Stephen Mayo Photography
Stephen Mayo Photography is a client centered wedding photography company from Long Island, New York that focuses on providing a unique and customized experience for every couple. We want you to enjoy every moment of your wedding while we work to document your day with timeless images that you’ll cherish forever. Your images are one of the few tangible memories of your wedding, and we’ll create beautiful, emotional imagery so that years from now, when you look at your images, you can relive your joy and happiness with your partner, your family, and future generations.
We want to provide a different experience. This is your wedding, your day, your story. We document couples by getting to know them, providing value based on our experience, and capturing authentic moments throughout the wedding. By understanding each couple, learning about their story and listening to what their dreams are, we provide a tailored and luxurious experience for each couple.
We take the time to really get to understand every couple so that we can capture the emotion and joy of their special day in a way that truly reflects who they are. Our mission is to provide an unforgettable experience – from start to finish – that is uniquely tailored to each client.
We started our business because we knew that we can provide something different, and after working with many couples, we have shown time and again that the relationships that we build with our couples are the key to creating the images you want.
Our approach is centered around capturing the special moments that exist between you and your partner. Every couple has a unique love story that deserves to be documented in its own way. By understanding the wants and needs of every couple, they can be fully present enjoying each other, their guests, and celebrating their wedding while we create the imagery that will document their beautiful day.
Skills
Lightroom / Natural Light / Off Camera Flash / Photojournalism / Photoshop
Curated Galleries From Stephen Mayo Photography
Browse our hand selected collection of imagery from Stephen Mayo Photography for your wedding inspiration. Click into each image for the full view
FAQs
What inspired you to become a wedding photographer?
Every time I capture a wedding, I know that I’m capturing memories for a couple, their relatives, and their future family members. That is on my mind every time I pick up a camera. I love working with people, understanding exactly what they want, and helping them document their weddings. I wanted to become a wedding photographer because I find creating artwork that is part of a family’s legacy very fulfilling.
I find the entire process very fulfilling – from meeting a couple for the first time, to learning about their dream wedding, to their engagement session, the planning meetings, the wedding day, and finally showing a couple their images – it is all very satisfying.
I have the technical skill required, I love capturing the emotion of a wedding day, and I love working with people. So, wedding photography was a perfect fit.
How would you describe your photography style?
My style is on the lighter side with true-to-life colors. I believe that makes for authentic images that highlight the emotion and connection within an image. I look to create natural, raw expressions of emotion that captures fleeting expressions and that focus on the couple. I use light many different ways – often to complement and enhance the natural light in the scene, but I also use light creatively when appropriate or when making a special effect.
I think a lot goes into style in addition to lighting, editing, composition, and camera settings. Posing and expression are just as important. I teach couples in detail how to look their best in front of the camera with natural and effortless expressions.
My work is consistent from couple to couple, but it is also very important to me to get their input to find what speaks to them the most. I have couples go to my website to pick 5-10 images that they like and tell me why. All of this helps me to focus what is important to the couple along with my overall style.
How do you ensure that your clients feel comfortable and relaxed during the photo shoot?
It is so important for couples to feel natural during their photo sessions. No one wants to feel posed or awkward on their wedding day, and it is my job to make sure that they don’t. This is why I include an engagement session with every wedding collection. This allows for three very important things. The couple gets great imagery they can use for al of their wedding planning and social medial. But, to me, I get to teach them how to pose in a low-stress environment. I can give them some general principles as well as posing advice specifically related to them as individuals and as a couple. From there, I don’t even use the word pose – I like to say directed. This allows for the natural expressions and body language everyone wants. Finally, the engagement session gives the opportunity for the couple to work with the photographer that will be working with them on their wedding day. This builds trust and familiarity and leads always leads to more and better quality wedding imagery.
How do you ensure that you capture all of the important moments on the wedding day?
Anticipation and planning is the key in capturing all important moments on the wedding day. This starts weeks before the wedding when I sit down with couples to discuss their timeline. I talk through what I’m going to be capturing and where I’ll be at any given point. I make sure I know in advance as many details as possible. I want to know if there will be a gift exchange, if there will be a special moment, the names of the most important family members and bridal party, and unique situations, if there is going to be a choreographed first dance, etc. All of these small details give me the opportunity to capture all of the moments.
I also anticipate. I’m ready to capture the groom’s face when the bride first comes into view. During the first dance, I want to capture the dance, but I also want to see mom’s reaction while the bride dances with her dad.
Planning and anticipation, along with the ability to be very flexible, come together to make sure all important wedding moments are captured.
What is your favorite part of the wedding day and why?
It is so hard to pick one moment of the wedding day because they are all so special and thoughtfully planned. As I reflect on past weddings, my favorite moments have been at various times throughout the day. For some, it was the last dance. For others, it was the first look.
But, I think my favorite moments focus on anticipation and excitement. Often times, this is right as the bridal prep is finishing, the dress is on, and the couple is about to see each other for the first time that day. This also happens right before the first look, or when the bride walks down the aisle and the groom sees her for the first time. All of these moments have heightened emotion. It is during these moments you see how much the couple loves each other.
