$3,000 starting price
Videography services available
About this vendor
Samantha Estopa
Photographer & Point of contact
In business: 4+ years
Team: 5 members
Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish
Business: Woman-owned Business
DOCUMENT, PRESERVE & REMEMBER
SAE Photo Film is a team of photographers and videographers based in San Francisco, CA, who can document your wedding day as you experienced it, one emotion and fleeting moment at a time. Owners Samantha and Fernando are a husband-and-wife duo who have combined artistic talents to tell stories and preserve everlasting memories. They would be honored to be part of your and your beloved's journey to marriage, producing images and video footage that reflect this exciting chapter in your life.
If you've never spent much time in front of the camera before, there's no need to fear, as Samantha and Fernando will make the entire experience comfortable and enjoyable. They understand that celebrating your special day is the top priority, so they will encourage you and your beloved to forget the camera is around and simply enjoy every moment with your family and friends. By remaining in the background and capturing your authentic emotions and reactions, Samantha and Fernando will produce a wedding gallery and video that depicts your day in all its vibrancy and beauty.
Your wedding package from SAE Photo Film will include an engagement session, an opportunity for you and your beloved to meet Samantha and Fernando and learn about their visual storytelling approach. They understand the importance of versatility in their craft, so they are always willing to tailor your experience to suit your requirements. Whether you wish to capture dramatic portraits of you and your new spouse or allow your day to unfold without any posed snapshots, SAE Photo Film can make it happen.
Awards
Prices & packages
Storyteller (Photography only)
$7,000 starting price
Storyteller (Photography only)
$7,000 starting price
12 hours
12 hours
Engagement session
Engagement session
Day before or next day coverage (up to 3h)
Day before or next day coverage (up to 3h)
Next day sneak peeks
Next day sneak peeks
Min of 800 digital images
Min of 800 digital images
Super 8mm (up to 7min highlight)
Super 8mm (up to 7min highlight)
2 Photographers (2nd shooter for 8h)
2 Photographers (2nd shooter for 8h)
No travel fees within CA
No travel fees within CA
Minimalist (Photography only)
$4,500 starting price
Minimalist (Photography only)
$4,500 starting price
8 hours
8 hours
Engagement Session
Engagement Session
Min of 400 images
Min of 400 images
1 Photographer
1 Photographer
Sneak peeks
within 1 week
Sneak peeks
within 1 week
Elopement (Photography only)
$3,000 starting price
Elopement (Photography only)
$3,000 starting price
2 hours
2 hours
Min of 100 images
Min of 100 images
1 Photographer
1 Photographer
Ray (Photography & Videography)
$16,000 starting price
Ray (Photography & Videography)
$16,000 starting price
12 hours
12 hours
3min Video highlight
3min Video highlight
Up to 2h Short film
Up to 2h Short film
Engagement Session (Photo & video highlight)
Engagement Session (Photo & video highlight)
Next day sneak peeks (Photo Only)
Next day sneak peeks (Photo Only)
Min of 800 images
Min of 800 images
No travel fees within CA
No travel fees within CA
Team of 5 - Second Shooters & Assistant for 8h
Team of 5 - Second Shooters & Assistant for 8h
Day before or day after coverage
Day before or day after coverage
Trixie (Photography & Videography)
$10,500 starting price
Trixie (Photography & Videography)
$10,500 starting price
8 hours
8 hours
1min Video highlight
1min Video highlight
Up to 30min video
Up to 30min video
Engagement Session (Photo only)
Engagement Session (Photo only)
Min of 480 images
Min of 480 images
Team of 1 photographer,1 videographer, 1 assistant
Team of 1 photographer,1 videographer, 1 assistant
No travel fees within CA
No travel fees within CA
Showing slides 1 to 3 out of 5
- Storyteller (Photography only)$7,000 starting priceStoryteller (Photography only)$7,000 starting price12 hours12 hoursEngagement sessionEngagement sessionDay before or next day coverage (up to 3h)Day before or next day coverage (up to 3h)Next day sneak peeksNext day sneak peeksMin of 800 digital imagesMin of 800 digital imagesSuper 8mm (up to 7min highlight)Super 8mm (up to 7min highlight)2 Photographers (2nd shooter for 8h)2 Photographers (2nd shooter for 8h)No travel fees within CANo travel fees within CA
- Minimalist (Photography only)$4,500 starting priceMinimalist (Photography only)$4,500 starting price8 hours8 hoursEngagement SessionEngagement SessionMin of 400 imagesMin of 400 images1 Photographer1 PhotographerSneak peeks within 1 weekSneak peeks within 1 week
- Elopement (Photography only)$3,000 starting priceElopement (Photography only)$3,000 starting price2 hours2 hoursMin of 100 imagesMin of 100 images1 Photographer1 Photographer
- Ray (Photography & Videography)$16,000 starting priceRay (Photography & Videography)$16,000 starting price12 hours12 hours3min Video highlight3min Video highlightUp to 2h Short filmUp to 2h Short filmEngagement Session (Photo & video highlight)Engagement Session (Photo & video highlight)Next day sneak peeks (Photo Only)Next day sneak peeks (Photo Only)Min of 800 imagesMin of 800 imagesNo travel fees within CANo travel fees within CATeam of 5 - Second Shooters & Assistant for 8hTeam of 5 - Second Shooters & Assistant for 8hDay before or day after coverageDay before or day after coverage
- Trixie (Photography & Videography)$10,500 starting priceTrixie (Photography & Videography)$10,500 starting price8 hours8 hours1min Video highlight1min Video highlightUp to 30min videoUp to 30min videoEngagement Session (Photo only)Engagement Session (Photo only)Min of 480 imagesMin of 480 imagesTeam of 1 photographer,1 videographer, 1 assistantTeam of 1 photographer,1 videographer, 1 assistantNo travel fees within CANo travel fees within CA
Starting prices may not include all fees a vendor may charge. Contact the photographer for customized services and quotes.
Details
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
- Boudoir
- Bridal Portraits
- Day After Session
- Engagement
Photo & Video
- Digital Files
- Drone
- Film Photography
- Online Proofing
- Photo
- Printed Enlargements
Photo & Video Styles
- Artistic
- Classic
- Documentary
- Dramatic
- Modern
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Wedding
- After Party
Reviews
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5
out of 5.048 reviews
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
SAE Photo Film, particularly Sam and Fernando, received overwhelmingly positive reviews for their wedding photography services. Reviewers appreciated their professionalism, communication, and talent in capturing special moments. Sam, in particular, was praised for her ability to create a comfortable and stress-free environment, guiding couples through the planning process and being attentive on the wedding day. The team's dedication and willingness to go above and beyond, including helping with last-minute details and adapting to unexpected situations, left couples highly satisfied with their experience and the stunning quality of the photos received. Overall, SAE Photo Film comes highly recommended for wedding photography.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
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We just got married and don’t even have the words to describe how impressed and amazed we were by the SAE team. They were the very first vendors we booked because to me it was the most important part of the day aside from the day itself. It goes by SO fast as a bride or groom in the moment and is such a blur, and knowing I have these memories to look back on feels like the biggest sigh of relief and makes me happy beyond words. Their level of expertise, skill, communication and clarity on the day itself but also throughout the whole process truly blew me away and their pricing felt beyond reasonable. We are SO grateful to have found them and truly could not recommend them any more highly
Sam is AMAZING! She’s incredibly professional and beyond talented. She made me, my husband, and my entire bridal party feel so comfortable during our wedding. Not to mention the pictures she took are stunning. Do yourself a favor and book her!!
Sam is truly a talented photographer and I am so glad I found her to photograph our wedding day because now we have these gorgeous photos to memorialize our day.
She made the whole process of planning before the day and even guiding us during the day so smooth.
Months before the wedding she had met with us and really wanted to get to know us as a couple which I think further helped her capture what she knew would be important to us during the wedding: certain moments of just us together but also moments with our loved ones.
Leading up to the day she was still very communicative with any questions we had and even helped us plan out our timeline; not just to get ideal photos but to also help the day run smoothly.
During the wedding day she helped me feel so at ease and honestly quite stress free! She even had the great idea of pulling us aside at the perfect time to capture some beautiful photographs together during golden hour.
In the end once the photos were delivered I could not be more happy with everything. They were so high quality and gorgeous. And what I loved the most was how she was able to capture the moments in a way that showed how much joy there was that day (everyone including us looked like they were having so much fun!)
I am so glad I went with Sam and I can guarantee that anyone who chooses her to photograph their special day will not regret it!
Any questions?
Sam and Fernanda were the perfect duo for us from the moment we saw their services page online. Even though Fernando ended up being unable to come, Stephane (Azevedo) stepped in and killed it. Sam and Fernando answered all of our million questions and were so helpful and patient during our trials and tribulations with other vendors and family members. They went overtime on zoom calls to talk about volleyball and engagement shoot venues and we always had such an easy time communicating through their custom email system. We chose the package that includes an engagement shoot and we're so happy we did. Our engagement shoe was such a blast, Fernando and Sam got the most beautiful, natural photos of us (and wear camera shy too) and we couldn't have been happier with that experience (even though it was freezing haha). But then came time to plan the wedding and when we said we wanted to go to the downtown between the ceremony and reception to get urban style photos Sam said I GOT YOU, made it happen, and came through with the most beautiful photos we could have ever dreamed up. The urban photos are some of our favorite photos of the entire wedding day! When we were taking newlywed photos (right after the ceremony) Sam and Stephane took off their shoes and got in the creek to get the shots! (They even stopped on the way to our Airbnb where our first look would be to pick up a couple of clear umbrellas for us as it was drizzling and they ended up saving the day and making the most beautiful dreamy photos I didn't even know I needed!) They went above and beyond every step of the way and were our favorite vendor by far. I can't recommend SAE Photo Film enough! WE LOVE YOU SAM!!
Sam and Fernando were the perfect duo for us from the moment we saw their services page online. Even though Fernando ended up being unable to come, Stephane (Azevedo) stepped in and killed it. Sam and Fernando answered all of our million questions and were so helpful and patient during our trials and tribulations with other vendors and family members. They went overtime on zoom calls to talk volleyball and engagement shoot venues and we always had such an easy time communicating through their custom email system. We chose the package that includes an engagement shoot and were so happy we did. Our engagement shoot was such a blast, Fernando and Sam got the most beautiful, natural photos of us (and we're camera shy too) and we couldn't have been happier with that experience (even though it was freezing!! Haha) But then came time to plan the wedding and when we said we wanted to go to the downtown between the ceremony and reception to get urban style photos Sam said I GOT YOU, made it happen, and came through with the most beautiful photos we could've ever dreamed up. The urban photos are some of our favorite photos of the entire wedding day! When we were taking newlywed photos(right after ceremony) Sam and Stephane took off their shoes and got in the creek to get the shots! (They even stopped on the way to our Airbnb where our first look would be to pick up a couple of clear umbrellas for us as it was drizzling and they ended up saving the day and making the most dreamy photos I didn't even know I needed!) They went above and beyond every step of the way and were our favorite vendor by far. I can't recommend SAE Photo Film enough!! We love you Sam!!!!!
We had an amazing experience working with Samantha! From the beginning, she was incredibly responsive, kind, and patiently helped me navigate through my vision for the photos. Her guidance was invaluable, and she made the entire process enjoyable.
She also made sure to include our two pups, capturing priceless moments with our dogs. The result? A collection of stunning images that beautifully reflect our love and complete family.
Couldn’t be happier with the entire experience! To top it off, the turnaround time for receiving the photos was impressively quick.
Okay, where do I begin? I LOVE Sam and SAE photo film. My husband and I have hired Sam for three shoots so far (engagement session, boudoir, and wedding!), and I cannot thank her enough for everything. The booking process was easy, and I knew from our first meeting we would get along well.
My husband and I are not typically very-PDA heavy, so the engagement session in September 2022 was definitely out of our comfort zone, and Sam made the process so easy guiding us into poses and helping us laugh and smile the entire time. The same goes for my boudoir shoot (again, totally out of my comfort zone). Sam is extremely professional and made me feel so comfortable and good about myself!
On our actual wedding day earlier this week, Sam and her second shooter, Stephanie, were amazing. We received our sneak peeks so quickly, and I am obsessed. I am so excited to receive the full album. The team captured our day so beautifully. Beyond that, Sam and Stephanie also just helped me throughout the day to feel comfortable and keep the day running smoothly. We were running behind schedule in the morning, and Sam made sure to calm me down and let me know we still had plenty of time and that everything would be okay. Stephanie helped my put my veil on in the bridal suite. Both ladies helped orchestrate the perfect first look. The list goes on and on, but my point is that Sam was so much more than just our wedding photographer, and I can't thank her enough! We of course highly recommend SAE Photo Film.
Where do I even start? Samantha and Fernando were amazing from the start. During the initial zoom, they really wanted to make sure that we both were the right fit for each other. Then Sam offered to do a timeline call with me to help me plan out my timeline which was SO MUCH HELP! Especially since I was a complete DIY bride.
The day of they did not fall short at ALL. She was there when we needed it and we truly were lucky to have both of them capture our wedding day. Book a call and hire them. You will not regret it.
Sam and Nando photographed my wedding last year (please forgive my late review, that is a personal flaw on my part and not in any way a reflection of them because they are beyond amazing) and even in all that time I have not been able to come up with the right words to express just how wonderful they were to work with. They were so fun and professional throughout the whole event, both during my engagement shoot and at the wedding. They brought such wonderful energy into everything they touched, and I could not be more grateful to have had the opportunity to work with them. Sam was so prepared and organized, she had plans and backup plans for everything, and it really took so much stress out of the day. She even helped my maid of honor with her hair. Every moment you could think of that you might think, "oh I hope the photographer gets this" they got it- candid shots, moments with the family, golden hour, they got it all and every single thing came out so beautifully. The online gallery looked amazing and was easy to navigate, the photo album is gorgeous, even the USB we got looks lovely. Everything about the whole experience of working with them was more than I could have ever hoped for and if you have the opportunity to work with them, I cannot recommend it enough.
What a dream come true 🤍
Samantha was such a diamond to work with from the very beginning, starting with our initial consultation.
We had a 3-hr “micro-wedding”/elopement hybrid with only 14 guests at our venue, followed by our private 3-hr beach adventure. Sam gave us so many great ideas and was responsive to all our texts and calls for the months and days leading up to our wedding. She naturally radiated a sense of calmness and enlightenment, which is so important for any wedding, that even my father noted I was much more relaxed than he anticipated for a bride. In the end, SAE’s creative vision and raw talent captured our day beautifully. We went to the beach after our ceremony, and it was unbelievably windy with sand flying EVERYWHERE. Certainly not ideal for any photographer or videographer, and I was admittedly a bit nervous that we wouldn’t have many good shots from the beach in our final gallery. However, despite the weather, they captured such pure, beautiful moments on film. We are IN LOVE with all our photos and videos, and we are forever grateful to have these memories documented so that we can watch and re-live this day for the rest of our lives.
We cannot recommend SAE enough. The first time I met Samantha was for our engagement pictures, and she took the time to speak with us before the shoot to get a sense of what we were looking for, providing advice on what to wear.
She became a personal friend and was the one who helped me choose my makeup and hair for my big day. She is a kind and sensitive person with a creative mind, and her improvisational skills are amazing.
We definitely used her services again for our wedding day, and what an awesome duo! Not only were Samantha and Fernando a pleasure to have with us on our wedding day, but the photos they took are incredible and captured our day perfectly. I could not be happier with the end result, and we would happily recommend them to anyone. Thank you, Samantha and Fernando, for making our day so special and giving us amazing photos to remember our day with for years to come.
SAE made our wedding day! From helping us with poses, to helping me put my vail on (& off), to making me feel like a beautiful model, to giving us the most amazing photos. Samantha and Fernando are great at what they do! They helped make our day run ever so smoothly. They are very kind and sweet people. I’m so happy I chose them to capture all the special moments of our wedding day, best decision!
Samantha did the photography for our wedding at the Brazil Room. We are so happy we booked her! She was easy to work with leading up to the wedding, and on the wedding day she was very friendly and professional and made sure we got through the family photos we had planned. When we had extra time during the planned photo time, Samantha we above and beyond and did a couples photoshoot that we hadn’t even thought to request. You won’t regret booking SAE photography for your wedding.
Sam & the team were WONDERFUL to work with. Throughout the entire process leading up to the wedding, Sam was responsive and quick to answer emails/texts and also had lots of great ideas for generating fun photos. She even suggested a table photo dash during our reception which everyone commented on how fun it was.
We were also grateful for all the ways that they sprung into action during our wedding itself. At our cocktail hour, Sam magically bustled my dress so quickIy that I didn't even notice while I was chatting with one of our guests. It was something that totally went above and beyond in her role as photographer, but I was so grateful for it in the end because it gave me an additional 10-15 minutes of time to interact with our guests.
Our whole wedding party commented on how comfortable they made everyone feel and they truly helped to set the tone for our whole wedding. And our sneak preview photos are totally a DREAM!
Sam and Fernando,
I want to say thank you from the bottom of me and my wife’s heart for the preparation, dedication and commitment you two had in capturing the best night of our lives. You two have truly outdone yourselves in every way possible. The sneak peak photos are unreal, and I cannot wait for the final batch to come. I’m starting to feel the post wedding depression after coming off such a high from a joyful, happiness, emotional, family and friends filling weekend. However, I know that I can rely on your photos to relive the best night of our lives for eternity. Thank you so much for everything.
- Phil and Edrienne Dinh
The best team ever! Sam and Fernando were absolutely amazing at my May 2023 wedding. They were extremely professional and went above and beyond to make the day absolutely perfect. They really go beyond just photo and video! They reached out multiple times before the wedding to ask if I needed anything, made expert suggestions, and were thoughtful and so friendly. I highly recommend SAE photo & video!
Sam was the best photographer we could’ve asked for! She was so fun and good at directing us to pose. We never felt awkward or nervous because she was just so fun and good at making us look good. She was super friendly and got along with everyone. She stayed calm and professional while still being super fun. Everyone at my wedding loved her and her photos are literally so amazing. She does such fun and unique shots and does a lot of research so she knows exactly what she wants to do when she gets to your venue. Definitely book her!!
I cannot say enough about how amazing both Sam and Fernando were! I appreciated Sam's communication, she was proactive in reaching out throughout the process and sending great checklists and reminders which was so great as I didn't have a planner, just a day-of coordinator. I felt comfortable with Sam and Fernando right away, and they did such a wonderful job of capturing special candid moments without being intrusive at all. The photos are beautiful, the lighting is great, and they both have such an eye! They were so easy to work with and very professional in everything that they did. I would confidently recommend their services and absolutely hire them again!
Samantha was amazing! She met with us before we booked her to ensure it was the right fit and had us send her information in advance to better prepare her. She was a great communicator throughout the entire process. She is so charismatic and made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. She got our full album back to us in only 2.5 weeks and the pictures are STUNNING. You cannot go wrong booking SAE photo film!!
Sam and Fernando photographed our wedding in October and we couldn’t be happier with the results! They were so easy to work with—professional, helpful, flexible and fun too! They really captured us as a couple—we got all of the silly, in the moment photos that we had hoped for. Our friends and family kept commenting how impressed they were with our photographers too. They go above and beyond—what more could you want on your special day? Hire them!
Sam and Fernando were amazing to work with! They were very responsive, organized, and kind leading up to the wedding. Their wedding guides and advice made me feel a lot more prepared and confident on what to do and expect for my wedding day. During the wedding they did an incredible job and most importantly, fit seamlessly into the wedding as if friends or family. They got the job done while also making a great impression with everyone. Finally, the pictures were beautiful! I cannot thank them enough.
After getting engaged on our anniversary we decided we wanted to get married on the same day in a year's time. We quickly realized that wedding planning is pretty intimidating and were overwhelmed by everything that needed to get done. This resulted in us putting off most of the planning until six months later which we do not recommend! We got to work securing a venue and a wedding officiant and were searching for a photographer.
We came across SAE on our first day of searching and sent a message through her website. We received a quick response and set up a zoom meeting soon after. Samantha was super friendly and informative! We had little idea what to ask for but she was so helpful in explaining the wedding packages and asked us questions that gave us a better understanding of what we needed. Before the meeting was over I knew we would be choosing Sam to be our photographer. Moving forward she emailed us a wedding guide with so much useful and detailed information and made sure to check in on us many times leading up to the big day.
On our wedding day Sam and Fernando arrived on time and got to work quickly. They captured important moments between family members before and after the ceremony. We cannot emphasize enough how clueless we were in regards to poses and what else we wanted beyond family portraits. It was also a really hot day while we were posing outside but they did such a great job offering suggestions and getting the best shots while making us laugh. Sam and Fernando were an amazing team and together captured every angle. In the end we were glad we upgraded our package to include both photographers even for our simple wedding. Everyone at our ceremony and small reception loved having Sam and Fernando there! Our final photos were delivered a month later and they were so beautiful. We've gotten many compliments and definitely recommend having Sam photograph your wedding!
We were lucky enough to find Sam and Fernando to take our engagement photos and capture our wedding. They are extremely professional, punctual, easy to communicate with and most of all they are the nicest people that made us feel really comfortable throughout the whole process.
We could tell how much they cared and went above and beyond during our engagement photoshoot. The weather wasn't the best that day, but they were open to exploring different locations to make sure we captured everything we wanted. We had a small intimate wedding, and they did an amazing job especially with making sure we had photos with our guests which was very important to us. We were super happy with the quality of the photos taken and the turnaround time was surprisingly quick considering how booked up they are. We totally recommend SAE Photo Film to any couples looking for a great photographer.
To say we love SAE is an understatement. I was so nervous since it was our first time being professionally photographed. Sam made us feel so comfortable the time flew by! She nailed the style that I wanted and the poses were flattering. If she has an idea trust her and go with it, she has a true passion for her profession and it shows in her work. I’m so happy I found her and I would recommend her 1000%!
Sam photographed our wedding at the Almaden Lake Park Amphitheater on May 27 2022 , and I would totally recommend her!
We first contacted Sam after seeing her work on the knot & then on instagram. The quality and style of her images stood out in a crowd of wedding photographers (also we were looking for one about a month before the wedding, ahhh). We were looking for someone who would understand our requirements and also guide us throughout the photoshoot and Sam was god sent!
Sam's vibe aligned exactly with what we were seeking. After meeting with her over Zoom, it became clear that we had found a great match, both in terms of style and personality.
The connection and ease we found with her shows through in the final product. We are generally very awkward and have a tendency to pull silly faces the minute a camera is in our vicinity. Sam knew exactly how to make us feel like we were just hanging out with a friend.
The delivery of the photos were quick and we fell in LOVE with the pictures, really appreciate all her efforts. If you are looking for a great photographer who would put at ease on your big day, look no further and talk to Sam ASAP!
Where do I even begin. Samantha and Fernando were everything and more we wanted and could have dreamed of for our wedding photographers. They were professional, kind, honest, witty and just flat out amazing at their craft. They were attentive and provided so much knowledge leading up to our big day that I knew we were in great hands. I can truly say we found our lifelong photographers. Thank you both so much being apart of our day, we love you!
Where do I begin? Samantha and Fernando were absolutely the best photographs we could have hoped for on our special day! We got married in Pleasanton on a beautiful, golden evening at a winery. From the day I met Sam through Zoom during our consultation to the very last moment we spent together on the wedding day, I felt like I had known them forever. They are a husband/wife duo and it worked out great having Fernando take photos of my husband when he was getting ready and Sam spent time with the ladies, just like they were our friends! Her style is classic, warm, and moody. They captured our favorite moments and we were crying when we got to see the sneak peek photos. (I recommend paying extra for the sneak peeks! So worth it.) They were flexible, communicative, and had the best sense of humor! I can’t say enough good things! We will treasure our photos forever.
Samantha and Fernando were wonderful photographers to work with for my wedding (July 2022) - trustworthy, reliable and timely in their communication with us, and for what they offer, their pricing structure is reasonable and affordable compared to many others I asked.
Most of all, they were really fun to take photos with and get to know, made us feel comfortable and respected our requests! Our photos and album they put together turned out beautiful. They keep things professional, yet personable and easy to get along with. I honestly highly recommend them for anyone's wedding/event!
Sam and Fernando were fantastic to work with from start to finish! Sam was very communicative before the big day, met with us ahead of time and provided suggestions for other vendors in the area. On the big day they worked around our schedule and really felt more like guests than vendors. The photos were amazing and Sam works very hard for a quick turnaround. We would hire them again in a heartbeat!
Sam and Fernando were the absolute best! We’ve already gotten our sneak peek photos but I am already dying to see the full gallery!
Sam was recommended to me by my friend who had Sam photograph her SF CIty hall wedding. At the initial call, Sam and Fernando were so sweet and focused on my fiance and I. After answering our many questions and being so clear about their pricing and process, we booked them for our 09/30/22 wedding.
After booking, we had our engagement photos with Sam and Fernando and they were so fun and easy going! We met Ray and got to know how Sam and Fernando work. Those pictures were lovely and we used them for our save the dates, wedding website, and posters we made for the sign-in table.
The day of the wedding was an absolute blur for my fiance and I, but Sam and Fernando always had a kind and supportive thing to say when they had a moment. They were prompt and professional, friendly and fun, and also everywhere all at once! I couldn’t have asked for kinder people to be this involved in our wedding. I will definitely recommend them any time I can.
I wish I could give more than 5 stars for Sam and Fernando, they were more than we could have asked for in photographers for our wedding day. They arrived promptly on time, got the lay of the land, asked me a few questions and got straight to work. They captured everything from all of the pictures we told them we wanted to candid moments to all of the little details (including some that were a nice surprise when we got our photos back!)
From the very beginning, Sam was so nice to work with. Promptly responding to emails, setting up meetings if I ever had any extra questions, she made me feel comfortable right off the bat. . We had our engagement photo shoot a few months before the wedding, and we got a little taste of how they worked together, which is so smooth, fun and efficient. They know exactly where everything should be in order for the perfect shot and will adjust little things and direct us in order for the shot to come out perfectly. We had so much fun at our engagement shoot and really got to know Sam and Fernando and made the wedding day that much more fun.
Sam and Fernando were nothing short of amazing at our wedding. I got to spend a lot of time with Sam as she took photos of myself and bridesmaids and she connected with each girl, which is so important. She was also patient with my Mom, who is a stroke survivor with some cognitive and speech delay. Sam made sure she was up to speed with what was going on as well. She had basically everything she needed clipped to her shirt, ready to go. They also had a kit of ‘survival’ items (!!!), which came in handy when my sisters went to put on my dress. Sam came to the rescue with a crochet hook for all of the buttons. My sisters don’t know what they would have done without it! Sam and Fernando also had earpiece walkie talkies to make sure they were on the same page the whole day, especially for our first look, which was magical. That moment will forever have been made special and brought to life by Sam and Fernando. A million thank yous is not enough. Fernando spent time with the groom's people and my husband said he brought a calm and fun personality to that time as well. And, he captured some of my favorite photos of my husband!
We got SO MANY compliments about Sam and Fernando after our wedding from our wedding party, family, and friends. How kind, professional, fun and poised they were - all while getting the perfect shot. To say they compliment each other as a photography team would be an understatement. Sam was more of the director, but Fernando was right there, putting in his creative input if needed, making minor changes, and it just made everything go so smoothly. They also know what to say or do to get the candid shots you want. They are the perfect amount of confident, you can really tell they know their stuff, but they are not cocky or bossy and we and all of our guests really appreciated it. They enabled us to actually have fun taking photos on our wedding day! If you are still looking for a photographer for your wedding, BOOK SAE PHOTOFILM!! You will not regret it. Thank you so much Sam and Fernando!
Samantha and Fernando did an amazing job at our wedding. They made us feel so comfortable and anxiety free! We are so lucky to have found them and will hire them again and again in the future. We are truly grateful and can’t wait to see the final pictures from our August wedding!
Samantha and Fernando did the photography and video for our SF City Hall elopement in July. I am so happy we decided to book with them! Their communication was impeccable both day of, and leading up to the wedding. Sam even provided some vendor recommendations when we had an issue come up that caused some last minute changes to our schedule. We had so much fun shooting with them. Her and Fernando did a spectacular job and we are so so happy with the results. I would definitely recommend them for your big day! 10/10 Stars ⭐️
Choosing the photographer team who will capture the love and beauty you have dreamed of isn't an easy decision, maybe the hardest one, since it is just a vision that you only have seen before in your dreams and the only memories you get to keep after all.
When searching for the photographer, I expected to be thrown back to the same mixed emotions of the big day. In reality, this two gave me something that was way beyond that.
Samantha and Fernando not only brought butterflies to my stomach as I saw the photos but reminded the essence of marriage. The true meaning of the day! Seeing the love in the air, captured by them, reinforced me of God's blessing.
I wish I could even describe the greatness they brought to us. They were there when I needed the most throughout my entire planning process. Trust me; you won't be alone either!
From the beginning to the end, Samantha and Fernando were incredible!! Truly and honestly, they exceeded out expectations ten times over. If I could give them 10 stars, I would!!
From the first meeting session with them my husband and I knew that we wanted them to capture our day. Sam & Nando are so friendly and have the best personalities. Throughout the months leading up to our wedding Sam would text me to see how I was doing and check in to see if I needed any help with anything, advice, recommendations, anything I needed she was there to answer the questions. My planning session with her went great, we were able to put together an extensive timeline and with her expertise, everything went according to plan on the day of.
They flew out from California all the way to the East Coast, New York, Long Island just to photograph our wedding and it was the best decision we ever could have possibly made. Speaking on Sam's editing style, I really wanted photos with natural lighting that truly captured the feeling of the day as it was, no extra warm or cool tones. Sam went over and above on the editing, all the colors are true to the style of the day with almost a magical layer on top. I don't know how she did it, but every photo was just pure magic.
On organization, my Husband's family is latin so we really wanted a set of photographers who understood that latin culture and how to wrangle them all together with a bit of organization. Fernando was in charge of my husband's side of the family photos and the groomsmen, and it went better than we could have hoped for. I put together a list of the combinations that we wanted and he got each and every one done before the ceremony! And on time too!!! We were thrilled.
Every aspect of our day was perfectly captured and we could not have asked for any more than we received. Sam and Nando are the most professional, kind, supportive cheerleaders that you could want on your wedding day. You cannot go wrong with choosing them for your wedding photographers, or for any occasion!! If my husband and I are ever out in California, we will be giving them a call now just as photographers, but as friends.
Overall, I cannot recommend SAE Photographer enough. Not only did we get the most incredible wedding photos ever, but Sam also puts together a flash drive AND an actual album for you? Nah, you can't get better than that. Having an actual solid wedding album to hold in your hands within three months of your wedding?? Doesn't get better than that. I would choose Sam and Nando every time if given the chance to pick my wedding photographers again. You won't be disappointed!!
Sam & Fernando are AWESOME!! I cannot thank them enough. My husband & I decided to have an elopement in the forest up in Humboldt County.
It was a bit nerve wracking thinking about all the planning I had to do, but Sam & Fernando were there to help! They were flexible with zoom call times, asked lots of questions regarding what we wanted our day to look like & gave great ideas on what we could possibly do. They made us feel comfortable during the video call & in person! It was like talking with friends.
Sam & Fernando were very helpful when it came to posing for pictures and offered suggestions on what would look best when it came to photographing us in different areas of our venue. Sam was quick with showing us our sneak peeks, & made sure that our final pictures/videos were perfect. She also hand delivered the USB we ordered from them! Sam really went above & beyond for us, & we appreciate it so much. We will definitely hire them again for any future events/couples photoshoot!
I would like to start by extolling all the wonderful work that Samantha and Fernando did on my wedding, my husband and I did not expect so many benefits in hiring them. Our ceremony was very religious and with everything that the Catholic tradition asked for, and Fernando and Sam despite not being of the same religion as us could not have been more respectful and understanding. They made sure to know all the details that were really important to us to make sure that everything would please us, besides that they were much more than hired photographers, they were our best friends on the day of the ceremony, helping us with everything we needed , and Sam in particular being my psychologist to keep me calm until the final moment haha. I have no words to describe how satisfied we were with their work, in addition to the extreme quality of everything that was proposed in the contract such as schedules, delivery of the photos and the album. I just have to thank you for the wonderful work of this sensational duo!!
What a great experience! We had some last minute changes (you know why!), but Sam and Fernando were flexible and accommodating. They came prepared for the cold and windy weather, managed to make us feel comfortable and capture some amazing photos in the process - highly recommend!!
We can't say enough wonderful things about SAE photography. We're so happy we chose them to capture one of the most special day of our lives!
From our first conversation with SAE, we could tell that Sam is very passionate about her work. She is extremely professional and responsive. She offered suggestions and listened to our feedback with a genuine interest in us. We felt comfortable and at ease and our guests loved her as well!
She was very patient with us and never rushed it. We are very happy with the results. Her creativity and photography skills are impressive. We love it so much we ordered the photo book to relive the moment! Fernando, personally delivered the album to our home. We will definitely recommend them to our friends!
In 2020 we did our first professional photos, We did it with SAE. We had no idea how to pose for the photos, so we were a little scared how it would turn out, but they very patient and able to guide us for the pictures. If you’re shy or anxious you don’t need to be cause they will conduct and guide you for the best Photos.
So in 2022 we trusted them with our wedding photos and we loved it. 😍
Thank you for the love you guys put into the work.
Samantha and Fernando
I identified with Samantha since the first contact.
I found her professional, clear and objective in the presentation of her work and of course the wonderful photos in her portfolio won me over.
From the beginning she was more than just a photographer. She helped us with everything in the process of our wedding , with ideas, support, a friendly word. She ended up becoming a friend because we have many things in common, but she never stopped being a professional at the same time. She knows how to separate personal and professional life very well.
Our first face-to-face meeting was on the day of our engagement shot. I was feeling awful, my self-esteem was low, and she helped me get over it. On the big day, I had a panic attack and she was there to give me friendly words, water and comfort to make me feel better and relaxed. This became evident as the pictures came out beautifully.
On the day before our wedding, I was freaking out and there she was again supporting me.
It was suppose to be rehearsal day but the we the venue double booked an event on our time slot. Samantha and Fernando saw our despair jumped ahead and took the reins and put order and made our rehearsal happen in Airbnb's backyard.
On the day, they were sensational. Without them my wedding would not have been as it was and I mean that.
Family, bridal party and guests all praised the friendliness and professionalism.
I didn't remember anything the day after the wedding as I was very nervous that day. And thanks to the photos I was able to relive everything and remember the details. They captured our wedding day with so much love and affection.
My family couldn't be there and when I sent the photos to them, they called me crying, thrilled to be able to experience everything through the photos.
I will be eternally grateful for all this.
On top of that, the photos came out super fast and much sooner than I expected.
And the album?
The most beautiful and perfect thing in the world!
Made with so much care and whimsy!
We received the physical album and photos on a USB memory stick in a beautiful box.
I have no words to thank you for everything you've done for us! You saved our wedding !
Fernando and Sam were fantastic! They were flexible and accommodating to our wedding weekend and trying to capture the whole weekends various events, which ranged in time and location. Whatever we asked of them they were willing to make it happen for our benefit to remember our special weekend. And always coming with a positive attitude and creative outlook on the events. The pictures turned out great! And will allow us to look back fondly on our time with family and friends. Thank you Fernando and Sam!!
Everything was great, since the communication at the beginning to the wedding day! Samantha was great, made us feel super comfortable, and of course made incredible photos!
They are fun! friendly couple, make us feel very comfortable to work with! highly recommended!
Sam and Fernando weren't originally my hired photographer but my wedding photographer couldn't make it the day before my wedding so she reached out to Sam and Fernando. They dropped everything and made the multi hour drive to our wedding venue. That's hard to come to a wedding day of and manage personalities and make sure to capture everything that was originally agreed upon by our photographer.
That being said Sam and Fernando were so amazing they made us all feel comfortable and supported on our special day. They captured amazing photos and short clips of our wedding. Honestly photography was the first thing we booked for our wedding we wanted to remember that day for forever with beautiful photographs so they had tall shoes to fill!
I would 100% hire them for your wedding they are super reliable, friendly, professional, excellent communication, and do amazing work!
Thank you both for saving our day, it could have gone really bad very quick and you both made it happen for us and we will be forever grateful!
Best photographer ever!! Her and her husband did a couple photography session for me and my boyfriend, the photos turned out beautiful!! So happy with my experience!
Response from the Vendor on 10/18/2021
Thank you, Heather !!
Both of you are so sweet and so to be around of! You both have an amazing story together, and are such an example to me.
Can't wait to see how well you'll do in life together !
My wife and I couldn’t have had the amazing day we did without Sam and Nando. From the moment we met Sam, we knew their team was the perfect fit for our wedding. The only regret we have is that we didn’t find out about them sooner. Sam really made sure my wife’s day was full of laughter and for that, I can never thank her enough.
Response from the Vendor on 10/18/2021
Awww ! Thank you so much, Drew!
How couldn't I make her laugh if her laugh itself is the most beautiful ? Seriously, every time I see her laughing images, I laugh.
You guys also made it all possible, being so helpful and so clear about your vi...
sion. Not only that but you guys welcomed us so well and for that I'm so so so grateful!
To many more moments like that ! :D
I initially didn’t even want a wedding photographer, but with convincing from my family, I decided to just look into the possibility. Sam reached out to me and sent me the link to her website and her Instagram and I fell in LOVE with her story as well as her style and vision. Her and her husband were helpful every single step of the way and became SUCH good friends to us. I am SO thankful we chose her to capture our special day. I cannot recommend them enough.
Response from the Vendor on 10/18/2021
Ali !! Thank you so much for the kind words, we couldn't have asked for better clients and FRIENDS.
Once we've chatted for the first time I knew we'd become such good friends, and that I would not change.
Can't to see both of you again !
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Meet the team
Showing slide number 1 out of 2
- Samantha EstopaPhotographer & Point of contactHeyy ! I'm the founder of SAE Photo Film and the main photographer/point of contact. I love to make my couples comfortable and give them the experience of their lives, from the very beginning, to the very end - is there an end ? haha ! I usually become close friends with my clients, so I don't think there's and end !!
- Fernando EstopaVideographerHi there, I'm the lead videographer for SAE. We're one of a kind, while Sam's very creative and loves candid shots, I'm more of a technical guy. I'm really talkative and will make friends with the whole party if time allows, so expect me to act like friends with everyone but with professionalism. I love music, so you might also be seeing me on the dance floor during reception - ha !
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Samantha Estopa
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