Elise Sent on 09/15/2020

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Beautiful photos, flexible and fun to work with

We cancelled almost every vendor when COVID hit, but still wanted a local photographer to document our tiny family-only wedding. Tom came highly recommended from another vendor, and he was flexible, super low-maintenance and made my partner (who hates taking pictures) really comfortable. Tom took a creative approach to capturing all the important moments safely and responsibly. Most of all, he was fun to hang out with and easy to work with, despite the extremely odd and difficult circumstances. We love his work and highly recommend.

Kati Sent on 12/06/2016

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Tom was great at the wedding, we barely noticed he was there and we got great photos.

Jessica Sent on 06/27/2016

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Tom was AMAZING. He took all of the pictures we asked for and was not in the way at all. I can't wait to see how they come out!

Shannon Sent on 01/25/2016

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Tom had been the photographer for a coworker's wedding, and she insisted that we talk to him when we were looking for a photographer. I'm so glad we did. He's easygoing, funny, and does gorgeous work. Our photos came out beautiful, and Tom was so unobtrusive through the whole day that I don't even remember some of them being taken. I can't recommend Tom and Documentary Associates highly enough.

Alyssa Sent on 12/09/2015

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I can not say enough great things about working with Documentary Associates, and specifically Ashlee Wilcox. From the beginning, she was super easy to work with - anticipating what I wanted and how I wanted the feel of the pictures. She came as a recommendation and it's one I would make to every bride and groom out there. You can't go wrong with this choice. The day of, always hectic, Ashley was the calm one - never rushing, always smiling and above all making us feel special. When we received our photos, I could not have been more thrilled. She was able to capture the essence of the day and more importantly the essence of us.

Sarah Sent on 12/05/2015

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I booked Ashlee for my wedding, and she was the most professional human being I have ever met. I have not received the pictures yet, but I trust Ashlee and I know they are going to be nothing short of amazing. She had an amazing eye, and did such wonderful work in placing everyone in a photo. She worked nonstop throughout the wedding, even at the end when my husband and I's car didn't show up, she kept shooting!! Everyone kept asking where I got Ashlee from because she was fantastic.
We had a terrible situation that happened right before our wedding. My mother ended up falling down the stairs RIGHT BEFORE our first look..I mean my husband was outside the door for about 20 min before we could tell him what happened. Ashlee was so understanding and sweet..put my mind at ease, and even told my mom she would photo shop her :D
Thank you for everything Ashlee, you were amazing, and I cannot wait to see the photos!!
My sister / brother in law even booked her for her family photographs, and they loved her too!!

Torie Sent on 11/02/2015

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Documentary Associates did a fantastic job capturing my wedding day. Tom was calm, collected, and highly professional — he made me feel totally at peace throughout the day. The photos we received are absolutely beautiful and so meaningful. Documentary Associates captured so many moments, big and small, throughout the day and we are so grateful. Would highly recommend!

Kayla Sent on 09/28/2015

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We had such a blast working with Tom and his wife Ash at our River Farm wedding. We had first met Tom back in October to do our engagement shoot (it was the "free gift" option we selected with our package). After we were finished, we knew we had the right guy. He was creative and quick - he already knew where he wanted to do the shots and the look he was going for which was great for us! We were fully convinced on our decisions when we received the files a month or so later - they were just beautiful. He has an amazing eye for composition! On to the wedding - same deal. His wife Ash was the second shooter that day which made getting all of our pictures done much easier not to mention that they work amazingly together! Tom would set up the look of the shot and get ready to shoot while Ash would make sure angles and flowers were correct and no stray hairs were to be seen. They also gave us the freedom to set up some of our own shots (my maid of honor is a photographer as well and came with an abundance of ideas). During dinner, Tom grabbed us just once for a shot he had seen and wanted to take advantage of and he only kept us for 5 minutes...I've heard horror stories of photographers pulling the bride and groom away just to make them wait for 10 minutes while they set up a shot. We loved Tom and Ash' professionalism and attitudes - they were so much fun. Also, the photo booth is a must - it was a hoot watching people put props on and take ridiculous photos! Overall - book them if you can, you will not regret it!!

User2243247 Sent on 07/23/2015

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Tom did a great job for us!

He helped us select very good shooting spots, so that we covered all basic types of background: nature, water, architecture.
On the wedding day he cheered us up the whole day, so our smiles looked very natural even near the end of the day.
In general, he was very helpful, responsive, and comfortable to work with.

The final photos were delivered just a couple of days behind the deadline set in the contract, but just in time we needed them most.
They were carefully selected and slightly retouched/enhanced where needed.

Look forward to working with him again!

Aaron Sent on 05/29/2015

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I want to echo all the other glowing reviews of Ashlee's work. She managed to make me look like I belonged next to my beautiful bride. She's as much an artist as a photographer, and the pictures came out fantastic. Ashlee's calm, professional demeanor kept my bride from being stressed during the photo session right after the service, and I can't thank her enough for that. She also got some stellar shots at the reception... she made the Baltimore harbor into a perfect background against the setting sun. We will cherish these pictures forever.

Vanessa Sent on 05/18/2015

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Tom and Ashlee are one of the funnest and coolest husband & wife team out there! Tom was the main lead on our photography, but Ashlee was always there to help stage the photo and effectively direct our group. We also did an engagement session with Tom in advance of our wedding, which was such a fun, laid back few hours in which we felt completely comfortable. When it came to both our engagement and wedding photos, everyone raved how incredible everything turned out. Documentary Associates did a great job at capturing our personalities and our special day in a unique way. In addition to the standard portrait shots, there was a fantastic array of candids and special moments that were caught in a photojournalistic fashion. There are truly a lot of amazing gems we will treasure for years to come! Tom and Ashlee were flexible when we requested a few additional edits to the proofs we received, and we received everything in a timely manner. They were both also so great about communication which was incredibly important to us. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Documentary Associates to future brides & grooms!

Lauren Sent on 04/21/2015

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I just got married a few days ago and couldn't wait to write a fabulous review for Documentary Associates because they are phenomenal!!! We knew from the moment we met Ashlee that we had found the perfect photographer to capture all the special moments on our wedding day. Her talent is seriously unrivaled, and her professionalism and style is out of this world. We are SO thrilled with the choice we made and HIGHLY recommend Documentary Associates!!!

Noelia Sent on 10/01/2014

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We hired Tom to be our photographer in our wedding and we are glad we did! He was really easy to work with and the photos turned out beautiful!! We completely recommend it!

Glenn Sent on 09/14/2014

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Unparalleled service and professionalism. Ashley not only made us feel comfortable, we also felt that she was absolutely the best at using the light to properly reflect the best photos of the wedding. Google their site and you will be amazed. Everyone should use these photographers.

User1707277 Sent on 07/11/2014

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Tom was so easy to work with, from planning to the actual day. The pictures are phenomenal and we are absolutely delighted - interesting compositions and incorporating the design of the venue. A+++

Lilli Sent on 01/19/2014

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Documentary Associates perfectly captured our evening. They understood the vision we had and were able to deliver, without being intrusive or disruptive to anyone. They were professional but fun at the same time. We really can't recommend them enough.

Helene Sent on 10/05/2013

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We got beautiful photos from our wedding. Thomas is organized and direct and able to put together beautiful photos of large groups or small groups. He blended into the wedding and took beautiful photos we hardly even noticed him there. Amazing work, we are thrilled!

Nikki Sent on 09/04/2013

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Tom at Documentary Associates was wonderful. He is a very skilled photographer and I highly recommend his services. Our pictures came out beautiful. He was extremely professional working with our family and friends and made sure to get the photos we needed (and wanted) done in the allotted time. We loved working with him, especially my husband who hates being in front of the camera!

Angela Sent on 07/22/2013

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We were so incredibly fortunate to work with Tom Van Veen, one of the co-owners of Documentary Associates. He was incredibly flexible and accommodating, as evidenced by his willingness to shoot our engagement photos during cherry blossom season around the tidal basin. In fact, the first time we met, it was just a little too cold, so he offered to reschedule and make the commute/find parking around the basin not once, but twice! When the weather was slightly more cooperative, Tom put me and my partner at ease with his relaxed, yet focused demeanor and his reassuring expertise. You could tell he knew what he was doing with lighting, angles, and backgrounds, something my partner - a hobby photographer - was truly grateful for. Our high resolution engagement photos were exceptional. We have used them on our website and save-the-dates and have received numerous compliments. While we are extremely disappointed we can't work with Tom for our wedding (the listed wedding date for this review was our engagement photo session; wedding is in November 2013 and the conditions of our venue dictate we work with another photographer), we look forward to working with Tom in the future and will be encouraging all of our friends to consider working with him as well!

Angie Sent on 07/22/2013

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Had to edit my review...please see "Angela" and "wedding date" of 4/9/13

Jessica Sent on 05/25/2013

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We had amazing photographs!! Everything was captured about our special day ! Thanks guys!!

Leigh Sent on 04/22/2013

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Ashlee's work is nothing less than breathtaking.
When I viewed our pics for the first time, i thought to myself "YES!!! PERFECT!!! WAS THIS REALLY HOW GOOD WE LOOKED??!!" They were everything I had hoped for. We could not have chosen a better artist. We now have the most extraordinary photos to bring us back to this day...
Her creativity and expertise is evident in her final product. My friends and family are still raving about the pictures. No one can even come close to choosing a favorite photo...they are really that amazing!!!
Ashlee is down to earth and her warm personality invites smiles. Things were natural and easy all day. Ashlee really blended into our group - many of the pictures came as a pleasant surprise because I didn't even realize they were being taken...
Organized, professional, reliable and accommodating throughout our out-of-town planning process.
I can't fully express my gratitude...I am so lucky to have had Ashlee as our photographer.

Kelly Sent on 03/27/2013

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Tom was amazing! I knew after our initial meeting we would love his work. He was very professional the day of the wedding and I never felt he was in the way or making us do pictures we didn't want. He definitely captures people in the moment to make for those great photos you will look at over and over again. (and over and over). Documentary Associates was actually recommended by my DJ (Chris Laich) and I'm forever grateful for that referral! After looking at our pictures, I kept saying "I don't even remember him taking that photo" and that's because he captures the moment without being in your way. If you want to be incredibly happy with your wedding photos, hire Documentary Associates!

User1057058 Sent on 01/02/2013

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There are a number of reasons to commend Tom & Ash, but most importantly the photos turned out fantastic! So many great moments were captured and we are left with dozens of great shots not just of ourselves, but of our families and friends. While the "portrait" shots turned out great (particularly given fading light and so many folks to corral) the real gems were the unscripted shots that captured the real spirit of the day. Ashlee (our photographer) was in 50 places at once, seemingly capturing moments from different angles simultaneously. To have such a rich photographic record of the day is worth it...both now and when we grow old and forgetful. :) Thanks Tom & Ash!!!

Lauren Sent on 12/30/2012

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They did a wonderful job of making my husband and I feel special.

Erica Sent on 12/01/2012

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Ashlee was absolutely wonderful to work with! My husband hates being in front of the camera and she put him at ease and had him laughing through the engagement and wedding shoots. The photos turned out absolutely beautifully and there were so many moments we didn't even realize she captured.

V Sent on 10/18/2012

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Ashlee was a stealthy photo ninja who managed to breeze through complex formal shots (13 different compositions in 2 locations with shots involving up to 26 people–indoor and outdoor) in an hour and still have energy to be completely unobtrusive throughout the ceremony. I honestly didn't notice her between formal shots and the dancing part of the evening, which was exactly what we wanted.

I also appreciate that Ashlee and Documentary Associates were very flexible in negotiating a rights & reproductions clause on the contract that everyone could be happy about. Many vendors would just back away and say that their lawyer counseled them to write the contract that way and so be it, but Ashlee was willing to listen to us and adjust for our concerns. This kind of professionalism and responsiveness is commendable.

Overall, she was a pleasure to work with and I can't wait to see the photos! The sneak peeks we saw on her viewfinder were tantalizing. I absolutely recommend Documentary Associates, especially if you're looking for a naturalistic, photojournalistic approach to your wedding pictures that reflects what actually happened on that day and not what your rings look like when posed together on top of your bouquet. We loved that there was a bare minimum of posing with Ashlee and we just got to have fun and have pictures taken.

F Sent on 10/11/2012

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Ashlee was phenomenal. We are so pleased with her work at our wedding. She was like a stealthy ninja, always there for the most important shots, but never intrusive. She handled large group family shots like a champ, deftly wrangling people into place with efficiency and poise. We’re delighted with our decision to use her and will recommend her to friends and family. Looking forward to seeing the photos!

Shannon Sent on 08/01/2012

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After our first meeting with Tom, we knew we found our photographer...there was no doubt about it. He understood our vision & his portfolio blew us away. Leading up to the wedding, the photography was the only thing I WASN'T worried about. We knew Documentary Associates would capture the day beautifully, which they did. We had a pretty large wedding (250 people), it was outdoors and a storm came about halfway through. This made our schedule completely off, but our photographers went with the flow and everything worked out perfectly. Even our guests raved about how great the they were, and the "Portrait Station" was a huge hit as well.

To sum it up, our photos are absolutely breathtaking and we couldn't be happier. I am so thankful we found Documentary Associates...no one else could have captured our day as beautiful & amazing as they did.

Amina Sent on 07/23/2012

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I am overwhelmed by the amazing photos Ashlee took from Documentary Associates. They came out beautifully. She was a pleasure to work with too! Having no idea what I was doing, she was able to walk me through every step. She was fantastic at guiding people for such fantastic photographs. Ashlee also captured some pretty amazing candid moments. I don't think I can explain how happy I am with everything she did for us. I would recommend Documentary Associates a million times over!!!!

Kristin Sent on 07/08/2012

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Documentary Associates was an excellent choice. Tom and Ashlee were extremely professional and took beautiful photos for our invitations and save the dates. We look forward to seeing the wedding day photos. We recommend Documentary Associates for anyone looking for flawless photos!

Laura Sent on 05/03/2012

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Ashlee at Documentary Associates was wonderful to work with, flexible, reasonably priced and very talented. She had a great eye for capturing every detail of our wedding day, even details we forgot to ask that she include. Our pictures are absolutely stunning, unique and not your typical wedding pictures-they are works of art that we intend to frame and display in our home for years to come. We are really happy with Documentary Associates, and we plan to use them again once we start a family!

Ruthie Sent on 04/18/2012

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Tom did a WONDERFUL job on my wedding pictures - we are absolutely
thrilled with his work and we are delighted to recommend him to other
brides!!! Tom created such an incredibly beautiful keepsake to have
from the wedding. Everything else about the wedding goes by so fast,
but the pictures we will cherish forever. I absolutely love the
pictures of me getting dressed with my family - we did not have any
formal pictures of my immediate family and we all love the family
pictures. The pictures of me and my husband before and during the
ceremony are absolutely incredible. We have some gorgeous pictures of
us walking around with city lights behind us - it all just looked so
glamorous! Tom really captured our personalities and the mood of the
evening so perfectly, and our pictures are very unique and different
from the typical wedding pictures. In addition to the gorgeous
pictures, Tom is a real pleasure to work with - he is very nice, very
calm, and extremely professional and puts a lot of time time and
effort into getting the perfect picture each and every time. He was
completely inconspicuous during the wedding – I don’t even remember
seeing him once the ceremony started and he took hundreds of pictures of our ceremony and reception without being in the way or interrupting
the evening. He was also the only person in my bridal party that was
brave enough to stay with me when the Rabbi was running late! He just
did such a truly outstanding job - I can't thank you enough Tom for
the beautiful pictures and I very highly recommend you to other
brides!!!

Melissa Sent on 04/17/2012

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Tom did a WONDERFUL job on my wedding pictures - we are absolutely thrilled with his work and we are delighted to recommend him to other brides!!! Tom created such an incredibly beautiful keepsake to have from the wedding. Everything else about the wedding goes by so fast, but the pictures we will cherish forever. I absolutely love the pictures of me getting dressed with my family - we did not have any formal pictures of my immediate family and we all love the family pictures. The pictures of me and my husband before and during the ceremony are absolutely incredible. We have some gorgeous pictures of us walking around with city lights behind us - it all just looked so glamorous! Tom really captured our personalities and the mood of the evening so perfectly, and our pictures are very unique and different from the typical wedding pictures. In addition to the gorgeous pictures, Tom is a real pleasure to work with - he is very nice, very calm, and extremely professional and puts a lot of time time and effort into getting the perfect picture each and every time. He was also the only person in my bridal party that was brave enough to stay with me when the Rabbi was running late! He just did such a truly outstanding job - I can't thank you enough Tom for the beautiful pictures!!!

Monica Sent on 11/29/2011

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Tom and Jen were great and gave us many memorable shots around DC for our wedding. Everyone at our reception loved the photo station. They are wonderful, professional photographers that really do document memories for a lifetime.

David Sent on 11/26/2011

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Our experience with Tom and Ashley was overwhelmingly positive. We were looking for a photographer that would be willing and able to do a variety of shots with different depths of field, black and white and color – and most importantly be able to capture those moments and emotions that were truly unique on our wedding. And, we were hoping to accomplish this at a rate that would be somewhat affordable.

Ashley nailed this on the head. Tom and Ashley were extremely pleasant to work with before the wedding and our meeting with them was very pleasant and they had a lot of great ideas. When it came to the day of Ashley was the perfect photographer, hardly noticeable and yet somehow being in the perfect location for many of the events.

The final proofs came a few weeks later which is normal and we were extremely happy with the variety and the quality of them.

If there was any small critique at all – there was roughly over 60 people at our wedding, yet we noticed we couldn’t find a few people in any of the shots, and we got portrait shots of a few people we wouldn’t expect. We haven’t asked them yet if there was a few left on the cutting room floor. Also, the actual ceremony shots were all from the same angle, would have been nice to get a couple from the side (although the priest had requested that the photographer NOT move around too much.)

Overall however an extremely pleasant experience and we’d highly recommend Tom and Ashley for anyone else.

Catherine Sent on 10/31/2011

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Ashlee Wilcox and Documentary Associates did a FABULOUS job with our wedding photos! Ashlee took the time to drive out to our wedding/reception site a few weeks prior to check out the location and spend more time getting to know us. She was amazing and extremely professional. I have already recommended Ashlee and DA to multiple friends who are getting married in the DC metro area.

Michelle Sent on 10/11/2011

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Tom and Ashlee were amazing to deal with. They were wonderfully accommodating and professional. It was the easiest part of my entire wedding!

I was so happy with how everything went and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a quality photographer.

Sarah Sent on 01/06/2011

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Ashlee was our photographer and she is FANTASTIC! Not only does she take amazing photos, but she is fun and easy to work with, very willing to sculpt around what you want, but also practically invisible - I barely noticed her at all during the reception and not at all at the ceremony!

I highly recommend Documentary Associates to any bride!

K Sent on 01/03/2011

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Fabulous photography! They capture beautiful moments, special details that tell the story of your special day in magazine quality photos. All that and they're fun to work with.

Maggie Sent on 12/27/2010

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Ashlee was amazing! We had a crazy schedule on the wedding day, and she went with it the whole time (and she was pregnant!)! Our pictures turned out beautifully and they are definitely something we will be cherishing for a long time to come. The only thing I wished we had gotten was individual pictures with the bride and bridesmaids, but it was definitely my bad b/c I forgot to remind her that I wanted those. She was extremely prepared and professional and so easy to work with. We also used DA for the bridal portraits which were also amazing! They were SO great and I would HIGHLY recommend using DA for your wedding photography! I seriously cannot say enough wonderful things about Documentary Associates!!

Mark Sent on 12/07/2010

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Comment withdrawn.

Dennis Sent on 12/04/2010

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Documentary Associates captured the best about our big day. They truly are artists!

Lara Sent on 11/21/2010

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As a person who treasures pictures, hiring a photographer was one of the most important aspets of my wedding. Documentary Associates did an absolutely amazing job with both our engagement and wedding photos! Tom took our engagement photos, which turned out so well that we used one for our save the date. This was particularly impressive because, due to the Marine Corps marathon that shut down a bunch of streets in Arlington that day, we were 20 minutes late and had to run about half a mile. I was stressed and upset and feared that the photos would reflect that. Instead, the photos looked beautiful and romantic, which is really a credit to Tom.

Tom and his assistant did an equally impressive job at our wedding. While we have wonderful portrait shots, the candid shots are stunning. Tom is unobtrusive, and many of the candid shots I love I wasn't aware at the time he was taking! One in particular is a black and white shot of me sitting in the limo looking at the church. It's beautiful and elegant and we chose it for our wedding album cover.

We worked with Ashlee, Tom's wife, on our wedding album and I can't say enough good things about her! Although we had seen our wedding pictures (which were gorgeous) soon after the wedding, when we saw the album layout Ashlee designed I was moved to tears (as was my mom). She has an artist's eye, and I am so glad to have a beautiful wedding album. She and Tom are both friendly, professional, and easy to work with and I would definitely recommend Documentary Associates to others!

Peter Sent on 11/17/2010

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We had Tom shoot our wedding back in January of 2003, almost 8 years ago now. He did fantastic work, we ended up with awesome shots of the wedding... which was all the more surprising given how unobtrusive he was.

I would highly recommend him to anyone in the area, he was worth every penny.

Lisa Sent on 11/06/2010

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I can't say enough good things about Ashlee and Documentary Associates. Not only did our wedding pictures turn out beautifully, but Ashlee was fabulous to work with - she was communicative, flexible, and dedicated to capturing the most amazing parts of our wedding. She went well beyond the "typical" wedding pictures to get some really creative and incredible shots. She helped us feel confident and relaxed so that we got the best pictures possible. I *HIGHLY* recommend Ashlee and Documentary Associates for wedding photography - I couldn't be happier.

Michelle Sent on 10/21/2010

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We worked with Ashlee and her assistant for our big day in May 2010, and we couldn't have been happier with the results. We were originally referred to Documentary Associates by some very picky friends of ours who were married last year--we figured that if Tom and Ashlee could make those two happy, then they had to be good.

We had a great experience with Ashlee as our photographer - she was very flexible with our planning, very responsive via email, and she and her assistant did their best to be in three different places at once (impressive for only two people). We have some very nice formal shots of our families as well as many, many more creative documentary-type shots. We very much enjoyed seeing their take on our wedding day and seeing our friends and family revealed in such interesting and candid ways. My favorite part of the deal was their pricing, which is quite a value for the DC area, and the fact that as part of the deal, we received 300 digital negatives of our very own, to have and to hold and to live happily ever after with. Overall, we were very pleased with our choice of photographers. Keep up the good work, Documentary Associates!

Maria Sent on 03/02/2010

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Tom and Ashlee did a great job with my wedding pictures. They were very professional and unobtrusive. A lot of my guests commented that they weren't even aware that the photographers were there, but I have the pictures to prove it. They were willing to work with us to get us the the pictures we wanted. All the pictures were great, but there are some candid photos of my family members that are absolutely priceless.

George Sent on 02/15/2010

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Tom and Ashlee photographed our wedding in November and were great to work with. Photography is very important to me, and we knew we would not settle for anything but exactly what we wanted. We got that and more from Documentary Associates. With in 15 minutes of meeting Tom and Ashlee at their studio my (now) wife and I knew we had the right people to capture our big day. Friendly, fun, low key, and best of all: really good photographers! Their styles differ, but in a way that complements each other so you will get an even greater vision of your event. The day of they were all smiles, all business, and you never knew they were there except when you needed them. They are easy to communicate with and are never high pressure. They also offer something I feel is very important which is a complete disc of all the images. That is rare.

I looked at a lot of photographers, talked to a few more, and am 100% glad we worked with Ashlee and Tom. Stop your search, you've found the right people to capture your big day! Good luck all.

Kate Sent on 10/12/2009

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Tom and Ashlee are the best. They are extremely professional, easy to get along with (actually they are REALLY COOL!!!), and are SO creative. They are such a blast to work with that I'm sad my wedding is over! They are open to try out new things and do their homework so they are super prepared to create amazing shots. My engagement session with them was a huge hit too - so original and exactly what I was looking for!

If you can only choose one vendor out of everything - go with Tom and Ashlee at Documentary Associates and you will be thrilled!!! I can not say enough good things about them!

Kate Walker & Mark Liscinsky

Jordan Sent on 07/15/2009

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Ashlee kept the photos coming, and kept everyone moving along. She and her assistant coordinated all the photos with a tough crowd. They were professional, creative and wonderful to work with!

Dan Sent on 05/04/2009

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My wife, Lacey, and I were just recently married on March 28th at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. After a lot of research with several different photographers over the past year, we narrowed it down to a few vendors and finally ended up going with Documentary Associates. We could not be happier with our decision, which is further explained below.

Tom Van Veen of Documentary Associates was great not only for our wedding ceremony and reception, but he also did a fantastic job with our engagement pictures. Tom Van Veen and Ashlee Wilcox worked so well together on wedding day, we could hardly tell they were there, which is what we were told should be the experience we have with them. And as a result, they captured some incredible shots to express the importance of the whole day and evening. The pictures ranged from beautiful bridal party photos, memorable action shots of family and friends, to the beautiful scenery at our ceremony and reception. In addition, their turnaround time was phenomenal, around a week sooner than anticipated!

Lacey and I would recommend Documentary Associates to anyone who is looking for a very friendly, flexible, and highly professional team for their special day!

Ian Sent on 04/07/2009

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I worked with Ashlee at Documentary Associates and could not have been happier with the experienece. They had done the photography for my friend's wedding and they really impressed me with the quality of their photos and their professionalism. For our wedding, Ashlee was incredibly helpful in planning, helping us to set a timeline and even providing recommendations for other services when as asked. And her recommendations were fabulous too - she put us in touch with a wonderful flourist and band.

The best part of having Documentary Associates at our wedding was that they had a really creative eye for taking photos. We have so many beautiful shots as a result, and they truly captured the essence of the evening - which was having fun in downtown Washington. And, many people didn't even notice they were having their photo taken - which is a big plus with my family who will often try to avoid the camera if they see it.

They were also very flexible with us about shooting at outdoor locations. We wanted photos taken around the Lincoln memorial and Ashlee was great with working around the crowds of tourists.

The value you get with them for the time, effort, and personal attention they put into their work is completely worth it.

Serol Sent on 06/14/2008

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Gunes Kocatepe is the answer. Highly recommend this photographer. Great personality and very talented.

Machalagh Sent on 05/15/2008

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Tom and Ashlee were amazing! We were really picky finding a photographer we were comfortable with and when we met Tom we were hooked! Our engagement photoshoot was so good that we used one of the pictures for our "Save-The-Date" and continue to get comments about how beautiful a picture it is. Someone even framed our save-the-date as a gift because it was such an amazing shot. Having Tom and Ashlee with us on our wedding day was an extra bonus. Tom has a very soothing personality and made sure throughout the day that I was comfortable and happy - it shows in the pictures. I also love that we own our pictures so for the candid shots and fun stuff we can just order them but Tom will make amazing prints for the pictures that matter the most. Tom captured not only the look of the day- but also the feel! The pictures really do tell the whole story and we couldn't be happier! He really understood us and what we thought was important and it shows in the pictures. I can't imagine a better person/team to have with you on your wedding day. These two know what thy are doing - and truely enjoy it!

Lisa Sent on 04/04/2008

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I knew Ashlee was the one to be our wedding photographer the first minute I met her. She really impressed us by showing photos and slideshows from other wedding events. They were so beautiful and classy. The pictures show real emotion and take the viewers to the intimate moments. I was also touched by Ashlee's timeliness and professionalism with my family and friends. Our wedding photos are gorgeous! Not one flaw....

Lastly, I was touched by Ashlee and Tom for locating a missing group of photos from the edit floor. I would highly recommend Ashlee to all brides to be.

Jennifer Sent on 02/26/2008

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Ashlee and Tom were amazing, and our photos are breathtaking.

My husband and I decided to get married in less than 6 months from our engagement date. (I contacted around 20 photographers to get pricing and work samples, some of which were immediately disgarded and some of whom we met with) I contacted Ashlee and Tom with less than 5 months to go, and immediately received a response. Since our wedding was in our hometown, and we live over 3 hours away, our ability to meet in person was limited. During our first (and only face-to-face) meeting with Ashlee and Tom, they were kind enough to meet us on a Sunday, taking their personal time to show us their portfolios, past work and products. After spending about 10 minutes in their office, we both knew we wanted to have them shoot our wedding. Their photo-journalistic style is incredible, the presentation is beautiful (including photos, CDs and albums), and their philosophy and personalities are fabulous.

We felt very at ease, and they were both very up front about time frame, expectations regarding what is expected of us and what we should (and would) expect from them throughout the process, as well as services offered and the what was in the contract. Throughout the entire wedding planning process, and after the wedding, when we had questions, we received very prompt, clear and friendly responses from both Ashlee and Tom.

My husband and I were on a super tight budget, and were lucky enough to have both Ashlee and Tom shoot our wedding (2 for the price of 1!). The wedding itself went very smooth, both photographers melted into the background of the day (just ask my mom, as she saw herself in some photos that she wasn't aware were being taken, and can't believe the faces she is making- it's hilarious) and the photos are amazing! We have the photos posted online for 3 months, received 2 CDs of negatives (1 in black and white and 1 in color) of well over 700 photos, and have ordered other services, with the intention of getting an album in the next year or so, after things settle down.

Apparently, as noted in the other entries, there was some "lag time" on receiving albums in the past. However, I feel as though Ashlee and Tom were very up front about the fact that they subcontract their albums to a company in New Zealand because they are the absolute best, which is exemplified in the quality of the albums we were shown on our first visit. I understand that some people may not be willing to wait, but I know my husband and I would rather receive a high-quality, gorgeous and well-designed wedding album that took some time. We just don't know which photos we're going to choose for it, because they're all fantastic!

I HIGHLY recommend Documentary Associates for your wedding, you won't be disappointed!

Laura Sent on 07/08/2016

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We weren't sure we wanted to spend much money on photography for our wedding. We're so glad we came to our senses and hired Documentary Associates, and for an incredibly competitive price! They could be charging significantly more for the quality and service they provide. Tom's description at our first meting of their approach to photographing the wedding, and making it more about the spirit and life in the day and less about stodgy set-ups (he said it better!), was what sold us that we wanted them to capture our day. We just received our photographs, a couple of weeks before we were even expecting them, and simply put they are stunning. Family and friends who have seen them have been unanimous in their reaction that the photos are even better than they imagined they would be. In addition, Tom and second shooter Eileen were just really fun to spend the day with. They had great senses of humor, were easy to be around, and were eager to cover all angles, so to speak. We didn't realize how much down time the two of us would have with just the photographers throughout the day, and ultimately the entirety of our day was made better by the fact that we genuinely enjoyed that time with them. We can't recommend Documentary Associates highly enough!

User2645597 Sent on 06/13/2016

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The pictures came out great! We had our wedding in February and Tom and Ashlee gave us a great deal. My husband and I know that we're terrible at posing for pictures and we wanted someone who could capture the candid moments at our wedding. My only, very minor, complaint was that the posed pictures with our families didn't go so well. Everyone seemed a bit disorganized and we didn't quite get all the pictures I would've liked. The pictures we did get, though, were so great that it doesn't really bother me. The photo booth was great too. Fantastic quality pictures all around.

Robert Sent on 01/20/2014

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The overall experience with Documentary Associates was great. Ashley worked very hard to get the shots and we appreciate it. Even getting on the ground and shooting prone to get the shot. A very pretty portrait of our family! I would definitely recommend her and her company to any couple seeking a photographer that you can work with easily.

Melissa Sent on 07/29/2009

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Ashlee and Angela were incredible on our wedding day. Beforehand, we were lucky enough to do an engagement shoot with Ashlee, and we immediately felt at ease in her capable hands. She turned the engagement pics into an amazing book that we had our guests sign at the wedding, and received so many compliments on. Ashlee was also great to work with in the weeks and months leading up to the big day, always promptly answering questions and offering her professional advice. The day of, she helped make sure the trains ran on time, doing a great job of navigating an unfamiliar setting and wrangling a pretty large wedding party. She and Angela were also very patient with the legions of relatives with cameras who probably made their job a little more complicated than necessary, and I have no doubt she captured all the big (and small) moments perfectly. We can't wait to see the pictures :)

Rasheda Sent on 03/11/2008

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I absolutely loved the photos taken by Mr. Thomas Van Veen and Mrs. Ashlee Van Veen of Documentary Associates, LLC on and before my Wedding Day, November 9, 2007. My husband and I were very pleased with our Engagement pictures that were taken on the grounds of the Jefferson and Franklin Roosevelt Memorials. Our Wedding took place in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and the reception was held at a large banquet facility in Greenbelt, Maryland. They took photos before the wedding at my Matron of Honors home where we hosted family and friends. All of the shots were very candid (except the portraits) and they captured special moments of that day that were undetected by my husband and I. I thank them so graciously for freezing those moments in time so that we could enjoy them forever.

We would recommend their services to any engaged couple in the Washington DC metro area. They provide prompt service and specialized attention to details. They made our day enjoyable and stress-free.

User2059083 Sent on 09/28/2015

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After researching online and looking at websites for various photography styles, my husband and I decided to go with Documentary Associates. We married in April and had a small civil service down at the Tidal Basin in DC and then had a separate wedding reception in September with friends and family. Tom has been great to work with and their office is in Bethesda which is convenient to where we live. We don’t yet have our photos from our September reception but we loved the work he did on our April wedding! He is extremely nice and professional and has a great eye to catch moments as they are happening. Sometimes you don’t even know he is snapping photos and these snapshots when you aren’t even aware are some of my favorites. At our reception he was unobtrusive but capturing all the important moments. You can provide a list of things you want photographed to include family portraits, etc but there are also some go with the flow moments where he has some great photo ideas. I can’t wait to see our September reception photos so we can relive the night all over again. I know the quality and artistry will be just what we will be looking for. Just remember that email responses may be slightly delayed but he will always get back to you! I would highly recommend Documentary Associates to capture your special day.

Robert Sent on 11/04/2014

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Our 1st anniversary just recently passed and I had another opportunity to view the photos that Ashlee of Documentary Associates did for us. And I think to myself that these are great photographs. Composition,timing and emotion all there. Really nice job.

Deena Sent on 06/29/2012

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We got great shots from Documentary Associates. They captured the feeling of the venue and the day. While we did not have a seated meal so there were no table shots to catch everyone who was there, they did capture many people on the dance floor and throughout the elements of our ceremony.

L Sent on 07/31/2011

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We loved Ashely and her team from our first meeting. Her skill and talent was evident and we knew we wanted her to photograph our wedding. She was incredibly responsive and very flexible with our constantly changing schedule. We also had Documentary Associates handle our engagement pictures which were amazing. She came up with a number of creative ideas and we loved all the shots. For our wedding, she honored all of our requests and captured plenty of candid shots of our guests as opposed to focusing solely on us. The pictures are phenomenal; we could not be happier. We highly recommend Documentary Associates for a amazing photos as well as great service.

Anita Sent on 01/02/2007

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We used Shannon Bishop at DA--very personable and professional. Spoke with us several times before the event. The biggest plus of using them is that they give you all the digital negatives on CD! Means that you can upload into something like Shutterfly and print/share at substantially lower prices. Prices also were very reasonable. Great quality photos--very artistic. Would highly recommend.

Tiffany Sent on 08/03/2011

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Tom and Angela were fantastic to work with. They were prompt, professional, unobtrusive and even gave us a few laughs. They worked hard to get great shots and it really paid off! I have very high standards when it comes to photographs and Documentary Associates met these expectations, capturing the emotions of the day in a beautiful, stylistic way. The photographs are incredible and we would recommend them to anyone with high regards. As a bride who was anxious to see pictures, eight weeks was a long time to wait, but I have to say... it was well worth the wait.

Farah Sent on 09/28/2010

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Tom and Ashlee are amazing! Photography was one of the most important aspects of the wedding for both my husband and myself. My husband researched well over 20 photographers and we met with several before deciding upon Documentary Associates. From our first meeting, Tom and Ashlee made us feel so comfortable. Aside from being excellent at what they do, they are a lot of fun to be around and completely put you at ease. We were looking for photographers that would be able to capture the emotions of our day, but that would also capture details and formals. We hired Documentary Associates to do our engagement pictures, our rehearsal dinner/indian ceremony, and our wedding day and we could not be happier with the results. They captured all of the events so beautiful and we received so may compliments on our pictures. At our rehearsal dinner it was literally 90+ degrees outside with nearly 100% humidity and Tom never complained once. He even stayed a little bit longer than planned to get a few family shots that my dad really wanted.

On the wedding day, Tom and Ashlee arrived on time and got to work right away, even though we were running a little late. We did formals before the ceremony and the shots they captured from our first look were priceless. We have a great combination of traditional formals and more fun shots together as a couple. They captured the emotions and the feel of our ceremony very beautifully as well and the shots from our reception were great. Every time I look at our pictures I can't stop smiling and each shot makes me feel the same happiness and excitement I felt on our wedding day.

While Documentary Associates may not be the cheapest option, they were competitively priced for what we wanted and we were very glad that we were able to get high resolution images with rights to print - that was very important for us, and it was nice that it didn't cost us an arm and a leg to get it. Overall, we would highly highly recommend Documentary Associates. They are fun to work with, professional, and most importantly they produce beautiful pictures.

Jessie Sent on 10/10/2010

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We knew Tom from my sister's wedding six years ago. He very much impressed me because I hardly knew he was around, but he caught every important part of the day. When it was time to hire a photographer, we called him. He has a way of capturing moments instead of creating them. Candid shots are his favorite. His professionalism and expertise are also so great to have during the hecticness of the wedding day. He will go anywhere you want to take pictures during that day and stays with you for 7-8 hours for a very modest cost. It may take some extra time to get your proofs after the wedding, but the wait is well worth it. And while you can purchase photos through the development company he works with, he gives you all of the digital negatives for you to print and share as you would like. I would (and already have) recommend him to anyone!

Lisa Sent on 11/20/2008

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It was such a pleasure working with Documentary Associates. Tom worked with us for our wedding, and he has an exceptional presence. He added to the overall joy of our wedding: be it helping us through the technicalities of the wedding process itself or working patiently with our motley crew of a family, he was invaluable. We were worried about finding a photographer over the Web but planned most of our wedding from California. We wanted a photographer who was down to earth, funny and easy going -- but at the same time we wanted high quality results and to work with an experienced professional photographer. Tom was all of these things and more. Within the first 5-minutes we felt comfortable enough to let him work his documentary-style magic, which was a huge reason we hired Documentary Associates. His presence is subtle and quiet when needed, and engaged and directive when it's called for. I highly encourage couples to budget for this photography team, your wedding day itself will go smoother and you will have an authentic but beautiful batch of photos to recap the event.

User1057904 Sent on 01/02/2013

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Thomas took wonderful photos! We are very pleased with them and are giving them as gifts to our wedding party and family. They are absolutely gorgeous, creative, and unique.

User1102984 Sent on 03/05/2013

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We worked with Tom and although I thought he was great, my husband and some of the guests thought he seemed really quiet and like he was in a bad mood. He definitely wasnt overly chatty or talkative but that didnt bother me. I guess it depends on what you want in a photographer. The photos were amazing - I love them!

Laura Sent on 05/07/2012

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All I can say is that I love Angela. She was the most amazing photographer I could have ever dreamed of for my wedding. She was on top of every shot that I wanted but at the same time I didn't even know she was there. Jen her assistant was the same way, and she ran the portrait station which was a huge hit at our wedding. They both showed up on time and were so easy going and patient. I can not wait to see the final pictures. I recommend Documentary Associates to any couple.

**Now that we have received our photos, my husband, family and myself are overall disappointed. Although there were several gorgeous shots from the day, a majority of our family portraits were out of focus and extremely bright. There were also no pictures from the cocktail hour, even though we had hired 2 photographers. We had high hopes for our wedding pictures due to their portfolios presented on their website. I do want to stress that the photographers were extremely nice and professional in person, but the photographs we received do not reflect the cost we paid for them.

Kathryn Sent on 11/23/2007

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They were expensive, but the photographer took great pictures. We would recommend Jason Philips (who no longer works with this company) as a wedding photographer. He was very professional and his photographic skill is amazing.

We received over 300 digital pictures edited down from 3000 within a month of the wedding, burned to high resolution DVD's. They were willing to work with us and involve us in the album design process, even if it took longer than we had hoped.

Shannon Sent on 03/30/2017

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Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

We hired Tom to take our wedding photos back in 2015. The photos themselves came out fine; we were happy with them. The problems began when we decided to order an album through Tom. Back in July 2016 we paid him $1000 for an album. It's now March 2017 and still no album. Not only do we not have an album, Tom has not responded to any of our multiple emails or voicemails trying to find out why we don't have an album yet. I'm truly disappointed in this lack of professional behavior, especially considering all of the good reviews they have online. I cannot in good faith recommend Documentary Associates.

Irina Sent on 05/17/2014

2.3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
0.5 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

Finally getting to review our experience: what I came away was the extreme lack of professionalism. While we signed an agreement about the terms and pricing, the photographer asked for $100 more per hour than agreed when asked to stay longer. Who does that? Squeezing money out of people on their wedding day?!

He also was the least friendly photographer I ever met. Gotta smile once in a while.

The only reason I booked him was due to loss in the family and wedding planning getting derailed. He was on the few still available.

Bad experience and awful memories.

Deborah Sent on 11/16/2007

1.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
0 out of 5 rating
Average response time
1 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
2 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1 out of 5 rating

Basically, this group connects freelance documentary style photographers with clients. Our photographer was great, he took wonderful pictures and was very nice. But, he did restrict us some on days and times to do our pre-wedding shots. In the end we felt we got beautiful pictures for the most part.
We got two big pre wedding portraits, an album, and two copies of our pictures on disk. The problem was not with the wedding portraits or the pictures on disk. We got those on time as promised.
Our problems started in April of 2007 when we ordered our album. The vendor could not keep the order straight, they forgot what we asked for and sent us bad proofs. They did not respond quickly and put us off for weeks at a time. We ordered other portraits which they never sent and so after about 6 weeks of waiting we asked for a refund, which they refused, they then told us we would get credit for some other item or upgrade if we wanted to spend more money.
We refused and finally after 3 months they agreed to just do the album and send the portraits, except they still did not arrive. Finally, in September we sent them a nasty letter for taking our money and not fulfilling the agreement. They then sent our portraits, but not our photo album. We had asked for our money back, but they refused to give it to us and said they would send the album soon and the portraits right away.
We now finally have our other portraits but not our wedding album which we cannot print ourselves since the pictures are copyrighted. It has been a very upsetting and stressful experience. At this time I have contacted them again for the album but no one has returned our query.

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Documentary Associates Photography