About Vida Petrou — Wedding & Elopement Photographer

A woman with glasses standing in front of green foliage and pink hydrangea flowers, arms crossed, smiling.
A woman with glasses and curly hair celebrating with a bottle of champagne at a party. She is smiling and raising her glass in a lively setting with other people around. The background features a red and white geometric patterned wall and a mirror reflecting part of the room.
A woman standing on a boat at sunset, holding a video camera and wearing a black top and white skirt.
A woman with glasses smiling and holding two cats, one black and one calico, in her arms indoors.

So many photographs today live quietly on our phones and computers, rarely revisited after the moment has passed. I believe your most meaningful memories deserve more than that. When your photographs are preserved in an heirloom album or displayed in your home as artwork, they become part of your everyday life and something you can feel every time you see them.

For me, wedding photography isn’t just about creating beautiful images—it’s about creating something lasting. The kind of photographs that don’t just document a day, but become part of your family’s story for generations.

That’s why I care so deeply about printing photographs. I believe your most cherished images of your special day deserve to live somewhere more permanent than simply on a screen.

When they’re preserved in a handcrafted heirloom album or displayed in your home, they become something you can hold, revisit often, share with the people you love, and pass down to future generations, preserving your legacy.

When I was a teenager, I remember feeling this strong urge to take photos of everything—little moments with my family and friends that seemed insignificant at the time, but I didn’t want to forget any of it. Even at that age, I think a small part of me understood how quickly life moves and how fleeting the little moments in a person’s life can be.

So I started printing the photos I took and put them into a physical album. At the time it just felt like a fun project, but years later I realized how meaningful that decision was. Even though the photos themselves were digital, many of the hard drives I stored them on eventually failed, got misplaced over the years, or became outdated due to rapidly evolving technology. So many of those original files were lost to the digital ether.

The album, though, is still with me. I can still sit down and flip through those pages and revisit those memories whenever I want. And that experience is a big part of why I believe photographs deserve to live in a physical form—something you can hold onto, return to, and share for the rest of your life.

I’m Vida Petrou, a wedding and elopement photographer based in New York City, photographing celebrations across the East Coast and destinations worldwide. My work is rooted in candid documentary storytelling, captured on both digital, 35mm and medium format film, with a deep love for imagery that feels nostalgic, honest, and full of heart.

I’m a born and raised New Yorker who’s a sentimental soul, will go out of her way to catch a good sunset, and loves experiencing new things in the world. Finding the small joys and warmth in everyday life is my kind of specialty, and that’s what keeps me picking up my camera again and again.  

I started using my first camera when I was 13 and from that point on photography became my way of making sense of the world around me. The first time I stepped into a darkroom instantly felt like home. That’s where my love for photography—and especially for film—really began, and it’s been with me ever since.

If I’m not behind the camera, I may very well be behind the bar shaking up a mean spicy marg for my friends or manifesting my next travel adventure, (Mexico City, Lisbon, and Tokyo are top of the list!) I’m a self-proclaimed subway efficiency strategist, a subscriber of the color red theory, and I use my left hand for most things in life, (bonus points if you do too-I love my fellow leftys!) 

All of that seeps into how I photograph weddings and elopements — with intention, curiosity, and a deep respect for real moments. Film allows me to slow things down and document your story as it unfolds, focusing on connection over perfection and emotion over performance.

At my core I’m a story-teller, and it would be a privilege to preserve your love story, wherever in the world that is.

Why I Believe in Printing Your Photographs

Let’s tell your story.

If you’re planning a wedding or elopement and want imagery that feels honest, nostalgic, and true to you, I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up. Tell me where you’re getting married, what you care about most, and what you want your photos to feel like.

Get in touch!

My values: 

I believe that all humans are beautiful and worthy of love and that there is strength in diversity. I do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, size, sexual orientation, or religion. My work and my heart are open to LGBTQIA+ couples, interracial couples, interfaith couples, multicultural couples, and anyone else choosing to marry the person they cherish. If any of this doesn’t sound right to you, please continue your search for a photographer who is a better fit. 

A woman with glasses, long curly hair, and wearing a striped shirt taking selfies with a camera in four different poses against a curtain background.
A woman with glasses and curly hair taking photos against a red curtain background, shown in four frames with different expressions and poses.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes — I photograph both weddings and elopements, from intimate destination days to full wedding weekends. No matter the size or location, my focus is always on telling your story in a way that feels honest, calm, and true to you.

  • Film is at the heart of my work. I photograph weddings using 35mm film, medium format film, or a hybrid of film and digital, depending on what best serves your day. We’ll talk through what feels right for you, your timeline, and your priorities.

  • I’m based in New York City and photograph weddings across the East Coast and destinations worldwide. I regularly travel for weddings in places like Italy, Greece, and throughout Europe, and I’m always happy to go wherever your story takes you.

  • Absolutely. Most of my couples feel this way at first. My approach is candid and documentary, with gentle guidance when you need it. You won’t be asked to perform — just to be yourselves. I’ll take care of the rest.

  • My style is candid, film-forward, and emotion-led. I focus on connection over perfection and moments over poses — creating imagery that feels nostalgic, cinematic, and deeply personal.

  • Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.