Person in blue dress shirt and light gray pants sitting on dark wooden bench against white wall with potted plant.
Two photographers review photos on their DSLR cameras while standing together outdoors on a green lawn.
Someone wearing a sleeveless red midi dress with sandals poses holding a pink diploma holder against a white wall.
Couple reading contract documents and reviewing paperwork together at wooden dining table.
Two people making heart shapes with their hands while posing together outdoors in a green garden setting.

We’re Daniel & Kayla Archer - the husband-and-wife team behind Stellar Photography and Event Planning, a veteran-owned business proudly serving the Capital Region of New York with quality, affordable, and heartfelt photography and event planning.


Daniel, our Lead Photographer and Navy veteran, discovered his passion for storytelling through the lens while capturing breathtaking scenes during his military deployments. With a deep love for aviation (he’s even flown in an F/A-18E Super Hornet!) and a fearless sense of adventure, he’ll climb, crawl, or balance just about anywhere to get the perfect shot. Raised in Oklahoma and shaped by global travel, Daniel brings both a meticulous eye for detail and a deep appreciation for natural beauty to every frame.


Kayla, our Lead Event Planner, occasional second shooter, and behind-the-scenes powerhouse, is the master of turning chaos into calm. With over a decade of office management experience and a lifelong love of organizing and hosting events, she seamlessly blends structure with creativity. She planned their own wedding in just two months while Daniel was deployed - proof of her grace under pressure. Kayla thrives on genuine connection, capturing emotional moments, and bringing your vision to life, whether it’s a small gathering or a grand celebration.


Together, we’re more than a team - we’re a mission-driven duo dedicated to telling your love story with heart, precision, and a little bit of magic.

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Wedding details flatlay with pink and peach floral bouquet, silver strappy heels, perfume bottle and invitation card on wooden surface.

"I honestly think Dan and Kayla were my favorite venders at the entire wedding, they totally got my down to earth humor and my husband and I had a blast with them!!


From the very moment i signed the contract to even the day after my wedding, they were always in communication with me, sending me so many suggestions and reminders for the wedding, I got my sneak peak so fast and I’m so excited to see more.


It felt like we were hanging with friends that were beyond professional at the same time. They let us have a good time but with in our moments they got beautiful photos!


If I ever need a photographer again, it will be them hands down! If I could give them 10 stars I would."

Brittany, bride 

"Kayla provided wedding coordination services for my wedding. She was a God send- when I was in the thick of wedding planning and my head was spinning she came in and provided organization. She was my go-to person who reminded me that everything would be alright.


On the day of my wedding I was getting ready and she handled everything so that the only thing on my plate was relaxing and enjoying my day. By the time I would think to ask her a question, she had already had it taken care of. In addition to that her attention to detail is immaculate and she thinks of small details that would otherwise get overlooked.


Not only was she amazing to me, the bride, she also made it a point to touch base with my mom throughout the day to make sure she didn’t need anything. With her there, there wasn’t a single worry or a single thing we wanted or needed throughout the night."

Calli, bride


"We had made all of our choices and were not going to hire a wedding planner or coordinator but hiring Kayla as our Month of Coordinator was the best decision we made.


She made everything so easy. She's so professional and always has a smile on her face. We did not have to think about a SINGLE THING as far as details go on our wedding day.


Highly recommend hiring Kayla if you're looking for a Month of Coordinator!"

erin, bride 
“I can’t say enough good things about Stellar Photography and Event Planning! I had both the wedding planning/coordinating with Kayla as well as photography with Daniel for my big day and I truly don’t know how we could have done it all without them.

Kayla has a great mind for planning and decor and truly cares that your big day is just as you want it. She offered many in person planning sessions and covered every single detail, many I never would have thought of without her help. She made a big effort to include everything I hoped and asked for, kept me on a great schedule leading up to and on our wedding day, helped with all coordination between the vendors I chose, decorated, and made sure my only concern on my wedding day was to just enjoy!

Continued on the next slide...
Brittany, bride

Continued...

On the photography end I couldn’t have asked for a better team, Daniel has so much enthusiasm and love for photography and you can see his mind working when he gets inspired by the environment around him. He was great at positioning/modeling us as I am not naturally one to know how to pose for photos. He took amazing detail shots of the whole day and even took time to hit all the shots on my shot list of us and extras he had in mind for us as well!

I highly recommend this amazing team and know they will make your wedding, event, or even photo shoot the best experience that you’ll always be able to look back on!"


brittany, bride


“Truly a 5 star experience! Kayla was the “chaos wrangler” we needed at our wedding, making sure everything (and everyone!) was in place.


Her advice was always invaluable, especially to a bride who exhausted her decision-making capacity; the bubble machine and photo backdrop were the right call.


I wouldn’t hesitate to hire Stellar Events for my next party."

emily, bride


"From the initial phone call, to the end of the wedding reception, this company was organized, on time, and prepared!


Kayla is kind and also firm, much-needed assets when it comes to weddings!"

Sarah, mother of bride


Frequently Asked Questions


Do you travel?

We do! We’re based in the Saratoga Springs, NY area and proudly serve Ballston Spa, Clifton Park, Latham, Troy, Albany, and beyond. Travel up to 30 miles from Ballston Spa, NY is included with all services. For any location beyond that, travel is billed per mile. This applies to weddings, rehearsals, or any appointments outside your contracted package. For events requiring overnight travel (over 75 miles), we’re happy to provide a custom quote.


Are you insured?

Yes, we’re fully insured for all photography and coordinator/planning services- venues love us for that.


What’s required to book a service with you?

To officially reserve your date for any service, we require a signed contract and a 50% non-refundable retainer.

• For coordination and planning packages, payment must be made in full before services begin (which typically start well before the event).

• For wedding and event photography, the remaining balance is due 30 days before your event.


What payment methods do you accept?

We proudly offer a wide range of secure and flexible payment methods to make booking stress-free. Pay online using all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App, Amazon Pay, or Link. PayPal and Venmo are also accepted.


Prefer to split it up? We’ve got you covered with buy now, pay later options like Affirm, Afterpay/Clearpay, and Klarna.


What’s included in the Digital Planning Platform?

When you book any wedding service, you’ll get access to our exclusive Digital Planning Platform—a game changer for staying organized and stress-free. Here are a few items included:

• Custom planning documents with super specific questions to guide every decision

• Tips & tricks we’ve learned from real weddings (the kind that actually help)

• A wedding packing checklist so nothing gets left behind

Will you work with our vendors or recommend your own?

Both! We’re happy to collaborate with your team or suggest trusted local vendors we’ve worked with and love.


Do you have a rental minimum?

No minimum! Whether you need just a few candle holders or a whole setup, we’ve got you.


Do you offer military discounts?

Yes! Daniel is a proud Navy veteran. We offer 20% off for all active duty and veteran families with valid documentation. (Cannot be combined with other promotions.)


Didn’t see your question here? We love hearing from you, reach out anytime!

community & conversations

🎙️ We’re on the Local Swing Podcast! 🎉


We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Local Swing, a podcast that highlights small businesses making waves in the 518! In this episode, we shared what it’s really like being a husband and wife team, how Daniel’s Navy experience shaped our business values, and why having a Month-Of Wedding Coordinator isn’t just helpful - it’s essential.

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