Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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."

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.

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!

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 unfinished work to my clients.

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

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.

I maintain my copyright primarily so that you can view my diverse portfolio of work and know what your wedding might look like with my photography style.

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. Don’t let your photos live in the digital! Contact Sonya for more details.

Please fill out my contact page and we'll get a dialogue going. Let’s chat on the phone or video call and I’ll guide you through the process of my packages and services. It’s also so important to me that we are a good match and that you feel comfortable working with me. Weekend wedding photography packages begin at $7,500, and most clients spend about $10,000. When you’re ready to move forward, I will send the contract and a request for the non-refundable retainer of $2500, to reserve and hold your wedding date in my calendar. Usually once your wedding date is booked, we schedule your engagement session next!