Head & Heart Photography by Kiel Rucker

s and were impressed that he's both super responsive and a clear communicator. But what we loved the most was his energy - he's calm (which helps put everyone at ease), disarmingly funny (which gets the smiles), and super flexible (we trusted him w/ almost all direction but he was always good with asking for our ideas and our input first). So he gets all the points for being easy to work with, but it's the pictures that matter - and they've been stunning. Our engagement photos which were like a practice round blew us away, but for the wedding Kiel and his assistant paired to capture the most beautiful moments and we couldn't be happier with the portfolio. We're lucky to have such a pro capture our biggest day.

es he captured for our wedding and will definitely be reaching out to him in the future as life unfolds. My girlfriends and I have all used him for our weddings and it’s so fun to reconnect with him at events. You will be in good hands and may even end your special day with a new friend for life!.

when looking to capture the best image, it is all about the right light and mindful composition. Not to mention he has an eye for what scenery, angles, or creative twist will photograph best, all things considered. Kiel additionally has solid people skills; He was able to converse with, and direct us in a way that had an elegant ease and simplicity which facilitated organic shots. Something that I appreciated was his inquiry if my fiance or I had any additional unique photo ideas in mind before our session was over. I did, and it is one of my favorite captures I've seen of us from his work so far. His demeanor was knowledgeable, upbeat, and flexible; Kiel is an overall delight to work with. Highly recommended.

tured us, our family and friends, and the magic of the event so well. He is great at candids - the shots never felt posed or forced. My mom never smiles in pictures and he got some of the best shots of her I've ever seen. Not to mention he is a super nice guy and fun to work with. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!!!

ad of time over secret email + texts to plan the surprise. Braydon was responsive, attentive and adaptable - being able to find us on the beach from just a photo and general location which changed last minute! He captured the moment perfectly, and without me knowing he was in the background taking beautiful photos. Once he let us soak in the engagement, he appeared from his hiding spot and proceeded to take stunning photos on the beach at sunset for the next 45 minutes. He had the photos back to us via a website link within 2 days. The website has a great interface + simple access on mobile and desktop + easy to download the photos. Now to the actual photos - STUNNING! From the lighting, editing and setting to his guiding us into different positions, resulted in multiple perfect shots. There is not one shot in the collection that we did not like. We absolutely loved every single one. Thank you Braydon for making our engagement a moment we will never forget, and with photos that will last our lifetime.

e ones I did not like and presented to my then fiancé with 5 options without their cost. He is an artist, he knows arts and good quality art. He picked Kiel without thinking twice and of course Kiel was the most expensive option among the 5. We have been communicating with Kiel through email before our elopement and text on the day of. On the day of our elopement, Kiel was so easy to work with, he is confident, talented, with tons of experience, knows how to get people to get comfortable without even saying those words. Also love his humor! He felt more like a caring friend than a stranger who is taking photo of us. We just received preview photos, they are amazing. Kiel did a phenomenal job capturing the day. Can’t wait to see the rest of photos. If you like his style and you are debating if you should hire Kiel, just go with it. He and his work is worth every penny, you will not regret it.

genuinely good person. Prior to our special day, Kiel suggested that we get together to get to know each other a bit. We met up for coffee and he spent at least an hour with us chatting about who we are, what we wanted to capture in our photos, and just life in general! We both found him to be very pleasant and down to earth. On our wedding day, Kiel showed up promptly, actually arriving before us, and was ready to go! He even took some shots prior to the ceremony time, which we weren’t expecting! Kiel was fun to work with, has a great sense of humor, and had creative ideas for our photos. We didn’t have to think about anything and just followed his lead. The results are truly fantastic! We are so pleased with our wedding photos and feel that our day was so perfectly captured! We received our photos within a couple of weeks, which is awesome! We give Kiel the highest recommendation! On your wedding day, you definitely want someone that is easy to work with, kind, fun, and a master of their trade! Kiel is your guy!

ed to get to know us and our relationship. We are a couple who rarely has had professional photos taken. I still can't believe how comfortable we felt the entire day with Kiel and his lens. We actually had fun taking photos! The rush & excitement of getting married blurs things all day long. Kiel managed to capture moments I didn't even know were occurring - and I have only seen our sneak peak photos so far! Kiel's experience in the Santa Barbara & Montecito area shines in his photos - he knows exactly where to place you while making you feel confident and at ease. He is a true artist when it comes to wedding photography - his work is nothing short of beautiful. I wish we could give him 10 stars!

etter photographic memories. In addition, he exhibited excellent professioanlism before, during, and after the ceremony making for a seamless event. We highly recommend his skills and services!

! Kiel did both our engagement and wedding photos. You can tell he has a true passion for what he does and a special talent for capturing light. His work is art and magazine worthy! Kiel's down to earth personality makes him easy to work with; we recommend him to anyone looking for beautiful, timeless memories for your special day!!! THANK YOU Kiel!

omehow magically guided the flow of the elopement schedule while capturing the romance & excitement in pictures. He even checked in the night before to make sure we were ready for any items we wanted captured in photos. Day of, he definitely guided us in our poses while looking natural in our surroundings & made sure we took advantage of the light/sunset. Didn't realize all the coordination required to make sure our special memories were photographed -- Kiel definitely delivered based on the initial pic highlights & of course with the rest. Could not stop staring at the pics the first time I saw them. Can't wait to see the prints! G&S

chairs on a porch one day telling our grandchildren about our absolutely incredible wedding photographer and how he really made our day. His professional, kind, and specific consideration were incredibly respectable and it was our immediate sense that we were blessed to be working with such an expert. He is outgoing, sweet, sensitive, and fun, and his work is magical to say the least. It truly takes your breath away and he captures the most magical moments that represent the love and life of a couple and in a family and among friends. He made me and all of my wedding party as well as friends and family feel so comfortable and confident, I truly think he must be an incredible gift to each individual that is lucky enough to stumble into his life’s path. I honestly tear up thinking back on the extraordinary photography service we received on my wedding day, because I know how very lucky we were to have Kiel there to document it. His work speaks for itself and is beautiful beyond belief. Kiel really has a rare gift of being so very blessed with innumerable talents and creativity, but on top of that he really is just one of life’s most magical human beings. We will always remember Kiel and keep him in a special place in our hearts as we continue in our marriage together, and cannot recommend enough that you select him as your own photographer for any event of importance or significance, as he will be the very best choice to ensure your moments and memories are documented for years to come. We cannot thank him enough for his time, talent, and extraordinary ability to photograph life as we know it. We love you Kiel!!!

re feels so alive and beautiful!

hotos even better)! Kiel truly captured the essence of our wedding; every photo shows the joy and the laughter that was taking place that day. We were so blown away with our wedding photos! WE LOVE KIEL!!!

our elopement. We really appreciated his willingness to accommodate any changes we needed to make due to the wild fires in Santa Barbara around the time of our wedding. But most of all, he is a very talented photographer. Our photos are beautiful and really capture the emotion of the day.

ed Kiel to shoot our wedding. We cant wait to work with him again in the future.

ery open and has such a great personality which shows through his work. He made everyone feel comfortable and went above and beyond for us... he even climbed a wall! I'm not sure who was enjoying the photo session more.. us or him. I just remember there was a lot of laughter. I think it's amazing when you can tell that someone truly loves their job. There are a lot of photographers, but with Kiel you are also getting an experience. A vibrant experience.

n the contest he would still be our number 1 choice. We took our photos in Santa Barbara, a town we were not very familiar with, but Kiel had very good suggestions for locations. Although engagement photos can be an awkward experience, Kiel did a great job of making it a fun experience. We are very happy with our photos and would recommend Kiel to anyone!

s away which meant initially all communications with Kiel had to be via email, this however did not prove to be an issue. Kiel responded to every email and question (photography related or not) promptly and professionally and even helped us source other things for the wedding that were clearly outside of his remit. He didn’t complain about the many and the dumb questions, in fact he was so friendly with us that we have missed him since the wedding. We loved Kiel before we even saw any of his photos. He set us both at ease immediately and felt more like one of our wedding guests than the photographer. He slotted right in with all of our friends and family and everyone thought he was great. We got a first look at a sample of our photos within a week of the wedding and they were beautiful! My Husband (still feels weird calling him that) and I are not always the most photogenic but Kiel has managed to capture us at our best and the colour and light in the photographs make the event look as special and magical as it felt for us on the day. We have just received the full download and again the images are great both formal and relaxed and will help us remember the detail of the day for years ahead. I guess you need to be really careful when choosing a photographer for your special day, however we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Kiel to anybody in terms of professionalism, quality and going that extra mile to ensure the results are as good as they can be…you won’t go wrong!

for our engagement photos and courthouse elopement photos, Kiel's work immediately stuck out. You can easily tell that this man has attention to detail and style judging by his website. Seriously, check it out. Kiel was so kind enough to meet with us over a couple drinks the night before our engagement/elopement photoshoot to discuss all the logistics of when, where, how, etc. If you're type A like me, it was very reassuring to have a clear direction of how the day would go. The shoot was super fun too! He was our witness for our elopement, and we felt like he was just our (very professional and talented) friend who was along for the ride documenting our special day. You won't regret using Kiel. He's just an amazing person in general and the fact that he's talented, professional, organized, and fun helps :)

reater Sacramento area. Upon meeting, we instantly felt comfortable and all of the normal day-of wedding nerves disappeared. He captured our special day in such an incredible way, and I am beyond obsessed with all of our photos! Kiel is truly one of a kind and I cannot say enough wonderful things about him as a person, and a photographer. Thank you Kiel....you are amazing!

or both our engagement photos and for the duration of our wedding. He also did our little guy's one year old birthday shots (what a versatile photographer!) When my husband and I showed up for the engagement photos we were feeling uncomfortable and awkward about how everything would pan out and Kiel simply did what he does to produce the most beautiful and natural images. When it came time for our wedding, Kiel was punctual and efficient and so easy to work with. He effortlessly put us where we needed to be to get all the best shots in a timely manner and made us laugh while doing it. Highly recommend Kiel for any and all your photo needs.

uch a pleasure to work with. He was responsive, patient and most important to me creative. Beyond the list of “must have” shots that we wanted at the wedding, Kiel as an ability to anticipate where he needs to be to capture the most authentic moments. When providing direction, Kiel is patient. I naturally move my right arm when he has asked me to move my left. Our wedding also included two unpredictable dogs and family members who liked to tap Kiel on the shoulder for a photo. To me, photos are the most important way to remember the wedding day and I am so happy we had Kiel. Lastly, I want to end the review by stating "Kiel is just an awesome guy".

ng before I met my husband. Kiel shot our engagement photos in the snow on a day he had lost his voice - it was pretty hilarious to take direction from his arm waving and us falling in the snow - it ended with a lot of laughing, silly-ness, and beautiful photos. Our wedding photos are beautiful, they are everything I wanted, Kiel's use of light, and color are stunning. His ability to be in two places at once capture all the fun moments was impressive. He is also just a very kind and easy to get along with person, making the experience even better.

a week prior to when I was planning on proposing to my now fiancé. I found Kiel on Yelp and am so glad that I did. He was very prompt in getting back to me and getting the appointment set up and helping to work with my plan. The proposal was a surprise so Kiel was very discrete until after I popped the question and captured every moment. He then guided us in a short photo session after and was very supportive of the both of us. I cannot recommend Kiel enough. He was professional throughout and a great person to work with during such a special moment for the both of us! Check out his Instagram for the work he does and you'll get a real feel for his style. He genuinely loves the work that he does and was truly happy for the both of us. Great photographer and a great guy to work with!

a proposal, so when I discovered Kiel I was happy to learn that he had already shot a handful. I was initially attracted to Kiel's style - as someone who works in film & TV, I've developed a visual style that I like and immediately recognized Kiel's work as fitting that style - sophisticated, intimate, and beautiful. When speaking with other potential photographers, I suffered a bit of sticker shock (and found some to not be immediately forthcoming in their offerings) - Kiel, however, clearly explained what he offered in his package, and to my surprise, even offered to scout potential locations with me. Between his portfolio, kindness on the phone, and great offer, I chose Kiel to photograph our proposal. Kiel worked with me to find a location that worked for us both; he met me at one of our potential locations the day before. Once we decided that we liked the location, Kiel helped choreograph the scene so we would get the best photos possible the next day. Kiel is extremely warm and easy to work with, he's flexible and has a great eye for lighting, framing, posing, performance, and location. On the day, Kiel headed out to the location almost an hour before we got there to make sure no one took our spot! My fiancé later told me that she only spotted Kiel as I was dropping to my knee, so he definitely helped keep the surprise intact to the last moment. Once the proposal was over, Kiel went above and beyond by working with us long after sunset to capture some amazing photos. We both loved working with Kiel and look forward to seeing him again soon!

nding spots and playing with light! We already had some favorite spots in mind, but Kiel worked with us adding a new spot (which was like a piece out of a fairy tale!) to make sure we got the best out of the two hours we spent together. Before our meeting we exchanged several emails, and already from our first talks one could see Kiel is a really kind and nice person. By the time we met in person it felt more like meeting an old friend, than a photographer. We had so much fun during the photo shooting! Then, just one week and a half afterwards, he already sent us quite a few pics for a preview. We were amazed about how he managed to capture our feeling into one snap! We can't wait to see the rest!! All in all, Kiel is simply awesome! Thank you so much, Kiel! :-)

ke shots at. He was a joy to work with, and was very flexible for our wishes. Highly recommend!

axed and great to work with and our photos are absolutely lovely. I highly recommend Kiel!!

n a pretty intimate level during your wedding day it is hands down your photographer, so choose wisely. Kiel went above & beyond for us, he traveled all the way to a tiny town on the Olympic Peninsula tucked away in nearly the furthest corner of the Northernmost US. To say it is a challenge to get there is an understatement. He hung out with us all day the day before, came and scoped out the properties and even had a beer and watched the sunset from a bluff by our house with myself and some girlfriends. He was down for adventures, tromping through the forest, and listened and executed the style of photography we imagined for our day. We are thrilled with what we have seen so far and I would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking. So yeah...huge shout out and many thanks Kiel! #nailedit

ght in such a way that his photos absolutely glow! He has a definite eye and a beautifully natural style. He captures the natural beauty of both the couple and their surroundings, whether the wedding be inside or outside. Kiel is professional and is able to take gorgeous photos without needing constant direction. Throughout our entire planning process he got back to me quickly whenever I had questions and was always very accommodating. If you are ever searching for an amazing wedding photographer, look no farther because Kiel is definitely it!

it came to picking out a place for engagement photos for my husband and me, and answered quickly to emails I sent with questions and comments regarding the shoot. His eye for photography and overall talent, made for stunning photos that my husband and I will cherish forever. Kiel was extremely easy-going (and for those who feel slightly uncomfortable around a camera, he made us feel relaxed and we were able to just have fun and be ourselves). I highly recommend Kiel Rucker if you are in search of a gifted photographer, who is easy to work with!

ble. His photos are beautiful and he has such a great eye for shooting. He is extremely professional and gets the photos to you when he says they will be there. I love the way he uses the light and really makes the photos pop. We also used Kiel for our engagement shoot and that was a great warm up for the wedding. We have so many amazing photos from our engagement shoot. I recommend using Kiel for your wedding photographer ! I cannot say enough great things about him and his work. He is amazing and I love all his photos! Kiel is the best!

eeting, we hit it off with him right away. Kiel was extremely attentive to our needs and made us feel very comfortable. He was very friendly and easy to work with, which is very important since you spend so much time with your photographer on your wedding day. I love our wedding photos! Kiel is an amazing photographer who knows how to capture those special, candid moments. Through his photos he was able to focus on specific details while portraying the over all feel of our big day. We were so blessed to not only have him shoot our wedding, but also to take part in our day among our friends and family. My husband and I highly recommend him!

rm nature and easy going approach put us immediately at ease the moment we met for the first time. His photographic style was exactly what we were looking for.....and he captured the spirit of our special day perfectly! I highly recommend Kiel Rucker photography if you want a personal experience with beautiful photos!

o often when you see other photographer's galleries, you find "staged" photos. Kiel is able to pull off natural photos in a manner that brings the out the best in people and in a comfortable manner. We spent several hours with him during our engagement shoot in different locations and instead of it being a process it was a truly fun and memorable experience. He listened to our wedding vison was, but as a creative professional, he applied his style, elevated our ideas and captured many wonderful moments we now have. Kiel and his team showed their uber organization abilities by herding a group of 250 wedding guests in a matter of minutes for one large group shot. He had great follow thru in getting us our photos relatively quickly and was always responsive on e-mail and open to ideas and will work with you on your budget. Call or e-mail him!!!

ied. My fiancé and I both felt really comfortable with him and he made the whole experience fun. He knew just the right lighting to work with and would tweak us here and there as needed to get the perfect photo. Id definitely recommend him and his work. We are so happy with our photos!!!

elp tell your story. These are not your same tired wedding shots. Kiel is where wedding photography is headed. We feel honored and gifted to have had the opportunity to work with him before his talent pulls him out of our reach. Not only is Kiel a fantastic photographer but he is the kind of person you would like at your wedding. He was wonderful with our families, patient and gracious, but still got his shot. Kiel made wonderful efforts to get to know us long before our wedding day. Because of this, we both felt extremely comfortable with him and knew he understood our vision completely. Our engagement pictures were phenomenal and our family and friends were very impressed with Kiel's talent. He is genuine, authentic, professional, warm, and an all around amazing person. We recommend him very highly. Thank you Kiel! -Anna & Stephen Jones

ard a clicking behind me.. It was Kiel already hard at work taking those shots that are the best because they are in the moment. Kiel was so laid back and instantly made you feel comfortable. After the ceremony we took photos around the courthouse then headed to the beach. All the photos he sent us were amazing and impossible to pick just one. We will definitely call on him again. Thanks Kiel :) Meg and Ollie ( and Clover)

him among many other SB area photographers and I'm so grateful that I did. I'm pretty much just saying what everyone else on here said but it's so true it needs to be said again - Kiel is truly a kind, warm, funny and all around great person and it shows in his work. I don't really like getting my picture taken, I've never been very "natural" at it, but he was so easy and fun to work with, the whole experience was very comfortable. He felt like a guest at our wedding which is exactly what I wanted out of any vendor - everyone liked him and I know it will show through in his photos. It felt like we'd hired a friend to take pictures - Kiel is very genuine, and that is such a great quality in a person and a photographer. I will never use anyone else to take professional photos, and I will recommend him to anyone who asks! Thank you Kiel for contributing to our day and helping be another part that made it so wonderful. PS - on a business note - he's very easy to communicate with and he'll work with you on your budget! He also really helped us understand the process so we knew what to expect and plan for long before the wedding even happened. The BEST photographer you could ask for!