Top 13 Creative California - Southern Wedding Portrait Photographers for 2024
Page Updated: January 31st, 2024
Wouldn’t you just love to hire a top creative California - Southern wedding photographer to create artistic portraits on your big day? The Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association is here to help! Wedding photojournalists are, first and foremost, photographers — creative artists, in other words. In the AG contests, WPJA members exhibit their skills at digitally enhanced California - Southern couple portraits.
Four Artistic Guild contests for California - Southern wedding portraits are held annually, entered and judged separately from the regular WPJA competitions of moments. After each creative photo contest, we add another collection of award-winning portraits to our member profile galleries.
Want to have a top California - Southern creative wedding photographer take some unique and artistic portraits? In a portrait (for these purposes), the photographer has staged the couple, the bridal party, or other participants or groups — such as family, friends, or children — on the day of the wedding. One distinguishing feature of portraits is that the subjects are aware of the camera and are maintaining their positions for the sake of the photograph.
Seattle-based Marla Manes specializes in creating artistic detail shots and scenic images for adventurous couples. With a focus on environmental sustainability and a passion for wedding photojournalism, she ensures a comfortable client experience. Additionally, she is a proud dog parent and cat enthusiast.
Will Tee is an artistic wedding photographer known for his creative portrait sessions and artful detail imagery. He is skilled at using symmetrical framing and creating perfectly balanced images.
Tyler Vu is a Northern California wedding photographer who seamlessly combines his background in graphic design with his passion for capturing life in its most authentic form. Using his keen eye for composition, Tyler excels at immortalizing the unique details and emotions that make each wedding unforgettable. With his artful approach and love for bold and bright colors, he expertly incorporates graphic lines, elements, and...
Nikhol Esteras is an artistic wedding photographer who specializes in capturing authentic and unique wedding imagery. With a background in psychology and holistic health, she brings a fresh approach to her work. Her creative style is characterized by clean and simple backgrounds, balanced composition, and a keen eye for colorful settings.
Darren Hendry, an unconventional and alternative wedding photographer, showcases his unique storytelling abilities through natural, emotive, and honest portraits. Drawing inspiration from his background in architecture, he captures stunning wedding stories with a bold, colorful, and striking vision. His use of contrast, silhouettes, and expert play with light creates visually balanced and graphically impactful images.
Shaun Baker, a USA-based photographer, transitioned from videography to pursue his passion for photography. In 2009, he shot his first wedding and has since specialized in unique and artistic wedding day portraits. Shaun excels in capturing the beauty of sunset, late afternoon, and golden hour lighting. He is also skilled in using off-camera lighting techniques for night shots, particularly in the dusk lighting he favors.
Chris Shum, a professional photographer since 2007, combines his lifelong passion for art with his expertise in capturing artistic portraits and details. With a focus on destination weddings, he creates eye-catching and unique imagery in beautiful environments and scenic landscapes, such as beaches. Chris also excels at close-up shots, artfully filling the frame.
Loren Haar, a versatile wedding photographer, skillfully captures heartfelt moments in enchanting settings like vineyards and countryside. Known for creating stunning portraits, Loren travels to various locations for weddings.
Kimmi Cranes, a Lake Tahoe-based wedding photographer, specializes in capturing couples' portraits with a unique artistic touch, influenced by her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Drew Bird is an experienced wedding photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He specializes in capturing authentic and unscripted expressions of beauty, love, and connection through his photographs. His creative vision is particularly drawn to shooting in natural settings, such as woods and woodlands, where he excels at capturing artistic portraits of brides and wedding couples on their special day.
Ray Anthony Iavasile is a Michigan wedding photographer known for his talent in capturing the perfect moment. He has gained recognition as one of the top wedding photojournalists globally and is highly regarded in Michigan. His signature couple portrait style includes creative sunsets and shooting at dusk, incorporating artistic techniques to create visually stunning images.
Logan Westom is an experienced wedding photographer who has been capturing special moments for over ten years. With a background in photojournalism, Westom brings a unique perspective to documenting wedding day stories. Known for his creative approach, he adds an artistic touch to every couple's portraits, utilizing silhouettes, shadows, bold contrast, and graphic elements to create striking and bold images.
Ilana Barav, following in the footsteps of her father and oldest brother who are also photographers, has made a name for herself as a wedding photographer. Over the past six years, Barav has honed her skills in capturing unique and artistic wedding day portraits. Her minimalist approach with clean and simple backgrounds has become a signature style.
WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.
