About this vendor
Based in Santa Barbara, CA, Claire E Hartnell Photography is a photography business that specializes in weddings and events. Owner Claire attended Maine College of Art to study darkroom photography and media. She found a passion for documenting authentic, candid moments and making them sparkle.
Claire’s photography style is journalistic, natural, and documentary, allowing her to seize each fleeting moment in time. She views each wedding she works at as a collaboration between her and her couples to create unforgettable memories. To ensure nothing goes undocumented, she is happy to cover multiple locations and only works at one event per day, so you know you have her full undivided attention.
Claire E Hartnell Photography offers a selection of packages that range from engagements and elopements to full wedding day coverage. The Deluxe package includes a complimentary engagement session, 8 hours of coverage, a second photographer, and a highlight reel of your big day. Claire would be delighted to capture your love story!
Details
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Photo Shoot Types
- Bridal Portraits
- Engagement
- Trash The Dress
Photo & Video
- Film Photography
- Photo
- Second Shooter Available
- Social Media Sharing
Photo & Video Styles
- Documentary
- Lifestyle
- Modern
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Wedding
- After Party
Awards and Affiliations
2025 '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 5.09 reviews
1000% recommend Claire for any event you are having. She was so kind and very professional. When I first spoke with her I explained to her our vision for our wedding day and she ex...
ceeded any and all expectations. Our photos turned out absolutely beautiful! I can’t imagine working with anyone else.
When we met for the first time, it felt like I was seeing an old friend who I hadn’t seen in years and we hit it off right away!
I can’t say enough good things about Claire! I was introduced to Claire through my sister who used her for her engagement and wedding photos. The same year my sister got married, I...
was pregnant with my first child, so Claire took our maternity photos and our first professional photos with our little girl - a Mother’s Day photoshoot (mini-session). As someone who hates getting their photo taken, Claire makes you feel so comfortable as her style is very candid and natural! I got to experience this in my maternity/family photoshoots, and also at my sister’s wedding. Let me tell you, Claire is the real deal when it comes to wedding photographers (and everything in between!) I am so happy with how all of our photos have turned out, and my sister’s wedding was captured perfectly. The photos are magical! Claire’s attention to detail and ability to capture the special moments in an “artsy” but still natural way is unparalleled! She also does film photos which is so fun! Claire was such an important part of both mine and my sister’s recent big life milestones, and now she truly feels like a friend! I can’t wait to use Claire for our special events and life moments in the future. I can’t recommend her enough! If you’re on the fence, hire Claire! She’s the best of the best, and the kindest, coolest human!
Claire was an absolute rockstar throughout our engagement and wedding planning! From the moment we met her a year before our big day, she was there for us every step of the way. Cl...
aire's communication skills are top-notch, and she was always punctual for every shoot. We couldn’t have picked a better photographer.
Not a single bad photo in the bunch—we look at them every day and are blown away each time. Claire is incredibly professional while making everything feel relaxed and natural. On our wedding day, it was like she was invisible, yet she captured the most stunning, candid shots.
If you’re on the fence about booking Claire for your special day or any event, don’t hesitate. You’re about to work with a master of her craft. We didn’t just get amazing photos to cherish forever; we also gained a wonderful friend. Claire, you're the best!
Claire is amazing! She is professional, punctual and has a beautiful eye for photography!
Claire was truly the best person to work with! She was an integral part of our wedding planning, had great ideas of photo styles, vibes, and moods and went above and beyond to get ...
us our perfect wedding photos.
She was easy to work with, always available when I had questions and captured so many beautiful candid moments of our ceremony and reception. Working with Claire was easy and fun, and I'm so grateful for her lovely work!
Thank you!!!
Cannot say enough good things about Claire. She is always so punctual and creative with her ideas! She gets photos back in such a timely matter. Will always use her as long as I’m ...
in the central coast!
Claire’s easy going, confident , and warm nature made our engagement shoot feel so comfortable. Her photos are unique and done with such care. Her communication was amazing and w...
e never felt rushed. It was honestly such a fun memory for my husband and I. We loved getting a handful of sneak peek photos too within 24 hours which was so fun to see and share with friends. We loved getting to work with Claire! She truly the best!
Claire is a WONDER with kids. Especially rambunctious boys. She always manages to make them smile, and her interactions are organic and genuine. What a gem, we’ll literally never g...
ive her up.
We had an amazing experience with Claire! She was incredibly nice and professional and was ready to capture every special moment of our wedding.We absolutely love the photos of us ...
and our wedding day. She perfectly captured the joy and love we felt. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented and reliable photographer!
Contact
Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara, Ventura
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