Welcome to Upstate Photographers, the home of Paul Grupp and Brenda Tompkins. We are a full-time photo studio based in Albany, New York, providing wedding and engagement photography, family portraits, maternity photography, and much more!

We know you have many choices for photographers. We think what makes us special is our unique combination of photojournalistic storytelling and classic portraiture. Our photographs capture spontaneous, real emotions and feelings, not some stiff pose that's simply not you. Most importantly, when your event is over, we don't just deliver a CD of random images -- we specialize in beautiful presentations ranging from DVD montages you can play back on any TV or home theatre, to beautiful fine art-quality coffee-table books and traditional flush-mount albums. 

We have created a wide range of options tailored to meet almost any couple's needs; from very inexpensive informal wedding coverage, to elaborate photography with two photographers and museum-quality books. No packages, no hidden costs or fees. Whatever your needs, we can provide photography that fits you perfectly!

New!

We have just finished giving our website a "mini-makeover" -- hope you like the results! A lot of what we did was behind the scenes, but check our our new wedding portfolio by clicking here.  And we're really excited about our new Upstate Photographers blog -- please drop by and visit it by clicking here!

Finally, we're really excited about our new slimmed-down, simplified pricing. No more packages, just an ala carte menu that lets you pick the amount of photography, the type of proofs, and the DVDs books, and albums - all at extremely reasonable cost. To see our new pricing, click here.

All the elements of your wedding, photographed with a fresh stylish elegance. We combine photojournalistic storytelling and classic portraiture with beautiful books and DVD montages, to turn your wedding into a lasting work of art.

Our approach

Every photographer has a different style, but if we had to generalize, we'd say there are two basic types of wedding photographers. The first is what we call the "cruise director." He or she is the experienced professional, and they know what has to happen when. They'll keep you organized and keep you moving -- hopefully in a direction you want to go in!

The second type is more of a  photojournalist -- they are there to capture whatever unfolds -- and they leave the wedding coordination up to the couple or the wedding planner. OK -- we admit it -- we're the second type -- we're there to capture the emotion, the happiness, all the little nuances of your day, not boss you around! Don't get us wrong - we'll offer advice and suggestions if you need it, but it's your day, and we're there to capture it, not orchestrate it! The only time we make any demands on you at all is during the brief  time we set aside for portraits and groups -- other than that, we'll be as unobtrusive as possible.

How our pricing works

Lots of photographers make a big deal about their pricing -- you have to sit through a sales pitch before you find out what it will all cost. Some are even offended if you use the word "price" -- they want you to think of their work as an "investment." Whatever. Here's the thing: no matter which wedding photographer you choose, you are going to end up purchasing some services, such as photography, post-production editing, retouching, and album layout. You will also end up purchasing some products -- photo albums, prints, CDs or DVDs, and so forth.  Some photographers group products and services into "packages" to make selection easier for you. Some photographers have an "ala carte" menu like a restaurant, you choose just the items you want. And some don't list any prices at all, instead, they offer you a price after discussing your wedding with you.

We publish our prices right on our web site, and we offer a simple approach. Our price list has three columns - one for photography, one for proofs/previews, and one for presentation (DVDs and books). Simply choose at least one item from each column, and you have exactly what you need. No packages that include things that you don't want. Simple! And of course, we are always happy to work with you to create a unique combination of services and products that matches your needs perfectly. There are never any hidden costs or fees -- our pricing is simple, straightforward, and "what you see is what you get!"

To see  our current wedding pricing, click here.  

Seeing our work

We offer a variety of ways to see our work. You can see sample photos, book layouts, and DVD montages right here on our website. However, keep in mind that computer monitors are not necessarily the best way to look at pictures, and there is no substitute for seeing our prints and books in person. So please, take a look at our online galleries and portfolio, but if you're at all interested in our work, don't hesitate to call us and set up a no-obligation, no-pressure meeting to see some actual books and prints. You can reach Paul at (518) 526-9969, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Brenda at (518) 526-9970, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

To see our wedding portfolio, click here. 

Note: "Recent weddings and engagements" has moved! You can now keep up with our latest work by visiting our blog.  We'll be keeping this section around for a few months for archival purposes, but all new events and happenings will be posted on the blog, not here.

Kathren and Steve had a wonderful country church wedding followed by a reception at one of our favorite venues: the Albany Country Club ballroom.  The weather gods brought everything from rain and thunderstorms to gorgeous summer sun, but through it all Kathren and Steve kept it elegant and fun and we had a great time capturing the joy, laughter, and emotion. You can see some highlights by clicking here.

Zerlina and Andrew were married on a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend afternoon at The Century House in Latham, NY. We had so much fun photographing their day -- from the guys getting ready while watching the Syracuse lacrosse team get a step closer to the national championship, to the bridesmaids helping Zerlina prepare, to the beautiful summer weather for outdoor photography, to classical music at the ceremony, and the rocking reception! You can see highlights in black & white  by clicking here.

Kelly and Ryan stopped by our studio early on a Sunday morning -- we love it when couples want both studio and outdoors location engagement photos! It was a pleasure getting to know Kelly and Ryan, and we're really looking forward to being a part of their wedding! You can see their engagement photos by clicking here. 

Gina and Reid showed their romantic side while keeping us laughing and smiling through their engagement session on a beautiful spring evening. We love the way their individuality comes through in these images! You can see their engagement photos by clicking here.

We spent a gorgeous spring Sunday afternoon in Northampton MA with Nicole and Patrick.  It was a pleasure getting to know them. Their calm, quiet happiness is not only beautiful to photograph, but beautiful to just be around.  We can't wait for their wedding in September!  You can see some of the pictures from their engagement session here: Nicole and Patrick's Engagement Photos.

Devon and Michael stopped by our studio on a spring day and created some romantic and fun engagement photos. They are an amazing couple, and I think it's impossible to take a bad picture of them! Click here to see their engagement session!

Megan and Paul had a wonderful country wedding in Greenwich NY. Paul's family grows apple trees, so it was fitting that we stopped at an orchard for some pictures between the ceremony and reception. You can see the proofs from this happy and fun wedding by clicking here!

Samantha and Vincent were married at Holy Spirit Church in East Greenbush, and had their reception at The Meadows. We were impressed with the strong family ties and relationships, and can't wait to show you the DVD montage we're currently working on for this wonderful and thoughtful couple. You can see the proofs from their wedding by clicking here.

Tara and Socrates had a beautiful wedding at the Franklin Plaza Ballroom - perfect for winter weddings because it is so photogenic. Click here  to see the page layout for their coffee table book. You can see their wedding proofs here: Tara and Socrates' wedding. We also shot their engagement photos in Brooklyn, NY: Tara and Socrates Engagement Photos. 

Leslie and Mike are members of the band Goldilocks, who we've had the privilege of shooting twice now. Recently engaged, when they were in our studio for some promo pix, we took the opportunity to create some beautiful engagement photos that reflect their happiness and warm personalities. 

Winter weather can make engagement photography a challenge, so we shot Karen and Dominick in our studio and everyone loved the results! You can see their engagement photos here. Their wedding on a snowy February evening was fresh and beautiful. You can see their 76 page hardcover wedding book layout by clicking here.

Lauren and Patrick came up to Stockbridge from New York city, bringing together an intimate group of friends and family from as far away as Ireland andEngland. It was our first opportunity to photograph in Stockbridge's Red Lion Inn, and the results were warm and romantic. You can see photos from their beautiful late fall wedding here: Lauren and Patrick's Wedding .  Click here to see the pages for their 60-page, 10x10 hardbound coffee-table book. 

Nicole and Andrew gave us the opportunity to do our first newlywed "trash thedress" shoot. If you haven't heard of this before, it's a fairly new idea sweeping the nation. The goal isn't really to trash the dress, but to make fun, edgy pictures that you wouldn't ordinarily take on your wedding day, because you don't want to risk getting your dress dirty. Nicole and Andrew love the outdoors, and the results were both fun and beautiful. You can see them by clicking here: Nicole and Andrew's Trash the Dress Photos.

Leah and Matt's wedding in Newport RI provided us with one great photo opportunity after another, thanks to their careful planning. You can see their wedding book here: Leah and Matt's Wedding Book.

Klara and Joe's wedding at Glen Sanders Mansion was intimate and full of happiness. You can see some of the images from their wedding by clicking here: Highlights from Klara and Joe's wedding.

Liz and Mike's was a classic wedding -- pretty church, beautiful reception venue, and some great opportunities for photography. We're particularly proud of the "Getting Ready" pictures from this wedding. The location Liz picked made it easy for us to tell her story and to capture some beautiful images. You can see wedding book pages from Liz and Mike's day by clicking here: Liz and Mike's Wedding Book .