we believe
Happily Ever After
is just a string of moments
shared with the people
you love
WHO WE ARE
On a slightly chilly, fateful April Fools' Day in 2016, Adam and I met for our first date at Nail Creek Pub & Brewery on Varick St in Utica. A couple IPAs, a pizza from Lukin's, and many hours of effortless conversation later, I found myself driving home listening to Wild Nothing, feeling positively enchanted by the way the streetlights lit up Erie Blvd, and thinking this was the start of something truly wonderful.
Seven plus amazing years later, Adam and I are married and run this business together. We decided to call it Fortunate Hearts, because we're so thrilled with how lucky we are to do this amazing work: documenting one of the best days in people's lives, providing them with photos & videos they can treasure forever.
We live in Utica with our wonderful collie-mix Daisy, and in our spare time enjoy: the regular romp in the ADKs, collecting strange vintage vinyl, going for hikes or runs with friends, drinking too much coffee, and indie video games like Stardew Valley or Valheim. Adam's latest creative pursuit has been alternative process photography (especially anything medium or large format, wet-plate, or bromoil), and my recent hobbies include crochet & gardening (yes, I am enamored with that cottage-core lifestyle!).
![](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/user/79989/Untitleddesign1-074126ed.jpg)
Katie Davis
Lead Photographer
![](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/user/79989/Untitleddesign-25d19fe5.jpg)
Adam Brockway
Lead Videographer
AUTHENTIC + ADVENTUROUS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY & CINEMA
Capturing light, feelings & moments and all the things in between people and life.
Adam and I recently tied the knot in October 2023 - so we know exactly how overwhelming wedding planning can be! It turns out there's a ton of moving parts, a thousand decisions, and so many little dreams knitting together the vision of day. That's why we want to do everything we can to make your wedding day as easy, fun, and stress-free as possible.
![a detail photograph of a tablescape at a wedding, with vintage water goblet with cucumber garnish, and a dusty pink cheesecloth table runner & votive](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/user/glmGm2/3f94bb36a3b71700e1458fde0791fad0-939ec473.jpg)
![photograph of a bride and groom holding hands, with focus on the bride's pear shaped wedding ring](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/user/glmGm2/2ca10129a607d22d75895a3a855d9419-6f8f4967.jpg)
what we offer
![a romantic tilt shift photograph of a brunette bride smiling at her redhead husband with greenery in the background](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/user/glmGm2/73b01988f0607b1648d08b0932024be9-b6cdc09f.jpg)
PHOTOGRAPHY
Every Photo Collection includes Full Day Coverage, roughly 75-100 photos per hour delivered, fully edited in true to life color, and of course tons of help with planning/timeline guidance and helping you feel comfortable as heck in front of the camera.
STARTING FROM
$4,000
![a groom's reaction to his bride coming down the aisle during an outdoor ceremony](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/user/glmGm2/bc31843da9f284cc5ddcb9cd6a722934-bdab0822.jpg)
CINEMA
A great wedding video is more than just pretty footage playing over a familiar love song -- it's an emotionally powerful way to tell your love story, capturing all of the wonderful things said & felt on your wedding day.
STARTING FROM
$4,500
![a still from a Super 8mm wedding film on Kodak film, with a couple laughing with a weeping willow in the background](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/user/79989/Screenshot2023-03-27at2.15.09PM-bef41ab3.png)
SUPER 8MM FILMS
Why do we offer Super 8 Wedding Movies? Because Super 8mm Films have this amazing nostalgic vibe, and let's be honest; Real Film just looks cool.
INQUIRE FOR PRICING
OUR PROCESS
![a bride button her lace sleeves on her wedding day, with the sequins on her dress sparkling in the background](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/user/glmGm2/935bcf66813b50b5004e94c4a3637247-e999fcc6.jpg)
I. Book your date.
We love to meet all of our clients before booking with them, to ensure we're the right creative team to capture your wedding day memories. If it feels right to you, you can book your date by signing the contract and placing a $1000 retainer.
II. Take photos.
We show up on the day of your wedding whenever you need us in the morning, and stay til the end of the last song at the end of the reception, taking photos and capturing moments all the while.
III. Deliver memories.
Within 6 weeks you'll receive your gallery of fully edited images, and within 6 months you'll have your wedding film. Then comes the fun part - seeing your memories in print, and making your friends and family cry at over your vows all over again!
“People are never perfect, but love can be.”
—TOM ROBBINS, STILL LIFE WITH WOODPECKER
Do you travel?
Absolutely! We love working at different venues, travelling to new places, and seeing what the world outside of little ol’ Utica is all about. Our past adventures have taken us to Atlanta, Boston, NYC, and all over the Adirondacks and New York State. We don't charge for travel in NYS; get in touch with us for more info on booking us for travel beyond the northeast or internationally.
What are your prices?
Collections begin at $4000; most couples invest between $5000 to $10,000, including video.
How many photos do we get?
Usually we deliver between 75 to 100 photos per hour of coverage, but that's just an estimate. Most wedding days end up being between 750 to 1000 images, not including black and whites.
How do we get our photos?
We deliver your photos to you in a secure & beautiful online web gallery. From there you can easily download all of your images in either web size or high resolution.
Whats your turn around time?
We deliver your full wedding gallery within 6 weeks. Wedding videos have a longer turnaround time, because we prioritize crafting your story in it's most narratively compelling form -- and that takes time! That's why our wedding films are delivered within approximately six months.
Are you vaccinated against COVID-19?
Yes! Both Adam & myself, as well as any assistant or additional help we bring to your wedding, will always be fully vaccinated & boosted. We take your health and safety very seriously.
How far out do you book?
We're finding couples are booking further and further in advance every year! Usually we book a year in advance, but dates are first-come first serve, and we only book one event per weekend, so if you think you'd like to work with us it's a good idea to get in touch sooner rather than later!
So, are you two, like, dating?
YES! We're actually married :) We had our first date on April Fool’s Day in 2016. I started working with Adam the following spring, and now we’ve been shooting weddings together ever since.
Do you offer engagement sessions?
Yes! I always recommend couples do an engagement session with us; it gives us time to get to know you, and gives you an opportunity to get more comfortable being photographed by us.
How many hours do you include in your packages?
All of them! No, seriously, every collection we offer includes full day coverage. EVERY ONE OF THEM. We're really passionate about this; you shouldn't have to plan your day around your photographer. It also helps us do our job better: we want to tell the WHOLE story of your day, not just a convenient 8 hour work day of it. We want to be there for the excitement in the morning, and the rowdy last song of the night. It can be a long day, but it is so worth it to be able to tell your story right.
How long have you been doing this?
Adam has been photographing weddings for 17 years, while I've been shooting weddings for 8, so that's 25 combined years of experience!
Will you retouch our photos?
Yes! Every image is individually toned, cropped, and color corrected in lightroom, and images requiring a little extra love get taken care of in photoshop. Our editing style is true-to-life color, so in ten years your wedding images won't be covered in an instagram-filter-style color grading. Trends change; we want your wedding images to be timeless.
How do we book you?
I'm so excited you're considering booking with us! In order to secure your date, we require a signed contract and a non-refundable retainer of $1000. This secures your date, and locks you into our current pricing.
Can you help us with planning?
Absolutely!! We're always available to chat with you about any wedding planning questions you might have, either via email or on the phone.
Can you hold our date for us?
Due to the nature of our work & schedule, we can't hold a date for a couple without a signed contract and a retainer. We only book one event per weekend, so dates are limited in availability.
All we have to say is WOW! You did an absolute incredible job, we are so lucky to have you to work with. Thank you sooo much we gladly and openly recommend you all to anyone and everyone!
Laura & Dan
![a tilt-shift photograph of a wedding dress, making the beading on the dress sparkle and shine!](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/857626582/d0a055305a807e3cdfb3c74d0cca545e-e8837b51.jpg)