Portola Valley, CA

April 19, 2016 Justin Souza

presbyterian church portola valley wedding

There's something about a rainy wedding day that really does it for us. I mean, you can't argue with the delicate tracery of raindrops caught in the light, the way umbrellas pop up like parachutes as soon as the sky opens up, the intimate moments where everyone huddles together out of the rain, the sky like god's own softbox. Maybe that's why Becky & Walter's love-filled pink-hued winter wedding day was so amazingly cool. Or maybe it was just the honor of witnessing these two: child development all stars who devote their lives to helping kids getting a chance to focus on each other.

This was one for the highlight reel. From the suites of the lovely Dinah's Garden Hotel, where both bride and groom and their attendants got ready, and Walter & Becky shared one of the most adorable heartfelt first looks I've ever witnessed as well as a gorgeous traditional Chinese tea ceremony; to Valley Presbyterian Church, which provided a beautiful rainy redwood backdrop for their vows; to a raucuous reception at Dynasty Chinese Seafood Restaurant highlighted by an unforgettable entrance (to The Lonely Island's classic On A Boat) and the groom busting out some legit breakdancing on a fog-filled dance floor; you really don't get much better than this.

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.

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

March 21, 2016 Justin Souza

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!

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

March 14, 2016 Justin Souza

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.

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

December 3, 2015 Justin Souza

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.

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

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

August 17, 2015 Justin Souza

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.

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

August 10, 2015 Justin Souza

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?

LGBT Weddings

August 3, 2015 Justin Souza

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.

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

April 24, 2015 Justin Souza

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."

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

It’s been ten years since gay marriage was legalized in this country, which simultaneously feels like a long and frighteningly small amount of time. I would never define Olive and Jade by their genders or sexualities but it also feels important to say that non-binary and trans people will always be safe with us (I wouldn’t have mentioned gender at all if I hadn’t run it by these two first). Dana and I operate a very queer, very neurodiverse household so it’s probably no surprise that those are the clients and families we work with the most. Things can feel dark right now and maybe you need the pick-me-up of a colorful DIY wedding by an incredible floral artist and their cool as hell musician bride? It can’t hurt, anyway.

Ten years of shooting unabashed LGBTQ+ joy! What a privilege.

Melissa + Andrew's Boho Yosemite Wedding // Rush Creek Lodge // Groveland, CA

THE BEST-LAID PLANS

About 25 miles from Yosemite Valley Chapel (where Andrew’s parents were married decades before), Rush Creek Lodge and Spa in Groveland would be a great jumping-off point for a Yosemite park wedding and a family-friendly hotel reception. Unfortunately, the roads into Yosemite sustained storm damage and at the last minute, Rush Creek Lodge became the location for Melissa and Andrew’s getting-ready, ceremony AND reception. It was impressive to see how both the lodge and the couple pivoted last-minute to put on a beautiful ceremony on the Rush Creek site itself, which was a short walk/golf cart ride up a trail into a secluded forest area. It may not have been the exact day they dreamed up, but you’d never know it was Plan B. I don’t want to get into too many details about the wedding day because that’s Melissa and Andrew’s private adventure, but I will say that I’m very thankful to have been able to document a small part of their love story.

Michelle + David's Enchanted Forest Adventure Elopement // Purisima Creek Redwoods // Half Moon Bay, CA

What is an adventure elopement?

Unlike a City Hall wedding, an adventure elopement is usually outdoors - getting to the location where you’ll say your vows is an integral part of the experience! It doesn’t always have to be a serious trek, though. David and Michelle opted to get married in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve and I would estimate we only hiked 10 or so minutes from the trailhead, though it took 20 or 30 minutes of driving straight into the forest from Half Moon Bay to get to the trailhead in the first place.