Stories by Victoria

REAL TALK This isn’t about saving a few bucks or making sure you get a bargain/steal on your wedding photography. This IS ABOUT making sure you get exactly what you need to maximize the value of your budget. I will give you the best example: last week I spoke to a lovely couple who are getting married on New Years Eve. They asked me about shooting past midnight or at least until they ring in the New Year. Any photographer would say OMG YASSSS LET’S DO IT! SO FUN! A p...hotographer who educates their client would say, Is that the best way I could serve this couple? I asked my clients, what are your visual plans to bring in the New Year? Are you going to have a balloon drop or a confetti canon? Fire works? A TV screen that shows the ball drop? A disco ball drop? Pyrotechnics? Basically, how will you tell the difference in the photos between the reception, and the stroke of midnight? Not only did that educate them on their best options for time coverage on their wedding day, BUT it also brought up an even more valuable question: are we going to add something special for this specific celebration on our wedding day? Getting married on New Years Eve is wonderful and special, but it won’t look so if there’s nothing to distinguish the stroke of midnight. Not only did my clients leave our conversation feeling educated and clear about working with me, but they felt clear about moving forward with their plans for that day and making educated decisions. That should be the difference you look for in your vendors pricing: how will this person make my wedding day better/easier/clearer? If you can’t answer that question. You cannot justify the cost. If you want more proof on how I consistently do this for my clients, look up my reviews on @theknot and Google. Follow me for more tips on how to conquer your wedding day and building your team.

Yesterday on a phone call, a client asked me if I only did small weddings. I was surprised to hear the question because I feel like I never do small weddings. I realize I love the aesthetic of a small wedding so I display more elopement vibes. I love the creative freedom of eloping, ESPECIALLY when the couple invites me into the creative planning of the day. My brain is filled with so many concepts I want to do that I share them and try to get them done ...with each of my couples to give them an edge to what they were originally imagining. But I will always be down for a big wedding and this was one of my favorites. Valentina and Solomon had a banger. The venue was so freaking gorgeous but beyond that, their dances and speeches, and tears had me overwhelmed with emotion. I sent my second shooter home and took on the dance floor solo. Something I often do if my couples are looking for some more freedom in their budget. I can handle a dance floor alone and I can cover your full wedding day too whether you have 50 guests or 250. There will always be some adjustments but with the proper expectations you can get amazing wedding photos when I work alone. It's like I'm magic or something. #greenpointloft #weddingsinbrooklyn #bkwedding #williamsburgweddingphotographer #bkweddingphotographer #njweddingphotographer #longislandweddingphotographer #bridesoflongisland #jerichoterrace #theinnatnewhydepark #sandcastlelongisland #upstatenyweddingphotographer #hudsonvalleyweddingphotographer #liweddingphotographer #NYCweddingphotographer #swanclub See more

WOOOOOF! How good is that?! Last month right after a really long morning I remembered I had a therapy appointment so I RUSHED to a private spot at my parent's house and got on zoom. I unloaded so much stress to my wonderful therapist who is too quiet for me sometimes. I am often looking for a cute "girl-friend" response, and he meets that social anxiety with calm, slow, provocative questions. As we continued down on my journey of inner-...exploration I asked the question we all wonder: "Is there one person in the world out there for all of us?" And this wonderful man said: 'if they exist, they are made not met.' And I immediately wrote that down and was like "you are writing my memoir for me, sir." I have had the wonderful blessing of capturing couples, that I feel, make good teams. And I know this because I have walked away from weddings with other photographers, in hives because the couple were so clearly not good for one another. The attitude from the studio was so indifferent that I wondered if it mattered if they were shooting a wedding or a bar-mitzvah. I'm sure the answer was no. I realize I am no one's coach or therapist. But I want to build a brand that represents me and indifference is not one of those traits. Instead it is built with love, care, understanding, honesty, passion, and commitment. Those are the types of people I work with. Your relationship is imperfectly yours, but if it is built with the same stones as Stories by Victoria, then you have found your home. I am excited to capture your wedding and your lives with the same intention: to build soulmates out of each other. See more

This is how I feel about getting my Chin Lipo yesterday. I took this photo while I was second shooting for the first time for my BFF @jessicamannsphotography. It was so FUN to really shoot alongside her. It was a last minute gig when she invited me along and I’m so glad I could make it. Lauren and Daniel were so incredibly sweet and hilarious and I was obsessed with their energy and laughter. Jess and I location scouted for a bit and I was like Mr. Krabs, I have an Idea. I ...showed her an e-session I did a few months ago and boom, magic. I love this location because it’s private and Jess has no clue how to get to it which makes it all the funnier. If Jess and I could join studios I’d be so stoked. But instead we’ll try to work together as much as we can. As for my face, it’s doing alright considering all that it went through yesterday. I can’t wait to see and share my final result. This is something I’ve been asking for foreverrrrr and I’m so glad I could finally do it. Stay tuned for more updates. #upstatenewyorkphotographer #destinationweddingphotographer #intimateweddingphotographer #elopementphotographer #wedventuremag #justalittleloveinspo #elopementphotographer #belovedstories #authenticlovemag #DIRTYBOOTSANDMESSYHAIR #loveandwildhearts #oarsandbeanies #wildandcrazylove #muchlove_ig #WILDLOVEADVENTURES #my_favorite_lovestory #firstsandlasts#wanderingweddings #engaged #northeastphotographer #pennyslavaniaphotographer #paphotographer #engagementsession #couplesession #brooklynphotographer #bkphotographer #nycweddingphotographer #nyweddingphotographer #hvweddingphotographer

This is why we can’t have nice things

Who ate the most pumpkin pie?? I also had it for breakfast yesterday. It was very nice to think about gratitude instead of disaster that came with this year. Also want to acknowledge all the love and commitments made this year that I photographed and witnessed, quite frankly moreso than I enjoy the reception. There was so many silver-linings to a cloudy 2020 and we're all realizing that. My mind thinks I'm an idiot, but my heart is... a little excited for 2021. Anyone else? There's some joy to be had and I want to hold on to it. I have been a little quiet in my emails and my social but it's because I'm working on so many different things. I know I'm going to need some help soon and hope that in 2021 I can confidently build an awesome team. Let's stretch for a happy new year and strive for a kick-ass 2022. WOOOH! (Cheerleading Kick) #greenpointloft #weddingsinbrooklyn #bkwedding #williamsburgweddingphotographer #bkweddingphotographer #njweddingphotographer #longislandweddingphotographer #bridesoflongisland #jerichoterrace #theinnatnewhydepark #sandcastlelongisland #upstatenyweddingphotographer #hudsonvalleyweddingphotographer #liweddingphotographer #NYCweddingphotographer See more