Dave Shay Photography: Raleigh Wedding photographer

"People come to my show for the pleasure of being hoodwinked... just once I'd like to give them something real."

~ The Greatest Showman

Before I was a Raleigh Wedding Photographer, I photographed presidents, musicians, and couples all over the United States. I created a lot of award-winning images, earned quite a few honors, and even made a few couples super happy. But if I’m honest I did it all for me.

I did it for the awards, as an outlet for my own creativity, and frankly, because I was selfish. It wasn’t until a friend shared their heart that they had learned we were at “someone’s wedding day. Not a photo shoot.” that everything changed for me.

These images will be all you have to remember your day.

Your wedding isn’t about pretty pictures in some pretty field. It’s about you.

Portfolio

Why choose between technical ability and creativity?

Your wedding doesn’t need ‘golden hour’, to be awesome, (mainly because you’re awesome). You need a photographer with the skillset to photograph your wedding day no matter what the weather does.

We can’t control if it rains on your wedding day. But we can control what it looks like.

Top 20 Posed Portrait Worldwide

I’ve been awarded in a few places but taking home Fearless Photographers’ Top 20 Posed Portrait for 2017 among the fiercest competition for wedding photography in the world felt pretty nice.

Natural Light Trained

While I got my start as a natural light photographer, I sought out training to be able to photograph in any condition, and not just when the light is good. I’ll always take great, golden, natural light before a flash, but a wedding photographer needs to know how to use them all.

Backup Extraordinaire

By the time you leave for your honeymoon, every single image I took on your wedding day will be in four different places. There are photographers that will lose your wedding. I’m not one of them.

Legacy Motivated

Your wedding is a story you’ll tell for years to come. From prints to tell your story, to artistic images for your walls, to an album you’ll share with generations, I strive to create timeless images that truly capture you both.

bride and grandfather sharing first dance

Are Portraits Important?

Of course, but...

If you rearranged your entire wedding to make sure your grandfather would be able to attend, wouldn’t you want someone focused on documenting your story and not someone hellbent on taking posed portraits?

Let’s Get to Know Each Other

Some of My Work

Here are some of my favorite images photographed from the weddings of well over 200 couples in more than 20 states.

Indian Bride Crying during getting ready

First dance on a wedding day

sunset on a rainy day happy couple
This image was taken on a rainy day by making a fake sunset with a 1/2 CTO maggel and a magmod grid.

Biltmore Estate Engagement in Asheville, NC

bridesmaids praying for bride on wedding day

bride and grandfather dancing for last time

Candid moment during ceremony by Wedding Photographer

bridal session with a horse

night wedding at all saints chapel in Raleigh

Carolina Inn Night Wedding during the rain
Using a magmod grid in the rain with an orange MagMod Gel behind the couple on my flash as a rim light.

fireman garter toss on wedding
Adding in a magmod red gel with a MagGrid in front of the couple.

Best Biltmore Estate Engagement Photos

Star Wedding portrait with Astrophotography

bride getting ready for wedding

wrighstville manor sunset photo in Wilmington

toasts during the wedding at The Carolina Inn
This image of a Bride and Groom giving a toast was taken at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC and lit with one Magmod Grid from the right.

Happy Bride during her wedding Reception
I used a magmod grid on a speedlight to capture this moment at a wedding reception

Candid flower girl during ceremony

tender first look between bride and groom

father dauther dance
For this image, I used two magmod grids to light this father and daughter during their dance together

sweet moment between mom and son

bride getting ready at the washington duke

Nature Engagement with stars on a hike
This image of the milky way and this couple was lit with a magmod sphere in front of the couple and two magmod grids behind

bride crying during First Look

carolina country club bridal silhouette portrait

Loving couple during their ceremony

fun reflection engagement photo at JC Raulston Arboretum
Using a Magmod Grid on a flash to create a unique portrait of this couple

Colorful Yates Mill Engagement Silhouette

Bridal Portrait at Mims House in Holly Springs
A bridal portrait lit with one MagMod grid

Couple Rain Engagement photo at pullen park
Lit by using a magmod sphere system on my flash in the rain

copper ridge on neuse happy ceremony exit

fun first look with happy couple

snowy wedding in raleigh country club
This image was taken with a softbox in front of the couple and a MagBeam behind them.

Village Creek Landing Couple Wedding Photos

Natural Light Wedding Photo at pleasantdale chateau

Full Moon Resort Reception dancing

first dance at full moon resort in NY
Lit by two magmod grids on the dance floor.

bride and groom snuggling after wedding

Wedding Portraits with Fireworks
This image was taken with one magmod grid from the front to capture both the fireworks and the bride and groom

Biltmore Estate Proposal at sunset

Marriage is an adventure. Let's make sure we remember where yours began

Turns Out People Like Me!

Take that, middle school.

If there was a ‘vendor of the wedding’ award… Dave Shay would take it home every time.

Steven and Miranda

These images will last us a lifetime.

Kayla

He was amazing…flexible, kind, down to earth, professional and really took the time to listen to our story and capture it all in his photographs.

Brooke and David

Dave was my second favorite person at my wedding.

Steven

The best photographer we’ve ever seen.

Justin and Rachel

Dave Shay is a must hire vendor for your wedding.

Courtney and Griffin

Everyone I show our wedding pictures to raves about the quality and wished they could have used Dave Shay when they got married.

Dan and Rachel

He was able to get beautiful shots of us and also allowed us to fully enjoy every bit of our wedding which I thought would be impossible.

Courtney and Steven

Get to Know Me

Meet Me

Get In Touch

If you have some questions still, head to the FAQ page for some answers. Otherwise, fill out the form to the right to get a response back with pricing information!

This form and email address are for clients requiring photographic services only. Please be respectful and do not send me any solicitations.

Address

Cary, NC 27513

Cell Phone

919-213-9229

Fax

Fax is broken. Use AIM instead

[email protected]