The Drunk Wedding Photographer

My name is Paulina Simkin, I’m a Juilliard-trained wedding and event pianist based in Los Angeles, CA (Paulina Simkin Piano). The first wedding I performed at after moving from NYC, where I performed at Carnegie Hall amongst other venues, was at Carondelet House in Downtown LA. There I met David Cruz (The Drunk Wedding Photographer), who was booked as our client’s wedding photographer. With illustrious guests such as Emma Roberts and her now husband Cody John, and the bride herself being a direct descendant of Mary Shelley, David’s pictures felt like they were taken by a trusted family friend as they have such an intimate and in-the-moment quality to them. He uses Kodak 35mm film, is minimal with both his gear and presence, and lets the client and guests enjoy the wedding while capturing their most joyful moments. I remember noticing him quietly fix the groom's boutonniere before he walked down the aisle with his parents. It's these little moments that show how observant, patient, and genuinely invested he is in his clients' experience. The highlight of the night was Emma Roberts catching the bouquet, which David captured while on top of a chair! A perfect example of how he's always anticipating the best moments. It was a pleasure collaborating with David, and I look forward to collaborating with him at many more celebrity-weddings. Fun fact: He had our client’s wedding published in the recent print and online issue of Rock N Roll Bride Magazine!

Choosing David Cruz as our film wedding photographer was one of the best decisions we made for our small wedding in Cavalli Estates in the outskirts of San Luis Obispo. He was easy to contact and had timely responses, he was collaborative in his approach and listened to our ideas and how we wanted the day to be captured, he took the time to understand what we imagined and cared about bringing those ideas to life. He set clear expectations for processing time and followed through perfectly. The presentation of the prints was absolutely beautiful, such a special touch. Every detail felt thoughtfully done. Also- Kodak film (from the little knowledge I have) is what helped contribute to the beauty of the color of our photos! What meant the most to us was how seamlessly he fit into the day. He never pulled us away from our guests or the moments we were living. Instead, he quietly captured everything as it unfolded, pure, honest, joy-filled moments we didn’t even realize he was catching. David managed to get photos of everyone at our wedding and somehow bottled up all the joy and love that was present; looking through the photos, you can truly feel the day all over again. All of our guests loved David and enjoyed chatting with him! We are so grateful he listened to everything we wanted and that meant the world to us!