Los Angeles Film Wedding Photographer
・for small and micro weddings & courthouse elopements in southern california・
I’m David Cruz (The Drunk Wedding Photographer), politically incorrect Oaxaca native, Mezcal and street taco connoisseur named the best 35mm film wedding photographer in L.A. by my Grandma.
✨ published in ✨
The White Wren・Bold Journey・Shoutout L.A.・Grays of Westminster・Nikon Owner・Voyage L.A.・Canvas Rebel
simple analog photography for young creative daydreamers who do everything in life but nothing on rainy afternoons
I’m Not for Everyone
There is an inherent beauty of being able to say that I am not for everyone. Because I believe in simplicity, aligning well with couples who value the elegance of an intimate, non-traditional small wedding with a low guest count.
Allowing me to spend my limited time with clients creating wholesome photos as newlyweds with their friends and family and not on overly complicated epic poses or time-consuming magazine layout details. Creating photos Grandma will be happy to print and proudly showcase in her home.
And if you believe in writing your own vows and in sharing life’s simple moments over tacos, then perhaps I might be for you. Because in the end, life is about the experiences we share and the memories we create with those around us regardless of how mundane or insignificant they may seem to others. After all, if we can't talk shop over a bottle of Mezcal, why are we even here?
Simplicity has always been the secret to everything. — Marco Pierre White
Simple Pricing for 2024 Los Angeles Weddings
Film wedding photography coverage begins at $2,500
Outdoor weddings are photographed on 35mm film
Booking includes online gallery + 4x6 print proof set
View full wedding client galleries here ☞ the print shop
why?
Because we're all going to die. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from owning chickens this past year, it’s that life is short-lived. Watching them live their best, but brief little lives made me realize how precious each mundane moment is. Some of us aren’t here for very long either. So when it comes to photographing weddings, I don’t overcomplicate things. My photos are nothing more than glorified snapshots, though I prefer to call them vignettes—a simple documentation of who you were in that moment.
Some might call them basic, and I don’t blame them. But if shows like Love and Lovesick, movies like Beginners, and my years of writing in-depth essays on Día de los Muertos have taught me anything, it’s this: Keep it simple. It’s not about taking epic photos for social media clout. It’s about preserving the everyday—the quiet, honest moments we end up treasuring long after the person in the picture is gone.
Because in the end, those simple snapshots are all we have left to hold on to.
Client Thank You Notes
Cielo Farms | Malibu, CA
You completely outdid yourself and were right about the prints, there was something magical about them. Presentation was gorgeous. Thank you.
Jardín Etnobotánico | Oaxaca, Mexico
Thank you for flying in for our destination wedding with a Mezcal cocktail on one hand and we’re so happy to have physical photos from our day.
Carondelet House | Los Angeles, CA
The photos are seriously amazing. You totally went above and beyond printing and presenting them the way you did. Thank you!
The Hummingbird Temple | Los Angeles, CA
Our photos turned out beautifully. Lee and I are thrilled with our photos. Thank for being mindful of even the smallest of details throughout the day.
Vasquez Rocks | Agua Dulce, CA
We are absolutely in love the photos you took of our elopement. Thank you for being very patient with us and for the easy to follow directions.
Downtown City Hall | Los Angeles, CA
We’re speechless but filled with so much love. You were right on waiting to hold the actual photos, there was something so magical about that. Thank you.
Our pictures are incredible David!
We really appreciate how you listened to our ideas and collaborated with us. Your creativity and open collaboration made the whole experience so enjoyable.
We loved how you listened to our input and worked with our ideas, making us feel like real actors in our own little 60's movie. The prints are beautiful and the perfect bow to wrap up the whole experience. The grain in the real black and white film you used makes the photos look like stills from a classic movie, which we absolutely adore.
Thank you for your simple, direct styling directions that were easy to follow. We’re both looking forward to collaborating with you again!
— David + Taylor →
David - YOU ARE AMAZING!
We are completely taken away by these photos and the video!!! You are truly something special and you captured our day perfectly.
Thank you so much for everything!! You completely outdid yourself and we will forever be grateful for you. Trayer and I both immediately cried when we started watching the video. We are still speechless but filled with so much love. You were so right about waiting to hold the actual photos, there was something so magical about that. The presentation was gorgeous and we are so happy to have the physical photos.
You are such a kind and generous person! You went the extra mile and it is unlike anything we could have imagined. Thank you so much and we really hope to work with you again! Not another wedding of course!!
So much love! xx
— Los de la Torre →
There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn’t that kind of the point? — Pam Halpert
Film Wedding Photography: The Perfect Marriage for Minimalist Non-Traditional Small & Micro Weddings and Courthouse Elopements
Nostalgic Simplicity: Why I Use 35mm Film to Photograph Weddings in Los Angeles (2024)
Small and micro weddings, defined as personalized events with a limited guest list, retain quintessential wedding elements while creating a more intimate atmosphere. However, having a small wedding or even a courthouse elopement shouldn’t mean compromising when booking a wedding photographer.
Film wedding photography, also known as analog photography, is different from taking pictures digitally, like with an iPhone or mirrorless camera. Film photography simply means real film is used to take pictures using old cameras like the Nikon F3. If you’ve seen your friends with a disposable camera or a Fuji Instax, that’s analog film photography. And in 2024, the most popular format for film photography specifically for weddings, has been 35mm film to achieve the direct flash 90s look.
Which has made booking a 35mm film photographer a vogue choice for young creative couples who prefer low-key classic, nostalgic aesthetics and want something unique, intimate and romantic. Because film photography creates soft one-of-a-kind grainy and timeless dreamy pictures evoking feelings of nostalgia, while adding a vintage charm with an elegant look valued for its unique aesthetic. A look that is instantly recognizable never going out of fashion. It’s why your favorite movie was probably shot on 35mm film too.
The appeal of 35mm film photography is its simplicity. A tangible beauty that speaks to us emotionally remaining classically beautiful because it’s not molded by today's trends. Much like a simple In-N-Out burger, film draws people in because it isn’t complicated. Attracting clients who appreciate the simple pleasures in life because 35mm film makes their weddings look a little more stylized while keeping tones neutral, reacting to the abundance of natural light avoiding artificiality that severely age today’s weddings photos once next year’s trends roll around.
And despite the rising trend of complicated epic main character poses, dramatic slow-motion drone footage, reality-style wedding videos, overly rehearsed dances, 5-foot cakes and flower arrangements, multiple bridal outfit changes, and the desire of going viral on TikTok, 35mm film has retained its timeless and romantic quality, a look sought after by young creative clients who value simplicity and artistry of working with your hands. Who tie the knot for the marriage, not the wedding spectacle. Because film is real. Allowing them to hold tangible memories in their hands and overwhelming the senses of rediscovering a box of old, reliving moments from the past that slip through our hands like water.
Trend is a dirty word. — Anna Wintour
Practical Wedding Planning Advice
Wedding Venues for Small and Micro Weddings in Los Angeles
A practical guide to the permit costs for a Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding.