The Best Photojournalistic Wedding Photographers in Santa Cruz, CA

The Best Photojournalistic Wedding Photographers in Santa Cruz, CA

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518 Wedding Photographers in Santa Cruz, CA

Photojournalistic
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Sfilm 

5.0

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

Meet Gleb (Hlib) Shabashnyi. He has been doing professional photography and videography, including all aspects of editing and retouching, for more than 16 years. Experienced in a range of genres, from weddings and engagements to corporate events and headshot photography. Focuses on capturing real moments, blending a candid approach with professional - fairytale polish. Whether it’s a wedding, an engagement shoot or a conference, he aims to document the story authentically, ensuring the final product reflects both the mood of the event and the client’s expectations.

Awarded Best of Zola
I can confidently say that Hlib is one of the best photographers in the Bay Area! We hired him for wedding, and he exceeded all our expectations. From the moment he arrived, we felt at ease. Hlib took charge of directing us in the most natural way, allowing us to focus on enjoying our special day without any stress about poses or angles. What impressed us most was how seamlessly he blended into our event. He captured every detail—from the decor to the genuine reactions and laughter-without ever being intrusive. It felt like he was part of the celebration, and he beautifully documented all the fun moments we cherished. We are beyond grateful to Hlib for preserving these precious memories. The photos are stunning, and we can't wait to work with him again in the future!
Kathrine L., 9 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.

Words cannot begin to describe how incredibly happy we are to have had Onawa capture our wedding day! Not only is she incredibly talented as an artist at capturing the best moments, but everyone (not just me and my husband, but all of the guests!) had so much fun with her and felt so natural around her! The photos truly captured our best day in the best way. Looking through them all, it feels like we are reliving it all over again. From our first conversation almost a year out from our wedding, to the weeks following it, Onawa communicated with us every step of the way (even welcoming us home from our honeymoon!). She is beyond talented and we absolutely could not be happier with our photos that we will cherish forever.
Allie Kast G., 6 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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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., 7 months 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.

I have to say the easiest part of a wedding during COVID was Ben. He was so awesome to work with, went above and beyond and gained customers for life, not only with out immediate family but extended family and friends as well. You will not be disappointed in Ben. Our dreams came true due to his shots
Jennifer and C., 5 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., 5 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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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 and his wife were an absolute pleasure to work with, making our entire experience stress-free and enjoyable from start to finish. Out of all the vendors we worked with, they stood out as the most professional, responsive, and accommodating. From our engagement session to the big day, they made us feel completely at ease, allowing us to truly be ourselves in front of the camera. Drew’s talent is unmatched. His attention to detail and ability to capture raw, authentic moments left us speechless. Just 72 hours after our wedding, he surprised us with sneak peeks of our photos, and we were absolutely blown away by how stunning they were. His work has far exceeded our expectations, and we can already tell the final collection will be nothing short of extraordinary. If you’re looking for a photographer who not only delivers breathtaking images but also makes the entire process seamless and enjoyable, Drew is the one. We couldn’t be more grateful for his work and are beyond excited to see the rest of the magic he captured on our wedding day. Highly recommend! Please note: Photos are screen grabs from Drew Zavala Photo (Instagram)
Michelle P., 9 months ago
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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., 6 months ago
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Regular Sweetheart Images 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,200
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

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.

I actually hired two photographers to get different angles and while the other one was very good, all the photos I ended up printing and put up in my home were from Regular Sweetheart Images. The editing style is so unique and beautiful, and Sabine did great with the kids!
Michaela, 3 months ago
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Maria Villano Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $5,500
  • 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 brings such a warm, curious, and intentional energy to every interaction. She never just went through the motions, but genuinely got to know us, our story, and what mattered most for our day. Maria has this rare ability to be both incredibly professional and wonderfully down-to-earth. She's witty, fun, and refreshingly direct in the best way. She has great ideas and still kept us on track without ever making anything feel stressful. Every meeting felt productive and efficient, yet still personal and full of joy. We always felt heard, supported, and excited about the process. Her work is just stunning. The images we’ve seen so far are fresh, vibrant, and full of life and already feel like timeless memories we’ll treasure forever. She captured not only the beauty of the day but the emotion behind it, and I truly can’t wait to see the rest! Maria is more than just a photographer. She is a natural, a calming presence, and an absolute professional. We feel incredibly lucky to have had her document our wedding
Emilee K., 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, 10 months 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 the photographer at my son’s wedding. She took beautiful posed shots and is excellent at candid photos. So glad she was able to capture great memories.
Terri, 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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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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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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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., 4 years ago
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Michael Dadula Photography 
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

To the very core of my photography skills, I am a photojournalist. As a person, I enjoy hearing stories of how couples met. So photographing wedding and elopements are the absolute occasion for me to express my creativity. Each and every person, couple, and wedding day are completely different and unique; I consider it a privilege and honor to be able to tell someones story.

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
Eivan's Photo & Video was an exceptional choice for our wedding photography. From the start, their communication throughout the booking process was excellent - they were responsive, informative, and helpful in answering all of our questions. On the day of the wedding, their team of photographers and videographers were professional, passionate, and patient with all of our guests and family members, ensuring they captured every special moment. Eivan's just recently shot our engagement photos as well, and we were thrilled with the results. I highly recommend Eivan's Photo & Video to any couple looking for a talented and dedicated team to document their wedding day.
Nudelissan H., 10 months 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
We are overjoyed with how our photos and videos turned out and our guests are raving about them. George street was an amazing team to work with, we had Jeremy as our lead photographer, Aramis as our associate, and Randy as our videographer. All three blended into the day perfectly, making us and our guest feel comfortable and like ourselves. We got all the pictures we asked for and so many more. The team had creative ideas that turned out beautiful and even let us interrupt their dinner to grab a few shots when a rainbow turned up. We got our photos and videos back so quickly and they are easy to access and share. We highly recommend working with them and choosing them to capture your wedding memories.
Sarah B., a month 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
Working with Sound Originals was a dream! They were incredibly communicative leading up to the wedding, eager to send reminders and answer questions as needed. They listened to our concerns and made sure to prioritize the things we valued- like taking photos outside, getting LOTS of group pictures, and enjoying candid snapshots. The day was unexpectedly rainy, but our two photographers were ready, enthusiastic, and full of creative ideas. They were so fun to work with and incredibly flexible when things got slightly off schedule. We got our photos within a month, and we loved how they turned out. Both the candid and staged photographs were amazing. Our experience was incredible, and we would highly recommend them!
Athena A + A., 6 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., 6 months ago
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Drzazga Photo 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,900
  • Serves Santa Cruz, CA

We're husband and wife destination wedding and elopement photographers and videographers based in Cleveland, Ohio, traveling as much as possible. We’re here to be your photographic memory, capturing you honestly and naturally so you can give your attention to the people and moments that matter most. We want you to have stunning images and the best day of your life and we do everything in our power to deliver both.

Awarded Best of Zola
Choosing Drzazga Photo as our wedding photographers was one of the best decisions we made. From our very first interaction, they were incredibly easy to talk to, made us feel comfortable, and responsive. They gave us suggestions and guidance but were also game to try specific things we wanted and the end results were stunning - the photos they captured are absolutely gorgeous. We’ve been getting compliments non-stop about any photos we post. We couldn't be happier with the memories they helped us preserve from our special day.
Emily Y., a month ago

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