Ken Clough Photography

Ken Clough Photography Wedding & Portrait Photography in Albany, NY & the Capital Region. Calm, intentional, story-driven imagery. Every shot was an adventure.

Photographic Beginnings - I began shooting pictures when I was about sixteen years old. I purchased a used 35 mm Topcon camera at a garage sale. The camera was a little quirky, and every so often the mirror would stick and ruin the picture I was taking. I learned how to use the camera and began shooting any subject I could find. Since that time, I have been taking photographs wherever I go, and ev

ery shot is still an adventure. Why Photography - To me, photography is about finding out about people and using my camera to bring out something unique in each picture I take. I try to find the special look in a person’s eye or a smile that is there and needs to surface. I am often able to capture an image that shows a person’s personality and their real sense of character. Pictures and Prints Make a Difference - In this digital age, everyone has a camera and can take photographs wherever they are. These digital images are often shared for a moment and then are gone. Photographic prints can make those memories last and can be shared with anyone every time they walk into your home or office. Contact me at [email protected] or at (518) 618-2064 so we can capture some of your moments and memories for sharing. Equipment - I use professional grade cameras, lenses, and lighting to capture your images and memories. I carry backup equipment in the event of unforeseen equipment circumstances. I use professional grade software to process the digital images and can add special effects or process the photographs as black and white photographs. I process the final images for common aspect ratios and create any special image size or quality you require. Studio - I have a fully equipped and professional studio with a variety backdrops, furniture, and props ready to capture your image and that special look you want. Photographers - I am the primary photographer for all shoots and events. I have a small cadre of trusted assistant photographers that I use if the shoot or event warrants the need. I can also provide assistant photographers if requested. Prints Services - Ken’s Portrait Photography carries a wide selection of products designed to showcase and preserve your families’ memories. All prints from Ken’s Portrait Photography are printed by a professional photo lab on professional photo printing equipment for optimal results. The photo lab uses Kodak Professional Supra Endura photographic paper with Luster finish. The luster finish has a slight sheen and an ultra-fine texture coupled with accurate skin tone reproduction, making this paper and texture ideal for preserving and sharing your memories. Other finishes are available upon request. Each high-quality print is mounted to single weight mat board giving your printed photographs the stability and durability expected of heirloom quality photographs. Image Preservation - Image preservation is an essential responsibility of any photographer. All of my images are captured and stored in RAW format. This unprocessed and uncompressed digital format is best for capturing and storing images because it preserves the highest level of photographic detail. These RAW photographic files are then used to create both low-resolution and high-resolution JPEG digital images for delivery to you. The original RAW format images are stored on a backup server and on DVD disk for permanent photographic catalog storage. The images stored in the manner are available should you have a future need for your photographic memories. If you need to replace a precious photograph or album we will have the ability to reproduce your memories. Deliverables - All of my images are captured and stored in RAW format. These RAW photographic files are then used to create both Special delivery of images by USB drive is available upon request. Satisfaction - My goal is to successfully capture your photographic memories and provide you with high-quality images and print products that you are satisfied with. The first step in meeting your photographic needs is to understand and define your needs and expectations. An initial consultation usually occurs where together we outline the specific photographic services to be delivered. Together we outline when these services will be delivered, where the services will be delivered, how you will receive your processed images, and discuss any other details that are important or necessary. Together we execute a contract which outlines our agreed upon terms of service. Other Details - I have liability insurance for myself, my business, and my equipment. I also have trusted a group of talented photographers which I can call upon should some unforeseen emergency prevent me from fulfilling the terms of our contract.

08/28/2026

What does the future look like for professional photographers?

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Angela Kurkian, CEO of Professional Photographers of America, for a conversation about the changing photography industry—and what photographers can do to continue growing and adapting.

We talk about AI, creativity, education, community, the value of professional photography, and why the human side of what we do still matters.

This was a thoughtful conversation about where photography is today and where we may be headed next.

🎙️ Listen to the latest episode of In Focus Podcast with Ken Clough Photography wherever you get your podcasts.

What does it mean to be a professional photographer today?I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Angela Kurkian...
08/28/2026

What does it mean to be a professional photographer today?

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Angela Kurkian, CEO of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), for an episode of In Focus with Ken Clough Photography, and this turned into one of those conversations I simply enjoyed having.

We talked about Angela’s journey from running her own photography studio to leading PPA, building a sustainable photography business, what it really means to be a professional, the changes brought by AI and technology, and why community matters in what can sometimes be a very solitary profession.

But we also kept coming back to something much more fundamental: photography is about people. Technology will continue to change, but the trust, relationships, and human connection behind meaningful photographs remain.

My sincere thanks to Angela for joining me and for such a thoughtful conversation.

🎙️ Professional Photographers of America | A Conversation with PPA CEO Angela Kurkian

Listen to the episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.



What does it mean to be a professional photographer today? PPA CEO Angela Kurkian joins Ken Clough for a conversation about photography, business, AI, community, and the future of the profession.

08/23/2026

Editorial. Candid. Documentary. Cinematic. What Do They Actually Mean?

If you’ve spent any time looking at wedding photography, you’ve probably encountered all of these terms, and plenty more.

But what actually makes a photograph editorial? How is candid photography different from documentary photography? What does “cinematic” mean when we’re talking about a still photograph? And do these styles have to be separate?

I created a new Wedding Photography Styles Explained guide to help make sense of the language.

It brings together straightforward explanations along with articles and podcast episodes that explore editorial and cinematic photography, candid and documentary storytelling, posing, emotion, black-and-white photography, and more.

Because understanding the language can make it much easier to recognize the photography that resonates with you.



https://kencloughphotography.com/wedding-photography-styles/

Katie + Joe at Duo at the Dunes.From walking back down the aisle together to the quiet moments between portraits, and ev...
08/16/2026

Katie + Joe at Duo at the Dunes.

From walking back down the aisle together to the quiet moments between portraits, and eventually taking over the dance floor, their wedding day was filled with the kind of moments that make a story worth remembering.

Some photographs are about the setting. Some are about the celebration. And some are simply about two people being completely themselves together.

Katie and Joe had plenty of all three.

📍 Duo at the Dunes

Planning a wedding? It's easy to get caught up comparing portfolios and scrolling through beautiful photos.But here's so...
08/12/2026

Planning a wedding? It's easy to get caught up comparing portfolios and scrolling through beautiful photos.

But here's something worth considering...

The photographs are only part of what you're choosing.

Behind every meaningful wedding image is a relationship built on trust, communication, preparation, and experience. The way your photographer listens, guides, and supports you throughout the day can have just as much impact on your memories as the camera they carry.

In the newest episode of In Focus, I talk about what couples are really choosing when they hire a wedding photographer—and why the experience behind the images matters just as much as the images themselves.

If you're planning a wedding in New York, the Hudson Valley, Saratoga Springs, the Adirondacks, or beyond, I hope this conversation helps you feel more confident as you choose the photographer who will help tell your story.

🎙️ Listen now - click on the link below or listen wherever you find your podcasts.



Choosing a wedding photographer is about more than finding beautiful images. Discover why trust, preparation, communication, and the overall experience play such an important role in creating meaningful wedding photographs.

When most couples choose a wedding photographer, they start by looking at the photographs.That makes sense.But after yea...
08/10/2026

When most couples choose a wedding photographer, they start by looking at the photographs.

That makes sense.

But after years of photographing weddings, I've come to believe that the most important qualities of a professional photographer aren't always visible in a portfolio.

They're found in the conversations before the wedding.
In the questions they ask.

In the honesty of their advice.

In their preparation.

In the calm they bring when plans change.

In the way they put their clients' best interests ahead of everything else.

Beautiful photographs don't begin when the camera comes out.
They begin with trust.

I recently wrote about these ideas in a new article:

The Quiet Qualities of a Professional Wedding Photographer
If you're planning a wedding, or helping someone who is, I hope you'll take a few minutes to read it.

Beautiful photographs are only part of the story. Discover the quiet qualities - listening, guidance, preparation, and trust—that shape an unforgettable wedding photography experience.

Beyond the Frame Magazine | Fall 2026 | Issue 01 is here!I’m excited to share the first issue of Beyond the Frame Magazi...
08/04/2026

Beyond the Frame Magazine | Fall 2026 | Issue 01 is here!

I’m excited to share the first issue of Beyond the Frame Magazine, a new digital publication from Long Horizon Press exploring photography, storytelling, creativity, and the experiences that shape meaningful images.

Whether you’re planning a wedding, working in the creative community, or simply enjoy photography, I hope you’ll find something that inspires you.

Click below to read the first issue online.

If you’d like to contribute to a future issue, I’d love to hear from you.



Discover the first issue of Beyond the Frame, a quarterly photography magazine featuring essays, wedding stories, reflections, and conversations about creating photographs that endure.

07/28/2026

The most important preparation for a wedding day doesn't happen in the camera bag.

Yes, I check the batteries.

Yes, I clean the lenses.

Yes, I make sure everything is ready.

But the preparation that matters most happens long before the wedding day.

It happens through conversations with the couple.

It happens by understanding what the day means to them.

It happens by remembering that this isn't just another wedding on my calendar, it is one of the most important days of their lives.

And after years of photographing weddings, experience teaches you to recognize the moments that cannot be planned.

The best photographs often happen when no one is thinking about the camera.

🎙️ New episode of In Focus: How I Prepare for a Wedding | More Than Cameras and Gear

Listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts.

When you think about a wedding photographer preparing for a wedding day, what comes to mind?Cameras.Lenses.Batteries.Mem...
07/28/2026

When you think about a wedding photographer preparing for a wedding day, what comes to mind?

Cameras.Lenses.Batteries.Memory cards.

Those things matter, but they are only part of the preparation.

The most important preparation happens long before the first photograph is made.

It happens through conversations with the couple, learning what matters to them, understanding the emotions of the day, and reminding myself what it feels like to step in front of a camera.

After years of photographing weddings, I've learned that the best moments cannot be planned. They have to be recognized.

In this episode of In Focus with Ken Clough Photography, I share what really goes into preparing for a wedding day, and why meaningful wedding photography is about much more than cameras and gear.

🎧 How I Prepare for a Wedding | More Than Cameras and Gear

Listen below or wherever you get your podcasts.



The most important preparation for a wedding photographer doesn't happen in the camera bag. It happens through conversations, understanding, experience, and learning how to be fully present for a couple on one of the biggest days of their lives. In this episode of In Focus with Ken Clough Photograph...

One of my favorite moments from Liv & Erik's wedding wasn't planned.Someone mentioned recreating some album covers, and ...
07/25/2026

One of my favorite moments from Liv & Erik's wedding wasn't planned.

Someone mentioned recreating some album covers, and suddenly the grooms party was completely invested in getting it just right. We started with the serious version... then, naturally, someone broke character, and the whole thing turned into laughter.

Those unscripted moments are often the photographs everyone remembers.

As I'm finishing the editing from their beautiful wedding at Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction, I couldn't resist sharing a few more favorites.

Thank you, Liv & Erik, for trusting me to tell your story, and for bringing friends who were willing to have a little fun along the way.

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33 Elk Street, Suite 101
Albany, NY
12207

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