tell me everything
SOME PHOTOGRAPHS show you
WHAT Happened.
the best ones remind you how it felt
nyc and destination wedding photographer
your only job
is to live it
Everything about your wedding exists for a reason
get in touch
Every wedding has beautiful photographs.
What makes one wedding different from another are the people, the relationships, and the moments that could only happen at yours. My job is to bring them together into a story that still feels true decades from now.
mine is to make sure
you get to see it again.
as seen in:
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engagements
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elopements
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weddings
I’ve photographed enough weddings to know that the best photographs don’t happen because someone smiles on cue. They happen because people feel comfortable enough to be themselves.
That means knowing when to give direction and when to stay quiet. It means understanding family dynamics, reading a room, anticipating moments before they happen, and recognizing the difference between a beautiful photograph and an important one.
Some photographs will end up framed on your wall. Others will become family history.
My job is to make sure you have both.
THE CAMERA is only part OF MY JOB.
01 / 04
- stephanie
She is one of the most talented, amazing, and professional photographers we have ever come across. After we shared her blog post of our wedding showing a preview of the photographs, everyone commented with the same response: "Those are the best wedding pictures I have ever seen".
In a market flooded with wedding "photographers" Susan stands out far above the rest. She exceeded our expectations and captured the emotion of the day perfectly. Her usage of lighting and her composure of the images are incredible. If you are looking for a wedding photographer, stop, and hire Susan. You won't regret it.
“If we could give susan stripling 10 stars we would say that isn't enough.”
Giandos on the Water, Brooklyn, New York
married
- stephanie & sal
02 / 04
- erika and ryan
After reviewing what seems like thousands of portfolios of work from other photographers, we can truly say that Susan's shot composition and overall aesthetic are unrivaled. Susan possesses this innate ability to identify pockets of light that make for dynamic and dramatic images without a heavy handed edit. Each shot in our respective collections feel truly unique as Susan plays with depth, focus and changes lenses and cameras frequently in order to create pictures that are one-of-a-kind, even if they're shot against the same backdrop.
Beyond her artistic ability (her pictures speak for themselves) Susan achieves the perfect balance of charming and professional! Our rapport grew during each of our shoots and she made us both feel so at ease, that getting organic looking pictures was a breeze.
“Susan Stripling is an absolutely essential hire for you and your partner.”
Brooklyn botanic garden, brooklyn, New york
married
- erika & ryan
03 / 04
- Michelle and Andy
As creatives ourselves, we wanted a photographer who did more than just capture our wedding; she made ART that is timeless and unforgettable.
But don’t be intimidated, she’s one of the most down-to-earth, easygoing, and delightful people I’ve ever met. We had so much fun with her and were honored to have her as our photographer.
“We love susan's style: dramatic, ephemeral, and so playful.”
- michelle & andy
George Peabody Library Baltimore, MD
married
04 / 04
- bridget
I'm notoriously long winded so will try and be as brief as possible. Susan is awesome; her assistant is awesome; even her dog is awesome! She was easy to work with, professional, and creative. We felt like celebrities doing a photo shoot during our first look around Philly! The photographs Susan took are beautiful, we love them and we've received so many compliments on them.
Many of our guests and friends are now following Susan on Instagram--I recommend to anyone reading this to spend two minutes right now and check out her gorgeous photos of the Hamilton cast and you'll see for yourself that the 5 stars are well deserved. The value we received for the price we paid was well worth it. If only Susan was there to capture all of life's big moments! I would highly recommend Susan to any couple looking for a wedding photographer.
“There isn't enough space for me to express my gratitude to Susan for shooting our June 4th wedding at XIX in Philly.”
Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, Philadelphia
married
- bridget & harry
more about me
I’ve been photographing weddings for more than twenty years, and I still love walking into a room full of people I’ve never met before. By the end of the night, I usually know who’s going to cry during the speeches, who’s keeping the dance floor alive, and which little kid has decided I’m acceptable company.
Before I ever became a photographer, I studied theatre. I thought I was learning how to perform. Looking back, I think I was really learning how to watch. Every person changes the scene, whether they’re speaking or not. I think weddings work the same way. I’m just as interested in the relationships as I am the portraits, because that’s where the story lives.
When I’m not photographing weddings, I’m usually swimming laps, reading something I can’t put down, watching horror movies, spoiling my dogs, or trying to keep Lucy, my criminal cat, out of jail. Tripod, my three-legged cat, is far less interested in a life of crime. (The dogs remain under investigation.)
If you’ve made it this far, we should probably introduce ourselves properly.
