• About Us
  • Pricing
  • Weddings
  • Portraits
  • Branding
  • Headshots
  • Blog
  • Contact
Menu

Photos Just So

Street Address
Modesto
5107081258
Wedding and Commercial Photographers Serving the Modesto, Sacramento and Bay Area California

Photos Just So

  • About Us
  • Pricing
  • Weddings
  • Portraits
  • Branding
  • Headshots
  • Blog
  • Contact

Shannon + Craig's Elegant Winter Wedding // Culinary Institute of America at Greystone // St. Helena, CA

April 5, 2016 Justin Souza
culinary institute of american greystone wedding

As wedding photographers, we’re privy to a lot of joyous moments. But even so, it’s rare to find a group quite as joyous, raucous and absolutely over the moon about the day as were every single person at the wedding of Shannon and Craig.

Part of the timbre of the day might have been down to the fact that this was a moment 10 years in the making for these two, who had already twined their lives together in such fundamental ways—raising twin daughters, buying houses together, making jobs into careers and acquaintances into friends into loved ones; or it might have been because these two are absolutely perfect for each other, that couple who make togetherness seem like an effortless, weightless thing, the natural choice for any two people who fit, curve into curve, like uncanny puzzles incarnated; or perhaps there was some magic in the place we were gathered. The Culinary Institute of America’s campus at Greystone is a majestic castle perched atop Napa’s hilly vine-covered landscape just moments from the heart of St. Helena. Inside, the effect is more storybook than school, the ceilings rise four stories tall, with wide sweeping staircases and airy ball rooms that must wait constantly for events as grand as this to materialize.

Read More
In weddings Tags wedding, culinary institute of america, napa, st. helena, winter
4 Comments

Laney + Jeremy's Winter Wonderland Christmas Wedding // Old Sugar Mill // Clarksburg, CA

March 21, 2016 Justin Souza
fake snow wedding

Laney and Jeremy's December wedding at Old Sugar Mill was nothing short of magical. There were tears shed, snow falling during their first dance and an incredible amount of DIY winter wedding projects that made the whole place literally and figuratively light up. Our favorite details were the monogrammed flannels (!!!) the bride and bridesmaids wore while they got dressed, the candle-topped piles of fake snow that lined the aisle and the bucket of blankets for guests to use as the cold December night wore on. These two embraced the winterness of their wedding and threw in tons of gorgeous Christmas details - their colors were red and green, the groosmen wore shawl collar sweaters instead of blazers, the boutinierres and bouquets included things like pinecones, holly berries, fir branches and fake snow. The ceremony and reception sites had Christmas trees and wreaths. The bride even wore a stunning fur wrap!

Read More
In weddings Tags old sugar mill, clarksburg, wedding, barrel room, sparkler exit, winter, christmas
Comment

Alex + Katie's Casually Elegant Forest Wedding // Union Hotel // Occidental, CA

March 14, 2016 Justin Souza
occidental wedding union hotel grove

We'll admit it: we love to shoot in photojournalist style, to capture a wedding day as it is. That is, ultimately, what wedding photography should be about - documenting a momentous day, all of the ins and outs and emotion and absurdity. Don't get us wrong, posed formals are great, too! It's just that it's these real moments - the unposed kisses, the surprise selfie at the altar, that time your great aunt rocked it to "Ice, Ice Baby" on the dancefloor - that tend to be the most meaningful in the longrun.

Read More
In weddings Tags wedding, occidental, forest, union hotel
1 Comment

Laura + Manuel's Churro-Filled (and Filled Churro!) Wedding // St. Stanislaus Church // Oakdale, CA

December 3, 2015 Justin Souza
churro wedding

There's something special about documenting the wedding of a couple who have been together as long as Laura and Manuel have - there's an ease to their interactions, a comfort with each other that compliments the loving looks and the beaming smiles of a wedding day. The sign above really says all you need to know about these two: they may come from different backgrounds, but they're truly best friends who compliment each other perfectly.

Read More
In weddings Tags wedding, oakdale, galas barn, modesto, st stanislaus church
2 Comments

Best of Stanislaus 2015

December 2, 2015 Justin Souza
best wedding photographer stanislaus county 2015

We've been keeping this under wraps for a while, but we're thrilled to announce that Photos Just So has been voted Best Wedding Photographer in Stanislaus County by the readers of Contentment Health & Lifestyle magazine! Thank you to everyone who voted. You can pick up a copy of the Best Of issue at any of these locations across the county.

gold winner wedding photography stanislaus county
photos just so best wedding photographer
In weddings, features Tags contentment health and lifestyle magazine, best wedding photographer
Comment

Megan + Jason's Small Town Church Wedding // Escalon Community Center & Christian Reformed Church // Escalon, CA

August 17, 2015 Justin Souza
escalon community center wedding

I met Megan years ago. First, she was a coworker with an incredible aesthetic sense who - graphically speaking - punched way above her weight. Since then, she's been a confidant, a colleague, a fellow warrior in the trenches of magazine production and, I'm proud to say, a friend. So when she asked us to shoot her wedding, we were there, no question.

There was so much about this wedding to love - the small town feel was inescapable in the best way. Megan and her bridesmaids got ready at a friend's farmhouse while Jason and his groomsmen prepped at the Escalon Christian Reformed Church. After a touching First Look at CRC, the entire bridal party met up in downtown Escalon to do portraits in Main Street Park while locals slowed their cars down and honked/waved as they passed. The day was filled with moments like that - overjoyed friends and family and community members who couldn't have been more thrilled to be there to witness this union.

Read More
In weddings Tags wedding, escalon, church
Comment

Kait + Aly's Rustic DIY Wedding // The Lehman Barn // El Dorado Hills, CA

August 10, 2015 Justin Souza
gay wedding photographer modesto

There's no getting around it: Kait and Aly's wedding was a stunner. Set amongst the backdrop of the Sacramento hills, their venue - the Lehman Barn at Varozza Ranch - literally and figuratively glowed with a mixture of twinkle lights, candelabras, photo booth flashes and impossible-to-contain smiles. What photographer wouldn't fall in love with rolling golden grasses, two smitten brides and two sets of beaming bridesmaids in mix-and-match dresses?

Read More
In weddings Tags the lehman barn, gay wedding, el dorado hills
2 Comments

LGBT Weddings

August 3, 2015 Justin Souza
lgbt wedding modesto

It's no secret that we've long been supporters of gay marriage - or as we like to call it, marriage. The recent Supreme Court ruling has us giddy and we were thrilled when the website LGBT Weddings wanted to interview us about our business. You can read the full interview here, in which we talk about our photography, inspiration and our experiences shooting LGBT couples.

In weddings, features Tags gay wedding, lgbt weddings
Comment

Eva + Winston's Hilarious, Tear-Jerking Wedding of Amazingness // Anvil Ranch + Vineyard // Annapolis, CA

April 24, 2015 Justin Souza
anvil ranch wedding

Do you know that quote from The Princess Bride about true love? No, not that one. Not that one, either. I'm thinking of this one:

"You truly love each other and so you might have been truly happy. Not one couple in a century has that chance, no matter what the story books say. And so I think no man in a century will suffer as greatly as you will."

Read More
In weddings Tags anvil ranch and vineyard, wedding, annapolis, unicorn
1 Comment

A Photos Just So Bride + Groom Make the NY Times Weddings Section!

April 17, 2015 Justin Souza
green wedding dress

We knew the wedding we shot three weeks ago was an incredible one, that the love and boundless joy and ugly-crying at that event was something worth writing about. Turns out the NY Times agreed! Check out Eva and Winston's story and, you know, try not to cry.

(Note: the photos in the article are not ours, but we're thrilled to share our shots of the event in a blog post next week. Stay tuned!)

In weddings Tags ny times, wedding
Comment
← Newer Posts Older Posts →
Modesto Wedding Photographers

hello & welcome

Photos Just So is Justin and Dana, a married pair of award winning wedding photographers who capture colorful, unique, adventurous couples from California's Central Valley to the Bay Area, Yosemite, Sacramento and beyond.

We love love. And we think it shows.

Our blog is a showcase of some of the many love stories our clients have shared with us.

We can't wait to join you in yours.

Featured
Olive + Jade's Whimsical Floral Wedding // Polestar Farm // Esparto, CA
Olive + Jade's Whimsical Floral Wedding // Polestar Farm // Esparto, CA
Melissa + Andrew's Boho Yosemite Wedding // Rush Creek Lodge // Groveland, CA
Melissa + Andrew's Boho Yosemite Wedding // Rush Creek Lodge // Groveland, CA
Michelle + David's Enchanted Forest Adventure Elopement // Purisima Creek Redwoods // Half Moon Bay, CA
Michelle + David's Enchanted Forest Adventure Elopement // Purisima Creek Redwoods // Half Moon Bay, CA

contact us

justin @ photosjustso.com
Telephone (510) 708-1258

Say Cheese

Schedule Your Next Photo Session