Sandra LawsWhen my cousin decided to tie the knot, they recruited me as their official “wedding researcher” (a title that pairs well with too much coffee and an alarming number of group chats).
My mission was to find a wedding photographer in San Diego who could do it all—capture sun-drenched vows, late-night dance floor chaos, and maybe even survive my uncle’s infamous moves.
I went beyond the Instagram scroll, diving into full galleries, chatting with past clients, and reaching out to photographers directly. After all that, I’ve curated a list that actually delivers.
And if you’re here, you’ll find this guide handy as a start, whether you’re looking for timeless portraits or candid dance floor shots.
How much do wedding photographers charge in San Diego?
Wedding photographers in San Diego charge $2,000–$4,000 for standard packages. However, prices vary depending on the coverage hours, the photographer’s experience, and additional services such as second shooters or albums.
1. Astray Photography
Address: 950 Chalcedony St #1
Contact Details: +1 951-282-5732
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Friday – 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
With over 10 years of experience, Astray Photography—led by Andy and Brittney—sees itself as a storyteller, specializing in a documentary style that captures genuine moments.
They utilize high-quality professional equipment, including full-frame digital cameras and a selection of prime and zoom lenses.
I especially appreciated their editing style. The images have natural, true-to-life color and a subtle cinematic touch. Skin tones look realistic, and the overall mood of each day shines through without feeling overdone.
Immediately after each event, the team is diligent in backing up photos and footage to keep every memory safe and secure.
Of course, no one’s style suits everyone. If you’re someone who dreams of classic, highly posed wedding portraits or bold, stylized Instagram edits (think pastel hues or punchy brightness), Astray Photography may not be your perfect fit.
Their approach is all about authenticity and letting the magic of your day happen organically.
Incredibly talented photographer
“Brittany is not only an incredibly talented photographer, but also one of the sweetest, most genuine people you’ll ever meet. From our initial consultation calls to follow-up emails, timelines, and thoughtful attention to detail, she made us feel comfortable and special every step of the way. She truly went above and beyond by cheering us on, sending beautifully packaged welcome gifts, and later a lovely USB box with all of our wedding photos. My husband and I aren’t natural “posers,” and we really needed someone who could help us feel at ease while capturing beautiful moments. Brittany did exactly that. During every photo, she radiated excitement and positivity, making the experience feel effortless and fun. I honestly can’t imagine having anyone else photograph such an important day. We’re so grateful to have had her as part of our wedding.”
– Katie Grubert, Google Review
Great at communicating
“We feel so lucky that Brittney was our photographer! From the second she showed up, it felt like we were in the best hands. She’s calm, confident, and just so good at what she does. She brought a speaker and played music during our portraits, which instantly helped us loosen up and actually have fun (which I truly didn’t think was possible during wedding photos). Even before our wedding day Brittney was great at communicating with me and my planner. She answered so many questions, gave recommendations, and in my opinion went above and beyond from day one. I’ve never been super comfortable in front of a camera, and honestly didn’t expect to feel or look like “that bride”… but Brittney worked her magic and made me feel beautiful. The photos are absolutely stunning. Every single one feels like us, natural, emotional, full of joy! I honestly can’t stop looking at them. We seriously couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Just book her. You’ll be so glad you did!”
– Jordan Dickinson, Google Review
2. ABM Wedding Photography
Address: 3421 Tripp Ct STE 2
Contact Details: +1 949-463-3038
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
ABM Wedding Photography has a strong reputation within the San Diego wedding community. They are recommended at over 25 well-known venues, including La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, Mt. Woodson Castle, and Grand Tradition Estate & Gardens.
Their portfolio emphasizes images as “honest,” “real,” and “artistic,” explicitly avoiding over-processed looks or staged, cliché poses.
Personally, I love that they focus on capturing natural moments and creating standout features like “artistic night photos” and “incredible sunset shots”
Another thing that caught my eye was their keepsakes. You can get custom wedding albums and prints on canvas, wood, or even shiny metal—these are super popular.
I was impressed by how easily couples can transform their memories into something unique for their home.
Most clients receive their photos promptly. However, editing, large orders, or busy seasons may result in delivery delays. If you need photos by a certain time, be sure to confirm whether their promised schedule meets your needs.
Incredible professional team
“We took both our engagement photos and our wedding photos with Brian. If your event is in anyway connected with nature, Brian is your man! Taking the engagement photos at Torrey pines was one of my favorite parts of the wedding planning process. Brian knows the surf and the beach so well, we had so much fun taking pictures among the waves. His team was incredibly professional during the wedding and captured every moment we asked and then some. Even though it ended up raining and hailing for parts of the reception, Brian and his team took that opportunity to take some dramatic shots.”
– Holly Dadok, Google Review
Incredibly responsive and proactive
“Brian and Ian did an amazing job covering our wedding! We are two pretty awkward people and they made us look as un-awkward as possible. Special thanks to Ian, whose skills made our wedding video far less cringey than we ever could have hoped for (actually, it’s beautiful).Our guests were also very happy, and multiple people told us that the team made everyone feel like they had their moment. Brian was also incredibly responsive and proactive prior to the wedding, which I really appreciated. I would highly recommend ABM :)”
– Samantha K. Cunningham, Google Review
3. Leaf Wedding Photography
Address: 710 13th St #207, 92101
Contact Details: +1 858-531-9560
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Leaf Wedding Photography isn’t just another wedding photographer; they genuinely bring that magazine-worthy, editorial vibe to your big day.
You won’t see heavy posing or artificial effects. Instead, their focus is on photojournalistic coverage, so couples and guests look like themselves, just at their very best.
When I spoke with a few couples who worked with Leaf, they consistently mentioned how their editing style is clean and natural. They emphasize capturing “real moments, thoughtful details, and effortless portraits.”
They go beyond just snapping pictures. I like the thought that before the wedding, they’ll sit down and help you plan out the timeline, scout locations, talk through lighting, and map out how the day will flow.
It’s great too that every package comes with high-res images, full copyright ownership, and an easy-to-share web gallery.
However, if you’re planning a small elopement, keep in mind that Leaf’s minimum package costs more than some micro-wedding vendors. If you only need brief coverage, it’s worth comparing your options.
Attentive, seamless, and heartfelt service
“Flavio is not only a talented photographer but also such a kind and genuine person to work with. From our consultation call to the day of the shoot, he was attentive, easy to talk to, and completely in tune with our vision. I’m so grateful we chose him to capture my fiancée and I’s special moment. The photos were beautiful, and the whole experience was seamless. I honestly couldn’t be happier. I’d recommend Flavio a thousand times over, you’ll be glad you worked with him!”
– Jesus Noriega, Google Review
Very willing to help us out
“I can’t say enough how much I loved LEAF Photography! He really took our vision and put it into pictures. He took a lot of time ahead of our wedding to discuss what we wanted. He was realistic about the shot lists that he could and could not take and was very knowledgeable about our venue. All that really helped create a beautiful and artistic portfolio that my husband and I are so incredibly pleased with. There were pictures that due to the natural light that day were a little dark. We requested post-production to brighten them and he was very willing to help us out. I’ve worked with other photographers before and Flavio really stands out for his friendliness and excellence!”
– Emi Zabalaga, Google Review
4. Justice Photography
Address: 4183 Mississippi St
Contact Details: +1 760-936-7854
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Justice Photography is led by Sage Justice. He is known for combining natural light with artistic composition and color to create vibrant, moody, and timeless portraits, as well as candid moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Unlike studios that handle large volumes of events, Sage takes on a limited number of weddings (about 20 to 25 per year), which allows for more personalized attention and careful detail for each client.
I particularly find it helpful that he also assists couples with their wedding timelines, helping plan shoots for optimal lighting and minimizing chaos on the day.
He also places a strong emphasis on up-to-date creative trends and technical skills, all while offering competitive pricing and value.
I loved that every wedding gets high-resolution edits for print, plus versions perfectly optimized for social media.
However, do keep in mind that the custom edits and high touch do come with a price. The value is there, but if you’re on a tight budget, this might stretch it further than you expected.
The whole process was incredibly smooth
“Sage took photos for my surprise engagement and they could not have turned out better! The whole process was incredibly smooth. I had a lot of questions about the process and he had prompt answers to everything. On the day of, he not only got shots of the candid proposal, but guided us through a photo shoot after to capture some really special moments. I can not recommend him enough, thanks Sage!”
– Casey Shugarman, Google Review
Genuinely a great guy
“Truthfully, I don’t know if this review will do any justice (no pun intended) for how awesome and easy it was to work with Sage as our wedding photographer. In fact, we had one conversation over the phone before we even met in person and my husband and I knew that he must be our wedding photographer. His attention to detail along with his thoughtful process for every photo from start to finish makes for an outstanding experience. He is genuinely a great guy and it shows in all the photos we have from our engagement and wedding photos. I would highly recommend him as your photographer for your wedding or any special event.”
– Janell Barlow, Google Review
5. Janis Foley Photography
Address: 1041 Market St, Unit 323
Contact Details: +1 619-723-7677
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Janis Foley specializes in both candid and formal photography, excelling at capturing fleeting, intimate moments as well as carefully composed images.
When I asked several clients to describe their photos, a common theme emerged: vibrant, timeless, and full of emotion. Janis emphasizes rich color and depth, purposefully avoiding trendy, overly white-washed effects.
I loved seeing how Janis achieves her signature look. She shoots with a Canon 5D Mark III, using various lenses depending on the shoot. She especially favors the 85mm f/1.2 lens for portraits, which allows her to effectively highlight emotion and detail.
Every image you get in the final gallery is edited by Janis using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. While she doesn’t perform extreme retouching, she ensures everyone looks their best with a natural finish.
On a practical note, I learned that Janis requires a 50% non-refundable retainer to secure a date. If you’re unsure about your plans or foresee possible changes, that policy can be a risk.
She captures events so great
“Janis is by far the best photographer I’ve ever worked with! Our company first brought her on to capture our 4-day sales kickoff conference, and we knew we had to have her back for our recent golf outing. She is phenomenal, not only in the way she captures our events so great, but also in the camaraderie, professionalism, and organization she brings with her. Janis is truly one of a kind, and we feel so lucky to work with her!”
– Jessie Crump, Google Review
Unmatched professionalism and energy
“Janis is the absolute BEST! She has photographed at a conference I attend annually. I was so excited to see her this year because I knew she would capture the true essence of what this conference is! She is extremely professional, kind, and guides people with ease to make sure everyone looks great. I have no idea how she is at so many places at the same time! Thank you Janis for being you and part of the AADOM Tribe!”
– Jennifer Steadman, Google Review
