Tom Ellis Photography
About
I have been a professional photographer for more than 30 years, and have photographed more than 1000 weddings. I am able to provide photos in a variety of styles, to match the needs of my clients.
I have won a rather silly number of awards, including the WeddingWire Couples' Choice for 9 years in a row and the Knot Best of Weddings for 4 years, as well as their Best of Weddings Hall of Fame.
Check out my reviews at https://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/tom-ellis-photography-seattle/f45580c3b22f8b52.html
Photography allows me to express my creativity in a manner I would otherwise not be able to do. I love working with different people with different needs, the variety keeps the experience fresh and keeps me wanting to come back for more. Shooting weddings is both exhilarating and terrifying; every wedding is different, and I only have one chance to give a couple photographic memories that they will have for the rest of their lives. I love this kind of challenge!
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
This really depeds on the services required. I specialize in wedding photography (>80% of my business), but also do other events, portraiture, and more.
Typically the first thing I do with a new customer is determine exactly what services they require, and to find out if we are a good match to work together. When possible I like to meet in-person so we can get to know each other a bit. If this isn't feasible then Skype or a phone call is much better than just trading emails.
Once we determine that I can provide the service/product needed, I then send a contract detailing all that we have talked about includng the price
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been a professional photographer for more than 35 years. I am constantly working on keeping up to date with changes in techniques both in photography and in post-processing. I am an expert in Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as quite a few other kinds of photo software.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
All of my prices are posted on my website, so there is complete transparency in my pricing. I am also happy to do custom packages for clients when my standard packages are not a perfect match.
How did you get started in this business?
I became an avid photographer while in college, spending lots of time both shooting photos and also doing my own developing and printing. My senior year I was the TA for two photography classes.
My first wedding was a friend who needed a photographer and who liked my work. I was very nervous about this, as I had never done anything like this before! But all went well, and the next summer two of the bridesmaids from that wedding asked if I would be the photographer at their weddings. I got more referrals from those weddings, and soon most of my summer weekends I had at least one wedding booked.
At that point I decided to get serious about photography, and went full-time. A bit scary at first, but I was soon shooting 40-50 weddings/year, as wel as taking family photos, senior photos, etc.
What types of customers have you worked with?
A very wide range, I hardly know where to start! For weddings, I have worked with couples who were still in college on up to couples in their 70s. I have photographed both straight and gay couples, and was shooting LGBT commitment ceremonies years before same-sex marriage was legal. I have photographed weddings of a variety of cultures, including Indian, Iraqi, Egyptian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (several different subcultures) and others.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
One of the most enjoyable weddings I have ever worked was this past September, Mike and Doug. Here is a link to my blog posting of the wedding - http://www.tomellisphoto.com/blog/seattle-wedding-photography-at-georgetown-ballroom/
This was one of the best (if not THE best) parties I have ever attended. Read the blog post for the whole story.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
Hiring a photographer is more than just finding someone to take photos of your wedding. You will work VERY closely with your photographer on your wedding day, and it is crucial that you hire someone who you are comfortable with. Don't hire someone if your personalities clash, no matter how much you like their photos! Check out the recommendations and testimonials, and contact some of the past clients to find out what it will be like to work with your photographer.