Photographers in San Diego: wedding photography portfolios

—The secret we all want to reveal – who is the best wedding photographer in San Diego?

—Being America's Finest City, there are a wide variety of wedding photographers to choose from here in San Diego, each with their own style, approach, cost, packages and personality. I believe there isn't ONE best wedding photographer in San Diego, but a best photographer for each wedding client's specific needs!

—What details that usually pass unnoticed can a wedding photographer capture?

—One of the things that I always like to do for my wedding clients is to capture what I call 'the creatives'. These are artistic views of their wedding venue that the couple has spent months planning every single detail, but then typically go unnoticed in the rush of the day. Table settings, ceremony layout, guest book tables, etc. The bride and groom rarely get to see these things until after their guests have arrived, so I always like to capture photos of them BEFORE hand. This gives my clients a fresh look at all the planning and effort they put into their big day, BEFORE their guests mess them all up!

—How did you start working in the wedding photography field?

—When I started my full time photography company in January of 2015, I was only shooting portraits, couples, engagements, families, and corporate events. As my clientelle and skills expanded, I moved first into working as a second photographer on wedding shoots, honing my wedding skills and techniques to ensure my wedding clients received the best possible experience and photos for their money. Once I was comfortable, I started offering full wedding photography packages, with myself as the primary photographer.

—What makes a photo valuable? What are the key features of a great photo?

—In addition to the traditional wedding day activity photos that I always take, there are two types of photos that I love to capture for my wedding clients. First and foremost, creative photos of the bride and groom just after their ceremony. The artistic approach and emotion shared between the two of them makes these photos magical and ensure they will be enjoyed for generations. The second type of photos I strive to capture are the raw emotion and feelings during the reception. Whether it's a privately shared look between the bride and groom when they think no one is looking, or an inside joke shared between the couple and their bridal party, it's those types of spontaneous moments that I just love to capture for my clients!

—What are the key elements that make a photo attractive?

—Every photographer has their own unique composition and editing styles that make their photos attractive. For me, I strive to ensure that my clients are always the primary subject in my photos. I work hard to match my composition with my photo editing style, highlight my subjects and removing anything that may distract the viewers eyes in any way. This may include highlighting certain features on my subjects, as well as removing even the most minor detail, such as a dry area of grass, a footprint in the sand, or a piece of gum on the sidewalk that may distract the viewers eyes!

—What moment in your life you treat as the most significant one?

—The most significant moment in my life is when my heart failed, and I was forced to have a quadruple bypass. I'll forever be thankful for that moment, as it changed my outlook on life and introduced me to photography, my true passion. Prior to that moment, I worked and endless grind chasing the American dream. But since my surgery, I spend my days trying to live life to it's fullest, and capturing memories.

—How do you improve your photography skills?

—It may seem funny to some, but I practice constantly. I have a mannequin head that I affectionately call Molly, and on my days off I take her out to different locations and settings to practice my photography skills. I also constantly watch YouTube videos of different editing styles and techniques, and am forever trying new things in Lightroom and Photoshop.

—What is there in your work that brings you joy?

—The BEST thing about my job is that virtually no two shoots are alike. There is always different emotions, differnt personalities, different lighting, weather and locations... this keeps my job challenging, pushing me each and every time to capture the image that best represents what I see through my lens. I never have to 'phone it in', and I LOVE IT!

—What makes wedding photography different from other photography genres?

—The biggest difference between wedding shoots and other types of photography is that it's real time... there are no do overs, no rescheduling, no make up sessions. The photographer must be ready at every moment, because that moment won't happen again. Although this adds a lot of pressure to wedding shoots, it also makes it very exciting!

—Do you like travelling?

—I absolutely LOVE traveling, and this is one of the things that is most rewarding for me as a professional photographer! My job allows me to see and capture the beauty all over the world! Since I love traveling so much, I'm always willing to work with my detination wedding clients to offer them the best possible deal, just so I can visit new places!