The wedding of my dream was a success! Thanks to Ben for capturing it all. Anticipated to show my future kids one day, Lord willing. Also, I showed friends and family that couldn’t make it to the wedding and they were in awe of how beautiful it was. They said , I had a great photographer. Thank you Ben again for having a good eye and being super nice as well, we need more of those. :)

Elizabeth & Esteban

Ben is an amazing photographer. Very punctual and kind. He delivered more than we can ever ask for! Thank you for capturing the magic from the best day of our lives ❤ Truly had the best photographer! I’m so glad we crossed path and you made our day a dream come true!

Joan & Matt

My husband and I had our wedding at the Carlsbad Windmill. We found Ben through a review he had left of the venue and noticed he had some experience with that venue. We hired Ben to photograph our wedding and we are so glad we did! We worked with Ben from our engagement session to our wedding day. Ben is very detailed, he helped us breakdown the timeline which made our day run pretty smooth. He also directed us well and he worked well with Paul the second photographer that was part of the package. My husband and I absolutely love our photos and have received compliments from friends and family. We highly recommend Ben 💛!

Matt & Lorena

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My 8 hour wedding photography package is perfect for couples looking for all their essential moments throughout the day captured. This package is great for those not seeking as much getting ready or reception coverage. Includes an online gallery and a one hour engagement session. My approach is to focus on creating a relaxed and authentic experience, so you can enjoy your day while I capture all the beautiful moments. I believe in clear expectations and communication from both parties and do at least two pre-wedding consultations to go over the timeline and plans for the day. My shooting and posing style is loose, candid and directional and I strive to create natural emotions and real moments that seamlessly blend with the rest of the gallery. When you book, we will start the process of discussing all the important details of the wedding, and planning a thorough timeline. If you'd like to schedule a consultation and get to know each other a bit more before booking, feel free to contact me with a day and time you have in mind and I'd be more than happy to grab lunch or chat over the phone. Let's create some amazing memories together!

Wedding Photography (8 Hours + Engagement Session)

My 8 hour wedding photography package is perfect for couples looking for all their essential moments throughout the day captured. This package is great for those who need more than one photographer for multiple locations at the same time and want more photos overall. Includes an online gallery and a one hour engagement session. My approach is to focus on creating a relaxed and authentic experience, so you can enjoy your day while I capture all the beautiful moments. I believe in clear expectations and communication from both parties and do at least two pre-wedding consultations to go over the timeline and plans for the day. My shooting and posing style is loose, candid and directional and I strive to create natural emotions and real moments that seamlessly blend with the rest of the gallery. When you book, we will start the process of discussing all the important details of the wedding, and planning a thorough timeline. If you'd like to schedule a consultation and get to know each other a bit more before booking, feel free to contact me with a day and time you have in mind and I'd be more than happy to grab lunch or chat over the phone. Let's create some amazing memories together!

Wedding Photography (8 Hours + 2nd Photographer + Engagement Session)

My 8 hour wedding photography and videography package is perfect for couples looking for all their essential moments throughout the day captured. Great for single location weddings, and those who want all the important parts of the ceremony and reception covered. My approach is to focus on creating a relaxed and authentic experience, so you can enjoy your day while I capture all the beautiful moments. I believe in clear expectations and communication from both parties and do at least two pre-wedding consultations to go over the timeline and plans for the day. My shooting and posing style is loose, candid and directional and I strive to create natural emotions and real moments that seamlessly blend with the rest of the gallery. When you book, we will start the process of discussing all the important details of the wedding, and planning a thorough timeline. If you'd like to schedule a consultation and get to know each other a bit more before booking, feel free to contact me with a day and time you have in mind and I'd be more than happy to grab lunch or chat over the phone. Let's create some amazing memories together!

Wedding Photography + Videography (8 Hours)

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An engagement session is a wonderful opportunity to capture the love and connection between couples before they tie the knot. I personally love doing engagement sessions for couples because it gives me a chance to get to know you and have some fun before the wedding. Here are some tips to make your engagement session a success.
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About the Session: Like I said I love doing engagement sessions, it gives me a chance to get to know you and your personalities. It's also a chance to have some professional quality photos that are outside of your wedding attire. These are also great for Save the Date and/or invitations and just sharing with family and friends. My posing style is very laid back and natural as most of the time I am working with regular people and not professional models. During engagement sessions I generally like to walk around to get a variety of locations.
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Location: I like to let you choose your location! If you need Ideas I have my favorites and I&rsquo;m more than happy to help find a place that fits the style you&rsquo;re looking for! Do some brainstorming and think about the places that mean something to you and your partner, what types of locations you like.&nbsp; Here are some of my favorite locations.
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Beach
Torrey Pines Gliderport
Sunset Cliffs
Coronado Beach/Hotel Del
Mission Bay
Oceanside Pier
Windansea Beach
Spanish Landing
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Trails and Nature
Lake Miramar
Mission Trails
Sweetwater Bridge
Maple Canyon
Hollenbeck Canyon
Mount Laguna
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City
Little Italy
Seaport Village
Harbor Island
Bayview Park
Downtown
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Parks +&nbsp;Cool Architecture
Balboa Park
Presidio Park
Chicano Park
Old Town
Central Library
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The options really are limited to your imagination with your engagement session. It doesn&rsquo;t have to be a scenic location and could just be your favorite bar, coffee shop, or library. Just remember to check to see if you need any permits or to ask the owner of the place if you want to use their coffee shop/bar most. In my experience most of the time most places are cool with it but it's better to not have surprises!
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Scheduling: I schedule about 1 to 1.5 hours for an engagement session, typically in the evening with my preference being a little more than an hour before sunset. You get the best natural light during this time, you may have heard us photographers call it &ldquo;golden hour&rdquo;. I also suggest trying to schedule on a weekday as it's less busy in most places, this allows us to be more mobile and also leaves less people in the background.
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What to Wear: I&rsquo;m flexible with whatever you&rsquo;d like to wear, this is your session and you should wear what you&rsquo;re comfortable in. I recommend no more than two outfits in order to maximize our time together. Most couples tend to go with a button up shirt or polo, and a dress or skirt, the only thing for me is shoes, since I do like to walk around I recommend comfortable shoes for walking. This is also a good time to mention that you could even bring other things that mean something to you in your relationship like pets or other personal items.
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Remember, the goal of an engagement session is to capture the unique love story between you and your partner. There are no rules so don't be afraid to let your personalities shine through!

The Best Engagement Session Locations In San Diego

Capturing Your Story – Making Memories Last a Lifetime!

I take pride in making photography sessions fun and stress-free, avoiding heavy posing to focus on genuine emotions. 

My goal is to create photos that bring back joy and remind you of your best moments. More than just a photographer, I assist in planning and ensuring your wedding day runs smoothly. I strive to make your special day enjoyable without turning it into an all-day photo shoot, while still delivering incredible photos that will become a part of your family's legacy.

If you're looking for someone to bring your vision to life, I'm here to help. Let's chat and make your dream wedding come true.

Why I Shoot

This is my about section. Please use everything between the () for style, but not the actual content: (Hey, I'm Ben!

I'm a wedding photographer and videographer based in San Diego, California. Your wedding day is one of the most amazing, and important, days of your life. That's why I strive to help create and capture the special moments that make your wedding so memorable. You're making a story that deserves to be told, so let's tell it!)

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San Diego, CA, USA

Ben Straily

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My favorites from Kent and Camille's Wedding at the La Jolla Shores Hotel in La Jolla Califronia! Last September Kent and Camille sealed the deal with their wedding at the La Jolla shores hotel with and a beautiful beach ceremony. A lifelong dream of Camille ❤️

Kent + Camille's Wedding at the La Jolla Shores Hotel

February 14th, 2024

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