Los Angeles Film Wedding Photographer

Jennifer Render・Elle Render Events (zola review)

As a wedding planner, I have the opportunity to work alongside many talented photographers — and David Cruz, aka The Drunk Wedding Photographer, truly stands out. We recently collaborated on a client’s wedding at Cavalli Estates in San Luis Obispo, and his pictures are absolutely stunning. His film wedding photography is timeless, romantic, and artfully composed in a way that feels both elevated and effortless. The tones and texture he achieves on film are just beautiful — every image feels intentional, emotional, and iconic.

From a planner’s perspective, he is a dream to work with. He’s calm, organized, professional, and incredibly easygoing. He communicates well, keeps the day flowing smoothly, and brings such a grounded, positive energy to the entire team. My clients were over the moon with him and felt completely at ease in front of his camera. Beyond his immense talent, David is genuinely kind. Guests adored him. Family members commented on how wonderful he was. Vendors loved collaborating with him. He brings a warmth and authenticity that elevates not just the photos, but the entire experience.

Goes without saying I highly recommend him for your wedding in the Central Coast and look forward to collaborating with him in yet another private vineyard estate wedding in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. If you’re considering booking him, you are in very good hands. And did I mention he even got our wedding published in the recent print edition of The White Wren!?

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Chelsea de la Torre (the white wren interview)

My grandmother owns Cielo Farms, yes, that Cielo Farms in Malibu, practically grew up in the property and saw hundreds of weddings, styles, decor, photographers etc. every weekend. So when Trayer and I started planning our own wedding as cliche as it sounds, didn't want the same wedding I grew up with. Sounds funny to associate DIY with Cielo Farms, but that's what it felt like. An unassuming taco dinner by Guerrilla Tacos with close friends and family with a wedding ceremony attached to it. Our friend Rob Pausmith set up the rest.

For photographers we of course wanted someone laid back who understood that despite it being in Cielo Farms, was not a Cielo Farm wedding by any stretch. We found David Cruz on google, showed up first when we looked for a film wedding photographer in los angeles and unbeknownst to us at the time, was right around the time he was cooking his new brand, The Drunk Wedding Photographer. As he put it, a self-proclaimed mezcal and taco connoisseur, we had to get this guy on board.

And so glad we did because we were completely taken away by the photos and the video!!! He was truly something special and captured our day perfectly. David completely outdid himself and we will forever be grateful to him. Trayer and I both immediately cried when we started watching the home movie style interview video. We are still speechless but filled with so much love. And yes, he was so right about waiting to hold the actual prints of our wedding pictures, there was something so magical about that. The presentation was gorgeous and we are so happy to have the physical photos.

David is such a kind and generous person! Went the extra mile and it is unlike anything we could have imagined. We thanked him so much and we really hope to work with him again! Not another wedding of course!!

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Addie Ramonda (google review)

Choosing David as our wedding photographer was one of the best decisions we made for our day. He was easy to contact and had timely responses, he was collaborative in his approach and listened to our ideas and how we wanted the day to be captured, he took the time to understand what we imagined and cared about bringing those ideas to life.

He set clear expectations for processing time and followed through perfectly. The presentation of the prints was absolutely beautiful, such a special touch. Every detail felt thoughtfully done. Also- Kodak film (from the little knowledge I have) is what helped contribute to the beauty of the color of our photos!

What meant the most to us was how seamlessly he fit into the day. He never pulled us away from our guests or the moments we were living. Instead, he quietly captured everything as it unfolded, pure, honest, joy-filled moments we didn’t even realize he was catching. David managed to get photos of everyone at our wedding and somehow bottled up all the joy and love that was present; looking through the photos, you can truly feel the day all over again. All of our guests loved David and enjoyed chatting with him!

He listened to everything we wanted and that meant the world to us! We are so grateful and couldn’t recommend him more.

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Christopher Park (boho weddings & bespoke bride interview)

From engagement to the wedding day was almost exactly 9 months. Most of the major decisions were made very quickly because we knew what we wanted. And of course, David Cruz The Drunk Wedding Photographer top of the list, booked first.

We found The Drunk Wedding Photographer via a simple Google search while combing through a number of potential photographers’ websites.  David’s site had a lot of personality to it we liked, rooted in L.A., and we loved that he uses Kodak film.

We're in the movie industry, so that detail is much appreciated. We also tend to hate overtly posed (read: cheesy) wedding photos you see a lot of the time.  We knew we didn’t want the shot of the bride looking longingly out the window.  We wanted fun candids with only a couple produced moments, and lots of family photos! And David more than delivered and with prints on top of that!

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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.

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David + Taylor (thank you email)

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!

Deliverables

• Whether I'm booked for a Beverly Hills Courthouse elopement or a three-day destination wedding in a private vineyard estate on the Central Coast, each one of my clients receives a full set of 4x6 proof prints of all final images as a standard deliverable. Not a curated set or a print credit. No. You get every single picture printed. And yes, you also receive an industry-standard online gallery where you can view, download, and order additional prints.

Coverage Time

• Unlike the industry norm of hour-based packages, my flat-rate pricing is based on guest count rather than a fixed number of coverage hours. Say I'm booked for a Beverly Hills Courthouse wedding. I know from experience that it's usually about 15 people present and about a 4-hour job when all is said and done. If a client decides to have lunch afterward, I usually cover that as well. Or say I'm booked for a single venue wedding of around 50 that starts around 4 p.m. I stick around until I see the party wind down — unless there's a last-minute after-party. I never say no to late-night cheap beer at the local dive bar. Now, since I am a one-man show, I need to know whether I can realistically cover a wedding on my own. Because a 20-person wedding and a 250-person wedding are not the same thing, even if the timeline is identical.

What's Not Included

• In an effort to keep my rates competitive in this economy, the following are not included in the base price: getting-ready coverage, indoor religious ceremonies (because my Nikon F5 and Nikon D700 are too dang loud), extensive bridal party pictures, and heavy product-style detail pictures — such as table decorations, floral arrangements, lay-flat stationery, and similar setups created primarily for vendor promotional content. Because keep in mind there are only so many rolls of film I can carry at any given time, and I can't walk into a corner drug store to pick some up like the good old days. So I'd rather use this finite resource to photograph you, your family, and your friends who traveled far and wide to be with you.

Think of standard digital wedding photography as McDonald's and film wedding photography as your local hamburger joint with two flavors: the hole-in-the-wall that's been around forever and serves the same menu it always has, and the expensive gourmet burger spot — the hipster restaurant or high-end steakhouse.

With McDonald's (digital), you know exactly what you're getting: consistency every time, no matter which location you visit. It's almost always open, offers speedy service, and comes with the convenience of being available nearly everywhere. On the other hand, the local joint (film) — whether it's the old greasy spoon or the upscale steakhouse — usually has only one location. It may be more or less expensive, might not always be open, and often comes with longer wait times. And while the quality is absolutely there — because more of it is done by hand — the consistency varies from one experience to the next.

In other words, film is less like one restaurant and more like every independent burger joint in town. Some are affordable neighborhood institutions. Others are expensive gourmet experiences. None of them are trying to be McDonald's. McDonald's gives you consistency. Independent restaurants give you something more individual but less standardized. Neither is inherently better than the other because both deliver a great burger — or, in our case, a great picture. So like most things life, it comes down to personal preference and what you value most.

I'm a one-man show. I'm the one you inquire with, the one you call on Zoom, the one who shows up to your wedding, edits your pictures, and hand-inspects every print before delivery. Absolutely nothing in my workflow, or the pictures I take of you is automated, outsourced, or run through Ai. This level of attentiveness to each one of my clients is why I only book small weddings with a low guest count. Allowing me to photograph your wedding without relying on an associate, an assistant or even a second photographer.

While I look forward to visiting new and familiar places, destination weddings that require me to fly out of Los Angeles are not practical — not because of the destination itself, but because flying with plastic bags full of Kodak 35mm film means dealing with strict airport Homegirl Saccurity Company and film-damaging X-ray machines. That said, I occasionally photograph multi-day destination weddings in the Central Coast, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Palm Springs, and even Taco Bell weddings in Las Vegas. So if I can drive to your wedding, I'm in — even if it means going out of state. See the pricing page for the current destination wedding rate, and note that the current rate does not include the car rental cost and a three-night stay near the venue, both of which are billed separately.

If your wedding takes place outdoors during daylight hours, then yes, I will photograph the entirety of your wedding exclusively with my reliable, tank-like workhorse of a camera: the Nikon F5, loaded with real Kodak 35mm film.

However! At night I use the Nikon D700 because, while I make every effort to use film both indoors and at night, the ambient light in your venue will ultimately influence how I photograph your wedding at any given time. That said, some pictures may not be technically possible to photograph on film regardless of available light, in which case digital would be the practical choice. A prime example is the Beverly Hills City Hall building, in which I use the Olympus E-M1 to photograph the entire building in one frame. I approach weddings as a pragmatic professional service provider first, artist second.

Now, to be absolutely crystal clear, how I photograph a wedding is not what most wedding photographers call "hybrid coverage" in which both film and digital are used simultaneously, often taking the same picture twice on both formats. Or worse, advertise film coverage to then use one roll of film with all digital coverage with film aesthetic presets. A deceptive and performative practice all too common these days. My approach is strictly Kodak film all the way through until the sun goes down or the party moves indoors at night.

Absolutely internet stranger! I photograph a handful of confidential weddings in Los Angeles each year, and have no hang-ups on not using your pictures for social media or even my own website. 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 social media clout.