Posts tagged photojournalist
Alta Vista Country Club - Katherine and Jose’s Love Story | Real Life, Real Love, Real Nerdy and Cute
 
 

Okay, okay, okay… can we talk about how adorable Katherine and Jose are for a second?! 😭

These two met in school while studying aerospace (yes, the actual rocket science kind!) at Cal Poly Pomona back in 2019. And now, years later, they’re planning a future together with their 12-year-old daughter and a whole lot of love and laughter in the mix.

They're both mellow souls who love art, nerdy things, and weekend adventures. They make you feel instantly cozy in their presence. Katherine is all sweetness and brains (with the BEST goofy sense of humor), and Jose is the type of guy who’s strong, gentle, and goes all in when it comes to supporting the people he loves. I mean… swoon. 💛

Their wedding at Alta Vista Country Club was nothing short of magical. As a documentary wedding photographer, I live for days like this - real, emotional, and full of meaning. This Southern California wedding was the perfect blend of relaxed and romantic.

The venue was beautiful, but what made it unforgettable were the small, quiet moments: the hand squeezes, the soft looks, and the laughs during vows. Their love felt steady and deep - like a warm hug wrapped in sunlight.

From El Monte and Venice, CA, to now building a home together, their journey is rooted in family, deep connection, and total trust. Their daughter was such a sweet part of the day, and you could just feel how much love surrounded them as they said, “I do.”

This wedding wasn’t just about the pretty details (though yes, the details were gorgeous). It was about them - their story, their bond, and their joy. The kind of love that grows stronger over time and doesn’t need to shout to be felt.

If you're looking for a real couple love story, this one is it. And if you're dreaming of a wedding that feels true to who you are, I’d love to help tell your story in a way that feels natural and honest.

Want your story told in a way that feels real, not forced?
Let’s make it happen. I’ll bring the camera. You bring the love. 💛

 
 
The Story Behind Our Best Documentary Wedding Photos: A Real-Life Case Study
 

You ever look at a photo and think, “How the heck did they even get that shot?”
Like the one where the groom is wiping away a tear as his bride walks down the aisle. Or the flower girl is mid-scream and someone in the background is losing it with laughter?

Yeah… those are our favorite moments too.

Let’s pull back the curtain on one of our favorite weddings and show you exactly how these kinds of real, raw, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments happen. This is the behind-the-scenes of what it’s like working with a documentary wedding photographer—aka someone who’s basically a stealth ninja with a camera.


The Wedding: Unscripted, Emotional, and Just So THEM

We’ll call them J+M (because they’re sweet and private and trusted us with their most intimate moments). Their wedding wasn’t about being perfect. It was about being real. A backyard setup. Homemade cupcakes. A last-minute rain plan (hello, tents).

There was no “stand here and smile” moment. Just two people surrounded by their humans, doing life-changing stuff with laughter, nerves, and one wildly enthusiastic flower dog named Toast.

How the Best Documentary Photos Happened

1. No Posing. Just Presence.
We didn’t ask them to fake laugh. They were actually laughing. Why? Because we gave them space to be fully present - not perform. When you forget the camera’s there, magic happens.

2. Trust is Everything.

J+M trusted us to be there - not hidden in the background, but fully present with them. That’s how we caught the hug between the bride and her grandma in the kitchen. No one else saw it, but we did - because we were part of the moment, just with cameras in hand.

3. Anticipating Emotion, Not Chasing It
We don’t wait for things to happen. We feel when they’re about to. It’s instinct built over years. That tearful moment right before the vows? We were already there, dialed in, shutter ready.

4. Blending In Like a Guest (But With Better Shoes)
People tend to forget we’re there. Seriously. We dress like guests, we smile, we chat a bit - then fade into the background and let stories unfold. That’s the secret sauce of the best documentary photographer: invisibility.


Why This Matters to You

Weddings can be messy, beautiful, and totally unpredictable. And that’s where we thrive. These are your memories - not a Pinterest board checklist. When you work with a wedding photojournalist, you’re getting more than pretty pictures.

You’re getting the truth. In all its tender, hilarious, and chaotic glory.


Thinking of Skipping the Poses Too?

If you want wedding photos that feel like you - not a version of you playing a role - let’s talk. We’re not here to tell you where to stand or what to do with your hands all day long. We’re here to tell your story.

Unfiltered. Emotional. Real.

Because that’s what lasts forever.

 
CARPINTERIA BEACH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY - SANTA BARBARA - AMY + JOE

It’s not uncommon I get hired by friends and family members of my previous clients. It’s actually the best when that happens. Amy is Mandy’s sister, and Brett and I have photographed Mandy and Matt’s wedding in 2018.

Amy and Joe met 10 years ago at work, and as a couple, they try has hard as they can to be equal in all things, “from chores to bills!” They’re pretty chill and their intimate, shoe-less, beach wedding in Carpinteria cannot represent them better. Personally it was also so great seeing Mandy’s growing family. xoxo