Moments & Stories Remembered
$1,200 starting price
All Southern California | Destinations
Service area
Videography services available
Karl
OWNER
AWARD WINNER (8X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
I believe in storytelling…people, moments, love. When you get your photos back from your wedding day, I want you to feel the love that will only ever exist between the two of you. For every gorgeous bouquet photo, there should be a shot of laughter. For every ring and centerpiece picture, there needs to be a shot of grandma dancing with the bride. And for every catalog-Best-of-The-Knot-cover photo, there has to be the beautifully imperfect shot of the two of you laughing at a moment that you’ll remember forever.
Prices & packages
Romance Collection
$1,200 starting price
Romance Collection
$1,200 starting price
4 hours
4 hours
Four Hour Coverage
Four Hour Coverage
Wedding Day Coverage
Wedding Day Coverage
300+ professionally edited digital photos
300+ professionally edited digital photos
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Full Copyright License Maintained by Couple
Full Copyright License Maintained by Couple
I'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the Photos
I'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the Photos
Vintage Collection
$1,900 starting price
Vintage Collection
$1,900 starting price
7 hours
7 hours
Pre-ceremony getting ready photos
Pre-ceremony getting ready photos
Detail photos
Detail photos
Ceremony photos
Ceremony photos
Reception photos
Reception photos
Bride and Groom photos
Bride and Groom photos
Bride solo photos
Bride solo photos
Groom solo photos
Groom solo photos
Wedding Party photos
Wedding Party photos
Family photos
Family photos
500+ professionally edited digital photos
500+ professionally edited digital photos
Print & Social Media License
Print & Social Media License
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Local Engagement Session
Local Engagement Session
Adventure Engagements!!!
$1,900 starting price
Adventure Engagements!!!
$1,900 starting price
8 hours
8 hours
8 Hour Session (including hiking and travel!)
8 Hour Session (including hiking and travel!)
Great for Traveling or Adventurous Outdoor Couples
Great for Traveling or Adventurous Outdoor Couples
Two Photographers
Two Photographers
100+ professionally edited digital photos
100+ professionally edited digital photos
Print & Social Media License
Print & Social Media License
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Most popular
.Classic Collection
$2,500 starting price
Classic Collection
$2,500 starting price
8 hours
8 hours
Eight Hour Coverage
Eight Hour Coverage
Engagement Session
Engagement Session
500+ professionally edited digital photos
500+ professionally edited digital photos
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Full Copyright License Maintained by Couple
Full Copyright License Maintained by Couple
I'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the Photos
I'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the Photos
Second Photographer
Second Photographer
Photo Book
Photo Book
Moments Collection
$3,500 starting price
Moments Collection
$3,500 starting price
10 hours
10 hours
Ten Hour Coverage
Ten Hour Coverage
Engagement Session
Engagement Session
600+ professionally edited digital photos
600+ professionally edited digital photos
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
Full Copyright License Maintained by Couple
Full Copyright License Maintained by Couple
I'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the Photos
I'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the Photos
Second Photographer
Second Photographer
Leather Album
Leather Album
Ceremony & Speeches Stationary Video Coverage
Ceremony & Speeches Stationary Video Coverage
Showing slides 1 to 3 out of 5
- Romance Collection$1,200 starting priceRomance Collection$1,200 starting price4 hours4 hoursFour Hour CoverageFour Hour CoverageWedding Day CoverageWedding Day Coverage300+ professionally edited digital photos300+ professionally edited digital photosOnline Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)Full Copyright License Maintained by CoupleFull Copyright License Maintained by CoupleI'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the PhotosI'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the Photos
- Vintage Collection$1,900 starting priceVintage Collection$1,900 starting price7 hours7 hoursPre-ceremony getting ready photosPre-ceremony getting ready photosDetail photosDetail photosCeremony photosCeremony photosReception photosReception photosBride and Groom photosBride and Groom photosBride solo photosBride solo photosGroom solo photosGroom solo photosWedding Party photosWedding Party photosFamily photosFamily photos500+ professionally edited digital photos500+ professionally edited digital photosPrint & Social Media LicensePrint & Social Media LicenseOnline Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)Local Engagement SessionLocal Engagement Session
- Adventure Engagements!!!$1,900 starting priceAdventure Engagements!!!$1,900 starting price8 hours8 hours8 Hour Session (including hiking and travel!)8 Hour Session (including hiking and travel!)Great for Traveling or Adventurous Outdoor CouplesGreat for Traveling or Adventurous Outdoor CouplesTwo PhotographersTwo Photographers100+ professionally edited digital photos100+ professionally edited digital photosPrint & Social Media LicensePrint & Social Media LicenseOnline Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)
- Most popular.Classic Collection$2,500 starting priceClassic Collection$2,500 starting price8 hours8 hoursEight Hour CoverageEight Hour CoverageEngagement SessionEngagement Session500+ professionally edited digital photos500+ professionally edited digital photosOnline Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)Full Copyright License Maintained by CoupleFull Copyright License Maintained by CoupleI'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the PhotosI'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the PhotosSecond PhotographerSecond PhotographerPhoto BookPhoto Book
- Moments Collection$3,500 starting priceMoments Collection$3,500 starting price10 hours10 hoursTen Hour CoverageTen Hour CoverageEngagement SessionEngagement Session600+ professionally edited digital photos600+ professionally edited digital photosOnline Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)Online Gallery (high res, fully downloadable)Full Copyright License Maintained by CoupleFull Copyright License Maintained by CoupleI'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the PhotosI'm Actually the Photographer Who Takes the PhotosSecond PhotographerSecond PhotographerLeather AlbumLeather AlbumCeremony & Speeches Stationary Video CoverageCeremony & Speeches Stationary Video Coverage
- Starting prices may not include all fees a vendor may charge.
- Couples usually spend $2,500
Are you interested?
Reach out and share your wedding details.
Details
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
Bridal Portraits
Day After Session
Engagement
Trash The Dress
Photo & Video
Digital Files
Drone
Online Proofing
Photo
Printed Enlargements
Printed Proofs
Same-Day Edits
Second Shooter Available
Social Media Sharing
Wedding Albums
Photo & Video Styles
Artistic
Classic
Documentary
Dramatic
Lifestyle
Modern
Vintage
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Wedding
After Party
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Karl
Owner
I'm Karl...living at the beach, climbing snowy mountains, and spending my life meeting new couples and telling their wedding stories. Yes, my profile picture isn't a headshot, it's a selfie. I'm not a huge fan of headshots...this way, you know if you want your wedding at a lovely venue, in the wilderness, down your street, or on Everest, I'm there for you.
I've been photographing weddings for about 8 years and 700 weddings now, and still loving every minute of it. Blessed and honored to have been voted Best of The Knot for 5 years running, and in the Hall of Fame.
Availability
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.099 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Karl Verkade Photography is highly praised by multiple reviewers for wedding photography, with glowing feedback on Karl's professionalism, warmth, and dedication to capturing special moments. Reviewers noted Karl's exceptional communication, ability to fulfill photo requests, and talent for creating stunning, storytelling images. Many appreciated his affordability compared to other photographers and highlighted his ability to put clients at ease. Karl's work was described as exceeding expectations, with beautiful, magical, and breath-taking results that captured the essence of weddings. Overall, reviewers highly recommended Karl for wedding photography due to his exceptional skills and wonderful personality.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
- Top reviews
- Newest first
- Oldest first
- Highest rated
- Lowest rated
Sort by
Robert S
5.0
3/11/2025
Choosing a wedding photographer is more than just about picking someone who can take good shots. I’m sure numerous professional photographers can do a great job taking pictures but what makes a great wedding photographer is someone who can manage your day and allow it to run smoothly.
Well, have no fear because Karl is here! Karl is the easiest possible photographer to work with. He is so down to earth and laid back and easy to get along with that you just know your day is going to go by smoothly. And being laid back does not mean he isn’t professional, efficient, or extremely hard working. It’s just he does it with warmth and a smile so that you feel comfortable, but make no mistake, he’s working his butt off. Seriously, he’s flat our awesome.
We hired Karl to do our engagement shoot and our Wedding Day and we couldn’t be happier with the results. He came out to film us on horses and rolled with the punches even when the horses wouldn’t cooperate. For the wedding, our photos came out perfectly and he provided well above the amount that was contracted. Everyone who interacted with him loved him. Everyone who saw our engagement photos complimented us profusely on them. Right now, we just keep re-viewing our wedding day photos repeatedly.
Karl was able to get as many shots as he did, including fulfilling every photo request we had for him, and we still had plenty of time to enjoy our cocktail hour, which many wedding couples often miss out on. At one point during our post ceremony shoot, after taking some pictures, I looked over to see Karl lying on the ground in the dirt to get the perfect shot. WOW! Gotta love that dedication to the craft!
I couldn’t recommend Karl any higher. If you want a photographer that takes his craft seriously, it is super easy to get along with and will provide the most awesome photos of your wedding, then hire Karl. If you want your hardest decision to be figuring out which awesome photo to frame, then hire Karl. If you want your wedding day to go smoothly, then hire Karl. If you need a wedding photographer, Karl’s your guy!
Take some of the stress out of your Wedding Day by making sure Karl is a part of it!
Kimberlee V
5.0
11/30/2024
What a stroke of luck it was finding Karl Verkade Photography four our engagement photos and our wedding. My fiance and I looked through many photographers when we got engaged. And since we each have very different aesthetics that interested us in our wedding and engagement photos, it was a long process. From the moment we saw Karl's work we knew we had found our photographer, and our first meeting with him confirmed it. I work in media, specifically in VFX, which makes me an addiontally persnickety client in regards to images. Karl and his team worked the fine line between my bride's perfect wedding of portrait photography, and my perfect wedding in a verite, documentarian style. The result is a stunning array of staged elegance and visceral emotion that captured not only our wedding, but our personalities. His team of photographers and videographers were professional and friendly, wanted to learn about us as a couple and individually, and reacted joyfully to our playful nature. I can't recommend Karl Verkade Photography enough, and my wife and I have already joked about needing to get married again just to have an excuse to call Karl and his team into action again.
Any questions?
David H
5.0
9/29/2024
Karl was our wedding photographer. He was responsive to our emails and worked with us to meet all our needs. We found him very professional and fun to work with. Most importantly, the photos he produced were excellent. We could not have asked for better.
Zeth B
5.0
4/05/2024
100/10 Karl was the absolute best, would hire again.
We had a less than traditional wedding that people only understood when they got there and he rolled right along, giving us stunning photos that will save the day in our memories for our whole life time.
Karl is professional, highly skilled, and absolutely a pleasure to work with. He did an excellent job talking through all the wedding day details with us and even helped us decide on realistic times of when various things should occur.
Kelsey H
5.0
3/31/2024
Karl is a master craftsman with his camera. I had high expectations about his work because I've seen his previous stuff, but I was absolutely blown away by my wedding photos. They were all exquisite-- some of them were downright magical.
I've heard it over and over: If there's anything you should splurge on at your wedding, it's the photographer, because the pictures last forever. Somehow Karl was not much of a splurge, but the quality of his photos exceeds that of photographers who charge four times as much.
The storytelling, the light and shadow, the angles... every photo is a work of art. I am so grateful to Karl for capturing these precious moments.
Laurin B
5.0
3/17/2024
Karl is amazing. I cant say enough. His attention to detail as well as him ability to capture little moments was great. Photo quality was phenomenal. I have already recommended him to 2 other brides. Turn around felt a bit on the longer side but his website is clear about the expectations so I have no complaints at all. Very professional. The day felt like a disaster for a bunch of other reasons but our photos are great and he made it work. Everything wound down over an hour earlier than expected and I know he would have stayed with no complaints to finish out the time but I ended up letting him go home early when I figured there was no more worth recording.
Overall amazing, and will continue to recommend him.
Shervin E
5.0
12/23/2023
Wow, we just got our wedding photos back and we are blown away. We knew that Karl was talented looking through his reviews and portfolio but could not be more impressed and grateful to have had Karl capture the magic of our wedding day . He was so easy to communicate and brought such a great energy to our day.
Karl went above and beyond the day of as he ruffled my brides dress, was flexible with requests we had and captured special candid moments we will cherish forever.
Even after our wedding he delivered more than what we had hoped for.
We can’t say enough good things about Karl and can’t recommend this man enough . Thank you so much Karl !
Mario M
5.0
12/05/2023
I can only speak about our engagement photos at this point, but just based on those I know we made the right choice in hiring Karl for our wedding! They are absolutely stunning and exactly what we envisioned for our photos. Karl was so patient and supportive throughout the entire session and made us feel like movie stars. He gave just enough direction while allowing us to just be ourselves and feel comfortable. He didn't hesitate at all to walk all over downtown Temecula with us to get the perfect shots despite it being a hot California day. I am beyond excited for our wedding knowing that Karl will capture every bit of the magic. Thank you Karl!
Rachel V
5.0
8/10/2023
My husband and I were having a very intimate wedding, and had a very specific budget, and lots of request with 4 different photo sites we wanted. We checked the knot for photographers and found a ton. We set up some consultation appointments with a few and we were so thrilled with how responsive, friendly, and professional Karl was. He completely understood what we wanted, and had no issue going to 4 different sites for photos. We explained to him that we enjoyed his photos because they seemed to tell a story rather than a bunch of posed photos. Ultimately we decided to go with him, and we were not disappointed. He went way above and beyond what we expected and he made our day so memorable! His patience and kindness during the day was exactly what we needed and his attention to detail on photo locations and placements was so easy to work with and understand. We just got our gallery and the photos are just absolutely stunning. I highly recommend hiring Karl, trust me you won't be disappointed!
Christiana T
5.0
12/04/2022
My mom said if we were going to splurge on anything, it would have to be the photographer. We didn't have to splurge too much, and Karl was fantastic!
Every photo looks great, but there are some that are SO BREATH-TAKING that I look at them and I am just in awe of how someone could capture us looking so good on our big day.
I was nervous to pay in advance for the promise of the discount, but Karl absolutely came through. I respect honesty highly, so I appreciate him going ABOVE and BEYOND with our photos even though he was already paid in full.
Cannot recommend highly enough. Truly.
Julianna S
5.0
11/12/2022
Wow. Wow. Wow. Karl is the best photographer in all of SoCal. I have been in a lot of weddings, mine included, and Karl's photos blows everyone's out of the water.
He is incredible to work with and very responsive. If you do not hire him, you are doing yourself a disservice.
Elle S
5.0
10/10/2022
Karl was great to work with during our wedding. He made the whole process natural and always responded timely. I loved having an engagement photo shoot done beforehand so we were able to meet him before our big day.
Kara P
5.0
8/30/2022
Our wedding photos are INCREDIBLE!!! We had a beautiful 100+ degree day in Palm Desert, which ended with a gorgeous pink and orange sunset. I didn’t even know Karl was there half the time- the ceremony shots especially, which will be so, so treasured. I have dozens of favorites! Our event coordinator was also very complimentary of him, mentioning how pleasant he was to work with. We couldn’t be happier with our day, across the board. Our only regret was that we didn't hire him for a second photo shoot during our honeymoon in Temecula. Maybe next year, for our anniversary :) Thank you Karl!!!
Candace R
5.0
8/26/2022
I knew Karl from when we were kids and jumped at hiring him for our wedding after seeing all of his beautiful photos! He did not disappoint! He spent a lot of time getting every teeny tiny detail from the wedding in a photograph including coming to our air bnb for getting ready photos then on to the hotel where he visited two hotel rooms before the wedding for more pictures. He also followed us around at dinner to ensure pictures with as many of our guests as possible. I requested we get down to the beach at sunset and he took amazing photos down there. Hundreds and hundreds of great photos that I have the rights to print and share. Stop looking and book him now!
response 08/26/2022
Thank you, Candace. It was totally my honor to capture those moments for you guys. What a ...
gorgeous wedding, and gorgeous setting! You both were fantastic.
Karina C
5.0
11/29/2021
First off my wedding was complicated enough with two completely different location and times that I never thought a photographer would be willing to do it. I had my ceremony early in the morning in Anaheim, then my reception in Temecula about 4 hours later and Karl was so flexible and willing to work with it all. From the start him and his team were completely professional on time and had the best attitudes. There wasn’t a time they didn’t know what to do or went above and beyond to take the shot. They worked with my complicated dress and ideas the whole time! I am absolutely grateful for Karly and his team and couldn’t have ask for a better photographer.
Jordan W
5.0
11/08/2021
Karl is the man. We are so happy that we chose him as our photographer. I cannot stress enough how awesome he was throughout the whole day. Big hugs to you Karl! You won't be disappointed if you book him as your photog guy!!
response 08/04/2022
Thank you, Jordan! You guys were spectacular.
Jacqueline P
5.0
11/02/2021
We are so extremely happy with Karl and cannot recommend him enough!! He was so accommodating and very easy to communicate with, especially during our rescheduling due to COVID. His energy on the day of was unmatched, and our pictures came out BEAUTIFULLY. We cannot stress enough how pleased we are with Karl!
Nicole O
5.0
7/14/2021
Karl was great to work with. He accommodated our wedding postponement without hesitation. He and his team arrived on our big day and immediately got to work capturing the details of our big day. My husband is camera shy and he even felt comfortable with Karl and his team. I would highly recommend Karl and his services for anyone's wedding!
response 08/25/2022
Thank you so much, we had a blast working with you!!
Deanna A
5.0
2/28/2021
Karl was incredible and by far the best decision I made when it came to choosing my vendors. Karl and his team captured every single shot I requested and went above and beyond. We could not be happier with the results. His team was amazing throughout the entire process, from beginning to end!
It’s never easy to have cameras following you around, but they made us feel so comfortable and relaxed. Two things stood out the most:
1. Level of expertise and professionalism
2. Attention to detail and high level of care
Karl and his team are very experienced and it SHOWS. They provide excellent work. But, it didn’t feel like we were just another “event” to capture. They made us feel very special on our ‘big day’ and it was clear that we were in good hands!
I can truly look back at the photos and recall special memories that happened in those moments, which is something that can’t always be said for wedding photos. I would recommend Karl Verkade Photography a million times over. I haven’t stopped looking at our photos and I’m thrilled that we have such beautiful shots to remember the best weekend of our lives :)
We are SO LUCKY to have found Karl and his team. They are super talented, and simply GREAT people. I highly recommend working with Karl and his team!
Celeste F
5.0
12/19/2020
Karl and Melissa were an absolute joy to work with. Karl was so easygoing and fun during our engagement shoot, and was very flexible and willing to work with us when our wedding plans had to change due to the pandemic. He and Melissa really made our day special, and they both were so enthusiastic and supportive throughout the evening. They were very communicative before the event and responded to all of our questions quickly and thoroughly. We also loved that they kept an eye out for nice backdrops for photos, including taking some photos on our street lined with orange and yellow trees; we can't wait to see how they came out! They really captured the details big and small of the evening, from taking photos of our walk down the aisle to close-up shots of our shoes. Karl and Melissa also were very attentive to social distancing and we felt very safe and comfortable. They made our 6-person backyard wedding feel extra magical, and brought so much joy to a lovely day.
Jennifer S
5.0
11/25/2020
Getting married during COVID forced my husband and me to make the tough decision to cut our wedding list and opt to make out commitment before God in the presence of only a very small handful of family members. You wouldn't think that having such an intimate wedding would be stressful, but when you consider that we put everything together within a about a month's time, you can see where this could be problematic. After contacting a series of photographers, we came upon Karl's photography on the Knot. After seeing sooo many many beautiful photos that he had taken of couples, we messaged him right away. Although his schedule was busy, we were happy to find out that he could accommodate our Sunday wedding date. He also went out of his way to accommodate a last minute engagement photo session and rush the photos to us so that we could get virtual invitations out ASAP.
During the wedding session, Karl did a wonderful job at making me feel comfortable (which is exactly what I needed because I'm not a big fan of taking pictures). Additionally, he brought a lot of fun and energy into the shoot and seamlessly worked with our videographers to capture our special day.
When we received the wedding photos we were blown away! In addition to capturing the days traditional wedding events, we were amazed at the couples shots he took of us on the beach following our ceremony. He added drama to the photos with the way he captured the lighting, sunset, ocean, and us. Even though the beach was crowded he somehow you magically managed to make the photos look like we were the only people there! We've received so many compliments on the photos and plan on enlarging some of them to display in our home.
I highly recommend Karl and his work, and would use him all over again if I had to do it over !
Happy Holidays!
Jennifer and Michael Enwedo
Kristine B
5.0
10/29/2020
Karl is absolutely amazing! Karl did our engagement photos and we were so stunned at how the pictures turned out. He also did our wedding as well and we can't wait to see how these will turn out but we're already blown away by his work. if you want realistic, beautiful photos which capture the moment and the emotion as well then he's the photographer for you!
Anna-Marie W
5.0
5/09/2020
Karl photographed our wedding in January and we are just so, so happy with how the photos turned out. From the beginning, Karl was so easy to work with. He responded to emails quickly, then we chatted over the phone for about 30 minutes about what we were looking for in a wedding photographer. It was clear that Karl was the right guy for us. He is so passionate and knowledgeable about his craft, but he also let us have autonomy and freedom with what we wanted/didn't want (unlike some other photographers we chatted with who kept trying to upsell us on larger packages, or do an engagement shoot, which we didn't want, etc.).
On the actual wedding day – WOW, Karl was amazing! From the moment he arrived to the moment he left (~8 hours), he was patient, calm, encouraging, and just seemed so happy to be there. He made us feel so comfortable. My husband and I are pretty camera shy, and we were worried that shooting the “stage-y” wedding photos would be awkward, but it actually turned out to be one of our favorite parts of the day! Just hanging out with each other and Karl during that time in between ceremony and reception taking our photos was just so much fun. Karl also took some genuine, candid photos of our families and friends during pre-ceremony and reception. There were so many moments he captured that we didn’t know were happening! He got great shots of people seeing each other for the first time in a long time before the ceremony, our families dancing, people hugging at the end of the night, the best man speech with a shot of his fiancé watching, shots of couples and friends taking photos with each other, etc. If you want to ACTUALLY experience your wedding day, hire Karl so he can capture not just YOUR moments, but also your guests’ moments.
We cannot thank Karl enough for making us comfortable in front of the camera and for capturing the little micro moments we were feeling. We can’t stop looking at these photos. They make us so happy and they are just lovely. He captured us in the most beautiful and authentic way.
response 06/08/2020
Your review means the world to me! I love what I do, and I love that you guys are so stoke...
d that they don't look staged! But it was all you guys...you were great!
Linda P
5.0
3/20/2020
Hired Karl for my wedding that unfortunately is getting postponed. He has been extremely helpful and super easy to work with. He took our engagement photos, and the photos are to die for! I can't wait to have him photograph our wedding :-)
Holly R
5.0
12/26/2019
Karl and his partner were the absolute best. We are so happy with how the photos turned out!!! Our wedding was in Indio in September and they also shot our family member's wedding in June and all the photos are amazing. We would definitely recommend to any friends looking for a wedding photographer.
Thanks Karl!!!
Tracy M
5.0
10/31/2019
We had originally planned for an October 2018 wedding, and Karl was one of the first vendors we booked. We met at a coffee shop and my husband and I knew Karl was the person we wanted to shoot our wedding. Fast forward, we extended our wedding date to October 2019 and Karl was very understanding and flexible. Our second meeting was not until early 2019 for our engagement shoot at the Venice Canals. Karl made us feel comfortable from the get-go and it made taking pictures easy. We LOVED how our engagement pictures turned out and were excited for what was to come on our wedding day. On our big day, Karl and Laura came early for get-ready and BTS shots in our hotel rooms. We then moved to another location for our first look and wedding party pictures. From our big wedding to my big family, Karl and Laura were so accommodating, patient, efficient, and fun to work with. Thank you, Karl and Laura, for everything!
Patty O
5.0
4/14/2019
Karl is awesome to work with! He has reasonable prices, is a really cool person who is super fun to work with, and he takes breath-taking photos! He is so accommodating and has the best attitude all the time! We were honored to get to work with him! I cannot recommend him highly enough! I hope to get to work with him again in the future!
Brie S
5.0
4/03/2019
Karl is beyond amazing. He was incredibly easy to get in touch with, responds quickly, and is always happy to talk to you. Prompt and on time 100% oz the time. His prices are transparent and more than reasonable, especially for the high quality of work you get from him.
He did our engagement photos for us in addition to our wedding. We couldn’t have been happier. When I saw the sneak peek from my wedding photos, I actually cried because he captured the day so beautifully and it was so great to be able to relive how perfect that day was. I have recommended him to every soon-to-be bride that I know. Do yourself the biggest favor ever, and book him. You will be so glad you did!
Victoria V
5.0
3/30/2019
Karl was patient and easy to work with. He had good ideas for our photo poses. He was flexible with our non-traditional wedding and only needing him for a few hours. We will definitely be using him in the future for family pictures.
Ginger M
5.0
2/25/2019
Karl was a pleasure to work with. We hired him for our Dec 2018 wedding and we just got the photos back. I already knew that they would be great and they were. He caught some great moments. People having a good time which in the end, is what you want to remember. Also, we got some nice stylized photos of the two of us. Thank you, Karl.
Ginger M
5.0
12/26/2018
Karl was the best. He is so flexible. From the beginning, I felt comfortable with him. He was able to make my wedding party feel completely at home with all the many photos. I have not seen the finished product yet but I feel lucky to have gotten Karl. From seeing his portfolio, I am sure that the photos will be gorgeous. I will also update this when I get my photos to post my opinions of the actual finished product. However, Karl, you are the man. Thanks so much!
Megan C
5.0
10/08/2018
Karl was an absolute joy to work with. He made it easy to be comfortable having my picture taken - no mean feat - and let us do some creative and silly shots too. Highly recommended!
Jessica D
5.0
8/09/2018
Working with Karl was one of the best experiences of our wedding and planning process. From the first meeting with him, we felt comfortable and were in love with his artistry and work. We worked with Karl for both our engagements and our wedding day - the biggest compliment I can say is that my husband HATES being photographed and avoids it at all costs, and he had a wonderful time with Karl and LOVES our photos. We love love love how our engagements came out, and can’t wait to see our final wedding photos, but working with him was wonderful. Karl - thank you for being a part of our special day, and for making us feel (and look) like a million bucks.
Amy P
5.0
7/30/2018
If you are looking for the best photographer in Southern California then look no further. Karl is so friendly and made us feel comfortable at both the engagement session and on our wedding day. I knew I wanted to find the perfect photographer because the photos will last a lifetime. Our photos turned out so well we were both crying while first reviewing them. His prices are quite affordable compared to other businesses in the area. We wouldn’t have changed a thing and are so thankful we decided to work with Karl. Thank you, Karl for your hard work and creative talent.
Jessa P
5.0
7/17/2018
We are so incredibly grateful to have had Karl photograph our big day! He went above and beyond in countless ways. Not to mention we are obsessed with all of our photos! He made us feel so comfortable and made sure he captured exactly what we wanted. Whenever I had questions, he was prompt at returning my emails. I read a ton of reviews when choosing my photographer so look no further, the best is right here :)
-Jonathan & Jessa
Tiffany C
5.0
6/08/2018
Hiring Karl for our wedding was probably the best decision we made. My husband and I are both not incredibly comfortable around a camera, but Karl made our engagement session feel like such a breeze, making us feel 100% confident that the day of our wedding, we'd have nothing to worry about. When we got back our photos, it was such a joy going through the album, seeing how he captured all the emotions of that day. It's as if those photo memories transported us right back to our wedding. Super nice and genuine, I'd hire him again 1000x over.
Pamela T
5.0
5/29/2018
Karl was our photographer for our museum wedding in April 2018. From the moment we met him, we knew he was going to be one of our favorite wedding vendors in this crazy process of planning a wedding! He was efficient, responsive, professional, and fun to work with. Though we are not naturals in front of the camera, our engagement photos came out beautifully and surpassed our expectations. Our wedding took place in a venue that is probably difficult to photograph in (dim lighting, grandiose backgrounds) but we have no doubt that Karl will deliver photos of the highest quality. He is a master of his trade and is extremely pleasant to work with to boot. Don't think twice. Book him early as his immense popularity will likely make him more and more difficult to secure.
Megan K
5.0
4/01/2018
We hired Karl for our wedding in January 2018 and we could not have been happier with our decision!!!! Karl was kind, easy going, and so professional from our initial meeting through the day of the wedding. We received our photos back and have been in complete awe of how beautifully they turned out! Karl is incredibly talented and does an amazing job of capturing the feelings and moments of a wedding through the portraits and the candid photos. The pictures we received truly captured the joy and love during our wedding. On top of that, our family and friends keep raving about how beautiful the pictures are and how kind Karl was throughout the wedding. We are so grateful for Karl and highly recommend him for any photography needs!
Barbara H
5.0
12/07/2017
Karl is a joy to work with! He's so artistic and did an amazing job of capturing our day. From getting ready to groovin' on the dance floor, he got it all with artistic flair. He had a good mix of detail shots, journalistic shots and all the "expected" photos as well.
He really managed to tell the story of our day through photos. The hardest part was choosing which photos to add to our album.
Karl took our engagement photos, our wedding photos and I hope to work with him again in the future for our anniversary.
Sarah R
5.0
11/27/2017
I honestly can’t praise Karl’s work enough! He is professional, personable, and the perfect wedding photographer! We had the pleasure of working with him for our engagement shoot and the entirety of our wedding. He made us feel so comfortable and captured us in such a natural way. I am obsessed with all of my pictures, photo books, and cannot wait for our album to arrive. I strongly recommend Karl (and team) to anyone and everyone! Thank you, Karl!!!
Ali C
5.0
11/06/2017
Karl was such a pleasure to work with! From the moment I first emailed him, he was responsive, friendly and helpful! I loved what I saw on his website and knew he would capture our wedding day perfectly! He made everything so easy and comfortable. He's a great blend of professional and personable! We just got married last week, but my husband and I can not wait to see our photos and I know they are in great hands!
Michelle S
5.0
10/30/2017
I highly, highly recommend Karl Verkade. Karl did our engagement and wedding photos, and we couldn't be happier. After interviewing 5+ photographers (and researching/emailing over 20), we knew we picked the winner after meeting Karl. Here's why:
1. Personality. For my husband and me, we knew we needed a photographer who "got" us. Our wedding was Game of Thrones-inspired wedding, so someone who could embrace our geekiness was a MUST. (We had discovered that some photographers weren't too keen to shoot a "non-traditional" wedding.) Beyond that, we needed someone down-to-earth and had a sense of humor. Karl's laid-back (but *not* passive) style allowed us to be ourselves, while at the same time provided helpful guidance to make our photos look fabulous. Here's the thing -you are going to be spending A LOT of time with your photographer on your wedding day; so, it's no good if the person annoys or stresses you out! One of the key questions in my mind was - will this person be comfortable with my geeky/zany/wonderfully-weird bridesmaids and me as we get ready? The answer with Karl was a definite YES.
2. Transparency. Karl was 100% clear about what his fees did and did not include. I noticed that some photographers "hid the ball" with their fees - oh, you actually want to SEE (let alone print) any of your photos? That's an extra charge! With Karl, all fees were clearly disclosed and nothing was counterintuitive. He even publicly lists his fees online - something a lot of wedding vendors do NOT do!
3. Price. Not only were Karl's fees transparent, they were also very, very affordable. For a professional photographer, I doubt his rates can be beat.
4. Copyright. You can share your photos on social media WITHOUT begging for permission or paying extra. Karl provides high-resolution images without watermarks, so you can save, share, and print to your heart's content!
Points 1-3 above made us decide on Karl. Having now received our wedding photos, we are even more confident in our recommendation. Why?
Our engagement photos were GORGEOUS. We shot in two locations - Huntington Beach Central Park and Laguna Beach. Both sites were great, but the Laguna photos truly blew us away. You don't need to be adventurous to get good photos with Karl, but if you are, you'll get some especially epic ones with the waves crashing against the rocks at sunset.
Most importantly, our wedding photos were AMAZING! From the shots of our Game of Thrones-stylized details (e.g., giant dragon skull) to our First Look to the candid shots, Karl and his assistant did an awesome job capturing our wedding! Because Karl does a through job processing the photos (but in a natural way!), it took some time, but the wait was totally worth it. (So be patient!) We had over 1100 awesome photos to download, browse, and save (see #4 above) - it was like reliving the wedding all over again. Another great perk - you can download the photos through Karl's online (password protected) portal. This is also how you select photos for your album - easy-peasy!
Thank you Karl!
Brandon R
5.0
10/24/2017
Working with Karl was just like working with an old friend, except in this case the friend is INCREDIBLY talented, very professional, prompt, communicative, flexible and loads of fun to be around. I can't say enough good about our experience. He was creative and super fun to work with for all the many poses that you're encoraged to try, but also incredibly knowledgeable and talented from the photographic perspective. Some of his most incredible shots reveal his mastery of back-lighting and use of scenery to help tell your love story. Highly, highly recommend... great experience from the initial meeting, to the camera time on our wedding day, and what an incredible reveal at the end. The photos were breathtaking. Don't miss out, this is the easiest wedding decision you'll make.
Melissa D
5.0
9/16/2017
Karl did an absolutely amazing job at our wedding. I couldn't of asked for a better photographer. He made our wedding even that more special and when the pictures came they were so beautiful. Thanks Karl!
response 09/29/2017
Thank you so much! Your guys wedding was beautiful and so much fun, and I was honored just...
to help capture those memories!!
All the best,
Karl
Andy C
5.0
9/07/2017
To kick this off - Karl Verkade is one of the nicest, most genuine people I have ever encountered in my life. We found Karl through some internet searching and setup a meeting, and instantly we knew we had found a match. He has an incredible portfolio and wowed us with his creativity and personable nature. We are an easy-going couple, and knew that Karl was the right fit for us and the goals of our wedding.
Starting with the engagement photos, which we took at the replica first In-n-Out drive through in Baldwin Park, we knew we were in for a treat when we saw the prints all edited and finished - such wonderful stuff! I have included a few shots to show you what this man can do. He was really getting into the shoot, and made us feel comfortable, willing to run into traffic to get a picture!
Our wedding day was 3 days ago, and we had Karl and his assistant Laura for 7 hours - they ended up arriving early and staying long enough to get the final shots of the night, with great lighting setups and a good feel for the venue. They were energized to be involved, which was so nice because they really blended in, did not crowd or push anyone, and let their photos happen organically as the night progressed.
We are so excited to see the final work that Karl produces, and I can assure you, you are getting a trust-worthy and imaginative person in Karl Verkade. Karl - thank you so much for making our engagement and wedding so special. You exceeded every expectation we had for the process and the day-of shooting. As I sit here recounting the memories, I can rest easy knowing you captured them to the best that my mind can imagine.
Do yourself a favor - book with Karl Verkade Photography.
Pamela D
5.0
5/30/2017
Karl was amazing! We just received our pictures back from the wedding and we were blown away. Karl also did our engagement pictures, which were just as stunning. He is so easy to work with and we really appreciated his laid-back and professional approach on the day of the wedding. We were even ahead of schedule! The icing on the cake (wedding pun intended) is his pricing...he is incredibly affordable, and you get way more than you pay for. I cannot recommend Karl enough!
response 06/16/2017
Thank you guys so much!! Your wedding was so beautiful...and so much love from everyone at...
tending. Thanks for letting us be a part of it!
Marissa C
5.0
5/19/2017
Karl photographed our wedding in December and we couldn't be happier with how our photos turned out! He was very flexible and easy to work with and his crew was so friendly, we felt so comfortable with him and his assistant. We received more photos than expected, he was able to work with our budget, and really went above and beyond on the day of as to not miss any details. Thank you Karl for giving us such beautiful lasting memories!!
response 05/30/2017
Thank you guys so much! Your wedding was so filled with love and great people...we couldn'...
t be more honored to have captured the memories for you guys. All the best to both of you!!
Sincerely,
Karl
Jessica P
5.0
4/17/2017
I found Karl through the Knot and after our first meeting I knew he would be the perfect photographer for our wedding! Karl offered great package options and great rates too! Karl and his assistant were very professional the day of the wedding and got a great variety of shots. He even sent me a preview of some of our pictures before we even left for our honeymoon. With as amazing as the preview photos came out I cannot wait to see the rest.
response 04/24/2017
Thank you so much!! Your guys' wedding was simply beautiful, and the love was unparalleled...
. Thank you guys and I will be in touch with all the rest from your gorgeous wedding. Sincerely, Karl.
Catherine L
5.0
4/15/2017
OMG! I'm so happy my hubby found Karl=) People spend so much time and money on weddings...the moment flies by in an instant and the night can just be a big blur. The photos are so important. It's the most memorable thing you have to look back on and cherish forever. You need a good photographer! Friends sent me their cell phone pics but it just not the same. Hiring Karl was truly the best investment we put into the wedding. He captured all the little details from the decorations to the joy on our guest faces...I LOVED all the natural moment shots. He has an eye and gift to get those special money shots. Every pic was so perfect. I hate being the center of attention and taking photos but he and his assistant make you feel so comfortable. If you want those moments captured of that fairy tale wedding you dreamed of and Hallmark looking photos Karl is your guy! I've seen many photos of other weddings I've attended and they are just standard and boring. Karl's shots show emotions, feelings, and life to it. You will not be disappointed. Thank you so much Karl! I'm going to refer you to all my friends and family.
response 06/19/2017
Oh my gosh, thank you guys so much! This review is everything I strive for in my photograp...
hy. This is why I do what I do! So that you guys can remember those feelings for a lifetime. Thank you guys again, it was an honor! :)
Shae F
5.0
3/19/2017
We seriously loved having Karl as our photographer for our New Year's Eve wedding. He was amazingly fun to work with, easy to communicate/plan with, and helped minimize the stress of the day with his easy-going nature. We ended up with some wonderful photos...he even used the rain to his advantage to get some great unique shots, in addition to some of my favorite candid pictures of my step-daughter, niece and nephews. Thank you so much Karl! I feel so lucky that we found you!
response 04/10/2017
I absolutely loved your guys' wedding! What a beautiful night, and we had so much fun capt...
uring it! :) You guys were awesome.
Dierdre M
5.0
2/13/2017
THIS GUY! Karl was the first vendor I booked when I began the long journey of booking wedding vendors. He was suuuuuuch a pleasure to work with! He was funny, real and professional and even enjoyed a hard cider with my then-fiance and I after taking our engagement photos up in Julian, CA. Our wedding went without a HITCH! Karl showed up early and made sure to get all the shots that we were looking for. In light of our wedding being on a weeknight in November AND being fairly intimate, he treated our wedding just like any other. We received our photos today and my husband and I couldn't stop 'wow-ing' and 'aw-ing' at each and every photo. His second shooter was also such a pleasure to work with as well. Overall, we are very pleased with Karl and his photo-expertise! Thanks Karl, you deserve all The Knot awards you receive!
response 02/21/2017
Thank you guys so much! Yours was such a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, and I was honored to ...
capture it for you. All the best to both of you!!
Maria A
5.0
1/19/2017
Karl was the best! My fiance and I had a great time taking our engagement pictures at Laguna Beach with Karl. Although, we were shy at first, we quickly became comfortable when he helped and guided us how to pose and all the beautiful backgrounds were easy to set the stage. Karl took his time on every photo and was so passionate to make it perfect for us! All of us were wet with the huge waves surrounding us. We did not mind taking a few risks getting tossed with the waves and the photos came out AMAZING!! I want to thank Karl for his passion to take such gorgeous pictures and which made us feel truly special!! We have received endless compliments on our engagement photos! He is reasonable and works with you every step of the way. Only wish we had met him sooner for our wedding photos.
response 03/05/2017
Wow, it was just so great to work with you guys! What an adventure, and you guys were amaz...
ing.
Sophia Z
5.0
10/31/2016
Karl was absolutely amazing. My husband and I met multiple photographers prior to our wedding and Karl was by far the easiest to get along with. We met up with him for our engagement photos at a park in RSM. My then fiance and I had zero time in front of a camera and he made us look like professional models. Not only that, but he truly captured our love for each other in our sweet and silly moments. Fast forward to our wedding day and I couldn't have asked for a better photographer. He showed up with the second photographer and went right to work. I never felt like I needed to ask him to take certain shots or like he was in the way. He just did his work effortlessly. We decided to do first look and are so grateful that we did. He captured one of the most intimate moments in our lives with such grace and beauty. The entire wedding was shot perfectly, none of the guests even noticed he was there. But when you needed him to be there he was! It was truly a pleasure working with Karl and I would recommend him to anyone who wants to be able to enjoy their wedding and trust that the right shots are being taken.
response 12/05/2016
Thank you so much...brought tears to my eyes. Your wedding was absolutely spectacular, and...
Laura and I were humbled to be able to witness and document the love you guys have for each other. All the best to both of you!!
Samantha S
5.0
10/31/2016
Karl is THE BEST. From the moment my husband and I met him we knew he was our wedding photographer. We customized a package perfectly to what I needed and he even went above and beyond. My husband and our bridal party felt so comfortable in front of the camera with him and the photos turned out amazing. I will never stop recommending Karl to future brides!!!! Thanks Karl :)
response 12/08/2016
Thank you so much!! The love the you guys and your friends had was something special, and ...
we were honored to be a small part of it!
Anissa V
5.0
10/31/2016
Karl is outstanding t what he does. He can make a picture speak to you in ways you never thought it could. Not only did he capture the best moments of our wedding but he was super easy to work with and so accomodating. He is such an overall good person and his attention to detail is top notch. He made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and we are more than happy with the quality of his photos. Thank you, Karl, for doing such an amazing job on oir wedding pics! I would recommend Karl over and over again! Simply the best photographer out there!
Laura B
5.0
10/31/2016
Karl is the best! He captured all of the posed photos we wanted as well as some awesome candids! We only wish we had remembered to take a photo with him because by the evening he felt like a friend :)
Antony B
5.0
10/31/2016
Everyone....Karl is so good that my wife and I were literally screaming when he sent us our album. See below for the e-mail I wrote him. HIGHLY recommended
Karl, Karl, Karl. Where do we start?
The reason why you haven't heard back from us in 4 days is because we have been in complete and utter AWE of our wedding photos. They are truly AMAZING! Madeleine and I have been gazing through them non stop, falling more and more in love with them after each photo. Your work is stunning. You were able to capture the most important moments, all while telling a beautiful love story. We have been inundated with compliments about your work. I cant stay enough about how satisfied we are. You exceed all of our expectations and we are very grateful to you. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!
Karla S
5.0
10/18/2016
Karl is so talented, and laid back, and kind. We had a smallish, intimate wedding, and he STILL managed to blend in seamlessly, make me and all my guests feel completely at ease, all while delivering stunning (and not too "overly produced") images. Cannot recommend enough.
Caitlin W
5.0
10/18/2016
Honestly the best photographer. He made us so happy with our engagement photos that we were at ease when it came to wedding photos! He is the best ever and so easy to work with! Also recommended a great videographer to us. If you are looking for a wedding photographer definetpy gonwith Karl, you won't be disappointed!
5.0
8/20/2016
Karl was such a pleasure to work with! He captured moments from our engagement and wedding that brought our fairytale to life! We are floored by his prowess. He has incredible work ethic, quick response times, beyond reasonable pricing, and last but certainly not least he has a pure knack for photography. The photos looked like an artist painted them and he even had an eye for all those natural kodak moments throughout the course of the evening. We highly recommend him and can't wait to see where his career takes him! Keep it up Karl! You are a legend!!
Contact
Curious to learn more?
Start the convo
*=Required
Use this secure form to reach out and share your wedding vision.
Karl Verkade Photography
Karl
|
Owner
- Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure.
- Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place.
- Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go.
- For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.
By clicking 'Request Quote', you agree to The Knot creating an account for you, if you don't have one, and to our Terms of Use. See our Privacy Policy to learn what data we collect and how we use it.
Wedding vendors in Costa Mesa
- Wedding Vendors/
- Wedding Photographers/
- California Wedding Photographers/
- Costa Mesa Wedding Photographers/
Karl Verkade Photography's photos
Why use The Knot to message vendors?
- Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure.
- Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place.
- Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go.
- For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.