California - Central Wedding Photographers

California - Central Wedding Photographers

Our California - Central photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Fresno, Central Coast, Visalia, Tulare, Madera, Modesto, Merced, Porterville, Turlock

California - Central Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in California - Central - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best California - Central 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 California - Central 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, California - Central documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!

Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards

California - Central Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small California - Central 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.

United States WPJA members are ready to document any quick, civil ceremony, town hall, 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 California - Central Wedding Venues

21 California - Central 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 California - Central weddings.
3300 (USD)

Gingi Freeman is a passionate traveling wedding photographer, artist, and storyteller. As a mother of two adorable toddlers, she often shoots alongside her husband Jonathan to capture real moments and raw emotions. Her non-intrusive approach allows couples to be present in...

Gingi Freeman

Visalia in California, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
1400 (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 California - Central weddings.
2500 (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 California - Central weddings.
3500 (USD)
Gretchen Troop Photography Studio for Weddings, Elopements and Portraits

Gretchen Troop is a documentary wedding photographer with a Bachelor's degree in Studio Photography. She has a passion for capturing weddings in beautiful locations, particularly in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Gretchen is known for her ability to make clients...

Gretchen Troop

Boulder in Colorado, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
3000 (USD)
Wedding and elopement photography by Will Tee - SW Wedding Photo Studio

Will Tee is a co-founder of SW Photo Studio and an outstanding wedding photographer. He has traveled extensively, experiencing diverse cultures that have enriched his open-mindedness and creativity. His engagement portrait sessions are known for their fun and creative...

Will Tee

Taipei City, TW *Now booking California - Central weddings.
2000 (USD)
Weddings by Chris Shum, Life Photographer

Chris Shum has been passionate about art since he was a young boy. At age 15, he received his first camera and has been the designated photographer ever since. Chris became a professional photographer in 2007 and provides beautiful, story-telling photography of destination...

Chris Shum

Sunnyvale in California, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
4500 (USD)
Northern CA, Wedding Photography by Joyce Perlman, serving Carmel and Big Sur

N. CA based Joyce Perlman is a skilled wedding photojournalist featuring contemporary and documentary-style images. With an extensive background in fine art and visual design, she excels at capturing the essence of elopements and bigger weddings.

Joyce Perlman

San Francisco in California, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
4500 (USD)
Wedding photography and elopements by Ray Iavasile of Michigan

Ray Anthony Iavasile, a Michigan-based wedding photographer, is highly regarded for his journalistic style, capturing the essence of moments. Ranked as one of the Top 50 wedding photojournalists worldwide, he is the go-to choice for couples in Michigan.

Ray Iavasile

Birmingham in Michigan, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
3000 (USD)
Northern California wedding photography by Drew Bird - Creative Storytelling

Drew Bird, a Bay Area wedding photographer, uses his years of experience to capture authentic, unscripted expressions of beauty, love, and connection in his photographs. With a focus on storytelling through images, Drew is skilled in portraying the emotions and unique...

Drew Bird

Oakland in California, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
3500 (USD)
Portrait of Loren Haar, Engagement, Elopement and Wedding Photographer

Loren Haar is a skilled traveling wedding photographer known for capturing authentic and emotional moments. With a background in documenting significant life events, Loren's passion for photography truly blossomed after learning manual mode.

Loren Haar

Ventura in California, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
2200 (USD)

Douglas Despres is a wedding photographer who has photographed over 600 events since 2002. With a background in photojournalism and experience shooting worldwide, Doug specializes in documentary-style shots with an emphasis on comfortable connections with family and guests.

Douglas Despres

Alameda in California, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
750/hour (USD)
Edeelin Labra, Northern CA wedding photography

Northern California wedding photographer Edeelin Labra has a deep love for photography that began long ago. What began as a hobby has become a passionate pursuit for many years. Taking pictures of family and friends was much more than just snapping a shutter - it was...

Edeelin Labra

Vallejo in California, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
2000 (USD)
California Documentary Wedding and Elopement Photography by Gina Clyne

California wedding photographer Gina Clyne specializes in photojournalistic style imagery, capturing formal portraits that reflect couples' personalities and documenting subtle and profound moments of the day with her gentle eye.

Gina Clyne

Los Angeles in California, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
2100 (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 California - Central weddings.
5500 (USD)
Portrait of Katharine Green from Katie Corinne Wedding Photography Studio

Katharine Green, an experienced Colorado wedding photojournalist, has been expertly capturing love-filled moments for over a decade, specializing in wedding, engagement, and proposal photography alongside her associate, Jamie.

Katharine Green

Monument in Colorado, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
3000 (USD)
Portrait of Amber Depangher of Sightglass Photography Studio

Amber Depangher is a seasoned wedding photojournalist, expertly documenting love stories for over two decades. From high school hobby to thriving business, Amber and her husband's unique styles make for an unbeatable team.

Amber Depangher

Portland in Oregon, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
500/hour (USD)
Lifestyle portrait of Brittany Bender, a San Diego wedding photographer - Southern California WPJA

San Diego wedding photojournalist, Brittany Bender, excels at capturing candid and emotional moments. With a talent for storytelling, she artistically portrays the unique experiences of her subjects.

Brittany Bender

San Diego in California, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
3000 (USD)
Marla Manes, a PNW ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER in Seattle WA

Seattle-based Marla Manes, skilled in wedding photojournalism and portraiture, integrates values and sustainability. Creates comfort for exceptional photos.

Marla Manes

Seattle in Washington, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
5500 (USD)
Chris Rusanowsky self portrait of a wedding photographer in black and white

Chris Rusanowsky is a traveling documentary wedding photographer based in the US. With a passion for capturing truth and storytelling, Chris has been creating compelling images for clients for over fourteen years. He loves traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with...

Chris Rusanowsky

Northlake in Texas, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
2500 (USD)
Lifestyle portrait of Evie Felts, a wedding and elopement photographer

Evie Felts transitioned from teaching Spanish to wedding photography, now capturing intimate moments worldwide for 5 years. Based in Mancos, Colorado, she enjoys outdoor activities and homesteading with her family.

Evie Felts

Mancos in Colorado, US *Now booking California - Central weddings.
3000 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving California - Central Couples

California - Central Wedding Elopement Photography - WedElope

View WedElope Image Galleries by California - Central Wedding Photographers from Small Events and Intimate Elopements.

California - Central Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers

Below are some California - Central wedding photography samples from the world’s best wedding photographers of the WPJA. Some of these California - Central marriage pictures might be artistic portraits, details, or documentary-style images that have come from getting ready sessions, wedding ceremonies, reception venues, or California - Central 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
California Wedding Dance Party: Groomsmen having a blast in the 'photo booth', spicing up the celebration with party hats and fun photo props
A romantic portrait of a couple embracing in a Carmel by the Sea, California, love celebration, perfectly framed in a doorway
At Crazy Diamond Campground in Ventucopa, CA, the newlywed couple shared a special moment as they recessed their outdoor wedding ceremony
At Crazy Diamond Campground in Ventucopa, CA, wedding guests enjoyed the venue pool prior to the wedding ceremony in the desert
At Crazy Diamond Campground in Ventucopa, CA, the bride and groom were joyfully "netted" in a festive celebration by guests wearing bright costumes
As the bride and groom entered their outdoor wedding reception in Paso Robles, CA, they were bathed in glowing sunlight, creating a light and warm atmosphere that only enhanced their big smiles
The groom and his roommates gathered in the rented home in Paso Robles, CA to join in prayer before the wedding
An after the marriage proposal Central Coast engagement photograph in California during the Late afternoon as sun backlights an engaged couple laughing together

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can couples find top-ranked California - Central wedding photographers?
A: The WPJA created the original wedding photographer ranking systems. Our innovative system is based on contest winning points, meaning that the California - Central 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: How can couples find California - Central photographers for pre-wedding engagement portraits?
A: The WPJA issues Diamond Awards for California - Central 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 California - Central 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 California - Central wedding photographers who have earned Artistic Guild awards for portrait and detail images.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
jperlman elk cove inn ceremony
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
So your wedding is just around the corner and you’ve decided to elope , either because you want to do this on a budget , avoid a large wedding party, or simply to enjoy the day together with minimal distractions and as little stress as possible . They say 'all you need is...Read more
Jola Mulder, of Overijssel, is a wedding photographer for
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

RAVES, REVIEWS, AND California - Central WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Kiley & Josh

Photo by Douglas Despres

Dear Doug, Thank you so much for sending these images, and for the images themselves which are outstanding. We love so many of them, the hard part is going to be selecting the ones that go in the album! We'll have more time to look and select over the weekend, so we'll probably write to you then or early next week. Again, many thanks for your work -- we are very impressed :) Best, Josh & Kiley

Tyler + Karim

Photo by Drew Bird

Hi Drew, These photos are AMAZING! We haven't been able to stop looking through them since Thursday night. All work productivity has been shot! We love reliving every moment of the day through the beautiful storybook you've created for us. There are so many moments that we weren't even aware of-- and we're so thankful that you were able to show those to us. It's absolutely beautiful. We especially appreciative of the creative shots you were able to capture within live shots-- the lines, colors and images from the churches and venues are incredible. We are so happy and thankful for your attention to detail. We had a lot of family and friends also comment on how professional you were and inquire about your website. Let us know where we can leave our public reviews to help let other folks know about your amazing work. Best, Tyler & Karim

Stephanie + Nick

Photo by Drew Bird

Hi Drew, The images are amazing!! Absolutely wonderful!! Your images really are a very special way to preserve our memories! The photos that you made around City Hall are gorgeous. It was nice to relax and laugh a little and enjoy the amazing architecture. We also love how you captured artistic candid details at the reception at Stable Cafe. There are so many wonderful moments: like so many conversations, the toasts, the food that was served, and the atmosphere. Thank you so much for your professionalism and good spirits on our wedding day. You were such a pleasure to work with, and are so amazing at your craft. We really enjoyed working with you throughout the day, and you put us at ease while making photos. We really love how you had a stress-free attitude. You really captured the feelings of the day! Thank you so much for all of your help creating lasting memories for us and our friends and family and for being such a significant part of our wedding day and story. We honestly can't thank you enough. Best, Stephanie + Nick