"1 dream of telling
epic stories
a window into
the past
for future generations
to cherish."
that will outlive me.
"1 dream of telling
epic stories
a window into
the past
for future generations
to cherish."
that will outlive me.
About the Artist
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca's passion lies in telling epic stories. She approaches weddings by blending quiet in-between moments, thoughtful details, fashion-forward portraits, and raw, unscripted energy into something that feels larger than the day itself.
She has a B.A. from NYU, where she studied Photography, Art History, and Aesthetic Philosophy. She combines her background in photojournalism and fashion photography to create a portfolio of images that capture her clients spirit, suspended in time.
Rebecca lives in Los Angeles with her documentary filmmaker husband, Nick, adorable daughter Lexi, and their rescue maltipoo, Margo. She draws constant inspiration from fashion, hospitality, interior design and travel and has photographed in over 50 countries and 6 continents.
Rebecca Yale has consistently been named one of the best photographers in the world for over a decade by Harper's Bazaar, Brides Magazine, and Over the Moon. Her work has appeared in Vogue, Elle, People Magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, and has over 100 features in print.
As Seen In
A portrait is not made in the camera, but on either side of it
— Edward Steichen
Artist Statement
My ethos
Drawn to what’s fleeting, and impossible to recreate
I’ve wanted to be a photographer since I was 12 years old, and while my path to weddings was unexpected, in retrospect it seems meant to be. I dreamt of telling epic stories that would outlive me, a window into the past for future generations to cherish. My love of photography brought me to NYU where I studied photojournalism, fashion photography and aesthetic philosophy, focusing on photography’s ability to mold the way we see the world. After years of working in fashion photography and photojournalism I found my passion in documenting weddings with a unique editorial style.
I’m drawn to the contrast a wedding day holds— romantic portraits, sculptural details, and the quiet, unguarded moments happening in between.
Approaching weddings through an editorial lens, I balance direction with observation. Styling when needed, stepping back when it matters. The result is a layered body of work that feels both intentional and entirely unforced.
I shoot with an editorial perspective, but a documentary mindset. Light, setting, and emotion all play a role, but never at the expense of what’s real. It’s in that tension— refined yet undone, composed yet honest, where the most compelling images live.
Images that don’t just document the day, but hold onto its energy long after it’s over. The goal is simple: images that pull you back into the feeling of it all, not just now, but for decades to come.
One of my favorite aesthetic philosophers, Roland Barthes, broke down his analysis of a photograph into two parts: the studium and the punctum. The studium is what a photograph denotes. It is subjective. Every photograph has one. The punctum, however, is personal. It is what the photograph connotes. It is what jumps out of the photo and wounds you, personally connecting you to the image. The punctum can coexist with the studium, but it changes it. It transforms an image you like into an image you love.
"My intention is to create images full of punctum- images that pierce you. Images that stay with you for the rest of your life."
Most people can identify an image they like, but will not know why they like it. It is my job to know. It is my job to combine the contemporary observant eye of a street photographer with the compositional intention of a neoclassical painter, and the awareness of light of an impressionist painter. Because at the end of the day that’s all I’m doing. I'm painting with light, which after all is the literal definition of photography (photo=light, graphy=drawing).
Inquire
“When you find the love of your life, there’s a certain way that you look at them that's indescribable. Words can’t begin to express it. But Rebecca’s photos can.
Kind Words
—Sarah & Nick
"I don’t have words to express how grateful we are for your photos. They’ll be on display in our home always and will be how we see and share the wedding forever. So much love!"
Kind Words
—Ashley I & Jared H
"What truly sets Rebecca apart is her genuine commitment to understanding and connecting with her clients."
Kind Words
—Shannon Leahy Events
"I knew I could completely trust her to capture everything. my husband and I couldn't be more thrilled with or grateful for Rebecca."
Kind Words
—Britt and Brian
"Rebecca shines a spotlight on the personality of our couples with her thoughtful approach. Her galleries are woven with emotion and cherished moments."
Kind Words
—Heather of Amorology
"Rebecca instantly puts all those around her at ease. Reflecting back, nearly a decade later, our images still feel timeless and transport us right back to the emotion of our day."
Kind Words
—Alex & Bridgette
My Approach
Editorial Imagery
Layered storytelling where raw moments meet refined portraits
My passion is storytelling—stepping into the world you’ve built with your planners and turning it into something that feels bigger than the day itself. I’m not just documenting what it looked like, I’m focused on what it felt like to be there. The energy, the atmosphere, the in-between moments you don’t always notice while they’re happening.
I move between candid observation, quiet details, and guided portraiture, always chasing a balance of raw and refined. I take time to understand the mood of your wedding, not just the visuals, so the final story feels fully lived-in. The goal is simple: images that don’t just remind you of your wedding, but drop you right back into it.
I am committed to the promotion of diversity, inclusivity and celebrating our differences as they are what makes us beautiful. I pledge as a business to accept, respect and include clients, employees and fellow vendors of all races, colors, religions, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, special needs, or disability. I pledge to be an active participant in the collective journey to overcome the fear of difference and replace it with the power of inclusion.
I am a believer in love knowing no bounds
My studies in school focused on how photographs not just mold the way we see the world but how they can actually change it. My photographic heroes are Lewis Hine and Jacob Riis who, respectively, brought an end to child labor in America and brought housing reform to the tenements of New York through their images. I will always have a love for documentary photography and I work with many non-profits both in Los Angeles and internationally. I serve as an ambassador and advisory council member for VOW for Girls and am a member of UNICEF's Next Generation and have been in the field with them in Rwanda and Mexico. In addition, my business actively supports WWF, Black Lives Matter, GLAAD, The Birthday Party Project, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, among others. My maltese-mutt rescue pup, Margo (named after photographer Margaret Bourke White), is the official RYP mascot and loves to meet clients over Zoom.
Giving Back
BRAND + WEBSITE BY SARAH KAY LOVE
Video clips courtesy of our preferred partners:
PEyton Frank FILMS, For The Love Of It, Sam Eng, Caleb Jordan Lee, Miguel Garcia
Wedding and Engagement Portraits of Rebecca and Nick by Anya Kernes