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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
Outside Garden Elopement Photography of the bride and groom kiss
Christelle Rall
At the Lake Wedding Couple Portrait Photography | The bride laughs at the groom making a joke by the lake
Nicky Byrnes
The bride and groom dressed in traditional clothing seated outdoors in a backyard, exchanging vows and rings in an intimate ceremony with close family and friends
Tyler Vu

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 pop-up, city hall, courthouse, 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

Stephanie Secrest is a California-based photographer with a Master's in photojournalism from Ohio University, as well as awards from prestigious contests like the Pictures of the Year competition.

Stephanie Secrest

Arroyo Grande in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
54
19
3300 (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.
165
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.
4
1
2
2200 (USD)
California wedding photography by Jonathan Young

Jonathan Young, a California coast photographer, combines 20 years experience, a photojournalist background, and a keen eye for detail, capturing the joy and emotion of each wedding day.

Jonathan Young

Palos Verdes Estates in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
3
5500 (USD)
California wedding and elopement photographer Annie Bang

As a wedding photojournalist and creative engagement portrait photographer in California, Annie Bang brings a background as a former journalist and Associated Press reporter. With a focus on documenting real moments and emotions, she uses documentary and photojournalistic...

Annie Bang

Los Angeles in California, US *Now booking Santa Barbara weddings.
162
18
2500 (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: How can couples find top-ranked Santa Barbara wedding photographers?
A: The WPJA created the original wedding photographer ranking systems. Our innovative system is based on contest winning points, meaning that the Santa Barbara photographers you see at the top of your search results page have recently won the most — and the most recent — contest awards. Our contests judge photographers based on their creativity, style, composure, and ability to capture the heart of any couple's story on their wedding day.
Q: Where can I find a photographer for a short-notice, small Santa Barbara wedding?
A: There are many WPJA photographers who are able to help you out at a moment's notice. We understand that sometimes love happens and there's simply no time to lose. We can ensure that you can get married as quickly as possible — and have incredible photographs to remember your Santa Barbara wedding day by.
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
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
Wedding Economy: The Ups and Downs
We all know that the economy can go through some hard times, and be somewhat reminiscent of past recessions. However, as people cut back on non-essential little luxuries here and there, one constant remains: weddings. People don’t tend to just stop getting married due to a...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.