We were in need of a photo/video team to cover our rehearsal dinner and I am sooooo grateful we found Carson!! He captured the day and evening so beautifully and made me and my husband feel so comfortable in front of the camera. His photos perfectly reflect the candid moments with friends and family and all the love we felt that day. Obsessed with how they turned out!!
Julia W.
5.0
Carson was absolutely amazing. So personable and so easy to work with. He knew exactly what to capture and when! We absolutely love how he hits the bar with every single shot. Candid, posed, film style, absolutely all are amazing. Got the pictures to us quick with such an easy link to access them all! We felt like he was our friend during the entire process and it was so easy to be ourselves in front of him.
Sage A.
5.0
About this vendor
Carson Shoemaker
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Full price list on my website!
Based in the Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo area, Carson Shoemaker Photography offers wedding photography across all of California’s Central Coast! Carson is happy to travel to the surrounding areas for little to no charge. He works with brides to find their unique style and then works to make their vision come to life on their big day! Carson offers a variety of photography packages in order to accommodate everyone's budget and let professional photography be a part of every wedding!
For more information, photos, & an easy way to contact me please visit my website. Additional add-ons include engagement shoots, having a second shooter, shooting real film etc. Please reach out for a specific quote for your big day!
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Carson Shoemaker
Head Photographer
Hey! My name is Carson Shoemaker, I am a California native living in the beautiful Paso Robles/San Luis Obispo area with my wife, daughter, and baby number two on the way. Being a full time wedding photographer has always been a huge goal of mine and I am so happy to be living that dream. I work with couples to find their individual style & come prepared to help make their special day run as smoothy as possible. It is the best job in the world to get to capture memories as they happen so that they can last a lifetime.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0
16 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Reviewers say Carson is personable, down-to-earth, and helps couples feel relaxed. He delivers stunning, varied images—candid, posed, and film-style—quickly and professionally, with an organized team that captures every moment. Highly recommended for great communication, fair pricing, and joyful, stress-free coverage.
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 2
Julia W
5.0
We were in need of a photo/video team to cover our rehearsal dinner and I am sooooo grateful we found Carson!! He captured the day and evening so beautifully and made me and my hus...
band feel so comfortable in front of the camera. His photos perfectly reflect the candid moments with friends and family and all the love we felt that day. Obsessed with how they turned out!!
Sage A
5.0
Carson was absolutely amazing. So personable and so easy to work with. He knew exactly what to capture and when! We absolutely love how he hits the bar with every single shot. Cand...
id, posed, film style, absolutely all are amazing. Got the pictures to us quick with such an easy link to access them all! We felt like he was our friend during the entire process and it was so easy to be ourselves in front of him.
Any questions?
Hannah M
5.0
Carson did a phenomenal job capturing our day! I would definitely recommend him for future services!
Victoria P
5.0
Carson played a huge part in making our day special. We were struggling to find a photographer who was right for us, but after seeing his amazing photography style and excellent pr...
icing, we knew he would be the perfect fit for our beach wedding! He has an extremely down to earth personality and an incredible eye for detail. He was very communicative and helpful throughout the entire process. We tend to be a bit awkward in front of the camera, but Carson helped us relax and got stunning shots that we will cherish forever. Our photos turned out exactly how we wanted and beyond. Our family/friends enjoyed his presence throughout the day and he caught so many wonderful moments of us with our favorite people. He sent back a generous amount of photos in a very timely matter that are edited to perfection! We tell everyone we know about Carson and highly recommend him for your photography needs!
Ashley V
5.0
Carson was such an amazing photographer and easy down to earth person to work with. He shot my husband and I’s engagement shoot and wedding. The photos I received were exactly what...
I wanted, romantic, and uniquely ours❤️ You can’t go wrong with hiring him and he will capture your beautiful day or moments just the way you want.
Suzanne K
5.0
One word: AMAZING! Everything was perfect. From the initial contact, the detailed intake form and follow-up conversations about what we wanted (and did not want) to our wedding day...
photography, Carson was simply terrific. He was on-time, prepared and took all the photos I asked for, as well as suggested photos I did not think about but was so happy he thought about them! Everyone loved Carson! He made everyone feel comfortable and at ease! I cannot say enough about him, his professionalism, how personable and flexible he was. If you want someone who is talented as well as easy to work with, you NEED to work with Carson!
Valerie T
5.0
Carson is an amazing photographer! He made the whole process incredibly easy from start to finish. We are beyond happy with the results and would highly recommend to anyone in sear...
ch of a photographer!
Kayla B
5.0
Carson was one of the main highlights of our wedding! He was so fun & easy to work with and made sure that we felt comfortable at all times. Out of all the compliments that we had ...
received during our wedding, we got the most compliments on how Carson was out on the dance floor blending in with the group and taking photos. His team was so organized and made sure to work with us in order to get all of the photos that we wanted. They really did make a stressful day MUCH easier and were easily one of the best decisions we made!!
Kimberly D
5.0
Carson was an exceptional photographer for our Santa Barbara wedding. His skill in capturing moments was evident from the start. One of my favorite stories from the day was a guest...
telling me they saw him blending in on the dance floor, dancing around to grab photos—it was awesome! Carson effortlessly ensured every important detail was beautifully preserved. His professionalism and calm demeanor made him a joy to work with. We're thrilled with the photos he captured—they truly reflect the magic of our special day. Highly recommend!
Brandi B
5.0
I am a wedding planner and found Carson for a destination wedding in Santa Barbara I was planning. I am thrilled with him and the photos. He was so easy to work with, communicati...
ve, professional, and delivered some fantastic photos. I love when my clients are excited about a vendor I chose for them and after the wedding they said that Carson was their favorite. He made it fun for them and their family and he really put them all at ease. They truly enjoyed working with him...and then he sent the photos...Wow! They are beautiful! I will be referring him to more of my clients.
Byron S
5.0
Carson was a pleasure to work with, he was very personable and did a great job at our wedding. We had an amazing day and Carson captured it all in style! We really enjoyed him as...
our photographer.
Holly S
5.0
We couldn't be happier with Carson! From start to finish, he was absolutely amazing. He has such a down-to-earth personality, which made us feel incredibly comfortable right away. ...
Both my partner and I can be a bit awkward in front of the camera, but he was so patient and provided us with lots of direction, which we really appreciated.
What truly stood out was how he completely understood our vibe. We wanted our photos to be authentic and vivacious, without any of the dramatic or cheesy elements that don't resonate with us. He nailed it! The photos are stunningly beautiful and truly capture the essence of who we are as a couple.
On top of all that, he was very affordable and incredibly easy to communicate with throughout the entire process. If you're looking for a photographer who will make you feel at ease, understand your vision, and deliver breathtaking photos, look no further. We highly recommend Carson!
Darien K
5.0
Could not be happier with the all of the photos I received! They were edited beautifully and he sent me so many!! Himself and the 2 other photographers were incredible. They captur...
ed absolutely everything. It was like having paparazzi! He is very professional and very talented. I have never had a professional photo shoot, so I didn’t know how to pose or what to do, so he guided us through all of it. There were so many poses that he had us do so that we ended up having a variety of different pictures that turned out impeccable! One of the best decisions I made for my wedding was choosing this photographer.
Alexis D
5.0
Carson is the BEST! Professional, prepared, friendly, and TALENTED! When you book him, you have truly booked the best there is. He captured EXACTLY what i wanted and the pictures t...
urned out better than I ever imagined!! Every bride needs Carson on their big day and for any event that is worth capturing!
Kasie H
5.0
I love my wedding photos! Everything leading up to the wedding was super smooth and easy. And day of was great! I had some photos in mind that he brought to life and he had great i...
deas for posing us as well. Him and his wife were so fun and easy to work with.
Kaitlyn H
5.0
Carson did our engagement shoot and he was so easy to work with, really make the whole experience easy and fun! The pictures came out exactly how I had hoped, he listed to what we ...
wanted and made it happen! His style really suited us and he gave us great directions. Overall just a great experience!
