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Santa Barbara Wedding Photographers

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Santa Barbara Wedding Photographers

Our Santa Barbara photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Isla Vista, Montecito, Carpinteria

Santa Barbara Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in Santa Barbara - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Santa Barbara photographers specializing in intimate marriages. Couples are embracing the trend of smaller, more meaningful celebrations. Let our talented photographers capture the happiness and closeness of your boutique, modern, unique, or at-home wedding.

By planning a simple Santa Barbara elopement, couples are able to stay present in the moment and fully absorb the impact of their wedding day. With many couples feeling more comfortable and relaxed in intimate settings, it is not surprising that some of the most sincere and touching wedding photos are captured at smaller celebrations.

The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, Santa Barbara documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
A Wedding Venue Image showing The bride and groom exiting the church with joy and flower petals
Mauricio Urena
Sunrise Wedding Ceremony at the Lake | Picture of the bride and groom exchanged rings and handfasting on the shore
Lucy Schultz
The bride and groom exchanged warm hugs after the indoor civil ceremony at the town hall, surrounded by their cherished guests
Audrey Morisson

Santa Barbara Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small Santa Barbara wedding event is a wedding photojournalist’s dream: a fairly open schedule with lots of breathing space for creativity – it’s just the photographer, the couple, the officiant, and perhaps a few select companions.

Central Coast WPJA members are ready to document any city hall, civil ceremony, self solemnization, or any other type of elopement wedding, even if it is a Monday-Thursday ceremony. Search for the “Can Shoot Weddings on Short Notice!” message on the listings below.

View Award-Winning Pictures from Santa Barbara Wedding Venues

WPJA Venue Images

5 Santa Barbara Wedding Photographers...

California Couple Portrait Sessions and Wedding Photography by Stephanie Secrest

Based in Central Coast CA, Stephanie Secrest is a wedding and engagement portrait photographer. She holds a Master's in photojournalism and has been recognized for her work in prestigious contests like Pictures of the Year.

Stephanie Secrest

Arroyo Grande in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
54
19
3300 (USD)
California wedding photography by Brett Butterstein

Brett Butterstein is a wedding photographer based in Southern California. His background in photojournalism and experience from five years of newspaper photography makes him the perfect choice for capturing the true beauty and emotion of a wedding.

Brett Butterstein

Encinitas in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
168
3500 (USD)
California wedding and elopement photographer Annie Bang

California wedding photojournalist and creative engagement portrait photographer Annie Bang is a former journalist and Associated Press reporter. With a focus on capturing real moments and emotions, she uses documentary and photojournalistic photography to create timeless...

Annie Bang

Los Angeles in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
164
21
2500 (USD)
Portrait of Loren Haar, Engagement, Elopement and Wedding Photographer

Loren Haar is a skilled and well-traveled wedding photojournalist, engagement portrait photographer, and artistic wedding portrait photographer. With a background in documenting significant life events and a passion for photography that flourished through learning manual...

Loren Haar

Ventura in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
4
1
2
2200 (USD)
California wedding photography by Jonathan Young

Jonathan Young is a wedding photojournalist with 20 years of experience, a background in photojournalism, and a talent for capturing the unique emotion and joy of each wedding day. Based in California, he specializes in photographing beautiful moments along the coast.

Jonathan Young

Palos Verdes Estates in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
3
5500 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Santa Barbara Couples

Wedding Venue Pictures by Santa Barbara Wedding Photographers

Please select a venue below to view all associated contest-winning Santa Barbara wedding photos.

Santa Barbara Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers

Below are some Santa Barbara wedding photography samples from the world’s best wedding photographers of the WPJA. Some of these Santa Barbara marriage pictures might be artistic portraits, details, or documentary-style images that have come from getting ready sessions, wedding ceremonies, reception venues, or Santa Barbara engagement portrait sessions with couples.

One of the bridesmaids at a private house in Santa Barbara, California carefully sews her dress before the wedding ceremony, with the dresses elegantly hanging from the railing of the stairs
A fire dancer mesmerizes guests during a night-time wedding reception at Crazy Diamond Campground in Ventucopa, CA, with a huge tent serving as a picturesque backdrop
At a Santa Barbara reception venue, a funny wedding image was created as part of a Norwegian tradition which suggests the couple will have 22 children
A wedding image was captured at a rental property in Santa Barbara, featuring the bride embracing her grandmother on a rustic porch with her stunning dress hung behind them
From Santa Barbara In the woods near a wedding venue, a groom waits for the bride to arrive
Top Santa Barbara wedding venue photography from the reception as Members of the bridal party take a tumble during the introductions
Best documentary wedding photo from Santa Barbara, California capturing the Bride hugged by friends and children after the outdoor wedding ceremony
Santa Barbara, CA candid documentary wedding photography capturing the Groom picking up his pal who filled in for the bride for a joke
A great wedding day image from Santa Barbara of the couple posing in the last light of the day in a vineyard
An exceptional Santa Barbara wedding image by a pro California photographer exhibiting a woman gets her makeup applied
View this dramatic Santa Barbara wedding day afternoon Sunset vibes at the beach, which was a featured picture among the best wedding photography in California from the WPJA
The bride is putting on lipstick in the rented van at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, Ca

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can couples find Santa Barbara photographers for pre-wedding engagement portraits?
A: The WPJA issues Diamond Awards for Santa Barbara wedding photographers to showcase their best engagement photography work. These awards are given to photographers who prove that they have an ability to be creative, artistic, and intuitive while working on-location with couples who are newly engaged.
Q: Who are the best Santa Barbara wedding photographers for small elopements?
A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top Santa Barbara documentary wedding photographers for elopements. Our members are able to submit WedElope Stories that take you step-by-step, via a 9 image picture story, through the unique and moving elopements that take place around the world.
Q: How can couples find reviews of Santa Barbara wedding photographers?
A: We call them Client Letters. At the WPJA, we decided more than 20 years ago to avoid incorporating those third-person testimonials and endorsements that are found all too often in advertisements. Instead, we elevated our listings with the use of Client Letters, which represent the actual words and feelings of the clients who booked those Santa Barbara wedding photographers for their own wedding.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
Small Weddings - How to Budget and Save
Traditionally speaking, often times it is the couple’s families who help pay for their wedding. However, unfortunately that’s just not possible for everyone, especially these days when the cost of weddings can quickly and easily get out of control. Some couples find...Read more
Smaller Weddings in a Time of Social Distancing
It’s no secret that these are strange times we’re going through right now, and there are many couples out there with weddings set in the near future who are left feeling uncertain and concerned about their futures. While that’s understandable, it’s also important to...Read more
Jola Mulder, of Overijssel, is a wedding photographer for
Bringing it Home: The Joys of a Backyard Wedding
Oftentimes when people are considering a venue for their weddings, they search for a location away from home, whether that be ten minutes or ten hours, all just to find what they already have: a place that holds meaning for them, that feels comfortable, or that they find...Read more

WPJA Communiqué: Viewpoints
Elopements: Traditional and Modern
The oldsters among the WPJA ranks no doubt remember when 'to elope' meant, in Merriam-Webster’s definition, “to run away secretly with the intention of getting married, usually without parental consent.” Many wedding photographers have gone on the lam with couples who did just that. However, even Merriam-Webster now acknowledges that “elope appears to have become shorthand for ‘ small destination weddings ,’ a ‘ wedding that is not financially insane ,’ or a ‘ wedding that allows us to not invite all the people we would rather not invite .’” Smaller Weddings are... Read more
What is Reportage?
On Instagram and elsewhere, one can see images labeled as #photojournalism or #reportage when they are, in fact, merely photos. I say "merely," even though photography has been my career's great passion. But it's because of that passion and my respect for the work of actual photojournalists that I am particularly bothered to see wedding photographers call their work "reportage." That word properly used actually means something important beyond just a stylistic conceit. By contrast, however, I'm the lead cheerleader for those practitioners of #weddingphotojournalism ... Read more

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.