DC, Maryland & Virginia Wedding Photography
Nikki Schell Photography is focused on capturing the fun, love, emotion, high energy, and genuine moments that unfold on your wedding day.
Wedding pricing varies based on the number of hours of coverage you might want and any add-on’s you choose.
On average, clients invest $4000-$7000 on wedding photography coverage.
Included with every wedding
HI-RES IMAGES
The best images from your wedding day will be professionally edited and high quality. On average, you’ll receive about 75 images per hour.
ONLINE GALLERY
An online gallery for you to easily view, download, share, and purchase professional, top-quality prints.
PRINT RELEASE
Not interested in professional prints? This gives you rights to have prints made at a print company of your choice. You can always print through your gallery, too!
POSING Guidance
It’s a *no stress zone* when it comes to being in front of the camera – I help guide you and ensure you feel comfortable, look great, and have fun.
PLANNING ASSISTANCE
Each couple receives a custom wedding day photography timeline (along with any other advice or recommendations needed)!
EXTRA LOVE
You never know what special surprises or goodies may come your way or be included! Wink! Wink!
1. Booking
From the moment you inquire to us video chatting to your decision to book me for your wedding services, I do my best to understand all the things that make your relationship unique. We talk through basic details like your wedding vision and how you met, but we’ll also get a little deeper – when you’re comfortable, your walls can come down, and we can create the most beautiful, true-to-you images possible!
Not only that, but I like to make it as easy-breezy as possible, be transparent about how I can serve you, and have these discussions be natural and educational. If our styles align and my price point fits in your budget, we throw a little party and book your wedding date!
2. Engagement Session
If you choose to have an engagement session, we’ll start planning shortly after booking. We’ll work together to select the perfect location, season, time of day, and outfit styling to give you images you’ll love! You’ll receive a copy of the Nikki Schell Photography Engagement Session Guide for tons of tips to make the most of our time together!
After the session, it’ll take 2-3 weeks to get your digital gallery!
3. Planning
Starting about four months before your wedding, we’ll plan a pre-wedding consultation where we go over all the unique details of your wedding day to help put together the most stress-free wedding day schedule.
We’ll also work on family portrait groupings and discuss plenty of other little details so the day runs super smoothly.
You can always email me any time during the planning process—no question is too silly – I’m here to help!
4. Wedding Day
On your wedding day, my team and I are there to serve you — we’ll do whatever it takes to make things run smoothly and on time, while also ensuring you have fun and enjoy your guests!
We’ll fade into the background when needed and we’ll direct when it’s time. I’ll use a series of prompts and poses to get you interacting in a natural way so your photos won’t look stiff or uncomfortable (even if you swear you’re totally awkward in front of the camera).
5. Post-Production
After I get home from your wedding, all your images will be uploaded and backed up. Then, to start my editing process, I go through and select the BEST photos that tell the story of your day, while removing duplicates and blinks. Then I color correct each final image to give them the clean, bright, custom look that you see on my galleries. Some of my favorite images will receive extra special retouching – it can be a time consuming obsession to making the images look *perfect!*
6. Delivery
You’ll get your digital images through an online gallery 6-8 weeks after the wedding with the ability to download all of the final edited high res files. You can share the link with your family and friends (and hear nothing but gushing comments for the next couple of weeks)!
If you’ve chosen an album, after you’ve selected your favorites in the online gallery, I’ll get to work on the design. Most couples have an album in their hands within three to four months.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. WHEN DID YOU BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER?
Professionally since 2014, but in my heart since 2004.
02. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF A WEDDING?
This is so hard. I love capturing the moment couples walk down the aisle after being pronounced married. But I’m also a big fan of capturing the candid laughter and tears that come when people are giving speeches!
03. WHAT DO YOU SHOOT WITH?
My gear is all top of the line Canon equipment. I photograph on two camera bodies with a mix of prime and zoom lenses.
04. HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN the DC area?
I was born in Georgetown and raised in Rockville! I moved away for a while to attend school in South Carolina, Australia, and North Carolina. Once I finished grad school, I moved to DC. In 2019, I bought my home in Arlington.
05. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE?
Classic with a pop! Take the elegance and clean lines of DC monuments and infuse it with color, laughter, and fun!
06. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE WEDDING SONGS?
Oh boy! Top 5: I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston, You Make My Dreams (Come True) – Hall and Oates, Good As Hell – Lizzo, Chicken Fried – Zac Brown Band, and Mr. Brightside – The Killers. Honorable Mention: We Found Love – Rhianna.
07. HOW FAR OUT DO YOU BOOK?
Usually, I book about nine to 15 months out. Feel free to reach out whenever you have a venue and date confirmed!
08. WHAT IS YOUR TURN-AROUND TIME?
About 2-3 weeks for an engagement session, about 6-8 weeks for a wedding!
09. DO YOU TRAVEL FOR WEDDINGS?
Yes, absolutely! My business has taken me to the Caribbean, Iceland, up and down the East Coast, and out west! Please reach out – new destinations are always inspiring!
10. DO YOU CAPTURE ELOPEMENTS OR ONLY BIG WEDDINGS?
I capture ceremonies and weddings of any and all sizes!
