ended up being a few hundred more than her regular price. Even better than the cost are the pictures themselves--they are amazing! Martha really listened to what we were saying and made sure to catch the special details and bright colors of our happy days. I just love these pictures, and working with her was a breeze! Another great thing is Martha's attitude towards taking photos--she was never in the way, and I had both friends and family ask if she was a friend we hired, because she fit right in and didn't infringe on anyone while snapping her fantastic candids. Compared to photographers I have seen at friends' weddings, Martha was far better with her "day of" manner than I had expected. It took a little long to get our photos--10 weeks after the wedding before our online galleries were available to view--but Martha was clear about her timeline and came through on her promised date, so I have no complaint. Just know that the turn-around time, especially at the height of wedding season, will be a bit long and that it is DEFINITELY worth the wait. We would hire Martha again without hesitation, and recommend that you do too!

earth and friendly! The final product was more beautiful pictures than I could imagine! The hardest part was simply having to pick our favorite photo to use for the save the date cards! In addition, as a bride in a long distance engagement, I must comment on Martha's extraordinary ability to capture those little moments of true love and happiness. Looking at my engagement pictures while I am apart from my groom reminds me of the lifetime of happiness that awaits!

). She got us our digital images fairly quickly (8 weeks I think) and we love them! I'd recommend her to anyone getting married in the area. She really was a pleasure to work with.

nd add a personal touch every step of the way. Her work speaks for itself; she finds beauty in everything, and looking at her photos will bring you right back to the emotion of your wedding day. It might seem too easy to just give 5 stars across the board, but I've been consistently impressed with her professionalism and warmth, and with the all around quality of her product. She's the best!

ented photographer. When Martha shoots a wedding, not only does she deliver thoughtful documentation of the day, she delivers beautiful pieces of art starring you and your husband! Not only can I re-live the day through her photos in an album, I cannot wait to hang them on my walls. She captures classically romantic close-ups and details you'll want in your bedroom forever, as well as gorgeously scenic, wide-shot portraits you'll be displaying as art pieces in every other room of the house. I have a passion for photography myself, but always prefer being BEHIND the camera. I really freeze up and get awkward when photographed. But, from our very first e-mail exchange, I felt so comfortable with Martha! By the wedding day, I felt like we were old-time girlfriends, and the photo's show it! Every image looks sincere instead of staged, natural instead of posed, and all the while, so so flattering! All in all, I recommend Martha whole heartedly! She is truly exceptional!

wedding. She makes sure to meet with you and ask your opinions about everything! 2. She is extremely professional and make sure she grabs every important shot of your entire day. 3. Martha is genuinely excited about you, wants to get to know you, your groom, your style, and what you want. 4. She signs her emails with XOXO, how can you not love that? 5. She is VERY organized and will always keep you on task for your special day. 6. For those out of towners, she skypes! 7. Martha takes your wedding concept and adds special touches to it. She will look around the venue and pull decor she think would add to the photos and incorporate them into your look. 8. She will probably send you a Xmas card, since you're now best friends. 9. She's a blast to hang out with when getting ready. Hair, makeup, chatting and of course snapping photos. 10. By the end of the night, I wanted her to stay and be an actual guest :). 11. Yup, an 11, just hire her. You can't go wrong.

rtha was always available for calls and emails in the months leading up to the wedding. She was flexible and rolled with the surprises on wedding day. After, she was very quick to provide a few photos for family abroad. The photos are brilliant! She did candid and posed shots that look modern and are just what we hoped for. I would highly recommend her services!

endly and after meeting her I knew I'd feel comfortable having her following me around on one of the most important days of my life. She did not disappoint! I would recommend her to anyone.

once I talked to Martha on the phone I knew that I wouldn't have to worry about anything. She was totally understanding of our requests and preferences while still offering tips and advice so she was able to do her job well. On the day of the wedding, Martha and her assistant arrived a few hours before the ceremony and immediately fit right in. In a small space they chatted and snapped away seamlessly. Martha even enjoyed my sisters taste in a pre-wedding playlist :) Throughout the night Martha was perfect. My husband and I didn't do a "first look" so we wanted to do photos right after the ceremony. Of course immediately following we tried to ditch our plan and say hi to all our family and friends and start celebrating. Thankfully, Martha (very sweetly) kept us on track and made sure we got some incredible photos during daylight. Plus, she managed to capture those first few euphoric moments of being husband and wife. The reception was a blast and Martha captured that perfectly too. The photos as a whole are incredible. I had looked at many wedding photographers websites and was definitely drawn to Martha's but had no idea just how happy I would be with our photos. From the intimate moments immediately following the ceremony to outrageous dance moves at the reception every shot immediately brings back a memory. Plus, she captured all those details that a bride thinks of beforehand but can easily slip from memory as the years go on. We have shared, printed out, and framed countless photos and cannot recommend Martha enough.

s. What you won't see when you look at her photos is what a dream she is to work with. First, she is such a sweet soul and I felt completely at ease with her being a part of each moment of our big day. She is an absolute perfectionist which is definitely what you want in a photographer. She conducts her business in a very professional way. She responds quickly to all emails and requests. She arrived on-time or early to all meetings/shoots we schedule. And last, but not least she delivers her photographs very quickly. I absolutely loved working with Martha and I treasure the amazing images she captured! If you choose Martha, you will not be disappointed.

work and artistic ability are stunning. And what a calm presence on such a crazy day! Communication skills pre- and post- wedding are exceptional. Thank you, Martha, for such an incredible wedding photographer experience! xoxox!

easy to work with. When I met Martha, I knew my fears were completely unnecessary. She was incredibly professional and her portfolio work is stunning. I was not at all concerned that my pictures would be anything less than spectacular just looking at her credentials and her beautiful work. On top of that, Martha was incredibly friendly and went above and beyond to meet all of my mother's requests before, during and after my wedding. She is accommodating and incredibly creative. She made sure we got all of the traditional pictures in my church that we wanted. Her attention to detail was really what made her stand out to me. She captured details from our wedding day that I didn't have time to notice, like the expressions on my friends' faces when they saw me with my veil on for the first time and the surprising dance moves of my husband's godfather. She was there for every second of my wedding and reception without me even noticing that she was there. She continually made sure that she was getting all of the pictures that I wanted her to, and she also checked in with my mother to be sure that she was satisfied. I can't say enough how beautiful my pictures are and how extremely happy I am that she was my photographer. She not only impressed me, my husband, and (most importantly, I would add) my mother, she also made a great impression on my family and everyone in our bridal party. I would recommend her to anyone who would like a creative, flexible, kind-hearted photographer who will make sure that you get everything you wanted and will capture those moments that you didn't even realize you wanted to capture. MOST importantly, she is really great with mothers :)