About this vendor
Charissa Magno Photography is based in San Diego, California but is available for travel worldwide. Pat and Charissa are a husband and wife wedding photography team who love to travel and document love stories in a fun, creative and intimate way. Follow along here: instagram.com/charissamagno
Details
Photo Shoot Types
- Engagement
Photo & Video
- Photo
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Wedding
Awards and Affiliations
2023 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
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.
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.026 reviews
If you’re even thinking about booking Charissa for your wedding — stop thinking and just do it. Hiring her (and her husband Pat, who makes the perfect second half of their duo) was...
hands-down one of the best decisions we made.
My wedding day was truly one of the best days of my life, and Charissa is a huge reason why. When I look back on that day years from now, she will absolutely be one of the people who comes to mind. She and Pat didn’t just show up to take pictures — they became part of the day itself, adding calm, kindness, fun, and a sense of ease that made everything better.
The quality of the photos speaks for itself — stunning, timeless, and perfectly captured. But what makes Charissa and Pat truly special is how amazing they are to be around. You spend hours with your photographer on your wedding day, and from the very start Charissa felt like part of my family and friend group. Our guests adored them — we got endless compliments and multiple people asked for their contact info on the spot.
One of my favorite parts of having the duo was Pat being with the groom and groomsmen while they were getting ready. The guys kept saying how the men usually get forgotten, and they were stoked to have such great photos of their part of the day. And then there were our two mini Aussies — who normally can’t stay focused for more than .25 seconds. Somehow, in the middle of all the wedding chaos, Charissa got them both looking at the camera and smiling coming. Those photos are priceless.
At the time of booking, it was definitely a bit of a splurge for us, but I can honestly say I’ve never felt money was so well spent. Charissa is organized, quick, talented beyond words, and truly one of the kindest humans you’ll meet. She turned around both our engagement and wedding galleries so fast, all while maintaining the highest quality.
Charissa and Pat didn’t just give us photos, they gave us memories we’ll treasure forever. If I could give more than five stars, I would.
I could not have dreamed of a better duo to photograph our wedding. Do yourself a favor, and book Charissa immediately for any of your photo needs! Her and Pat are truly amazing hu...
mans with spectacular photography skills. We are absolutely blown away by our wedding pictures, truly STUNNING. Charissa is extremely detail oriented and makes the entire process a breeze. She is so personable, and does a stellar job making you feel like you have known her forever. This helps immensely during the wedding day. I cannot recommend her enough. Words are truly not enough-I could go on for pages about how thankful we are for her and Pat. She has given us one of the most amazing gifts. It was so much fun having them photograph us. I can’t wait to book her for future events!
Charissa is the best in the business. She makes sure that she is present and 100% there for you from the moment you contact her until months after your wedding. She and her husband...
make a dynamic duo that can make anyone feel comfortable in front of the camera. She's been doing this for years, so she has expert tips and recommendations for all things wedding. My husband and I have said from the first time we spoke with her that she's the best decision we made for our wedding! She is detail oriented and focused on the experience her bride and groom have throughout the entire planning and day of wedding. I would hire her time and time again. If you are looking for a wedding photographer, look no more. She's the one you want and need!
Omg Seriously Riss and Pat are sooooo talented. We are so happy we choose them as our investment for our Wedding Day Photography team! All the photos are sooooo beautiful and magi...
cal We love all the photos and we are soooo amazed on how beyond happy we are with all the emotions and details they put into our special day!
We had such an amazing experience with them especially being a Covid bride/Wedding. With so many changes us losing our venue, date and my father-in-law's dad diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. They made our process so easy and stress free.
They genuinely care about you as a client, to make your special day unforgettable. Also what I love most is that they give you direction on what to do, and how to really capture the moment.
We've done multiple photo shoots with them as well from our civil wedding and engagement photos.
I cannot stress the importance on hiring and investing in a Wedding photography team that will be able to capture a lifetime tons of priceless memories.
We cannot thank you enough both again for all that you did for us on our special day and how it means more than you know! Thank you again so much!
Charissa and Pat are THE photography Dream Team! (While other photographers may have turned us away, they literally helped make our dream wedding vision come true.) Charissa has su...
ch incredible skill for creating a beautifully romantic and polished ambience in her photos. She has a rare gift of being able to mix both a whimsical and professional atmosphere, while making everything look elegantly natural. I could gush on about the incredible talent Charissa and Pat possess and the impeccable quality they infuse into their work. However, one can easily see every gorgeous photo they produce is a testament to that. So instead, I want to tell you what they bring to the table that other photographers can’t. From start to finish Charissa and Pat are a beacon of energetic yet soothing calm, during the potentially hectic process of wedding planning. That’s just who they naturally are— they are so genuinely sweet, kind, and helpful, and put everybody at ease. They make you feel instantly comfortable and are dedicated to ensuring their clients have fun and are well taken care of. Charissa and Pat go above and beyond for their clients because they genuinely care and take pride in their craft. They work extremely well with other vendors (because no one should have to deal with vendor drama) and when you see them side by side with more junior vendors, it’s obvious how extremely seasoned and knowledgeable they are. They are consummate professionals. Charissa and Pat have a remarkably high sense of emotional intelligence and can flex to any situation when necessary. They know exactly how to get the mission done all the while keeping their clients relaxed, engaged, and happy. Charissa is so extremely organized and her attention to detail is unparalleled (she’s an absolute dream come true for us slightly type-A brides haha!) A few anecdotal examples of how Charissa & Pat are the cream of the crop: The week of the wedding Charissa checked up on us just to see how we were doing. She's a great communicator and just radiates warmth. We had an intimate micro-wedding of only family and Charissa and Pat just felt like an extension of our family. We LOVE them!! At one point post-ceremony, we were behind schedule. However, due to their exemplary organization and skill, we made up all of the time during photos and Charissa and Pat single-handedly put us back on schedule. They also worked extremely well with our young rambunctious nephews who can’t stand still (yet they managed to capture the cutest photos of the kiddos.) Hiring Charissa and Pat was one of the best decisions we made! Investing in their services was a direct investment in our wedding day’s success. Undoubtedly, Charissa and Pat are worth it and are hands down the next-level, photography team you want supporting you through your wedding journey.
Charissa and Pat are simply INCREDIBLE. They are not only both very talented, but SO personable and so full of joy and love. Photos were a top priority for my husband and I. We ...
wanted pictures that we would be proud to hang on our walls forever... Charissa & Pat surely did not disappoint. Charissa was recommended to us by a family friend and from the minute my husband and I started talking to Charissa on the phone when searching for vendors, we felt our personalities click and we knew she was the one to capture our big day.... And she really did capture everything PERFECTLY. We just received our photos and they exceeded every expectation. They both have an eye for every beautiful detail and angle. We've showed off some photos already and everyones feed back is the same: "these pictures look like they came out of a magazine!!" They are bright, romantic and timeless.. and bring back ALL the feels. Charissa had a way of making us feel so comfortable in front of the camera (and my husband and i are both very shy in front of a lens), making us giggle and laugh capturing the best candid moments.
As a bride, she made me feel secure and excited about the whole wedding planning process. Charissa was on top of EVERYTHING- her client portal, the photography list, getting to know the names of our families and bridal party, scoping out locations ahead of time, etc ... the list of amazingness goes on! On the day of our wedding, Charissa was not only our photographer, but she was an extension of my bridal party... one of my girls! I felt like she had my back with all the details from my hair and dress to the petals of our flower bouquets. I had a unique request on our wedding day and she even added in suggestions that made it even more special! She helped alleviate any worries or stress just by keeping her upbeat positive attitude and smile. My husband expressed the same sentiment with Pat capturing the guys.
If you want a photographer who you can trust to capture your perfect wedding day, is easy to talk to, doesn't add any stress, passionate about their work and just sincere good-hearted person- Charissa Magno is your girl!
Charissa and her husband are EXTREMELY talented!!! I've never seen more beautiful wedding photos in my life. They far, far exceeded my expectations and was blown away. Not only wil...
l you get very high quality photos, they are the kindest people you will meet. Charissa directed photos flawlessly and always has a positive attitude even though my long list of family pictures made some people tired. As someone that gets overwhelmed by taking photos, she made me feel comfortable, beautiful, and just joyful and the pictures show that. I really can't say enough great things about these beautiful people. We fully intend to keep in touch and hopefully get photos in the future of our growing family. Thank you Charissa and Pat! For anyone researching wedding photographers, I'd book them Asap
When my Husband and I were looking for a wedding photographer, we stumbled across a beautiful picture at one of the venues we were visiting. Although we picked a different venue, w...
e knew Charissa & Pat were the ONE! I still remember hopping on a call with her back in 2018 and knowing instantly that she has to be the one to capture this amazing milestone in our lives.
In terms of logistics, Charissa is extremely organized and responsive; she was also really clear on all pricing, questions I had and even had a portal for me to log in to to obtain documents/input information. All of these areas really helped when it came to diffusing the stress of wedding planning (along with postponing and re-planning a wedding throughout covid).
Words can not express the appreciation my husband and I have for Charissa and Pat (along with their patience). We initially hired them to capture our wedding in 2020 but unfortunately, the pandemic got in the way. My husband and I went through 2 long postponements and after almost FOUR years of waiting for our special day, Charissa and Pat rode the wave with us and captured this beautiful day perfectly. Our entire wedding party even mentioned how they impressed they were with the service Charissa and Pat provided. They are truly the most genuine and kind people you will ever meet.
We truly hit the jackpot when we found Charissa's photo at a venue.
Charissa Magno photography is so great! Very professional and personal. Also photos are so crisp and clean even before editing! Definitely recommend this photographer!
Charissa is such a wonderful human being. She’s so good in heart and full of love. She goes above and beyond to make the experience unimaginably more magical. Her and her work are ...
truly one of a kind.
When it came to photos with friends and family (including children), she did such a great job capturing everyone at once. Managing large groups can be hard - people not looking, people not smiling, or people with their eyes closed. She was able to deliver a ton of photos that had everyone looking great.
She made the couple’s photoshoot comfortable and gave direction when needed. It was such a fun, enjoyable, and intimate experience having her photograph us. Her editing style is bright and vivid. I felt like I was in a fairytale and her pictures made us look like we were in a fairytale.
Im going to hire her for all photo needs for the rest of my life!
I love the way Charissa photographs and her whole aesthetic. Her pictures have a bright and airy feel but are timeless and not trendy.
There were a ton of photos (around 800) betw...
een the two events I was viewing. I appreciated the variety of poses and backgrounds as well as the fact that there wasn’t anything cheesy. The guest portal was easy to use and loaded all photos quickly as I scrolled.
One of my best friends had hired her for both her Tea Ceremony in San Diego and Wedding in Hawaii. She is very accommodating, and she travels!
We recently received all the photos ...
and I must say, they are absolutely stunning to perfection! Just scrolling through all the photos definitely gets me feeling some type of way and on an emotional roller coaster of happiness and tears for my dear friend!
All the photos are bright, vivid, colorful, and beautifully edited. There are TONS of magnificent shots, all high quality. You definitely get what you pay for!
Not to mention, all the photos are uploaded to a professional website and provided link, that can be easily accessed for both clients and guests. And super easy to love, download, and share!
Would highly recommend this photographer!
Where do I even begin! From the moment we first met Charissa.. we knew she was the one! What impressed us the most was that her first question to us was how did my husband and I me...
et. I love that she wanted to get to know us first before just jumping into business. My husband and I have never been one of those couples that take a lot of photos.. we just aren’t comfortable in front of the camera. But Charissa just has this special gift that allows everyone to be comfortable - our bridal party agreed too! Being photographed can make you feel vulnerable, but Charissa has a way of doing her art with such grace that it allows you to feel comfortable in your own skin and have fun as well! Aside from her awesome photo skills, she is a true professional. She was always available when we had questions, she was super organized, and she even helped us with our timeline. Even on the day of our wedding, I almost felt like she was a second coordinator for us because she made the day go by so seamlessly. And of course, once I received the photos.. all my friends and family have been raving about how great the photos came out. We are so thankful that we met Charissa! Not only will we continue to use her services as we embark on this new journey as husband and wife.. but we truly feel that we found a friend!
As I type this, my eyes fill with tears. I love Charissa. Not just as an amazing photographer, but as a human being. There is something about her that draws you to her, and you a...
lways want to come back. Finding a photographer is such a difficult process, how do you find someone you can trust to capture the moment of one of the most important days of your life? Thankfully you have found Charissa, and are reading this review, and the answer to that question is Charissa Magno. She is worth it. So congratulations, your search is over, you found your photographer, contact her right away!
From the moment you contact her, her energy and love of weddings and love itself becomes evident. She takes a real interest in knowing your love story, who you are, and it becomes more than just hiring a person, it becomes a friendship, and a true want to make things as perfect as possible for you on your special day.
The planning, the honest discussions of how to get everything you want, and helping you realize what is most important to you, is done in a beautiful way, to help set expectations properly and also help you feel assured that she will capture everything just how you want it.
What's also so special about Charissa, is that she works with her husband Pat, who is another wonderful human being. Having a married couple capture your wedding, you know they know how important the day is, and how to make sure everything is perfect. They also offer an engagement photo shoot months before the wedding, which is amazing because not only do you get wonderful photos (and they know all the best spots to take them!) but you get to meet them, work with them, build a rapport with them before the wedding so by the time the day has come, it's like reuniting with friends. We highly recommend doing this, it was such a great experience.
On wedding day they have a way of getting in extra shots, hurrying you to get everything you asked for but not feeling rushed, and getting candid and special moments as they see them happening. It's wonderful and hilarious as we looked at pictures and videos our guests took throughout the night, you almost ALWAYS see Charissa in the background hard at work or legit running full speed to get shots, she is everywhere and CARES SO MUCH. I can not stress that enough, if she is your photographer, she truly feels the gravity of this being your wedding day, and will do everything in her power to make it right, while also looking out for you in the process to look your best. I want to keep writing forever, she is a magical dream of a person, but will stop here. Again, Charissa is worth it. It will be the best choice you make for your wedding to work with her.
Charissa and her husband Pat were the BEST to work with! My now-husband and I are so thankful for them being available on our wedding day. They were professional, funny, and kind, ...
and made us feel at ease despite never being photographed before. Charissa even helped me come up with a wedding day timeline and offered many ideas when it came to the engagement photoshoot. They definitely exceeded our expectations and we're so lucky to have had them capture the most unforgettable day of our lives. THANK YOU! <3
I cannot begin to explain how amazing Charissa and her husband were. I have been in or have attended weddings that she has photographed, but this was my first time working with her...
directly. SHE IS AMAZING! Not only is she talented and has passion for what she does, it also shows by her kindness and enthusiasm. She made the experience working with her so fun. My husband and I are not ones to enjoy being in front of the camera, we're a bit camera shy, but she made us forget that they were there and to just enjoy and be in the moment. I would highly recommend her to be your photographer, you will definitely appreciate the experience as a whole. Don't skip out on the opportunity, if given, to have her capture special moments in your life.
Charissa & Pat are kind, genuine, experienced and brilliant! When my husband and I first met them we had an instant friendship. They took the time to get to know us and what we car...
ed about most. And that shows in the photos they captured.
The photos were the MOST important detail to me, so I knew I wanted to invest in the best. I‘m a full time photographer myself! And I met Charissa and Pat at a networking event for photographers. Meeting them in person and looking through their blog told me everything I needed to know. Their work is detailed and consistently stunning. I knew that by hiring them we wouldn’t have to worry or stress. They create magic!
Charissa & Pat felt more like family at our wedding than photographers. Soooo many of our guests and family commented on what exceptional job our photographers did! They were professional, personable, and made us feel at ease.
They don’t miss A SINGLE MOMENT!! It’s obvious they love what they do, and they love their couples. And I can tell you from working in the wedding industry myself, not all photographers will go the extra mile like they do. If you’re thinking about hiring Charissa Magno Photography I can say without a doubt it will be one of THE BEST decisions you make when it comes to your wedding planning. They won’t let you down.
My husband and I love going back through our engagement photos and wedding album to relive the special moments. We’re grateful to have sooo many gorgeous photos we’re proud to share. We can’t wait to show these to our children one day :)
We cannot thank you enough Charissa & Pat Magno!! You are truly exceptional at what you do. We love you, and thank you for making our day so special.
Ryan & Meg
Let me just start by saying that Charissa and Pat are true professionals and she is an incredible photographer. I fell in love with her photos and her style the first time I came a...
cross her Instagram and when we started looking for wedding vendors, she was my non-negotiable. But what separates Charissa and Pat from every other photographer is how much they care about their clients and couples. They were more than vendors... they became our friends and they went above and beyond to make sure our wedding day was everything we ever dreamed of.
From the very beginning of wedding planning, Charissa was available for every question I had. From colors, to shoes, to vendor recommendations, to my day-of timeline... everything! I trusted her more than anyone during the wedding planning process and she was always willing to help.
Her energy is contagious and you can't help but be happy when you're around her. She was such a light on our wedding day and she made our day 100x better just by being a part of it. We could not imagine our wedding day without Charissa and Pat! She was organized, professional and focused... but she was also a calming presence (and fun!) She has an incredible eye for photos and I love every single photo from our wedding day.
I could go on and on about Charissa and Pat. They are simply the best. Seriously - book them as your photographer!
Other than my husband himself, Charissa and Pat were the greatest blessings on our wedding day.
They were huge assets, and they go above and beyond what typical photographers do....
They aren't just talented shooters, but they direct their subjects so that they aren't uncomfortable, and obviously, the work speak for itself. She has a phenomenal eye for detail.
If I had to describe Charissa, she would be part photographer, part wedding coordinator, part bridesmaid. Pat also ensured that the timeline went smoothly and it really took the stress off of me and my partner. Essentially, with this team, you are getting more than just a photographer.
They are also extremely well respected in the wedding industry. I legitimately got a discount from my videographer because he said that working with Charissa would just make his life easier. My makeup artist also said nice things about her. Basically, this is the holy grail of photographers, and you should look no further.
My now husband and I met with a handful of photographers before our wedding, but the moment I did a consultation with Charissa I just knew she was the one for the job. I loved her ...
energy and personality. Charissa is very organized, professional and detail oriented and the style of her photography is exactly what I was searching for. I had so much fun during our engagement shoot and loved my photos so much I used them on our invitations. For our wedding Charissa and Pat didn’t miss a moment! I just got my sneak peaks from my wedding and I’m in love. A thank you simply isn’t enough for beautiful photos I can cherish for a lifetime. I am so glad we chose Charissa and Pat for our big day.
Charissa Magno and her team are INCREDIBLE!
I've been a DJ, Wedding Officiant & Wedding Emcee for over 20 Year now (Sureflow Entertainment).
Fortunately, I've been able to work w...
ith Charissa and her team a couple times now and each time, their professionalism, attention to detail and work ethic have been second to none.
The first time that I was able to witness her work was for a Wedding Photo Shoot that my wife, a local artisan baker (Made With Extra Love), was participating in.
The shoot was super impressive and the photos were absolutely GORGEOUS. It takes a certain type of person and team, to collaborate with so many different businesses, like Charissa did that day.
The most recent time that I was able to work with Charissa was as a Wedding officiant for one of her clients. I've posted a few of the photos that she shared with me, as she did with all of the other vendors that served that day.
Not only did she and her team do a phenomenal job on the day of the wedding, especially in their communication, but afterwards, I was pleasantly surprised to receive an incredible email from her.
The email was detailed, included ALL of the vendors from the event and some of the photos that her tram took that day.
Her team didn't have to do that, but just like I have witnessed at each event, again, her team has gone above and beyond.
When I think of Charissa Magno Photography, I think of GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.
I highly recommend Charissa Magno Photography.
Their team is high class.
I’ve dreamt of having Charissa as my photographer for years! When her and her husband Pat were available for our New York elopement, I knew it was going to be epic and I was right....
She’s professional, she’s sweet, she’s hard working, she’s simply AMAZING. Since Charissa and Pat were from San Diego, initially I wasn’t sure how it would all work out but they arrived about 4 days before the wedding to go location scouting around the time we had anticipated on going. This eased my mind a lot because the day of the wedding, they knew exactly where they wanted to go, we didn’t waste anytime and the photos came out to pure perfection. Originally Central Park was a sunset location but after Charissa and Pat went to test out some shots, they realized there was way too many people so they suggested we go at sunrise for a more romantic no one was around feel and it was the best call! I don’t think I can thank them enough for their hard work prior to the wedding day, on the wedding day, and countless hours of editing. I’m so happy we invested with Charissa Photography and we chose them to document our wedding day because they weren’t just photographers by the end of the night, they became our friends and we’re so thankful for the memories. Ps. We got our wedding photos in and I’m having THE hardest time choosing what photos to put on our announcement cards. Charissa and Pat are THAT good!
My husband and I just received our wedding photos and I have been obsessed with them. I looked forward to them so much because I knew her quality of work. We got both our engageme...
nt photos and our wedding photos captured by Charissa. She has a gift of telling a beautiful story through her lens. I was able to relive our wedding day with each photo.
Thank you so much Charissa and Pat for going above and beyond what we had ever imagined! It was a huge honor to have you as our wedding photographer! We knew from the beginning that you were the one. The whole journey was pure bliss. Thank you both!!!
This is waaaaayyyy overdue. Charissa and Pat are the most dynamic duo you will ever meet! Professional, friendly, caring, and take the most beautiful pictures you will ever set you...
r eyes on. We had such an incredibly experience getting to know them and working with them pre-wedding and day of. Charissa makes you feel like the most beautiful bride in the world, her sweet demeanor makes you feel so comfortable from start to finish and I know my husband felt the same way about Pat. Honestly, words cannot do them justice, until you have the opportunity to work with them it’s hard to translate how incredible they truly are. It’s been three months since our wedding and we are still in awe, reliving our beautiful day with our photos. We feel so blessed and fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Charissa and Pat. If you are looking for a wedding photographer, please look no further, Charissa Magno Photography is the answer to your prayers!! I heard so many times that your wedding day goes by so quickly and soaking in every moment is sometimes hard because there is so much going on, this is why I am forever thankful to this team because their photos capture every emotion that you could feel on your big day. You get to relive your wedding with every photo and that is truly priceless! I could go on and on about Charissa and Pat so please don’t hesitate and book them ASAP!!! We love you Charissa and Pat!
I do not even know where to start for this review of Charissa! She is not only one of the most talented photographers I've ever seen, she is one of the kindest people in the world!...
My fiance Andrew and I just shot our engagement photos with her (and her husband Pat!) and the pictures are BEYOND anything we could have ever imagined. She worked with me beforehand to find a location that was going to match my vision perfectly. She even helped me finalize which outfits to wear! Charissa goes above and beyond to make sure every single detail is perfect and special for you.
My fiance and I were a bit nervous before the photoshoot - we'd never done something like that before! Charissa gave us such amazing direction that we were comfortable in front of the camera within literally two minutes. All of our photos came out so natural (no cheesy poses!) and so US. The lighting, the edits, and the angles were all perfection. We told her that even if the photos weren't of us, we would want to have them framed on our wall anyways. That is how beautiful they are! I cannot wait to see what she comes up with for our wedding photos. I trust her IMPLICITLY and genuinely love being around her. We will be using Charissa as our lifetime photographer - maternity, family, holiday cards, etc. I would recommend her to absolutely anyone!
Charissa is everything AND more! After looking at her website and speaking to her over the phone, I knew I just had to have her photograph my wedding. My fiance and I were apprehen...
sive and nervous about being in front of the camera and Charissa made us feel so comfortable and relaxed. The entire shoot we were laughing and having such a wonderful time. It was like hanging out with a friend we've known for a long time. After the shoot, we all went out for dinner which was really nice because I got to know Charissa and Pat on a level beyond just being our photographer. Your photographer is going to be with you the entire day of your wedding; it's important to know that you're going to be comfortable with them! When we got a sneak peak into our engagement photos, Charissa exceeded my expectations (and trust me, I had high ones to begin with). I am so in love with our photos (I may have shed a tear or two) and it just makes me so excited to work with her and Pat again for our wedding. If you want someone who is completely in LOVE with what they do, gives you 200% of themselves when doing their work, and just a downright wonderful person... Charissa is your girl.
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