(Closed) Fine Art photographer anywhere in California?

• tapatiabee123
• 4 years ago

I’m hoping maybe someone knows of one in their area with similar qualities to what I’m looking for. I’ve gone through several galleries of different fine art wedding photographers online but I can’t seem to find what I’m looking for other than the one I absolutely love but is located in Lousiana. We are considering paying for travel costs just to have him come take our portraits (we are not looking for actual wedding coverage, only a private portrait session of my SO and I on a scenic location before we head to the reception the day of). The thing is though, I’m looking for a very artistic photographer, I don’t care so much about the amount of images I receive, I care more about finding those 1 or 2 photos from the whole session that I absolutely love and want to have blown up to a large sized canvas for our walls.

If anyone happens to know a photographer or someone you used on your wedding day with a similar style please let me know! None of the photographers directly in my area have the style I am looking for (although they are still beautiful and offer professional quality). Below I am putting some example pictures of the type of style I am seeking. I am mostly seeking the type of way they edit their images, I don’t want to receive a lot of photos with quick editing. I want art!

We’re not having a photographer during our ceremony or reception (I’m a photographer so during the reception I’m actually going to be setting up my equipment as a sort of photobooth with a remote control so our guests can take pictures together and we can take some with them :), so all of our photography budget is just going to go towards getting styled photos of us two. The photographer from out-of-state would be around $1,500 (due to travel costs) for a package with few photos (and I’m fine with just a few photos), I also think that price is fine due to his high quality, buuut my SO doesn’t look very comfortable about it. So if we can find someone within California with similar quality for around $1,000 or less including travel costs I think it would be ideal for us!

This is from a photographer in CA, but I’m having a hard time getting an estimate from them based on what we’re looking for (they keep thinking I want actual wedding event coverage), but they are definetly one of my options I’m looking forward to depending on how or communication goes, but I’d still like to have other options.

This is my dream out-of-state photographer. 

• tapatiabee123
• 4 years ago

melonseeds:  Ohh I love their images!! It seems like they are international though, not located in California. But I sent an e-mail to ask about location and cost. 

leahsullyjohn:  I like several of Jimmy’s photos. There’s so much diversity in his portfolio I’d be a little worried what our end result would be (which stlye), but maybe that’s something we can figure out during a consultation :). Thanks for the links. 

skunktastic:  I like his images from “arabian days”! Not sure how I feel entirely, about the overall style although it’s similar in a way, but definetly someone I will keep in mind. Maybe it’s just because his images are a little less posed and more casual, but I still like the style. Thanks for the recommendation! 

• tapatiabee123
• 4 years ago

starfish0116:  Ohh I’m mis-labeling my post then. I was not sure what to call that type of photography because it’s different from what’s popular in my area. I like a lot of the styles from the galleries that you posted and from ones previously posted on here and some I have found from photographers in my are, but I would like those for engagement or family portraits. But for our wedding styled photos I have my heart set on the styles I posted above althought I’m not sure how to set the style apart from from others in the same category. The company of photographers from the first image call themselves fine art photographers so I thought that would be a search term to narrow down photographers, but maybe I’m just being too picky. They quoted me just under $1,500 but I’m having a hard time with communication and getting my questions answered, so it makes me nervous. 

Also, it will be a Sunday event. Thank you for the links, I really like Meghan Mehan’s portfolio. Maybe instead of trying to find an “exactly the same” photographer, I should be looking for something I would be just as happy with.

• tapatiabee123
• 4 years ago

FabBride2016:  

I actually communicated with Cherie, who answers inrquiries from his website, and that’s where I got my budget from so I’d like to think I have my expectations in check lol. I have been following his work for years now, love it. I thought if I could hire him for that much with travel costs, maybe I can find someone somewhat similar (obviously none are the same, there’s a lot of variety that’s just as great) close by and save a few hundred dollars in travel that can go towards upgrading something else in our wedding. In the second paragraph of my post I discussed a little of the “out of state” photographer’s price quote I was given, I figured anyone that cared about those details would connect the last three pictures and that price being from the out of state photographer. He does offer more expensive packages, but mine is a customized package since I’m not looking for the actual wedding coverage, just private portraits.

I saw Jose Villa’s portfolio and although it’s lovely, it’s not what I’m looking for, regardless of cost. 

Thanks for your input though, feel free to post links to photographer websites or contact info that you feel might help like everyone else :).

• tapatiabee123
• 4 years ago

serendipityz:  Those are lovely! I especially love Archetype’s portfolio! Have you used either of them? I think their “engagement” package is close to what I’m looking for, since I just basically want a portrait session in our wedding attire. They are located closer than the out-of-state photographer I had my eye on though, so depending on how their total price including travel compares to the other one it will be a possible option if I don’t find anyone else in-state :). Thank you for the recommendations!

I hope I don’t sound like a “bitchy/picky” bridezilla! It’s not that I “must” have THAT photographer or THAT style and it’s absolutely not that anyone else isn’t “good enough”, it’s just something I’ve fantacized of from following his photography work for so long and obsessing over it. So I would really like to make it possible or as close as possible, but I’m not going to throw a tantrum over it if it can’t happen :), I just like finding ways to make something work and trying all possible means before giving up.