Monica Lam Photography Reviews
Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 rating
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5.0 out of 5 rating
40 Reviews
100% recommend it
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![Karen]()
Karen L. Sent on 08/12/2023Monica is a Gem!
We’re so glad that Moni was our wedding photographer! We recently received our wedding photos and they are a DREAM. From our engagement shoot to the wedding day, she was professional throughout the process. She was always responded in a timely manner, scheduled all the check-ins in advance, helped us with our wedding timeline, and hyped us up as we were taking photos.
We talked with a handful of photographers but none of them quite checked all the boxes for us. After our first call with Moni, we knew we finally found our photographer! Moni makes you feel at ease when she is photographing you and she goes the extra mile to get the perfect shot! She knew that we wanted golden hour photos, during our cocktail hour she noticed the sun was going down earlier than expected and rearranged our timeline a bit so we can catch the remainder of the golden light.
Highly recommend Moni, she was one of the best decisions for our wedding. Thank you for everything, Moni! We can’t wait to work with you for other life milestones. -
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![Tim]()
Tim C. Sent on 08/04/2023We really enjoyed our experience with Monica!!
After browsing through photographers throughout the Bay Area, my partner and I decided to go with Monica and we were just amazed at how easy she was to work with. Neither my partner or I felt comfortable taking photos in general but she eased us into the process. Not only was Monica very accommodating to our schedules but as we got closer to the big day, she was willing to meet with us a few more times to make sure everything was in order.
On the wedding day, Monica was right on time and made sure that both sides were taken care of throughout all the chaos and the sessions never felt like a chore. Even when my partner and I made some major last minute decisions, Monica continued to accommodate our needs.
We absolutely LOVED how our pictures turned out as it gave us the natural, "dream-like" shots that included some precise details we didn't quite see in other wedding photos we've seen. I would highly recommend Monica for her flexibility, professionalism throughout the process, creativity in picking locations, and simple but natural shots that can make a huge difference in your photos. Also brownie points for the timeliness of the first look and full albums that come in easy-to-use links! -
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![Tammy]()
Tammy L. Sent on 03/28/2022Monica is the photographer you want for this important milestone
Wow - wow - WOOOW!!! Monica did our engagement shots and we could not be happier with both the process and the results.
To be clear... my fiance and I are both very awkward people in front of cameras. This stuff does not come naturally to us. But the two hours we spent with Monica felt like 15 minutes. She made us feel so comfortable to be ourselves, to be silly, and to feel like we were the only ones there.
And it definitely showed in the RESULTS. For one, she delivered our 'sneak peak' in 24 hours... I didn't expect them to come so fast and despite how fast it was, the quality was 100% there. Now that I have the full album, I still can't stop scrolling through them and sharing with friends and family.
Separately - We also had our 8-month-old ENERGETIC AND NEEDY puppy with us and I'm in complete shock at how well Monica was able to capture the very few moments that she was cooperating. So much so that our pup looks like an angel -- you would've never been able to tell that those moments of calm were few and far between.
Honestly, I'm most touched by how much Monica cared about every step of the process... from making sure we went to a location that achieved our 'vision', to accommodating our very crazy puppy, to throwing in a few extra shots to try out a pose that we completely failed at during our actual engagement.
Thank you Monica for being there to capture such an important milestone in our lives. -
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Joseph A. Sent on 09/25/2020
Monica is fantastic!
I reached out to Monica to help me plan my engagement. She was incredibly helpful through every step of the process and made sure that everything went to plan. I knew I was in good hands even being as nervous as I was! Would highly recommend! -
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![Mae]()
Mae L. Sent on 02/20/2023Beautiful and amazing photos, great communicator, easy to work with, perfection!
Monica was outstanding and we were so happy that she was part of our special day. Our first time working with her was for our engagement photos and she made us feel completely relaxed and was a great guide. She was a valuable partner throughout the entire planning process of thinking through our wedding photos. We didn’t have a wedding planner or day of coordinator since our wedding was small so we had a lot of questions outside of photography as well. Monica went out of her way to answer all questions we had and provided her insights and expertise which really helped us with our entire wedding planning process! On the day of the wedding she was early and willing to help and go extra to make things easier for us. Soon after the shoots, she provided previews of the gallery and we loved her work! She was so easy to work with – we’ll recommend Monica to all of our friends and family. -
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![Suzanne]()
Suzanne Sent on 01/24/2023Monica is the friend you want to capture your most treasured memories
When we first booked our initial consultation with Monica, we knew she would be the perfect photographer for our wedding. It was a half hour appointment that extended beyond a full hour because conversation was effortless and we just lost track of time. My (now) husband and I are very unconventional people. We're silly and offbeat and not used to being in front of a professional camera. From our engagement session though, Moni greeted us as though we were long time friends hanging out after a long absence. She put us at ease immediately and spent an afternoon getting to know us more while subtly getting the perfect shots. Our wedding of course was chaotic (aren't all weddings?) but Monica made sure we were on a good time schedule and that we were staying hydrated and feeling good throughout the day! When we got our full album back from the wedding we were absolutely stunned - there are so many amazing shots that we have a hard time choosing our favorites! Like it's actually hard to limit ourselves to the pictures we love the most because they're all phenomenal. And it's all because Moni just has that special way of connecting to people that brings out our best selves on the camera. Whether you are having a traditional wedding or something out of this world, you can rest assured that Monica and her team will be there to capture every beautiful moment of this next milestone in your life. She's a true artist who cares deeply about her craft and each and every individual person she works with. Thank you so much Moni for everything - you spun our silly chaos into timeless memories that we'll cherish forever. -
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![Adele]()
Adele Z. Sent on 01/01/2023Amazing photographer who makes you feel at ease
We could not have chosen a better photographer for our engagement photos and wedding! You will not go wrong with Monica, we highly highly recommend her. Not only will you get amazing photos, but you will also get to know a truly genuine and supportive friend through some of life’s biggest milestones.
Monica photographed our engagement session and our wedding in September and October of 2022. She photographed one of my best friends’ weddings in November 2021 and I had a great experience as part of her wedding party and loved the photos, so we knew we wanted to work with her.
We got engaged in April of 2022 and wanted to turn around an “elopement” rather quickly. We reached out to Monica in late June and worked out dates for both the engagement and wedding within 3 months - a fast turnround in wedding world! Throughout the short months many things changed and Monica was incredibly gracious through all of it. Two examples: 1) we got COVID so had to reschedule our engagement photo session last minute and 2) we decided to increase our Elopement guestlist from ~20 to ~45. Monia was very supportive through all of this, she was very understanding and flexible through every change.
When it comes to the actual engagement photo shoot (which we had to reschedule to 3 weeks before the wedding due to COVID), I always wondered how the experience was as the subject of couples photos. The pictures we’ve seen can feel so intimate! My husband and I both feel awkward when posing for pictures and had no idea how this would all go. When it came to our turn, I cannot emphasize this enough: Monica made us feel so at ease during our engagement photo session and it really didn’t feel like we were taking photos at all. It felt like we were hanging out on a fun friend date who happened to have a camera on her. Throughout the session, Monica asked us questions about our lives and our relationship and the time flew by. We got sneak peaks within two days that we ogled over with our family and friends. They captured both the beauty of the scenery and the day, and the essence of our relationship which is a lot of laughs and appreciation for San Francisco. The swiftness of delivering the sneak peaks meant that our friend could help us print photos for our actual wedding that was literally less than three weeks away - amazing!
Leading up to our wedding day, Monica was very attentive to ensure that we had everything we needed ready for the big day. Because we were only having a ceremony + dinner (and not a dancefloor, etc), we worked with Monica for the ceremony only. Monica was again very supportive, encouraging and helped us orchestrate our First Look at the SF Botanical Garden, and then helped us photograph our special day with her creative eye and captured the photos of us, our detail, family, and friends beautifully. We’ll be looking at these photos for years and years to come.
Highly recommend taking Engagement photo shoots with Monica in addition to the wedding package. Monica, thank you so much we are so grateful that you were part of our journey and can’t wait to continue working with you through life’s milestones.
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![Adilene]()
Adilene P. Sent on 02/07/2023What a Gem of a photographer!
Monica was the photographer to my couple and as a wedding planner I have to say she was so great to work with. She was on her A game all day and worked with the entire team to ensure we were on time and working together all day. As a planner having a photographer who shows professionalism, creativity, flexibility and joy all together while doing their job is truly like finding a gem. I can’t wait to work with Monica again and I sure hope this helps someone know from another vendors prospective Moncia was so great to have on the team! -
![Paige]()
Paige B. Sent on 01/25/2023You NEED Monica as your photographer! She is amazing
Monica was the first vendor that we booked for our October 2022 wedding in May 2021. From the first call, we knew Monica was going to be the photographer for us. She was extremely enthusiastic, matched our energy, and most importantly answered all of our questions. After officially choosing Monica as our photographer and leading up to our engagement shoot, her communication was timely when it came to choosing locations and she always included helpful information about what to bring, how to get there, and what to expect from the session. During the session, Monica made us feel super comfortable and gave us direction on poses when we needed it. When we received the photos, we were blown away and got so many compliments from friends and family.
Fast forward a couple of months to our wedding day, and Monica was a rockstar! Photographs throughout the day went perfectly, and Monica effortlessly wrangled all of our wedding party and family together flawlessly for group photos. Again, we were blown away by the photos we received from our wedding and couldn't be happier.
Hiring Monica as our photographer was one of the best decisions we made when planning our wedding. You need Monica! -
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![Lily]()
Lily C. Sent on 11/04/2022Amazing wedding photographer!
Monica was incredible to work with. Right from the first meeting, we really clicked with her and wanted a photographer we could spend the whole day with. We immediately knew she was the one because she was so easy to talk to, genuine, and fun! We had a blast at the engagement shoot and she followed up with planning meetings that made our wedding day that much easier. On wedding day her and her sister (second shooter) were attentive, professional, friendly, and so natural. She made the whole experience pleasant and stress-free. The pictures we’ve gotten are absolutely BEAUTIFUL and beyond our expectations. We’re so happy we chose Monica and can look at these cherished memories forever. We cannot recommend her enough!! :) -
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Megan Sent on 10/09/2022
Monica is the BEST!
Monica is the best! We are so lucky to have found her. From the beginning, she was extremely responsive and friendly over email and on our sync call. It is such a joy to work with someone who truly loves what they are doing.
On the big day, my husband and I arrived a bit late (weekday traffic is no joke) but she was so sweet and understanding about it! She was waiting at our first location early and immediately began taking photos while coaching my husband and I on how to pose. No matter how awkward you may feel in front of a camera (us in a nutshell), Monica's sunny demeanor and compliments make you feel like a natural! We felt so comfortable and at ease throughout the entire process thanks to Monica's guidance and constant encouragement! She is so funny and so real. She made the process so much smoother than it would have been otherwise!
When our families joined, we unexpectedly hit a snag in our schedule. Monica understood how important this was to us and was so flexible and sweet to make time in her schedule to take an additional hour of photos for us on that day. I can't thank Monica enough for giving us that opportunity to take more photos on that day and for giving us the chance to make more memories together! It really touched all of us and shows how great of a person Monica is.
Lastly, when we got our sneak peeks and our final wedding gallery, my husband and I and our families LOVED all the photos we got! We could tell from Monica's guidance on poses and placement that she had talent, but WOW! A picture is worth a thousand words, and we are so grateful for Monica's ability to take pictures that capture our love, happiness, and candid moments of that day. Capturing these feelings is a beautiful thing. I truly cannot gush enough about how much we all LOVED working with Monica. Please don't hesitate, and contact Monica for any of your photography needs! -
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![Takako]()
Takako K. Sent on 03/24/2023We love Moni!!
Moni was our photographer for our engagement shoot and wedding day, and we absolutely loved having her! Moni cares about your story, what you’re trying to capture. She’s also great at making these sessions fun and easy!
We originally chose Moni because I loved her photography style with abundant light that is timeless. And we hopped on a call with her and immediately decided to work with her.
I was also eight months pregnant for our wedding day, and she captured me so well despite me having a big belly. I looooove the photos from both sessions we had with her. Now that our little one is with us, we want another with her!
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![Jessica]()
Jessica H. Sent on 06/10/2022SO Many Great Photos
Monica was such a great person to work with! She got all the amazing shots we wanted for our wedding and more. Her turnaround time is on point too. She also had major patience when it came to wrangling our family for photos and uncles who would bring their own fancy cameras to take photos. She really tries to get the best shots for the bride and groom, I couldn't settle on a picture for our thank you cards because they were all so great! Can I also talk about how much she would floof and adjust my dress so that it would flow beautifully?
You won't regret hiring Monica for your special day. Posed and candid photos came out amazing and we had NO REGRETS when we received our album.
Thank you Monica for capturing our special moment. -
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![Ruby]()
Ruby J. Sent on 09/04/2020Monica is amazing!
We reached out to Monica to see if she would be available to shoot our very small (6 people) casual backyard wedding ceremony, and she did an amazing job! She's super responsive, flexible/easy to coordinate with, and most of all - just a lovely and warm person. She made us all feel very relaxed and captured some amazing shots! Highly recommend. -
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Vicky M. Sent on 09/11/2021
a photographer that makes you feel comfortable
after speaking with monica during the initial video chat, i knew i didn’t need to look any further for a wedding photographer. she is warm, inviting and passionate. not to mention she is a dog lover! monica recently did our engagement photos and exceeded my expectations in every way. she made two awkward individuals feel comfortable in front of her and the camera and captured our candid and happiest moments. i look back and smile bc of all the fun we had! we are so happy how the engagement photos turned out and have received so many compliments on all of our pictures!!! we can’t wait for her to capture our wedding day. -
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Melissa Sent on 01/23/2022
THE wedding photographer
How I chose her: When searching for wedding photographers, the process can be overwhelming. How do you choose the person who will be documenting the memories you look forward to sharing with your children and grandchildren? I heard about Monica through a friend. Turns out Monica and I went to the same high school, which left me reassured that she might “get me” and my vision for my wedding close to our hometown.
Preparation: Monica really works to get to know you in the preparation for the wedding. You will fill out a questionnaire that not only helps her know your expectations for the day, but also helps you think about aspects of your wedding you didn’t consider! Turns out she was also quite familiar with my wedding venue, The Mountain Terrace, as she’s worked there several times before. I appreciated all the tips during the planning process.
Photo timing: With the second wave of COVID under way, I planned my wedding within 3 months. Monica made time for an engagement shoot and got us sneak peeks the next day (for wedding invites/website). She agreed to work a wedding on her birthday during the 2021 Thanksgiving holidays, and she sent us 30 sneak peeks within a week, and the amazing full gallery within two months.
Quality: Monica is able to capture moments and emotions. Aside from the typical shots, other treasured moments included teary guests in the ceremony crowd and reunited family during cocktail hour. Somehow, she was able to get the picture of various friends during their favorite songs, too. It was so great to relive moments that I was a part of on the wedding day but also see moments I missed while wrapped up in my own schedule!
The bottom line about Monica. She is calm, organized, super kind, and talented, which on the day of your wedding is key to successfully staying on time and managing enthusiastic, rambunctious family and friends. Her disposition contributed to a fun and low stress environment on a day sure to be taxing on your emotions and energy. I recommend Monica without reservations. I look forward to using her as my photographer for other life milestones!
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![Wun-Ji]()
Wun-Ji W. Sent on 10/06/2021A professional photographer with a wonderful personality!
My wife and I hired Moni to be our engagement & wedding photographer, and we are very happy with the results! My wife and I often get nervous in front of the camera, but Moni made the photo sessions a fun and enjoyable process for us. On our wedding day, she captured the cultural essence of the event and the joy of the celebration. She has an eye for detail, and a great personality to work with. She exceeded our expectations, and we would love to work with her again! -
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Lz Sent on 09/02/2021
Best wedding photographer in the Bay!
Monica's photography is beautiful and timeless! It's hard for me to articulate how stunning her work is. I recently received both my engagement and wedding pictures (they were taken only 2 weeks apart), and both portfolios were dreamy, bright, and romantic, exactly the style of what I wanted! Being an avid amateur, I noticed that Moni also uses film cameras during her shoot, that alone says a lot already because it is difficult to get great pictures out of a film camera due to its requirement on the photographer's skill and professional sense on lighting.
Another important point besides the amazing pictures is that Moni is just a really friendly and energetic person! Both my husband and I do not do well in front of cameras, but Moni is so good at guiding us on the poses and giving encouragements, in the end, we just had so much fun with her during the photo sessions while feeling comfortable just being ourselves. She is also super organized in every stage of the planning, making sure we had the family/friends shot list prepared, and the timeline of the day so that we can catch the best lighting.
In short, if Monica's available, you'll want to book her for your event, big or small, as her work will speak for itself to be priceless and timeless! -
