Will my wedding pohotos be available to view online?

Included with my packages is an online, password-protected gallery for your viewing, sharing, and enjoyment! Additionally, you can order prints directly from the gallery if you like. The gallery is available for one year, but I'm happy to extend that at your request.

Do you charge for travel?

Since I'm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, I include 100 miles of driving from San Francisco with my packages. If you are planning a destination wedding, I request my basic expenses of travel and accommodations to be covered, but I don't charge extra for travel or travel time.

Please fill out my contact page and we'll get a dialogue going. Once you select a package from my wedding collections, I request a signed contract and 50% non-refundable retainer to reserve your wedding date. I look forward to hearing from you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sonya travels to weddings all around the Bay, Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, and your destination wedding.

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What is your photographic style?

Capturing and creating photos throughout your wedding day engages different styles of photography that I have developed over the years. My style is a blend of free-flowing documentary, a touch of the classic, and an edge of modern. To get those stunning portraits, I will often go for a more classic style, but as I photograph candid moments, my style becomes more documentary. And I do see it as a collaboration: show me your personalities together and I will be sure to capture that! You’ll see me give you direction, but I also like to keep a low profile on your wedding day, which allows me to grab those wonderful candid moments. And I love to push my work creatively, so some images from your day may pleasantly surprise you!

"Do you do wedding photography full time?"

Yes! Photography is my career and passion, and I've been photographing professionally for two decades! The very first wedding I photographed was in 2004 on Mt. Tamalpais, and the bride was my teacher at the Academy of Art University. I continued to photograph weddings while I was studying photography, and began my wedding photography business full-time in 2009.

"Who will be photographing my wedding?"

I am always your lead photographer, and depending on which package you select, I may bring along an experienced second photographer to supplement the photography coverage of your wedding.

"How many photos will I get from my wedding"

I strive for quality over quantity, and my photographic coverage of your day is continuous. I have found that in general I deliver approximately 50-75 finished photos per hour of photographing at your wedding."

"Will my wedding photos be available to view online?"

Included with my packages is an online, password-protected gallery for your viewing, sharing with your guests, and pure enjoyment! Additionally, you can order prints from a professional photo lab directly from the gallery if you wish. And it’s an easy way to share your gallery with guests that may be asking you how they can see your wedding photos. The gallery is available for one year, but I'm happy to extend that at your request.

"Do you shoot in Film or digital?"

I started my journey in photography with film, where I learned how to process it in a lab and make my own prints. These days I photograph weddings in mostly digital format, however I LOVE film and will happily add some rolls to your package if you so desire. The quality of film lends itself beautifully to weddings, and if you'd love to see examples, please just ask!

"Can I have the raw files?"

When photographing digitally, I always shoot into a raw format to obtain the most detailed information possible from each photograph. However raw files are just the first step in my photographic process after your wedding. I spend time color-correcting, contrast-adjusting, and making minor tweaks to every photo so that they will look their best. When you receive your finished, high-resolution jpegs, these are the finished products that I'm proud to deliver to you. The raw files are unfinished, so I do not deliver those to my clients.

"Do you carry insurance?"

Yes, definitely. Many venues require proof of insurance from photographers, and if your venue needs a certificate, I'm happy to provide one.

"Do you keep the copyright of the photos?"

Yes. However I include a photo release with the delivery of your photos that grants full permission to use the photos for your unlimited personal (non-commercial or business) usage.

“Do you offer wedding albums?”

Yes! In our digital era, there is nothing like holding something beautiful and tangible in your hands that you can enjoy for years to come. I believe it’s so important to see your wedding photographs in print! I offer an archival heirloom wedding album. You can choose a variety of covers like leather or silk, in a variety of colors. There is also a stunning acrylic cover option. Contact Sonya for more details.

"How do we book you?"

Please fill out my contact page and we'll get a dialogue going. Once you select a package from my wedding photography collections, I request a signed contract and a non-refundable retainer to reserve your wedding date in my calendar. I look forward to hearing from you!

"Do you include travel?"

I include 50 miles from the San Francisco Bay Area, and after that I may request a mileage reimbursement. If your venue is 2 hours or more away, I might also request a one night accommodation somewhere near your venue. I am available for destination weddings and have flexibility in working with your budget for travel expenses.

What Other Questions Do You Have?

If you have any other questions about Sonya’s wedding photography services, or you have other wedding photography questions in general, feel free to to ask Sonya!

Sonya Yruel Photography behind the scenes at a Lake Tahoe West Shore summer wedding with a bride and groom. — Behind the scenes at a Lake Tahoe Wedding. Thanks Sarah Rittenour for the photo!