Wedding Packages & Pricing
WEDDING Packages & Pricing (15+ people)
Wedding coverage for celebrations with 15+ guests is priced at $700/hour
For example, if your wedding requires 9 hours of photo coverage, the pricing is $700 x 9.
If 8 hours, my rate is $700 x 8.
Second Photographer
For weddings with 8 or more hours of coverage, a second photographer is included at no extra charge.
Calculating hours
How many hours of photography coverage do you need?
I typically find that after going through the photo timeline process, most couples with a full bridal party, pre-ceremony getting ready prep photos, and two locations average between 8 to 10 hours.
To get a more accurate idea of how much photography coverage time you will need, we can lay out the photo timeline together over a video call. During the photo timeline planning, we can get your day-of schedule framed out early on in the planning process and get a pretty accurate idea of how much time you will need.
Once we know how many hours you need, we can complete the contract to lock your wedding day off on my calendar.
Intimate Elopements & Micro-weddings
(under <15 people)
One Location
(1 1/2 Hours), $900 total
1 1/2 hours is perfect as it typically covers most of what couples want in an intimate wedding.
If you’re getting married at the Santa Barbara courthouse through the Hall of Records, this would cover your ceremony, formal group photos with family & friends, as well as copules photos of the two of you inside of the courthouse and outside in and around the sunken garden.
Two Locations
(2 1/2 hours), $1500 total
There are some couples that would like to add in a second location such as the beach, a park, State Street, Spanish architectural spots around Santa Barbara, or even a reception venue to get a few cocktail style photos before dinner.
Wedding Photography Packages & Pricing FAQ
Adding on more photography coverage later
As plans firm up closer to your wedding day, you may find that you require more photography time than you’ve chosen.
You can add-on additional time as needed around either before the wedding or on the day-of without needing to make changes to the contract.
First-To-Book
My wedding dates book up quickly each year. I work on a first-to-book basis for couples inquiring about the same date.
Retainer
WEDDINGS
For weddings with 15+ guests, a $500 retainer along with a digitally signed contract is required to secure your date. Balance is due 30 days before your wedding.
INTIMATE ELOPEMENTS
For weddings with 15 or fewer guests, no retainer is required. The full amount can be paid on your wedding day.
PAYMENT
Venmo is my preferred payment method. Zelle is also welcome. Occasionally I will receive a check, which works as well.
SIGNING THE CONTRACT
Regardless of who is covering the cost, the agreement is entered into with the wedding couple, and they are the ones required to sign the contract.
Engagement Session
(add-on)
Traditional Engagement Session
(1 1/2 Hours), $900 total
By far the most popular option, most couples want the 1 1/2 hour, two looks & two locations engagement session. This is most often what you will see online when looking at my engagement photographs. The traditional engagement session includes two locations (in close proximity to each other to maximize golden hour timing) and two looks (two outfit/clothes changes). We will want to schedule the shoot to start an hour and a half before sunset.
Save-The-Date Engagement Session
(1/2 hour), $500
Some couples just want a simple, 30-45 minute session to get a few good photos for their save-the-date invites or social media. This is the least expensive of the three options and involves one look (one outfit) and one location. We will want to schedule it around sunset time to get the best light possible for your photos.
Engagement Sessions
Engagement sessions are a unique chance to express yourself and what you love. It's a great opportunity to create some wall art for around your home of the two of you separate from your wedding attire.
Setting up an engagement session is fun! I love to brainstorm with you to tie in elements around an engagement session that layer unique meaning around you as a couple. Are you an outdoor couple? What do you love to do in your free time? What location could we tie into your engagement photos to create a different look from your wedding images to help round out your complete wedding story visually?
Every couple I work with is uniquely different. I offer two unique types of engagement sessions with different amounts of coverage at different price ranges to fit what you are looking for.
I offer two different engagement sessions as an add-on to any wedding collection for couple’s who would like engagement photos. The traditional engagement session is what most couples book and includes two different looks (outfits) and two locations. My traditional engagement session is loosely around an hour and a half long. The save-the-date engagement session is for couple’s who need a small handful of photos for their save-the-date cards and includes only one location and look (outfit). My save-the-date engagement session is a quick 30 minute shoot.
Engagement sessions are a good excuse connect and play together in front of the camera before your wedding day. I find that couples love to incorporate an engagement session when they are visiting Santa Barbara to finalize their pre-wedding plans, catering tastings, and hair and makeup trial.
I do not offer engagement sessions on a stand-alone basis. Engagement sessions are only offered as an add-on when booked alongside a wedding.
Locations
Let's talk locations! Santa Barbara has some of the best photography locations! The traditional engagement session comes with two locations. We will need to choose these two locations relatively close to each other since we are photographing during the golden light window (45 minutes - 1 hour each evening before sunset) in order to get the best lighting. The engagement photoshoot itself is 1.5 hours long, and can possibly go through sunset if we can pick two locations that minimize the drive time between them. Less drive time = more shoot time.
Popular locations around Santa Barbara include the beautiful south facing beaches, our Spanish architecture, the urban feel of Santa Barbara's downtown artisan district named the Funk Zone, the spacious outdoor feeling of the California chaparral covered mountains (perfect for couples who like hiking), the beautiful oak trees over the hill in the the Santa Ynez valley, and even the Santa Ynez vineyards. For a vineyard look, you would need to call to reserve a spot with one of the many vineyards in the Santa Ynez valley for approval to photograph on their property.
You can even get really artsy and creative with your location selections. With a little research you can find many unique places in and around Santa Barbara that tie in with your personality and what you love. Some more alternative location options include the local hot springs, night-time beach picnics, and even fire performers.
What To Wear
Here is all you need to know about clothing. I'll make this super fun and super simple. For the traditional engagement session, you will need at least two outfits. For the save-the-date engagement session, you will need one outfit.
The number one rule of clothes is to pick something you feel relaxed and comfortable in. Although we want to look nice, it's important to feel comfortable and feel like we can move. Movement and the feeling of being relaxed translate to better photographs than anything else. Whatever makes you feel sexy/handsome and fun. Girls most often know which cut of dress looks best on their body type, and guys know which nice pair of jeans fits them the best. I usually recommend to go with what you love, because you'll smile more authentically when you feel good knowing you look good.
As a general rule of thumb, I like to request my couples dress one step above what they would normally wear in that given situation. For example, if a guy would normally go out on a date in just a button up shirt and nice jeans, maybe throw a sports coat over it and some nicer shoes to dress it up. If a girl would wear a cute dress and flats, maybe throw nice heels in to take it up a step. Similarly, if a guy would go on a sunset walk in board shorts, maybe nice jeans rolled up with bare feet or khaki shorts wearing boat shoes to take it up a notch.
(Applies to Traditional Engagement Sessions) Bring one dressed-up outfit, and one dressed-down (more relaxed outfit). I like to shoot a more formal look, and end with a more relaxed look. For the girls, a pair of heels dresses up the outfit. The second look can also be with heels (because I love heels so much), or also with flats or barefoot (beach). I tend to leave the cut of the dress/outfit up to the girls since they know what cuts they look best in. I usually like to recommend the guys in nice jeans, dress shoes, and he can alternate between a nicer dress shirt and possibly a sports jacket for the first look (a little more dressier look). Then for the second look, move to a more casual shirt with the same jeans and nice dress shoes for a different, more relaxed feel.
Dress him to match you. His colors do not have to be the same as you. You can use complementary colors (ie, beige, white, tan, sage, etc). Lighter colors look amazing in Santa Barbara's background.
Try to stay away from really busy patterns like a lot of busy floral textures in dresses. No logos (such as brands printed on the tee shirts, etc).
Feel free to bring a bunch of clothes and we can sort it out when we get together before the shoot.
Quick tip around hair and makeup. Some brides use their engagement session as a great time to get their trial hair & makeup appointment done. By lining up your hair and makeup appointment before your engagement photoshoot, you can knock out two birds with one stone.
Every Wedding Package Includes
My time photographing your wedding
Every collection is the same - the only difference is how many hours of photography coverage you'll need me for to tell your wedding day story. The first question I get is “How many hours of photography coverage do I need?” Let’s connect over a video chat to frame out your photography timeline. Every wedding day is unique and I can give you a pretty accurate idea of how much time you'll need once we complete the photography timeline together.
POST-PRODUCTION PHOTO ENHANCEMENTS
Every photo you receive goes through a multi-step, digital enhancement process where each image is individually edited with global adjustments focusing on the color, tone, exposure, shadows, highlights, contrast and sharpening detail. This time-intensive process to get every photo print-ready is included in the hourly rate.
HIGH-RESOLUTION DIGITAL FILES
You receive a copy of all your wedding photos in a high resolution digital file format. This way you have a copy of all your wedding day moments for your storage and safekeeping.
WEDDING GALLERY
Just as important to the quality of photos is how you view and share them. Your online wedding gallery makes it easy for you to share your favorite wedding photos with your family and friends. From your wedding gallery, you can download the high resolution files to all your wedding photos and print at a photo lab of your choice.
PHOTO RIGHTS TO YOUR PHOTOS
Not all of your family and friends may be able to attend your wedding. Life circumstances, time-off work, health, and the expense of travel get in the way. It is important to me that no one is left out and that your friends and family who may not have been able to attend can relive each moment of your wedding day through your photos as if they were there themselves. Included is a personal usage license for you and your entire family to share your wedding photos wherever you would like, as much as you would like.
UNLIMITED PRINTING RIGHTS
You and your entire family can print as many copies, as much as you’d like, wherever you’d like. I spend a lot of work in the post production process getting your wedding photos ready for print. Since a retail photo department has a significant print quality difference compared to a professional photo lab, I include access to my favorite professional print lab within your online gallery. This gives you access to the same professional quality prints that I have access to. I also pass along the affordable professional lab pricing that only a photographer can get. It's easy for your family to order their favorite photos without needing to involve you as a middle person to facilitate their order.
PROFESSIONAL PRINT LAB
The included Unlimited Printing Rights allows you or your family to print wherever you would like. While it's possible to print your wedding photos at a drug store, I've discovered that the print quality from their low-tier, uncalibrated printers doesn't do justice to the effort and quality I put into the post-production process. I include access to a professional print lab where you and your entire family can order pro lab photo quality prints close to cost using an easy online shopping cart. You can receive professional lab prints for a fraction of the cost and have them sent direct to your door.