About this vendor
You're getting hitched (YAY!), but perhaps you're not super into the idea of an overly manicured-wedding. We will surely get along swimmingly.
I am here for the adventures, here for hearty, uncontained laughs, and here for not taking life too seriously. I've never been crazy about the wedding industry (which, let's be honest, is quite a vicious beast). But I DO love love. And pretty things. And making art. When I peer through the lens, I don't just see a wedding. I see humor, irony, quirks, texture, and color. I see people who are geeking out, goofy, nervous, unabashedly happy, imperfect, and going through a gushy mess of emotions. That doesn't mean that I don't love a good portrait (they're actually my fave). It just means I approach them a bit differently to capture what's real. It also means I don't shy away from the awkwardly embarrassing dance moves and runny mascara because I believe that IS the stuff of gold. My view is that it's the small, sometimes messy human details that really matter.
There's a long list of why I work in this sector of the photo world. But more than anything, I think it's because weddings are some of the last remaining spaces that feel truly free of cynicism and fear. On a selfish level, they serve as a salve and antidote to much of what I cover in my other job (photojournalism). They offer a precious refuge for the kind of hope and optimism that can sometimes be difficult to summon these days. They reflect so many aspirations that we hold dear. They are a brave statement in a messy world, and that's worth a lot these days.
The Lovely Lens is a photography company based in Brooklyn, NY. I work anywhere and everywhere, and am frequently booking in the Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes, and other lovely New England getaways.
Details
Business Attributes
- LGBTQ+-owned Business
- Woman-owned Business
Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
- Bridal Portraits
- Engagement
- Trash The Dress
Photo & Video
- Digital Files
- Film Photography
- Photo
- Printed Enlargements
- Second Shooter Available
Photo & Video Styles
- Artistic
- Documentary
- Lifestyle
- Vintage
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Wedding
- After Party
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.015 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
As two film/media people, we were fairly exacting in finding our wedding photographer. Because of Celia's incredible documentary background and the color, energetic joy and intimac...
y of her work, she immediately rocketed to the top of our list. Our communication was personal and engaging from the jump, and when we met for engagement photos we immediately clicked - Celia is "my people" and we knew we'd be in good hands on our wedding day.
Every interaction we had with Celia was just tops. Talent, sure. That goes without saying, but even more than that, Celia and her second shooter Sarah brought incredible energy to our day - full of curiosity and humor. They were patient, focused, and such a well oiled machine.
Every image was true and unique and magnificent and alive. The photos are so dynamic and capture the essence of the relationships (ours and others) throughout the day and the uniqueness of the light, warmth and uh, overwhelming number of guests. We received a boatload of astounding images and were just thrilled to have worked with such a tremendous professional and artist.
If you want a joyful professional with a careful eye to capture your day from teary prep to the middle of the dance floor - go with The Lovely Lens! Ten stars out of five.
Celia is beyond incredible to work with and I cannot recommend her enough! She was communicative, patient, and helpful during the planning process, and made us both feel at ease wi...
th our questions and requests. Early on, we felt completely confident that she understood the essence of us as a couple and our vision for the day itself.
The day of, she brought the kind of energy you want around you on your wedding day— calm, joyful, patient, and light. She made the more intimate and planned moments fun and easy, and was so subtle while capturing candids that she practically blended into the scenery. She snuck photos of some amazing moments! Our guests also loved her vibe— she folded into our party so organically that we invited her to stay after hours.
Following the wedding, Celia was prompt with sending the edited photos and she really delivered! My wife and I were so delighted to see how many details she documented when we didn’t realize anyone was watching, and how well she captured the emotions of the day. There are so many beautiful shots! These are photos we will treasure for a lifetime. If you’re fortunate enough to get the chance, work with Celia!
Celia is a dear friend and a top tier photographer. Her candid style is so special and we made books for our families out of her photos that we will have forever. Highly recommend,...
especially for stylish couples who want more of a journalistic, modern feed.
We cannot say enough good things about Celia and “The Lovely Lens”. She photographed our wedding in September 2023, and every photo is better than the next: we are obsessed with t...
hem! She is creative and so fun to work with. She seamlessly fit into our day from start to finish, and got shots we didn’t even realize she was present for! She was extremely flexible when we had to reschedule one of our planned locations due to weather, and we never felt rushed or pressured. We had an unexpected opportunity for photos at our location that was technically “unavailable” and she helped us take advantage of that setting without missing a beat. She gave us the gift of very unique photos that are both artistic and fun, perfectly capturing the joy of our day. I would never consider another photographer after having worked with Celia.
Celia was so wonderful to work with! We actually booked with her all the way back in 2019, and she was so understanding about us having to reschedule 3! times due to covid. Easygo...
ing, flexible, rolled with the punches (a hurricane came through NYC in November , wtf!) blended right in with our guests at the wedding—including tearing up the dance floor! She captured every detail of our night so well; the laughing, the crying, the dancing…I was immediately drawn to her documentary style and unique view on wedding photography, and she fully delivered. We are thrilled with our non traditional portraits and all the photos of our friends and family enjoying the night we spent so much time planning. Cannot recommend her enough!
Celia perfectly captured the joy and spontaneity of our wedding. She fit in seamlessly with our families and friends, and captured moments that enrich my memory of the day. She was...
easy to work with, communicated promptly, and really listened to our priorities, which were basically, ‘let everyone have a really good time and be very present in this moment.’ Two of her images really stick with me: one of my mom hugging me while my sisters, both blood and chosen, eat snacks around us; the other of my beloved, driving us down from the mountain where we got married, while I stick my head out the sunroof. I feel like an old Hollywood movie star in a fashion magazine spread in both of these pictures. I couldn’t be happier. She captured our big day in the exact way we wanted (without knowing that’s what we wanted, you know?).
Celia was absolutely wonderful! We wanted someone who was able to capture the feeling of the day and she did such a wonderful job. She was chill and made us feel great and confiden...
t (especially as people who don't love being the center of attention). The pictures were beautiful and the perfect mix of candids of us and our guests and the perfect number of posed shots. We really couldn't be happier with how she captured the day.
I cannot possibly say enough good things about Celia and the Lovely Lens. Her work was recommended to me through friends & after seeing their incredible wedding photos, I was sold....
Her style is artistic, intimate, unique and beautiful. She was easy to communicate with - especially during such a stressful time. She made everything seamless and somehow had a calming effect on me. She shot our City Hall elopement and then travelled with us for our Atlantic City Wedding extravaganza weekend. It’s clear Celia is an artist because she brings that to her wedding work. There are things I would change about my wedding (the Jell-O shots?) BUT I would choose the Lovely Lens a hundred times over. Our wedding day was magical & she helped bring that magic into the photos which continue to bring me joy.
Celia exceeded our expectations from the very first zoom meeting through to our big day. We knew that we wanted to lean away from traditional portraiture and have someone really c...
apture the moments, the energy, and the love-fest that was our wedding day. When we share our photos with people now, so many say they can "feel" the pictures. We truly couldn't be happier.
Our wedding day was a dream, but out of all of the vendors we booked, Celia of the Lovely Lens was our best investment. She is truly an expert in her field. I've planned a lot of ...
events before and booked different photographers, but weddings are a different beast. Celia really takes the lead with you and asks you questions you haven't thought of before. She navigates the planning process with the ease and enthusiasm of a best friend. This should be fun! Even if you don't know your style/aesthetic or think you don't have one, she'll find it. On the day of the event, her shooting style was like a fly on the wall--very unobtrusive--and did not disrupt the flow of the day/evening. The best part, though, was receiving the photos. Thinking about Celia's photos brings tears to my eyes. Not just because looking at them reminds me of how wonderful the day was and how lucky we were to be surrounded by friends and family we love. More importantly, she was able to capture the raw emotions of us and our guests, the sheer joy we felt during stolen moments. Breathtaking! You can tell that she built a narrative out of these photos and viewing them feels like you're watching a film or rereading your favorite book over and over again. It's a hard thing to put your trust in someone to photograph what is arguably the best day of your life, but I knew from the moment I contacted Celia that she would go above and beyond my expectations. Oh and one more thing: I was really nervous about talking about my personal budget with vendors, but Celia maneuvered the money conversation with care and made me feel comfortable. Truly, I'm thrilled with her work and I'd recommend her to anyone.
Work with Celia! She was a dream during the planning process and on the big day, when she rolled easily with last-minute changes. For the staged photos, she struck the perfect bala...
nce between giving expert direction and encouraging us to do our own thing. And during the reception, she was out there in the thick of the dance floor, outlasting our most hardcore friends. As a result, the photos perfectly embody the energy of the evening.
Celia! What a gem. She is an absolute pleasure to work with. One of those vendors that makes your wedding day easier, not harder. She takes fantastic photos, has a great eye, and i...
s an excellent dancer. We love our wedding photos and would enthusiastically recommend Celia to dear friends and vague acquaintances alike.
Lovely Lens is just the absolute greatest. My wife and I are the least photogenic people we know, and yet we have all these gorgeous pictures of us and our loved ones. Professional...
, yet tons of fun. Well organized (even helped us figure out some coordinating details), yet super flexible. Full of fun ideas (like recreating American Gothic with a pool cleaner). I can't recommend Celia enough!
To be honest, I hate having my photo taken. I feel awkward and silly and unnatural. I was dreading this part of our wedding day. That is, until Celia of The Lovely Lens showed up. ...
She immediately made my husband and I feel at ease. She laughed and joked with us about the absurdity of it all which helped me relax a bit so she could get some decent shots. Most importantly, she was also able to wrangle our families and find the perfect spot to take group photos. She was thorough and professional but also made my husband and I feel comfortable. She shot a lot of the traditional family and couple style poses but also captured some incredible candid shots that ended up being my favorites. I am sure my and my husband's awkwardness was not easy to work with but she never let that show and was still able to get some amazing photos. Celia is just the best and I would recommend her to anyone looking for a fun and energetic photographer who makes everyone feel comfortable - and gets some pretty awesome shots too!
Celia was a friend by the end of the night - I never noticed her shooting yet know she got all the shots. She really understood the personality of our wedding and caught all the pe...
rfect moments.
Contact
NYC, Tri-State, CNY, and Happy To Travel
The Lovely Lens's photos