Documentary-style wedding photography for New York, New Jersey, and destinations worldwide.
Momento Lehr Photography is Edahn Lehr’s documentary wedding photography studio, based in New York City and working with couples across NY, NJ, and destinations worldwide. My background is in photojournalism, candid photography, and editorial composition, and that shapes how I approach a wedding day. Rather than directing moments, I stay present and document what actually happens as it happens.
Wedding days rarely go as planned. Light changes, timelines shift, and rooms fill or empty without notice. My approach is built around those realities rather than a fixed shot list.
Instead of pausing the day to stage a photo, I stay close and adapt. That means moving quietly through a ceremony, following a first look without interrupting it, and reading a reception as it unfolds.
When a schedule runs long or a room gets dark, the work stays steady. Couples and wedding parties tend to relax once they realize nothing is being forced for the camera.
Most events come with surprises. Timelines run late. Rooms get darker. Crowds grow quickly. The camera work needs to adjust without becoming a distraction. I consider myself a fly on the wall, a ninja moving unnoticed.
This approach relies on small, quiet decisions made quickly. People appreciate knowing nothing falls apart when plans change. That peace of mind matters.
I’ve spent over a decade photographing dynamic, unscripted environments, street photography, editorial shoots, concerts, and sports, before moving into wedding and event coverage full time.
That background is where I learned to anticipate a moment rather than wait for it: reading light, movement, and timing before a scene comes together. It carries directly into a wedding day, where nothing repeats and there’s no pause button.
My camera work draws from documentary photojournalism and editorial composition. I shoot primarily on a Sony A7RIV and Leica M240, with a Nikon F3 for film coverage when it’s requested. Weddings are photographed with the same attention as any unscripted event: quiet, alert, and unobtrusive.
Momento Lehr Photography covers weddings, elopements, and engagement sessions across New York, New Jersey, and worldwide destinations.
Each type of coverage is approached the same way: observing first, documenting second. Family portraits and event work follow the same candid, unposed style as the wedding photography.
Who This Approach Fits
This style suits couples who want their wedding day documented as it happens, not reconstructed through posed setups. It works well for intimate weddings, elopements, and destination celebrations where flexibility matters.
It may not be the right fit for couples who want a fully directed, heavily posed gallery or a long list of specific poses to check off. Knowing that upfront helps set the right expectations on both sides.
Planning ahead of a wedding focuses on timeline, location, and light rather than a rigid shot list. We talk through the day’s structure so I know where to be and when.
On the day itself, I stay close but out of the way, photographing the ceremony, the in-between moments, and the reception as they happen. Direction is minimal and only used when it helps, not to stage a scene.
After the wedding, images are culled, color graded, and retouched before delivery. That process typically takes several weeks, and the final gallery reflects the full arc of the day rather than a highlight reel.
Momento Lehr Photography is based in New York City and works with couples across NYC and New Jersey, along with destination weddings and elopements worldwide, including Mexico and Costa Rica.
Being based locally helps with knowing venues, timing, and how a New York wedding day tends to move. For destination weddings, that same documentary approach travels with me.
Wedding photography is priced by scope: hours of coverage, travel, second shooter needs, and any film add-ons. Coverage generally runs from a few hours for an elopement to a full wedding day with destination travel.
Understanding what’s included, coverage time, delivery, second shooter, optional film, makes it easier to compare a quote against what’s actually being planned.
Elopement coverage starts at $1,800. Full wedding day collections are quoted individually based on scope, travel, and additional coverage.
After the wedding, you receive a full, edited gallery rather than a large batch of unedited images. Every photo is culled, color graded, and retouched before delivery.
Delivery is organized by moment, ceremony, portraits, reception, so the story of the day is easy to follow. Images are ready for printing, sharing, and social media.
Alongside wedding and elopement photography, Momento Lehr Photography also covers engagement sessions, family portraits, bar mitzvahs, and concerts, using the same candid, documentary approach. View event photography →
If you’re planning a wedding, elopement, or destination celebration, I’d be glad to hear about it. Reach out with your date and location to check availability.
