WELCOME GUIDE

I’m Gilbert. My job is to capture the most significant moments of your life. I grew up in a very artistic home in the Washington D.C. area; my father has degrees in piano and organ performance and my mother was a music educator for 30 years. As the youngest child of four, I wanted to be different from my musical family, so visual art became my creative outlet. I found my grandmother’s 35mm film camera in my basement when I was 16 and quickly became obsessed with taking photos. In college, a coworker of mine asked me to photograph her wedding that was one week away because her photographer cancelled last minute. I didn’t even know what I was doing, but I said yes. I woke up at 4am, drove to upstate New York, shot the wedding, and got back home to Baltimore at 5am the next day. I loved every second of it.

11 years later, I’ve been photographing the most amazing couples all over the country and internationally. I cannot be more thankful for this job as an artist and as a business owner.

Hiring a wedding photographer can be a daunting task, I understand. When shopping through wedding wire or the knot, it seems that photographers are a dime a dozen. I’ve found in my years of being a wedding photographer, there are two most important aspects: trust and connection. As a photographer, I will be spending more time with you than even your family. I want us to feel like we are old friends on your wedding day—I make it my goal to make my clients feel 100% comfortable to be themselves around me. To do this, I want to get to know you! Let’s have an engagement session, FaceTime, or just get some coffee (happy hour?). I want you both to know who I am, and trust that I will deliver the best product.

Why Me?

Before your wedding, I'll help you plan out your timeline, talk about your artistic vision, and any other questions. I'm always happy to help talk through important decisions (because there are a lot of them). There are so many unknowns when planning a wedding; I love to make myself available to help work through those and share my experiences from the over 100 weddings I have photographed.

After 11 years of being in the industry, I’ve made connections with hair and makeup artists, musicians, venues, caterers and event coordinators. In planning your wedding, I can give you recommendations for vendors who excel in their craft and will make your day a complete success.

PRICING

Below you will find the low down on pricing. SUPER IMPORTANT: These packages are a starting point to find the perfect package for you. I want to know what I can do for you. I am happy to discuss your budget and create a custom package that fits your needs. I completely understand that people and budgets do not always fit in a box.

A la Carte Add-Ons

• Engagement Session: $700

• Elopements: Starting at $2,500

• Second Photographer: $150/hour, 5 hour minimum

• Extra Hour of Coverage with Gilbert: $700

How to Book

When you're ready to book, or to ask more questions, shoot me an email! I'm happy to answer any questions you may have, and we can set up a time to FaceTime or meet in person before booking if you'd like. Wedding dates are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once you've decided you're ready to book, I will email a contract over that we can sign electronically. I always send my contract as early as possible so that you can review and be certain that we are both protected. And yes, I’ve had a lawyer-lawyer couple approve of my contract (phew…).

As the payment goes, a 25% retainer fee must be paid at contract signing in order to reserve your date. The remaining 75% of your wedding photography fee will be due the day of the wedding.

The contract is signed digitally, and your digital signature is legal and binding, so there's no need to print or mail anything! You can print or save the final contract for your records (I do the same thing). You can pay your retainer or your final payment with Venmo/Cash app, check, or cash.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been a photographer?
I’ve been taking photographs for 14 years and photographing weddings professionally for 11. My work has also included fashion, nonprofit work, and photojournalism, including award-winning coverage of the 2015 Baltimore uprising.

What equipment do you use?
Canon R5 and R6 bodies and a collection of prime lenses. Film cameras include a Mamiya 645 Pro, Yashica T4, Bronica Zanza, Olympus XA, and a Polaroid

How far in advance should we book?
Most couples book 6–16 months before their wedding, with popular dates filling fastest. Once you have your date and venue, I recommend reaching out as soon as you know you'd like to work together.

Are taxes included?
Yes. All applicable taxes are already included in the collection prices.

Do you charge travel fees?
There are no additional travel fees for most weddings in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Northern Virginia, or New York City. For celebrations farther away, a flat travel fee may apply based on transportation and lodging needs. Any costs will always be discussed before booking.

Do you photograph destination and international weddings?
Absolutely. I photograph weddings throughout the U.S. and internationally and am always excited to travel somewhere new. Tell me where you're headed!

What if we're not sure how many hours we need?
That's completely fine. Coverage can be adjusted as your timeline comes together, as long as changes are finalized before your final payment is due. I'm also happy to help you decide what makes sense for your day.

How many photographs will we receive?
I don't place a limit on the number of photographs I deliver. After removing duplicates, test shots, and images that don't meet my standards, you'll receive the full story of your day—typically around 50–100 images per hour of coverage.

We hate having our photos taken. Are we going to look awkward?
Most of my couples feel this way! I'll offer direction when you need it, but I won't spend your wedding day forcing you into poses. You'll move, talk, laugh, and spend time together—and eventually, you'll probably forget I'm there. That's usually when the best photographs happen.

Do we need a second photographer?
Not necessarily. I photograph weddings solo often and am completely comfortable doing so. A second photographer can be helpful for separate getting-ready locations, simultaneous events, and additional perspectives. I'm happy to recommend what makes sense for your particular day.

What if you've never photographed our venue before?
New spaces are creatively exciting. I research every venue beforehand and, when necessary, visit ahead of time. A good photographer should be able to create beautiful, meaningful photographs wherever your wedding takes place.

What if you've never photographed a wedding like ours?
It's an honor to be invited into celebrations and traditions different from my own. I've photographed weddings across many cultures, religions, and backgrounds, and I approach each one with curiosity and respect. If something is particularly meaningful to you, I want to know about it.

When will we receive our photographs?
Your complete wedding gallery will be delivered within eight weeks of your wedding day.

How do you protect our photographs?
Your photographs are backed up throughout my editing process, and I retain your final gallery files for one year after delivery. I always recommend downloading your complete gallery and creating your own backup once you receive it.

The Engagement Session

I get it. You really don't like having your picture taken (I am totally in the same boat). And to be honest, engagement sessions are a somewhat recent trend. Our parents certainly didn't do them—my parents only have 30 prints from their wedding. Aside from having some extra pretty pictures for your Insta, there are some really solid reasons to consider an engagement session.

• It’s the best opportunity for us to get to know each other and for you to be comfortable with me behind the camera. I always start my engagement sessions with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine (with my camera in the bag). I want to get to know you on a personal level before we go on our shoot; it makes for better pictures—but more importantly, I want us to have a connection.

• It's also a great opportunity to get those photo shoot nerves out of the way. Once you get into your engagement shoot, you'll find (I promise!!) that it's not nearly as bad as you thought it was going to be. And once it's over, you'll realize that you already have a leg up on your wedding day photos because you know what to expect and you'll be that much more at ease when it comes time for your bridal portraits.

• On a practical note, you'll have photos to use for any engagement parties, save the dates if you want, or any other kind of announcement you may want to make!

• And yes, Instagram. #Isaidyes

• ADDED BONUS: Please, please. If you have a dog/cat, lets bring them in the photoshoot (see my “dogs” page on the website).