The Best Photojournalistic Wedding Photographers in Santa Cruz, CA

The Best Photojournalistic Wedding Photographers in Santa Cruz, CA

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521 Wedding Photographers in Santa Cruz, CA

Photojournalistic
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Vanessa Montano Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $750
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

Follow us on instagram *vanessamontanophotography I’m Vanessa—born and raised in the Bay Area, now soaking up the California sun with a camera in hand. When I’m not out photographing everything that catches my eye, you’ll probably find me in the kitchen trying out new recipes, sipping a dirty martini with friends, blasting country music on a drive, or enjoying time with my family. I got my first film camera at the age of 8, and it was love at first click. Telling your story through photos isn’t just a job for me—it’s something I genuinely love. I’ve been lucky to witness and capture it all.

I got married in Napa Valley and didn't know who to hire for my professional pictures. The venue recommended a few names and after contacting Vanessa I knew that is who I wanted to work with. She was very caring and patient. She was on time and didn't disrupt the moment when I was getting ready, instead she made it special. She gave us poses to do and talked to the venue to make sure we could go to a little bridge I wanted to take pictures at. I highly recommend her!!
Paula Z., a year ago
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Ozan Ulucan Photography 

4.5

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,000
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA
  • Offer

I am a professional wedding photographer, dedicated to capturing the beauty and emotion of your special day. I offer a variety of packages to fit any budget, and work closely with couples to understand their unique vision. I use a blend of film and digital photography for a timeless and romantic look. I understand that every wedding is unique and that each couple has their own personal style. That's why I take the time to get to know you and your partner. I am passionate about my work and committed to providing the highest level of service. Contact me for a consultation and let's create beautiful memories together.

Ozan Ulucan Photography was a fantastic choice for our wedding photography. From the moment we first spoke with Ozan, his communication was comprehensive, outgoing and clear. It was evident he has a creative, artistic eye that would capture our day in a unique way. On the wedding day, Ozan arrived early and hit the ground running, snapping photos right away and keeping up the energy and pace throughout the entire event. His experience shone through as he was comfortable facilitating numerous group photos and offering great suggestions on positioning. Ozan also scoped out the venue ahead of time and brought us to multiple spots for one-of-a-kind photos we hadn't even thought of taking on our own. The final edited photos were delivered quickly after the wedding, and the quality was truly professional and a cut above the rest. We received so many photos organized by different times during the wedding including getting ready, ceremony, portraits, family portraits, reception, night, and details including photos of our venue, flowers, and place settings. We are thrilled with the memories Ozan was able to create for us through his exceptional work.
Kim and F., 7 months ago
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Onawa Charbonneau Photography 

5.0

Santa Cruz, CA
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,000

I have a visceral reaction every time I witness love and true connection. It’s the electric feeling you get when you’re part of something that’s happening in the present moment. Being able to document that truly brings me to life. I pair best with couples who seek a documentary style and give me their trust to capture their moments. Your wedding day is not a performance. It’s about you, your big love, real life, and your closest people. The quiet moments, the loud ones, and all the in between . I document just that, in a photojournalist meets editorial kind of way that tells the story of your unique love.

Onawa has been our family photographer for the past 4 years. Throughout the past years she’s captured lifetime memories such as special’s birthdays, our engagement, wedding and now maternity photos. She has an unwavering ability to encapsulate candid moments that take us back to that exact memory with each of her photos. We cannot wait to continue to work with her as our family grows. Onawa is professional, kind and incredibly talented.
Kati B., 5 months ago
Trinity Rose Photography 

5.0

Santa Cruz, CA
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $4,000

Northern California based Wedding & elopement photographer with dreams to travel the world capturing your stories. Photography has been my lifelong passion and calling, and the world. the world in a way words could never capture. From a young age, I found solace and inspiration in freezing moments that convey emotions and tell stories without uttering a single word. My journey as a photographer has taken me to breathtaking landscapes, intimate celebrations, and heartwarming encounters, each leaving an indelible mark on my artistic vision.

Trinity is an amazing photographer! She has documented multiple important moments in my life, and the photos are always so special. Most recently, she captured my engagement and we can’t WAIT to have her photograph our wedding. Aside from her work, she is also just a great human & a pleasure to be around! Can’t recommend her enough!!
Baylee Joy C., 5 months ago
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Sarah Rittenour Photography 

5.0

Santa Cruz, CA
  • Photojournalistic style

I've never been much for tradition, so you can imagine weddings were never really my "thing" when I first picked up a camera. Luckily, I found that the wedding industry has been evolving away from the old cookie-cutter format and that is what keeps me doing what I do. My favorite weddings are the ones where you & your partner's personalities show throughout the day rather than getting lost in all the things you "have" to do. I love being part of a day filled with so much love & excitement and what I aim to do is find you in all of it. Because weddings aren't about fitting into a mold anymore - they're about you getting to celebrate your love.

In our search for a wedding photographer, Sarah's artistic style caught my eye right away. She offers a blended service of candid and semi-posed photographs which matched how we hoped to capture our wedding day moments. From our first phone call and in-person consultation, Sarah put us at ease. She helped organize our style preferences and 'must-capture' moments as we planned for the wedding. Her questionnaire helped bring focus in the planning phase and on the wedding day, we knew we were in good hands. I highly recommend Sarah's services, she has an eye for the little details you want to remember and she was discrete during the ceremony and reception while snapping candids (which I appreciated as someone who gets nervous in front of a camera!). We are so pleased with our photos and had a great time working together with Sarah.
Erin W., a year ago
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Ben Ingram Visuals 

5.0

Santa Cruz, CA
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,250

The best way to describe my work is a mix of National Geographic and GQ/Vogue. I love to focus on the story telling aspect of wedding photography as I capture your day (think photo journalism meets fine art), but am always ready to jump in and pose you and your partner for those magazine style cover shots. Have you ever seen the movie Talladega Nights with Will Ferrell? There is a scene where he awkwardly holds his hands in front of the camera. Yea, that is pretty much all of us. Im there to keep those hands from looking awkward and making the two of you feel as comfortable as possible in front of the camera.

We have had the joy of working with Ben on several weddings and events. He is a responsive communicator and is so easy to work with. He keeps his couples focused on enjoying their day and captures each moment with ease. Plus, Ben is a pro when it comes to keeping the event on schedule and his work is absolutely amazing. We are always thrilled to recommend Ben Ingram Visuals!
Chaminade Resort & Spa, 4 years ago
Mike Danen Photography + Video 

5.0

Santa Cruz, CA
  • Photojournalistic style

I am passionate about wedding photography. My approach is to tell your story in a fun, relaxed way that reflects your unique personality and style. I work unobtrusively to capture all the candid, unforgettable moments of your wedding. I also know that all the details matter – your dress, shoes, flowers, jewelry, etc., and I will provide you with a complete documentation. Because I make so many photographs on a wedding day, I will provide you with a blend of image styles. Some black & white, some more soft and romantic, some more bold and dramatic.

I cannot rave enough enough about the talent, care, and personal touch of Mike and his team. He takes his time, getting to know you, and has amazing skills. As a result, the quality of his work is simply stunning. Mike is able not just to capture moments, but to distill them in such a way as to capture their beauty and soul. After our experience with Mike shooting our wedding, we will Never work with anyone else but him. You will not be disappointed.
Lauren & L., 4 years ago
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Kassandra Thomsen Photography 
Santa Cruz, CA
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $4,999

I never saw wedding photography in my future. I was supposed to be working in LA on big movie sets! But life has a funny way of giving you exactly what you never asked for and making it even better than you could ever dream of. So here I am—a super chill and really fun wedding photographer waiting to have the best platonic three-way you could ask for!

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Vanessa Lain Photography 
Santa Cruz, CA
  • Photojournalistic style

I have been photographing weddings since 2007 and LOVE IT. I never get tired of seeing the excitement and joy on my couples' faces when they see each other for the first time. I am a storyteller, documenting candidly & naturally. I discovered photography from my grandfather, who was also a portrait and wedding photographer. After farm life, then Airstream life, then small town life, you now can find me anywhere between San Antonio and Santa Cruz with my chef husband and our sweet kiddo, Walker. I love road trips, treating every day like it’s a special occasion, and I adore my job.

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Drew Zavala Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $4,200
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

It's your friendly neighborhood photographers, Drew & Jackie, here. Celebrating 10 years married this year, we have had the pleasure of capturing weddings in and around the Monterey Bay and all sorts of events together for the same amount of time. We are excited to meet you and your better half, your family, and all of those that you care about the most! Send us a message!

Drew Zavala Photography was a dream to work with on our wedding day. Their communication style was fast, easy, and accessible, which put us at ease from the very beginning. The quality of their work was truly professional, mesmerizing, timely, and nostalgic - they made us feel like movie stars and accommodated every single request during our big day. Drew and his team are so easy to work with and make you feel comfortable from start to end, which is so important to have on your big day. They helped facilitate our schedule and were incredibly flexible with any spontaneous requests. I highly recommend their services and would give their work a rating of 100 out of 10. Nothing but positive vibes from Drew Zavala Photography!
Ansony V., 6 months ago
Christina Molina 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $5,800
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

Colorful Wedding Photography for Ocean Lovers On Dry Land. Let's document what inspires you, what brings magic into your lives. As a professional freediving instructor and wedding photographer based in Monterey, I'm here to celebrate your passions and love for each other in photos of a wedding day that reflect the things you care about most.

Awarded Best of Zola
Christina Molina was an absolute dream to work with as our wedding photographers. From the very beginning, she was responsive, accommodating, and personable, taking the time to really listen to our needs and desires for our special day. Her communication style put us completely at ease, and her warm and friendly demeanor made the entire process a joy. The quality of their work was exceptional - their photos were light, bright, and beautifully polished, perfectly capturing all the personal moments that made our wedding day so special. She even helped us decide on the perfect location for our engagement shoot and worked closely with us on the timeline to ensure everything ran smoothly. We LOVE Christina Molina and cannot recommend them highly enough!
Aly K., 3 months ago
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Regular Sweetheart Images 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $800
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA
  • Offer

Hi, I’m Sabine—the heart behind Regular Sweetheart Images. I’m a Santa Cruz-based photographer with a love for weddings, vintage vibes, and real, heartfelt moments. Inspired by the beauty of the coast (hello, Big Sur, Carmel & Monterey!), I capture love stories with a warm, nostalgic touch. Let’s make something beautiful together.

Sabine photographed one of my vision board workshops and was such a pro! She was friendly, professional, and knew exactly what she was doing—letting me fully focus on hosting while she captured the event beautifully. She delivered the gallery quickly, and now I have amazing photos that showcase both the experience and what the guests created. Huge thanks to Sabine for making the process so smooth and giving me content I’ll use again and again!
Lauren, a month ago
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Asilomar Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

Hello! I'm Catherine, the photographer behind Asilomar Photography, nestled in the heart of Monterey, California. While I've called this beautiful area home for the past three years, my passion for capturing heartfelt moments through photography began in 2007, and I've been in business since 2012. I am dedicated to capturing the natural beauty and genuine emotions of your wedding day. Your wedding isn’t just an event; it’s your unique love story, and I'm here to tell it beautifully through timeless photographs.

Awarded Best of Zola
This October, I worked with Elope in Monterey to have a small wedding with my immediate family in attendance. I feel so unbelievably lucky that Catherine was my photographer! I showed up to my wedding without ever meeting Catherine, but her warmth and friendliness made me feel comfortable immediately. As someone who is pretty shy in front of the camera (same goes for my partner), I was surprised by how comfortable I felt in front of Catherine's lens. She really let us be ourselves and joyfully captured all the silliness that makes us who we are. I also really appreciated her helpful directions and tips for posing, which she always delivered kindly. Catherine really made us feel like she was so happy to be there and for me, that really made my experience so pleasant and memorable! Even though our package only included 60 minutes of photography, she never made us feel rushed and she really went the extra mile to get us a large variety of shots and made sure we had many photos in various configurations of our group! I've received our photos, and they are stunning! I cannot thank Catherine enough for capturing the joy of our special day!
Kelly, 8 months ago
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Maria Villano Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $6,200
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

I've been photographing weddings for over ten years and I love it even more than when I started. I consider it an honor to be there for so many special moments in people's lives and find something unique and new with every wedding day. I am punctual, flexible, and attentive, helping to bring a calm and focused vibe to your wedding day.

Maria is absolutely amazing. I instantly felt comfortable with her when we did our engagement shoot, she’s an absolute joy to work with. She helps direct you so you feel comfortable and is so talented. I’ve received so many compliments on both my engagement and wedding photos. I can not recommend her enough, she has such an eye for photography. I am so thankful we found her because now we have these beautiful pictures to treasure forever, and we had a wonderful experience with her.
Vanessa & J., 5 years ago
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Jenni Ritchie Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,800
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

Hi, my name is Jenni. I am a wife, and Mama to two little boys. I am based out of Scotts Valley, California. One thing that sets my work apart is the creative use of light, and the way it is used to evoke emotion. Please reach out with any questions or inquiries, I'm happy to help!

Awarded Best of Zola
Jenni was such an amazing photographer to work with. She was very professional and such a sweet and down to earth person. Hoping to work with her again in the near future.
Cynthia, a year ago
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Picturist Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $5,850
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

My style of photography is rooted in photojournalism, influenced by the fine arts. The result is creative, clean, and crisp wedding photography that’s romantic, emotional, and lively. I transform your wedding day mementos into personalized works of art while also capturing subtle yet powerful expressions as they naturally unfold.

Awarded Best of Zola
I worked with Danieka a couple of years ago at a wedding and had a wonderful experience! She is organized, personable, very easy to work with, and made my job as a wedding coordinator easy. Her work is stunning and her turnaround time is impressive. I would absolutely recommend Danieka!
MaKenna Holst, 4 years ago
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Coby & Alexandra Photography & Films 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $5,000
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

Hello! We're Coby + Alexandra, We are all about capturing the real, joyful moments of your wedding. Being married ourselves, We know how precious these memories are. Whether it’s through stunning photos or dynamic videos, we’ll make sure your day is remembered forever.

Coby and Alexandra are WONDERFUL! I have never loved photos of myself more. The photos and videos they capture are both beautiful and effortless. They are both really great and easy to work with. They make you feel comfortable and have a lot of great ideas for shots. I’m so so happy we chose them as our wedding photographers and highly recommend them!
Anna, a year ago
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Seeking Venture Photo 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,400
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

Proud to serve all couples 🌈 || ✅ Leave No Trace Photographer Hey there–I’m Heather of Seeking Venture Photo, and I’m honored to help my couples create their ideal elopement day on the Central Coast of California! I am not only a photographer, but a photo editor as well. I edit every single photo myself and pour my heart into every frame. Keep in mind, your elopement isn’t “just” the photographs—the experience and the feeling from your day is just as important. I look forward to being your friendly adventure buddy every step of your elopement!

Awarded Best of Zola
Heather was lovely to work with. She had tons of ideas which made things way easier for me and less to worry about! She shot our engagement pictures on the east coast & our destination wedding in Spain. For the engagement shoot, it started to rain and turned for the worse! I figured the day was over and that was it, but Heather got creative, pulled out a fun umbrella and we had a great time!! The pictures are super fun and amazing to look back on now that we are married. The wedding pictures were just as fun-- Weddings are known to be high-stress but Heather was on top of things made life so much easier. She knew which pictures to take and when I would forget about certain group combinations with our families she would remember and get the shots! Not to mention she is just a super nice person so I felt comfortable making requests or asking for certain things. I also love the edits she did and really made the images stand out. I really can't recommend enough for every couple to book Seeking Venture for their wedding!
Christine & J., 5 years ago
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Gypsy Tales Photo 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $4,200
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

HI! I am Anastasia (she/her), your Northern California elopement and wedding photographer and so much more. My passion for photography began when I was a child. It started as a hobby when I fell in love with photographing families and babies. Over the years I realized I adore documenting couples, in all stages of their relationships. I know they say we should specialize in one type of photography, but I am not sure I can ever do that. I love to create and I get bored with only doing one thing.

Working with Anastasia was such a dream! She was extremely helpful in all of her suggestions and helped guide me throughout my elopement planning process! I knew I loved her work, and I can say that her professionalism and openness to create the perfect shot is outstanding! I would highly encourage any one (couples, families, and even solo portraits) to contact her for your treasured moments to be captured! She went above and beyond helping me and we love her work and her! :)
Veronica and B., 3 years ago
Lorinda K. Photography 
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

I am a photographer, mother of three beautiful children and one grandchild. My passion for photography began over 25 years ago with my love of capturing people, unposed, and as their natural selves. Iv'e learned throughout my many years photographing people how to make them comfortable and how to make them relax and forget they are being photographed. Believe me I get it, I very much dislike having my photos taken. I know it seems strange a photographer who dislikes having photos taken. But looking back I realize I should of just got in the photo. Life is short and we tend to overthink things sometimes, but end of the day just do it!

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Eivan's Photo & Video 

4.9

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,149
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

We offer a personalized experience backed up by more than 33+ years in business delivering high quality, creative photography and video on time and within your wedding budget. We are experts in photojournalism, offering couples an unmatched level of value for their wedding photography and video services.

Awarded Best of Zola
From the moment we booked Eivan's Photo & Video, their communication was amazing and smooth. The quality of their work was superb and excellent, capturing all the fun and special moments of our wedding day. They truly felt like a partner, tailoring their services to fit our unique needs and preferences. Eivan's team was a joy to work with and we couldn't be happier with the beautiful photos and videos that will help us relive our special day for years to come. Paula and Mark, thank you very much!
Kevin G., 10 days ago
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George Street Photo and Video 

4.9

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,295
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA
  • Offer

George Street Photo and Video has one story to tell: Yours. With over twenty years of experience, our award-winning team has been lucky to capture thousands of weddings for our couples across the United States. Specializing in both wedding photography and videography, we offer affordable and customizable packages starting at $1295 that are designed to suit your unique vision and budget. We even offer a fun style test to help us match you with a photographer that aligns with the vibe of your day.

Awarded Best of Zola
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this photo and video team! I began working with the wedding coordinator, Nora, who was very informative and helpful throughout the process! My only concern was the fact that I was not able to know who my photo and video team was before a couple weeks before my wedding! As a wedding planner, I like to plan things ahead of time and make sure everybody is on the same page without questions or issues so that the day moves smoothly! Thankfully, once I received my photo & video team’s information, they were so eager to help and learn about my wedding day! Sarah, Brian, and Bobbie were the dream team! They got everything that I could’ve wanted captured on my wedding day and more! They went above and beyond to make sure that my wishes were granted, and the lighting was perfect and everything! They were really easy to work with and made sure to get the job done quickly so that we were able to thoroughly enjoy our day! We received our photos from our wedding day a few weeks ago, and we are absolutely in love with all of them! I love the organization that they put the photos in as well as adding additional photos such as candids and other photos that were captured throughout the day! When we received the wedding videos, it was like we were reliving the day all over again! So amazing to be able to rewatch the ceremony, speeches, and dances with my loved ones and reminisce! 1000% recommend!
Kimberly R., 7 months ago
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Original Weddings Photo & Video 

4.9

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,800
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

Original Weddings Photo & Video is a team of EMMY award winning storytellers. Our photography and videography packages are tailored to you, customizable and perfect for every wedding. We offer engagement photography, wedding photos, highlight films, wedding coverage and more.

Awarded Best of Zola
Communication throughout the process was clear and timely, the photographer arrived on time and helped us actually stay on schedule during our special day, all with a smile! They made sure to capture all the key moments as well as the little precious candid moments. Our pictures were given to us within a few weeks and we were very satisfied with the quality- loved getting to see all that they captured and reliving our wedding through the photos!
Dagney, 9 months ago
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Ledd Lens LLC, Photo and Film 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

We are team of traveling wedding photographers and videographers. For 2025, we have 120+ weddings booked in 34 different states. Our shooting style is photojournalistic, natural, CINEMATIC to traditional. Our editing and style depends. Very easygoing and flexible depending on the client's preference. Our team is dedicated in delivering memories.

Awarded Best of Zola
Ledd Lens LLC, Photo and Film were wonderful to work with for our wedding. They were very communicative and helpful in guiding us through all the different poses to capture the best shots. The quality of their work was amazing - they really captured the beauty and joy of our special day. They managed to get so many beautiful and unforgettable moments on camera that we will treasure forever. We highly recommend Ledd Lens LLC, Photo and Film - they were great and did an amazing job at capturing every special moment of our wedding.
Genesis M., 4 months ago

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