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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 joy and intimacy of your wedding day.

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. Given the fact that many couples feel more natural and at ease in intimate settings, it's no surprise that some of the most breathtaking wedding images come from elopements.

The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, Santa Barbara documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
The bride and groom radiate joy as they embrace at their romantic elopement behind a waterfall at a secluded hotel
Vasilis Maneas
The bride and groom enjoyed the small wedding ceremony at the Town Hall, celebrating their civil union with laughs and joy throughout the day
Harry Richards
A bride and groom walked down the street, sheltered by an umbrella, to make their small wedding a memorable one
Patrick Mateer

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 secret, mini, quick, or 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.
53
19
3300 (USD)
California wedding and elopement photographer Annie Bang

Annie Bang, a former journalist, and Associated Press reporter, documents real moments and emotions through documentary and photojournalistic photography. She is passionate about capturing fleeting moments to create timeless memories of our lives.

Annie Bang

Los Angeles in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
162
13
2500 (USD)
California wedding photography by Brett Butterstein

Southern California-based wedding photojournalist Brett Butterstein combines his background in photojournalism and five years of newspaper photography experience to expertly capture the genuine beauty and emotion of weddings.

Brett Butterstein

Encinitas in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
163
3500 (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.
3
1
2
2200 (USD)
California wedding photography by Jonathan Young

Jonathan Young is a California coast wedding photographer, with 20 years of experience, a photojournalist background, and an eye for detail. He captures the joy and emotion of each unique wedding day.

Jonathan Young

Palos Verdes Estates in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
2
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: Can a wedding photojournalist create artistic portraits on my Santa Barbara wedding day?
A: While wedding photojournalists strive to capture candid moments on the wedding day, our photographers also are skilled artists who can compose powerful portraits. If you have a specific vision of what types of images you want from your wedding day, look at the top-ranked Santa Barbara wedding photographers who have earned Artistic Guild awards for portrait and detail images.
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
jperlman elk cove inn ceremony
Top 4 Types of Small Weddings to Make Your Day Truly Yours
Everyone always says that your wedding day is all about you. But let’s face it; that’s not always actually the case. Many couples stress over guest lists, planning, expenses, and all the frills and traditions of your standard large wedding that they may or may not even be...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
A Sunshine Solemnization - Outdoor Weddings in Nature
Not everyone has a lagoon or glacier next door, but there's no rule saying you can't have a small wedding in the great outdoors. Take advantage of natural sunshine and that open, airy feeling and give your guests some room to breathe! LESS IS MORE Instead of hemming your...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.