Michael Astorga Photography

Michael was the very first vendor I picked for my wedding. I love photography and spent a long time searching for a photographer that fits the style of photography I like. Michael’s photography is so natural, yet ethereal feeling. His style is very candid, but the candid photos look and feel like the staged photos he does. There is a wonderful, natural blend between candid and staged photos that just makes the entire day one cohesive look and that is the type of photographer I spent so long searching for. I didn’t want my staged photos (bridal party photos, first look photos, getting ready photos) to feel staged and I wanted them to blend and create an entire day of what feels like a movie in stills. However, I wouldn’t say I have regrets, but I would do things different if I had to do this again. I planned my wedding through nursing school and spent a lot of time making sure my wedding was everything I wanted it to be and I feel as though the photos don’t reflect that. I regret not also getting a videographer to fill in the gaps that the photography has. I wouldn’t say they are underwhelming, but there are a few things that I feel like should not have been sent in the final photos that were sent through and/or more photos should have been sent. 1. My venue was filled with beautiful. all the place settings looked nice including a lot of DIY things such as signage and place cards. I put a lot of time into these things. I feel as though the photos of my venue that showed all of those efforts are not there. I have a few photos of one specific table/place setting. No photos of the venue as a whole, which was BEAUTIFUL (our reception was at Villa and Vine in Santa Barbara.) I don’t have a photo of the sweetheart table, or even just the place setting that says “bride” and “groom;” which to be fair is very minor but it is the first time being labeled as a bride and it would have been special to have a picture of that. 2. Another, the only ceremony photo I have of my bridesmaids together, my maid of honor has her eyes closed. I feel like that photo should have never gotten to me with the price we paid for photos. 3. We also spent a lot of time outside just after getting ready on a balcony and my dress was instantly ruined from that and I thought it would have been fine because it’s for the good photos right? Wrong. I have only a few photos of that balcony time so a completely ruined dress for just a few photos to me wasn’t worth it. 4. I was being asked what photos I wanted the entire day. I sent my shots list 3 times (twice myself and once by my coordinator). I feel as though it’s the photographers job to bring the shot list and refer to it, but he didn’t have it and there are photos that were missed that I wanted. For example, my 96 year old grandma, I have only one photo set with her. I had on my list a few different groups I wanted her in, but being asked just after your ceremony what photos to get next while people are coming up to you and congratulating you and other people are asking “are we staying for photos” is all overwhelming on top of having the photographer ask who is next even when a shots list was sent multiple times. My advice for that: Give the list to the coordinator or someone who will be there at your side all day and can have it handy at any moment or even print it out yourself and give it to your MOH. I made a shots list and emailed it assuming he would print it on the day, however that was not the case.