Modesto, CA

May 2, 2016 Justin Souza

Dana and I have known Laura for over a decade - when her sister married my brother in 2005, we became family. We see each other on holidays, at birthday parties for our mutual nieces and nephews, and in all the years we've known each other, one thing is obvious: she's never been so happy. Joyously happy. The sort of happy that lights up a room. The sort of happy that made 19 - yes, 19 - bridesmaids and groomsmen stand next to her at the altar. The sort of happy that turns a wedding reception dance floor into an absolute mad house. And that is so, so obviously thanks to Jeremy. Judging from his reaction as she walked up the aisle, the feeling is mutual.

There were endless stand-out details on this wedding day. Jeremy and his brothers toasting beer cans with their mother after they finished getting their tuxes on. The ceremony at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, where golden-hour light poured in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, back-lighting Laura while her father walked her up the aisle. The reception at The Century was, as usual, unbelievably stunning, filled with lush green ferns and eucalyptus, bunches of white and royal purple flowers, dozens of glowing chandeliers and candelabras. The bride comes from a family of dairy farmers and the groom from a family of almond farmers, so their favors were miniature milk bottles filled with almonds. It was perfect. Going through the pictures again for this post, I'm struck by all the stolen glances and simultaneously hilarious/romantic moments between these two. Laura and Jeremy, thank you for letting us be a part of your wedding, and for gracing us with the permanent mental picture of Jeremy's faux striptease during the garter toss! You clearly have a lifetime of memorable moments ahead of you.

Becky + Walter's Rainy Pink-Hued Winter Wedding // Valley Presbyterian Church // 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.

Ashley + Sean's Playful Autumn Engagement Session // Knights Ferry, CA

April 8, 2016 Justin Souza

I'm not sure which component of Ashley and Sean's autumn engagement session in Knights Ferry tipped it over into pure magic. It might have been the pumpkins they carved with their wedding date, or the piggy-back ride, or that they made their dog, Harley, a little sign to announce their engagement and then used her to reenact a scene from The Lion King. It could have been the way they look at each other, too - they are so ecstatically happy to be together that their love positively bursts through the photos.

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

Prospect Theater Project Cast Photos for "The Whipping Man"

November 20, 2015 Justin Souza

In its second play of the 2015-2016 season, Prospect Theater Project brings a slice of Civil War-era Virginia to the Modesto stage with Mathew Lopez's play "The Whipping Man." To match the play's setting, we shot the cast photos in the style of old tintypes.

According to Prospect, the show "is the story of three men in Richmond, VA at the end of the Civil War. Two are former slaves, waiting in an empty house for the former owners to return; the third, a wounded confederate soldier. The three men wrestle with their shared past, the bitter irony of Jewish slave-owning and the reality of the new world in which they find themselves as the last night of Passover sets on this Jewish home."

"The Whipping Man" opens tonight and runs through December 13th. Don't miss this one, folks!

Becky + Walter's Golden Gate Engagement Session // Golden Gate Park + Baker Beach // San Francisco, CA

November 13, 2015 Justin Souza

Is there any more appropriate time for a Golden Gate Park engagement session than golden hour? Becky and Walter were great sports during their shoot - we initially planned to take pictures inside the Japanese Tea Gardens, and when we were thwarted by an early closing time, they were totally game to switch things up a bit. The pictures we snapped outside the iconic park weren't what we had originally planned, but I think they turned out even better. We even found a fairy door while wandering through a secluded eucalyptus grove. There's a lesson in there somewhere about best-laid-plans and going with the flow, I think - especially when it comes to weddings!

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.