DellaMorte Photography

Yes. Koontz Photography was my business for twenty years and I am genuinely proud of everything it became. In 2026 I rebranded to DellaMorte Photography, a name I had already been using in my art life for almost two decades as my stage name.

The rebrand came from a combination of personal life changes and a long overdue decision to stop keeping two versions of myself in separate rooms. Koontz was my married name. DellaMorte is the name I chose for myself, and it finally felt like the right time to let the business reflect that.

The name comes from Cemetery Man or “DellaMorte Dellamore”, a 1994 Italian horror film, and translates loosely to “of death, of love.” The duality felt right for a photographer who shoots both gothic creative portraits and tender wedding moments in the same week.

Same photographer. Same twenty years of experience. Same community. Same commitment to showing up fully for every client. Just a name that finally fits.

Offbeat weddings are not a niche I photograph on the side. They are the work I am most excited to show up for.

My contracts are gender neutral with space for preferred names, pronouns, and any accommodations I should know about before your day. I do not assume anything about who you are, how your family is structured, or what your ceremony will look like. I ask, I listen, and I show up prepared for whatever your day actually is rather than what a traditional wedding day is supposed to be.

I am not just someone who presses a button. I am an ally who will help pin a boutonniere, fix a veil, wrangle a family portrait list, and advocate for you if you need a quiet moment away from the crowd. I know the ins and outs of a wedding day deeply enough that you do not have to worry about the logistics. That is my job so you can focus on the people you love.

I am LGBTQ affirming, body positive, neurodivergent friendly, and genuinely enthusiastic about cosplay, fandoms, alternative aesthetics, non religious ceremonies, unconventional venues, and anything that makes a traditional wedding planner nervous. If you have been worried about finding a photographer who will not flinch at your vision, you can stop worrying.

Your wedding does not have to look like anyone else’s. It just has to look like you.

Based in DeLand, Florida and serving all of Central Florida and beyond. Primary service areas include Volusia County, Orange County, Seminole County, Flagler County, and Lake County.

Cities and areas regularly served include DeLand, Orlando, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Deltona, Sanford, Winter Park, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Clermont, Mount Dora, Ocala, St. Augustine, and the surrounding areas.

Available for destination elopements and weddings throughout Florida and beyond. Travel fees apply for locations more than 50 miles from DeLand, FL.

If your venue or location is not listed, reach out anyway. If you are getting married somewhere beautiful, there is a good chance I will want to be there.

Accessibility is something I take seriously rather than just claim to support. For clients with specific accessibility needs, I have a detailed accommodations form that helps me understand exactly what you need before we ever meet in person. The more I know in advance, the better I can tailor your experience from the very first interaction. Just mention it when you reach out and I will send it right over.

As a Hearts and Lens accredited photographer and a neurodivergent person myself, I approach every session with flexibility and patience built in rather than offered as an exception. Some specific accommodations I can provide or work around:

Sensory sensitivities including loud environments, unexpected touch, bright lights, and crowded spaces. I can work quietly, communicate expectations in advance, and give you time to decompress without making it a production.

Anxiety and social overwhelm. I build buffer time into every timeline specifically because rushing makes everything harder. You will never feel like you are falling behind on your own wedding day.

Mobility considerations and physical disabilities. I will always ask in advance what I need to know and adapt my positioning, movement, and shooting style accordingly.

Neurodivergent clients including those with ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, and anxiety disorders. I do not need you to mask for my camera. I need you to be comfortable enough to forget I am there.

Communication preferences. If you prefer written communication over phone calls, direct and literal language over social pleasantries, or need extra time to process and respond, that is completely fine and never a problem.

The process is straightforward and designed to move at your pace, not mine.

You fill out my inquiry form on my website with the basics about your date, your vision, and what you are looking for. I respond personally, usually within 24 hours, and send over my full wedding guide with pricing, packages, and everything you need to know about working together.

From there, we schedule a consultation call. This is not a sales call. It is a real conversation where I learn about you, you get a feel for me, and we both figure out if we are a good fit. If you prefer written communication over a call, we can absolutely do that instead. I’m an avid texter, so if you like to text, even better!

Once you are ready to move forward, a 33% retainer secures your date and the remaining balance is due 30 days before your wedding. I generally break it into 3 payments, but if you need it broken down further, I can accomodate that. After that your date is locked in and we can start the fun part.

From booking through your wedding day you will always be communicating directly with me. I answer my own messages, remember your names, and genuinely care how your day goes. There are no assistants, no handoffs, and no strangers showing up on your wedding day wondering who you are.

Most couples book twelve months in advance, and for fall dates especially I would strongly encourage reaching out as early as possible since October and November fill up fast in Central Florida.

That said, life happens. If your photographer just bailed and your wedding is in three weeks, reach out anyway. If I am available I will be there. It has happened before and I will always do what I can for a couple in a pinch. The worst I can say is that I am already booked. And if I’m already booked, I have an entire network of photographers that I can recommend.

Elopements start at $795 and wedding packages start at $2,495, with most couples choosing eight hours of coverage with two photographers at $4,795.

A few things that affect the final cost:

Coverage time is the biggest factor. More hours means more of your day documented, which also means more post-processing time on the back end.

Second photographer. Most packages above four hours include a second photographer. Having two people means more angles, more candid coverage of guests, and someone dedicated to details while I focus on you. I do not offer larger weddings with only one photographer; having a second photographer is like purchasing insurance.

Travel. Locations within 50 miles of DeLand are included. Beyond that travel is billed at $0.70 per mile roundtrip, with overnight accommodations added for weddings more than two hours away.

AI-assisted skin retouching is available as a paid upgrade for any package.

The full pricing breakdown is in my wedding guide, which I send over as soon as you inquire. I believe in transparent pricing, and you will never have to chase down a number or sit through a sales call to find out what things cost.

“She made us feel comfortable.”

“She made us forget the camera was there.”

“She got us.”

“She felt like a friend by the end of the day.”

“She went above and beyond.”

“She handled everything.”

The ones that mean the most to me personally are the ones about feeling seen. The plus-size bride who had always been self-conscious in front of a camera and left feeling differently.

Hire vendors you actually trust and then let them do their jobs.

The couples who are most relaxed on their wedding day are the ones who did the work upfront, found people they genuinely connected with, communicated clearly about what mattered to them, and then gave those people room to do what they are good at. Micromanaging your vendors on the day of is a full-time job that nobody should have to do at their own wedding. Also, if you have a wedding party – DELEGATE – assign them each a job or a task for the day.

On the photography side specifically, a few things that genuinely reduce stress:

Do your first look before the ceremony. The more we accomplish before you walk down the aisle, the sooner you get to enjoy your reception and the more relaxed you can be.

Build buffer time into your timeline. Things run late. Emotions take over. People need an extra minute. A timeline with no breathing room is a timeline that is going to cause anxiety all day long.

And finally, eat something. Drink some water. Take a breath before you walk out the door. The photos will be beautiful. The day will go by fast. Be present for it.

You

Quite a few at this point. Jewish, Hindu, Christian, Catholic, Pagan, Brazilian, Jamaican, Lebanese, German, Iranian, Pakistani, Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Korean ceremonies have all been part of my work over the years.

But the list is almost beside the point. Whether I have photographed a ceremony from your tradition before or not, I do my research. Before every wedding I learn about the specific rituals, customs, and meaningful moments that will be taking place so I know what to look for, where to position myself, and how to document it with the respect it deserves. I genuinely love this part of the job. Understanding the meaning behind a ceremony changes how you photograph it, and I want every tradition represented in your gallery to feel honored rather than just documented.

If there are specific moments, rituals, or customs that are sacred or particularly meaningful to you, tell me about them. I want to know. The more context I have going in, the better I can make sure nothing important gets missed.

A couple told me that the little bonus reel I put together on Instagram after their wedding actually changed what they consider to be “their song”.

That one stopped me in my tracks. I had no idea that was going to happen when I made it. I just saw a story in the images and wanted to put it together in a way that felt like them. The fact that it shifted something that personal for them, something as significant as the song that belongs to their relationship, is still one of the most unexpected and meaningful pieces of feedback I have ever received. (Also, curse you IG for taking away good music for businesses)

My all time favorite review is from Amalia: “If you’re looking for a photographer who will make you laugh until your face hurts, expertly direct two people who have no idea what to do with their hands, and then casually risk life and limb for the shot… hire Daniella. She somehow managed to be equal parts hype woman, comedian, creative director, and ninja all day long. Daniella had us laughing through every portrait, gave incredibly natural direction, and made two awkward humans (and our dog) look like we belong in a wedding magazine.

When our wedding timeline went sideways, she didn’t miss a beat. Instead of cutting corners, Daniella worked seamlessly with our planner and other vendors, adapted on the fly, and still made sure we got every important moment – and every ridiculous Pinterest-inspired photo I had saved. I’m convinced she’d scale a mountain, climb into a bush, or levitate if that’s what it took to get the perfect shot. We truly felt like she cared just as much about our wedding as we did.

Our engagement photos and our wedding photos are everything we hoped for and more. We couldn’t imagine our day without Daniella: 10/10, would let this woman boss me around in public again.”

Yes. My contracts are gender neutral and include space for preferred names and pronouns. I do not assume anything about who you are or how you identify, and I want every piece of paperwork you sign with me to reflect that from the very beginning.

If you have other preferences about how you are addressed or referred to throughout our time working together, just tell me. I will get it right, and if I need to call you something else around your Nana, just let me know.

All of the above, genuinely.

From traditional to non-traditional and everything in between. LGBTQ couples and chosen family ceremonies. Neurodivergent couples who need a photographer who understands without having to be educated mid-wedding. Polyamorous and non-traditional relationship structures, all of which are welcome here without question or judgment. Interfaith ceremonies. Mixed-culture weddings. Non-religious and secular ceremonies. Elopements and micro weddings for couples who want intimacy over spectacle. Pagan and spiritual ceremonies of all kinds.

I also specialize in couples who do not fit neatly into any category. The ones who are doing something genuinely new, blending traditions, creating their own rituals, or simply celebrating their love in a way that has never been done before. Those are some of my favorite weddings to photograph because nobody has a shot list for them, and that means everything that happens is real.

If you have been worried about finding a photographer who will not make your ceremony feel like an inconvenience or a novelty, you are in the right place. Your love story does not need to look like anyone else’s. It just needs to be yours.