About this vendor
As seen in Vogue, The New York Times, Netflix, South Asian Bride Magazine and Bride and Breakfast.
We are modern wedding and portrait photography team that offer own very own wedding presentation "The Project". A humbling decade in the wedding industry put us on one of the most experienced modern wedding photographers in New York City and the Tri-State area.
We did multiple destination weddings in Asia,Europe and Latin America and have the knowledge and experience with weddings of all cultures.
Details
Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
- Boudoir
- Bridal Portraits
- Day After Session
- Engagement
- Trash The Dress
Photo & Video
- Digital Files
- Online Proofing
- Photo
- Printed Enlargements
- Printed Proofs
- Same-Day Edits
Photo & Video Styles
- Artistic
- Documentary
- Lifestyle
- Modern
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Wedding
- After Party
Awards and Affiliations
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
4.9
out of 5.049 reviews
John was absolutely incredible to work with for our wedding photoshoot. From the moment we met him, he had this calm and friendly energy that instantly made us feel comfortable. My...
wife and I are usually pretty awkward in front of the camera (I’m especially stiff), but he somehow made us feel like naturals. He gave simple directions, cracked jokes, and just knew how to bring out the best in us.
We had no idea where to go for good NYC photo spots, but John knew all the perfect locations. He walked us around to different scenic areas that were super close to each other, so everything felt smooth and relaxed. You can tell he’s incredibly precise and detail-oriented with his camera work — he would take a second to look around, and you could literally see the gears turning as he visualized the perfect shot before even lifting his camera. And it shows in the photos. Every picture came out clean, intentional, and honestly way better than we expected.
He also went above and beyond by taking family photos for us, and those turned out amazing too. The whole experience felt fun, easy, and kind of magical. You can tell he really cares about his craft and about making his clients feel comfortable. If you need a photographer who’s talented, thoughtful, and just great to be around, John is definitely the guy. Highly recommend!
We were so pleased we chose dreamlife photography for our wedding. Their pricing was very fair and we found them professional and responsive throughout the whole process. Our photo...
graphers made us feel very comfortable and gave us lots of tips which we found helpful. We were so happy with our photos, we will find it difficult to choose which ones to use for the album and prints because there are so many lovely pictures.
We had the absolute best experience working with John for our wedding! From start to finish, he was incredibly professional, organized, and attentive to every detail. You can tell ...
right away that he truly cares about his craft. Everything from his communication before the big day to how he handled the timeline and logistics was seamless.
What really stood out was his energy and personality. He knows exactly how to keep the mood fun, lighthearted, and stress-free, which made such a difference on a day that can easily feel overwhelming. He has this great ability to make everyone comfortable in front of the camera, capturing natural, genuine moments while still keeping everything running smoothly.
The photos came out absolutely stunning. His work perfectly captured the love and joy of our day, and we honestly couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out.
If you’re looking for a photographer who is not only top notch in skill but also an absolute pleasure to work with, John is the one. We can’t recommend him highly enough!
John was so amazing! It started raining during our pictures and John's energy and attitude truly helped me embrace the rain. John was so great and knew exactly what pictures we wan...
ted and candid moments we wanted saved.
Needed last minute photos for my City Hall wedding and John was able to accommodate. Super friendly, professional, and great to work with. I’m pretty awkward with taking photos so ...
appreciated being given direction on how to pose and where to look! Turnaround time for the photos were pretty quick, too. Highly recommend and would use again!!
We had the best time working with the talented John! 📸
From start to finish, the studio shoot was such a smooth and fun experience. He's super kind, flexible and made us feel ext...
ra comfortable in front of the camera. His eye for direction is amazing — he knew exactly how to bring out the best in every shot.
Communication was effortless, the vibe was positive, and the final photos? ✨ ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS ✨
Couldn’t be happier with the results! If you’re thinking about booking a shoot — do it. You’re in seriously good hands!
A Groom’s Warning: Do Not Trust Project 8 Media
I never thought I’d have to write a review like this, but if I can save even one couple from experiencing the heartbreak we did, it...
’ll be worth it. Our wedding day—the one day we’ll never get back—was ruined by Project 8 Media, and specifically by John’s bait-and-switch tactics.
We booked John over a year in advance, trusting the glowing reviews and his personal assurances that he would be there to capture our special day. But just one week before the wedding, he emailed us to say he was suddenly “unavailable” due to a “destination wedding.” Spoiler: It wasn’t some international, once-in-a-lifetime event. It was another wedding on the East Coast—not a destination, just a different paying client he prioritized over us. Instead, he sent a replacement photographer, and to say we were blindsided would be an understatement.
This replacement had no idea what he was doing. Our wedding photos—the memories we should cherish forever—are a disaster. Key moments were missed entirely.
Group photos? Botched. Railings and background objects obscure most of our bridal party, and many shots are cut off at the feet.
First look? We were at a botanical garden, but you’d never know—because somehow, there’s not a single flower in our photos.
Family shots? Almost nonexistent. My wife barely has any pictures with her brothers, sisters-in-law, or even my side of the family.
The ceremony? No full bridal party shots. No good pictures of our uncle, who officiated.
My wife’s dress? This one hurts the most. She specifically asked, twice, for a proper shot of her train. The photographer promised he would get it. He didn’t. Now, the dress is ruined, and we will never have that picture.
I cannot put into words how devastating this is. You don’t get a redo on your wedding day. We trusted John, and he abandoned us. His team let us down in every way possible.
And what makes it worse? He knew what he was doing. If he had just been honest from the start, we could have hired someone else—someone professional, someone who actually cared. But instead, he overbooked, took the better gig, and left us scrambling with an inexperienced replacement.
I see so many five-star reviews for Project 8 Media, and it makes me wonder: How many couples had a similar experience but stayed silent, thinking nothing could be done? Well, I won’t stay silent.
If you’re considering Project 8 Media, please think twice. If you still want to take the risk, ask me to show you our pictures first. I’m on Instagram @kristinas_tie_dye—I will gladly share them as proof.
This was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. Instead, we’re left with a painful reminder of broken promises and a once-in-a-lifetime moment stolen from us. Do not make the same mistake.
John is a great photographer! His professionalism, creativity, and ability to make us feel comfortable in front of the camera were truly outstanding. We do not take much photos and...
he made the process amazing. He was very organized and exceeded our expectations!
Thank you, John, for your great work! We were very pleased with your skills, professionalism, and ability to keep it fun and light. Thanks again for working with the weather that d...
ay! We all know it was less than ideal for the occasion.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
John was absolutely incredible as our wedding photographer! His great sense of humor and personable demeanor created such a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, even during the colder...
outdoor photo sessions with our wedding party and family.
Not only were John and his assistant a pleasure to work with, but their professionalism and expertise made us feel completely confident that they were capturing all the perfect moments. I especially appreciated John’s guidance in organizing larger group shots, ensuring everything went smoothly and resulted in some truly amazing photos.
We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer to document our special day!
We did our engagement photo shoot with John at Industry City in Brooklyn and are so happy with our shots. John made us feel comfortable and was very professional - he also was able...
to get our dog to look good in the photos. He showed us photos as we went along and checked in with us, asked for input and was open to suggestions - and had his own ideas too. He took a variety of shots in different locations and positions so we had a great selection to choose from. We are excited to work with him again for our upcoming wedding!
(Price below is entire package including engagement shoot and wedding)
Working with John was great. He was very friendly, very fun, and very conscious of time. He went through our list of pictures we wanted taken very quickly and efficiently and scout...
ed out all the best places to take pictures at the church and venue. At the end of the night before he left he made sure to ask us if there were any last pictures we wanted. He always picked up the phone but wasn't always super responsive to emails. Other than that everything went very smoothly
John is amazing! If you are searching for a true professional who will not only take great shots, but also be there for you with a great a advice, knowledge of the best angles and ...
locations, listens to you and guides to get the best outcome, Project 8 Media and John is the best choice.
John was an absolute pleasure to work with as our wedding photographer! From the start, he was very communicative and walked us through on what to expect, answered any questions we...
had and was very easy to work with, making us feel comfortable the whole time. We highly recommend him for anyone looking for a skilled and personable photographer.
Had such a fantastic experience working with John for our wedding! He is so friendly and considerate to work with and communicates clearly. He did such a great job making sure we f...
elt comfortable while ensuring to get all of the photos we wanted/he needed efficiently! Our wedding photos came out fantastic and we are so thankful! Would highly recommend!
As high school sweethearts, we wanted someone to capture the happiest moments of our lives. Our wedding was in the city, so we also needed someone familiar with the area. John was ...
the perfect photographer for us because he was able to capture the city shots and intimate moments. John was also very professional, organized a run of show for us, and provided great communication before our wedding day and during!
Our photographs exceeded our expectations and the delivery time was quick! We couldn’t recommend John more - the best photographer for your wedding day or events!
Wow wow wow!!! John was our photographer for our wedding this past weekend and we cannot rave more about him!! From the moment he arrived on our wedding day he was nothing short of...
professional, polished, experienced, funny, and an all around gentlemen. We had a situation unconnected to John in which our second photographer did not arrive for our wedding day- John jumped into action and did the work of 2 people without a second of hesitation- he kept the day running smoothly as if no issue had even happened! He immediately makes you feel comfortable in front of the camera and takes the most exquisite shots! You can clearly tell he has significant experience photographing weddings and how to perfectly capture each special moment. We are eagerly awaiting the final photos and know they are going to be stunning!! All the Thank you's in the world to you John for capturing our special day in the most perfect of ways and going so above and beyond!! <3
John captured our engagement and our wedding day perfectly. He is very professional and communicative. He gave us the files so fast and they all turned out beautiful. My husband an...
d I are still in awe about our wedding day and we will be forever grateful/thankful for John capturing the most important day of our lives 💕
John was very professional and courteous. He was kind and adapted to the hectic parts of our wedding day. His instructions were clear and he was able to build a rapport with our fa...
milies. He helped to keep us on schedule. He took great pictures and made us feel comfortable throughout the day. He went above and beyond. Overall, we recommend him because he helped to make our wedding day memorable and captured all the moments of our special day. Thank you!
John was great to work with! Very knowledgeable in the wedding industry. He knew exactly what to do to keep the night moving, was able to compose different shots, and make the best...
use of the time we had away from our guests.
We had the pleasure of having John as our wedding photographer this weekend and we couldn’t be happier with his service! John was attentive and creative, perfectly capturing our vi...
sion and making sure to include all of our guests in our photos. He made the transitions between our first look, family photos and reception photos seamless. John was fun and engaging, making the experience working with him even more special. We are so thankful for his services on our wedding day and would highly recommend him!
Really fun and easy to work with. Took our ideas and added his touch which made the the pictures come out even better than we expected
John was absolutely amazing. From his attention to detail, his calm presence, and his wonderful attitude we could not have asked for a better photographer. For two people who dread...
getting their pictures taken, we cannot wait to see our photos from him. He was patient, captured every moment, and helped create a wonderful vibe for our day. From the phone conference to our special day, we enjoyed working with John.
John was the best photographer. He was knowledgeable and fun and made us feel instantly comfortable. He was also patient and understanding when we fell a little behind schedule. Jo...
hn made sure we got all of the classic shots and we also welcomed his creative freedom to get some truly beautiful and unique shots. John and his YTM teammates made our day so special and we’d recommend to anyone!
Project8Media (John M.) is the absolute best! He is so accommodating and an absolute pleasure to work with. We had a very tight schedule (since our time got pushed back because it ...
rain on our wedding day! 05.20.23 lol) and did not have as much time as we would have liked for photos but John still managed to capture amazingly creative pictures that make us feel as though we are right back on that day. He is professional, courteous, and his photographs are stunning. We never thought that we would have pictures as beautiful as we do but we are so thankful for the work that he did.
To add: John has this creative visions that is rare in the industry. We cannot recommend him enough! If we could have add more stars here, we would.
Lastly, on a personal note, we thank you, John, for treating us like family.
All the best,
MKC.
Working with Project 8 Media has been a fantastic experience! The team is professional, communicative, and most importantly, delivered outstanding results. We worked with John, the...
ir photographer, and he was great to work with. He not only captured stunning images for our engagement photos, but also made us feel at ease throughout the entire shoot. John's attention to detail and creative vision was evident in every shot he took. We highly recommend Project 8 Media and are excited to work with them again for the wedding!
We had John as our photographer for our engagement shoot and as the main shooter for our wedding. He was great, smoothly filling in all the gaps that we lacked, whether it was nerv...
ousness, awkwardness, and just general inexperience with being photographed. We asked him to micromanage our poses since we are shy and had no idea what we were doing and he was a true professional. Our pictures came out lovely, natural, and utilized the environment/lighting seamlessly. He showed us a few previews of shots he got of us during sunset and sunlight dappling through the branches and they were gorgeous--we were ready to just take the raw files home with us that day. All of our guests were impressed with his promptness, speed, and professionalism. He is excellent and confident with groups and his sense of humor is as good as his taste in watches.
Project 8 Media (John) was very professional, courteous and made everything easy for us throughout the whole process. From the engagement photos to the actual wedding day! He knew ...
how to direct everyone and made us all confident on the shots! We loved the engagement photos and some of our friends actually asked and wanted to use Project 8 Media as well in the future. John went above and beyond for us and we really appreciate everything that he did. We definitely recommend Project 8 Media to everyone who is well just as confused as us during the beginning of the wedding process! It was one less thing to worry about after hiring them. Thank you again John!! You rock sir! =)
My husband and I worked with John Magcasi for our wedding in October. He did SUCH an amazing job capturing both the small details and big moments of our day. The pictures turned ou...
t absolutely beautiful. We are so beyond happy with how they turned out! John was professional and efficient to make sure we got through the day smoothly. He was also so friendly and funny which helped lessen stress on the big day. I would definitely recommend John and DreamLife Photo & Video to any tri-state area bride!
I am beyond thrilled we decided to use Project8 for our wedding! Their service was unmatched during the entire process. They are communicative and wanted to make sure that I was as...
stress free as possible! (Which was amazing!)
John and Alex, our photographers, were simply amazing. They were so patient, calm, professional, and accommodating. When the parents wanted a few extra pictures they didn’t even blink an eye and said yes! When I needed an extra minute or two, or needed a guide, they was always there to help me. That meant a lot to all of us. The team was such a pleasure to work with - from engagement shoot and wedding plus everything else that went on, I was always very happy. And on my wedding day, John really took so much pressure off of me and made sure we were all having fun while taking photos! I would recommend them to anyone!
John did such a great job at our wedding this past weekend. He made us feel comfortable, gave great direction and was easy to be around. Very excited to see the final product - the...
few shots we saw thus far are gorgeous
John did an amazing job at our wedding! We had a 300 person wedding in Manhattan. He kept us calm and organized throughout the entire process. He was very creative with regards to...
the best places to photograph. I highly recommend him and plan to use him for future events.
John is an amazing photographer! He is truly the best and shows through his work, attitude, and personality. This is really his passion. He makes you feel comfortable and confident...
. And the teaser photo that he gave to us is magnificent. Can’t wait to see more of it. Of course, 10/10! We would recommend this guy or even hire him again.
John Magcasi is a wonderful man, not just a good looking guy, but truly a professional in his field. He was instantly able to put my family at ease, and capture some captivating ph...
otographs on our wedding day. Our get-ready shots are incredible! He was the best photographer I have ever hired. He’s now my standard. On time. Followed through on everything he said he would do. I simply cannot recommend him enough!
John was amazing. A lot of attention to detail in setting up scenes for photos with my wife + friends / family. Really beautiful takes, we got some great family heirloom shots that...
day
John was a great wedding photographer and everything we could have asked for.
We had a short window of time to get in family photos and bridal party photos before the ceremony an...
d he managed to get everything done without us feeling rushed or like we missed anything.
He made sure we captured an amazing sunset photo during our cocktail hour and was actively taking photos all night
Can’t wait to see the end result!
John and Justin were absolutely incredible at our wedding. They went above and beyond to play a much bigger role than we ever expected. They coordinated so much of our day, kept us...
on schedule, organized the right people for photos and much more. We couldn’t have asked for better people to be with us throughout our special day. We can’t say enough about how spectacular they were and how comfortable they made us feel amongst all the wedding chaos. One of our favorite moments from the day was when my husband and I stepped away from our cocktail hour to take more photos with John and Justin. They were committed to capturing the shot but also let us have fun and be our candid selves away from our guests. This moment was so special to us. When we look at our pictures we will not only think of our day, but we will also remember the way they made us feel! We can’t recommend them enough. Thanks for making our day - it wouldn’t have been the same without you.
We had to pleasure of working with John for two years since we had to postpone our original 2020 wedding date to 2021, as so many other couples did due to the pandemic. We really ...
feel like we've made a friend rather than being another client.
John has a knack for putting you in the right position, setting or mood to get the best pictures and moments. What would typically be an awkward situation for us to pose turned out to be an enjoyable time thanks to John. He is precise, personable and very efficient with time, which is important when you're working with limited time on your wedding day.
A friend of ours had originally hired a different vendor for photography and were unhappy with their engagement photos. They switched to Project 8 Media after our recommendation, and we're just as happy with their wedding photos as much as we were!
I would highly recommend John and would not hesitate to use him again for future events!
Eric was everything a bride and coordinator could ask for.
He’s fluent in English and Tagalog.
My cousin hired Eric for her wedding in West Texas.
TLDR;
Eric is a priceless, ple...
asant, and goal oriented photographer. He was a source of reassurance and his work speaks for itself. You should hire him.
PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE AND QUALITY OF SERVICE:
I would describe the photo style as truly romantic. You get the best of both worlds of the clarity that an airy style would give, but you don’t lose the depth and richness that a moody style provides.
One issue we’ve had with most photographers is that it’s difficult to get the coloring right. My cousin is fair skinned and her husband has deep tan skin. Some photographers in the area struggle with this either through their camera settings or with their editing style.
This wasn’t a problem at all for my cousin and her now husband. Both of them look equally as magical. There weren’t any details lost on their faces. Neither of them had to sacrifice. They looked like their beautiful selves. They never looked hyper-real or over-edited.
Most importantly, Eric, honestly, has the photography eye. He took places and spaces that weren’t easy to photograph and made them beautiful.
PROFESSIONALISM AND FLEXIBILITY:
Eric was fantastic with the schedule. He has great management skills for time and large groups. It never felt like he was bossy or commanding. He was just direct and enthusiastic. He has great energy.
I think it’s important to stress this because there were a lot of little things that weren’t going perfectly that day.
An example of this is the hair and make-up team was running behind since only 3/4 showed up. The bride had planned for getting ready pictures, but we were running short on time. We communicated this with him. He very calmly reassured the bride and had a game plan. It took less than 5 minutes for us to get several styles of shots with a group of eleven girls. They came out great.
It never took long for him to figure out where the entire bridal party should go and how they should pose.He has kids of his own, so he knew how to work with the little ones, too.
The bride and groom also had some poses they wanted to try and he was very accommodating.
He was always working, but always blended in with the surroundings. He’s super tall, but it never felt like he was forcing his way anywhere. When he arrived on location, he did a small walk through and got started immediately.
VALUE:
Eric is priceless. He is quite literally the happy medium.
He was so pleasant to be around especially someone who had a long work day and flew in for this occasion. He never added any stress to the bride or groom. If anything, he was always a source of reassurance. When we thought there wasn’t time, he had a game plan. When we needed energy, he was the energy.
I feel like he was such an asset to our group because he genuinely wanted everyone to be happy and enjoy themselves. His conversations with the couple were always happy and reassuring. He is proactive and always tried to outsource his questions to the appropriate people, so the couple could enjoy their wedding day without feeling like they needed to micro-manage everyone just to get the ball rolling.
Not only this, but he gave the bride and groom a sneak peak of a few fully edited photos, so if you wanted to have an unplugged ceremony, you would still get the instant gratification of pictures to share.
Amazing team!
John from Project8media is not only a photographer, he is an amazing artist! He captures timeless photos, feelings and memories that can be kept and frozen in time. Project 8 media...
, as our official wedding photographer in 2016 did an awesome job because they execute things seamlessly and beautifuly. Aside from all the freebies that they gave us, john never made us feel uncomfortable or intimidated because well, yeaah, he's a pro from new york!!! And I was so surprised by the outcome because he, and his team really exceeded our expectations. Up until now, I get teary eyed everytime i look at our pictures and same day wedding videos.
After a year, project8media also went to canada for our 1st wedding anniversary. We travelled 7 days (by land) from toronto to banff alberta. Even without a good sleep, and a nearly frozen hands (yes, winter time) , he still managed to take our pictures in just a snap of his hands and voila!! The outcome is really great and i super loved it! what more can i say? he is a genius!
Thankyou john, and project 8 media!
The owner and and his team are very dedicated. They flew from NYC to Philippines just to cover the most special day in my life and I highly appreciate their commitment on the event...
. The Photographers have good perspective and and made sure they captured all the highlights of our wedding. They are very easy to talk to and the output after our wedding are excellent! I also loved the on-site photo avp they prepared and showed during dinner. All in all, I would highly recommend Project 8 to my friends and family.
If you have not found your photographer for a very special event like your engagement photos and your wedding, well look no further! Project 8 media is hands down one of the best p...
hotography company I've ever worked with. Their photographer Eric is very professional. He knows what he's doing. He talked to my husband and I about the event timeline and he customized everything to be really special for us. He is punctual and very respectful. After he sent me the finished photos, I cried. Memories do last forever but I want gorgeous pictures so that my future kids can feel the joy of their parents' wedding. Project 8 media surely delivered! I can't thank them enough.
Eric provided me with great memories to look back on. Him and his team were very accommodating, professional, and easy to work with. He provided with additional ideas to bring my v...
ision of a very important day to life.
I look forward to working with him on future events.
We were very lucky to have John and his team as our wedding photographers. They are very professional to work with, especially good looking photographers. They are very knowledgeab...
le on what we should do during photoshoots and we really enjoyed our photoshoots as well because we feel like we’re just having a good time. He’s Professional, efficient, friendly and, most importantly, took the most fabulous photographs of our wedding. He also gives a good discount so i really recommend John and project8media as your wedding or any event photographer! #filipinopride #bestweddingphotographer
#project8media
Eric & the Project 8 Media team shot our engagement photos, and we couldn't have been happier! We had a great conversation before the date where we discussed what we wanted and he ...
gave us potential ideas. On the day-of, My wife and I were both a little nervous and I was worried we wouldn't have time to do everything that we wanted, but Eric had such great ideas and even stayed extra time to make sure we had the shot that we wanted! He was also very encouraging and helped us relax, making the photos look more natural. We underestimated how important that would be in a photographer!
The pictures look amazing, Eric made sure we looked our best and he found interesting/beautiful spaces for us to take pictures that we would never have noticed! I highly recommend you use Project 8 Media for all your photography needs, Eric is incredibly nice and gave us lovely pictures.
Very professional and punctual.
Delivered all services within the said scheduled date.
Price is really good compared to others and is very affordable.
Quality is really good as wel...
l.
Thank you so much for wonderful photos! Excellent photo coverage . Very easy going team! The Best!
Their team is great! They arrived ahead of our schedule which is very professional. They are easy to work with. Instructions during the shoot were easy to follow. Photographers a...
re very well coordinated. On-site photos were also amazing! We’re excited to see the final output. Will surely recommend them to our friends.
Contact
22 E 30th Street, New York, NY | Tri-State Area
Project 8 Media's photos