So Tender Is Humanity Reviews
Reviews
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Awards
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![Jack]()
Jack Sent on 04/09/2025Unforgettable 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. -
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Tiffany Sent on 01/22/2025
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)! -
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![Madison]()
Madison Sent on 01/22/2025The 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! -
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Tamas Sent on 01/20/2025
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!So Tender Is Humanity's reply:
Thank you so much, Tamas. I am grateful that I got a chance to be a part of your wedding day, working with you both was a lot of fun! -
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Bailey Sent on 12/19/2023
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!
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Diana Sent on 12/17/2023
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 -
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![Stevan]()
Stevan Sent on 09/21/2023So 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
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![Regan]()
Regan Sent on 01/23/2023Tldr: hire them
My now husband and I were lucky enough to be introduced to Alex and Anastasiia at our friends’ wedding right after we got engaged and knew immediately that we would hire them for our own wedding. We loved how they became part of the party, literally dancing alongside wedding guests to get the most candid shots, while also somehow feeling practically invisible. Alex and Anastasiia have an amazing ability to capture incredible documentary moments while letting your wedding day stay YOUR wedding day.
From the moment we reached out, Alex and Anastasiia pushed us outside our comfort zone to make sure that everything we received as part of our package was so very, truly US. The very first thing they asked us – before they wanted to know anything about our aesthetic or wedding plans – was about the most daring thing we both had done. When we both gave answers that had to do with backpacking, they immediately suggested that we find a way to make a camping shoot happen for our engagement photos. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to actual CAMP with my wedding photographers, but a few months later, sure enough we found ourselves in Shenandoah for the weekend with Alex, Anastasiia and our dog. I could go on about how fun the weekend was, how they were so prepared for everything, gave us so much of their time and energy and how amazing it is to become actual friends with your photographers – that weekend will always be one of the best memories of the whole wedding process. But really the photos speak for themselves. What an extraordinary gift to have who you are and the things you hold closest at such a pivotal moment in time captured so perfectly.
And when it came time for our wedding day, we were already so comfortable with them that it felt like having two more friends in the room while we were getting ready, standing up with us as we exchanged vows and, once again, alongside us and all our friends on the dance floor. Months later, our friends and family still comment in disbelief over how amazing our wedding photos are, how they encapsulate who my husband and I are so perfectly. I am forever grateful to have these memories captured so vividly and to have gained two incredible friends along the way. I cannot recommend them enough and if you’ve read this far I hope it’s clear that you should be hire them immediately. -
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![Amy]()
Amy E. Sent on 01/09/2023Balance of Artistic Creativity and Classic Elegance
I really wanted classic, beautiful portraits to frame for my family and to hang up at home, but I also really wanted some artistic shots - things I would not have taken myself or would not have been able to capture. I loved that Alex was able to do a perfect balance of this for us. I wanted lots of photos of the guests, and he absolutely delivered. There were classic shots, staged but fun shots, staged but really lovely and creative shots, images that he recreated based on my mom and grandmother's wedding photos, candid shots, artistic images, photos of the details I put together for the day...everything I wanted. I really enjoyed the video montage of photos that was put together with music. I could not be happier with these photos, and both bride and groom families adore them as well. I can't recommend So Tender is Humanity enough. While the photographer was a big investment in money (it felt to me), I am truly thrilled with how it turned out. -
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![Gloria]()
Gloria Sent on 09/01/2022The Greatest!
Working with Alex and Anastasiia was a great experience! Alex spent time before the wedding to talk to me through the schedule and was reassuring about the timing of it all. Anastasiia the day of was like a fly on the wall and took amazing photos throughout the entire day (they both did). They even accommodated me after the wedding and provided the raw photos, which were just as great as the edited ones. Would definitely recommend working with them. They're worth the price. -
![Corinne]()
Corinne Sent on 05/25/2022Superb photographers!
Alex and Anastasiia were a highlight of our wedding experience! They are hugely creative and captured the energy and joy of the day. They were unobtrusive on our wedding day. So often it feels like the photographers are running the wedding, but this was not the case with them. Beyond the photos they took, they were very pleasant to work with and professional, taking the time to talk in advance about our vision and hopes for the day. -
![Don]()
Don M. Sent on 05/09/2022Perfect from booking to the wedding day
Alex and Anastasia were exactly what we wanted for our wedding day. Their website caught our attention, but their personalities hooked us. From the engagement session to the wedding day, they were kind, funny, and professional. They took over when we needed them to and stepped back to catch the action when it was perfect. We highly recommend them for your wedding. -
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![Carolyn]()
Carolyn Sent on 10/25/2021The most amazing photographers!
WOW! Alex and Anastasiia are simply amazing. They are so professional, so nice, and made us feel at ease throughout the entire planning process.
Their photos are beautiful - they capture moments (the stuff that you truly want to remember when your wedding is over) and make every photo feel like a piece of art. We are beyond thrilled with all of our photos - they are unique and personal and immediately bring us back to the joy we felt on our wedding day.
Don't pass up a chance to have them shoot your wedding - they were truly wonderful to work with and create the most beautiful photos!! -
![Laura]()
Laura Sent on 05/24/2021Best wedding photographers in the DC/VA area!
Alex and Anastasiia are so fun and easy to work with, there’s no anxiety when it comes to having our photos taken. I’ve had them taken my engagement photos, my wedding photos and also my parents’ 40-year anniversary photos. My parents were a little shy about getting their photos taken, but they ended up having a great time with Alex. They’re still, to this day, raving about how much fun they had on the photo session.
Aside from their soft skills of making clients feel heard and taken care of, their hard skills are what sold me: they have a gift in visual storytelling. The wedding photos I got back are vibrant and dynamic, and have captured the emotions so perfectly that I can almost hear the laughter and feel the love. Whether it’s posed portraits with experimental lighting/angles or photojournalistic shots that capture candid moments, the photos they deliver are just top notch.
I would definitely recommend So Tender is Humanity for your wedding. -
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Erin Sent on 07/09/2020
Absolutely delightful, 10/10 would recommend
Alex and Anastasiia were an absolute delight to work with, and honestly the MVP vendor of our entire wedding (and the rest of them were great too!). When people told us their thoughts on our wedding, most of them commented (unprompted) on how great the photographers were.
Alex and Anastasiia get a combination of posed and documentary-style candid shots, and each and every one of them is STUNNING. When I look through our wedding album all I can think of is how well they captured how fun the day was and also "damn, they made us look GOOD!"
This is not to mention that they are timely, professional, kind, creative, fun, and always prepared. 10/10, would hire again/recommend to anyone.
https://polyakovphotography.com/stone-tower-winery-wedding/ -
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Marling Sent on 12/23/2019
Best wedding photographers ever!
I HATE taking pictures but Alex and Anastasiia made me feel very comfortable on my wedding day. It was like hanging out with best friends all night! They are very genuine, down to earth people who are extremely talented! You can tell they LOVE what they do! We could see the creative juices flowing despite the fact that we didn’t want to do a lot of posing. They captured all the special moments during our wedding and did a phenomenal job! For the price of one, you get two photographers who are married and understand the beauty of what they’re capturing. They delivered the photos during the time frame given and are very respectful of your time! They were never late for a phone call, arrived to the venue early and left later than agreed. Best experience ever! Oh! And they deliver your photos in such a special way! -
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![Danielle]()
Danielle Sent on 12/02/2019The BEST Wedding Photographers!
Alex and Anastasiia were an absolute dream. They went above and beyond from start to finish, helped my very camera-shy husband feel at ease, and did a truly amazing job capturing our special day. Photography was one of my top 3 in terms of priority vendors and I went down a serious internet rabbit hole researching photographers. My husband and I both couldn't be happier with our decision to hire Polyakov Photography and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a great photographer in the DC area. -
![Allison]()
Allison Sent on 11/01/2019Simply the best
This couple duo is fire! Seriously, they did an amazing job with our engagement shoot, helping us plan for the wedding with a very detailed timeline and making the big day super fun! They just sent us our "sneak peak" of shots from our wedding on October 12, 2019.
They really care about their craft, their communication is great, they are flexible yet also very organized. They made our first look shoot seamless, I was a little nervous about how it would all work but It was perfect! They used apple walkie-talkie feature to coordinate the exact timing of everything, it was so cute to watch them.
When it came time to do pre wedding pictures with the bridal party they made it fun with little games and funny cues for various poses. After our pictures I didn’t notice them at all....until dancing started! They are also great dancers and they will go to great lengths for a shot! My family loved seeing Alex's dance moves! -
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![Sara]()
Sara Sent on 09/05/2019Wonderful Photographers
You will never find a nicer couple of photographers. It was such a pleasure working with Alex and Anastasiia. They have such a vibrant energy and made sure we had knew how to pose and that the big day was captured without a hitch. Their work is beautiful, and they bring a wonderful mix of innovative shots and classic portrait photography. You will not be disappointed, nor will you find a harder working or more personable and talented set of photographers. -
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![Aaron]()
Aaron Sent on 06/18/2019Photographic Genius
Alex and Anastasiia Polyakov are a photography match made in heaven. We were so excited for our highlights album that we downloaded each picture on our honeymoon. Each new picture that they post to our highlights album is a gift. They are daring artists and photographic geniuses. We can not wait to see the entire album. The images that they captured during our engagement shoot and wedding day comprised of a documentary approach that made for phenomenal and detailed shots. They were also imperative in coordinating our very private and personal first look before the wedding ceremony. Their editing approach is incredibly detailed and sophisticated. This made for resplendent finished photos that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. During the engagement shoot and full-day of wedding pictures, they never made us or attendees uncomfortable with their documentation of the day. Throughout the wedding night, I rarely noticed that they were there. They are not only fantastic at portrait shots for formal pictures with family members, but also know how to blend into a celebratory environment to capture distinct action-packed dance shots. You could not ask for more from two photographers. Their devotion to photography is evident from their continued attendance at work shops and photography retreats, as well as their review process for editing pictures. My wife and I could not be more happy with their work. They are a phenomenal team and will ensure great coverage of your event. Book without hesitation. -
![Kirby]()
Kirby Sent on 06/01/2019WOW! Friendly & Extremely Talented
Alex and Anastasiia are a dynamic team of photographers, who are as great to work with as they are talented. They were responsive and easy to communicate with, gave us complete peace of mind in the time going up to the wedding. We were nervous for our engagement shoot and they made it fun and relaxed, getting amazing photos while making it easy. For the wedding, they use what they call a "documentary approach", somehow always being there for important moments without being intrusive. They jumped with us on the dancefloor and shared in our excitement. And most importantly, the photographs they captured are truly amazing. I can't stop looking at how beautifully they documented our day. -
![Tsai]()
Tsai Sent on 01/04/2019Great artistic photographers combining classic and creative styles!
Alex and Anastasiia were a great photographer duo. They were very responsive during the planning stages and friendly to work with. They combined artistic/creative elements that reflected a sense of adventure and also delivered high-quality classic shots and portraits. Their photo-journalistic style also helped to capture candid shots of the wedding and reception. Great seeing them work as a team and their willingness to try new things. Thanks both for capture our day! Highly recommend. -
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![Monique]()
Monique Sent on 11/14/2018Fantastic Couple with Great Vision
Alex and Anastasiia are fantastic to work with. We did an engagement shoot and they took the pictures at our wedding. Our engagement shoot was so fun! We took some standard engagement style pictures in Occoquan then switched gears and had a paint war by the lake at my Aunt's house. They were really into it and had no issues with two locations and two completely different style shoots. Everyone loved our paint war pictures!
Leading up to the wedding Alex checked in with us and even did a walkthrough at the site with us. They were both so prepared the day of we all leaned on them to keep us on track. They did it beautifully. We had a hiccup with our first look location and Alex switched gears, took charge and organized on the fly a new location. It turned out perfectly! I have gotten nothing but compliments on how great our photography team is from my bridal party and guests and I'm in love with our pictures. You cannot go wrong with them! Book them now :) -
Thao Sent on 09/28/2018I really don't know where to start but I know for sure that I was 200% happy that I had Alex and Anastasiia to capture my wedding day. They are honestly the best! Not only my husband and I were extremely satisfied with the service and pictures, but our family members couldn't stop complimenting on this wonderful couple and their amazing photos! I reached out to Polyakov Photography when I was looking for photographers for my traditional Vietnamese wedding back in August 2018. We met Alex at a small coffee shop to discuss about our wedding plan and even though he didn't have much experience with Vietnamese wedding, I still felt like I could trust him by his excitement and enthusiasm, and it was the best decision that I made. Alex and Anastasiia were soooo fun and easy to work with. I love how patient and creative they were despite how chaotic the situation might get sometimes. They were so sweet and always tried their best to capture all the details of the story and I couldn't be happier going through the final gallery feeling like I just relived those moments again. I am totally recommending this vendor to you all for your wedding day. Trust me, you will not regret your decision :) It's really difficult to only select 10 pictures for this review :D
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Carly Sent on 08/29/2018It was so wonderful working with Alex and Anastasia! They were a wonderful team and made our day so special. We had a very intimate family wedding and both Alex and Anastasiia made everyone feel so comfortable. They were respectful and unobtrusive but so much fun to work with and were such a huge part of the day. Towards the end I viewed them as more than just our photographers but as our guests and friends. I would choose them to shoot my wedding every time and I highly recommend them. Their work is beautiful and captured the essence of the entire day. I will treasure the photos always. Thank you both so much!
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Danisha Sent on 06/05/2018Alex and Ana are an excellent team. My husband found them online and based on their photo gallery and their reviews we reached out to see if they could do our wedding. First of all, they are super responsive and very kind people. All of the details and the costs were outlined clearly which made it so easy to work with them. They offered to do our engagement shoot as well which ended up being a great investment. We loved the pics and got a chance to get to know them and vice versa, which helped a lot when it was time for the big day. One thing that stands out about them is their energy is so positive...you can't believe what a difference it makes. They are attentive, encouraging, and uplifting. They made us feel like they were honored to be working on our event. They made us feel like superstars! Every detail was attended to before, during and even after the event. Some of our requests were weird but they went above and beyond to ensure our complete satisfaction. We are tremendously pleased with Alex and Ana. They know what they are doing and they enjoy it! Also, I've never seen a dancing photographer like Alex. That was the cutest thing ever. I think our DJ got the best of him. Our favorites are all of the candid/action shots they got at our reception. Because of them we have so many memories captured forever and we are very grateful! We highly recommend them without reservation. -The Martins
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Sokho Sent on 04/23/2018Great photographers! Pictures speak for themselves. Had thousands of photos taken from beginning to end. Our wedding was around 10 hours from start to finish. Then they provided really good photos immediately after the wedding. Followed by the full digital album a few weeks later that looks like it was digitally remastered. So much more color in the photos. When we were first looking around for photographers, I was worried that we will end up with photographers who didn't know how to take pictures in the dark too well. Because we both had lots of friends who got married and their photographers were always subpar. But as you can see in the photos I uploaded, they went above our expectations. I would add more but it only allows me to upload 10. Also, we were able to finish all the different photo shoots ahead of schedule because they were so organized. We went from ceremony to family wedding photos, couple photos, and a bunch of other photos and we were 25 minutes ahead of schedule according to our timeline. So organized and so good at instructing people what to do. I would highly recommend!!
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![Ruslana]()
Ruslana Sent on 01/04/2018I am absolutely in love with the results of a creative photoshoot that Polyakov Photography did for Igor and I. They made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and had endless ideas for our shots. You can really feel our love when you look at the pictures - they really know how to capture the moment. I would highly recommend them for your engagement shoot, wedding shoot, or just a fun shoot on a Saturday afternoon. I can't wait to share our pictures with everyone! Thank you, Alex & Anastasiia! -
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Igor Sent on 12/27/2017Polyakov Photography is absolutely great! My girlfriend and I used them for a creative photoshoot and couldn't be happier with our pictures! Anastasia & Alex are extremely professional. They are super responsive, and have a fast turn around time. We received our pictures in less than two weeks! Highly recommend them!
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Stephanie Sent on 12/05/2017My fiance and I thoroughly enjoyed working with Polyakov Photography. We did our engagement photoshoot with them in Washington D.C. They were very flexible and were able to come up with a different location option on the spot when our first one wasn't open! It's very obvious that Alex and Anastasia have a passion for photography and are comfortable coming up with creative ideas they go. We couldn't have been more happy with the way our photos turned out and all of our friends and family just loved them as well. : )
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Taisiya Sent on 12/02/2017On October 22, 2017 I (Maid of Honor) witnessed the most important event in my best friend’s life-her marriage! Like any other woman she desired this day to be perfect, so are the photos that would remind her of the brightest and happiest moments she shared on that day with her loved ones for the rest of her life! So the couple did an extensive research of DC area photography companies to ensure they choose the best one for reasonable costs. After a few meetings with some photographers, I remember her calling me being super excited about hiring Polyakov Photography company and saying that she fell instantly in love with the work they had shown to her.
Well, as it turned out soon after the wedding, it was the best decision ever!! I think it would be inappropriate to call the wedding pictures as just, the photos, I’d rather say each of them is a piece of art! (check out the album called Daniela& Dave on their website and you will see yourself)
Besides, Alex and Anastasia did such an amazing job that day at dealing with the crowd during the group picture photo session, at giving the instructions and suggestions about postures, coming up with some funny poses for us all! Overall, they made it a truly fun on such a beautiful (but also stressful for bride and groom!) day and handled it all on 150%! I strongly recommend you to hire them if want your happiest moments to be perfectly captured on your photos!!!
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David Sent on 11/27/2017Alex & Anastasiia did an incredible job with our wedding photography and we'd happily recommend them to anyone. Polyakov Photography provides excellent value for their services. They first scouted the area to find the best location, and demonstrated a clear knowledge and artistic vision regarding lighting, poses, etc. They also did a great job of managing the crowd and taking good shots of everyone without feeling overbearing or intrusive. We trusted this company with the most important day of our lives and they were absolutely up to the task!
-Dave & Daniela -
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