4.9 out of 5 stars and 27 reviews Best of Weddings (1x).
4.9
(27)S. F. Bay Area and beyond. Yes we travel!
About this vendor
Our vision and approach for you is simple--capture your most cherished, notable moments, in the most creative and artistic way we know how. We love what we do and have spent over a decade doing it. You're in creative, caring, capable hands.
Details
Photo Shoot Types
- Bridal Portraits
- Day After Session
- Engagement
- Trash The Dress
Photo & Video
- Digital Files
- Online Proofing
- Photo
- Printed Enlargements
- Printed Proofs
- Second Shooter Available
Photo & Video Styles
- Artistic
- Documentary
- Dramatic
- Lifestyle
- Modern
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Rehearsals & Parties
- Wedding
Awards and Affiliations
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
4.9
out of 5.027 reviews
as a wedding designer/ planner, i have worked with numerous photographers and i have a very keen eye in recognizing the extraordinary ones. Sam is an amazing photographer. he is ...
unconventional, professional, able to deliver the above and beyond, a people person who loves what he does.
i am so pleased that i have worked with him on several of my events and would do it again and again.
As an amateur photographer, I spend a lot of time on photography blogs and forums. That is where I first discovered Sam Hassas, who was a regular contributor and would often share...
his work and knowledge with others. I always looked forward to his wedding posts. His pictures captured their subjects at their happiest, often with warmth and clarity. Several years later, when it was my turn to pick a wedding photographer, Sam was top on my list.
Sam flew cross-country to attend my wedding, bringing with him 2 extra photographers. They were all very professional and fun. My entire family opened up to them. That is partly why Sam's photos always look like people are enjoying themselves.
Wedding days are often hectic and stressful, but somehow having Sam there actually helped make it less so. I suppose that having been involved in so many weddings, he knows all the gotchas and was able to guide me through some of them. I didn't even feel like there was someone pointing a camera at me. More like having a friend watching out for me. Sam was there from the time we were setting up to well after all of us had gone back to our hotel rooms.
Our photos were fantastic. There were so many wonderful shots that it was hard to narrow down the ones that would make it into the print album. Once again, Sam was there to give us pointers on which types of photos are best for keepsakes. Several of our friends have reached out to Sam after seeing our photos.
Your wedding album may take a while to reach you. please keep in mind that your average photographer will take as many as 1000 photos at your wedding. It takes a long time to go through all of them, select the good ones, process them, and send them to you for review. Also keep in mind that a high-demand photographer like Sam will be working on multiple weddings, not just yours. And when it's time to print your photos, the album company can also take a while to put together your album, of which there is little the photographer can do. It took us about 9 months from the date of our wedding to the time we got our leather-bound album. This is pretty standard. But the finished product was absolutely worth it.
Sam was truly awe-inspiring as a wedding photographer! A wedding is one of the most meaningful events to occur in a couple's life, and Sam did an excellent job of capturing our spe...
cial day. My wife and I look back at our pictures and are immediately swept back in the moments since he was able to frame so well the emotions we experienced throughout our wedding. I truly feel he was worth every penny and more, and I would recommend him to any couple looking for the best.
My fiance and I found Sam's photography blog 7 years ago, and we knew we wanted to work with Sam for our wedding photos! We just finished up our engagement session and the photos ...
came out phenomenally! Sam truly has an eye for creative and stunning photos. He puts his best effort into each shot and edits with care! We were really impressed with how Sam takes the time to get to know you and put your style and personality into the photos. We are so truly blessed to have worked with Sam and we will forever look to him for future photography projects!
I've followed Sam's work for a long time and always knew I wanted him to shoot my wedding. Well, that time came around in 2016 and my husband was so kind as to let me splurge on my...
photography. If you want a great product, you gotta be willing to pay up. Sam shot both our engagement pictures and wedding day.
If you've worked with good photographers, you'll know GOOD editing takes time. Also, A LOT of shots will be taken to capture those special moments and that also requires time. So with that in mind, know that an excellent product will take time and just accept it upon booking.
Engagement shoot: I had 3 outfit changes! We started in Downtown Hollister to get a more dressed up look and then headed over to Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area to have a more fun vibe with dirt bikes. Sam was super fun to work with. He makes you feel comfortable!
Wedding Day: Ah I love my pictures and so do my family, friends, etc. I am constantly getting compliments on my wedding photography. He doesn't follow a "list of pictures" because he's more about documenting moments. He knows how to capture emotions and the feeling of your one and only special day, and this is exactly why I always wanted him to photograph my wedding. I wanted my wedding documented.
I have not finished my wedding album that is part of the package but only because it's so hard to pick only 75 pictures from ALL of the amazing photos.
Do you ever look at wedding photos out these days and think that's cool now but I want photos I am going to be in love with for years and years to come? Sam has a unique way of usi...
ng his creativity, sharp eye for detail, and sensitivity towards the brides needs to create a collage of wedding photos you will love today, tomorrow and forever. I feel in love with my photos from the moment I saw him. He captured my dream wedding and left me with something I can cherish for years to come. I have since booked him for other photography needs and he is my top recommendation to anyone looking for a true professional!
Sam is a wildly talented photographer. Wedding photos are the one thing you walk away with on your wedding day, and I’m so glad I entrusted this to Sam. We always get so many comp...
liments on our photos. My sister ended up using him for her wedding too! Sam is the best!
I first learned about Sam's work after a friend got married and I saw her wedding pictures. We contacted him immediately for our engagement photos and our wedding day, and it was a...
n easy decision that Sam was our guy. He really knows how to capture those special moments. I still get emotional looking through our wedding album, which we added more pages to, because there were so many amazing photos. We also love Sam's fun and very creative ways. His vision for his photography is truly impressive, and his photos really speak for themselves. Sam also knows how to work without being seen, he was very professional and respectful towards our guests. We highly recommend Sam.
We had Sam as the main photographer for our engagement and wedding and he did a fantastic job! He is super easy going and fun to work with. Now, 10 years and 3 kids later we're pla...
nning our family photoshoot with him. Highly recommended!
Sam is amazing!
From the first phone conversation to the big day I always felt very comfortable and excited! He is a true professional and a master at his art. He is always lookin...
g for unique photos that seem to capture your story!
At the end of the day your photos are what you have - and Sam is the person you want taking those photos!
The quality and care of the photos are unlike no other.
Highly recommended - you will not go wrong with Sam!
We will use Sam in the future to capture life’s precious moments.
We hired Sam back in 2010 for our wedding and couldn't be happier, 8 years later, with how wonderful the photos are. We constantly get compliments on them, even 8 years later. I se...
e in the negative reviews that Sam took some time to get the photos back to clients, and if I recall, he was just a tad late with us as well. However, the proof is in the pudding, as they say. I wouldn't have been nearly as happy with any other wedding photographer. He was the best, and proved it with each and every picture. We were shocked how many little private moments he caught at our wedding, and some of the bigger, hilarious moments he caught *perfectly*. Best money we spent on our whole entire wedding was for Sam's photography.
I first came across Sam's work online after a friend mentioned him. Sam has such a natural talent for creating beautiful photographs. He has an artistic vision that shines through ...
when he is in action and is visible in the final result of his work. Sam can be in any type of environment and make your photos look beautiful. He proved this when he took photos in my old and beat up backyard and he made it look like a beautiful orchard in the photos because of the angles and positioning that he chose. I was so pleased with my engagement photos and impressed with the time he took to meet with me and my husband to make sure he understood our needs. He is a very pleasant, considerate, and professional individual to conduct business with and I would use his services again. I really wanted Sam to be the photographer at my wedding but unfortunately he was already booked with another bride on that date. He is loyal to his customers and wouldn't cancel the original booking he had with the other bride even though I offered him 3 times the money. His character really impressed me and I recommend him to all my family and friends.
We couldn't be more happy with both our engagement session and wedding pictures. Sam is a true pro and a great photographer. He also has an amazing personality and made two camer...
a-shy people feel really at ease. He brought in a 2nd photographer for the wedding who also took amazing pictures and we have them up everywhere in our house. We consider him a friend and would recommend him to anyone.
Sam,
Thanks so much for jumping in to photograph our wedding less than two weeks before the date-- we were in a pickle and put all of our trust (and HOPE!) in you without even hav...
ing met you yet... and to say you delivered is an understatement (!)
I could write this review to Sam, but I will write it to the readers instead: If you're looking for a photographer for one of the most important days of your life, you want it to be someone you can be comfortable with, laugh with, ask to take silly angles and pictures because they make you feel good, and split a granola bar with half way through the day when it seems like that day has already lasted 10 years (it's a LONG, wonderful, but LONG day). Do yourself a favor don't just choose a photographer who takes terrific photos-- there are millions of those out there. Choose a photographer that will actually enhance the experience and make you comfortable. Sam truly added to the vibe of the day, which is exactly the type of people we aim to surround ourselves with. As for the photos, we couldn't be more thrilled with the combination of artistic, yet timeless style that Sam has. Unmatched all around!
Sam, I just wanted to drop you a line here to say a HUGE thank you to you for the superb engagement and wedding photos. You have created some stunning shots that takes us back to t...
he day each time we look at them. You’ve captured all the emotions, laughter and love perfectly. They have also been amazing to show family and friends that couldn’t make it on our day. All of them have said they feel like they were there after viewing our awesome one of a kind ostrich leather wedding album made by you!
Folks as a referral I could only tell you of my personal experience in that Sam is extremely talented and committed photographer, he was THE perfect choice for our bi-cultural wedding. His passion for photography is abundant and he took a genuine interest in our history as a bi-racial couple, taking the time to get to know us and explore our personalities and culture, so that he could capture the best possible images to represent both sides. I can personally tell you mom and mother in law were happy with the results. Sam was attentive and enthusiastic on both our pre-wedding shoot and on the wedding day, resulting in our wonderful photos that incorporated the cultural detail and yet modern style, which we couldn’t be more thrilled with. His gift captured the raw emotions of the day from tears through to roaring laughter. He communicated with us in every step and we got the album, canvas prints, and digital photos as promised on time. Not only would we recommend Sam, we would shout it from the rooftops!
After relentlessly searching for a wedding photographer, we finally found what we were looking for in Sam. He was referred to us by an acquaintance and came highly recommended by o...
thers. Upon seeing his website, his work stood out by a mile and after meeting him we knew instantly that we had to hire him before someone else booked him on our date! I must tell you he was very patient and understood what we envisioned. I should advise you we (my family) are picky people. When we informed him that our wedding is going to be nontraditional and what parts to capture throughout the day, he did not hesitate. He had win over my mother and mother in law, which I can tell you isn’t so easy. But when it comes to Sam, I can happily say that all our memories from the engagement photo session to the wedding day have been captured impeccably from start to finish and he made all the guests feel at home. Sam’s unique use of light and gorgeous tones made our hillside sunset wedding look like a gorgeous magazine shoot, in which all our guests were featured as glamorous models. We felt he really made the effort to get to know us and ensured that the photos of our wedding reflected our personalities which offered a pleasant personal touch. He truly is a great guy and we were very fortunate to have him capture our special day because he is clearly so passionate about what he does. His friendly disposition, seemingly infinite supply of energy and undeniable sense of fun allowed us to completely relax in his company and be our true selves in front of the lens. We can thankfully say everything was beyond perfect, from the communication, quick turnaround time, we will treasure forever! We literally can’t thank / recommend Sam enough! Both my side and my husband’s side of the family can’t wait to take our family photos with him.
My husband and I booked Sam Hassas after seeing a friends engagement photos. I was blown away by the beauty and creativity of her pictures as I had never seen anything like that be...
fore. I really don’t like having my picture taken so was a bit nervous when our engagement session came up. Sam was great about helping us choose an outdoor location that would capture our personalities and provide a wide range of photo options. Sam’s friendly and outgoing personality helped me relax and just enjoy the whole experience! After seeing our beautiful engagement photos, we booked him for our wedding in March of 2009. Sam’s eye for catching just the right moment is impeccable. He is passionate about his work and patient with his clients. We couldn’t be more pleased with our engagement and wedding albums!
During my first searing with Sam his personality connected with my husband and I so well that once I seen his work I just knew I wanted him to be our photographer for our engagemen...
t photos and our wedding event. Sam’s work is not only an art that is captured beautifully, but you can see that it is his passion. My husband and I were pleased with what was captured. Even though it took some time to get our final touches, it was well worth it because with time he aims to perfect! Thanks Sam, we would refer you any day!
Our first consultation with Hassas Photography was back in 2008 for our Engagement photo session. To be frank, I hate being photographed! So the thought of someone following you ar...
ound for an hour or two taking photos was not my idea of a good time. However, I was surprised how enjoyable it was. Sam has a way of making you feel at ease. He built such a rapport with us, it made us comfortable enough to have honest moments that he captured perfectly.
We were so pleased with the engagement shoot process and photos that we booked him for our wedding and our first child's photo shoot. Working with Sam Hassas has always been a pleasure. We look forward to booking him again soon to document the growth of our life and family. Thank you Hassas Photography for always producing a stellar product and making it an enjoyable process along the way!
I first heard of Sam Hassas through my husband many years ago when they used to work together. As an event planner in the making, my husband told me about his co-worker who is also...
a wedding photographer. He showed me his work and I instantly fell in love. I told my husband when we get married that Sam Hassas has to be our photographer and sure enough when that day came he was our photographer for our wedding. Sam's work is like no other. His photos are not just photographs, they are art. He is creative and cares about all the little details that makes each client's photos unique to their own. He knows how to think on the spot on how the shot should look like but he is also methodical. Not only is his work amazing, his personality is as well. He is so easy and fun to work with and makes you feel comfortable in front of the camera. I am so pleased with the work he did for us for our wedding that I can't wait to work with him again whether as an event planner or a client.
Sam took our engagement and wedding photos back in 2010 and did a kick-ass job. Highly creative with a great personality, we enjoyed working with Sam very much. Our photos came out...
incredibly and he was so dependable throughout the whole process. Our wedding album was recently stolen out of our storage unit and we were freaking out. I reached out to Sam and he had everything archived and promptly provided access. Sam is a great photographer, great artist, and a great person -- I HIGHLY recommend him.
When it comes to wedding photography, a big percentage of the budget goes toward photography, and that is well spent with Sam Hassas!
For photos that will last and impress for a ...
lifetime, I recommend scheduling your wedding date around Sam's availability! Our Engagement and Wedding photos continue to be our families favorite pictures. We have continued working with Sam for family portraits as our family has grown, from Maternity, to Newborn, to Family and Portraits, and are always pleased and excited for our photos. His artistic eye and inspiration are unmatched! I love seeing his images framed in our home. The quality of Sam's work has left us spoiled where no other photograph can come close. Book Sam for all of your photography needs. Money well spent on photos that you will be pleased with forever!
You find Sam Hassas because you want amazing, honest, pure, creative, unique and fun images that capture you special moments in life. Sam captured my families photos and we were bl...
own away at the emotions and unique view. He is worth every penny and then some. Professional, creative and a dash of flare is the best way to describe a man of Sam's talents and abilities. Thank you Sam for being a true inspiration.
Our search for the perfect wedding photographer spanned countless months and multiple continents, so let me save you the same trouble...Stop looking right now, and book Sam (quickl...
y, before someone else steals your date!) My husband and I were seriously picky when it came to finding the right person to capture our big day, and hunted high and low for a photographer here in Australia who could rival Sam's style, to no avail. We consider ourselves beyond fortunate that Sam could be persuaded to travel across the world for our wedding, and I could write pages and pages explaining what makes him unique, but since this review is bound by the character limit, I'll distill it down to two key things... (1) Sam makes it FUN to be photographed (even if, like me, you're usually camera-shy and can think of nothing worse than having a lens pointed at you all day!) - After spending time with Sam I can say hand on heart that if he wasn't at our wedding as a photographer, we would have wanted him there as a guest! He'll make you laugh, and he'll make you look AWESOME! (2) The pictures you get from Sam when all is said and done will take your breath away. He has an incredible knack for catching on film all the tiny, meaningful moments and details that make you want to look back at a photo again and again - You need only look at Sam's portfolio to see that nothing about a Sam Hassas image is ever stiff or "posed"...It's natural, vibrant, and brimming with emotion. Sam gave us a wedding album which (along with the cat!) is one of the first things I'd rescue in a fire, and we would recommend him unreservedly to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
We could not have been more pleased with Sam's style. He's relevant, creative, playful, and professional. Our album is the most treasured possession we have from our wedding day an...
d I wouldn't trade Sam for ANYONE. If you're looking first eone who will listen to your ideas, improve upon them, and read you like none other on your special day, then Sam is your guy!
RESOLUTION REACHED AND REFUND RECEIVED FROM VENDOR AS OF 3/28/18.
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I dislike writing negative reviews, especially when the vendor ca...
me highly recommended by dear friends, but Sam has left me and my husband with no choice but to share the unpleasant experience and warn anyone one else considering his service.
Let me start with the positive as to why he deserves the 1 star:
1. He did a great job with my engagement shoot that required day travel and he was a good sport and very professional
2. I got the artistic and quality photos within the promised time frame and was able to use it for my ceremony
Now why he does not deserve the rest of the 4 stars (and if you add in the amount of hassle with follow up and the emotional frustration, arguably his behavior now negates whatever he did to even deserve the 1 star):
STRIKE 1. It takes more time than for a baby to be conceived and birthed in order to get my wedding photos. And it took numerous follow up on several different occasions through email, text, and phone calls before we got the photos. Many excuses and lack of commitment on timing and progress in numerous communication. It was extremely unprofessional and frustrating to deal with the spotty responses and no timeline/update on progress in general.
STRIKE 2. It is now almost a year and a half since our wedding (time span of almost 2 pregnancies!), and we have reached out time and time again to inquire about next steps regarding the wedding album as in the contract there is a credit amount that is used towards the album that we paid for...no response from Sam.
STRIKE 3. He is now not responding at all via email, text, or phone calls, while having taken my payment. I am now forced to consider other recourse in order to get my hard earned money back that he did not provide service for under his contract.
I have also checked with my friend who referred him, and they still have not received their wedding album as well, and they were married a few years ago before me!
Sam has an artistic eye, but if you have to chase him constantly to get what you are paying for and have to deal with the aftermath of possibly not getting your photo mementos for one of the most important day of your life... I will leave it up to the readers to decide whether to employ the service of Hassas Photography themselves.
Sam Hassas is in my opinion, one of the best wedding photographers I have ever come in contact with! He photographed our engagement and wedding photos and we love every one of them...
. His style is photo-journalistic, so the photos are very creative and fun! I highly recommend Hassas Photography if you are looking for a wedding photographer! You will not be disappointed!
Contact
P.O. Box 3924, San Jose, CA | S. F. Bay Area and beyond. Yes we travel!
Hassas Photography's photos