Love, Captured.

Soulful + Cinematic

Wedding Photography.

Made with love in

San Luis Obispo, California.

Searching for your wedding photographer shouldn’t leave you feeling unwanted. Since my business’s beginnings in 2017, inclusive & compassionate service has remained priority number one - to document the love shared between people of all backgrounds, identities, you name it. It’s not only my mission to capture love, but to spread love as much as I can! As such, I work diligently to create a safe space for vulnerable expression with a whole lot of fun mixed in. I do this by simply being open to everyone I serve on a human level and celebrating you every step of the way. If this resonates with you, you've come to the right place and I can't wait to connect with you!

i believe photography is for everyone.

“The thought and care put into each photograph is nothing short of magical.”

SARITA & JEDDY

Who I am!

Hey, I’m James! I live for the simple things: good food, good people, good times. Big fan of music festivals, spontaneous adventures, and getting outside to hike, camp, cycle and climb things. I am also blessed with an incredible partner, Jamie, who teaches meditation ~ she keeps me chill lol! Above all, I love connecting with people and capturing their essence! I feel incredibly lucky that I get to hang out with so many rad folks on some of their biggest milestones and make art out of life's most cherished memories. If you enjoy my work and feel like we’d vibe, drop a line with the contact form below or DM me anytime on Instagram: @jameslesterphoto

baileejerrod-_-married-2

FEATURED BLOGS

grass-room-dtla-wedding-james-lester-photography150
Grass Room DTLA Wedding, Grass Room Wedding, DTLA Wedding Photographer, James Lester Photography

urban, editorial, emotive

urban

editorial

festive

sunset-2

cinematic, adventurous, passionate

cinematic

adventurous

passionate

Wedding in Big Sur, Big Sur Wedding, Big Sur Wedding Photographer, San Luis Obispo Wedding Photographer, James Lester Photography
Wedding in Big Sur, Big Sur Wedding, Big Sur Wedding Photographer, San Luis Obispo Wedding Photographer, James Lester Photography
Wedding in Big Sur, Big Sur Wedding, Big Sur Wedding Photographer, San Luis Obispo Wedding Photographer, James Lester Photography

— As Seen On —

couples portrait photographers
portrait photography in slo
preferred-vendor_-white-circle-transparent-background
equally-wed-preferred-vendor-2022-badge
sistersinlaw
trends-lodo
badge-weddingawards_en_us
tk_bow_2024_badge-2
the-knot-badge
wedding-wire
preferred-vendor_-white-circle-transparent-background
equally-wed-preferred-vendor-2022-badge
badge-weddingawards_en_us
tk_bow_2024_badge-2
sistersinlaw
trends-lodo

Recently on the blog

“We immediately felt comfortable to share and be vulnerable to be photographed.”

JEAN & DANIEL

my style

Soulful

 

Natural

 

Editorial

 

Light-Hearted

 

CINEMATIC

There are two common stylistic realms that many wedding photographers dwell in: "light & airy" or "dark & moody." I like to think my style falls somewhere in the middle!

 

During my photoshoots, I guide you through some easy yet elegant poses which capture you & your partner's sense of romance and candid fun. I then edit & grade the images in a cinematic direction to complete the look, taking the time to edit everything from the ground up rather than relying on purchased presets & shortcuts. In doing so, each photo gallery carries its own unique aesthetic that stands the test of time.

 

When we're together, I am always a friend first & foremost! I believe the best images are captured when the vibe is light-hearted & playful. Maybe you’ll even forget all about the camera… :)

 

Don't just take my word for it though ~ check out my entire body of work here and see for yourself if we're a good fit!

INQUIRE

Interested? I’d love to hear from you.

I usually respond to inquiries on the same day, but this time may vary based on my current workload. The latest you can expect to hear back is within 3 days. Thank you in advance for your patience!