Santa Cruz wedding photographer · Monterey Bay + the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz
Fog, redwoods and the Pacific.
- Shooting
- Santa Cruz + Tahoe
- Based in
- Truckee, CA
- Style
- Documentary
- Reviews
- 5.0 · 60 on Google
Santa Cruz wedding photography · Coast, bay and redwoods
The coast changes fast. So do I.
Santa Cruz weddings don't sit still. Fog rolls in off the bay, the wind picks up on the bluffs and the light can go from flat gray to gold in ten minutes. That's the fun part.
I'm a documentary wedding photographer based in Truckee. I came up shooting news, where you get one chance and the conditions don't care about your plan. That's the job on the coast too. I read the light, adjust and keep shooting.
The Tahoe to Santa Cruz connection is strong. A lot of us ski all winter and surf all summer, and the same people drive Highway 17 and I-80 all year chasing both. I'm one of them. My couples usually are too.
Below is what I'd tell any couple planning a wedding here: where to get married, what to expect from the fog and wind, and how beach permits work.
Santa Cruz proposal + engagement · Scott Creek Beach
Ben, Natalie and Olive.
Ben surprised Natalie with a proposal on the beach at Scott Creek, just north of Davenport. No ring. Just the question, and their Dalmatian, Olive, who was in on the whole thing.
A year later they got married on her parents’ property on Donner Summit. Tahoe to Santa Cruz and back.
Santa Cruz wedding venues · Where to get married
Beach, bluff or redwoods.
Santa Cruz County packs a lot into a small space. Here's where couples tend to look, and what you're getting at each one.
Aptos
Seascape Beach Resort
A bluff-top resort with a lawn that looks straight out over Monterey Bay. Cypress trees, the ocean and a private beach below. Classic Santa Cruz County.
Santa Cruz
Chaminade Resort & Spa
A hilltop resort surrounded by about 300 acres of woodland, with views down to the bay. Good if you want the coast in the distance and the trees up close.
Santa Cruz
Hollins House at Pasatiempo
An old estate on Pasatiempo Golf Club, up on the hill above town. Big views of the bay and a little old California glamour.
Santa Cruz
Dream Inn
Sits right on Cowell Beach next to the wharf. Your guests walk out the door and they are on the sand. It is a busy beach, so it will not be private.
Davenport + Scott Creek
North Coast beaches
Wild, open beaches north of town with bluffs and the mountains behind you. Santa Cruz County Parks offers ceremony sites at places like Scott Creek. Plan for wind.
Henry Cowell + the mountains
The redwoods
Fifteen minutes from the beach you can be standing in old redwoods. State parks like Henry Cowell require a special event permit, even for a small ceremony.
Nearby venue guides I've written
Woodside · Santa Cruz Mountains
Mountain Terrace
Redwoods and a big deck on Skyline Boulevard, up on the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Mountain Terrace guideCarmel Valley · Monterey Bay
Los Laureles Lodge
Old oaks and real sun, 20 minutes inland from Carmel when the coast is socked in.
Los Laureles guideElk · Mendocino Coast
Elk Cove Inn
A small inn on a cliff over the Pacific. Wind, fog and the best sunset on Highway One.
Elk Cove Inn guideSan Francisco
The Presidio
Cypress, fog and the Golden Gate Bridge. The bay at its most dramatic.
Presidio guidePlanning a Santa Cruz wedding
Four things. Know them now.
01
Plan for fog.
Summer mornings on the coast are often gray. I don't fight it. Fog is soft, even light and it looks great. I build the timeline so portraits can happen when it burns off or right before sunset.
02
Plan for wind.
Ocean wind moves veils, hair and ceremony audio. Pick a ceremony spot with a little shelter, use a mic for the officiant and assume the veil is going to fly. Some of the best photos happen because of it.
03
Sort out the beach permit early.
Santa Cruz beaches are run by the City, the County or State Parks, and each one has different rules. Some beaches need a reservation, some need a permit and a reception on the sand almost always needs one. Find out who runs your beach first.
04
Pick the season on purpose.
September and October usually bring the clearest, warmest days on the coast. Spring is green. Summer is busy with tourists and gray mornings. Every season works. You just plan it differently.
More on how I plan around light: building a golden hour timeline and why I edit true to life.
Santa Cruz wedding photographer FAQ
Questions couples actually ask.
Do you photograph weddings in Santa Cruz?
Yes. I'm based in Truckee and I travel for weddings all over California, and Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay are places I want to be photographing a lot more. I have photographed weddings on the Pacific coast at Elk Cove Inn, in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Mountain Terrace and in Carmel Valley at Los Laureles Lodge.
Why hire a Tahoe photographer for a Santa Cruz wedding?
The Tahoe to Santa Cruz connection is strong. A lot of us ski all winter and surf all summer, and plenty of couples have a foot in both places. I know mountain light and coastal light, and I am comfortable working in wind, fog and fast-changing conditions in either one.
What kind of wedding photographer are you?
I'm a documentary wedding photographer. I came up shooting news and landscapes, so I photograph what actually happens instead of staging it. Light posing when it helps, then I get out of the way. My color is true to life, not a trendy filter.
What happens if it's foggy on our wedding day?
Nothing bad. Fog is soft, flattering light and it gives coastal photos a mood you can't fake. I plan the timeline so we have options, and the coast often clears in the late afternoon. I photographed Haley and Adam at Elk Cove Inn in wind and fog, and the photos are some of my favorites.
Do we need a permit for a beach wedding in Santa Cruz?
Usually. Santa Cruz County beaches are run by the City of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Parks or California State Parks, and each has its own rules and fees. Small ceremonies on some city beaches are informal, while state beaches and anything with a reception need a permit. Check with whoever manages your beach before you lock in a date.
When is the best time of year to get married in Santa Cruz?
September and October usually have the clearest, warmest weather on the coast. Spring is green and quieter. Summer is the busiest season and mornings are often foggy, so plan your portraits for later in the day.
Do you photograph elopements and engagement sessions in Santa Cruz?
Yes. Elopements on the north coast beaches or in the redwoods are some of the best things you can do here. Engagement sessions run one to two hours and are $900 on their own, or included in one of my wedding packages.
How much does a Santa Cruz wedding photographer cost?
My wedding packages run from $3,600 to $7,200 depending on hours and whether you want a second photographer. Elopements and destination weddings are quoted for the day. The pricing page has the full breakdown.
How do we check if you're available?
Send your date and your venue through the contact page. I will tell you if I'm free and how I would plan the day around the light.
Getting married in Santa Cruz?
Tell me where. Tell me when.
Send your date and your venue. I'll tell you if I'm free and how I'd plan the day around the coast.
Check availability See pricing