My husband and I had the joy of working with Tom for both our engagement pictures and our wedding and we feel so lucky to have stumbled across his work in our search for a photographer! He caught some of our favorite shots to date and we have many of them proudly displayed around our home. One of the great things about Tom is that he works with you as a couple; he asks you specifically to find other pictures you love or props or a particular word/feel you want that you can bring to the table and be part of the process. It really helps achieve some truly beautiful shots! He has enough skills built up over his many years of shooting to pull out different tricks to help capture what you want from your pictures. His style is realistic and in-the-moment, very much a journalistic style, but he can also do soft and loving, which is a wonderful range to have and captures some truly magical moments when you combine the two. He also can photoshop dragons into your pictures and who doesn't want that?! :D His willingness to collaborate and work together is top notch, and he will also explain the process of getting a shot and break it down to help you understand what will or won't work in certain environments (i.e. lighting, background, posing, etc. to achieve what we are after). That is really what made us more comfortable; he has years of experience, which gives you confidence in his ability, but he also has a humility and easy going feel that helps steady nerves and lets you know that you are in good hands. He also worked with us to create a custom budget within our price range and we never felt like we were being given lesser service because we weren't paying top dollar. Personally, the thing I most appreciated is that I was able to share some of my concerns on my appearance during our engagement shoot and he helped coach me through how to hold myself so I could make sure I would be comfortable and happy with the pictures, which I certainly am! He was also very kind when I had reached my limit during posed shots during our pre-wedding pictures and he changed things up to help get me back into the swing of enjoying things once again. Tom is honest and straight forth, which is something we greatly admire in a person, and he is just a fun guy to have around. His is the sort of presence you want on your special day; someone who is calm and in control while also being very competent at what they do and who can capture the real and beautiful moments of your day. read more

I cannot say enough fantastic things about Tom! Quality of service--Our photos were beautiful and Tom had great ideas about different photo shots and his editing with different colors/b&w made for some gorgeous photos. My biggest problem now is how to pick out which pictures I want to enlarge! Far too many to choose from! Responsiveness--I live in D.C., actually, although the wedding was just south of Tacoma. Therefore, planning took place on the east coast which was stressful as it was. Tom was great with e-mail and responded in a very timely manner. Had the photos edited just a week after the wedding and up on the internet to see while we were on the honeymoon Professionalism--Dressed up nicely for the wedding, made everyone feel comfortable while tirelessly telling us the same instructions that we didn't follow...I kept forgetting to put my flowers forward for the pictures, heh Value for cost--What I love about Tom is that he has his prices ON his website so that you know what you're in for (very rare in photographers that I looked for in the Seattle-Tacoma area) and mentioned his flexibility...I feel that his 20+ years experience really showed on the day of the wedding and directed us so well during the process. There was actually a funeral going on right before my wedding and my mom started freaking out about the photos but he just directed us for outdoor pictures that turned out so beautiful that I would choose those over the church pictures (that we did get at the last minute) any day anyway Flexibility--Already mentioned some stuff, but he is definitely willing to work with you. My husband is British and so we went through US immigration to secure a fiance visa which meant that we didn't know when he would get it (ended up taking 8 months). We let Tom know that even though we booked a date with him, we'd have to push it forward if my husband didn't get the visa in time. Tom was totally okay with it, as long as it wasn't on a date that was already booked. This was so awesome of him because not knowing when we would get the visa was super stressful! Photos from family and friends are great, but does not compare to having them done professionally. In any case--your family and friends will be wanting to share this day with you! Not worry about getting all the best pictures or forgetting certain aspects. also--book early! We did a year in advance and he says sometimes he does 18 months in advance. Eep!! Best of luck and congrats on your engagement! read more

My husband and I are so thankful that we chose Tom Ellis as our wedding photographer. The process of planning a wedding is overwhelming and stressful. Tom's experience and professionalism made it easy to completely trust him with documenting our wedding day. After having a couple meetings and having engagement pictures taken with Tom, we felt confident that he understood our expectations. Like most people, we have never pictures taken. Tom recommended engagement pictures as a way to feel more comfortable in front of the camera. He was definitely right! It truly made us feel more at ease on our wedding day. We wanted to enjoy our wedding and not spend an extended period of time taking posed pictures. Tom's style fit us perfectly as he likes to tell the story of the wedding by including all of your guests and candid pictures. After the formal pictures were completed, Tom let us celebrate with our friends and family and didn't miss a moment. The pictures were stunning. With Tom's years of experience he is familiar with so many venues, including ours at Kiana Lodge. Tom worked as a solo photographer and managed to get shots of our ceremony from 360 degrees without my husband or I even noticing. I even trusted his vision and climbed a rather huge tree stump near the water where he captured my absolute favorite picture. He even captured the spontaneous and hilarious "father, father dance". My family is still laughing about that dance. My family and friends continue to comment on the quality of pictures and professionalism of Tom. Thank you again, Tom. Our wedding was perfect and we can relive those moments through the pictures you captured. read more

Some little girls dream of their Senior prom when they are young and how magical the night will be, but I have always been different from those girls. Since I was about 10 and learned what senior photos are, I have been anxiously and excitedly waiting for my turn to have them taken. Since this was the first year that my school is letting the students use the photographer of their choice, my mom did countless hours of research to find me the best there is, and came up with Tom. From the get-go, he has been responsive, enthusiastic, comforting and professional. I was somewhat nervous going into my session, but at our first meeting I felt instantly at ease. I could not have asked for a better senior photos expirience and it was not due to the perfect dress that I found, or the amazing sunlight or the beautiful location; my wonderful expirience was all due to Tom. He was able to capture amazing shots that I am able to feel proud of. Just to be sure, he stopped every 5-10 minutes to show them to me to make sure that I was satisfied. After it was all said and done, Tom stayed in touch and had the photos available very quickly to view. All in all, Tom was the best photographer that I could have asked for and is someone that I will definitely reccomend and hopefully use at my future wedding. He made the day that I have been waiting for everything that I had dreamt of and more! read more

Tom is a fantastic, highly skilled photographer. He is extremely friendly, professional, and easy to work with. He knows how to work with a couple, or a whole wedding party to make the most of the environment and the people. After a couple of meetings with Tom my wife and I felt like we had established a very good relationship and we could not wait for our shoots. Our engagement shoot was tons of fun. Tom kept it fun and exciting, but knew exactly where to go and how to direct us for each background. Tom also has lots of great ideas for where to do shoots, so even if you don't know the area very well, Tom can help out big time. He was also excited to share some of his vendor contacts with us, and offered to help us out with any other aspects of our wedding that he may have some knowledge in. We also felt like his pricing was very reasonable and that we got every penny's worth and then some. We are absolutely thrilled that we chose to go with Tom. He played a major role in making our wedding the most exciting day of our lives. read more

We hired Tom to take both our engagement & wedding photos for us. We didn't know really know exactly which shots would look the best, but Tom has a great eye and was very patient in guiding and positioning us, allowing him to capture many different angles and unique shots. We were married September 2016 at Georgetown Ballroom, and Tom assisted in selecting many action and set shots near the railroad tracks, under the freeway overpass, as well as throughout the venue. We have been extremely satisfied with the quality of the photos, and they truly show the depth of his vast experience and talent. Even though Tom works alone, he had the amazing knack to know exactly where to be at the right time to catch some exceptional memories. The creative design and quality of our physical photo book far surpassed our expectations. Tom is very professional and responsive to queries. If you need an outstanding photographer you can trust for your wedding or event, I highly recommend Tom Ellis Photography. read more

Tom is a talented photographer and a genuinely nice person, just what you want for a special occasion. We bought his mid week special when we eloped at the Willows Lodge. He knew the property well and made sure we got shots at the nicest spots. His equipment was top notch, he gave great direction, and the photos came out beautifully. The scenery really popped and he captured our joy perfectly. TOM WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND when our officiant called a few minutes before the ceremony to say he was running 45 min late. He had accidentally fallen asleep at home, no joke! Coincidentally, Tom had worked with the officiant before. He assured us that everything would be fine and it was. We took most of our photos before the ceremony. Tom stayed for longer than our booking because the delay wasn't our fault and he didn't have another shoot to get to. We were IMMENSELY touched by his support and generosity. I highly recommend Tom Ellis photography, you won't regret it - quality photos and service. read more

Tom is the consummate professional. My wife and I got married in Sequim, WA on the Olympic Peninsula and Tom drove all the way there and spent the entire day taking photos. His work was so good we had many of our friends and family inquire about his services because they were so impressed. We will not hesitate to recommend Tom to anyone who needs professional photography done. As a matter of fact we recently had him do a photo shoot at a local park of our growing family (two kids now). He refused to accept any payment for it as it was part of his "first child photo" after we got married. We were a little late calling him, as we had recently had our second child, but he still refused to accept any money. The photos turned out fantastic, as we have grown accustomed to with Tom. Tom is, and will continue to remain our family photographer. He does outstanding work at a reasonable price and we would not hesitate to recommend him. read more

Tom Ellis was really funny, engaging, and professional. My husband and I had a wonderful time with him and we are looking for other opportunities to have him photograph us, haha. He definitely knew what he was doing, and he interacted exceptionally well with everyone else at our wedding and reception. He made the process of getting wedding photos seamless and he integrated that into our most amazing day in such a professional manner. He made it very clear that his responsibility was to take photos without getting in the way. He did a wonderful job of making our day that much more special. Looking back at the great photos he took and the work and effort he put in to his job, he is very reasonably priced and would be considered a steal compared to any other photographer. My husband and I would highly recommend having him help out with any special occasion. read more

We hired Tom to take engagement photos for us. The photos are really awesome. They capture the exact moments we want. My fiancée and I don't know much about taking photos. Tom recommended Gas Works Park as the place and it turned out a very good choice. The lake and the view of Seattle are included in our photos, Tom helped us chose a lot of good backgrounds. Since my fiancée and I don't have much experience, sometimes it took us a while to understand how to do the pose but Tom is very patient. We're very satisfied with the quality of the photos, especially those physical copies. Tom is also very responsive to emails. We asked a lot of questions in emails and all of them got answered in a very timely manner. If I need some photos taken next time, I would hire Tom again. read more

My family and I were scheduled for a first visit to Seattle. We wanted to really enjoy all of the beautiful areas throughout Seattle. I reached out to Tom Ellis Photography just to inquire and beg by chance that he could assist us with a family photo shoot. Tom was not only quite informative, but his overall guidance made our experience way above and beyond what we could have expected. He selected the perfect areas to photograph the three of us and kept me well informed on the weather conditions and always had a Plan B just in case. Everything has turned out beautiful the pictures were provided to us within a few days and the overall experience was phenomenal. Thank You Mr. Ellis, your attention to detail is amazing and we are so proud of every photo you provided! read more

3 years ago, my wife and I had the best experience with our wedding photographer, Tom Ellis. His pictures were amazing. He takes the time to get the shots you want and is very reasonable on price. After he shows you the best of the bunch. He will do special modifications on any print you want. Like the black & white with a pop of color, or special fading effects, etc. If you don't like something he's done he'll adjust it. All you have to do is ask. You get a Digital file of all the photos and prints of all the photos. Here's the best part. He gives you a free photo session with your first born. AND he gives you digital copies of the session. We just took advantage of this service and the photos are stunning. Thanks Tom for a wonderful experience! read more

We can't recommend Tom highly enough! My fiance and I decided to elope, wanting to avoid the stress and complications that come with a traditional wedding, and Tom was the perfect photographer for us. He was readily available and quick to respond to any of our questions while we were planning our day. He was creative and collaborative during our photography session, actively seeking our opinions and requests while providing a fantastic amount of ideas for poses and backgrounds. And the final pictures that he provided to us were simply beautiful, perfectly capturing the uncomplicated joy of our courthouse wedding! If you're considering Tom for your wedding, for some other event, we recommend you do! It will be the easiest, and best, decision you make! read more

My son had planned a proposal in Seattle. We live in a small town in Virginia. Not having a clue how my son would capture this moment so that our family could see the reaction of the surprise proposal as they were traveling alone in a place they had never visited. We inquired on the internet and Tom's website came up with good reviews. So we contacted him. He was so accommodating, informative, and professional. We booked him at a very reasonable price. The day arrived, he did everything, all the happy couple had to do was show up at the designated spot. The photos are very high quality and captured every moment. Way more than we expected. He was fun to work with, and I HIGHLY recommend him for your photography needs. Thank you Tom! read more

Tom is an amazing photographer. My daughter and I went to Seattle for a vacation and decided to do her senior pictures there, Without knowing anyone there, we choose Tom Ellis Photography and we could not have been happier. He was patient, professional, funny, and made the entire experience a very memorable one for my daughter. He recommended a few places and we went to both. He worked with my daughter, asking what she liked and he threw in a few of his own ideas. I would highly recommend him for any type of photo shoot!! He shot over 200 photos and we had a hard time narrowing it down. GREAT photographer! Thank you Tom, Krista and Kayla read more

Tom was incredible! My (now) wife and I had our wedding on fairly short notice, meaning that we needed to get everything together very quickly. Tom was incredibly helpful, professional, positive, and friendly- he was extremely flexible and his experience showed in just about everything that he did- he had great recommendations for places where we could take photos, what sort of shots we might want to consider getting, etc. He REALLY shined when the day came, as well- our guests loved him, he managed to be both there for every great photo opportunity and never in the way, and the photos themselves were amazing. HIGHLY recommended. read more

If you are looking for a professional photographer, look no further. Tom is amazing. We didn't know what type of photos we were looking for. Tom's artistry added so much to our event. His eye of scenery, light and positions made all of our wedding photos superb. His wedding package which includes engagement photos, 8 hours of photographer service on the wedding day, and he puts together a wedding album is the best value around. You get a printed copy of every photo he takes and even a digital copy. Tom made our day very special and I couldn't have asked for a better photographer. read more

My husband and I were very fortunate to find Tom to take our wedding pictures. He was easy to work with, very accommodating and responsive to our needs. During our communications, he was always friendly and professional, quick to respond, and enthusiastic about our shoots. He never made us feel like we were being too demanding. We were camera shy, but he gave us direction and just made us feel comfortable. Tom Ellis Photography was worth the money we spent and more. Thank you so much Tom! read more

Made our trip to Seattle so Amazing!! We were in town for four days to do campus tours for college and Tom was able to squeeze us in while we were there. He was more-than accommodating with our crazy schedule and was able to book us at the last minute, which our daughter was thrilled with! Her senior photos turned out AMAZING at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens. It couldn't have worked out more perfectly. Thank you Tom!! read more