turning love stories into art
Emotional, editorial wedding photography for kind, modern couples who want to be fully present
Serving couples worldwide with intention and heart.
You want wedding photos that look amazing - but also feel like you.
You’re planning a meaningful, beautiful celebration surrounded by the people you love.
But with all the noise of wedding planning - the checklists, the trends, the pressure to make everything perfect - it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. Being present, feeling deeply, and making real memories.
You don’t just want a photographer. You want someone who helps you slow down, be present, and take it all in - while making sure the real moments don’t go unnoticed.
That’s where I come in. My approach is calm, intentional, and rooted in capturing the honest, in-between moments that tell the truest version of your story.
Meet Carmela
I’m Carmela - a destination wedding photographer with over 12+ years of experience. I help modern, kind-hearted couples feel supported, seen, and fully themselves - so their photos reflect the real magic of the day.
Whether I’m calming nerves, fluffing a dress, adjusting the timeline, or making sure Grandma gets that hug photo - I’m all in. Always.
Your wedding isn’t just a series of posed moments. It’s the quiet in-betweens, the tearful hugs, the wild dance floor blur - the things you’ll want to relive over and over again. I blend documentary storytelling with an editorial eye to give you images that feel effortless, elevated, and entirely true to you. When you look back at your gallery, I want you to remember how it felt. The joy, the stillness, the chaos, the connection - and most of all, how deeply loved you were.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding day that’s intentional, emotional, and a little bit editorial - I’d be honored to document it.
Let’s make something meaningful together.
Turning Love Stories Into Art
Turning Love Stories Into Art
Weddings
Your love story deserves an unforgettable setting and a destination wedding is the perfect way to turn your celebration into the ultimate experience for you and your guest. Whether you're exchanging vows in a European castle or atop a scenic mountain in Greece, I’ll be there to document every moment of your perfect day. My destination wedding packages are tailored with care to capture the energy and intimacy of your day, whether it's a multi-day wedding weekend with your favorite people or a private elopement that’s just for the two of you. Wherever your story takes you, I’m here to help you remember not just how it looked, but how it felt to be a part of it.
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I truly do not know where to start with praising Carmela! She is every bride’s dream in terms of photography! She came HIGHLY recommended when I was seeking a wedding photographer and I can say hands down she was the best decision we made throughout our wedding. Not only is Carmela crazy talented, she is genuinely the most warm and sweet soul I’ve ever met. She made my husband and I feel immediately like we’d been friends with her for years at our engagement shoot! From there, she kept in touch with us and really sought to understand what types of photos/vibes we wanted for our wedding day! She made a true effort to get to know us as a couple so that it would show up in our photos! When she showed up on wedding day, it was like all my nerves were gone and I felt so calm - she really has the effect!!! My entire bridal party and family adored her and so many people told me how great she was to work with! I had a LARGE bridal party (24) and she so seamlessly organized us quickly and captured the most incredible photos! I would choose her again and again and hope some day she’ll be able to capture us again as a family! She truly is the most talented, genuine and humble person and I adore her!!!
MIKAYLA & CURT
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We are absolutely overjoyed to have had Carmela Joy as our wedding photographer! From the moment we met her, her warmth and genuine passion for her craft shone through. She has an incredible talent for capturing every little moment, making each shot feel truly special and filled with emotion. Carmela has a way of making you feel like a million bucks, effortlessly creating a comfortable and fun atmosphere during the photoshoot. Her sweet demeanor and professionalism made the entire experience enjoyable, and we felt so at ease in front of her lens. When we received our photos, we were blown away—they looked like something straight out of a Vogue edition! Each image is a beautiful representation of our day, and we couldn’t be happier with how she captured our love story. Thank you, Carmela, for your amazing work and for helping us preserve these cherished memories. If you’re looking for a photographer who is not only immensely talented but also a joy (pun intended) to work with, look no further than Carmela!
Yahaira & Colin
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If you’re thinking of using Carmela’s amazing photography skills for your wedding….SAY YES! She took our engagement photos as well. My husband and I were very uncomfortable in front of a camera and during the session she immediately made us comfortable and helped us open up and enjoy the process. When it came to the wedding we already felt 100x more comfortable taking our photos and had a blast doing it. She created my dream wedding album and I can’t stop staring at all the photos she did. Her edits are my absolute favorite- which is what initially attracted me to her work. She is such a sweet fun loving soul and cannot recommend her and her work enough. Thank you Carmela, you’re an absolute gem🩷
Daniela & Stefan
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I don’t even know where to start with how amazing Carmela is as not only a photographer but also as a friend throughout the entire wedding process. The first time we spoke to Carmela on the phone prior to booking she truly radiated her excitement and kindness through the phone! We had no hesitation in booking her as our first vendor and we never ever questioned that decision! She made our engagement pictures so amazing and brought our vision to life so well!! She always was there to answer any questions that we had whether it was about our photos, recommendations, or just simply some validation. She made our wedding day the absolute best and everyone had nothing but amazing things to say about her! It was so nice to see such a familiar and kind face and we always knew that she understood our vision so well. She delivered our photos so fast and we seriously look at them every single day. My husband and I seriously can’t stop talking about how much we loved having Carmela as a part of our big day!! CAN’T RECOMMEND ENOUGH 🤎🤎🤎
Marysa & Carter
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I could go on forever about how incredible Carmela is - not just as a photographer, but as a person! Her work is absolutely stunning, and she was an absolute joy to have by our side throughout the entire process. From our engagement session to our wedding day (and every moment in between), Carmela exceeded every single expectation we had. Her passion for what she does radiates in every photo, and it’s clear how much heart she pours into her work. We’re beyond grateful to have had her capture one of the most important days of our lives. Our photos are something we will treasure forever. If you're looking for a sign to hire Carmela - this is it. You will not regret it!
Sam & Kyle
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The number one piece of advice that I have given my friends that are getting married is, INVEST IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER. Choosing Carmela was easily the best decision my husband and I made for our wedding and engagement photos. We are not the type to be super comfortable around or in front of a camera, but you’d NEVER be able to tell from Carmela’s photos. She instilled this sense of confidence in both of us that I, seriously, think could have only been achieved by her. Her light hearted, energetic, comforting and kind personality/demeanor was a huge game changer for us- especially when it came to our wedding day. We were both SO nervous and emotional that day and her just being in our presence was like a warm hug!!! Now let’s talk about the pictures she took… unreal. I was told by so many people that our pictures looked as though they were straight out of a bridal magazine. I happen to think they’re even better than that! When I look at our photos, I instantly get transported to the moment the photo was taken because she captured the true feelings and emotions of each particular moment and I’ve never been so impressed by someone. We knew our pictures would be amazing just from our engagement session, but our wedding pictures turned out unimaginable. I recommend her to everyone I know that is getting married because she is SOOOO incredible. I’ll never get over her or our pictures. We love you, Carmela!!!!
Justyna & Brady
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I am so happy to write this review and even happier that Carmela was the photographer on our wedding day! We got married in Tuscany, it was a small wedding and the things I care most about was the family & friends at our wedding and the photographs of the day we would have forever. I spent a good amount of time interviewing other photographers, trying to find the right fit but when I spoke to Carmela it just felt like she was exactly who I was looking for. Leading up to the wedding, Carmela was just simply amazing. Going beyond just her role as the photographer, she would check in with me, offer assistance where she could- I was so grateful for all the effort she put in. Now when the day actually came, she was SO much fun to work with! My husband and I are definitely not naturals in front of a camera but Carmela made us comfortable, gave great direction and I am just over the moon with how our photos turned out. If you choose to work with Carmela, you will not be disappointed. She's a true professional with years under her belt and she knows what she's doing to capture your day exactly how you always imagined!
Natalie & Ryan
AS FEATURED IN
Emotional, editorial, true-to-you
From the Italian countryside to the California coast - my work is rooted in storytelling that feels elevated and real.
READY TO WORK TOGETHER?
We might be a good fit if…..
You value connection over perfection, and want your photos to reflect that.
You trust your people and your vendors - and want to enjoy your day without stress.
You care more about meaning than tradition, and you’re planning a celebration that feels true to you.
You love to travel, explore new places, and are dreaming up a wedding that feels like an experience.
You’re drawn to honest, effortless, artful photos over anything too stiff.
You could see us staying friends long after the last dance.
Sound like you? I’d love to meet you! Use the link below to get in touch!