San Diego Documentary Wedding Photographer Capturing Honest, Unscripted Moments
San Diego & Worldwide
Wedding photography that allows you to experience moments unfold, without interruption or direction. When you look back at your wedding gallery, you will feel every emotion all over again. Wedding photography should feel effortless and natural.
DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
A natural approach to telling your wedding story
What Is Documentary Wedding Photography?
Documentary wedding photography—also known as candid or reportage photography—is a storytelling approach where your day is photographed naturally, without interruption or staged scenes. It’s about capturing what actually happened, not what could have.
Real Stories
INQUIRE HERE
Hi, I’m Teresa—a documentary wedding photographer based in San Diego. My approach is rooted in presence and truth. I don’t stage moments—I anticipate them. Letting the day unfold naturally, I follow the light and the energy, quietly documenting everything from raw, unfiltered emotions to the subtle, artful in-betweens. I believe the magic of a wedding isn’t just in the big moments—it’s in the small glances, the unscripted laughter, and the way it all felt. Shooting in both film and digital, I create timeless images that bring you back to each moment, exactly as it was.
Think of me as a calm, steady presence in the room. I’ll observe, adapt, and photograph without interrupting. That way, you get to be fully present—with each other, with your people, and with the story that’s unfolding around you.
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Behind the lens
A little bit about my story
A documentary-style wedding and elopement photographer based in San Diego and Paso Robles and available worldwide.
Teresa did an absolutely beautiful job for both our engagement photos and wedding. She was communicative from start to finish, and sought to understand our style and wishes. I often say my wedding was my Pinterest board come to life, and she played no small role in making my dreams come true :) Her kindness, passion, and thoughtfulness shines through everything she does. All of our friends and family at our wedding commented on how great she was, which speaks to her professionalism and kindness. She managed to capture seemingly every moment, yet I hardly even noticed she was there. It’s truly amazing how much of our special day she was able to capture on camera and film. We are so grateful she was available to be with us on our special day, and will cherish the photos forever! I highly highly recommend her to capture any of your special memories!!!
"Her kindness, passion, and thoughtfulness shines through everything she does."
Teresa was a DREAM to work with! She was so quick to respond and helped with any and all questions we had along the way. My husband and I were so comfortable with her and we would not have wanted anyone else capturing our wedding day. She is the best and the sweetest human you could find to pretty much spend your whole wedding day with you, we cannot recommend her more!
"She is the best and the sweetest human you could find..."
We love her photos and had a such a wonderful experience working with her!! She has such a keen eye for candid, interesting, art-forward photos and uses several types of cameras to provide a number of photos largely digitally but also in film and with a professional grade-appearing Polaroid camera. Added bonus, she is a joy to work with! We really appreciate her level of professionalism including excellent communication, calm relaxed demeanor, humor, and clear expertise in photography as well working with people and setting the scene for capturing beautiful moments.
"She has such a keen eye for candid, interesting, art-forward photos"
Teresa was amazing. From the time I reached out to her until I received the photos, she was responsive and prompt. The engagement shoot was a surprise to my fiancée and she made it effortless and a beautiful experience. She made us very comfortable and capture the essence of our love. She delivered the photos ahead of schedule and all of them were amazing.
"She made us very comfortable and capture the essence of our love."
Fill out the form
This is my first chance to get to know you. So, tell me everything! Please include anything I should know about your wedding and your vision for your photos.
Schedule a call
This is where we really begin to connect. We’ll talk about what you shared on your contact form and get to the heart of what you want from this experience.
Secure your date
This is where we sign the contract and secure your date. Then, let the dreaming, planning, and anticipation begin! Let's turn your day into timeless memories!
Tell me about yourselves! How did you meet? How long have you been together? I wanna know everything! *
NOW BOOKING 2025-2026
TERESALOJACONOPHOTOGRAPHY@GMAIL.COM
location: San Diego & Paso Robles / WORLDWIDE
BUSINESS HOURS: TuesDAY TO FRIDAY 9-6PM
Weddings Worldwide
Frequently asked questions
01.
Do you offer engagement sessions?
Yes! It’s a great opportunity for us to get comfortable working together before the wedding, and you’ll walk away with a gallery of images that feel like you—candid, real, and unscripted. Whether it’s a casual beach stroll, a cozy at-home session, or an adventure somewhere meaningful to you, we’ll create something authentic.
02.
What’s your approach to capturing moments without directing?
03.
How long until we receive our gallery?
04.
Do you offer a DOCUMENTARY ONLY day?
05.
Do you travel?
06.
Can we do a venue walkthrough together?
My approach is all about observation and anticipation. Instead of staging or directing, I focus on the natural flow of the day, reading body language, emotions, and interactions to capture moments as they happen. I move with intention, staying present but unobtrusive, always looking for the in-between moments—the nervous hand squeeze before the ceremony, the way your parents look at you when you’re not watching, the laughter between friends when they think no one’s paying attention.
I use light, composition, and movement to create images that feel immersive and real, so when you look back at your gallery, it feels like stepping right back into those moments. My goal is for you to fully experience your wedding day without worrying about the camera, trusting that every meaningful detail is being documented as it unfolds naturally.
01.
Do you offer engagement sessions?
02.
What’s your approach to capturing moments without directing?
03.
How long until we receive our gallery?
04.
Do you offer a DOCUMENTARY ONLY day?
05.
Do you travel?
06.
Can we do a venue walkthrough together?
The turnaround time for your sneak peeks is 1 week and your completed, polished photo gallery is normally 6 to 8 weeks. I value quality above all else, so I make sure to take my time perfecting every gallery before sending it out. Please keep in mind that sometimes creating photos that meet these standards means that they’ll exceed the 8-10-week turnaround time.
01.
Do you offer engagement sessions?
02.
What’s your approach to capturing moments without directing?
03.
How long until we receive our gallery?
04.
Do you offer a DOCUMENTARY ONLY day?
05.
Do you travel?
06.
Can we do a venue walkthrough together?
Yes! My approach is based on documentary practices—no posing, no staging, just real moments as they happen is not a problem. I blend in and capture everything from the quiet, intimate moments to the wild energy on the dance floor, so your gallery feels like stepping right back into your wedding day. It’s an amazing way to your story in the most natural and authentic way.
If you are a bride looking to blend the idea of documentary and editorial, I got you too. it all comes down to what you want from me as photographer.
01.
Do you offer engagement sessions?
02.
What’s your approach to capturing moments without directing?
03.
How long until we receive our gallery?
04.
Do you offer a DOCUMENTARY ONLY day?
05.
Do you travel?
06.
Can we do a venue walkthrough together?
Always and forever YES! I’m based in San Diego, but I’d be more than happy to travel to any location you need me to. All weddings outside SoCal will receive custom quotes depending on the cost of lodging, flights, and rental cars. International travel fees range from $800 to $1500.
01.
Do you offer engagement sessions?
02.
What’s your approach to capturing moments without directing?
03.
How long until we receive our gallery?
04.
Do you offer a DOCUMENTARY ONLY day?
05.
Do you travel?
06.
Can we do a venue walkthrough together?
Absolutely! If you’d like me to walk through your venue with you before the wedding, I’d be happy to. It’s a great way to get familiar with the space, talk through any key moments, and plan for the best lighting and angles—all while keeping things stress-free and natural. While I don’t rely on shot lists or overly structured plans, a walkthrough can help ensure everything flows seamlessly on the day.
