New Jersey Wedding Photographer

Documentary-style weddings across New Jersey, New York City & Philadelphia

The best wedding photographs aren't just beautiful. They become part of your family's history.

Inquire for Availability 
No. 03
No. 01

New Jersey Wedding Photographer

Documentary-style weddings across New Jersey, New York City & Philadelphia

The best wedding photographs aren't just beautiful. They become part of your family's history.

Inquire for Availability 
No. 02
No. 03

New Jersey Wedding Photographer

Documentary-style weddings across New Jersey, New York City & Philadelphia

The best wedding photographs aren't just beautiful. They become part of your family's history.

Inquire for Availability 
No. 03
No. 03

Long after the flowers have faded and the celebration is over, your photographs remain. They preserve the people who gathered around you, the relationships that shaped your life, and the moments that matter more with each passing year.

At Carpe Diem Design Studio, we approach weddings with a documentary eye capturing genuine moments as they unfold naturally, without turning your wedding day into a photoshoot. The result is a collection of photographs that feels honest, timeless, and uniquely yours.

Because the moments you'll cherish most are rarely the ones you planned.
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Services
A newlywed couple in wedding attire standing in front of a decorated off-road vehicle, smiling and posing closely.
A woman in a wedding dress standing in a room with a mirror behind her, smiling.

Client Love

“THE BEST DECISION I MADE FOR MY WEDDING

Hiring Donovan was the best decision I made for my wedding, besides selecting my groom, of course lol. I’m a photographer enthusiast so I figured I could ask someone I know with a camera and could get them edited to help the budget but nope these pictures came out so much better than I expected. I have sooo many pictures to pick from. I am extremely happy with the shots, the edits, the time it took to deliver them, his patience and attention to detail. He was and is worth every penny. Thanks Donovan for capturing every detail for us to remember a lifetime."

Black and white photograph of a couple sharing an intimate moment, looking into each other's eyes, possibly on their wedding day, outdoors against a cloudy sky.
A man in a tuxedo and bow tie standing next to a window, smiling at the camera, in black-and-white photography.
The Martinezs

I’M DONOVAN

Black and white portrait of a bald man with a beard, wearing a suit with a tie, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

I AM HERE To DOCUMENT

YOUR STORY WITH

INTENTION AND AUTHENTICITY

BASED IN New Jersey
PHOTOGRAPHING COUPLES WORLDWIDE
My Story
A stylized black and gray camera shutter icon.

FEATURED STORIES

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A couple at a roulette table in a casino, with the woman in a white dress and the man in a blue suit, sharing an intimate moment.

AMANDA + JAVON

atlantic city WEDDING
A double exposure photo of a man and woman facing each other with noses touching, illuminated by a bright light from behind, set against a dark night sky with stars.

YASMIN + TYLER

Big Island - Hawaii WEDDING
A black and white photo of a bride and groom embracing on a beach, kissing, with the ocean and dunes in the background.

LAURA + TYLER

AVALON WEDDING

FEATURED STORIES

VIEW ALL →
A bride and groom on the beach at sunset, dressed in wedding attire. The bride holds a colorful bouquet and wears a white gown, while the groom is in a black tuxedo with a green lei.

JILLISA + JACOB

Maui WEDDING
A couple in wedding attire kissing at night, with red and pink smoke in the background.

PAIGE + KENNY

Cape May Court House Wedding
A man on one knee holding a woman's hand on a rocky beach during sunset with ocean waves in the background, both wearing white with leis around their necks, a moment of engagement or wedding.

CRISTINA + JOEVANNI

Maui WEDDING

FLIPPING THE PAGES

OF YOUR STORYBOOK

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A couple kissing on a marble balcony inside a building with ornate architecture. 
NO. 01

MARRIAGE PROPOSAL AT THE NYC LIBRARY

There are few places in New York City as timeless and iconic as the New York Public Library Main Branch.

READ THE POST
A smiling couple dressed in traditional Indian wedding attire standing inside a temple or hall decorated with ornate carvings and statues, wearing floral garlands. 
NO. 02

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Everyone wants to hire the best wedding photographer (one they can afford) to capture their precious, once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Read The Post
A romantic couple standing on a sandy beach, dressed elegantly, with a pink flowing fabric extending from the woman's dress. A lighthouse and some houses are visible in the background. 
NO. 03

GOLDEN HOUR + BLUE HOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION

There’s something magical about golden hour along the Jersey Shore, and Cape May Lighthouse offers one of the most beautiful settings for an engagement session.

READ THE POST
A bride and groom dancing closely at their wedding reception, with the groom holding the bride as they look at each other, in an elegant ballroom decorated with candles and lights.
A couple in wedding attire standing in a lit white gazebo at night, with water in the foreground.

HEIRLOOM PRINTS AND ALBUMS

DESIGNED TO

TELL YOUR STORIES

Check Availability for Your Wedding Date

EXPLORE THE LINKS

A close-up of a diamond engagement ring with a large rectangular center stone and a wedding band with smaller diamonds, placed on a dark red rose with water droplets.

PRICING

A groom lifting a bride under a decorative archway at night, with a hanging light above them and a wooden fence in the background.

PORTFOLIO

Silhouette of a bride and groom standing closely together outside during dusk, with a crescent moon in the sky and a building with illuminated windows in the background.

GUIDES

A couple standing close together on a beach with mountains in the background, the woman holding a bouquet of flowers, both smiling.
A woman in a bridal gown, smiling, with dark wavy hair and jewelry, partly covered by her wedding veil.
A couple dressed in wedding attire sharing a kiss in front of a stone railing with a large fountain and trees in the background.
Wedding bride in a white gown with a long veil, surrounded by eight bridesmaids in black dresses, holding red roses, outdoors with a green hedge background.
A smiling bride with curly hair and a veil, looking over her shoulder, with a groom blurred in the background.
A bride and groom holding hands during their wedding ceremony, standing in front of floral arch with white and pink roses, inside a bright room with large windows showing green trees outside.
A couple in formal attire sharing a kiss under a gazebo at night, illuminated by a backlight creating a romantic scene with trees in the background.
A couple in wedding attire holding hands and looking at each other with city skyline and river in the background during sunset.
Text on a brown background that reads "Capturing Honest Stories".
Silhouette of a bride and groom facing each other at night, with a backlit misty background, touching foreheads and smiling.
Close-up of a young woman with dark, wavy hair, and makeup, wearing a white dress with lace details on the shoulder, and a white veil, looking at the camera.
A bride and groom holding hands and facing each other during their wedding ceremony, standing in front of a colorful mural with red, blue, and beige sections.
A bride and groom sharing a kiss on a city street at night, with the groom leaning over the bride who is holding a bouquet, and a building with colorful lights in the background.
A bride and groom holding hands during a wedding ceremony outdoors with tropical plants and flowers, and a rocky backdrop.
A woman in a white dress with a high slit holding a bouquet of tropical flowers and shoes on a beach at sunset.
A black and white photo of a bride and groom on a staircase, smiling at each other, with the bride wearing a long white dress and the groom wearing a blazer and khakis.
Silhouette of a couple facing each other, with overlay of glowing lamps creating a warm, romantic atmosphere.