California photography questions, answered

About the photographer

Who is Steven Lelham?

Steven Lelham is a photographer based in Turlock, California. He photographs weddings, portraits, events, brands, and Part 107 drone work across California - Central Valley, Bay Area, Yosemite, and the coast.

Locations

Where in California does Steven Lelham photograph?

Home base is Turlock in California's Central Valley. Sessions regularly travel to Modesto, Sacramento, San Francisco City Hall, Sausalito, Half Moon Bay, Monterey, Yosemite National Park, Newport Beach, and private venues statewide.

Does Steven Lelham travel for California weddings and sessions?

Yes. Turlock is the studio home base, and California travel is part of the work. Yosemite, San Francisco City Hall, the coast, and destination venues are regular locations.

Services

What kind of photography does Steven Lelham offer?

Couples and weddings (including full wedding-day coverage), Assyrian and other ethnic and cultural weddings, personal and professional portraits, headshots, commercial and brand work, freelance and white-label photography for marketing teams, events, and FAA Part 107 drone for survey and construction. The approach is directed gently and composed with a still-life eye - images meant to feel true, not stiff.

WeddingsAssyrian & ethnic weddingsPortraitsHeadshotsBrandDrone

Booking & pricing

How do I book a California photography session?

Send a note through contact or email steven@lelham.com. Include the date, place, and what you want photographed. Replies usually arrive within 24 hours with availability and next steps.

How much does a photography session with Steven Lelham cost?

Wedding and headshot pricing depends on the session. Send the date, place, and what you want photographed through the contact page and I'll outline what fits.

How do we reserve our wedding date?

Your date is reserved once the contract is signed and the 50% non-refundable retainer is paid. Dates are booked first come, first served, so reach out early if you have a date in mind.

How far in advance should we book?

Booking 6–12 months before your wedding is ideal, but always feel free to reach out. I may still have openings for your date.

What if we need to cancel or change our date?

Your retainer is non-refundable. If you need to reschedule, it can carry over to a new date within one year, as long as I'm available that day. I can't cancel another couple's booking to make room, so reach out as early as you can.

How many photos will we receive?

I don't cap the number of images. Every wedding unfolds differently, so I capture the day as it happens rather than shooting to a quota. On average, couples receive 750+ edited photos.

What does editing include?

Every delivered image is color corrected and cropped, with small distractions removed. My style is true to life and documentary, so I don't do heavy retouching like full blemish removal or background replacement. Your guests are part of your story, and you'll see them throughout your gallery.

How will we receive our photos?

Your photos are delivered through a private online gallery at photos.lelham.com. You can download your images and share the gallery with family, friends, and your wedding vendors. A USB drive is also available for purchase.

How long will our online gallery stay up?

Your gallery stays online long-term, with no set expiration. I still recommend downloading your photos and keeping your own backup, so you always have them.

Do we get the RAW or unedited files?

No. Every image you receive is fully edited, because the editing is part of the finished look you're booking.

Signature locations

Does Steven Lelham photograph San Francisco City Hall weddings?

Yes. San Francisco City Hall is a regular location, along with other Bay Area venues such as Sausalito and the Legion of Honor. More wedding detail: /wedding-photographer-turlock.

Does Steven Lelham photograph Yosemite elopements and sessions?

Yes. Yosemite National Park is a regular place for engagements, elopements, and portraits under valley and ridgeline light. More wedding detail: /wedding-photographer-turlock.