Los Angeles Film Wedding Photographer

・for small weddings & beverly hills courthouse elopements・

I'm David Cruz (The Drunk Wedding Photographer), politically incorrect Oaxaca native, Mezcal and street taco connoisseur named the best film wedding photographer in L.A. by my Meemaw.

✨ published in ✨

The White Wren・Bold Journey・Shoutout L.A.・Nikon Owner・Voyage L.A.・Canvas Rebel

simple analog photography for creative daydreamers who do everything in life but nothing on rainy afternoons

A bride and groom standing together on the steps of Beverly Hills City Hall, a grand white building with a tall clock tower, surrounded by palm trees and well-maintained gardens, on a bright sunny day.

A bride in a white wedding dress and a groom in black pants and suspenders stand on a rocky terrain, holding hands and looking at each other against a pale sky.

A bride and groom standing on the Colorado Street Bridge, facing each other, outdoors on a sunny day with trees in the background.

A couple in wedding attire embracing in a field during sunset at Rancho Palos Verdes, with mountains in the background.

A woman holding a large bouquet of green eucalyptus leaves and small buds, with her face partially obscured and slightly out of focus.

A woman in a white dress and a man in a black tuxedo with a bow tie sit outdoors during sunset, looking at each other, with the woman gently touching the man's face.

A black-and-white photo of a smiling woman and man walking arm in arm outdoors. The woman is wearing a striped blouse and a pleated skirt, carrying a lunchbox. The man is wearing sunglasses, a white T-shirt, a leather jacket, and sneakers.

A black and white photo of a man and woman walking up the steps in front of a building labeled 'Department of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles, Receiving Station.' The woman is smiling and holding a lunchbox, while the man is smiling and holding

A woman wearing white lingerie, a lace veil with roses, and garter straps standing on wooden floor, holding a large bouquet of flowers, looking down.

Union Station Downtown Los Angeles, a white clock tower with Roman numerals, palm trees to the left, and a clear sky in the background.

Beverly Hills City Hall, a tall white Art Deco building with a domed top, ornate architectural details, and several palm trees in front.

A young newlywed couple walking on a cobblestone street in Olvera Street Downtown L.A. with colorful buildings and palm trees in the background.

Black and white photo of a bride and groom standing close, their foreheads touching, in an outdoor setting with mountains in the background.

Woman in a white wedding dress standing outdoors with mountains in the background.

A woman with curly hair wearing sunglasses and a white dress, with her arm around a man dressed in a white shirt, blue pants, and a bow tie, both sitting outdoors with trees in the background.

A couple dressed in wedding attire, with the groom in a white shirt and suspenders and the bride in a white wedding gown, standing outdoors on a rocky terrain in Griffith Park with greenery and mountains in the background, sharing an intimate moment.

A person in a suit and a person in a wedding dress standing outdoors with a pug dog on a leash, in black and white.

A couple dressed in wedding attire sharing a kiss outdoors at Cielo Farms with a mountainous landscape in the background.

I’m Not for Everyone
I’m for Someone

There's an inherent beauty in being able to say that I'm not for everyone. Because I believe in simplicity. Focusing my limited time with clients creating wholesome photos with their friends and family rather than on complicated poses, flat lays, and endless details. Delivering pictures Grandma will proudly showcase in her home.

I photograph simple vignettes on Kodak 35mm film: quiet documentations of who you were on your wedding day, how the sky looked, the color of the wine in their glasses, a jacket draped over a chair, the way your parents stood together in the garden, and ordinary colors unaware of a living a memory. I don't create content for social media, I collaborate with you on this one day when most of your favorite people will be by your side. And if you believe in writing your own vows, in sharing life's simple moments over homemade food paired with a good local bottle of local L.A. wine, and that half of us think things never work out but the other half believe in magic, then perhaps I might be for you.

Because life is not a collection of likes on social media. Life is about the simple experiences and memories we share with those we love, no matter how mundane they seem to others. Because the only two times our loved ones are together in one place are at weddings and funerals. And these quiet, honest moments are all we have left long after our loved ones are gone.

A couple in wedding attire sharing a kiss outdoors in Runyon Canyon Park on a rocky hillside during sunset, with the woman in a white dress and the man in a white shirt with suspenders.

Sky with scattered clouds and a visible crescent moon.

Silhouette of Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Zapopan a large historic cathedral in Guadalajara with two tall bell towers and illuminated crosses against a twilight sky.

Simple Pricing for 2026 Los Angeles Weddings

Outdoor weddings are photographed on Kodak 35mm film
Film wedding photography coverage begins at $3,500
Booking includes: online gallery + 4x6 print proof set
View full wedding client galleries ☞ here

Frequently Asked Questions

While destination weddings are not my speciality, I have photographed courthouse weddings in Santa Barbara and Palm Springs, as well as multi-day small weddings in San Luis Obispo, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Guadalajara, and my hometown of Oaxaca — with plans for a multi-day New York courthouse wedding next year.
But as much as I would love to hop on a plane for a world destination wedding, it's not practical to do so with a plastic bag full of 35mm film canisters, meaning travel is limited to California and surrounding states. In other words, if I can drive to it, I'm in. Please note that the Destination Wedding rate applies, plus travel and a minimum three-night accommodation.
Contrary to my off-the-rails brand name, my clients will tell you I'm one of, if not the most, quiet, reserved, and collected wedding vendors there is. And while a drink is much appreciated, it's not necessary for me to drink at your wedding. Besides, even if I wanted to, most venues in Los Angeles don't allow vendors to enjoy a drink or two from the bar.
I'm a one-man band, meaning I'm the one you inquire with, call on Zoom, the one who shows up to your wedding, edits your photos, and hand-inspects them before dropping them off at the post office. This level of attentiveness to each one of my clients is why I only book with clients who plan a simple Beverly Hills courthouse marriage or a small wedding with a limited guest count. Allowing me to photograph the entirety of a wedding without relying on an associate, a second photographer, or even an assistant.
Tiffany Lyon (Google Review)
We had such a wonderful time with you last week - THANK YOU, for everything! Your energy was just what we needed: calm, kind, caring, it was wonderful. And double thank you for the gift! Adam did pick it up from Mission... I can't wait to try it in a few more months :) Our pictures are incredible David! We really appreciate how you listened to our ideas.
David took our wedding photos and we cannot recommend him enough! We were doing a small wedding with just our parents at the Beverly Hills Courthouse and honestly didn't think much of anything, but David came prepared! He met us at the Beverly Hills Courthouse, then took amazing photos at a private residence, and we finished our session at The Peninsula Beverly Hills (for tea). He shot everything on 35mm film and delivered prints of every single photo he took so we could have as a keepsake, and be able to really see the photos in print, so when we wanted to order more, we had a real idea as to what the photos would look like as opposed to deciding from just a digital copy on a screen.
We loved him so much we also had him take photos of our Baby Shower in Santa Monica. He shot those all on digital but again delivered prints of every single photo as a courtesy to us. His demeanor is calm and collected, and he goes with the flow. We cannot recommend him enough - he single-handedly is responsible for lasting memories of both of those days for us!
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Michelle Figueroa (google review)
David is an amazing photographer! I had been following his IG for over a year. When he made a post about a personal film photographer. I jump at the chance. I knew i wanted to hire him but didn't have a big special event to do it. So it worked out perfectly. He was very professional, patient and personable. I immediately click with him felt like we've known eachother for years. My friends love the way all prints came out.
I look forward to working with David any chance I get. I'm always pleasantly surprise by the photos he takes. I would definitely recommend for any all your events.
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Beverly Carreon (google review)
We had such a wonderful experience working with David as our film photographer for our wedding at the Beverly Hills Courthouse. From start to finish, he was kind, professional, and so welcoming to both us and our family who joined for the shoot.
David also guided us through getting our photography permit approved by the City of Beverly Hills, which made everything so much smoother. We were able to take photos around City Hall and the courthouse, and the locations turned out beautifully on film.
We had two meetings and several email exchanges to discuss everything, including locations, timing, and our expectations, and David made the whole process feel easy and enjoyable. He has a calm and sweet demeanor with a great sense of humor, which helped us feel relaxed in front of the camera. He was also very flexible with timing and any little changes that came up along the way.
We shared that our Boston Terrier, Zoey, was the most important participant in the shoot, and David truly understood the assignment. He was so patient and made sure Zoey felt comfortable, which meant a lot to us. We even added a Wendy’s meal as a prop for some of the photos, and it was so much fun to shoot those moments together.
When our photos arrived, they were beautifully packaged, and it was so special to open them together. Our 35mm film photos came out gorgeous, timeless, and exactly what we hoped for. We’re so glad we chose David to capture this day and can’t recommend him enough!
Beverly & Nathan
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Karen Kim (google review)
We had a wonderful wedding photoshoot with David last week!!!
To start, I was looking up how to get started with a Beverly Hills City Hall wedding, and I found his website, which taught me how to book the Beverly Hills courthouse wedding AND get the city hall photos of my dreams. (Spoiler alert: you need to file a permit and know exactly what you're doing, which is why David's website was so helpful!)
David knew the in's and out's of beautiful shots in Beverly Hills, from the Beverly Hills Hotel sign to our intimate courthouse wedding service to the glorious Beverly Hills City Hall. He also used film, which added an extra special touch.
Thanks so much for driving a gorgeous wedding photoshoot and giving our family such wonderful memories to keep, David!
--Karen + Ethan
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Kim Salazar (google review)
David just took our engagement photos on Saturday and it was our first time meeting him in person and I just want to say that the experience was just a breeze. We decided to take pictures at Castle Park because that was where my fiance and I had our first date. At first I thought it was going to be awkward with people around us and having pictures taken but with David, he made it feel so comfortable. We actually had so much fun that at one point I forgot we were taking pictures hah! David has such an easy going personality, he’s friendly, sweet and professional all at the same time. I would recommend him to anyone who wants pictures taken on film(check out his gallery on his website, they are beautiful). We are so excited to see our engagement pictures. Thank you David again for everything, it’s been so pleasant working with you.
I never saw the point of getting ready photos. Because these moments are not for everyone to see, they're for you to experience in private. And we both know no one feels their best with foundation being applied, or a curling iron in their hair. Stop for a second and ask yourself: twenty-something years from now, which photo will matter more? The one of foundation being applied to your face, or the one of you standing next to Grandma dressed in your Sunday best?
Unlike my contemporaries who lure you in with film aesthetics and analog retro nostalgic vibes to then shamelessly charge you $500 for two rolls of 35mm film, if your wedding takes place outdoors during daylight hours, then yes, I will photograph the entirety of your wedding exclusively on real Kodak 35mm film.
However! At night I will use the Nikon D700 because while I make every effort to use film at night or even indoors, the lighting conditions in your venue will ultimately influence how I photograph your wedding at any given time. That said, on rare occasions even a picture or two may not be technically possible to photograph on film regardless of available light, in which case the D700 or even the Olympus E-M1 would be the practical call.
Absolutely internet stranger! I photograph a number of confidential weddings in Los Angeles each year, and have no hang-ups on not using your photos for "content." And coincidentally, many of my clients are not heavy social media users, some are not even on social media at all, and their privacy, as well as yours, is more important to me than using a client's wedding as content for social media or even my own website.

A young man and woman sit on a large rock outside a building, smiling and looking at a phone together. The man holds a Coca-Cola bottle and a small wooden crate with Coke bottles, while the woman holds a Coke bottle. There is an open vintage-style pi

A couple in wedding attire sitting on stone steps in front of a wooden door, enjoying ice cream together.

Black and white photo of a couple kissing outdoors, woman wearing a dress and man wearing a white shirt with suspenders.

A young man smiling outdoors at Griffith Park in a field with tall grass and green bushes, wearing a white shirt, gray pants, suspenders, a polka dot bow tie, and a watch.

A bride and groom standing together outdoors on their wedding day, with a rocky landscape and mountains in the background at Cielo Farms in Malibu.

A bride and groom holding each other on a rocky trail outdoors at Cielo Farms in a desert landscape during sunset.

A woman in vintage-style wedding underwear holding a parasol standing outdoors in a garden with various plants and greenery.

A bride and groom walking hand in hand outdoors on a sunny day, surrounded by desert vegetation in Griffith Park.

A man in a black tuxedo, white dress shirt, patterned bow tie, and sunglasses stands outdoors, with a flower tucked into his lapel, during sunlight.

A bride and groom standing close together, with their foreheads touching, outdoors in Rancho Palos Verdes. The bride is wearing a white wedding dress and a flower in her hair, and the groom is in a white shirt with suspenders. They appear to be shari

A woman in pink lace lingerie, stockings, and a lace veil stands near a pink artificial cherry blossom tree in a white room with wooden floors.

A man wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket is giving a piggyback ride to a woman with long hair, who is leaning over and looking at him affectionatelly, outdoors on a sunny day.

A woman wearing a bridal veil and holding a bouquet of mixed flowers and green foliage.

A black and white photo of a young couple hugging and leaning against a vintage car on the street, with power lines and a tree in the background.

A woman sitting on a gold ornate bench with a sheer veil over her head and shoulders, in a softly lit room with light-colored walls and wooden flooring.

Woman in pink lingerie holding a large bouquet of eucalyptus.

Woman in a white dress walking down a cobblestone street in Olvera Street Downtown L.A. with colorful buildings in the background.

A woman with short dark hair, wearing a pink bow headband and a light-colored bra, sitting outdoors with her eyes closed, resting her chin on her hand, and smiling softly.

A couple dressed in wedding attire, with the man lifting the woman, smiling and looking into each other's eyes in a natural outdoor setting with trees and sunlight.

A woman in white vintage wedding lingerie and a veil standing outdoors in front of pink flowers.

A man dressed in a black tuxedo with a white shirt and a bow tie, wearing sunglasses, standing outdoors on grass with a garden background at Cielo Farms.

A couple dressed in wedding attire standing close together outdoors in a field with hills in the background at sunset at Portuguese Bend Reserve in Rancho Palos Verdes.

A woman in a wedding dress kisses a smiling man in a dress shirt and bow tie, who is carrying her in his arms.

Close-up of a woman wearing a white lace bra and a veil, with large blue earrings, partially obscured by the veil.

A happy couple in wedding attire walking outdoors on a bright day in Olvera St. DTLA, with the man holding a bouquet of flowers.

Why I Use Kodak 35mm Film and Nikon Film Cameras to Photograph Weddings in Los Angeles

Someone once told me simplicity is sophistication, and intelligence is being able to make complicated things simple. I'll admit, I didn't get it at first. But over the years, these words have become inseparable from who I am. It's why I use Kodak 35mm film to photograph weddings, and why I rely on film cameras like the Nikon F3, N75, F6, and F5 — the same F5 I've used for over twenty years — supported by Tap & Dye leather wrist straps, carried in a Domke bag I picked up around the same time; because they just work, no firmware update required.

I've been using 35mm film since 2003. Because it's practical. Because it's consistent. The color and tonal depth when paired with the right lens and light are unmatched. It's no wonder why Hollywood still uses Kodak 35mm motion picture film. And while you can't always explain how film looks, you can feel it. Drawing you in with its quiet beauty of natural light and tones without the artificial sheen of viral social media trends. Holding its own by honoring the subtle, meaningful moments of a wedding by speaking to those who value quiet memories over spectacle. Like an In-N-Out burger in Los Angeles: honest, consistent, and unpretentiously simple.