The Elvira Kalviste Experience

This is Our Art:

Bearing witness,documenting deep connections and collecting beautiful moments together

Bespoke Wedding
Photography Collections

Engagements, Elopements & Weddings for the Bold at Heart

We’re documentary wedding photographers in the truest sense with over 10 years of photography experience in Brooklyn NYC, the Hudson Valley & beyond. 


We look for portraits in the moment, in the movement of life, in the thick of things. 


With our signature documentary/photojournalistic style, we’re wholeheartedly invested in you and the connections you hold dear. For every couple, we curate a custom wedding photography collection to fit your needs and unique wedding vision.

What working together looks like

  • 1. The Inquiry Form

    Please fill out our Inquiry Form here. Once we receive your form, we’ll reach out to schedule a call with you or your wedding planner.

  • 2. The Call

    It’s time for our video call! We are happy to chat with you and/or your planner about the vision for your day. We love getting to know our couples and creating custom photography proposals to fit your exact needs.

  • 3. The Retainer & Contract

    If you decide to work with us you’ll need to reserve your date by paying a 40% retainer and signing our contract. The final balance is due two weeks before your event date.

  • 4. The Questionnaire

    Two to three months before your wedding date, we will send a wedding day questionnaire for you to fill out. This helps ensure we know everything we need to capture all the moments you care about most. We will work closely with you and your planner to figure out the best photo timeline for the day.

  • 5. The Pre-Wedding Check In

    14-30 days before your big day, we will schedule a call to discuss all your plans and photography expectations for the day. During this call, I will walk you through the process and discuss your timeline with you so your wedding day can flow seamlessly.

  • 6. The Wedding Day

    The day of your wedding, we’ll show up exactly when we promised, ready to document your day honestly as it unfolds. We’ll be there to lean on when you need it, and unobtrusively capture every emotion. We can’t wait to celebrate your love story!

  • 7. The Gallery Delivery & Prints

    Eight to ten weeks after the wedding, you’ll receive your full wedding gallery of high resolution digital images. From your online gallery, you can download your photos or order prints of your favorite memories.

See more of
our services

  • With years of experience capturing intimate events from City Hall weddings to iconic ceremonies around and beyond NYC, our photography ensures your elopement is documented in a style that’s boldly your own. Each moment, no matter how small, is an essential part of your love story.

  • Engagements and couples portraits are our favorite way to get to know our couples. We want to document you in your element, creatively capturing the pieces and scenes that are unique and meaningful to you – be it moments in your home, with your pet, adventuring through your favorite neighborhood, stopping by your local coffee shop or bar. We’re up for any and everything.

  • Whether you're planning to pop the question at one of NYC's landmarks or somewhere off the beaten path, we love documenting the joy and the surprise of your proposal in a way that’s as unique and iconic as your love.

  • We’re all about enjoying the art and beauty of your day. Something tangible to be treasured. Let us help you curate your images into a stunning, custom-designed album. Handmade in the US, our albums are the perfect keepsake, preserving your memories for years to come.

Find out about our services

The essence, the heartbeat

of our Craft

Deep Connection

In a world where real connection can feel fleeting, our photography dares to go deeper. We’re looking for more profound, more meaningful relationships with our couples. We want to ensure we show up for you. How you feel is everything. This is your day and your memories – in order to capture the unfiltered moments, we have to be deeply present to you. The connection we forge with you and the connection you have with your people is how we create our best work.

Unapologetic Artistry

We’ve honed our craft to be boldly in sync with our creative intuition. Forget the trends, the scripted poses, and the expectations that don’t honor your love. Our creative vision dares to defy traditions and all the supposed to’s associated with a wedding day. Our approach is an invitation to sit back and enjoy the ride as we document each moment in our signature artistic style: honoring the realness, the emotions and the poetry of your love. 



Our commitment as artists is to witness your love, to capture the depth of your day, and to create a space where you can authentically, unapologetically, be yourself. Because authenticity isn't just a buzzword – it's a way of living. It's the heartbeat of our art, the driving force behind every creative angle and composition.

Honest Storytelling

At Elvira Kalviste Photography, genuine moments are the foundation for our work. We don’t want to direct a production or fabricate memories. We’re here to capture life as it would be if no one else was watching. Our approach to documenting your day is unvarnished and honest. We simply bear witness to the big moments, the quiet moments and all the in-betweens. The unscripted exchanges, the laughter, the drunken moonlit dancing – everything that can’t ever be replicated because it’s real. They say photos should be windows to the soul, and that’s what we seek to honor in every single frame.

Fearless Empowerment

You deserve a story as bold and profound as you are. As artists, we believe the only way to create meaningful, enduring work is by empowering you to be yourselves. We show up to every wedding or shoot to document all your so entirely you ways. We work with strong, empowered humans who are fiercely inclusive and kind-hearted. Because love is powerful. Love can change the world. And love is love, always.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have unanswered questions? Our inquiry form is the perfect place to reach out, and I’m happy to answer them all during our call.

  • After submitting your inquiry here, we’ll set up a video call with you and/or your planner. Once we’ve had our call, I will put together a custom proposal where I can specifically address your wishes, needs and ideas. 

    As soon as I have received your signed contract and 40% retainer for your wedding, your desired date will be firmly reserved for you.

  • I grew up near the beautiful Baltic Sea in Estonia, and now split my time between New York City and the Hudson Valley. Traveling has been my passion since I first crossed the Atlantic Ocean!

    So that’s a wholehearted yes to travel, as I travel all over the US and far beyond its borders all the time. I’d love to hear what you have in mind and create a custom wedding proposal for you – reach out to inquire here!

  • My travel expenses vary depending upon locations. The cost for traveling to and from the destination, as well as possible accommodation and meals, can vary greatly as well

    If you are traveling for your wedding or elopement or live in another city or state, you can always discuss your ideas and plans with me. I will be happy to create a customized proposal specially tailored for you.

  • While we strive to document your day unobtrusively, we do make sure to get the must-have, classic family portraits when requested. Our couple photos are fun and in the moment and the opposite of cheesy.

  • You’ll receive your fully edited online gallery of high resolution images eight to ten weeks after your wedding day.

  • I recommend you opt for a second photographer if 70+ guests are attending your wedding day. This is the best way to ensure you don’t miss out on any candid moments during your celebration. Between myself, Yunika and our trusted & talented team of second shooters, we promise to document every detail that matters most to you.