5 out of 5 stars and 37 reviews Best of Weddings (4x).
5
(37)Serving Phoenix and all the surrounding areas!
About this vendor
Simply. Beautiful. Photos. Beautiful, professional wedding and portrait photography by SJA Studios. Serving Phoenix, Arizona and all surrounding areas.
Steven’s career in the industry began in 1991 where he worked in motion picture photography. Using the experience he gained as a motion picture camera assistant, he founded Stephen J. Photographic and specialized in fashion and portrait photography. Now, this creative professional is honored to produce wedding collections that showcase genuine love stories under his SJA Studios brand.
Details
Photo Shoot Types
- Bridal Portraits
- Engagement
Photo & Video
- Digital Files
- Online Proofing
- Photo
- Printed Enlargements
- Second Shooter Available
- Social Media Sharing
Photo & Video Styles
- Classic
- Lifestyle
- Modern
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Rehearsals & Parties
- Wedding
Awards and Affiliations
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.037 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 5
We loved working with Steven for our wedding at Boojum Tree! He was so proactive and communicative in addition to being so friendly and kind. He helped us think through day-of logi...
stics and made sure we got all the photos we wanted. He was listed as a preferred vendor at BT and we loved that he was so familiar with the venue and staff. He was flexible with us when we tried some unique things or asked for specific shots. And we got our full wedding album back so fast!
Steve was amazing every step of the way. Clear pricing on services, video meeting upon hire, and kept us informed every step of the way. Steve is incredibly friendly and profession...
al. From the day we chose him for our wedding, he was there for us. He was always prompt and clear answering any questions we had. Our engagement shoot was such a fun experience and Steve made us feel so comfortable. And the photos from our wedding day couldn't have been better. Just finished working on our album with Steve and can't wait to see it! He made us feel like we were his only client because of how involved he was at every step. You won't find a better photographer.
We are absolutely thrilled with our decision to choose SJA Studios as our wedding photographer! From the moment we booked Steven for our engagement photos to the final shot of our ...
wedding day, he exceeded our expectations in every way. The package he offered was not only affordable but also inclusive of a stunning album that beautifully encapsulates our special day. Steven and his assistant went above and beyond by being incredibly personable and supportive throughout the entire wedding planning process. Steven's expertise in coordinating the day-of schedule ensured a seamless flow, and he skillfully managed to capture all the important moments, accommodating our extensive list of family and friends.
As a lesbian couple, we were grateful for his welcoming and inclusive approach, making us feel completely at ease. Steven is not just a talented professional, but his friendly and approachable personality added a layer of comfort that made the entire experience enjoyable. He kept us on track with our timeline all night, striking the perfect balance between being personable and maintaining a high level of professionalism. We are head over heels in love with our photos and the beautiful album he crafted for us. Without a doubt, we wholeheartedly recommend Steven to any couple looking for a wedding photographer who not only captures breathtaking moments but also brings a positive and accommodating spirit to their special day. Five out of five stars—absolutely exceptional!
Steven was professional, efficient and funny! He did a fantastic job of organize my chaotic bridesmaids and keeping us on task. His pictures turned out wonderful and we would highl...
y recommend him to anyone who needs a wedding photographer!
Steven was great! He has been doing this a long time and had great knowledge of our venue. He guided us every step of the way!
Steven was wonderful to work with! All of our photos turned out beautifully. I would highly recommend him!
My husband and I got married a few weeks ago and hired Steven as our photographer for many reasons. He was highly recommended by our venue and we now understand why. Wedding planni...
ng can be stressful at times but Steven was super communicative and helpful throughout the entire process. Not to mention his photos are breathtaking! He is friendly, professional, and very knowledgeable about his field. We now consider Steven a friend and we would work with him again in a heartbeat. Thank you for making our day so perfect!
Steven was amazing!! Quick response times and so helpful! Our pictures were more incredible than we could have imagined. We had the best time taking them. He's funny and immediatel...
y put us at ease. Pick him! You will not regret it!!
Steven was an absolutely amazing photographer to work with and we couldn’t have asked for a better person to capture our special day. He was extremely quick and responsive during t...
he entire planning process. From the time we first inquired, until after the final product was delivered, Steven made sure we were on track with planning and provided his own tips/tricks along the way. On our wedding day, Steven helped create a fun and relaxed environment, we had a blast going around the property and taking different shots. We love our wedding photos, thank you again SJA Studios for being a part of our day!
Steven was incredible from start to finish. When inquiring about booking him for our wedding day he scheduled a phone call with my husband and I to get to know each other and see w...
hat we were expecting from him. Throughout the wedding planning process he would check in and see how we were doing and ask if there was anything he could do to help us! Steven is very personable and made us feel comfortable and excited during our wedding day photoshoot. He was amazing at navigating our large families and making sure we got all of the pictures we wanted on our special day. His photos are beautiful and the turn around time was so impressive. I highly recommend Steven and SJA Studios if you're looking for a wedding photographer!
We had the pleasure of working with Steven at SJA Studios for our wedding and could not have asked for a better photographer! We live in WA and got married in AZ and Steven was ver...
y good about keeping in touch throughout the months leading up to the wedding and especially when we go to the last 60 days. He was creative and professional and made sure to understand what we were looking for in order to make sure we got all the photographs we wanted. He was very familiar with the venue and knew all the great spots to take the best pictures. It was truly a pleasure to work with Steven and we would highly recommend him!
Steven is so easy to work with, always checking in throughout the process and ensured everyone was on the same page. He always made sure we were on track to get the photos we want...
ed and even went the extra mile to photograph our dog! 10/10 across the board! He was quick and even turned around an engagement shoot photo sample set within a few days to make sure we had photos for our party!
Steven was a great photographer. We were incredibly happy with his work and the way the pictures turned out. He was professional and extremely easy to work with!
My husband and I were lucky to have Steven recommended to us through our wedding venue the Boojum Tree. Steven was so easy to work with! He was professional, knowledgeable, helpful...
, and was quick to respond to all our questions! He stuck with us throughout our whole wedding experience offering help and guidance the whole way!
My husband referred to him as a “ninja “ on our wedding day because he was able to capture the whole day without us even realizing he was there! Our engagement and wedding photos are stunning and we could not be happier!
From start to finish, we couldn’t have been more pleased with Steven Aquilino and SJA Studios! Hands down, Steven was the best vendor we worked with throughout our wedding plannin...
g process! In preparation for our wedding in Phoenix, we reached out to multiple photographers; Steven was the only one to respond to our inquiry. Never having planned anything like this before, Steven spent quite a bit of time during multiple phone calls walking us through the process and explaining what we could expect. His extensive experience with wedding photography not only eased any anxiety we had, but also inspired some great ideas (which turned into wonderful memories!). Steven was always extremely responsive to e-mailed questions and provided all the information we were looking for each time (and we had a lot of questions). Along the way, Steven did little things to enhance our experience like sending a tin of gourmet cookies and a Starbucks gift card. On the day of our wedding, Steven worked extremely hard to ensure we got all the photos we wanted. The photos are fantastic!! We love looking at them all the time and have such wonderful keepsakes of our special day! We feel very grateful that Steven responded, and was available for our wedding! We would absolutely recommend him without hesitation to anyone for any occasion! Working with him was a highlight of our planning/preparation and he added so much to the overall experience and the wedding day itself! Thank you so much Steven Aquilino and SJA Studios!!
If you are looking for the *perfect* wedding photographer (or special occasion photographer), look no further! Steven Aquilino with SJA Studios exceeded all of our expectations on ...
our big day in April 2022. When it comes to professional photos, I now understand the importance of having a photographer that is passionate about his work and also kind and inviting, making the experience as a whole effortless and so enjoyable! This was our first time taking professional photos and Steven made us feel amazing every step of the way! Outside of Steven being a professional in his art, he was thorough, patient, and captured all of the special moments and memories from the moment we arrived for set up, to the ending of our wedding! Just days after our wedding, Steven was already sharing sneak peek photos with us, and completed our full photo gallery within 2 weeks of our wedding! We highly recommend SJA Studios to anyone who is needing to capture a beautiful moment in time. Hands down a 10/10 experience!
Steven was by far the most responsive vendor we hired. He always responded to my emails within 24 hours, often even within 30 minutes! It was such a relief to know that I could rel...
y on him for the wedding. We purchased a 4 hour package for our intimate wedding. In addition to the 4 hours we had together on wedding day, we met with Steven once in person, once over Zoom, and then once again on-site before the wedding day to plan out our photos. He helped us take really natural photos and perfectly captured our emotions on our wedding day. He made us feel like models even though we had never taken a good photo together before! Steven showed us sneak peaks within a few days of our wedding, and returned our entire wedding portfolio within a few. I would 10/10 recommend Steven to anyone looking for natural, bright photos and a photographer they know they can trust!
Steven was great throughout the whole process-- great communication, responsive to the photos we wanted, and very positive and professional. Plus, the pictures look great!
From the very moment we chose Steven at SJA Studios, he made us feel like we were his only clients. Steven's attention to detail and commitment to making sure we were happy with ou...
r photos are just a couple of reasons we would recommend him. He is super friendly and we love our wedding photos! They are absolutely stunning! As any couple would be we were very anxious to see our photos. Steven was amazing and within a couple days we had a sneak peek. We are so thankful that we chose Steven to be our wedding photographer!
Choosing Steven was one of the best decisions we made. We are thrilled to have found him. He captured the entire storyline of our wedding so remarkably. He is a true talent behind ...
that camera, very sincere and helpful. Not only did he check in with us frequently every step of the way, he finished our photos in less than 2 weeks from the wedding. One of the coolest people to work with and we are truly grateful he was part of our big day. Thank you Steven for all your hard work and giving us the most beautiful photos. My husband and I will treasure them forever. I highly recommend Steven for your wedding photos. You will be so fortunate to have him as a photographer. Look no further, he is the absolute best!
Steven was an incredible choice for our Sedona wedding! We booked him in 2019 before Covid changed everything. When we had to postpone our wedding a full year out, he made the pro...
cess easy and agreed to still be our photographer. Steven was great about keeping in touch, so that when the wedding rolled around, we were very comfortable around him. He felt more like a friend than a stranger. He even sent me the sweetest card after my dog passed away, and I’ll never forget that.
Our wedding photos turned out beautiful, and he made capturing them a breeze. He knew how badly I wanted the red rocks of Sedona in my photos, and he made that happen. Our photos are high quality, gorgeous in color, and perfectly capture the emotions of that day. I highly recommend choosing Steven as your photographer!
Steven is AMAZING! I cannot say enough kind words about him and his talents. I chose Steven because his portfolio on his website showed me that he understands lightning and he know...
s how to angle a person to make the most flattering photo. He kept in touch with me throughout the year and really tried to get to know me and what I wanted. I HIGHLY recommend him!
Steven is the utmost professional and willing to take the time to discuss your vision in order to make sure his clients can look back and reflect on what is most important to them ...
after the wedding. He went above and beyond to work with us on making sure the groom was comfortable. After a long illness, the groom is in recovery and needed a little more time and plenty of sitting. Steve made sure we accommodated that! Excellent pictures and service!
I had the best experience with SJA Studios! Steven was professional, flexible, and captured my day beautifully. I'm so appreciative of his efforts and would definitely recommend to...
anyone in need of an excellent wedding photographer.
My husband and I got married in the middle of the craziest year in history. We had a couple of other vendors who weren't very flexible, but Steven was understanding and supportive,...
and came up with a bespoke plan that fit our needs perfectly. Steven communicated with us frequently prior to the event so there was nothing to worry about on the Big Day except to relax and have fun. The photos were absolutely lovely and captured the day perfectly!
Steven was amazing to work with from start to finish. He met with us via Zoom in the beginning of the process to get to know us and communicated perfectly from the day of my inquir...
y to the week after the wedding when he sent the photos over. His pictures turned out PERFECT! He is professional but makes everything feel so personal. Would 100% recommend him to everyone!
Steven is not only a Photographer but A Human being with A Passion, Enthusiasm, Sympathy, and Caring for his costumers. I remembered telling my Fiancé then now my husband that I w...
ould like to hire a Photographer that has a character & will get the best of me when taking pictures, Steven Mirror and Far Exceeded that Persona. We love our pictures and him as our Photographer.
I and my husband would really send him costumers in the future!!!!
Steven will make sure you get what you want for your wedding photos and walk you through your wedding. Our photos turned out great! We appreciated how he took control when needed a...
nd made sure we got the pictures that we wanted. There is no reason not to choose SJA Studios or at least give them a shot.
We hired Steven with SJA Studios to be our photographer for our destination wedding in Arizona. Steven was incredibly kind and personable from the start. He anticipated our every n...
eed - everything from meeting through video chat cue to our distance, offering reliable advice on photography locations, and keeping us up to date on the local happenings in Arizona.
Since our wedding was tiny (5 people total!), Steven graciously offered to split our wedding package to include a family session a couple of days before the wedding. Steven's in-depth knowledge of the local area lead us to the perfect location in Scottsdale for our family photos. With his keen eye for design, he was able to balance the family seamlessly, so nothing looked out of place or awkward.
For the wedding, Steven was flexible to meet us at our Airbnb for pre-wedding photos. He sent us a pre-planned list of items that he would like to photograph while we were getting ready, which saved us TONS of time.
Steven was prompt, polite to our guests, and friendly with all of the other vendors. During the ceremony, Steven thoughtfully placed himself around the venue without disturbing anyone. He even went out of his way to take a few pictures of our party at our restaurant reception.
Overall, Steven is the best photographer we ever hired, hands down! His experience and expertise in photography helped us capture the most important memories that we will cherish forever. The photos that he shot for us were breathtaking! If you are looking for an expert photographer (and not someone's hobby!), definitely choose Steven with SJA Studios!
Steven was incredible and helped us navigate the entire wedding process. When COVID changed our wedding plans, he was the first to reach out. Not only did he help us resecure a new...
date, but he also reworked our wedding package to accommodate our new change of plans. To top it all off, the wedding proceeded without a hitch and the photos turned out amazing despite the extreme winds we had that day. Thank you Steven!!!
You get what you pay for and let me start by saying that although he was a very reasonably priced photographer, I honestly feel his work is significantly under priced! Steven has ...
a great eye and the quality he provides is beyond expectations! From our first meeting, he made us feel comfortable and did not have any gimmicks about trying to sway us into hiring him. He was very knowledgeable and made a point to follow up and check up with us periodically without being pushy. Quite honestly, he was like the backbone that helped keep my very busy self on track. I had all these intentions about sending him photo ideas for inspiration but last minute retracted and I have no regrets. Steven captured every memorable moment as well as picture perfect shots that looked like they were straight out of a bridal magazine! He was very good about making sure he captured all the moments most important to us and gave us input on how to coordinate our time frames to make sure we maximized our ceremony and reception times. I couldn't be happier and he will be my go to, 1st choice photographer moving forward.
Steven was fantastic to work with. We had our wedding at the Boojum tree and he has worked at this venue for well over a decade and his experience showed. I initially had wanted ...
2 photographers as I was worried about getting all of the shots done on time, but as he knew where all the best locations were, we were able to finish in record time, which was fantastic considering we started pictures at 1:45 and finished at 4:15! He helped organize all the groups of people, and got some of the most beautiful wedding pictures I could have asked for. Overall, I would recommend Steven to anyone who wants a great photographer!
After spending all the time and effort to make sure our wedding was picture-perfect, the last thing I wanted to do was leave anything about those pictures in the hands of someone I...
didn't trust. Steven with SJA had a portfolio that immediately caught my eye - timeless natural color grading, obvious technical mastery of the art of photography, and an eye for catching the unique details of the venue, and delivered on the promise of that portfolio.
Steven was incredibly client-focused, and inspired confidence before and during our wedding that we would have amazing mementos. He had no artistic ego, and was up for whatever creative shots we wanted to do, and seamlessly turned our fun shot ideas into art we will treasure forever.
In addition to all of that, he's a genuinely great guy to get to know, I really enjoyed him being a part of our event team, he had a great calming influence on the whole event. He was so subtle my wife didn't even realize he'd been mingling on the dancefloor taking candid shots until she saw the album!
The only apprehension I had before the event was that he worked alone, so I was curious how the ceremony coverage would be--but the results speak for themselves. He was able to capture every angle of our ceremony that we could have wanted, and I don't even remember him being there.
Finally, his color grading and edits were world class. As an advanced photographic hobbiest who knows everything that goes into a good picture, let me assure you: The gallery you will get from SJA is as good as event photography gets.
After interviewing many different photographers, we decided to go with SJA Studios. We couldn't be happier with our choice! Steven was awesome throughout the whole process. He was ...
communicative in the months leading up to the wedding, and he helped us stay on track with the timeline on the day of. We are super happy with the photos too, and he delivered them to us in just over a week! Thanks so much Steven!
Steven was wonderful!! He was so thorough and patient and, no matter what happened throughout the day, he made sure he captured everything we wanted. Most of all the pictures he ...
took are absolutely breathtaking!!
We chose Steven a year before our wedding. From the moment we first met with him, we knew we were in good hands. He checked in with us regularly to see how our wedding plans were g...
oing and if there was any way he could help. He was able to recommend other vendors to us and help us solve any problems that popped up. His photos were amazing! He listened to what we wanted and achieved the style we were looking for. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone. He was the one aspect of our wedding that we never worried about. We could not be happier with our photos. They are gorgeous! I will use him again for any and all of my future photography needs. Thank you so much Steven!
I can't say enough amazing things about Steven. From the minute that we booked him, he was extremely proactive about setting up a meeting and understanding what we were looking for...
. He was in contact with me throughout the wedding planning period and was always responsive and prompt. Once the actual day came around, he continued to impress me. We did a first look, then went to a separate location for bridal party pictures and then finished at the venue. He showed us a few pictures as he was taking them and they already looked amazing. He was incredibly kind and patient when it came to all of the family pictures. During the reception, it was just as great. He was incredibly polite and professional, even when I asked him to take a few more pictures as he was packing up his equipment. I still feel a bit bad about that, but he just went with it. After the wedding, he had some preview pictures up on his Facebook within a few days. And in about a week, all of our pictures were ready to view. They turned out better than I could have hoped for and I can't say enough good things about my experience!
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Serving Phoenix and all the surrounding areas!
SJA Studios's photos