About Us
About Maria Strinni Gill
Maria Strinni Gill, owner, primary photographer, is a 1997 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she barely survived intensive study in photojournalism alongside some of the best news photographers in the world.After a year or so photographing celebrities at red carpet events in Miami Beach, she headed north to work as a news photographer at the Star-Gazette in Elmira, New York for four years. Via the Associated Press, Maria’s photographs have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and Time magazine.
Maria photographed her first wedding four years ago because she was flattered and intrigued when a Star-Gazette reader asked if she would consider photographing her son’s wedding. It was a hoot, and the pictures came out great.
Maria then began devising a plan to develop her wedding photography skills. She worked as a reporter and public relations director for three years and photographed weddings on the side. It didn’t take long to realize she loved the work, the brides, the grooms, and even the mothers-in-law. (Wedding photography is not for everyone, you know.) And, it turns out, just about everyone loved her photographs, which is really all that matters.
About Strinni Studio
In April 2003, Maria founded Strinni Studio and teamed up with “Wedding King� Rick Bacmanski to form a brain-trust of sorts. The two maintain separate businesses at one convenient studio location at 211 N. Main Street in Horseheads, New York. It’s gorgeous, you should see it sometime.
In 2005 Maria booked more than 20 weddings and decided to make it a full-time gig. Now she enjoys devoting almost as much attention to her wedding clients as she does her baby daughter, Madeline.
Maria also is the official sports photographer for Elmira College and Mansfield University and Strinni Studio has several corporate clients.
About Michael Gill
Michael Gill, owner, assistant photographer, is an art teacher at Thomas A. Edison High School in Elmira Heights, New York. He teaches painting, drawing, three-dimensional art and art history. He is also the girls varsity basketball coach. Michael received his degrees in art education from Elmira College, where he pounded the hardwood as a hoopster.
After two summers of lugging camera bags and setting up lighting equipment in churches, Michael picked up the camera as assistant photographer for approximately 40 weddings. His artistic background lends itself well to artsy, off-the-beaten-path shots taken from unique angles and perspectives. He is the second set of eyes a photographer always wishes he had. Plus, he talks sports with the grooms so they don’t get bored while the brides talk buttercream icing and rose petals.
New for 2007! Michael will begin functioning as head photographer for our Essential Collection wedding package.
Ironically, when the Gills were married on a beach in Key West in 2003, they paid $500 for a wedding photographer who was, indeed, worth about $500. You get what you pay for.