About Andrew
Photographer | World Traveller | Dog Lover
Hey there! I’m Andrew, a wedding photographer and videographer born and raised on the beautiful southern coast of California. While Ventura County’s ocean breeze is part of who I am, there’s something about the mountains that’s captured my heart—especially when my fiancée and I are exploring national parks together (we’re kind of adventure junkies!).
I’ve been capturing love stories since 2011, photographing over 500 weddings, and I recently proposed to my girlfriend last year. So trust me—I know firsthand how overwhelming yet exciting the wedding planning process can be!
When I’m not behind the lens, you’ll probably find me hiking, traveling, or taking improv classes. And whether it’s whipping up something delicious in the kitchen or snowboarding down some fresh powder, I like to keep things fun!
But let’s talk about you—I can’t wait to learn all about your love story and what makes your journey unique. My favorite part of this job is getting to know you, so those special moments become captured memories that you’ll treasure forever.
Ready to bring your vision to life?
Whether you're dreaming of timeless wedding photos or a cinematic love story, I’d love to hear all about it!
From Curiosity to Craft: A Photographer’s Tale
If you’re still here then that means you might be a little curious as to how I arrived at this point in my life. Allow me to share how I fell in love with photography (and got pretty good at it throughout the years).
So this passion of mine for photography has existed since I could first remember picking up my dad’s film camera in the late 80’s. My lifelong journey with photography started when I was just a wee lad at 4 years old. My dad was a film photographer for the Peace Corps, and I remember picking up his camera and getting scolded, “Put that down Andrew!” I was confused. Why was he so mad? After all, I’m 4. Everything is a toy to be played with at one point or another, right?
According to my dad, that camera was not a toy. One of my first memories of my dad was him telling me that I would never be able to ‘play’ with that toy until I could afford to replace it. So my childhood continued on, and although I physically didn’t grow up using a camera, I was eternally curious about it’s magic powers.
Fast forward to 2006. It was the summer before my study abroad semester in Barcelona. I had an upperclassmen friend who was booking commercial magazine photoshoots. I did everything in my power to emulate this guy. The beauty he created with his camera was awe-inspiring. I stuck to that guy’s back like white on rice (I can make that joke because I’m 3/4 Japanese). He mentored me and I bought my first professional grade DSLR camera. A Nikon D70. It wasn’t much, but for what I wanted to achieve, it would do just fine.
In August of 2006, I flew halfway across the world to Barcelona, where I was set free to explore, capture, and create. Oh, and I studied un poquito de Español, tambien. Being born and raised in the Los Angeles suburbs of Oxnard, California, I had never seen so much beauty in architecture and landscapes as I did while I was in Barcelona. Mind you, this was before pinterest, before instagram. So I let my passion for photography run free.
Not for likes, not for followers. Just for myself.
My most prized photo was a couple riding their motorcycle 40 mph down Via Laietana- a panning photo where the entire building behind them was blurred, and my subject (the couple on their bike) was frozen in time. The driver had his eyes glued to my camera, while his passenger had her eyes ahead of them. No one ever saw this photo. I had no one to share it with. But in my soul, I felt like I had accomplished something marvelous. It was a breathtaking moment that I could relive, over and over, every time I looked at it.
In 2008, I moved back home from college. By this time, I had 2 years of black and white film photography under my belt, as well as 2 years experience as my university’s newspaper’s head photographer. I made it a goal of mine that no matter what I did for work, I would never let my passion for photography go. So I made friends with a guy who worked at a photo studio equipment company in Ventura, CA, and invested in my first professional studio backdrop and lighting set up.
Over the course of the next 3 years, I mastered off-camera studio flash and lighting. I would bring my “mobile photo studio” to parties, corporate events, and weddings, and take photos of party-goers, who would then receive a print of their debauchery, a few days later (this was before modern day photobooths). Little did I know that this service would eventually evolve into Amori Photobooth.
In 2010, I had my highest paying mobile photo studio event for a wedding in the hills above Camarillo, CA. You know those moments in your life you look back on and say “that’s when everything changed.” This was that moment. I was sitting there, photographing hundreds of drunk guests, thinking “I had made it.” Moments later, I saw a 50 something year old woman walking by with 2 cameras on her shoulders, sweating up a storm. I was inspired. I had never considered becoming a wedding photographer. But if that woman taught me anything that night, it was that the sky is the limit.
I was immediately humbled. I made a promise to myself that I would do whatever it took to become a wedding photographer. I wanted to share my passion for capturing beautiful moments, but on a more profound stage. The next day, I went to Facebook and asked if anyone knew anyone getting married in the next month or so. And if so, if I could tag along as a 2nd photographer, free of charge. I got a reply- a high school friend named Raechelle who’s older brother was getting married in Santa Barbara the week after.
After clearing it with his photographer, I showed up and photographed my first wedding (free of charge) in 2011. Raechelle’s brother loved my photos more than the photographer that he paid thousands of dollars for. This sent my confidence through the roof.
Over the course of the next 14 years, I would go on to photograph over 500 weddings, from California to Miami, Mexico to Japan, and everywhere in between. Social media (Instagram, Facebook) and word of mouth were my only methods of marketing. My intention of sharing my passion for capturing life’s beautiful moments never wavered. But this time, I had an audience. Couples who were vowing to love one another for the rest of their lives, in the presence of their closest friends and family, with me behind the camera. It was a unique opportunity I found myself in, and one of which I was extremely proud to take the helm.
Now, with a decade and a half of experience, and countless couples who continued their love story through getting pregnant, having kids, and growing their families, I have been blessed with lifelong relationships with couple’s who’s journey with me began a year before their wedding day on their engagement session. What’s really crazy is that the newborns I photographed 14+ years ago are starting to have their sweet 15th birthdays. Talk about full circle!
When I speak to my dad (who’s now in his late 70’s) about my earliest memories picking up one of his cameras, it’s hard to believe that him denying me the chance to play with his camera all those years ago would one day lead me to become the internationally published, award winning photographer that I am today. I am forever grateful for the journey that led me to where I am. And I’m excited to see how far it’ll take me, and who I’ll get to meet along the way. Like you! :)