A new york city based wedding photography & videography collective
That thinking led to the Artistry Collective.
Kelvin Garcia and Ramon Pichardo didn't just want to build another wedding photography business. They wanted to create something that contributes meaningfully to the wedding industry, that provides opportunities for emerging creatives, that raises standards across the board, and that proves collaboration is more powerful than competition.
Both of them came up in the industry learning largely on their own, figuring things out through trial and error, building their skills and reputations through sheer hustle and dedication. That path works, but it's harder than it needs to be. They kept thinking: what if there was a community where talented people could learn from established professionals, where there was a clear aesthetic direction to work toward, where opportunities were shared rather than hoarded, where success wasn't a zero-sum game?
Kelvin Garcia
Ramon Pichardo
Meet Kelvin Garcia and Ramon Pichardo
We highly recommend him for any special occasion—he truly knocked it out of the park!
Chicky S.
Plenty of established photographers hire second shooters or assistants. What makes Artistry different is the intentionality behind how we're building this community. We're not just looking for warm bodies to hold cameras. We're looking for people who want to develop as artists and professionals, who care about the craft, who are willing to learn our aesthetic and contribute their unique perspectives within that framework.
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We provide actual mentorship, not just job opportunities. Kelvin and Ramon dedicate time to working with associates on their technique, their editing, their client interaction skills, their business development. We have regular check-ins, portfolio reviews, and collaborative problem-solving sessions. We celebrate wins together and navigate challenges as a team.
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We also pay fairly and treat associates with respect. This isn't an exploitative situation where we're building our business on the backs of underpaid creatives. We value your time, your talent, and your contribution, and our compensation reflects that. When Artistry succeeds, everyone in the Collective benefits.
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What Makes Us Different from Other Studios
On one side, there's the client-facing wedding studio: Artistry Wedding Co., serving sophisticated couples throughout NYC and Long Island with full-service photography, cinematography, and content creation.
On the other side, there's the Artistry Collective: the community of wedding professionals who work on these client projects, receive mentorship and professional development, connect with each other for support and collaboration, and contribute to our mission of elevating the industry.
These two sides are completely interconnected. Together, they create something more powerful than either could be alone: a sustainable, growing, community-driven wedding business that proves you can be both commercially successful and genuinely supportive of creative talent.
The Two Sides of Artistry Wedding Co.
Regular access to Kelvin and Ramon for portfolio reviews, technique discussions, business advice, and creative feedback. We're invested in your development, not just your productivity. Scheduled mentorship sessions are part of being in the Collective, not something you have to beg for or pay extra to access.
Ongoing Mentorship
We host periodic workshops on technical skills (advanced lighting, posing, editing techniques), business development (pricing, marketing, client communication), and industry trends. These are designed to make you better at your craft and more successful in your career.
Professional Development Workshops
The Collective gets together regularly for events that are part professional networking, part social connection, part creative inspiration. These events build genuine community and create opportunities for associates to connect with each other, not just with Kelvin and Ramon.
Networking & Community Events
We organize styled shoots specifically to help associates develop their portfolios and experiment with new techniques. We also credit associates on real weddings they work, giving you professional references and portfolio pieces that help you build your own brand alongside contributing to Artistry.
Portfolio Building Opportunities
While you're expected to have your own professional equipment appropriate to your role, we maintain backup equipment and specialty gear that associates can access when needed. This reduces the financial burden on newer professionals while ensuring everyone has what they need to deliver quality work.
Equipment Access
We pay competitively and on time, every time. As Artistry grows and books more weddings, opportunities for associates increase proportionally. Our goal is to provide consistent, reliable income opportunities that allow talented creatives to actually make sustainable livings in this industry.
Fair Compensation & Consistent Work
Maybe most valuable of all, you're not alone anymore. You're part of a team that genuinely cares about your success, that will help you problem-solve when you're struggling, that celebrates your wins enthusiastically, that provides emotional and professional support through the inevitable ups and downs of creative work.
A Supportive Team That Has Your Back
If everything aligns and we all want to move forward, we'll officially bring you into the Collective. You'll receive our comprehensive guides covering aesthetic standards, editing specifications, client interaction protocols, equipment requirements, communication expectations, and logistics. We'll set up introductions to other associates. We'll schedule your first official project or mentorship session.
Welcome to the team. Now the real work and growth begin.
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Onboarding
For most positions, we'll invite promising candidates to either complete a trial project (for editors) or shadow on a wedding day (for photographers, videographers, assistants). This gives both of us a chance to see how we work together in practice, not just in theory. You'll experience our actual working environment and approach. We'll see your skills, professionalism, and team dynamic in action.
Trial projects for editors might involve editing a small set of images or a short video clip to our specifications. Shadow days mean you're accompanying our team to a wedding as an observer (compensated for your time), helping where appropriate but primarily learning by watching.
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Trial Project or Shadow Day
This video call or in-person meeting is where we really get to know each other. We'll ask about your experience, your goals, your working style, your availability, what you're hoping to get from being part of the Collective. We'll explain how we operate in detail, what we expect from associates, what you can expect from us, and answer any questions you have.
This is a mutual evaluation. We're determining if you're right for Artistry, and you're determining if Artistry is right for you. There's no pressure. Honest conversation serves everyone better than artificial salesmanship.
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The Conversation
We'll review your work and your introduction. We're looking for technical competency appropriate to your experience level, aesthetic sensibility that aligns with or could develop toward our style, and evidence that you care about craft and quality.
If we see potential alignment, we'll reach out to schedule an introductory call. If we don't think it's the right fit, we'll let you know respectfully and might even suggest other opportunities or communities that could be better matches.
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Portfolio Review
Reach out through our contact form specifically for Collective members. Tell us your story: how you got into wedding work, what you love about it, what you're hoping to grow into, why the Artistry approach resonates with you. Share your social media handles and a link to your portfolio or previous work.
Most importantly, tell us how you'd contribute to the Artistry team. What unique perspective or skills do you bring? How do you see yourself fitting into our community? What excites you about collaborative work versus solo operation?
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