Do You Want Swoon-Worthy Portraits AND Cool Candids?

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We had a feeling when we introduced you to Kelley Raye earlier this year that y’all were going to hit it off, and have you ever. Atlanta-based, world-traveling wedding photographer Kelley Raye has spent the summer chasing wedding magic from Vermont to San Juan with many stops in between, and she wants to come to you next. (And with no travel fees and rates starting at $2,899, you’ll probably be A-OK with that.)

The magic of working with Kelley Raye is that you don’t have to choose between a photographer who excels at candid moments—catching your niece teaching your grandma to wobble, the ring bearer sneaking some cake, that amazing last dance when you were surrounded by everyone you love—over one who takes creative, swoon-worthy portraits. Kelley delivers on both:How exactly does Kelley Raye capture such perfect portraits and sneaky candids? #TRUST. She’ll put you at ease (and get you organized) effortlessly, so you can feel comfortable hanging out with her to make epic portraits together, while trusting her skills enough to allow her to seamlessly blend into your crew to catch the rest of the events as they unfold. As Kelley told us:

I’m so lucky to get to travel to new places and connect with couples who trust that we will work well together even if we’ve only talked via Skype. They welcome me into their homes, to their rehearsal dinners, to their after parties, to their cousins’ wine tastings, to their wedding day breakfasts… it’s amazing to feel and be treated like a part of the inner circle rather than just another “vendor.”
I’ve heard that I make people feel comfortable and confident enough times that I can claim that this is indeed something I do and do well. Whether you are outgoing or shy, everyone is pretty much a ball of loose nerve endings on their wedding day, and when I arrive I make sure that the day stays as stress free as possible. I think something about my presence and personality reminds my couples to relax and have fun (because sometimes it’s easy to forget your wedding day is legit all about you). I also help my couples stay organized from start to finish with the most amazing wedding prep guide ever so there are no surprises (coming from me) when their wedding day arrives.

Kelley Raye is recently engaged herself, and now that she’s seeing the planning process from the other side of the fence, she’s made some updates to her wedding packages to make your life easier. Kelley now offers three different easy-peasy package options, starting at $2899, and not a one of them come with time limits. You get Kelley capturing all the haps for the full day (up to 12 hours) no matter which of her packages you choose. And if you want to add on extra stuff—a second shooter (who happens to be her fiancé!), rehearsal dinner, Instax photos galore—you can do that easily via her à la carte list. And if you’re an APW reader and book Kelley by December 31st, there are no domestic travel fees or a flat $500 for international weddings.

Here’s why Kelley doesn’t charge by the hour:

When I had time limits on my packages I noticed that both my clients and I would sometimes worry about trying to fit everything into 6 or 8 hours, and I would end up just extending my time to make sure every detail from start to finish was covered. I couldn’t just leave my couples hanging! After I get to know people, I don’t want to miss any part of their story. I mean we’re practically family by the end of this thing. I want us to have enough time for mimosas with the maids, amazing couples portraits that aren’t rushed, and your sweet dance moves without sacrificing one for the other. With full-day coverage, we’ll have time for it all and stress can hit the road.

Something Kelley Raye hasn’t changed? Her extraordinary ability to make you and your wedding look super cool, even (especially?!) if your location involves not-so-traditionally glamorous places like, oh, parking lots, abandoned warehouses, and overpasses:When Kelley Raye is your photographer you honestly never have to worry how your wedding will “look” because it will look picture perfect, and it will look perfectly you. As client Katie put it:

LOVE HER! She does a great job of capturing authenticity and honest moments. Nothing felt posed or awkward. Even her pick of location for our portraits was even perfect—could not have picked a better setting for us. Our time was genuinely fun and I think it shows in the pictures. If you want beautiful, honest images, call Kelley.

If you want to learn more about Kelley, her website is pretty rad: her about page includes all the info you could want plus Beyoncé quotes, the FAQ section breaks down her process, and she has a whole gallery of #girlboss portraits that you can look through if you need some career inspiration. Just don’t linger too long before contacting her, because we have a feeling Kelley’s 2017 calendar is about to book up fast.