This Photographer Will Capture All the Moods of Your Day

From emotional, to joyful, to silly, to rocking dance party, Samantha Gore has it covered

wedding photography by samantha gore

When you’re looking for a wedding photographer in New York City, one thing is going to become immediately obvious: there are a whole lot of incredibly talented photographers out there. The tricky part, though, is finding someone who has a visual style you love with a rate your budget can swing. And that’s where Samantha Gore comes in. Her fine art background, distinctive style and vision, and ability to put you and your people at ease (no joke, she can actually makes group portraits fun), result in killer, quirky photos that are unlike anything we see anyone else shooting—and her rates start at $3,395.wedding photography by samantha gorewedding photography by samantha gorewedding photography by samantha goreSamantha Gore slays at wedding photography because she’s just super into—and skilled at—photographing living, breathing, loving, dancing people:

At weddings I get to create interesting portraits and work as a documentarian, getting to be both an observer and, at times, a director. It is very gratifying. Photographing people is definitely the best thing about my job.

APW readers are really wonderful because I find that they are often looking for a photographer who will make them look like themselves. They want to be photographed in a natural way that’s beautiful and not overly staged. I’m also really good at photographing a dance party! My lighting style is unique, and I photograph it with as much enthusiasm and effort as every other part of the day. It’s the final push, and often it’s the most physically intense. I really get in there, get high, get low, and try my best to truly capture the energy.

Yassss. Lots of photographers say things like, “I shoot with natural light,” like that’s the gold standard of photography. Don’t get me wrong: natural light is beautiful and ideal and all, but the thing is, most weddings end up someplace at some point that has zero natural light. And this, this is where someone who truly understands lighting and flashes becomes the person you really want to hire:

wedding photography by samantha gorewedding photography by samantha gorewedding photography by samantha gorewedding photography by samantha gore

Plus? Samantha works with color in a way you don’t often see—to the point that her couples sometimes hire her just because of her color-focused skills:

I’m also good seeing and working with color. The color in my images is something couples mention often when they meet with me, and many times it’s the reason my work has stood out to them. Last year a bride bought her wedding dress after hiring me and said she chose it based on my work, and my style and her dress were a lovely combo.

And let’s not forget what I said about making group portraits fun. This is a skill that… not everyone has. (There’s a reason that people dread this part of the day.) But Samantha is a genius at making this a relaxed, fun hour where everyone mingles and chills and enjoys each other, and the result is that you get photos that actually look like the people you love, making the expressions you love, instead of standing stiffly posed like department store mannequins. I mean:

wedding photographer in new york and texaswedding photographer in new york and texaswedding photographer in new york and texasSamantha Gore offers three wedding packages. All packages already include sales tax, and her most popular packages include a second shooter (at rates, ahem, that usually only cover one photographer in New York City).

Essential Coverage: $3,395

  • Six hours of continuous wedding coverage
  • Fully edited, high-resolution images
  • Password protected image gallery

full coverage: $4,295

  • Eight hours of continuous wedding coverage
  • Second photographer
  • Fully edited, high-resolution images
  • Password protected image gallery
  • Engagement portrait session

Ultimate coverage: $5,195

  • Unlimited wedding day coverage
  • Second photographer
  • Fully edited, high-resolution images
  • Password protected image gallery
  • Engagement portrait session

Additionally, Samantha Gore also offers rehearsal dinner coverage ($900), stand alone engagement sessions ($500), additional hours of coverage ($300 each), two hours of elopement coverage ($700), and museum quality custom prints and archival wedding albums (rate varies). At this point, you might be bumming out because you don’t live in New York City (or aren’t planning to get married there). To this, I say HOLD UP: Samantha Gore doesn’t charge travel fees to her home state of Texas (heyo!), and her travel fee is just $500 for weddings that are a two or more hour drive from New York City, and $1,000 for weddings anywhere in the U.S. (plus she offers 20% off rehearsal dinner weddings for out of town weddings).

wedding photographer in new york and texaswedding photographer in new york and texaswedding photographer in new york and texasNaturally, we aren’t the only people who love Samantha Gore. Her couples can’t stop, won’t stop waxing poetic:

Your photos are captivating. Andrei and I watched the full slideshow twice together last night. We love that there’s nuance to many of them. And the color—yes! You captured the beauty of the day beyond what any words can convey.

wedding photography by samantha gorewedding photography by samantha gorewedding photography by samantha gore

So, what say you New York City (and Texas)? I think it’s time to get busy doing the thing. Get lost in more of Samantha Gore’s specific brand of offbeat, fun, and essentially just cool wedding photography, check out her portraits (just because), and when you’re ready to, get in touch and start discussing the many ways she will rock your wedding.

APW SPECIAL! SAMANTHA GORE is offering $400 off TO APW COUPLES WHO BOOK BY MAY 31!

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