I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Brandon on June 7th for an intimate wedding at The…read moreDana on Mission Bay. As a wedding coordinator, I'm always a little skeptical when working with new vendors because you never know what to expect in terms of professionalism, communication, and work ethic. Brandon exceeded every expectation. He was incredibly easy to work with, provided great direction during photos, and helped create a fun, relaxed atmosphere throughout the day. His sense of humor and lighthearted personality made the experience enjoyable for both the couple and the vendor team. From what I've seen on social media, his work is absolutely stunning, and I can't wait to see the full gallery from our event. I would confidently recommend Brandon to my clients and look forward to the opportunity to work with him again in the future.

Wow, what an incredible photographer. We chose Brandon based…read moreoff of his packages that he offered and his amazing portfolio on his website and Instagram. We called him and he made us feel very comfortable, and we felt even more comfortable during the photoshoots. The wedding ran late and he did his best to stay within the time we booked him for and every single photo turned out amazing!

I'll get into her photography skills in just a moment, but oooooh, what a wonderful soul!!…read more Susan has not only done my family photos, but she has also done family, maternity, newborn, and wedding photos for several of my friends. She's got a keen eye for the perfect natural lighting, and likes to plan your photos (schedule permitting) based on the sun's position in the sky. She captures she's just delightful to be around and so much fun to work with! I feel like that's a huge part of why you can see so much joy and love in the photographs she takes. If you're looking for a photographer to capture your precious moments, Susan is who to call!

We chose Susan to photograph our wedding and she did an exceptionally beautiful job. She is very…read moresweet, kind and clearly loves her profession. I am not your typical bride and she was able to perfectly mix traditional style wedding photos as well as some fun shots that brought out our personalities - which is exactly what I wanted. Overall my husband and I are thrilled with the moments she captured and we will cherish them forever.

Jessica is absolutely amazing! She took pictures for our maternity session as well as our newborn…read moreson. A year later, she took our family's pictures for our son's one year birthday (cake smash) as well as for the holiday cards. She has a studio at her home with plenty of snacks while you do your sessions. It's also heated for those chillier winter months. The props she has are amazing and add a lovely style to her photos. She has a natural talent for finding perfect poses and the experience to get great angles. She also does locations other than her studio for photo shoots. For our maternity pictures we were at the beach and for our family pics we went to a hiking trail. She's able to taylor yo meet your needs. Her turnover to get pictures back to you is always quicker than she stated which is so lovely (especially when you want to get out holiday cards!) I highly recommend Jessica for her stellar services! You won't be disappointed! Loop

My husband and I had the pleasure of working with Jessica to capture photos of us with our 18 month…read moreold son. The photos turned out beautifully! We were quite nervous, as our son isn't exactly always cooperative, but Jessica wasn't frazzled in the least, and just totally put our minds at ease. Even though it seemed like our son cried for most of the shoot (toddlers!), Jessica promised she got tons of great shots of him smiling, and she DID! We were so pleasantly surprised when we saw the photos, ha! Jessica was fantastic to work with from the very beginning, offering lots of help with wardrobe choices, location choices, etc. We couldn't be happier with the outcome of our photoshoot and can't wait to hire Jessica again for more photos :) Thank you, Jessica!!!!

The Secret Garden is a great option for couples seeking a more affordable wedding venue…read more We ultimately decided against this venue because our guest count felt a bit too large for the space. While it would have comfortably accommodated a smaller wedding, a party of 150 seemed likely to feel cramped. My communication with Kendra through The Knot was efficient and responsive, and Christian did an excellent job touring us through the venue and preparing our final quote. =PROS= *Ceremony site centered around a charming gazebo, complemented by natural elements such as a towering tree, flower pots, and a picturesque hanging swing *Included feature wall perfect for signage, backdrops, or neon displays *Reception space featured high ceilings and an elegant, neutral aesthetic *Packages included tables, linens, and glassware, with upgrade options available for different styles and colors *Large inventory of complimentary decor, including signage, draping, and string lights *DJ and coordination services included *Complimentary engagement photo session and discounted wedding photography *Affordable in house catering with flexibility for outside vendors *BYO bar option available *Free photobooth included *Discount offered for cash or check payments =CONS= *Parking area was somewhat hilly and may be challenging for elderly guests *Bridal and groom suites were small and noticeably dated, with furniture showing significant wear *Bathrooms, particularly the men's, felt informal and somewhat resembled those found in elementary schools *Some of the greenery appeared wilted and lacked the lushness shown in promotional materials This would have been an excellent choice for a wedding closer to 100 guests, but it felt like a squeeze for our anticipated attendance. Ironically, the venue's strongest selling points were not the garden itself, but rather the extensive planning support and complimentary services included in the package. The greenery was pleasant but not especially striking, so couples may want to allocate additional budget toward florals and decor to elevate the space.

My husband and I could not have imagined a better wedding experience and we are so grateful we…read morechose to have our special day at the beautiful Secret Garden! We got married on December 14, 2024 and it was the most beautiful day we could have imagined! We booked the venue over a year in advance and throughout the entire planning process, the entire team was so available and responsive. As the day approached, we met with our day-of coordination Laura and she was truly amazing!! She helped me create the day of my dreams and was very prompt in responding to any of our concerns. She helped bring our vision to life and I am so grateful!! The very inclusive experience at The Secret Garden was also so helpful. We ended up going through our own food vendor for BBQ for dinner, but everything else was seamless and really helped ease the wedding planning stress. The photography and videography team was so amazing and captured our day so beautifully. I still cry tears of joy looking at our pictures and videos from the special day! :') The DJ services provided were also amazing and we couldn't have been happier with DJ Jason Lyons! Overall, we could not be happier with our experience at The Secret Garden. It was worth every penny to marry my best friend at such a beautiful place surrounded by everyone we love!! :)

Having Jordan Levin photograph our family was the best decision I've made in a long time. I haven't…read morehad professional photos done and so I had a lot of questions. He was very respectful, polite, and prompt in answering all of them before our actual session even. During our session, he was patient and had tons of ideas for different locations to photograph. He even was patient with my two boys and took individual pictures of them. The price was right! And lastly, I was thrilled when I got to see the ending result. The pictures are great! I 100% recommend Jordan for any of your professional photography needs!

Couldn't have asked for a better person to capture my wife's and mine moments! Really went above…read moreand beyond! We were really blessed to have him as the our photographer! Thank you so much again for all that you did!

I can't recommend working with Carrie Anne enough. I was nervous going into my session, but she…read moremade me feel so comfortable, safe, and empowered from the moment I walked in. The whole experience was so much fun! I also really appreciated all of her help leading up to the shoot, from styling advice to connecting me with hair and makeup. I felt beautiful that day, and I know a lot of that came from the environment and energy she created. The session ended up being more empowering than I expected. It was something I didn't realize I needed until I experienced it. I'd absolutely work with Carrie Anne again and would recommend her to anyone considering booking a session.

Carrie Anne is THE PHOTOGRAPHER to book for a budoir photoshoot!! She takes care of the entire…read moreprocess (details, scheduling, reminders, outfit choice help/suggestions, posing cues, affirmations while shooting photos .. literally everything!). I had the best experience because she created such a unique trust to help me feel more comfortable and guided through the whole journey. If you're on the fence of booking, I promise you Carrie Anne will be 100% worth it and deliver a better product than you could have ever expected. She takes intentional time with every shot, angle, inspiration and applies the same detail-oriented approach to her final product edits. I was blown away with how the photos came out and her level of skill to capture me exactly as I was hoping. Couldn't recommend her higher!!

I hired Shaun at the very last minute after my original photographer canceled, and looking back, I…read morewish I had booked him from the start. From the moment I reached out, he was responsive. After a quick phone call to go over the details, he immediately jumped into action and made the entire process stress free. Shaun captured our proposal perfectly and delivered absolutely stunning photos that exceeded every expectation. On top of that, he sent us sneak peeks the very next day, which made us even more excited to see the full gallery. Throughout the experience, Shaun was professional, patient, experienced, and attentive to what we wanted. He made us feel comfortable in front of the camera and captured every special moment beautifully. If you're looking for someone who is passionate about their work, I can't recommend Shaun enough. I would absolutely hire him again!!

Top Shelf was truly top shelf. We used them two separate years for family photos. Loved it.read more

Thank you Summer Rae The family photo event was so very…read morespecial for all of us. You have been our go to gal for exceptional photography for many years and always come through with the just right photos weather a wedding, first born or the more recent family photo session. I recommend Summer Rae to all who are looking for the dream photos for you or your family. And a good time as well.

This was our second time having Summer Rae Photography capture our family photos, and once again…read moreshe exceeded our expectations. Summer is an outstanding photographer with an incredible eye for detail, and she has a special talent for working with little ones. She made the entire session relaxed and fun, and somehow managed to get beautiful, natural shots of our family--even with two energetic littles in tow. We're so grateful for her patience, creativity, and kindness. We absolutely love our photos and highly recommend her!

Excellent communication and we were happy with the beautiful engagement photos…read more Fanting's different photo packages are reasonable and flexible for different needs. Good experience, and would book again.

We had a great maternity photoshoot experience with Fangting. From day one, she was incredibly…read moreresponsive and communicative. She took the time to speak with us over the phone to answer all our questions thoroughly, and on the day of the shoot, she kept us updated on the location details along with once the photos were edited. Even though Friday traffic in La Jolla made us a few minutes late, Fangting was so accommodating and gracious with her time. Most importantly, she was very caring and made sure I felt safe navigating the beach area. We absolutely love the final photos and the editing style. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for a professional photographer!

I love the photos that Melissa took of me soooo much she made me feel so beautiful. She is so sweet…read moreduring the session and gives great direction.

Melissa has done a lot of work for me & my family and I've also worked for her. I can't say enough…read moreabout her skills. Not only is she a stellar photographer, but her warm and giving personality also extended to a sort of mentorship when I was becoming a photographer. I have always looked up to her ability to be calm, creative, and kind in fast paced environments. It's something I still struggle with in photography. As a person who is usually behind the camera, many of the photos I have of my children are without me in them. The ones I do have and love are almost all by Melissa. There aren't many people I can trust the way I trust her and I owe my family memories, and my career, all to her. She's the first person I check with when I have a referral and the first person I think of when I need anything personally. And she will always be. Can't imagine things any other way.