Mary and William's wedding at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club

A wedding at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club is one of those Southern California days where everything just flows. My associate Jackie Coronado was shooting with me that day, and we both had a blast. The ceremony was at St. Thesrese of Carmel and the chruch was really nice, open, with lots of light and interesting view points. The light rolls in soft through the palm trees and the golf course, the Spanish-style architecture keeps things elegant without trying too hard, and the hazy mist that was settling at sunset was spectacular—which really made for beautiful portraits. The vibe and the people is exactly where documentary wedding photography thrives. As a San Diego documentary wedding photographer, you now know for sure I’m not there to manufacture moments. I’m there to pay attention. At Lomas Santa Fe, that usually means quiet nerves during final touches, spontaneous laughs on the terrace, and real, unfiltered emotion during the speeches… which were quite funny.

The preparations at the church were really done had that beautiful side light and the trip for the whole party on the bus was especially compelling as it’s when people let their hair down and we seamlessly move from intimacy to celebration during that trip. One minute it’s a stolen glance during the vows, the next it’s a packed dance floor under the stars. My approach as a wedding photojournalist in Southern California is to stay invisible but intentional—anticipating moments before they unfold and letting the story tell itself. If you’re planning a wedding here and want photos that feel honest, lived-in, and timeless, you can learn more about my approach to documentary wedding photography or explore other San Diego wedding venues I’ve photographed in the blog.