Your love story is one for the books.
When they said a picture is worth a thousand words, they were talking about photos like these. I specialize in wedding photography that tells a story with a mix of artistic editorial portraits and genuine candid moments. These photos will transport you back in time, and serve as the official record of your wedding day.
INQUIRE ABOUT YOUR DATE
There's a story
in every frame.
My Philosophy
Your wedding day is full of moments — big, small, and in between — and I’m here to capture them all as they unfold. My approach centers your celebration, not a shot list, so you can stay present with your people. Every image tells a story of your love, rooted in honesty, intentionality, and vulnerability.
Tess has a natural talent for capturing the magical, candid moments.
"Every time I walk into our dining room, I feel like I am reliving our wedding via all the amazing photographs she took. She's also wonderfully welcoming to queer couples, great with dogs and kids and is the definition of a seasoned professional. Hire her, and you'll be over the moon with the memories she delivers."
- bobby & eric
the TLP experience
what to expect
Consultation & Custom Proposal
01.
Once you submit an inquiry and I've confirmed I'm available for your date, we'll meet over Zoom to get to know each other and talk about your vision for your wedding. After the call, you'll receive three customized packages tailored to what you shared on the call. You'll pick your package, sign a contract, and pay a 25% deposit to lock in your date.
The engagement session
02.
All full day wedding packages include a complimentary engagement session. I help you plan a photo session that is both fun and uniquely you. It's an opportunity for us to get to know each other, ensure you feel confident in front of my lens, and capture photos that celebrate your relationship.
Planning
03.
I'm with you every step of the way as you plan with vendor recommendations and timeline assistance. You'll receive a welcome guide and planning questionnaire. We'll meet at least one more time to review your timeline and family list before the wedding. I also love to join at least one venue walk through with you and your planner.
your wedding day
04.
My team and I arrive to your wedding, ready to capture the magic! Our focus will be on capturing candid interactions, genuine emotions, and unscripted moments — using the timeline as our guide — and ensuring you have the best time.
gallery delivery
05.
A few days after your wedding, you'll receive a sneak peek gallery, so you have plenty to share with friends and family right away. Within 6 to 8 weeks you'll receive your digital photo gallery that's easy to share with your loved ones.
memory box & fine art album
06.
Every wedding package includes a memory box that contains heirloom-quality prints and a USB drive. Once you get your digital gallery, you choose the prints that go into the box. I also begin the white glove process of designing your book. All TLP albums include up to 80 pages of photo, as well as a custom-designed cover and spine. All you have to do is approve the design!
The Investment
Full day wedding coverage begins at $5,000
additional offerings
Wedding day iPhone content creation + all video captured
Two short form videos edited with iphone content captured
PROFESSIONAL PORTRAITS OF YOUR GUESTS DURING COCKTAIL HOUR
Tess has been such a joy to work with!
"Everything she does, from her online content, to her strategy on wedding day, is geared towards making the couple's day the best it could possibly be. She is patient, kind, and so helpful. I love seeing her work with couples, making them comfortable, and providing wedding insight wherever possible to brides, grooms, and everyone in between. She is such a beautiful soul and I am glad we were connected. I plan to work with her again and again!"
- Cillia of Marion Events
Tess is a dream to work with. She is communicative, timely, kind, and SO FUN to work with.
"Her work speaks for itself, but from a vendor-to-vendor perspective, she is truly fantastic. I always enjoy working with her leading up to the weddings, and on site she helps keep things moving in a fun, easy way. If I could leave 6 stars instead of 5, I would!"
- Molly of Barr Mansion
- Cillia of Marion Events
"Everything she does, from her online content, to her strategy on wedding day, is geared towards making the couple's day the best it could possibly be. She is patient, kind, and so helpful. I love seeing her work with couples, making them comfortable, and providing wedding insight wherever possible to brides, grooms, and everyone in between. She is such a beautiful soul and I am glad we were connected. I plan to work with her again and again!"
Tess has been such a joy to work with!
- grace + kevin
We didn’t want fabricated poses that would take precious time away from us and our moment with family and friends, or which would make us feel awkward or like our wedding photography was a chore. One of the beauties of documentarian-style photography is that you get to look back at those pictures and relive the moment, laugh at the same thing you were laughing then, and laugh some more at yourself.
We just focused on us... and Tess literally told our wedding day story by the minute photo after photo.
- Sam & christian
Not because of any editing, but because she captured our beauty and love for each other exactly as we are. Though Tess did put in so much time and effort into knowing me and my husband as a couple, it doesn't matter how intimately you know your subject — without talent, without having an eye for precious moments and framing and being able to anticipate a shoot's big moments, there's no way you can do what someone like Tess does.
Tess captured exactly how I felt that day.
What makes your approach to weddings different?
I have a documentary approach to weddings, which means I focus primarily on photographing your day as it really happens. I don't pose you to pretend something is happening organically if it isn't actually happening. Instead, you get to focus on being present! I do still take posed portraits and group photos.
Yes! I have equipment and liability insurance that is required by many wedding venues. If your venue needs to be added to my policy, just let me know.
Our venue requires Liability insurance, do you have that?
Are you enthusiastic about serving LGBTQ+ couples?
YES. I love my LGBTQ+ couples and I can't wait until we live in a world where you don't have to ask this anymore. Tess Leslie Photography is LGBTQ+ Inclusive Certified by EquallyWed, which means I've taken a training to learn best practices while serving the LGBTQ+ community. Of course, if you have any feedback on ways I can be a better ally, please let me know.
All wedding package sales are final. When you book a wedding date, that means I am saying no to other couples and potential work. I will try my best to accommodate a new date. If I’m already booked on that day - or if something happens to me that makes me unable to photograph your wedding - I will send an associate photographer with a similar approach in my place, and I will still edit the photos.
What if we need to cancel or reschedule our wedding?
have more questions? send me an email.
Frequently asked questions
Full day wedding galleries usually include 700+ final images. Photos are ready 6 to 8 weeks after your wedding date and will be sent to you via a digital gallery. You'll also receive a USB drive with a copy of all the photos, and a few of your favorite photos printed on museum-grade photo paper.
How many photos will i receive and when will I get them?
How do you choose when to use film or digital photography?
I like to say that film is just another tool in my kit on your wedding day. Digital cameras do an amazing job at capturing what happened on your wedding day, but film excels at capturing how it felt. I switch between the mediums when it feels right, based on my years experience and the priorities you shared while planning. However, my second photographer is always working alongside me making sure every big moment is captured on both mediums.
Are you comfortable taking photos in a variety of lighting situations?
Absolutely! I love playing with light, and have invested in years of education and equipment to ensure I'm prepared for any type of lighting situation. I am comfortable capturing your day with flash and ambient lighting.
How do you back up our wedding photos?
I photograph every wedding on a digital camera that has dual memory card slots - which means there is automatically two copies of your wedding photos. I back up all of my work on a hard drive, and never delete photos from a memory card until the final gallery is delivered. For film, I keep the negatives and the film scans.