Par La Mer Photography - Newtown, Connecticut

Chelsea Mossman

It was really important to me to have beautiful photos that really captured the emotions and fun of our wedding day. Tanya did such a great job at that! I absolutely love how natural and beautiful all of the photos look. They are exactly what I was looking for. Not only did the photos come out amazing, but working with Tanya was easy. The whole process was very smooth and seamless. Tanya had us do multiple FaceTime calls and was very quick on replying to all of my emails! I couldn't recommend Par La Mer Photography enough!

Erika Hedgecock

Tonya was so, so incredible to work with! Not only did our engagement and wedding photos comes out so beautiful, but she made the experience so seamless and fun. My husband and I were so comfortable, and got to soak up the whole day stress free. We were blown away by how talented, and thoughtful she was with each shot. We truly had the best day, and now have the most amazing photos to reflect on it with.

callie hanau

Working with Tonya was hands down the best decision we made for our wedding! We could not recommend her more, and are so grateful that she captured all of the joy we felt perfectly. Tonya's communication was always prompt and thoughtful, and she was an absolute pro at managing our day. Despite a really tight timeline, she made sure to get all of the shots that were important to my husband and I without breaking a sweat (or making us feel rushed!) She has a wonderful eye for detail, and is really just a pleasure to be around in general. Can't wait for a chance to work with her again!

Tracey&Mike

Tonya's work is unbelievable. The fog that rolled in for our ceremony made it hard to see just a few feet in front of us, but her pictures came out stunning. She's a great communicator, detail-oriented and really made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. She sent us a day-of timeline and helped plan out what photos we would like in advance. We got back a preview album sent to us like 2 days after our wedding! We also did an engagement shoot with her before our wedding, which really made us excited for our big day.

Abigail Veilleux

Tonya is an absolutely incredible photographer. We were looking for someone who could capture our wedding day in a way that felt authentic – real moments, real emotions, and not overly edited. Tonya has a real gift for using natural light and her surroundings to capture beautiful images. Our engagement session was overcast and nearing sunset, while our wedding day was full sun and breezy, and we love both of the albums she delivered us! Tonya was so easy to work with and we felt comfortable with her right from the start (like an old friend). She was professional and knew how to make a wedding day run smoothly, but she never interfered with the natural flow of things, which we really appreciated. Working with Tonya was one of the best decisions we made, and we hope to work with her again in the future!!

Lindsey Maratta

We were incredibly fortunate to book Tonya for our wedding in Groton, CT on July 15, 2022. We found her on instagram and absolutely fell in love with her artistic style - her photos speak for themselves. We are only a few weeks out from our wedding and she’s already sent over some incredible sneak peaks. Both myself and my husband can’t stop looking at them! On the day, she gave us just enough direction to make us comfortable and look our best. She truly captured our authentic personalities, connection, and emotions (as well as our most flattering angles).

We had recently moved cross country to California and were planning the wedding remotely. With Tonya, the whole process - from initial call, booking, contract signing, planning, was absolutely seamless - that much more important for us as we were so far away. Tonya was always professional, friendly, and so so helpful. When I was on the fence about something as silly as picking out my wedding footwear, I consulted Tonya and she enthusiastically offered decisive advice and feedback (yes, ladies - wear the flats - we promise you won’t regret it!). I’m sure that’s outside her ‘job description’, but she was much more than a photographer for us.

One special memory with Tonya is the first time we met her. We had flown home for the holidays, and decided to book our engagement shoot for that time. We had scheduled to meet in Brooklyn, NY and it just so happened there was a massive blizzard forecast for that day. Tonya was highly communicative the night before, working with us and my makeup artist to come up with a plan A and alternative options. In the end, Tonya fought through the elements, the traffic, and I’m sure some very hectic planning to meet us in Brooklyn, where we got our absolutely perfect shots in the fresh snow and FREEZING weather. My husband and I only lasted 30 minutes in the cold, but Tonya would have kept going (if we weren’t such wimps). Either way that was all she needed to get the best pictures ever taken of us (and our nutso dog). And the entire time, she managed to make it FUN for us! Same goes for our wedding day. Tonya was such a calming presence when nerves were highest. Then as the day got going - with minimal time (we were pretty busy enjoying ourselves), Tonya captured gorgeous shots. We shared laughs with her and her second shooter, Marie, the whole day, and you can tell from the photos just how happy we were. Also, can we talk about Tonya's STYLE? Quite possibly our best-dressed guest.

We could not recommend Tonya more highly!!

Miranda Daly

Tonya is such a special person. I met her in 2021 when she first photographed my brother’s wedding and fast forward to this September, she photographed mine! She is the sweetest, most talented person and choosing her as our photographer was the first thing we did after we got engaged.

Her work is truly unmatched and she always makes us feel so comfortable in front of the camera (which is so hard for us). We only received previews and tears were brought to my eyes with joy! LOVE Tonya and highly, highly recommend booking with her, you will not be disappointed!

Amy Lamontagne

I am thrilled to write this review for Tonya and her exceptional photography business, Par La Mer Photography. We found her over Instagram and from the moment we connected, Tonya impressed us with her professionalism, talent, and easy communication style. She beautifully captured our wedding day, exceeding all our expectations.

Tonya was a pleasure to work with throughout the entire process. She was attentive to our needs and open to our specific requests, ensuring that our vision was understood. We had a couple of shots in mind, but we entrusted Tonya to use her creative eye for the majority of the shots. She delivered beyond our imagination, capturing the essence of our day with artistic flair.

One aspect that stood out was Tonya's assistance in creating our wedding day timeline. She offered valuable insights and suggestions that helped us organize the day seamlessly. Her guidance played a significant role in ensuring that every precious moment was captured.

Despite facing extreme weather conditions on our wedding day (the coldest day in nine years, if I recall correctly), Tonya and her second shooter, Marie, were true professionals. They braved the freezing temperatures with us and never once compromised on their commitment to capturing the perfect shots. Their dedication and resilience were truly commendable.

This was our first experience having professional photos taken, and Tonya made the entire process feel effortless. Her gentle guidance and ability to put us at ease made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, despite not having modeling careers. She struck the perfect balance between offering suggestions for poses and capturing candid moments that unfolded naturally throughout the day. We truly appreciated her ability to capture both the staged and spontaneous moments.

In addition to her outstanding photography skills, Tonya demonstrated her professionalism and calm demeanor during a minor crisis that occurred during our family photos. Despite a pipe burst and loud alarms causing chaos, Tonya remained composed and helped ease our worries. Her ability to adapt and handle unexpected situations with grace truly showcased her expertise and professionalism.

I wholeheartedly recommend Par La Mer Photography to anyone in search of a talented and dedicated wedding photographer. Tonya's ability to capture the essence of our day, combined with her easy communication style and professionalism, made the entire experience memorable and enjoyable. We are forever grateful for the stunning images that will serve as a cherished reminder of our special day.

Thank you, Tonya, for your remarkable talent, flexibility, and unwavering commitment. You are a true professional, and we are honored to have had you document our wedding day.