About this vendor
Valorie Darling is a celebrated wedding photographer who stands out as much for her art as the way she is loved by clients, coordinators and publications alike. With a decade of experience and accolades, she is passionate about her couples truly enjoying the wedding journey and capturing all the real, intimate moments of connection and poetry that unfold. Her editorial eye and elevated style attracts discerning, fashion-forward, couples who bring to life ceremonies that are as unique as they are.
Details
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
- Boudoir
- Bridal Portraits
- Day After Session
- Engagement
Photo & Video
- Digital Files
- Film Photography
- Photo
- Printed Enlargements
- Printed Proofs
- Second Shooter Available
Photo & Video Styles
- Artistic
- Classic
- Lifestyle
- Modern
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Wedding
- After Party
Awards and Affiliations
Reviews
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5
out of 5.079 reviews
Review photos
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Valorie Darling Photography was a crucial part of our wedding journey. Her approach was not only flexible and efficient but also incredibly genuine and kind. We felt so comfortable and relaxed during the entire weekend, which made the experience truly memorable. Valorie and her team quickly responded to all our inquiries, ensuring a smooth and stress-free process before the weekend.
One of the aspects we appreciated was her professionalism and dedication. Her quick turn-around with the images was astounding. I had sneak peeks from the two nights prior (rehearsal dinner and welcome party) emailed to me on the morning of our wedding! Her efficiency in capturing all the important moments of our special day was truly commendable.
Moreover, we cannot overlook the overall positive experience we had with Valorie Darling Photography. Her gentle and calming manner radiated through the weekend and the beautiful moments she captured were incomparable.
We would highly recommend Valorie Darling Photography to any couple looking for a talented and caring photographer who can truly capture the essence of their special day. Thank you, Valorie, for being a part of our wedding and for creating timeless memories that we will cherish forever!
Where do we begin?! We hired Valorie (and Max) as our wedding photographers and it was one of the best decisions we made in the wedding planning process. Not only did Valorie provide exceptional photography but the energy, professionalism, creativity and passion she brought to our wedding weekend was something my husband and I and our family and friends noticed and greatly appreciated. She made us feel comfortable and confident and made the experience so much fun for us. We will continue to cherish our wedding photos and have been lucky enough to have Valorie capture some family photos of us with our new daughter and look forward to working with her to help us document beautiful moments in our lives for years to come. She made such an impression on everyone at our wedding that my husbands sister hired her for her wedding in July this year. As if being a talented photographer wasn’t enough, her kindness and thoughtfulness is what stands out the most. We have found a wonderful friend in the process and are so grateful. Thank you, Valorie!
Valorie was everything that we could have ever asked for in a wedding photographer and more! The photos she took throughout our wedding weekend are ones we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Not only is she incredibly talented and professional - but she is a true joy to be around. She makes you feel so amazing and at ease throughout the entire process! She’s a wonderful person and feel honored to have had her as part of this momentous time in our lives!
Valorie is everything. Her photos speak for themselves. They are stunning and thoughtful- she never misses a detail and is so intentional with every shot. We talked through out the whole planning process and weekend because she wants you to have the best experience possible and truly cares. My wedding experience would have completely different without Valorie involved. I can’t thank or recommend her enough. She is the calming energy you need. I always felt supported and I will cherish my photos and also now friendship with her forever.
Valorie Darling's team is an extremely special crew. Professional, kind, light hearted, talented, and easy going! Vanessa was our wedding shooter and was such a pleasure to work with - down to earth and so fun to be around! Valorie and Dylann are also the best, as they manage back end of work, editing, and scheduling.
A few highlights:
+ Beautiful, natural photos (love every single one!)
+ Timely delivery for all albums (engagement + wedding)
+ Strong in organization and collaboration with wedding planner and other vendors
+ Easy to talk with and call up
+ Positive memories with the crew
Valorie + team surpassed all expectations. All star team, delivery, and experience.
Valorie Darling and team have been extremely accommodating and helped us create the exact look we were going for. We are extremely happy with them and highly recommend them!
Valorie and the Darling Team are phenomenal. Val goes above and beyond to make you feel special, all while capturing gorgeous moments of your special day. We had a large wedding party and a big wedding, and Val was able to navigate the group with ease and get every shot. The photos are everything I wanted and more. I can't wait for an opportunity to work with Val again.
Valorie Darling and her Darling Collective team were AMAZING! I keep telling everyone that the photographer was my favorite vendor for SO many reasons. Not only did they make the day of photos easy and natural, but they were the most amazing pictures. Our family and friends were blown away by the quality of the photos. They are natural and show the true magic of the wedding day. They also got us sneak peaks within 24 hours of the wedding. I would highly recommend working with them!!! Valorie and Vanessa are just the absolute best and they make sure that the wedding day is incredibly smooth by working SO well with everyone else throughout the planning process.
Val is simply the best. She was my absolute dream photographer and truly brought our vision to life by going above and beyond. Her team are not only wonderful humans but incredible professionals that covered every aspect of our day beautifully. When I came across Val initially and saw her photos, they took my breath away. To see our own wedding captured through her eye was so special and I'm so happy that the one thing that will last forever from the wedding, the photos, are an absolute dream. Thank you, Val!
Working with Valorie was a dream come true! She made us feel from our first meeting like a part of her family and her care for her clients was extremely evident in the photos. We will be able to remember our wedding day perfectly because of the incredible work Valorie does. As an event planner myself, I knew how important a photographer was for capturing each little detail and I will be forever grateful to Valorie for this! She made sure all the small touches were featured and created a warm/fun environment for all our friends and family. We love you Val!
Valorie is the best photographer we know!
She has delivered a perfect and professional job.
It was a lot of fun with her :-)
We are pleased to recommend you further!!
We look forward to further cooperation.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the great pictures! :-)
Val was the absolute best wedding photographer!! Not only was she wonderful to work with but her pictures were absolutely amazing. We are a year out from our wedding and my parents still constantly bring up how great the pics are. She beyond exceeded my expectations and I highly highly recommend her and her team!!
Valorie and her team are amazing! One of my best friends was getting married and a few of us chipped in to help with finding different vendors and I was in charge of photography, and right from the first email they were nothing but professional and accommodating and knowledgable! I had no idea how much of the day's timeline depended upon photos and they were able to break it down to the minute. They were precise but never made us feel rushed and were fun and made everyone super comfortable and the results are STUNNING. I truly hope to use them for my big day someday :)
Valorie was an amazing photographer to have at our wedding.
She made the vibe more fun and exciting!
The final pictures are also really exciting and well done
Highly recommend to anyone looking for a wedding / engagement / or any photo shoot.
It was so much fun working with the Darling Team! Not only did we have a great experience but we got a sneak peek within a couple days. The pictures turned out amazing! I would highly recommend working with them!
Val and team were incredible! We hired Valorie to shoot our wedding in addition to our engagement photos and everything from the final photos to the email communication were handled and delivered with the utmost professionalism.
We were recommended Val and team from our wedding planners and went through an extensive pre-selection process to ensure our wedding and engagement photos were going to be taken by the best of the best. We ultimately hired Val due to her knowledge, availability, and the personal connection we were able to make with her and her team immediately.
Throughout the engagement photo shoot, as well as the wedding, Val and her team were very well organized and prepared to make the most of the time we had with them. They were friendly and made everyone comfortable, which showed in our final photos.
We received our final set of photos and were extremely satisfied with the results which allowed us to relive all our our favorite moments.
My wife and I would recommend Val and her team to anyone looking to have their special moments captured.
A lot of decisions go into wedding planning — more than I ever anticipated. And in the thick of decision making, things are hazy and it’s difficult to understand the weight of selecting certain vendors. That being said, having Valorie as my photographer was hands down one of the best decisions I could have possibly made. Her natural photography style combined with her eye for detail has let me relive some of my favorite wedding moments over and over – even the moments I didn’t know were happening. One of my most treasured photos from my wedding day was a moment Valorie shot of my dad and I admiring the venue space before the reception began. Taking in the calm before the storm, he snuck me a kiss on the cheek and unbeknownst to me, Valorie was in the corner capturing it all. And that’s why she is your girl – she’ll be sure to capture get the big moments of your wedding day, but she’ll also capture delicate minutes that you didn’t even know you were waiting your whole life to experience. She’s the extra pair of eyes that you want on your special day, and she’s the kind of person that you want on your team always. A good photographer is one thing, but a great photographer who’s an even a better person is another, and Valorie is just that.
Wow! Where do I even begin? Valorie is not only a gifted photographer, she is a remarkable human. The three of us never met in person until our wedding weekend and it was so natural and perfect. We knew Val was going to be great, but didn't realize to what extent. Her assistants are great. Her communication was great. Her personality is great. And, the photos are absolutely breathtaking. Val had such a calming presence on an emotional day. We will forever hold onto her genuine appreciation to play such a large role in capturing our wedding. This is more than a client relationship; it's now a friendship we will cherish for life. Thank you Val & Team!
Valorie was incredible to work with from start to finish. Not only is she insanely talented, but she brings such joy to the wedding day. I would highly recommend the investment.
We can't recommend Valorie Darling and her team enough. Vanessa shot our engagement photos and we loved her so much that we brought her back on for the wedding itself. They caught every moment perfectly, made us feel super comfortable and were great with time management and large families. The photo turn around was so quick! We had them up on our walls so quickly after the big day itself. Do your wedding a favor and hire them.
We are so grateful to have had Valorie Darling as our wedding photographer! She was on time, professional and made everyone feel comfortable, which was reflected by how beautifully the pictures turned out. She made everyone feel at ease on a day that can feel overwhelming and hectic at times. We are so grateful for the beautiful moments she captured and will treasure them always.
Valorie Darling is the most skilled and hard-working woman I know! She is unbelievable at what she does and she is able to capture a moment in time just flawlessly. She is outgoing and bubbly— she makes everyone feel so comfortable in front of the camera. You won’t be able to find another photographer as amazing as she is!
Not only is Valorie the sweetest person to work with, she is beyond talented! Her photos are truly magical and no detail goes unmissed. She has such a good energy that makes you feel like you've been friends forever and gives great direction so you're never wondering what to do next. As someone who judges themselves harshly in photos, I am happy to say that I love every photo from the engagement, boudoir, and wedding sessions.
Valorie is really the best of the best. Her pictures are absolutely stunning, and she is the best person to loosen you up and get great photos. She is also is so kind, and she is the exact person you would want to spend your day with!
We are so grateful to have had Valorie photograph our events this last year from engagement photos in the snow, boudoir session & our wedding. She amazed us, her personality is so welcoming & fun she makes it so easy to feel comfortable when shooting with her.
Everyone at our wedding had nothing but kind words about her and how well she did. We couldn't have made a better decision on choosing her to capture our day. Looking forward to shooting with her in the future. She is simply amazing.
Where to begin. I had the opportunity to work with Valorie on a recent wedding in Oregon and to say it was the most amazing experience would be an understatement. Her communication is unlike any photographer I have ever worked with and as Planner I am so grateful for that as timelines are our best friend and it is common we sometimes spend up to a year to curate them. She is kind, friendly, a breath of fresh air to be around and everyone gravitated to her, making the photography experience one to not be forgotten. Her ability to interact with family and friends and adjust to different audiences was really neat to watch. Can't wait for the opportunity to work with her again and it will be one of your best decisions to hire her for your wedding day
If we were able to give Valorie more than 5 stars, we would. She absolutely killed it as our wedding photographer. We searched far and wide and are so glad we were connected with Valorie. She was able to capture the essence of our wedding day like no one else could. It seems like she was absolutely everywhere capturing every moment and not missing a beat. From the portraits to the candids to the detail shots. We will cherish our photographs for the rest of our lives!
Kuczinski
Is there such thing as a 10 star rating on here!?! Where do I even begin?
Valorie, who we now consider a friend, was our favorite part of our wedding experience. From the moment that I spoke to Valorie on the phone, I knew that she was "THE ONE!" (Like they say, when you know, you know)...
I want to express our deep gratitude for all of the amazing work that Valorie and Vanessa put in for our wedding day! They made our day truly magical. We couldn't have imagined it going more perfectly than it did. Valorie helped make our day run smoothly, and on time, as her hard work and organization is very much recognized and deeply appreciated! <3
Valorie and Vanessa had a major impact on now our favorite day ever as well as on our hearts. We felt a connection with Valorie from day one, and are so beyond grateful that she was a part of such a special time in our lives. Valorie's beautiful photos reflect the type of person that she is: Beautiful, sweet and perfect in every. single. way!
When my husband and I received our engagement photos, I cried some serious happy tears! Valorie captured not only the most beautiful photos that I've ever seen, but captured a feeling along with them.
I would HIGHLY recommend Valorie to anyone and everyone. We are over the moon with our experience and CAN not wait to have Valorie capture more of our special moments in the future. <3
My wife & I knew it from the moment we saw her portfolio she had the skills to capture our dream wedding. There’s a style Valorie brings that is so personal and professional, she just get it. She made us feel so comfortable and made the process so much fun. Her approach to the whole day was abundant with enthusiasm and joy, and radiated confidence that gave us the poise we needed to take great photos. Her spirit made the day that much better. We honestly couldn’t have dreamed up someone with better qualities to capture our wedding.
Valorie is the best wedding decision you will make.!!! As a wedding coordinator and designer, I've worked with many photographers through the years and Valorie quickly became my favorite- and our couples' too- for a number of reasons! A photographer is with you on some of the most intimate parts of your day, and it's crucial to have a great rapport and dynamic so that you feel at ease in front of the camera. Valorie truly is one of the sweetest most kind hearted people I know, and she has a grace about her that always makes everyone feel their best. She is an insanely talented photographer. Her work speaks for itself! But as a coordinator who has worked with many, I especially appreciate her ability to take control of the photography timeline and work hard to capture all the special moments and decor of the day. She has a beautiful eye for details and styles elements creatively. When I receive a gallery from Valorie, it literally brings me to tears EVERY TIME. She focuses on what's important and tells a beautiful wedding story for our clients and documents our hard work and designs in the most romanticized way. We love you, Val!
From the second I saw one of Val’s photos on Instagram I knew she was going to be our wedding photographer and then as karma would have it I found out we were from the same hometown in Washington and had several friends in common. Not only did I fall in love with her photography style, creative eye and charm but my husband and I fell in love with her! She has a way about her that makes you feel like a million bucks in front of the camera and her photos prove just that! Not only did we wake up the morning after our wedding to a sneak peek of photos but 2.5 week’s later we had ALL of them back. We’ve narrowed the 1500 down to 891 that we love, she’s just that good! Not to mention her “work wife” Vanessa who was a dream to work with as well! I wish we could get married every weekend just so we could spend more time with Val! Don’t even question it, hire her!!!
Hard to say it any other way - VAL IS THE BEST. She's such a sweet, bubbly person who takes INCREDIBLE photos. Seriously, I have gotten a ridiculous amount of compliments on my wedding pictures. She's also incredibly fast, sending us a handful of favorite photos the day after the wedding and the whole shebang within a month. I would recommend her to anyone without reservation - she's' worth every penny!
It's hard to express how truly grateful I am for Val and her incredible talent. From the moment I met Val, I formed an instant girl crush as did my family. The decision to have Val capture our special day was an easy one, we bonded over our similar past career backgrounds, attention to detail and love to travel. Val made both my fiancé and I feel comfortable right away and was extremely supportive throughout our entire engagement. During our engagement shoot at a winery in Malibu, Val made us feel like we were hanging out, sipping a little wine and listening to JT while she snapped away. Val will do anything for the perfect light or shot, she climbed vines and hills for us. To say we love our wedding photos is a huge understatement, they are spectacular!! Val truly captured the pure love and joy we felt on our wedding day. Our families and bridal party were so comfortable with her and enjoyed having her be apart of the day. I was over the moon when she sent us a generous sneak peak directly after the wedding and received the entire album shortly after. I've received countless raves on how gorgeous the photos are from family and friends. Val is truly one of the most genuine and kind hearted woman I have ever met. Her energy is electrifying and her last name defines her perfect, "darling".
From the moment my husband and I saw Valorie's work, we knew she was the "one" we wanted to capture our wedding day! Being in the entertainment industry, photography was one of the most important aspects of our wedding. To say Valorie completely nailed it, would be an understatement. From our engagement shoot in Los Angeles to our wedding day (along with our rehearsal dinner) in our hometown in Connecticut, Valorie went above and beyond on every measure. All of the photos came out truly amazing and confirmed our decision to fly her out to the East Coast, instead of using someone local. Valorie is so incredibly talented, laid back, and sweet. She really made the whole process of taking photos on our special day so fun and easy! Even our bridal party, family, and friends were commenting on how wonderful she was on the day of and how comfortable she made everyone feel. Working with Valorie honestly just feels like a friend of yours is taking pictures for you. Not to mention, everyone is raving about how gorgeous our photos came out! We are so happy to have met Valorie and to now call her our friend. We're already thinking of ways we can use her again. :) She really is the best and we cannot thank her enough for capturing our day so perfectly!
There honestly aren't enough positive words I could use to praise Val! Her and her assistant Vanessa are hands down the best duo you could ever possibly have, their talent and personalities are simply one of a kind!! They learn your family dynamics and names of your entire party so everyone feels super comfortable and like they're hanging out with their friends! They know how to get incredible shots without you feeling like you're missing out on any of the fun stuff taking place during your day! Multiple guests commented on how sweet and professional Valorie was and followed up requesting her info the next day!! Val is professional, prompt and is honestly one of the most genuinely sweet people I've ever met! Her attention to detail is unmatched, I absolutely couldn't have picked anyone better for my wedding day! The pictures I've seen are incredible and capture everything we could have ever hoped for and more, we get chills every time we see our photos!! We love Val and can't wait to find more excuses to shoot with her! Thanks for making our day that much more special and capturing everything so beautifully!!
I don't even know where to begin to share my obsession with Valorie Darling Photography. We were initially referred to Valorie by another well-known so cal photographer who was unavailable on our wedding date and truly believe it was fate that we connected!!! My husband and I agreed long ago that Photography would be our #1 priority and we are so, so grateful we met Valorie. Her eye for detail is AMAZING and she seriously feels like a fun, cute friend taking pictures of you on our big day! She's super friendly and so professional. Valorie's style is contemporary, yet also something our parents really liked. (Can be hard to find these days). At the last minute, I also asked Valorie if she could squeeze in a boudoir shoot. This was my first time meeting her in person and she made the experience so fun and made me look so good!!! I can't thank her enough. Everyone says to find a wedding photographer that you are comfortable with and we loved, loved, loved Valorie!!! Her personality, services, customer service, etc. is just the best. We received some sneak peak wedding photos less than 24 hrs after our wedding, which we were able to show via slideshow at a family BBQ the next day; this was a HUGE hit. Our pictures are gorgeous, Valorie got the photos we wanted & what she knew we'd also like, was so flexible and fun and we will never be able to thank her enough. I am hopeful we can book Valorie for our future Photography needs (I.e. Anniversary shoots, family shoots, etc.).
Valorie is the truly the most talented and professional photographer you can find! We feel so lucky that she was able to help capture our wonderful day! Val shot our engagement and wedding photos, and from the beginning we knew that she was amazing. She's great at capturing the natural and candid moments of excitement and emotion without making anything feel too posed. Her photos are beautiful and all my guests and bridesmaids are still raving about how amazing she was to work with.
I cannot express how much I love Valorie and her team. Valorie was INCREDIBLE! I cannot say enough about how much of a PRO she and her team are. I am not the most excited about getting my picture taken so I was a little nervous about how I would feel having a whole day of picture taking ;). Valorie killed it. My fiancé and I felt so comfortable with them and so did my family. Their energy and efficiency is epic. I even woke up to a preview the next morning. Pretty sure Valorie and Co. stayed up all night just to get us a slideshow. SO AMAZING. Now...the pictures... they are amazing quality. Stunning. I couldn't be happier. SO SO SO AMAZING!
Valorie Darling DAZZLES! Her heart is pure gold and her talent radiates out of this world. If you're looking for a photographer, you've found her! My husband doesn't have his photo taken all that often so when we booked our engagement shoot Valorie made him feel totally at ease. She found the coolest spots and worked the lighting just right and helped us pose in natural ways. She also let us be in our own world and took really lovely lived-in candid shots. She uses light in the most whimsical way, you just KNOW your photos are going to be insanely amazing when you shoot with her. We were lucky enough to have Valorie shoot our wedding as well and she captured EVERYTHING flawlessly! And I mean every little in-between moment you wouldn't even think of; like hand holding or looking into each others' eyes when you don't know anyone's noticing! Just the sweetest, intimate moments. Additionally, her attention to detail is unmatched. Things like detecting a random hair in your eye and sweeping it away before you yourself know it or a weird crease in your dress that you can't see. I am so thankful she noticed the little things! Her second shooter, Vanessa was awesome too. Together they covered our entire venue, ceremony and dance party, every guest, and all of our wedding party/family photos spectacularly. Overall, Valorie has a gifted ability to capture you and your significant other's essence in a way that is utterly special and timeless! During and immediately following our wedding, both of our families and friends remarked on her expertise, noting just how skillful she was in capturing every moment, with as much variety as possible. They were all blown away by her and they hadn't even seen the photos yet! I should mention, she is a photographer ninja! There is nothing she won't climb to get the right angle. Thank you, Valorie! These photos are our greatest gift, truly. She has a beautiful, giving heart and it shows in her passion for photography, people and her ever thriving business. My husband and I are honored to have been in front of her lens during the biggest moment of our lives and are forever filled to the brim with gratitude because of her.
I was so lucky to have Valorie Darling capture my special day, I honestly don't know what I would of done without her!! She is a kind and sweet soul, she makes you feel so comfortable and most importantly, beautiful! Our photos are my favorite photos I've ever had taken, and I am so grateful to have them to forever cherish. Valorie is such a talented photographer and someone you will stay friends with forever!! She's truly the best!!!!
I don't know how I was so fortunate to have found Valorie, but fate must have stepped in. In addition to her sweet and charming personality, she is a true professional and was able to capture all the pivotal moments of my wedding. It took me three months find my wedding photographer, but I am so thankful that I never settled for less. Valorie has a dreamy and ethereal feel to her work that evokes warm fuzziness in your heart without crazy filters and over excessive photoshopping. She is truly a gem!
There are so many wonderful things to say about Valorie. Every aspect about her is worth mentioning. When you look at Valorie's photos, they are different from other photographer's. She captures the moment beautifully and naturally, which makes the photograph have a different sparkle than staged photographs. I first discovered her at my friend's wedding when I noticed the photographs were different from others. Valorie captures photos like no one else can. She is incomparable. Not only is Valorie great at what she does but it's her Darling touch that makes her set apart from everybody. She pays attention to the fine details. Lastly, I must mention that your photographer on your wedding day should be someone you trust and makes you feel comfortable. Valorie has the brightest spirit and feels like someone you have known forever. Check out her website, or Instagram and you will not only experience her sweet vibe but you will also be impressed with her beautiful work.
Valorie did both our engagement & wedding photos & we could not be happier with how they turned out. She is professional, creative, fun to work with, and makes you feel so comfortable. Her photos are amazing and captured our wedding perfectly. She is the best ❤
Valorie is awesome! She made us feel very comfortable and got so many great shots from both our engagement session and wedding. She's great to deal with outside of the photography part as well. She communicates quickly and even set aside some cool little wedding keepsakes for us as the day progressed. We'll definitely recommend her when someone asks who they should hire for their wedding!
I absolutely loved Valorie. She is wonderful to work with! Our engagement and wedding photos are so beautiful. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Besides being one of the most talented photographers I have ever seen, Valorie is kind, personable, and full of life and vitality. She brings that same thing out in her subjects and that is shown in the quality of her photos. She is exceptional in every way.
We would give Val six stars if we could!! Exceptional in every way. Not only will you have absolutely stunning photos, but she is a JOY to work with. I work in PR and do a lot of events, so Im very discerning when it comes to photographers and can honestly say she is one of the best in the biz! Neither my husband nor I are the most photogenic. We are camera shy, but we (of course) wanted amazing engagement and wedding photos. Enter Val (who had been referred to me by nearly a dozen people). We went into our wedding very confident because of how incredible our engagement photos were. She has a way of making you feel comfortable and capturing natural and beautiful shots. Val is uber professional and a lot of fun. We had our engagement photos in 3 days (she surprised us by getting them to us 2 weeks early!). The morning after our wedding we woke up to 50 photos as a "sneak peek!" They're ALL amazing. Try to find another photographer who does that! The BEST surprise the morning after our wedding. If you're reading this, look no further. You will not find a better photography than Valorie.
I had the pleasure of working with Valorie when she shot our April 2016 welcome party and wedding in Malibu, California. Valorie came highly reccomended from our wedding planner (Encore Event Designs) and as they suggested, Valorie was fantastic! She and her second shooter were timely, prepared, upbeat, flexible, creative, extremely hardworking and just generally lovely. Valorie took charge in a way that allowed portraits to be efficient and fun. Our family, bridal party and guests also adored her. The images she delivered are stunning. Valorie got every one of the shots we requested and so many more that I never would have thought of (many of which are my favorites from the wedding weekend). The pictures were delivered in a beautiful electronic format that is easy to share with others and displays beautifully on our computers, ipads and phones. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful photographer. Thank you, Valorie!!
I cannot sing enough praises about Valorie! She was incredible, from the first introduction, to our engagement photos, the wedding, and even after! During our wedding, she was so fun to be around, she felt like one of our long time friends which made us and all of our guests so comfortable. She captured all of the details and all of our important moments, she was the perfect piece to our PERFECT day. I could not recommend Valorie enough, our wedding photos were amazing and I cannot stop looking at them! I look forward to having her capture our family milestones in the future!
We cannot express how grateful we are to have found Valorie Darling, she'll definitely be our photographer for life. She exceeded our expectations on our wedding day and beyond. She deserves 10 stars!
Valorie truly lives up to her last name, "Darling." She was a pleasure to work with our engagement shoot and on our wedding day. She made us feel comfortable which allowed our true personality to come through in our photos. Her dedication and determination shows in her work, she'll stand on a cliff or at the edge of a fountain just to capture that money shot. She'll spend time shooting all of the little details, down to the beautiful little bubbles in a glass of champagne!
Val is also a collaborative photographer who welcomed our ideas for locations and poses even if they were elaborate or ridiculous. It's nice to work with a photographer who allowed us to be creative but also offered suggestions and guidance when we needed it.
Our friends and family adored her and can't stop raving about all of the photos that she took over the course of this memorable time in our lives.
I also hired Valorie for a boudoir shoot to gift to my husband as a wedding gift. These types of shoots can be uncomfortable and make you feel vulnerable, but Val listened to my insecurities and posed me in all the right ways to make me feel sexy and confident. Needless to say, my husband loved the images, not to mention that Val was behind the lens :)
If you want someone behind the lens that truly cares and you want amazing images that evoke many emotions and that highlight intricate details, Val is your girl!
Valorie is a ridiculously amazing photographer, and she guaranteed will be one of the best wedding decisions you will make. She's so sweet, kind, professional, quick to respond, and you will look fabulous in every photo. You'll immediately feel at ease in front of the camera...which is impressive, as my husband and I are not usually comfortable with photos. She also kept us right on schedule, which our wedding coordinator loved.
I love her use of natural lighting, and her indoor photos are great as well. My wedding was in the evening in January, so the sun set around 5:30pm. Not a problem at all for Valorie. It rained in the morning, creating an unbelievable sky for our first look photos. The night shots came out great as well. None of the harsh flash photos here.
Valorie is someone my husband Jeff and I will continue to use for family photos, etc in the future. It's been great to watch her career blossom as well, as a few of my favorite celebrities and companies have begun to use Valorie as well (ex: Lauren Conrad, The Little Market, The Stylist LA, etc). All because of her great work and fabulous personality.
I would go as far as to say that picking the right photographer is the most important decision that you will make surrounding wedding planning. The wedding goes by in a blur, and the photos are such a great reminder of the day. I cannot tell you how happy I am that we chose Val to capture our special day. There are so many talented photographers in the Bay Area and Wine Country (where we got married), but after seeing Val's work (and working with her personally on a project), I knew that having her come up from LA was the right choice. Not only does Val know how to "get the shot," but she also knows how to direct everyone in order make them feel comfortable and she gets amazing photos as a result. My husband is pretty camera shy, but Val had him at ease and showing his "real" smile and not his fake camera one :) Her "eye" is outstanding and her sweet and fun demeanor makes her easy to have around. She isn't "in your face" the whole time, but she somehow gets shots that look like she was right there. I would recommend Val to anyone who is looking for an amazing photographer.
The bright and bubbly Valorie was an absolute pleasure to work with, and her photos of our wedding bring a smile to my face every time I look at each perfectly captured memory. From putting me at ease during our engagement shoot (I've never had to "work it" for a camera before!) to capturing every laugh, tear, funky dance move, and emotional moment on our big day, she and her team were on it. When we had to reschedule our engagement shoot due to rain (these things happen) and again for a wedding-planning catastrophe (these things happen) she didn't give a moment's hesitation. When we handed her a list of every shot we wanted, she got them all and more. When I missed the mother-son dance, she had captured every precious smile. When my sister and bridesmaid lunged at the bouquet, we have a play-by-play to laugh over time and time again. Our photos were delivered on a flash drive time in a beautiful box, accompanied by a few special keepsakes from our day. She is thoughtful, thorough, professional, and just a lovely person. Can't rave enough!
Valorie Darling does it again! There are simply no words to describe the talent she had for capturing all of our moments during our intimate wedding in Seattle, WA. Her work and her personality will astound you. Thank you Val, a million times over!
Valorie was an incredible photographer whose great work, enthusiasm, professionalism and fantastic eye made us happier than we could have possibly imagined. Right when we met her, we knew we wanted Valorie to be our photographer. Her work speaks for itself, but her kind, positive demeanor made us feel instantly comfortable and like she knew exactly what we wanted. We felt like we would be in great hands and we were absolutely right. She shot our Engagement photos as well as our Wedding (and my mother-in-law also hired her to shoot the Rehearsal Dinner / Cocktails), and every encounter we had with her made us feel all the more confident in our decision.
Val works quickly and discreetly - and she always captures the best, most gorgeous shots (a plus for antsy or photo-averse grooms / wedding parties!). She takes great care in setting up each shot and ensuring her subjects are comfortable. We were a bit stiff at first on our Engagement Shoot but she helped us feel at ease and we were so happy with the pictures. On our Wedding Day, she managed to corral our large families and bridal parties, and really seemed to capture the essence of the day in her shots. In addition to getting the venue / setting's natural beauty, she got shots of so many great details and fun moments happening with our guests & families.
In addition to being a fantastic photographer and being completely lovely and personable, Val is also a consummate professional. She managed to blend in at our wedding, making other guests feel at ease and comfortable, all while capturing beautiful and genuine, fun shots of everyone. She could not have been easier or more pleasant to work with.
We really did not know what to expect in hiring a photog, but Valorie surpassed all of our expectations and we are over the moon for our photos. Our families and friends completely loved her too, and I would suggest her to anyone looking for a photographer in a heartbeat. To top it off, her prices are extremely fair, and after both the Engagement shoot and Wedding, Valorie sent us substantial preview files within days which was so unexpectedly nice. I hope we get the opportunity to work with her again!
Valorie is the absolute best photographer I’ve met in my almost 60 years. It’s probably pretty unusual for a MOG to write a review on the photographer, but in this case, I had to as I watched the entire wedding party and guests love having her around, actually enjoying pictures. I don’t know how she manages to have such a positive presence while staying in the background to capture every possible special moment. Although several of our guests wanted her to enjoy the party and dance with them, she gently refused and stayed behind the camera the entire two days (rehearsal party and wedding). She is extremely talented, sweet, easy to work with, really organized, excellent value and very PROFESSIONAL. We left the wedding missing her and within days she sent us a preview of our outstanding pictures. Her work proved that she is a FABULOUS ARTIST capturing all the shots we requested and candid ones that left huge smiles on our faces. I really hope to have a reason to use her again in the near future. I HIGHLY recommend hiring Valorie!
We are overjoyed with every booking of Valorie Darling!! We know we can not only look forward to breathtaking photography, but we certainly look forward to the little spark she packs along with her! She's ready with her camera and wit at every event, ready to draw out anyone's personality and capture it beautifully. Perfect frames, inspiring take on life...it's a gorgeous mix of everything one would hope to find in a Photographer. It is a pleasure to find someone so in love with their craft....and with Valorie, it shows!
Let me start off by saying Valorie Darling is not only a phenomenal photographer but she really spends the time and energy on the details of your event/photo shoot! She was our engagement and wedding photographer and I couldn't have been happier. Valerie took the time to get to know us as a couple and portrayed that well through the camera. I love how she can capture real moments of love and playfulness, along with pictorial shots.
Valorie was also always prepared with either props we could use in our engagement photos to water bottles and snacks on hand for my groom and I on our wedding day. I felt like she double as a wedding planner at times and I love it! I would highly recommend Valorie Darling to anyone trying to find an amazing photographer for their special day!
Loved loved loved! Not only is Valorie such a blast to work with, she is so creative and her photos are extraordinary. She was referred through my wedding planner/friend because of all the positive feedback her clients had given her and having previously worked together, she knew I would be getting the real deal. And I DEFINITELY did! Valorie sweated it out with me in the hot sun,came prepared with an extensive emergency kit that I dabbled in, and even damaged her car going off of a ledge because she was so excited to get the perfect shot. And it didn't even phase her because she was so immersed in us being comfortable and enjoying the experience. She puts her clients needs first, is incredibly kind hearted, and shoots breath-taking photos. Total package and will definitely use again!
I do not know where to start reviewing Valorie Darling Photography as I feel that words can not do her justice! Ever since we got engaged a while back I had kept my eye out for photographers and followed ones that caught my eye, stumbling upon Valorie through Instagram... and I am so thankful I did! Her photos stood out far above all others. Not knowing what exactly we were going to do for our wedding, the one thing I did know about it was that Valorie was my top choice for a photographer no question.
When we decided to elope (after lots of planning around a potentially huge wedding), I reached out to Valorie first thing and feel beyond lucky that she was able to accommodate us. The photos were top priority since we did not invite many people and wanted a way to share the day with all of our friends and Valorie gave us the best photos I could ever imagine! Please keep in mind I do not normally even like photos of myself! She researched and scouted before flying out to work with us in San Francisco, and made sure to hit all my requests/ ideas. She brought amazing energy to the day with her great go with the flow personality and amazing eye for truly capturing the moments. I can not tell you how many sincere compliments we have received about our wedding photos, even from people who don't usually give compliments ha! Literally within an hour of sharing a mini album on Facebook I was contacted by a Bridal Magazine who published some of our photos with in the week! That's how amazing her work is.
Valorie is a wonderful person to have at your big day and also very professional. Her turnaround time exceeded my expectations too, as did everything else she did quite honestly. I can not recommend Valorie enough!
THE BEST. Valorie is a sweet, talented, creative person that I just loved having at my wedding. She helped direct my bridal party and made the photos better than I could have ever imagined. She acted professionally and worked hard--delivering more than I anticipated. She also had a fast turn around time. I've worked with her on Engagement Shoots and other shoots and she always makes you feel comfortable and it is fun!
Val is a childhood friend but even if I didn't know her I would have chosen her based on her amazing portfolio!
I don't love getting my picture taken, but she made the entire day so relaxed and fun that I hardly noticed everything that was being documented. Everyone in our wedding party kept mentioning how great she was! The photos were quick and fun so we could just focus on enjoying our big day.
Then we were so surprised to receive 65 photos as a sneak peak only a couple days after the wedding, which were BEAUTIFUL! We received so many compliments about how incredible the photos were and what an amazing eye Val has.
We love every photo and can't wait to see the rest! I would recommend her to any bride!
Simply put, Val is the BEST wedding photographer you could imagine. I'm a groom and wouldn't normally take the time to write a review, but she is really fantastic and warrants a review. She's not intrusive, efficient and keeps it young, fun and fresh.
I am so grateful that I was able to have Valorie Darling Photography shoot my wedding. She not only captured every important moment, but made all of the bridal party feel so comfortable. She has a great energy about her, and can really connect with the wedding. She was able to be a huge part of the wedding, and I had guests raving about how amazing the photographer was, even months after the wedding. I would highly recommend Valorie Darling Photography for any event that you may have.
Great pictures and close-ups, well lit, creatively shot and choreographed. Great back ground depth and quality work. Nice to work with and pleasant to hang around.
Not sure of the value because I only considered two phtographers. Val was more expensive but does far better work.
Valorie is an amazing photographer!!!
She really listened to what we wanted and captured my husband and I so beautifully! In my wildest dreams, I couldn't imagine having such amazing photos. She has a real eye for moments, and when I look back at them, they are the kind of pictures I could see hanging in my children and grandchildren's living room one day. You could say they tell our story well.
The turnaround was also ridiculous. I have heard horror stories of brides having to wait so long and even having to buy the rights of their own pictures. I didn't even ask her about these things but Valorie gave us a sneak peak right away and I had the rest of the pictures within a week. I was blown away!
Lastly, her energy was light and calm. It's a nervous day for any Bride so I really appreciated her presence! Being a stressball myself, my anxiety was gone within a few minutes.
I would whole-heartedly recommend Valorie to everyone. She is amazing with kids too! Huge bonus for kiddos in the wedding party. I researched plenty and overall, she's exactly the type of photographer you want to trust with capturing the most important day of your life...no pressure right? ;)
Valorie is one of those rare photographers that goes beyond capturing the "stock photos"...Her photos tell a story; light, airy, full of emotion and attention to detail... she truly has an artist's eye, capturing the best of the big day.
All I can say is Valorie is the best! When I first met Valorie and interacted with her, it was love at first sight. She has such a positive and vibrant happy ora about her. She not only was clicking her life away with her camera, but she was creative with all my guests and wedding party photos as well. I can honestly say she probably took hundreds and hundreds of photos.
She is super sweet and a true professional. I could not have stressed the fact more that I wanted many candid shots in my wedding. And Valorie did that with ease. She was really good at not being one of those bothersome photo hogs at a wedding. She was very respectful and very professional when it came to taking photos. I could not have envisioned a more perfect photographer to capture one of the most important days of my life. She took every picture with thought and detail and always made sure she could make everything look beautiful! It came to a point that I was just snickering because there were a few moments that I caught Valorie standing on a table, hiding behind a curtain and in the most odd positions, because she was SOOO COMMITTED to taking the shot in its most perfect form. This photographer is a must hire, and all brides, trust me you will not regret hiring this wonderful warm spirited individual. She will capture life's wonderful moments on your special day.
Photography has always been really important to me. I spent the most time trying to find the perfect wedding photographer than anything else. It's an overwhelming task putting together your big day, but as soon as I met with Valorie I knew I had to have her! I left our meeting feeling inspired and giddy. You can't help but want to be friends with her. She's charismatic, sweet, thoughtful and has a fun but calming energy about her.
She helped us through every stage leading up until the big day... Coming up with the perfect engagement session concept that represented us as a couple, helped us style it and everything so it looked perfect. She even shot way longer than we discussed because in the end she just wants to make you happy and get magical imagery.
Our wedding day was chaotic to say the least, but Valorie was always one step ahead of everyone with a plan and kept our day on track and always reminded us to stop and take it all in. My family and all the guests were raving about her too. I kept hearing, "Your photographer is adorable!" "I love your photographer." haha.
In the end our photos were perfect. They're absolutely timeless and more like works of art! I'm forever grateful to Val for not only making me and my husband look so good, but for the love and creativity she brought to my wedding day. She was the perfect photographer for us and I adore her to the moon and back!
To start off, Valorie is one of the most amazing people I've ever met. She is beyond kind, thoughtful, and truly a wonderful human being. She is able to connect with everyone she meets on such a deeper level and I believe that is why she is so successful at what she does. From the start, Valorie makes you feel so comfortable. She is just as excited about your big day as you are. My husband is incredibly camera shy and the thought of having to take pictures for more than five minutes scared the heck out of him. We agreed that we would shoot for a shorter amount of time than "normal" after the ceremony and Valorie effortlessly shot the most beautiful, touching photos I have ever seen. She was able to capture the pure, raw emotion that was present moments after we professed our love to each other. It was as if my husband and I were floating in our own little love world and Valorie was quietly snapping away at a distance capturing the beautiful moment that we will only have once. I look back at the photos she took and am immediately brought back to that perfect moment. She truly captured everything I was feeling and I know that because of Valorie's photos I will be able to relive that feeling over and over again for the rest of my life.
Val is so special. She is the best photographer in the world because she TRULY CARES. She is so passionate about each and every photo she takes and makes you feel so natural and comfortable. I guarantee you'll become friends with her immediately. (There's nothing worse than having that "cheesy photographer" who is a complete stranger barking orders at you. Trust me, I've experienced many of those at my friends' weddings and there's nothing less personal.) Val is the most caring, fun, and talented photographer I've ever worked with. The creativity that that girl has blows my mind. She is always coming up with interesting, one of a kind set ups to fit your style. Most of all, Valorie believes in LOVE like non other that I've ever met. I truly believe that is why she is so good at capturing it.
My day wouldn't have been the same if I didn't have Val as my photographer. She not only made my husband and I feel like models and so comfortable, the photos were amazing!!! I will cherish them forever! She was so calm and positive, poor thing had to play many roles. Lucky for me I didn't just get a photographer I got a Martha Stewart. She made sure I was hydrated, my lips had lipstick, and she even fixed my train when the button broke off! She was the best decision I ever made...but don't tell my husband that!
Valorie surpassed our expectations. Her personality makes for an unmatched experience. She has an amazing eye for the right photos to capture the mood and ambiance throughout the wedding.
If you are looking for a hard working talented photographer, Valorie is the cant miss choice.
My husband and I could not have been happier with Valorie. From day one she was the sweetest, most professional, delightful vendor we worked with. We never had to worry about a thing because she was so organized and kept us on schedule - which is a lot more than I can say for a lot of our other vendors.
Valorie and I hit it off from the start. It was like working with a friend. She had a great way of keeping us calm and in the moment during the most hectic of days and her pictures truly speak for themselves.
My husband and I got our pictures back within a month - which was a lot sooner than we expected - and wow, we were blown away. Not only were our pictures AMAZING, but Valorie went above and beyond in creating a slideshow of our day and included a meaningful surprise packaged with the pictures. The care and thought Valorie puts into her work and her clients is above no other.
We can't wait to have Valorie shoot our baby pictures.
Thank you, Valorie! You truly are the best.
Valorie was such a terrific photographer... she is so warm and inviting and really made us all feel like this was a unique event! Her work is phenomenal... we were all so happy with the experience and of course the photos!! She captured every important moment and we absolutely would recommend her to anyone!!
Valorie is a beautiful photographer as well as a beautiful person. Though you are hiring someone to capture your wedding day, you're also hiring someone who will make you feel at ease during any stressful moments, and free to completely revel in your big day. She is the FULL package. She not only loves what she does, she is meticulous and genuinely loves bringing out what is special in you. I've found in the past that some photographers try to coax their vision out of their subject...Val does the opposite, she sees who you are instinctively and captures that thing perfectly.
She's also a total type A in the editing room. Which is a great thing. ;) Every image we received had been given the attention of a masterpiece.
Highly highly recommended! xoxo
Valorie shot our engagement and wedding day photos. She captured every moment of our experience and found subtle ways to help us engage and enjoy the process. She is a joy to work with and our pictures are incredible.
Planning a wedding by yourself is daunting to say the least - even for an 'A-type' personality such as myself. Eventually, something falls through the cracks and for me it was photography. I had completely forgotten about it (I know that seems ridiculous, but the honeymoon was distracting me). My wife-to-be was a reader of the "skinny fat girl" blog, to which, Valorie Darling is an author. She had seen her work, and even though I thought we had zero chance of booking her only 2 months in advance, Valorie made us feel like we were her only clients. It wasn't just that she could take amazing photos (one look at her web-site provides all the assurance you need), it was that she paid attention to every detail. The little things that we weren't thinking about, she remembered. When our wedding day came, we were hoping to get through it unscathed and honestly it couldn't have gone better. There are people and businesses that step up and exceed your expectations. It's rare, but it still happens. Valorie made our wedding better. She was honestly perfect! Thanks so much for everything!
Literally the best pretty penny I spent on my wedding was Valorie Darling & her team.
I flew Valorie out to Texas and it was like she was from the great state herself. She didn't skip a beat.
She is a go with the flow, get the job done, encouraging photographer with the kindest soul. Val made everyone feel like a movie star. Not only is she extremely experienced in her skill but also the warmest person--and this is huge.
Your wedding day is about you & your groom and Valorie bent over backwards to make sure she captured everything on our list, as well as creative ideas she brought to the table.
I had FOURTEEN bridesmaids, so yes, 30 people in the whole wedding party. Valorie was organized and fun and literally captured it all.
My photos are beyond beautiful. I cry every time I scroll through them. It was the perfect day & was beautifully captured through the lens of Val.
I have my wedding day saved forever and also a new life long friend!
Thanks Valorie for your passion for not only photography but your passion for satisfying each client that you work with!
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