Posts tagged wedding moments
Big Laughs, Big Love: Kelli + Geno’s San Bernardino Wedding Bash
 

Kelli and Geno’s wedding was the kind of day that makes our hearts so full.

They got married at Azure Hills SDA Church in Grand Terrace, with over 200 people cheering them on. And honestly? It felt like one big family reunion - in the best way. Everyone was hugging, laughing, crying (happy tears, of course), and just so pumped to celebrate these two.

Kelli and Geno met in college, stayed best friends for years, and then finally turned that friendship into something even more beautiful. They’re sweet, goofy, kind - and totally in sync. You can tell they just get each other. Geno kept sneaking little smiles at Kelli all day, and Kelli? She lit up every time she looked at him.

After the ceremony, the reception was pure JOY. Music, dancing, and a whole lot of love. Geno’s Kenyan culture took center stage and brought the party vibes - color, rhythm, and dancing that went all night long (yes, we were dancing too).

What made this wedding so special? It wasn’t about perfect timelines or stiff traditions. It was about real moments. The ones you can’t plan for. The ones you feel. That’s what we’re all about - and Kelli and Geno let us capture it all.

Thank you both for letting us in. For being fully yourselves. For making the day so fun, emotional, and unforgettable.

Here are some of their engagement photos at Balboa Park in San Diego.

 
 
 

Planning something big (or small!) in Los Angeles or San Diego and want wedding photos that feel like you? We got you.

👇
👉 [Get Our Free Wedding Photo Guide]
👉 [Let’s Make Photo Magic Together]

 
WeddingIrenewedding, wedding details, wedding ideas, wedding dance, wedding details photos, wedding moments, wedding photographer, wedding photography, Wedding Inspo, candid wedding photo, candid wedding photographer, candid wedding photography, la wedding photographer, la weddingComment
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.

 
WeddingIrenewedding, wedding ideas, wedding details, wedding details photos, wedding photographer, photograpy, photojournalist, unposed wedding photography, candid wedding photo, candid wedding photographer, wedding moments, event photographerComment
Eli and Cory’s Los Angeles Backyard Wedding | Documentary Wedding Photography Magic
 

Eli and Cory got married in the most heartfelt way - a cozy backyard wedding at Cory’s childhood home in Los Angeles.

They met in 2021, right in the middle of the pandemic. Eli messaged Cory on OkCupid, and their first “date” was in Minecraft (yes, really!). For their second date, they walked and talked so much that Cory actually injured his foot and ended up in a boot for months. I mean… if that’s not a meet-cute for the ages, I don’t know what is.

Cory is a video game designer, and Eli is a comic artist and illustrator - and together, they’re endlessly creative. One of my favorite details? Cory proposed in their Minecraft world, building a scavenger hunt, musical number, and even a replica of the first home they built together in the game. I’m still swooning.

Their Los Angeles backyard wedding was filled with all the good stuff: family, friends, laughter, and a whole lot of color and personality. And from a photojournalistic perspective, this day was magic - no stiff posing, just real, unscripted love. Cory’s sister Monique catered the whole thing (she owns three restaurants!), and Eli’s family flew in from Miami to celebrate.

We’re beyond honored to have captured such a joyful, meaningful celebration - right where Cory grew up, surrounded by all the people who shaped their story.

 
 
WeddingIrenewedding dance, wedding reception, wedding, wedding ideas, wedding details, wedding details photos, wedding toast, wedding photographer, wedding moments, wedding photography, Wedding Inspo, wedding photojournalism, wedding photojournalist, wedding dress, wedding storytelling, Wedding tips, Wedding inspiration, wedding photojournalist association, la wedding photographer, la wedding, los angeles photographerComment