READING TIME: 3 min 9 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/11/2025
UPDATED: 10/11/2025
Growing up under the Florida sun, Sydney Marie found herself surrounded by creativity. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, she was encouraged early on to follow her passions. “I dropped out of college after three years and began shooting weddings full time at 19,” she shares. What started as a bold leap soon became a thriving career, spanning over a decade and building bridges between Orlando and New York City.
Her self-taught journey allowed her to develop an instinctive approach shaped by both curiosity and her love for fashion. “I’m drawn to design, texture, and the way clothing moves and tells its own story,” Sydney explains. That fascination with style has become the lens through which she views every wedding she captures.
From her very first wedding at 18 to now being 29 with ten years of business ownership, Sydney has seen countless love stories unfold. “Being a photographer for the last ten–eleven years has truly shaped me as a person,” she says. “I’ve noticed details I probably would’ve easily overlooked if I wasn’t a photographer.”
For her, the industry is more than a career—it’s a way of seeing the world differently, one wedding at a time.
When asked about her approach, Sydney resists categorization.
I wouldn’t categorize it down to just ‘documentary’ or ‘editorial.’ My style blends an instinctive sensitivity to emotion with a love for design and fashion.
Her galleries balance fluid direction with natural spontaneity, ensuring the final result is both stylish and deeply personal. “We want our galleries to feel intentional, personal, and timeless,” she emphasizes.
Sydney’s curiosity extends into her love of technology. “We are camera and tech lovers over here and love to experiment with different brands and types of cameras,” she says. Currently, her go-tos include Leica, Fuji, and Sony, while for film she relies on Mamiya, Leica, and Contax.
Her editing philosophy is equally intentional. “I keep my post-processing clean and natural. Skin tones are true, details are crisp, and the mood is always very true to the moment and the lighting on that day.” Balancing digital and film, she achieves galleries that are vibrant yet soft, polished yet authentic.
For Sydney, photography is more than the images themselves—it’s about people. “I don’t know any other way of life or job title,” she reflects. Through her lens, she has learned to appreciate the beauty of relationships, the uniqueness of personalities, and the many forms of love.
Each wedding leaves her with a deeper understanding of human connection. “I’ve seen beauty in relationships and the uniqueness of personality. I’ve seen all different types of love.”
Sydney’s client approach is grounded in collaboration. “I approach each wedding as a partnership, listening first to what matters most to my clients.” By blending their priorities with her instinctive eye, she ensures that each gallery reflects not just the event, but the couple’s essence.
Flexibility is key: “Each of our quotes are based on guest count, venue type, production size, and documentation requirements—so essentially all of our packages have to be customized in some way.”
When it comes to preparing, Sydney believes it’s less about posing and more about presence. She shares two practical tips:
Outfits matter. “Choose attire that reflects your personal style and moves well. Fabric, texture, and comfort make a big difference in how natural your photos look.”
Overshare your priorities. “Think about the people, details, or moods you want to preserve. This helps your photographer see through your lens and plan to prioritize those moments without pulling you out of the experience.”
It’s about how you want the day to feel, not just how you want it to look.
With 70% of her work being destination weddings, Sydney thrives on travel. “Whether it’s outside of our home cities, out of state, or abroad, destination work excites me,” she says. Her favorite so far? “Crete, Greece. It’s a small island with so much beauty—very underrated.”
As Sydney reflects on her journey, she beams with gratitude. From starting her business as a teenager to becoming a seasoned storyteller with a decade of weddings behind her, her path is proof of what passion and persistence can create.
I think this is great, and I’m excited to see this come to life.
Sydney Marie Co. continues to redefine what it means to blend fashion with feeling, ensuring that every couple she works with walks away with timeless, personal imagery that reflects both the beauty of their wedding day and the depth of their love.
