Alyssa Vanzo is a Digital and Film Wedding Photographer based in Upstate New York. With passion for experience and intentionality, she aims to create emotive imagery by capturing moments that can’t be replicated. Alyssa Vanzo's work has been described as organic, soulful, and genuine, and her documentary-like approach and keen eye for detail best serves couples who wish to fully immerse themselves in their day.
Do you travel for weddings?
As an avid traveler, I am always excited at the opportunity of traveling somewhere new. I’m most often working throughout my home state of New York between the city and Hudson Valley region, but throughout my years in business, I’ve been lucky enough to photograph weddings all over the US and will finally be making my way to Europe later this year.
How would you describe your style?
Soft, atmospheric, timeless. I want my work to reflect how a moment actually looked and felt, but in the most poetic way possible. My couples are investing in an heirloom; they want to trust they’ll be able to look at their wedding album years from now and attach every image with a genuine, palpable memory.
What inspires you?
More than anything else, I’m inspired by my sweet family – my husband and daughter. They continuously remind me that a moment doesn’t have to be extraordinary or groundbreaking to be photo-worthy, and in fact, more often than not it's the smaller moments with them that I wish I could bottle up and preserve forever. I can only hope that the work I’m doing is accomplishing just this for my couples and their families.
How would you describe your working style?
I like to describe my process as laid back but attentive, honest but artful – I honor each moment of a wedding as they naturally exist, but with an artistic perspective. While I love weaving in my presence through light conversation and engaging with guests, I'm not a highly directive photographer and instead create my best work when I can remain unobtrusive and observational.
Do you shoot digitally, on film or both?
I'm a hybrid shooter so I'm using both mediums at all my weddings. Film photography is included in all of my quotes and naturally mixed in with my digital work.
Do you have custom packages according to individual needs?
I prepare custom quotes for all wedding inquiries. Every wedding and couple is so different, so this process allows us to walk through their vision as a team to decide which coverage options are best suited for their unique celebration.
Where would you love to travel to for work?
I’m finally making it to Southern France this year, which has been my most aspired destination for as long as I can remember. Sometime soon, I’d love to return to one of my favorite places in the world, the UK, and photograph a wedding in the Scottish or English countryside.
Who is your dream client?
I adore working with couples who are sentimental and intentional; they see the details of a wedding as an opportunity to infuse their individuality and express their love for those they invite to be part of the celebration.
These dream couples also aren’t afraid to have a little fun with their details and warmly welcome a spirit of whimsy and playfulness into the day. Their deep love and appreciation for art is evident through their venue, fashion, and other decorative elements, and they value photography that will honor and preserve these carefully selected details for the years to come.
But above all else, they’re not afraid to embrace their true emotions and be fully present. They most look forward to the moments that can’t be planned because they know that in 10, 20, or even 50 years from now, these are the memories they’ll cherish the most.
What is your advice to couples getting married?
When I was planning my own wedding, a good friend told me “focus on the good and the life after, and all will be well” and it was the best wedding advice I ever received. Wedding planning can be stressful, messy, and overwhelming. There is so much inspiration out there and couples are feeling more pressure than ever to live up to expectations. But in the end, none of it means anything if it doesn’t mean anything to you.
Planning something as meaningful as a celebration of marriage should be fun; it shouldn’t take parts of you and instead should ignite you and inspire you. Don’t look for external validation but instead turn to yourselves for inspiration and find the beauty in your unique story, lifestyles, and passions. Don’t be afraid to do things differently, be a little bold, and say no things that don’t sit still in your heart.
Comments