This Napa Valley Photographer Will Bathe Your Photos in Light

From early APW reader to awesome APW vendor

two women in love on their wedding day

When you’re looking for a wedding photographer on APW, it’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll find folks whose philosophy is aligned with yours and ours: There is no single thing you need to get married (other than your partner, and in most states a marriage license/officiant), but you can have (and spend) whatever you want, as long as you do it thoughtfully. Plus, a wedding is a party and a chance to get loved ones together to celebrate your commitment, and all that jazz.

So yes, all the photographers on APW are on board with that thought process, but some of them—like Napa Valley’s Allison Andres Photography—have lived it. When I say Allison Andres gets you guys, I mean she literally is one of you. She was an early reader of APW back when she was planning her own wedding in 2010, she started her business right here, and she has been super committed to the APW community from readers, to fellow vendors, to helping the team with countless DIYs and photo shoots, right from the start.

It also doesn’t hurt that Allison’s portfolio is gorgeous (seriously, it just gets better and better every year), and she’s one of the most customer-oriented photographers and kindest, warmest ladies out there. Allison shoots in the Napa Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area, and beyond, with rates beginning at $1,000 for weekday elopements and $3,000 for weddings (and that gets you 6 hours of coverage). In other words: Bay Area/Napa couples, let’s dig in.
bride and groom under chuppah on their wedding daycouple in washington dccouple holding hands on a dockAllison is a native to the Napa Valley and Bay Area, and is always discovering new things about her home through her work as a photographer:

I have really found my photography happy place. I have had so much fun being able to explore the Bay Area and Napa Valley, seeing new places and chasing great light, photographing weddings, and having long-term relationships with my couples. I’ve worked with so many of my clients as they grow their families and start new adventures. Being able to participate in such joyful occasions and experiences is the best! I really enjoy being able to capture people in their happiest moments.

While Allison is happy to travel for weddings around the globe, most of her work is local, and she likes to connect with her clients on a deep, friend-to-friend level—in person when possible. Getting to know Allison as a friend, wife, mom, and overall passionate and lovely person—rather than a stranger showing up to one of the most intimate days of your life—helps her clients to be comfortable in front of her lens, and helps her deliver shots like these:

happy bride and groom in front of leavesman and woman standing together in lovetwo women sitting together and in loveAccording to her clients, Allison is basically the kindest, sweetest life-saving magician to ever photograph weddings, and we know they’re right, because we hang out with her whenever we can:

Allison really sealed the deal with her personality. She was super organized, yet has a calm, sweet demeanor, and has a great sense of humor. We felt comfortable with her immediately, and felt like she truly understood our vision for the wedding, not what she thought the vision should be.

My wife and I really appreciated how calm she was while keeping the photos moving and keeping the wedding party organized. At one point, Allison stopped to fix something on my wife’s dress, and before either of us knew anything was wrong, Allison had freed a wasp that had gotten caught inside the dress’s layers. Handled any other way, that could have easily ended very differently.

Allison turned our not-practiced (should-totally-have-practiced) first dance into an intimate moment, and my dad’s borderline inappropriate speech into “just one of those moments where everyone is laughing.” That’s what she does. Magic.

bride standing with grooms partycouple standing togethertwo flower girls throwing petalstennis shoes and wedding gownsWedding coverage with Allison Andres Photography begins at $3,000 and includes 6 hours of coverage:

elopements: $1,000

  • 4 hours of coverage
  • Complimentary 8×10 print
  • Availability: Monday–Thursday only

Wedding coverage: $3,000–4,000

All packages include:

  • At least 6 hours of coverage (and up to 10)
  • One photographer (with the option of a second)
  • An engagement session

Allison is awesomely transparent about her pricing, so here’s everything you want to know: you can get additional wedding package options, pricing, and info right here.

bride and groom kissing in front of wedding partybride and groom kissing outsidebride getting ready on wedding daybride and groom kissing outsideI don’t know if you’ve noticed, but can we talk about these flawless, filled-to-the-brim-with-all-of-the-delicious-natural-light-you-can-handle photos? Allison Andres’s goals as a photographer are to capture a you and your celebration at its very best, but in a way that looks and feels real. That means clean and classic processing (and no easily dated filters), and natural and relaxed poses:

Allison gives very good direction on what to do to get the best photos and is a truly talented light-seeker! If there is amazing light nearby that will make great photos, she will find it and capture you in it. She was also very flexible and accommodating with what we wanted. She will capture all the specific photos you want but will also make sure to get photos you never thought of; those actually have turned out to be the ones I like the best. We love her photography style, which is what ultimately drew us to her. Her photos are beautiful but not overly produced or altered, from what I can tell, anyway. They look real, but the best photos of you ever taken.

man and woman in lovebride crying during wedding ceremonycouple standing together at the beachTo sum up: Allison Andres gets you, her portfolio is brimming with all that glitters, and she’s such a sweetheart that there’s a very big chance you will get not just a wedding photographer, but a new friend out of the deal.

TL;DR: How did you make it down here without emailing her already? Go on now, get to Allison’s site—you can learn more about her early photography life (she started shooting at seventeen), her family, and more—and then you can set up a chat and find out how to bring a bit of Allison’s shine into your wedding photos.

Allison Andres Photography shoots weddings all over the Napa Valley and Bay Area with rates starting at $3,000—CONTACT HER FOR YOUR 2017 WEDDING TODAY!

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