Manuel Ayala Photography

•Ratings include Zola and Google reviews

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Prices start at $3,000

Elopement pricing

Prices start at $700

Packages

About Manuel Ayala Photography

Manuel Ayala Photography

Photographer/Bestie

Hey there! I'm Manny, based in Houston, TX. Since 2020, I've been capturing authentic moments—those real, raw, joyful times that make your wedding day uniquely yours. From slipping into your wedding dress to laughing with your best friend and dancing all night, I'll be your #1 sidekick with a camera. I believe love is colorful, messy, full of electric laughter, stolen kisses, and maybe a cheeky butt grab or two. If that sounds like you, I’m your photographer. Let’s connect and start planning your forever and always. At Manuel Ayala Photography, we believe "Y’all means All."

I’m not just a photographer—I’m your day-of sidekick, hype person, and memory maker all rolled into one. I blend authentic storytelling with vibrant, colorful images that feel alive and true to you. I guide you through every moment with ease—posing, laughing, and capturing those unscripted, electric connections that make your love story one of a kind. And above all? I’m fiercely inclusive. At Manuel Ayala Photography, Y’all means All. Every love deserves to be celebrated, honored, and photographed with joy and respect.

Best of Zola 2026
Best of Zola 2025
Best of Zola 2024

Services

Services

  • Bride-only session
  • Drone photography
  • Engagement session
  • Extra hours
  • Image editing
  • Printing rights
  • Second photographer

Photo formats

  • Digital

Deliverables

  • Digital files
  • Digital rights
  • Online gallery
  • Same/next-day sneak-peek images

Manuel Ayala Photography packages

The Runaways $750.00 + tax

2 hours

Description

Courthouse Vibes / 100 to 200 photos

What’s included
  • 1 awesome photographer
  • 50-75 photos per hour
  • 1 Year Online Hi-Res Gallery + Unlimited downloads
  • Sneak peeks within first week
  • Printing rights
  • Open line of communcation
  • Phototimeline Assistance

Get Hitched $1,500.00 + tax

4 hours

Description

The Micro Wedding / 200 to 300 photos

What’s included
  • 1 awesome photographer
  • 50-75 photos per hour
  • 1 Year Online gallery access + Unlimited downloads
  • Sneak peeks within first week
  • 1 Year Online Hi-Res Gallery + Unlimited downloads
  • Printing rights
  • Open line of communcation
  • Phototimeline Assistance

Electric Love $3,000.00 + tax

8 hours

Description

The Sweet Spot - Up to 8 hours of coverage

What’s included
  • 2 Awesome Photographers
  • 50-75 photos per hour
  • 1 Year Online Hi-Res Gallery + Unlimited downloads
  • Sneak peeks within first week
  • Printing rights
  • Open line of communcation
  • Photo timeline assistance
  • Complimentary Engagement

Til' Death $3,500.00 + tax

10 hours

Description

The Full Wedding Day - Up to 10 hours of coverage

What’s included
  • 2 Awesome Photographers
  • 50-75 photos per hour
  • 1 Year Online Hi-Res Gallery + Unlimited downloads
  • Sneak peeks within first week
  • Printing rights
  • Open line of communcation
  • Photo timeline assistance
  • Complimentary Engagement

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 4.9

4.9 out of 5

59 reviews

  • JP

    Josie P.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Oct 27

    October 2026

    I don’t even know where to start, Manny is just so incredible! From the minute we met with him the first time we knew he was the one for us. That was further proved during our engagement shoot and the beautiful photos that came out of it. On the day of the wedding he was full of positive energy and was just so great. We have only gotten sneak peeks from the wedding so far but we are absolutely in love with them all. From candids to posed to artistic shots, he is SO talented and we can’t recommend him enough. We are so grateful for all he has done and is still doing for us!

  • SL

    Sarah L.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Oct 26

    Manny deserves all his awards and MORE!!

    Do not miss out on having Manny as your photographer! First, Manny is professional: reliable, detail-oriented, well-organized, and able to command a crowd in a personable but firm way. The contracts were clear, and he sent us a beautifully crafted guide with tips and tricks on clothing, posing, timing, and even other vendors he recommended. As a person, he is incredibly kind, hardworking, and passionate about understanding the couple's vision. My husband and I wanted our pictures to show our guests and us authentically, in our joy and our eccentricities, and Manny was the perfect person to do that. He was enthusiastic and met on our level! The pictures speak for themselves in terms of quality, but if you don't trust me, then just listen to my guests. Many of them said, "These are the best wedding photos I've ever seen." "This looks like it should be in a Bridal Magazine!"

  • JM

    Jacee M.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Sep 26, 2026

    Wedding, Engagement and Boudoir Photography

    We truly cannot say enough wonderful things about Manuel Ayala Photography! We had the privilege of working with Manuel for our engagement photos, my boudoir session, and our wedding day, and every single experience with him was incredible. His eye for art and attention to detail are unmatched. The photographs he creates are absolutely stunning and feel like true works of art. He has captured some of the most important moments of our lives in a way that we will treasure forever. From the very beginning, Manuel was professional, communicative, reliable, and always delivered our photos on time. He makes every session genuinely fun and comfortable, and his guidance with posing is amazing. You never have to wonder what to do or how to stand, he knows exactly how to direct you while still making everything feel natural and authentic. What makes Manuel even more special is the person behind the camera. Over the course of our engagement, boudoir, and wedding sessions, he went from being our photographer to someone we truly consider a friend. We always felt comfortable, celebrated, and completely ourselves around him, and that shows in every photograph. Having someone we trusted so deeply capturing our wedding day meant more to us than we can express. Choosing Manuel was easily one of the best decisions we made throughout our wedding experience. His talent is incredible, his professionalism is exceptional, and the memories he has given us are priceless. If you are looking for a photographer who will make you feel comfortable, guide you every step of the way, and deliver breathtaking photographs that you’ll cherish for a lifetime, we could not recommend Manuel Ayala Photography more highly!

  • SN

    Sylvie N.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Apr 9, 2026

    Booking Manny was our smartest wedding decision

    Hiring Manny was probably the best decision we could've made for our wedding day. We happened to snag a free engagement photoshoot from him while he was traveling in our area, and we didn't expect to book him for our wedding because he lived out of state, so we assumed that flying him out would be too expensive. However, when we were looking for DC-based photographers, we weren't finding anyone who had the bright, joyful style that we saw in Manny's photos, and all the local photographers were SO expensive anyway. So, we decided to reach out to Manny to see if we could work something out, and thank goodness we did!! Manny helped create a custom package that worked within our budget, and then he exceeded all of his promises anyway. He delivered more photos than promised, faster than promised. The night of our wedding, he had posted a cute informal video compilation on his Instagram (we hadn't purchased videography). He had sneak peeks ready ahead of schedule, and there were so many! He surprised us with a second shooter (a friend of his who is also a wedding photographer), polaroids, and even some drone photography of our venue. Best of all, the photos were absolutely beautiful. They captured every important moment, and everything looked just as beautiful and joyful as they felt on that day. The editing was flattering without being overdone. For example, my wife and I both had slightly different shades of white outfits--mine being ivory and hers being pure white--and I can tell from the guest photos that that didn't photograph well, with the bright August sun creating a blue light effect on the pure white outfit. But, Manny obviously took the time to edit every photo painstakingly, because his photos still look perfect. We cherish every one of them and have looked at them again and again. My wife's parents (who are very particular) were so impressed with the photos that they've also considered booking him for future anniversary shoots. I think the most important thing I can say about Manny is that he obviously loves his job. With the kind of happiness that he radiates and the way he goes above and beyond without being asked, you can just see that this is more than work to him. He loves to celebrate love. If you've taken the time to read this review, please go ahead and book with Manny. I promise you won't regret it!

  • AC

    Ana C.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Nov 8, 2025

    He is the absolute best.

    Okay, here is the bottom line: you want Manny to be your photographer. Scratch that, you NEED him. He is the absolute best. He is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. He made us feel so special on our day and took THE best pictures ever. The entire process was seamless from the first time we contacted him, to filling out the questionnaire to the day of the wedding. He is amazing, and I can assure you that you will not be disappointed if you decide to book him as your photographer. Trust me, snatch him up while you can. Thank me later.

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I’ve been capturing lovers saying “I do” since 2020, and I’ve had the honor of photographing over 50 weddings, both as a lead and second shooter.
I’m currently based in Houston, TX, but always down to travel wherever your love takes you! ✈️ (Travel fees may apply depending on location.)
I'm a mix of posed and documentary-style photography, using natural light to capture images that are colorful, bright, and full of life. Genuine moments, big emotions, and great lighting? Yeah, that’s totally my jam.
Trust me when I say—I got you. My job is to guide you every step of the way so you look and feel your best, whether we’re striking a pose or capturing candid magic. I’ll even do the poses with you—because this is a no-stress, all-fun zone.
If everything feels right and you say “yes” to your photographer, then we’re off—starting the journey together to get you married and celebrated! 💍✨
The retainer is 20% of your total wedding package and is due at the time of signing the contract. I’m more than happy to set up a monthly payment plan that works for you! I totally get that weddings can be a big investment, so if you ever need any flexibility or accommodations to make booking easier, let’s chat!
For bookings outside of Houston (70+ miles), there’s a flat $60 gas fee. If your wedding day includes: • 8+ hours of coverage • Over 200 miles of travel • Coverage past 9:00 PM I ask for a $140 housing fee for a room also.
For elopements or micro weddings, I recommend booking at least 4+ months in advance. For full wedding days, 8+ months is ideal—but not required! Spring and Fall are peak wedding seasons, so reaching out early helps us get ahead and lock your date in!
Engagement Sessions: 3–4 weeks • Weddings: 8–10 weeks ✨ Please note: during peak season, delivery times may be slightly extended—but I’ll always keep you updated every step of the way!
This is a great question—and the answer is: maybe, maybe not! I might not have shot at your exact venue before, but that’s part of the fun. I’m a seasoned professional who loves walking into a space with fresh eyes!
My wedding guide was thoughtfully created with YOU in mind—my amazing wedding clients. Spanning over 50 pages, it covers everything from engagement sessions and photo details to recommended vendors and so much more. It’s packed with helpful tips and ideas!
Absofreakinglutely! I’ll be sending you a wedding questionnaire before the big day so I can get your family formal list and any other must-have shots you want. Also—huge fan of Pinterest boards, so definitely send those my way!
Engagement sessions are complimentary with your package. Choosing to skip it won’t affect the total cost. If you prefer, you’re also more than welcome to swap the engagement session for a bridal session instead!
very image you receive will be carefully edited for color, saturation, exposure, and sharpness to ensure it looks absolutely stunning. I also do light retouching to enhance your natural beauty. Please note: I don’t use Photoshop in any way that adds or removes parts of your body. My goal is to make sure you look and feel your absolute best, authentically you!
My wedding guide was created with you in mind, my wedding clients. Over 50+ pages long, it goes through photo-related topics like engagement sessions, details, recommended vendors, and so much more. It might even have ideas that you didn't even think about! :)
I don’t offer video, but I’m happy to point you toward some amazing vendors I trust and recommend!

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