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Weddings

The Monarch Studio Reviews

The Monarch Studio

The Monarch Studio

Saint Augustine, FL
5.0 out of 5 rating, 80 Reviews
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Reviews

5.0 out of 5 rating
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80 Reviews
99% recommend it
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Awards

80
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2010 Winner
  • Leslie
    Leslie H. Sent on 08/29/2023
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    Amazing Wedding Photos

    Zach Thomas at Monarch Studio took excellent care of us during our engagement, wedding planning, and throughout our entire wedding day on the 4th of July. I originally hired him for the way he captured all the bold colors and contrast of lights and darks but also loved how he made the natural light of day or night work for the photos. He gives clear instructions, makes suggestions and changes gears when a pose or location isn't quite working out, and recognizes when a candid opportunity presents itself. Zach and his assistant captured the cutest expressions on myself and my youngest daughter on my wedding day that really mirrored each other and represented our true personalities. Our final images are vibrant, charismatic, and truly tell our story from beginning to end. If you didn't attend, you can clearly feel like you were there. Zach worked so hard to create the look that we wanted and the outcome made this almost 50 year old bride incredibly happy! We plan on working with him again in the future for our business and personal photography needs!
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    Dennis Sent on 06/16/2023
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    Excellent pictures and photo shoot

    So I’ll start by saying Zach is awesome. I was so nervous about my engagement to my girlfriend and he knew just how to help. We spoke beforehand a few times to make sure the plans were set and we were both on the same page and that was helpful and reassuring. I was so nervous and consumed by remembering my speech that he made a drawing and put a business card of the exact spot where to stand (as this was a surprise to my girlfriend) so that he could get the best view for the photo. It was sprinkling a little at the beginning but Zach took the best photos and really made the shoot an incredibly enjoyable and memorable event. He knew the perfect spots to take pictures in St. Augustine and was really patient as neither one of us knew how to stand or what to do with our hands. Lol. Zach even recommended places to eat to help celebrate the occasion while we were visiting after the shoot. Zach was so meticulous with his 3 step process for making sure the album was perfect. We really appreciated that. We purchased extra pictures and we could not be more thrilled with how beautiful they came out. We got so many compliments on just the proofs. Needless to say the photo shoot went flawless and we love the pictures. We highly highly recommend Zach and Monarch Studio.
  • Sara
    Sara C. Sent on 07/24/2022
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    Best Wedding Photography!

    Zac and his team were incredible. They worked with us and helped put our vision into the photos we will forever look at. Katharine was very responsive to emails and answered any questions we had. We had a meeting a week before the wedding to really nail down a shot list and figure out what was most important to us and which pictures we wanted/didn't want. I respected his opinion on everything and followed all of his advice. He and his assistant were so efficient, flexible, and had such fun personalities. My husband and I are both pretty introverted and posing for pictures felt so natural and comfortable with them. We felt like we were hanging out with friends and it eased both of our nerves a lot. They just made it really fun for us throughout the entire day but they were also so professional. Thank you so much for being such a special part of our day! We couldn't have done it without you.
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    Susana P. Sent on 12/01/2019
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    Amazing!!!

    We used Monarch for both photography and videography services for our wedding. We also used the photography services for our engagement pictures and out rehearsal. Zach (photo) is so personable, and easy to work with. We had genuine smiles on our faces because he is just so great to be around. The pictures of all three events look amazing!!! We couldn’t be happier. At the last minute, we decided to get a video for our wedding and Scott stepped in. He did an amazing job as well. Scott is also a pleasure to work with. The photos and video are just spectacular. Wow!!!

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
  • Sara
    Sara Sent on 10/02/2013
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    Scott photographed our "weddingmoon"/destination wedding and I couldn't have asked for anyone better! Since none of our family members were coming to Florida with us, having a quality, professional photographer was extremely important to me. I wanted someone who could translate the spirit of the day into photographs so that we could share that spirit with our family and friends back home and Scott did just that. I really liked that he was incredibly fast at posting some teasers online so that we were able to share them with everyone the day after our wedding. He also made us feel comfortable which was really appreciative, considering aside from the staff at our inn, we knew no one! If you're thinking about booking Scott, I highly suggest that you do -- he's professional, works in a timely manner, and makes the entire process comfortable and worry-free!

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
  • Deanna
    Deanna A. Sent on 07/02/2019
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    Fairy tale

    Scott and Zach were absolutely amazing to work with! They were such an incredible team! We could not of asked for a more beautiful day and the photos and video they created were breathtaking. Not to mention they were so accommodating to all of us there. Thank you so much for being a part of our day! We love you both.

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
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    Sarah Sent on 12/31/2018
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    Creative effective photography

    Zach and his team did an amazing job of perfectly capturing our wedding day. The initial consultation was great to learn about Monarch's photography styles and how the day would progress; Zach was very attentive in listening to what we were looking for and made great suggestions along the way. The day of the wedding, Zach and his team captured all the special moments we could have hoped for and even some shots we weren't expecting. The editing of the photos was beautiful and he got our photos back to us ahead of schedule. Thanks for great work Zach!
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    April F. Sent on 12/18/2018
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    Perfect experience

    Zach and his team went above and beyond our expectations. The pictures are beautiful and working with him was a great experience.
  • Danielle
    Danielle Sent on 11/21/2018
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    Absolutely stunning pictures of our wedding day

    Monarch Studio was recommended to my husband and I for our wedding. We discussed our wedding plans with Zach and right off the bat we hit it off and decided to place our deposit and secure them to handle photography for the most important day of our lives.
    Zach was full of recommendations for our day of planning. As we got closer to the wedding he met with us in person and went through the day's planning in great detail. We left the meeting feeling we were in great hands and knew exactly what to expect.
    The day of our wedding Zach and his team were with us for 13 hours straight. Gently guiding us to pose in just the right ways and always inserting a bit of humor to break up times that can get a little crazy. Zach and his team new exactly where to be at all times. We started off with a bright sunny day with inside and outside photos, church photos, sunsets, candlelight, sparklers to a midnight carriage ride to take us away. All of the photos came out exceptional!
    We received our full digital gallery in 4 weeks which was 4 weeks ahead of schedule. We are so please there are so many that just take our breath away.
    We highly recommend Monarch Studio and Zach Thomas. They worked their tails off and the end product was AMAZING!!!
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    Allie Sent on 06/19/2018
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    I could not say enough good things about our experience with Monarch and especially Zach Thomas. Zach drove 20 hours roundtrip to photograph our wedding in Williamsburg, Virginia and gave us the most amazing pictures we have ever seen. Throughout the whole wedding planning process, was Zach and the team at Monarch were accomodating, professional, and always quick to respond to all of my (annoying I'm sure) emails. Zach actually took the time to really understand what kind of pictures we wanted and 100% delivered. All of our guests commented on how hard he was working and the fun attitude he still managed to have throughout the very long day of shooting. The photos we got back were absolutely incredible and give us an amazing keepsake to remember the best day of our lives.
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    Chamroeun Sent on 05/06/2018
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    Well long story short I met and spoke with Zach 2 weeks prior to our event. Yes 2 Weeks lol. The moment we talk we just click. I remember being at his Studio and admiring Monarch work and Zach ask me what do i want in pictures. I told him man your Still shots on the wall looks amazing but i wanted something different. I wanted those plus shots that shows character like love, fun, happiness and whatever else that came along. I know its a life time opportunity but I don't just want the perfect pose in every shot. I wanted to showcase the realness from the event. Zach and Cody did just that. I honestly didn't feel like i Hired them . I felt like they were my friend just hanging out with us lol. The shots came out just like that. Every pictures just screams out " Love, Happiness, Fun and Crazy". Thank you for that. It was a pleasure being your first vow renewal.
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    Caitlyn Sent on 12/18/2017
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    My husband and I worked with Scott Smith for our wedding photos and we are very happy with how they turned out. We are both not used to standing for pictures and Scott and his assistant made us feel extremely comfortable and at ease. He was especially perfect for our wedding because he was familiar with the St. Augustine wedding venues so he knew where to take us for great photos. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a very talented and friendly photographer to take their wedding pictures!

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
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    Karlyn Sent on 11/10/2017
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    Zach is the absolute best. He made everyone so comfortable & everyone had a blast with him.
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    Dr. T. Sent on 01/30/2021
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    Monarch Studio Ten-Star Gift!

    Zach Thomas, owner of Monarch, captured every memorable moment of our elopement to St. Augustine in December. Christmas lights galore in town, our ceremony in the St. Francis Inn courtyard, our carriage ride and gazebo kisses were photographed by the most professional photographer we could have imagined. He customized every request we had and went above and beyond to make us happy! High quality at a very reasonable cost. Highly...highly recommended!
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    Anja B. Sent on 07/26/2017
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    Zach Thomas is just amazing! For years I have had the pleasure of working with him and could not in a million years think of anyone else I would want to take my wedding pictures! He came to Miami for my wedding and was so wonderful with my requests and truly has such a great eye for detail. I cannot recommend him enough, he is that awesome! You will not be disappointed if you choose him as your photographer for your special day. Truly top notch!
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    A Sent on 10/23/2017
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    Scott recently traveled all the way to Montana to photograph our wedding. He was so easy to work with and has an awesome personality. Even though it was 103 degrees outside, he still captured one of the most amazing pictures a couple could have asked for. He even hired a local assistant to help him on our wedding day at no extra cost to us and extended his hours longer. Scott, thank you for coming all the way to Montana and capturing the beautiful memories of our special day. We appreciate the 10 hours you and your assistance put in for our day. The pics are wonderful. They are the best thing about the whole process of a wedding. The best part is how easy you made it for us. You were fun and easy going. You obviously take pride in what you do and we appreciate it. If you haven't had the pleasure of Scott taking your photo's, do so. Thank you, Scott.

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
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    Megan Sent on 06/22/2017
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    We were so pumped to get to work with Monarch Studio! Scott & his team at Monarch Studio were a dream to work with! From the first day, Scott was easy to communicate with and jumped right in to our crazy idea to have a reception at a brewery. The client portal was easy to navigate and efficient. On our wedding day, Scott & his assistant were timely, efficient, professional and brought some great energy. They took our ideas and made them even better. The final photos turned out great and the online gallery is very easy to use. Thanks for everything!

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
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    Shae Sent on 07/14/2017
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    For years I have been admiring Zach's photography work on Facebook, and I promised myself that if I ever got married, I would ask Zach to be my photographer. We ran track and cross country together in high school, and he was one of my favorite people because of many reasons but mostly because of his great sense of humor and kind heart. We were even prom dates! From the day I called him to ask him to photograph our wedding to the very end of the reception, I felt like we were in the best of hands. No detail was missed! He guided us through the scheduling of the wedding day and offered advice when we asked, but he always insisted that it was my husband and my day, so we had the final say. On the day of the wedding, he captured the bridal and groom party getting ready by working so hard to meet his scheduled timing to catch certain moments at two different venues. His attention to detail and and continuous momentum to capture the most precious moments until the very end of the reception had us all thankful for all of his hard work. He was so easy to work with and always had us laughing. Everyone loved him! I have never seen any photographer work as hard as he did, and I have been to many weddings. If you are looking for the best photographer who works tirelessly, has a big heart and awesome sense of humor, I recommend Zach Thomas with Monarch Studios. The pictures are amazing, and we will cherish them for a lifetime! Worth every penny!
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    Dorothea Sent on 04/05/2017
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    Zach from Monarch Studio is a perfect (yes, perfect), spectacular, talented, personable, warm and fun photographer!!! We absolutely love him!!! He melted into our day, became one of the family, all while maintaining his professionalism, getting the job done seamlessly!!! Oh and his photos!!! Breathtaking shots, stunningly gorgeous portraits, catching every important second of the day!! Everyone adored him! Caught all the fun of the reception! Worked diligently, staying with the flow, coordinated with the DJ and our venue, The White Room, not once did anyone miss a beat!!! One photo after another, unbelievably amazing!! Zach is a genius!! Totally the very best!
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    Nicole Sent on 01/24/2017
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    I will have to work with these guys again, Scott and Cody, when the next occasion arises. These guys were awesome. We have not seen our wedding pictures as of yet, we can’t wait!!!! We were married at The White Room January 14, 2017. They kept with our wedding day timeline and were very good at keeping in touch with each other while we were out doing pictures so Jason and I did not accidentally run into each other.
    We never had a chance to do engagement photos but we are planning a small vacation again in St. Augustine (as we do several times a year) with hopes of setting up another photo session with Scott at his availability.

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
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    Melissa Sent on 12/04/2016
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    Hands down the best photographers in St. Augustine! Zach is so much fun.. all of our guests loved him! Worth every penny. Monarch Studios is the way to go!!!
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    Michelle Sent on 11/20/2016
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    Absolutely amazing behind the camera! I could not have wished for better pictures or photographer to work with! Extremely creative, flexible, captured every moment perfectly and I would HIGHLY recommend this studio for any occasion! Truly thankful for the care and talent Monarch Studio provided for my wedding day.

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
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    Brooke Sent on 12/29/2015
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    We hired Scott and Dave to travel to Naples, FL to photograph our Wedding weekend. They photographed both our Rehearsal Dinner, and our Wedding. We customized our package to include all the things and number of hours we felt were necessary to ensure they would be at all the important events. Scott was very flexible moving around the number of hours to accommodate our changing wedding plans. Scott and Dave were very kind to us, and our wedding party. They are nice, professional, outgoing, and very courteous! So far, we have seen the previews of our photos, and are very impressed with the quality, and detail. Scott has a great eye for unique lighting opportunities. They were flexible in making the most of the massive downpours that caused our wedding to be moved inside. Our wedding was the most fun and meaningful night of our lives, and Monarch was able to capture the beauty of our love, and our event in each photo! I'd use Monarch Studios all over again in a heart beat!!!!

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
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    Casey Sent on 01/16/2016
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    Zach and Cody did an AMAZING job with our wedding pictures. Even before we saw any of our pictures, many of our wedding guests were complimenting how wonderful of a job they did capturing everything. We look at them almost every day and I'm more than pleased with the way they turned out. They are absolutely beautiful!
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    Sara Sent on 12/31/2015
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    I was very impressed with Scott and Monarch studio. They are incredibly fun, laid-back people. They were also very flexible: I preferred a specific package of theirs but I didn't need the engagement photo portion of the package. Scott let me switch out the photo booth option from another package in place of the engagement shoot, and the photo booth made all the difference! My guests loved the photo booth, the pictures were very high quality, my guests had access to the pictures for sharing, and they really loved it! Our personal pictures came out beautifully. There were a lot of really beautiful edits made, and I particularly loved the "action" pictures. I was also amazed at how well they covered the whole wedding, snapping shots of things I didn't even see because I was so overwhelmed with all the wedding minutiae. Finally, I love the package i chose! I have the rights to over 600 photos so I can get any one printed at any time! Thanks Scott!

    The Monarch Studio's reply:

    Thank you for your review. I enjoyed working with you. I have opened a new studio: SSS-Studio Please check out www.sss-photo.com
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