Shawn Tse

Documentary Wedding Photographer

Portland & Seattle

Travel area: Within 300 miles See details

Shawn Tse

PHOTOGRAPHER

AWARD WINNER (5X)

Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot

CANDID MOMENTS IN DIGITAL & FILM. For couples who wants to live in the moment and have that captured authentically. Weddings aren’t photoshoots — they’re living, breathing events with their own rhythm. My goal is to join in, celebrate alongside you, and capture images that feel genuine and full of life. My approach is calm but confident: I know where to be and when, guided by years of intuition to anticipate moments that matter. I read the room, move with intention, and make creative decisions that shape the visuals of your day. I know when to step in, when to disappear, and how to capture moments that feel alive, unposed, and meaningful. My plan? To give you hundreds of images that pull you right back into the feeling of the day — photos that hold emotional weight and carry your story forward long after the celebration ends. If you’re looking for images that truly reflect your day and the people you love, let’s connect — I can’t wait to meet you and hear your plans:)

7+ years in business

Speaks English

Just me

Details

Photo Shoot Types

Bridal Portraits

Engagement

Photo & Video

Digital Files

Film Photography

Photo & Video Styles

Documentary

Modern

Wedding Activities

Getting Engaged

Wedding

Awards and Affiliations

Any questions?

Meet the team

Shawn Tse

Photographer

Photography has been a lifelong practice. It started with capturing my own family, travels, and the small, everyday moments that make life feel full. That same approach guides how I document weddings — with curiosity, care, and a deep appreciation for what’s unfolding.

5.0

out of 5.0

79 reviews

Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Review Summary

This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.

Shawn is highly praised for his exceptional photography skills, professionalism, and ability to capture candid, meaningful moments at weddings. Reviewers appreciated his communication, ease to work with, and the beautiful photos he delivered promptly. Shawn's talent for blending into the day while documenting it naturally impressed many, with his ability to tell the story of the wedding day standing out. He received numerous recommendations for his genuine, unposed, and heartfelt photo style that perfectly captured the essence of each couple's special day.

Search reviews

Janelle S

Highlighted review.

9/30/2018

There are not enough good things we can say about Shawn. He is fantastic to work with and produces stunning images. For our destination-like wedding in September, he went above and beyond in so many ways. He is someone who sincerely cares about capturing your relationship and what is most meaningful on your wedding day, not just checking a box of pictures to get. We truly cannot imagine having anyone else as our photographer and highly recommend to any other couples looking to book.

Rebecca E

9/11/2025

We loved working with Shawn! He had photographed a family member’s wedding, and after seeing their pictures, we knew we had to book him too. He is fast to respond, a clear communicator, and so easy to work with. The day-of, Shawn arrived early and jumped right in. He gave us direction when we needed it, and also blended seamlessly into the crowd. We absolutely love the photos we received. Shawn is especially skilled at capturing candid moments and scenes that involve a lot of movement and life! His pictures capture the essence of our day perfectly.

Any questions?

Shay M

9/07/2025

Shawn was wonderful to work with, I'm so glad he shot our wedding! Shawn is communicative, professional, and flexible. Neither of us are very comfortable in front of the camera, but Shawn made it easy and fun to take couple photos. He is a talented photographer and the photos speak for themselves!

Christopher G

8/31/2025

Shawn is the best!! So easy to work with and chilled with everything. He captures the best moments and beautiful photos. Cannot recommend him enough!

Emma R

8/19/2025

Shawn is incredible. He is kind, professional, and a pleasure to work with. The photos were worth every cent. Each one was beautiful, capturing candid and meaningful moments that perfectly reflected our special day. We couldn’t be happier with his work.

Kinsey H

7/29/2025

Shawn was an amazing photographer for my wedding. He was so kind, patient, and communicative, and he was there for every single photo opportunity. He went above my expectations and I would definitely recommend him.

Rebecca M

6/15/2025

We are so grateful we chose Shawn as our wedding photographer—he truly exceeded every expectation. From the moment he arrived, he brought such a calm, positive energy that made everything feel easy and fun. He went with the flow effortlessly, whether we were sticking to the timeline or making last-minute changes. What impressed us most was how seamlessly he blended into the day while still capturing every meaningful moment. Nothing felt overly posed or forced—just real, joyful, beautiful snapshots of our day as it naturally unfolded. And the best part? We got our photos back so quickly! We were blown away by both the turnaround time and the stunning quality of the images. Shawn didn’t just take pictures—he told the story of our wedding day with heart, artistry, and care. We’ll treasure these photos for the rest of our lives. We can’t recommend him enough!

Angela O

5/03/2025

I cannot recommend Shawn enough. He was very thoughtful and the photos are candid & unposed —many of which we didn’t even realize he was there for until we saw the photos. He was professional, personable, and extremely well- prepared for our day. My husband and I wanted photos that were genuine, intimate, and overall a good time and he captured it beautifully. We’re so incredibly happy with the photos, we recommend Shawn for photographer.

Anonymous

4/18/2025

Shawn did an absolutely incredible job capturing our wedding! We were so impressed by his ability to preserve both big and little moments amidst the rush. He captured all the things that made our day special with natural & candid shots. His friendly vibe made the whole photo process enjoyable, and he never seemed overwhelmed by it all. We highly recommend Shawn; he's truly great!

Jen F

9/16/2024

Shawn was the perfect photographer for our small ceremony in Edmonds. We had about 20 guests at the ceremony and a dinner later at a local restaurant and we had Shawn with us for most part of the night. He’s flexible, professional and takes amazing photos. He also offers film in his photo packages and we thought that was a great touch. He’s really easy to coordinate with and the whole experience was just wonderful. He knew where to go to get all the good pics, and we got the perfect mix of formal and candids. We just wanted to just enjoy our day and have that captured, and Shawn really made that happen. He captured the mood and the memory of the day so well that seeing the photos we feel the love and excitement of the wedding all over. It is truly wonderful and we would recommend to couples looking for a good photographer.

Emily D

9/12/2024

Shawn did an awesome job at our wedding. He made us feel like ourselves with pictures and captured the day perfectly. His photos don't feel posed or overdone, and we find new favorites every time we go back to them:) They feel real, and that’s exactly what we wanted! We’re so glad we found him and would highly recommend him for photos.

Abby M

9/03/2024

Shawn was great on the wedding day, there was no pressure to get certain shots, and we absolutely love our photos. He goes above and beyond to capture all of the candid moments and special details, and the photos are unique, full of life, and so beautiful! We loved working with him and would recommend to others looking for a photographer.

Lauren M

8/26/2024

We are so glad we had Shawn for our wedding day. He managed to capture all the meaningful bits between us and he’s way of working aligns with our style. The photos are exactly what we wanted, they are of moments not poses, and tells a story. Every moment felt intimate and special, and entire experience will always be something we cherish.

Laney G

1/18/2024

Shawn was an outstanding photographer! He did both our engagement pictures and wedding pictures and they were perfect! We even had to change our wedding date because my husband is military and he was more than happy to switch to that day for us. He gets your usual staged wedding pictures and then all the other things that go on that you might not even get to see during your big day.

Response from Shawn Tse on 01/18/2024

Hi Laney! It was such a pleasure being your photographer, thank you again for having me!

Allison P

1/16/2024

Shawn was a DREAM. He was able to keep us on schedule and was exactly the kind of energy we needed. He has an incredible eye for pictures and all the moments you will want captured on your day. He also brought such a positive vibe to our wedding it cannot be left unstated. He made us feel so welcomed and comfortable in front of the camera, and made sure we had time to enjoy ourselves. Would recommend if you want a photographer who you can really trust to capture your day.

Response from Shawn Tse on 01/17/2024

Thank you so much for your review! It’s great to hear that you felt welcomed and comfortab...

le with the camera & photos. I really appreciate your recommendation and if you have any future photography needs pls don’t hesitate to reach out!

Dana J

12/22/2023

Amazing experience with Shawn! He captured all of the moments at our wedding, and encouraged us to enjoy the day without focusing too much on posing or the camera. We're super happy with all of the photos and would recommend Shawn for others looking.

Response from Shawn Tse on 12/23/2023

Thank you sincerely for taking the time to share your wonderful experience! I am incredibl...

y grateful for your trust in me to capture your wedding day. Wishing you the best!

Molly C

12/15/2023

If you're in search of a photographer who not only produces stunning photos but also becomes part of the celebration, Shawn is the one. His genuine excitement coupled with his ability to understand your vision, make the entire process enjoyable. On the wedding day, he seamlessly captured every detail while remaining discreet, and made us feel at ease and allowed us to experience the day authentically. His non intrusive approach gave us the most beautiful, ethereal film and digital images that we will forever cherish. Great vibe, super friendly and never appeared to be overwhelmed by the chaos of it all, Shawn is a gem, for sure.

Response from Shawn Tse on 12/23/2023

Thank you for your wonderful review! I am so glad to hear that you’re happy with the photo...

s. If you ever need photography services in the future or have any questions, feel free to reach out :)

Jessie A

11/20/2023

We’re happy that Shawn was our photographer, we had a small wedding in September and he captured all the moments and excitement of our day. He’s a great communicator and the photographs are beautiful.

Response from Shawn Tse on 12/23/2023

Hi Jessie! Thank you so much for having me as your photographer! Your appreciation means a...

lot!

Lisa M

11/13/2023

We feel so fortunate to have worked with Shawn and cannot recommend him enough! He was able to document us in celebration with photos that are candid and fun. Each photograph not only told a story but resonated with the emotions we felt in those moments. He captured our story, our vibe – everything. It was like having a friend capturing your day.

Laura E

11/07/2023

The way Shawn photographed our wedding is beyond beautiful. The pictures were exactly what we were hoping for, natural, fun, and the sweetest memories of our big day. He’s got a way of finding the small moments that are now some of my favorite photos from the wedding!

Susan J

11/06/2023

Our experience with Shawn was just amazing. His photos are so full of life, spontaneous, and shows the "in-between" moments; Seeing them makes us smile, laugh and tear up all at the same time! He got every moment and was just simply the best!! Absolutely recommend!

Jennifer A

10/19/2023

It was so nice having Shawn as our photographer! He gifted us with such beautiful pictures and we are so in love with every single photo! From the look on my husband's face when he saw me in my dress for the first time, to all the ridiculous dance moves at our reception, he captured it all!

Jennifer J

6/05/2023

Shawn captured our truest moments as a couple and it is incredible to see how our photos turned out! We wanted time to relax with friends and family, and the way Shawn photographed our event was instrumental to that end :) He is completely dedicated and we love that the photo process feels easy and naturalistic, and the end result is extraordinarily beautiful.

Kathy O

5/22/2023

We were happy to have Shawn photograph our small wedding and we can't fully express how great of a job he did. He was so wonderful to us and was so nice to have conversation with! He truly celebrated us and our love and made us feel even more special than we already did. He is an outstanding photographer!

Lisa R

4/12/2023

We had fun working with Shawn and we couldn't be happier with our photos! We didn't know what to expect, neither of us had ever done a photo shoot and Shawn was so patient, helped us think of shooting locations, and just the absolute BEST. He got to know us as a couple during the engagement session and captured moments special to us. We loved getting to know him as well during our time together, his love for people clearly shows in his approach and is what makes his work exceptional. Honestly working with him felt easy and enjoyable, and it’s hard to imagine anyone more suited for our wedding.

Ray L

4/10/2023

I dread taking photos. Posing, smiling for a photo.. I’m just not a fan of it. But Shawn made us feel 100% stress free. I wanted the photos to be casual and represent us as a couple, and Shawn was able to deliver on that 100%.

Anne F

3/31/2023

An absolute joy to have Shawn photograph our engagement and wedding. He is super knowledgeable and takes great care to get the best shots. I have never enjoyed getting my picture taken but he made us look the best we’ve ever looked in a photo. His direction throughout our shoot was clear and helpful, and we enjoyed being around him and taking photos throughout the day.

Rachel C

3/16/2023

Couldn't be happier we chose Shawn to both document and celebrate this day with us. He captured us in the moments that truly reflect who we are as a couple. We loved that we felt so comfortable with him, and that he made it all so effortless and easy. His style is all so unique and his blend of casual fun and natural direction gave us exactly the type of photo we wanted. The attention to detail was amazing as well, always checking for lighting & shadows for our group shots, and the quality is just excellent.

Elizabeth C

3/12/2023

We had the best time with Shawn being our photographer! Not only is he extremely talented and artistic, but he is also a wonderful person. He took the time to get to know us during our time together and made the experience so fun! He truly captured us in our element and we will treasure these photos forever!

Britt K

3/08/2023

For our wedding we wanted to find someone who captured emotion, took photos from unique angels and edited with a natural style. And when we came across Shawn’s work on Instagram we just knew we were in luck. He made us feel so at ease with photos, it was like just another friend who was celebrating with us! There is a beautiful balance of big moments and the quiet, tender, and often unnoticed moments in the pictures; it’s like he captured everything as it happened, and we get to relive our wedding memories through the photos!

Emma L

3/02/2023

Wedding day done right! Our day was pretty fast moving and Shawn was by our side the entire time, reassuring us and making us feel at ease. He’s very professional and made the most out of our time together and captured our ceremony with absolute grace & elegance. He’s always one step ahead and surely knows his way around a wedding. The whole day went so smoothly and we loved that he captured it holistically and we can’t wait to share it with our family & friends.

Amber K

2/19/2023

I would highly recommend Shawn for anyone who's planning their wedding! He is not only great at what he does but also fun to work with: very professional yet down to earth, and helped ease my nerves on the big day. He’s got so much chill and his approach is non traditional. I typically feel awkward being photographed, but he made me feel comfortable and completely at ease.

Natalie A

2/18/2023

Shawn is AMAZING!! He was our photographer for our wedding and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. He is genuine, passionate, creative and fun to be around! We have HUGE families and he captured every family member along with 100's of memories of which we will cherish forever.

Stephanie S

2/15/2023

Super happy with the outcome of our photos! We’re both not used to being in front of the camera and Shawn made it really simple by explaining the process initially and that really took a lot of the fear out of it for me. So the fact that he made us feel so comfortable was just *chef’s kiss* Whenever the emotions were running high on our wedding day, Shawn always remained unruffled, calm, and efficient in getting all our photos done. We didn’t have to do any fake smiles, and the photos felt like us!

Olivia O

2/07/2023

Had the best experience with Shawn! He’s so friendly and brought a sense of calm amidst the chaos of our wedding day. He made the stress of getting our family photos very manageable, and so many of our guests commented on how lovely our photographer was! Never once did I feel awkward or unsure of myself because of how much fun we had. From the first look to the candids, he captured our big day perfectly.

Liz P

1/13/2023

There aren't enough words to thank Shawn for our photos! They are beyond what we could've ever dreamed. Not sure how he seems to be everywhere at once, for some of those shots we didn't even notice him there! He never missed a moment during the ceremony, toasts in the reception, and the candid expressions all the way through into the night. Everything turned out better than we could have imagined - he captured all the little moments and I feel like our love is seen in the photos. Definitely went above and beyond what I had expected from my photographer!

Angela D

1/10/2023

Such good vibes! Shawn was great at making us feel natural in front of the camera and captured the most amazing candid photos (exactly what I wanted!) He’s a total pro and just knows the way. My husband said it was so fun and flew by too quickly, and that is NOT easy thing for a shy person to say about taking pictures! Such a remarkable experience. We couldn't have asked for more from him. Just want to give a big thank you to Shawn for capturing this special moment for us in all of its tenderness, silliness, and everything in between. We will cherish these photos for the rest of our lives!

Charlotte Y

1/06/2023

Our photo gallery from Shawn is stunning. He captured the very essence of our special day and he is a delight to work with! It’s obvious that he is someone who appreciates their profession, and it was a pleasure to work with someone who really cares about your wedding and getting to know you. He made the photo process feel natural & very enjoyable, and we feel so happy to have Shawn capture our special moment.

Katie H

1/03/2023

Can't believe how perfectly Shawn captured our day and I'm just so, so grateful to have the photos to treasure forever. He helped us feel relaxed, made us laugh & encouraged us to just be us. Which was exactly what we wanted. My husband and I feel so happy that he was our photographer and would recommend him to others looking for a photographer.

Shay K

1/02/2023

Shawn captured the love, the fun and overall feel of our wedding and it makes us happy to think that we'll be able to relive it all whenever we see our photos. The wedding day goes by quickly and it seems like you don't get enough time for photos, but from the photos we can see Shawn’s very thorough and fully captured the entire wedding start to finish. All to say that we did not feel rushed whatsoever as he got all of our key moments & candid virtually undetected. We got a great mix of artistic shots and candid ones and we’re so in love how it all turned out.

Sara D

12/29/2022

Our photos and experience with Shawn were amazing. He’s just so kind & genuine, and easy to be around (even if have no idea what you're doing in front of a camera) He afforded us a sense of calm and ease, and we felt relaxed during our photos. It was very easy to communicate with him throughout the process, and we felt fully supported and cared for all the way through.

Melinda A

12/28/2022

Shawn is the photographer you want at your wedding. He is the perfect mix of chill & professional and we felt we could be ourselves knowing Shawn would capture it all in the moment. As for the quality Shawn has a great eye for lighting and composition, and made most of the venue for our bridal & couples portraits. There are so many gems, and we’re so glad to have photos that feel personal to us and for us to keep & cherish.

Nicole W

12/27/2022

My partner and I are terribly awkward being photographed and Shawn was very easy going & brought his calm, warm energy onto our shoot and it felt like a friend hanging out and taking snaps of us. He is very good in communicating to get the shots and captured the feel that we had hoped for. Overall experience was an A+

Megan L

12/27/2022

Shawn did a wonderful job with our wedding photos. I feel like I can see each part of the day and be reminded of the feeling in each moment. He guided us every step of the way and made the entire photo process a breeze. Right from the beginning he is easy to reach and quick to respond, and he was more than willing to work with our busy schedule for the engagement session. Leading up to the wedding Shawn offered to check-in and made sure all our questions were answered and that we were absolutely prepared for all things photo related. His attention to detail is also incredible, it's amazing to see how much work is involved & all the moments he managed captured throughout the wedding day. I’m so thankful we’re able to relive our wedding through the photos and we cannot recommend him enough!

Sandra E

12/26/2022

Absolutely THRILLED with our wedding photos from Shawn. He worked with us to get the best shots possible and he takes great care to capture natural moments rather than staged photos. In our time together he was able to capture candid moments without us even noticing and mixed in seamlessly among our guests. He did a great job at capturing various aspects of the wedding and we’re thoroughly impressed with the entire experience.

Katelyn M

11/15/2021

Shawn was so great! We connected before the wedding to chat about what we want, timing and everything. Shawn is flexible and really fit into the wedding. I forgot I was having my picture taken most of the night. He made sure we were able to remember our wedding without having photos be something that took away from the day.

Response from Shawn Tse on 11/17/2021

Thank you Katelyn! It was truly wonderful being your photographer:)

Jean W

12/24/2019

Working with Shawn has seriously been the best. He captured the essence of our day in ways we could not have imagined. He’s so professional yet totally friendly, and assisted us in organizing timelines, maintaining the wedding schedule, and finding locations for our portrait and family photos. He’s really more than just a photographer and truly went above and beyond. He captured heartfelt moments so effortlessly and with such ease, there were a few we didn’t even realize he was there for, he was everywhere at once! And the moment we got the photos…just incredible, they are are so special to us, we’re thankful to have them for our family & friends to treasure forever. We cant be happier with the work he’s done, and we’d seriously recommend to any couples needing to find their photographer.

Carly M

12/08/2019

We can’t even describe how excited we are with our photos from Shawn. They bring back such great memories. Literally cried ourselves speechless when they dropped into our inbox, he captured so many amazingly memorable moments! From us getting ready, first look, ceremony to reception, he’s so good at capturing it all. It was the best weekend of our lives and he really captured the way we felt as newlyweds :) We are so impressed and are so so so happy to have chosen him as our photographer.

Bridget G

11/29/2019

All I can say is I’m grateful, just so incredibly grateful to have worked with Shawn. He was so helpful with our questions and last-minute notes and thoughts, and helped out a lot in terms of mapping out the shots for the day. He even scouted our location well ahead of time and made sure to get the best shots despite our last-minute changes in the schedule:) No detail was overlooked and we loved how his photos tells our story. The results are stunning and we will be sure to keep him in mind for all things photography in the future. Highly recommend to anyone considering.

Michelle J

11/20/2019

We are just over the moon with Shawn’s photography. Experiencing your own wedding is honestly a big swirl of emotions and we want to thank Shawn for capturing it just as it was. His contribution was enormous and honestly we can’t speak highly enough of him. It’s so much more than we could have imagined. The photos take us, and our families, right back to that day, and I can think of no greater gift than that. Thank you Shawn, so much, for capturing wonderful memories of our wedding :)

Service area & Contact info

Travel area: Within 300 miles

Additional charges may apply

(312) 714-7238

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Shawn Tse

Photographer

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Shawn Tse

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