As a gay woman, Deanna, owner of Dealea Photography LGBTQ+ weddings understands that couples in the queer community may have needs that couples outside of the community may not have. Dealea Photography studio focuses on bridging the enormous gap that the queer community faces while planning their wedding or special event. DeaLea provides a safe space for couples to be themselves during their engagement portrait session and their wedding day. Serving the Western New York and Fingerlakes areas, Deanna makes every moment of each couples’ wedding day about their love and commitment to each other.
Dealea Photography LGBTQ+ Weddings
One thing that makes Dealea Photography LGBTQ+ Weddings unique is our high standards. We have sampled many professional printers, local and some not. We have taken the time to personally choose each product that we provide to our couples as if we were purchasing the products for ourselves. Additionally, we provide heirloom archival albums and printing services for couples. Soon, we will feature a new product where clients can view their wedding day images via video slide show.
I make it a point to meet with my clients several times before their wedding day. Their engagement session is included in their package. I honestly feel this is one of the best ways to get closer to my couples. At their engagement session I have an opportunity to get them to open up. This allows them to have fun and relax in front of the camera. The last thing I would want is to show up at a couples wedding having never met them before.
Small businesses have such a huge opportunity to help the community and vise versa. I remain a small business because I believe my community needs the support of all of us to thrive. The connection to the community is was keeps me alive because I love the feel of small towns! The hustle and bustle of the small businesses crushing it and the people supporting is what it’s all about!
Get to Know Deanna
After attending art school in Pittsburg, PA, I moved home and began working for a portrait studio. It was then I knew I loved, loved, loved photographing weddings! Several years later, I began DeaLea Photography out of my basement. I photographed any and every person (and animal) that came my way. It wasn’t much later that my wife, Katya, and I were married on a beach with our closest family and friends present.
While planning our wedding we realized that we were hesitant on the process. What if a vendor refused us? What if a vendor didn’t understand our relationship? With those hesitations we stayed close to our circle to find people to help us with our wedding. It was then I realized that it couldn’t just be us, right? The queer community needs vendors who are within their community, vendors who understand their relationship and support it. That is when DeaLea began focusing on LGBTQ+ couples.
I am passionate about making every couple comfortable in front of the camera no matter who they are or who they love. It’s a no brainer for me. I focus on the queer community because each of us deserve to have the fairytale wedding. We deserve to feel validated and cared for every day including one of the most important days of our lives.
Reach out to Deanna today in her directory listing! If you’re a local wedding creative who would like to be spotlighted with us, learn more here!