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Weddings

Attributes highlighted by couples

Capturing memories
Pristine quality
Seasoned with weddings
Photographer

About this vendor

Alex Polyakov
Alex Polyakov
Owner/Photographer

Woman-owned

10 years in business

We speak English, Russian and Ukrainian

Small team (2-10 members)

So Tender Is Humanity - wedding photography for the creative soul and the kind spirit.

So Tender Is Humanity is a rebellion against the conventional. Your wedding day is not about extravagant spending or elaborate floral displays. It is not defined by shot lists, Pinterest trends or someone else's expectations... and neither is our photography.

We are Anastasiia & Alex - a married wedding photography duo, photographing couples all over the east coast. Our style is honest, expressive, emotional and bold.

Compassion is our religion, kindness is our language. It goes without saying, but has to be said; we are welcoming to all denominations, orientations, beliefs and life paths. Our hearts are always open to the diversity of minds, amplitude of feelings, and unapologetic vulnerability.

FAQ

Which of the following are included in the starting price?

Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Slideshow
Digital Files

Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?

2nd Shooter
Add'l Hours
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Slideshow
Digital Files

What primary photographic style do you identify with?

Contemporary
Film
Natural
Photojournalism
Traditional

What photography services do you offer?

Additional Hours
Boudoir Shoot
Destination / Travel
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Second Shooter
Video
Wedding Portraits

What photography items do you offer?

Albums
Canvas
Digital Files
Matted Prints
Prints
Proofs

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of So Tender Is Humanity

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

So Tender is Humanity has been highly praised by multiple wedding clients for their exceptional photography skills and personalized approach. Reviewers highlighted the photographers' ability to capture unique and authentic moments, along with their professionalism and warmth throughout the entire process. The couple was described as not just photographers but as partners who valued and included the clients in the journey, resulting in stunning and meaningful wedding photos. Clients were impressed with the care and creativity shown by Alex and Anastasiia, making them highly recommended wedding photographers.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

So Tender is Humanity has been highly praised by multiple wedding clients for their exceptional photography skills and personalized approach. Reviewers highlighted the photographers' ability to capture unique and authentic moments, along with their professionalism and warmth throughout the entire process. The couple was described as not just photographers but as partners who valued and included the clients in the journey, resulting in stunning and meaningful wedding photos. Clients were impressed with the care and creativity shown by Alex and Anastasiia, making them highly recommended wedding photographers.

J
Jillian Sent on 12/20/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Highly recommend!

We are so happy we found Alex and Anastasiia to be our wedding photographers! They just might be our favorite vendor and we had a lot of really great vendors. When we first started searching, we discovered this category of documentary style photography and realized this is exactly what we were looking for – a focus on capturing all of the raw emotions and special moments throughout the day rather than a focus on creating and capturing a perfectly composed scene. It’s not that we didn’t want some of the typical family portraits and wedding party poses you often see, or to somehow look great from all the angles, we just wanted a photographer that understood that we put a higher value on the candid shots. And we got two! Alex and Anastasiia understood this balance way better than we did and used their crazy good creativity and sensitivity to capture what was meaningful to us, to align with the miscellaneous aesthetic interests we discussed and practiced during the engagement shoot, and to document the beautiful realities of the day so perfectly. The communication was great. They were super kind, respectful, and patient. They were simultaneously easy-going and professional. We highly recommend and will be reaching back out to them for any future professional photo needs. We’re so grateful to be able to relive the day through the photo gallery forever. Also, by the way we found them on fearlessphotographers.com – an incredibly impressive group that needless to say Alex and Anastasiia can hang with.
Jack
Jack Sent on 04/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Unforgettable Experience with the Finest Photographers in the DMV

Stumbling upon the So Tender is Humanity website during our exhaustive search for a wedding photographer proved to be one of the most important, if not the most important, moments of me and my wife's wedding planning journey. It's not entirely difficult to articulate what one wants in a photographer – in our case: authenticity, candidness, heart, motion, an almost complete disregard for convention – but to find someone who can successfully execute your vision is an entirely different prospect. However, it only took a few moments of browsing Alex and Anastasiia's website and portfolio to realize we had found our partners for this journey.

And that's exactly what Alex and Anastasiia were: partners. Sure, they are masterful photographers. Actually, that's doing them a disservice; let's go with virtuosos of the visual. However, what truly separates them is how they approach the relationship. We weren’t just subjects through a lens. Whether it was the kickoff call, the assorted follow-ups, our engagement shoot or the big day – we felt valued, we felt heard, we felt involved. In truth, it felt like we developed a friendship along the way that proved to be the catalyst for some of the best photos I’ve ever viewed. Genuinely. From our engagement shoot at Dave & Buster’s (where my wife and I first met) to our boho wedding at Brentsville Hall, Alex and Anastasiia captured these milestone moments with flair, gusto, beauty, warmth and realness. The spirit of my wife and I courses through these photos, to an extent we didn’t even know was possible.

Alex and Anastasiia are creatives in the truest sense of the word, but more importantly, they are incredible human beings. We are forever grateful to Alex and Anastasiia and cannot wait to work with them again.
D
Dj Sent on 04/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating

10/10 Experience

From the moment we virtually met Alex, it was clear how much intention he and Anastasiia put into their craft. They genuinely wanted to get to know us as a couple, welcomed our ideas, and brought general concepts to life. They do not have a cookie cutter approach to photography - which is what drew us to their work. Every STIH couple is guaranteed to have an experience and photos that are unique to them.

Not only are they stellar photographers, creatives, and professionals, they are also are warm, easy to talk to, and kind spirited people. Although they remained dedicated to capturing every moment, seeing them smile and dance with us added to the overall joy in the space.

Our wedding album is a time portal. The energy and emotion of each moment is beautifully frozen in time. We could not have asked for a better team to captured our day. We are forever grateful for STIH and highly recommend them.
T
Tiffany Sent on 01/22/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Dream team!

We were drawn to Alex and Anastasiia from what we saw on their website. From there we knew it was the right match after our initial consultation. We were beyond excited for our wedding after we did our engagement shoot. They are truly such a fantastic team and make you feel so comfortable and confident when shooting. They take the time to understand your vibe and vision and truly made it come to life. When looking back at our wedding we’ve received so many compliments on how fun and truly wonderful Alex and Anastasiia were. One of our favorite sneak peek photos is of John (the groom) with a group of his buddies and Alex jumping along, no doubt capturing the perfect shot (which was perfectly captured by Anastasiia)!
Madison
Madison Sent on 01/22/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The Best Photographers Ever

Look no further as you have found your wedding photographers. We have known Alex and Nastia for years and could not recommend them more. We had the privilege of having them photograph our engagement photos, as well as our wedding day. They could not have been more professional, a more calming presence, and fun to be around. It is not like your normal photographer experience; they go above and beyond! Please please PLEASE choose So Tender is Humanity, as you will not regret it!
T
Tamas Sent on 01/20/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Alex saved our wedding day!

Alex from So Tender Is Humanity had to step in for us at the last minute when our primary wedding photographer got injured the week before our wedding, and he ended up photographing us for most of the day. We really appreciate him being so accommodating on short notice, and we, along with our families, found him extremely professional and easy to work with. We’re really thrilled with how the photos turned out. He found creative ways to showcase the venue and area and found spots with great natural light. We would definitely recommend Alex!
B
Bailey Sent on 12/19/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Wedding & Engagement Photographers!

Alex and Anastasiia are an absolutely dream to work with. Neither my husband or I are naturally photogenic and haven't spent much time in front of the camera before, but they made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera. Every single one of the photos they delivered in our wedding gallery was gorgeous. Some of them are gorgeous art, and others are wonderful canids that capture all the joy and love from our wedding day. Booking our engagement shoot, wedding, and gallery premier with them was a breeze, and we cannot wait to use them for family photos in the future. If you're looking for kind and joyful photographers to capture you and your family as the most lovely versions of yourself, Alex and Anastasiia are the team for you!
D
Diana Sent on 12/17/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible Experience

Alex and Anastasiia are INCREDIBLE! My husband and I will never be able to say thank you enough for the absolutely STUNNING memories they captured for us. They are such a fun, friendly, awesome couple to work with. We love you guys and will definitely use for my sisters wedding! 11 out of 10- WOULD RECOMMEND
P
Patricio Sent on 12/09/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Great experience!

Alex was an amazing photographer. We really enjoyed working with him and loved the pictures
Stevan
Stevan Sent on 09/21/2023
5 out of 5 rating

So happy I found So Tender is Humanity

When I was browsing for a wedding photographer for my private wedding of 4, I was really excited when I found So Tender is Humanity. Looking at their portfolio online, their artistry stood out from the rest to me.

They are such a joy to deal with! Our wedding had two guests and by the end of day, Alex and Anastasiia were just like friends we had invited! We couldn't have asked for a better photographer for our wedding and we highly recommend So Tender is Humanity for yours!





They are wonderful people to deal with and they made us feel at ease in front of the camera. The

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

53
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Team

Alex Polyakov
Alex Polyakov
Owner/Photographer
Anastasiia Polyakov
Anastasiia Polyakov
Owner/Photographer

Professional Network & Endorsements

Tsouloved Weddings and Events Tsouloved Weddings and Events Wedding Planners

Great working with this duo! As a wedding coordinator I am always hoping to work with pheonomenal vendors, and Polyakov Photography is a phenomenal team! They are absolutely professional, stick to the time but also give flexibility for any hiccups, they will ensure all the portrait shots and creative shots you are seeking will be covered. I recommend this team to anyone looking for a talented duo that is respectful of the schedule and able to be absolutely gracious to everyone they work with. Their photos are absolutely gorgeous, stunning and filled with light. They make everyone around them feel comfortable and relaxed.

Map

Location
Travel range
This vendor will travel up to within 300 miles

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So Tender Is Humanity frequently asked questions

So Tender Is Humanity includes the following photography services in the starting price:
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • Multi. Locations
  • One Event / Day
  • Slideshow
  • Digital Files
So Tender Is Humanity includes the following photography services in their most popular wedding package:
  • 2nd Shooter
  • Add'l Hours
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • Multi. Locations
  • One Event / Day
  • Slideshow
  • Digital Files
So Tender Is Humanity offers the following photography styles:
  • Contemporary
  • Film
  • Natural
  • Photojournalism
  • Traditional
So Tender Is Humanity offers the following photography services for weddings:
  • Additional Hours
  • Boudoir Shoot
  • Destination / Travel
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Second Shooter
  • Video
  • Wedding Portraits
So Tender Is Humanity offers the following photography materials for weddings:
  • Albums
  • Canvas
  • Digital Files
  • Matted Prints
  • Prints
  • Proofs
So Tender Is Humanity is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
So Tender Is Humanity currently offers 1 gift promotion for wedding services.
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