WEDDINGS - Magdalena Stefanek Photography

I love photography and often I would like to pause life to enjoy a special moment for just a little longer. I started my journey by photographing nature but was always drawn to weddings and portraits. I've been photographing weddings in Wine Country since 2008. It takes an experienced photographer to make people comfortable in front of the camera in order to capture their true personalities.Planning a wedding is a big task! There is so many things to think about and an experienced wedding planner should be the first person to hire! I've photographed MANY weddings and I can also be a great source of information in your wedding planning process, especially when it comes to photography. I am all about developing a relationship with clients starting from the first phone call until long after your wedding! If you live far away or out of state, I encourage a phone call or video chat. If you are local, I encourage a meeting in person. Comparing photographers only on the packages they offer will not give you enough information when deciding on who to hire. You will be spending most of your wedding day with your photographer, so it is good to know if you feel comfortable around her or him.

My approach to a wedding day is to photograph the event in a photo-journalistic way. In order to tell the story of your special day, I capture plenty of candid moments. During Bride and Groom portraits, I do give some direction and suggestions so you know what to do. But at the same time, I like to make sure you show your real personalities and enjoy the session, so the photos look natural and candid. During formal family portraits, I direct and pose to ensure formal look. I specialize in creative, timeless wedding photography. I put emphasis on communication and preparation prior to wedding day in order to avoid unwanted surprises and plan ahead. My goal is to create a relationship with my clients so they trust me, which allows me to take natural photos showing their real personalities and love between them. While I photograph I like to put my clients at ease and make sure they look natural and are enjoying being photographed. There's no one word to describe my style; it's a blend of photographic styles depending on what part of the day I am photographing.

I am available for weddings, engagements, portraits and events in Sonoma, Napa, Marin and San Francisco and I am starting to offer destination weddings including Europe. Some of the venues I photographed at include: Auberge Du Soleil, Calistoga Ranch, Viansa Winery, Highlands Estate, Depot Hotel, Jacuzzi Winery, Cline Cellars, BR Cohn, Valley of the Moon, Trentadue Winery, Sbragia Family Vineyards, Paradise Ridge Winery, Vintners Inn, Copain Winery, Robert Young Estate Winery, Stone Tree, Trione Winery, Julia Morgan Ballroom, Ramekins, General's Daughter, Landmark Winery, Cornerstone, Tyge Williams, Mountain House Estate, Ru's Farm at Healdsburg Country Gardens, Sweet Lane Gardens, Deerfield Ranch Winery, Redwood Hill Garden, Vine Hill House, The Outdoor Art Club, Viansa Sonoma, Flying Cloud, and various private estates in Sonoma and Napa Valley. I truly love what I do!