Josh Reiss Photography

how we originally imagined it. As with many brides and grooms this year, the COVID-19 outbreak affected our original plans. We planned on having a large family wedding with around 150 guests, traveling from half a dozen states, and two countries in New York. We had all of our vendors, locations and deposits in place. Like the rest of the world, we never could think something would prevent us from having the large ceremony and family party exactly how we envisioned. By the end of May of 2020, however, we made the difficult decision to cancel those plans. We decided to have a more intimate gathering with 10 of our local immediate family members. We did not want to wait for an unknown amount of time to celebrate what would be the most important day of our lives, and we scrambled to secure a location and vendors. Josh was one of four wedding photographers we found in Los Angeles. We realized very quickly that he was a perfect fit for us. Not only were his gallery and years of experience impressive; he was incredibly friendly, easy to communicate with and thorough. Together we organized our day and planned the shot set-ups for our wedding. When the day came, Josh and his equally amazing 2nd shooter and assistant, Bri, were early, fully prepared and ready to get to work. Throughout the day, we could tell they shared our enthusiasm, and love of their craft. They were genuinely excited to document all the small moments that flew by for us. Josh was the best thing that could’ve happened to us regardless of circumstance - you will not regret having him photograph any event for you, and we can’t wait to work with him again!!!!!!!!!

ut for the sake of brevity I’ll give you the highlights: His remarkable ability to read *you* (the bride) and know what you want is incredible, and very reassuring. He talked with me on the phone a few times leading up to the big day, and by the time I saw him at the wedding and hugged him- my sister thought he was an old friend! He was very eager to know what I wanted: not only in types of photos and overall aesthetics, but also with the energy and emotional moments I wanted to capture. And he DELIVERED. He was also excellent with my (now) husband and incredibly respectful of different people’s comfort zones in front of the camera. With my family (some of whom aren’t used to formal occasions), he made everyone feel special and comfortable and included. My Mother immediately fell in love when Josh was taking formal photos and she leaned in with her phone to snap some and I asked her not to, and Josh replied “It’s ok, she may have a different perspective than I do!” (What a kind thing to say, my Mother remembered that moment so fondly.) Josh was always there for the most beautiful moments and yet somehow was never “in the way” or even in my line of sight. (I have not idea how he did it). And the shots... Ladies and Gentleman- if you can’t choose between wanting something lively and eclectic, or soft and romantic, or powerful and editorial... then you found your guy. He can do it all. I will add that I work in entertainment and have had several photo shoots in my life and only Josh’s shots have been met by countless “WHO WAS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER?”s. He took stunning, magazine cover-quality beauty shots, and intimate candids with equal talent. He’s affordable, and will work around a budget. (But something tells me that his prices won’t last for long as his work gains more notice. And this is not a sales pitch. I could honestly see him being out of my price range in the future so I’m glad I caught him while I did. ) If you’re questioning, book him now. Also- if you plan on having a lively reception, whether with dancing or live music and want any “action” shots that are way better than the standard wedding photography, Josh was a touring photographer for huge-name musicians and massive festivals, and his ability to capture raw energy is palatable. You will love his night work! Or if you have a furry friend in your nuptials- look no further. Josh included my four legged flower girl, Bee, in some shots that ended up being hands down my favorite! He completely understands the importance of your animals and you’ll get a lot more than just a cute pic of your dog with a flower leash, I promise! Lastly, Josh was also a welcome addition on a personal level. I broke my toe the day before my wedding and was completely devastated and hadn’t looked at my phone or responded to him in over 24hrs, and he would have had every right to be frustrated with me. But instead, he was so understanding and patient. During the wedding, he found me in a stressful moment towards the end of the evening and brought me a drink and kindly and politely hugged me and reminded me of how wonderful my husband is and genuinely guys: he calmed me down. Between the exceptional shots he creates and the generous human he is- Josh Reiss is simply put: Magic.

and made sure everything on our list was captured. We had lots of photos taken with our guests and Josh was amazing while interacting and organizing everyone, he had great energy and made it fun. We got so many compliments from our guest afterward, people loved him! We got married in the redwoods and had a photo shoot at the beach the next day. Josh’s great eye resulted in so many gorgeous photos!

tra photos with them and now I’m so grateful that he did. The photo I have of my grandma is so special to me and I have Josh to thank for that. Aside from that, our day ran smoothly. We had A LOT of portraits since we both have such huge families and he got through every single photo. Was super helpful with sticking to the schedule and we even wrapped up RIGHT. ON. TIME.

tage of the wide variety of choices. We received such a variety of amazing shots, from formals to fun quirky pics, and we couldn't have been happier with our album.

have imagined. Josh was able to capture the spirit of our day, the emotions of our guests, and the love between the two of us. All of this while blending in; leaving us wondering how they captured the shots they did. He also was able to tactfully navigate the high energy of family pictures while keeping all of us on track and happy. We would recommend Josh Reiss Photography to anyone looking for a phenomenal experience. Professional, creative, personable, kind, patient, and soooo easy to work with. Josh really helped make our day one of a kind.

terribly comfortable taking pictures. I never really knew what to do or how to pose. Josh put me at ease by assuring me that he’d give me direction and not to worry about it. His direction was so easy to follow and I forgot there was a camera there half the time. From my engagement photos through the wedding, everything was just spectacular! I would recommend Josh to every couple in the world. Josh will be my photographer for the rest of my life for every life event. Thank you, Josh!

e most other photographers seemed to offer great service, Josh’s photos stood out above the rest. The wedding day was stressful enough, but Josh made sure our photo sessions were a breeze. He had all of our locations mapped out and guided us throughout the day (handling the most difficult of guests with ease). We could not be happier with the way our photos turned out and the way Josh handled our big day. So if you’re looking at this trying to decide on a wedding photographer (or any other event) look no further, Josh is THE MAN!!

tos compares to none! The phone conversations leading up to our engagement shoot were so much fun, we knew our engagement session was going to be amazing. We had the best time running around Little Tokyo and the Arts District in DTLA with Josh and Bree. We are pretty awkward taking photos, and Josh was able to make our awkward selves feel 110% comfortable as if we were just hanging out with some old friends. The fantastic photos are proof of that, and he brought our love to life in every shot. Thank you so much Josh & Bree!

g eye.  His team captured so many wonderful moments that we will forever be able to look back on. Children having fun goofing off, people cheering when they won the centerpiece, and so much more. The artistry and professionalism of his team was apparent throughout all of our interactions with him especially on our special day.   Growing up in the San Gabriel valley, I had visited Whittier Narrows with my family many times, but he and his team found an area in the park that I had never seen before with a pier, hills, and scenic spots that made the background for such wonderful pictures. He really put a lot of thought and effort into making our day perfect. We were also so impressed when he was able to get everyone perfectly positioned for the grand group photo at the wedding and the reception. His manner was professional and fun, as he made us laugh and enjoy every moment.   Even though our wedding ceremony ran behind schedule (about 30 minutes), and we got lost getting to the park, Josh and his team still made the park picture experience feel like a lazy Sunday stroll. And he was able to get us back on schedule! He knew how to cue us in the perfect way so that we could still be natural while having fun. I will never forget how we were able to laugh and joke together. It was such a wonderful day. My husband was really dreading the park pictures, but he said that the pictures actually felt like a break from the day because of Josh.  Josh’s team was so patient when my feet started hurting since I forgot to bring my flats. We are so thankful we met Josh, and were so happy that we had him and his team there to document our day. Thank you so much Josh! 

d during the wedding day. He takes amazing pictures that capture the moment and are very beautiful. We have the most gorgeous pictures and he was able to capture all the moments/vibes that were taking place throughout the whole night. I am extremely happy that we were able to have him photograph our special day! I would definitely recommend him, great photographer.

te this review and shower Josh with praise based upon our first-hand experiences as: bride & groom, doting parents, close family, not so close family, very close friends, and the, oh so not to be left out , ‘ are we crazy, did we really agree to take the wedding photos !’ type of experience. Enough about our credentials, back to Josh; he made our Wedding Day very, very special at the time, now and in the future when my husband and I, our families and future generations will be enjoying the lovingly serious, genuinely happy and hilariously funny special moments that he managed to creatively capture with his camera. Neither the description of Josh as a ‘photographer’ or a ‘ 5 star ‘ rating do him justice, for he is a true artist, organizer, diplomat and adviser who is in a league of his own. :-)

l of this and more. He is a consummate professional that puts the clients at ease to garner the best photos that capture the moments. I love working with Josh and his team and always highly recommend them. My clients are always thrilled with his photos!

. They were playful and professional at the same time. We did not want posed shots and they captured so many of those personal moments that I think normally would have been overlooked. From a special glance between two people to a bunch of kids making funny faces and being silly together. The quality of the shots were gorgeous. Thank you Josh and Bree!

gant look I was going for while still letting my love for the dark and mysterious shine through. He was able to catch the setting and our personalities just right. Josh and his lovely assistant Bree Allen captured all the moments I didn’t even realize would have been the highlights of our special day. I’m stoked to have these memories to show my future grandkids.

they happen and making them look epic. Josh was also able to look at the details in our environments and pose in us ways so that we had truly memorable, artistic images to hold on to.

is is why we hired Josh to photograph my wedding in Big Sur, California. I had seen his photographs of festivals and events for years and always loved the emotions captured in his photography and his ability to get people to smile in an authentic way. Our wedding had to get moved 11 days before the date because of wildfires in Big Sur. The amount of planning that goes into any wedding is massive - to have to move a wedding location to another town last minute is incredibly hard. Josh was someone that made it easy and was super accommodating with the last minute change. In having to figure so much out in a pinch it was a relief to be met with kindness when stressed. On the day of the wedding Josh was there from start to finish. He captured details that I wouldn't have thought of. Got magical authentic moments that we will treasure forever. Highly recommend Josh if you want an artist to capture your special day in a journalistic, fun, and easy way. Be prepared to smile, he has a way of getting you to laugh and feel comfortable in front of the camera.

otographers in attendance. He's got a great eye and top notch equipment. If you've got those three things: Diplomacy, artistic vision and great gear, all you need is to push the button! Afterword I was counting the different setups that he got and was amazed. It was like he was in two places at once. I would write more if I wasn't feeling so sick right now.

could relive it over and over!! And so many of my friends and family commented about how fun he was! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

o smoother than ever. He helped us think of things we didn’t even consider such as realistic timing, must have photos, etc. You can tell Josh really loves to share his talents with the world and he does so in such a comfortable yet professional manner. My husband and I had an absolute blast working with him. Josh understands how important these photo memories are and did not fail to deliver at all. I would recommend him a thousand times! I felt like he went above and beyond as a photographer. He got every shot that we wanted and some. Highly recommended you won't be disappointed we seriously can not say enough good things. Never change and keep growing Josh!

ot to mention washed out colors. When looking at Josh’s and companies work it is truly art that portrays authentic emotions. The images are clear and the people are having a blast! Josh was able to capture real moments in time that exuberate the emotions and light just right. Every step of the process was fun and we learned how to be comfortable in front of the camera, which both my husband and I were clueless about. Before working with Josh we were most comfortable taking iphone selfies with the occasional filter. Josh took the time to listen to what we wanted and applied it in the engagement shoot and wedding day. We are so pleased that we worked with Josh to be our photographer, his fun enthusiastic spirit kept us calm and excited. He is a true artist! We love the stunning photos and real moments that were captured on our special day. I have never been so proud to show photos to people ever! Our excitement is all thanks to Josh and Bree! If you want art where you are the star this is the photographer for you. Our friends and family have loved seeing themselves through Josh’s lens and it is such a wonderful thing to give people beautiful photos of themselves from our special day. Thank you to Josh Reiss Photography for capturing the joy and emotions on our wedding day and teaching us how to be authentic in front of a camera!

r preview! The first things he asked us was about how we met, details about ourselves, and what type of people were. He truly cares and gives 110% in making sure he captures the vibe and uniqueness of the couple he’s working with, and I was positive we made the right choice right of the bat. He made our day everything we imagined it to be. He's hilarious, courteous, professional...and he makes you feel super comfortable! It's one of the biggest days of your life, and know I was nervous to be in front of a camera! But he and Bree made sure Jose and I were comfortable and happy THE ENTIRE time. (Seriously...he stopped the post ceremony photography hour so I could down a glass of champagne and shove snacks in my mouth...I get cranky when I'm overwhelmed lol). He knew all the right things to say, poses to pose, and moments to capture. And of course the photos turned out absolutely brilliant. He's a master at his craft, and an even better human being. Thank you Josh and Bree!

s ability to catch some of the most raw tender moments that you can actually feel just looking at a photo... is truly remarkable. Every single photo you will be able to distinctively remember that moment and be able to relive it again and again. When weddings do feel like the fastest day of your life - Josh Reiss Photography will put it all in slow motion and you can press replay. At the end of the day, that's  that the main goal. Photos last a lifetime and these will be cherished and passed down for generations. Not only is Josh's talent phenomenal but so is his spirit. He is so kind and genuine, he truly cares, goes out of his way and loves what he does and is SO detail oriented.  Realistically speaking, he was also all around the venue! And you wonder how he does it! He literally caught every single person, every variation of group photos, some guests that we were not able to mingle with - these moments were captured. Josh did not skip a beat, he also stayed until the last minute, hung back and even had a gracious conversation with the father of the bride. We were all so pleased and satisfied, highly recommend Josh as all around quality photographer and experience!

tography is the “Artist”. As you can see by his work, his photos are unique like no other Photographer that I’ve seen. When we spoke to Josh over the phone, he was very sweet and personable. He really gets to know you. We didn’t meet Josh, in person, until our wedding day. He showed up to our wedding early. He took the time to check the venue and hotel ahead of time to plan where pictures could be taken. Since the venue was so close to the beach in San Clemente, he asked if we would like to take our First look pictures at the beach, I was so excited! I originally wanted that, but I wasn’t sure if there was any time to drive there, he checked it out and it was so close! Josh and his assistant Bre found the perfect spot and found the perfect rock formations in the sand and perfect sunset on the beach! It was such a beautiful day and sunset. I have to mention, Josh is amazing with lighting. The sunset went down by the time the wedding was over and he still had to take pictures of our wedding party. He found a spot that had white pillars, where we had our wedding ceremony. The flash reflected off the white pillars and lit up the whole wedding party. Everyone was wondering if the pictures would even come out and of course they did with Josh behind the camera. Josh shared some of our photos with us the other day, he is deligently working on editing our photos for our gallery and we were so impressed by his work. I cried they were so beautiful! I cannot wait to see the rest! Josh gave us exactly what we wanted. He is a perfectionist and has an eye for Artsey photos. He does bring your special day to life! He is more than a Photographer, he is an Artist! You can’t go wrong hiring Josh as your Photographer. We'd also like to give Kudos to Josh’s assistant Bre. She also takes great pictures. The Groomsmen said she captured some fun moments getting the Groom ready for the Wedding and our Wedding guests said she was fun and she was right there taking fun pictures. Thank you Josh and Bre for being there on our Special day and capturing every detail and special moments through-out our wedding. We will forever cherish the photos you took on our Wedding day. Thank you, <3 Brenda and Chuck Bates

emory where you called to your fiancee and said, ‘Hey babe, look at this photographer, I think they would be good – they got a shot of the dress hanging on a rack…” Those were all steps toward a photographer who was not Josh Reiss. My wife and I wanted photos that didn’t look like they were straight out of… well… a TheKnot.com portfolio advertisement… and let us tell you, Josh delivered. He’s got an amazing creative eye, he finds angles and shots that you don’t see elsewhere, and he made us and our memories look great. Honestly, when we opened the album for the first time, we were both basically squealing with excitement (well, my wife was, I don’t know... yowling?), oohing and aahing, and thinking wistfully back to our Big Day – and that’s about the best thing I think you could hope for in a photographer. Josh brought a vision to our ideas that was unique and gorgeous, and delivered us images of moments we didn’t always realize were happening – and did it with artistry. And he made us look great, flat out. Have a look at his work – you’ll be glad you did.

g the actual wedding was a relief that enabled us to enjoy the scope of our celebration without worry. The quality of the photos are incredible, and his eye for perfect moments of candid emotion is second to none. They captured so many wonderful beats we had either missed or forgotten in the chaos, and we are SO happy to have them. We can’t recommend Josh Reiss Photography enough. Thank you guys for everything!

g intrusive. People loved them! And they are all just simply a joy to work with. Without them we wouldn't be able to see everything that happened on that magic day. In no small way, Josh is a bit of a hero for helping us pull it off and capturing it all. And once the preview gallery was posted to Josh’s Facebook page…the accolades from friends just keep coming in. There is something magical about the images that Josh and his team were able to capture. They bring the emotions, feelings, and experience rushing back to the forefront of mine, my husband’s, and our friends and families’ minds. Magic. Thank you. I cannot say it enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

ing through his portfolio on the Knot and telling my fiancé, “I want our wedding photos to have this kind of spirit.” If you’ve flipped through some of his work you will see that each image is a story in itself and that many of them carry a sense of humor. He really has mastered capturing your moments while turning them into pieces of art. We just got back our engagement photos and our mouths literally dropped. Each and every image has craftsmanship written all over it, and we couldn’t be happier. We had a beach shoot with a lot of rocks and cold water. None of this phased him or his assistant. They were in the water and on the rocks, all while making sure that my fiancé and I were enjoying the shoot at the same time. This kind of dedication is more than professionalism; it’s a deep care for others that you are immediately aware of when you first meet him and that inevitably puts a shine on his photos. I believe this is what makes his work spirited. Needless to say, we cannot wait to have him at our wedding! We 100% recommend Josh to everyone!!!!!

is very personable so it was easy for myself, my husband and our guests to be comfortable around him. We were able to enjoy the evening knowing he was getting the right shots. I asked for a lot of candids and was very pleased by his creative eye and the emotion he was able to capture. I've heard horror stories of photographers for example, neglecting to get a picture of the bride and her mother and then blaming the bride for "forgetting" to mention it. I felt like Josh was the one keeping everyone on track and making sure he got the shots he knew I wanted. My only regret is that I didn't have more time to give him to take "posed" photos because of the timeline of my event. Nonetheless, he truly captured the moment, the emotion and his photos especially of our ceremony are iconic. During the event I forgot he was there, which is a good thing as he is supposed to be kind of like a fly on the wall to document. I couldn’t have asked for a better photographer and will be using him for other events.

ments and emotions caught on camera that we are so excited to have and look back on after the busy day. We will cherish the images forever! He puts his heart and soul into his work. He worked tirelessly through our entire wedding to get the best shots - we didn't see him sit down once, and he was always at the right place and the right time to get the perfect photo. We knew we were in good hands and let him take creative control of the look and feel in capturing our wedding day. We absolutely loved his energy, and he was always alert, upbeat, communicate, and attentive to our needs and wishes for each part of the ceremony and reception. In the end, the photos came out beautifully, and the retouching was done very tastefully to enhance the natural feel of the photos. We loved working with Josh and absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a wedding photographer!

tures on the beach even though we had very very very limited time frame between end of the ceremony and the winter sunset!!! Thank you for making it possible!!!! The pictures are AMAZING!!! And the formal pictures are unbelievable!!! Our family and friends and even all the children are smiling straight at your camera and not even one person is glancing away to someones cell phone camera!!! You also so very greatly captured all those little special emotional moments, feels like those pictures can speak and tell that special story!! I most definitely recommend Josh for your wedding !!! It's a guarantee of a worry free event, you won't need to manage him, he knows his trade. He is very professional, but also great to work with and you can TRUST him completely!!! Those are the kind of perfect pictures you would want of your wedding!!!

ement and emotion that is often a blur on your big day. Josh is the epitome of professional, creative, and trustworthy. He listens to you and collaborates on ideas on how to make your vision even better. He carefully caters his style to fit your event in the best way possible. There are moments at my wedding I would have never been witness to had Josh not been there with his keen eye. And it's not just "snapping a picture". Josh creates a scene that comes alive whenever you look back at it. Guests feel at ease with him because he isn't your regular wedding photographer who is simply there to collect a payment. Josh sincerely cares about his clients, the guests, and their happiness. It meant the world that he photographed our wedding the way he did. I will cherish these images for the rest of my life.

mend him highly on his quality work!

hat I don't remember in the flurry of that day, but thanks to Josh Reiss Photography, I have beautiful photographs that captured the little details that escaped my memory. Josh isn't your standard photographer -- he'll do the standard wedding shots with family, bridal party, etc really well! but that's not what sets him apart. He captures the moments -- all the little special moments in your wedding that you don't even recognize are happening throughout all the chaos of the day. When I looked through all the photos, what struck me is that I wasn't just looking at a group of well-composed photos and staged beauty shots. Instead, I was brought right back to all the inside jokes and funny moments, all the touching little things that happened at the reception. I was brought right back to how I felt that day. And that, let me tell you, is something that not everyone can do. He's got a great eye, and a great sense for what's important to his brides. He was more than accommodating in every way. He got all the shots on the shot list I gave him, plus so many MANY more that I'm so glad he had the foresight to capture. He was so great at getting my camera-shy husband to relax in front of the camera. His personality puts you at ease and makes you feel like he's been a family friend for years. That familiarity you feel with him really reflects in the photos. There's an intimacy that's captured that's really special. I'm so glad we went with Josh Reiss. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding.

perfectly captures those moments that make an event unforgettable. Josh takes beautiful photographs, but what he really does is create art ... starring you! Josh's commitment to professionalism is unsurpassed. Right before my wedding, his car broke down in Nevada after shooting at Burning Man. This was my "It's a week before the wedding - is it time to panic?" moment. Josh assured me he wouldn't miss the wedding for the world. He ended up renting the extra gear he needed and coming straight to San Francisco for my big day! Considering he is an LA-based photographer, I really think he went above and beyond to make this happen for me. Josh and his team were an absolute pleasure to work with. They made me feel at ease immediately, and what I thought would be a stressful process was actually a lot of fun. They struck a perfect balance between letting moments unfold and providing the slight bit of direction to make a shot perfect. It was all seamless. My mother and I are still blown away by his ability to efficiently shoot group portraits. He took the bit of extra time to position everyone just right, and it makes such a huge difference in the photos. Whether he was capturing a beautiful moment between the bride and groom, corralling people for group shots, or shooting hilarious dance floor candids, Josh brought all his energy and a tasteful eye. I couldn't have asked for anyone who was so fun to work with, who I trusted completely. I would (and do) recommend him to anybody!