Documentary and editorial wedding photographer
AUTHENTICITY IS THE NEW LUXURY
The best way to check out more love stories that I’ve documented is to visit my Galleries
NICK BONDAREV - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Based in Portland, Oregon
Your wedding day should feel effortless, fun, and full of real, unforgettable moments. My photography style is a blend of candid moments with beautifully composed shots to create a natural, timeless collection of your wedding day. My editing style reflects light, natural colors, preserving the warmth and authenticity of every moment.
With a documentary approach, I focus on capturing the genuine emotions and spontaneous interactions that make your day special. While I’ll guide you with poses, ideal backdrops, and the best lighting, my goal is to stay in the background, allowing you to fully enjoy the celebration without feeling staged or interrupted.
I only take on 15 weddings a year. This allows me to maintain a personal approach because every love story is special, and I want to do my best to document yours beautifully.
Its been over 17 years since I shoot my first wedding and with this approach I still enjoy being there for you so much.
Almost forgot to mention that my vision goes far beyond the wedding world. What truly sets my approach apart is my background as an award-winning documentary film director and an expedition photographer published in National Geographic, The New York Times, and Tatler.
To learn more about my approach and booking process please explore my welcome guide
REVIEWS
Nick was an absolute joy to have at our wedding as our photographer. He was so communicative, professional and just brought really great energy to what could have been a crazy hectic day. We chose Nick because we loved the photos on his website, we wanted natural, bright, fun wedding photos that didn't feel stuffy and he delivered! We got all the shots we requested and so many more and the turnaround time was so quick. If you are looking for a photographer for your wedding I seriously can't recommend Nick enough! - Kenzie and Michael
Nick's photography speaks for itself. He is SO talented at capturing those candid moments that embody the magic of a wedding day. We couldnt be happier with the 866 PHOTOS! Nick is also such a wonderful person, such good energy to have at your wedding day. He is everything we'd hoped for (paid for) and so much more for this experience. 10/10 recommend him for any wedding. He's also like... National Geographic published, and an amazingly accomplished photographer outside of weddings. We were so lucky to have him. - Alden and Mar
Absolutely remarkable photographer!!! I've worked in video production over 13 years and still I'm completely stunned at Nick's level of skill and professionalism. He got over 1400 shots off in one shift! Our families are ecstatic over everything they have to frame. He delivered not just the classic wedding must-haves but a ton of other candids of all our guests. He has a flare for natural scenic conditions, yet no trouble in the dimly-lit chaos of a lively reception; an all-around package for any wedding!!
We had a bit of an unusual wedding, very tiny with only our immediate family in our backyard and Nick took the photos for us! The photos came out so beautifully. He captured all of the warmth and intimacy of our day so well (although the day was overcast and cold!). I hardly even knew he was taking photos sometimes because he so seamlessly worked in the background to take photos of the various parts of the day so we could organically go through it, it felt very natural. We love our photos so much. If you are in need of a photographer for a wedding or any event at all, you can’t go wrong with Nick. Aside from being a fantastic and well known photographer, he is a kind heart! He will make sure you have beautiful photo memories. - Hana and Kevin
Nick was incredible! He shot our micro-wedding (~25 people) and the moments he caught were so beautiful. With a smaller, elopement style wedding, our evening went by in a flash, and having these candid photos to look back on allows us to relive these moments! He paid attention to every detail and was intentional with each photo he took. We were more or less a "type B" couple with not much vision or thought, but Nick was great in guiding us and even pulled us aside to do some couples photos we hadn't even thought about planning to do, but are so grateful we did. Can't wait to work with Nick for our 1-year anniversary - he's really taught us the importance of documenting life's big moments!
