About
Hi, I’m Abdon. Nice to meet you.
I’m a Santa Barbara local who has called the Central Coast home my whole life, and I’ve spent the last ten years behind a camera. These days I photograph weddings, elopements and engagements here on the Central Coast and wherever couples want to take me.
Here’s how I got here.
2016
It started with the night sky.
I bought my first camera, a Canon T5i, and posted a few photos from a trip to San Francisco. A friend saw them and asked if I wanted to shoot the stars that weekend with him and two other photographers. I had no idea how to shoot in manual, or honestly how to use most of my camera. He told me to bring a tripod.
That night, as the sky went from sunset to complete darkness, they walked me through every setting, one long exposure at a time. When the Milky Way finally showed up on my screen, I was hooked. Little did I know it was the last time I’d ever shoot in auto. Within a few trips with them, I was handling my camera like I’d been doing it for years.
For the rest of 2016, the four of us went out every week, sometimes more, mostly around Pismo, San Luis Obispo and up the coast, chasing whatever we called “the next shot”: a cliff in Big Sur at dusk, a pier after sunset, and every so often a drive south for something like a drone shot over Dodger Stadium.
We eventually went down our own paths, but those nights taught me most of what I know about patience and light.
Chasing the next shot
A few from those years.
Why weddings
No reshoots. That’s the point.
Friends started asking me to photograph them, then their families, then their proposals. It happened gradually: one session led to the next, until I was booking consistent work and couples were asking about their wedding days.
All those nights chasing the next shot taught me to wait for a moment instead of forcing one. Weddings are the same, with people counting on me to get it right. You get one try at the look on your partner’s face when it’s official, or your dad’s hand on your shoulder before you walk out. I love that. There’s no second take, and that’s exactly what makes it worth showing up for.
Off the clock
I like a challenge, behind the camera or not.
Photography isn’t only something I do for other people. When I’m not shooting weddings, I’m usually somewhere new, camera in hand, chasing the next adventure. This summer took me to Madrid for the World Cup final, where I ended up celebrating in the streets as Spain won it all, then on to Tomorrowland. That’s where I made new friends and got to photograph their proposal in front of the main stage. Even on vacation, I can’t help it.
The same itch to push a little further follows me home. Between running, cycling and the gym, I’m always chasing a new goal, and after a few years of half marathons I wanted something harder, so I signed up for my first full at the Long Beach Marathon. Training for it taught me what weddings already had: the big moment is built from a hundred small ones.
I’m always planning what’s next. If you want to follow along on the journey, you’ll find me here.
A few local favorites
If you’re coming to Santa Barbara.
My favorite photo of my hometown came from a sunset cruise out on the water. If you’re planning a visit, here’s where you’ll find me.
Let’s talk
Planning something meaningful?
Tell me about your date and your plans. I’d love to hear them.
Inquire