Monterey Wedding Photographer
Client Reviews
Laura & Robin
High Street Community Church, Santa Cruz
We are so glad we chose Danieka as our wedding photographer! She was very organized, both in preparing for the day and on the day, being in all the right places at all the right times to capture everything along with her backup, yet she was also totally relaxed while doing it, able to flexibly respond to the changing moment. She used her expertise in giving directions when appropriate (doing things like clearing away background clutter and helping people look their best in group photos) and always in a kind way. Guests commented to us that she was easy to get along with, and we agree. Most important of all, we love the photos! They are full of light and beauty and an eye for composition and special moments. I can't count the number of times we said, "Wow!" while looking through the gallery, because each photo was perfect! Thank you, Danieka!
Carly & Alden
Henry Cowell Hay Barn, Santa Cruz
Danieka was the perfect photographer for our wedding - Her photojournalistic style, her calm energy, her communication made our day that much more relaxed and lovely, with absolutely gorgeous candid photos to show of our day. She rolled with all the little changes that inevitably happen to the plan on the day with grace (especially with it being unseasonably hot). We can not recommend her enough!
Nicky & Chris
Mission Basilica, Carmel California
"I cannot recommend Danieka highly enough! I read an article that said you should hire people who feel like friends so you are happy to have them there on your wedding day. Danieka met with me before we had signed any paperwork and answered all of my questions, then sent occasional, incredibly helpful emails, packed with advice on wedding timelines etc. so that I could fee prepared. She also recommended some other vendors. On the day she was really nice, sweet, and struck a great balance between getting photos of us, while ensuring we moved quickly so that we could enjoy our day. Her work is wonderful. I am so happy we worked with her."
Kenzie & Casey
Sleepy Ridge Weddings, Utah
"We cannot recommend Danieka (Picturist Photography) enough! Our wedding photos are stunning! She captured every moment so perfectly and made everything fun and easy. She brought amazing talent, professionalism and warmth on our wedding day. We will be forever grateful for the wonderful memories and the beautiful photos!"
Jacki & Ari
Roaring Camp, Felton California
"I cannot say enough about Danieka and Picturist Photography. She shot our wedding in November at Roaring Camp in Felton and far exceeded our expectations. My husband and I were nervous about being photographed and being posed for pictures but she made it so easy and enjoyable for us. Our phone calls and in person meeting before the wedding were so helpful and she really listened to us. She had us make a Pinterest board with inspiration pictures and she nailed the vibe we were going for. The photos from the wedding were better than we could have hoped for. Danieka and her second shooter was a joy to work with. I am so grateful to Danieka for documenting the day so well and for really capturing my husband and I and making us feel so confident and comfortable in front of the camera."
Skylar & Justin
Perry House, Monterey California
""I just got married this past April and Danieka was one of the best photographers I have ever worked with. I work in marketing and have done many shoots with various photographers over the years, and I have to say, Danieka was the most patient, professional and overwhelmingly talented photographer I have ever worked with. She was also sooo good with my family and friends on wedding day! We had a lot of last minutes changes and she was able to capture our day perfectly! Highly recommend her!!"
Laura & Jackson
Monterey Beach Station, Monterey California
"Danieka was very professional and very skilled. Her style is so true to life and she captures beautiful shots while being very easy to work with. She and her 2nd shooter were a lot of fun and did a great job - they had a great balance of giving direction for shots while making sure things didn't feel too posed. Our photos were beautiful and I definitely recommend!"
Avery & Anthony
Los Laureles Lodge, Carmel Valley California
"Danieka was an excellent photographer! I am so happy I chose to work with her for my wedding. She was so pleasant and warm, making everyone feel so comfortable, even those who weren't used to being in front of the camera. I felt so confident that we were in good hands as soon as we met for the venue walkthrough. She had a great eye for the best backdrops and lighting. She gave us gentle direction for posing that was very helpful, without being too overbearing or making it feel forced. We got so many amazing photos! I could not ask for more!! I would definitely recommend booking Danieka as your wedding photographer 10/10, 5 stars!"
Holly & Jon
Gilroy Lodge on the Hill, Gilroy California
"Danieka is an amazing photographer to say the least! We had her for our engagement shoot and wedding, and our photos were absolutely stunning! The pictures she did for wedding turned out so incredible, that she was able to capture everyone smiling and having a great time. Danieka was also a great resource when it came putting us in touch with the right people, when it came to wedding vendors. I highly recommend Danieka (Picturist Photography) if you ever need a photographer, because she truly a master photographer!"
Kenna & Eric
La playa Carmel, Carmel California
"Danieka photographed our wedding earlier this year and we are beyond pleased with the results. We first approached Danieka because of her focus on people and their interactions, not just objects. During our Zoom interview with Danieka she asked helpful questions to guide us toward our aesthetic when we weren't able to clearly articulate it. We also asked several technical questions regarding digital photography and she was able to answer all satisfactorily which was reinforced by the final product. In the months leading up to our wedding her communication was routine, clear, and very helpful. On the day of our event Danieka was punctual and professional as well as kind, humorous, a good communicator, cheerful, and didn't add stress. ..." (read more)
Melanie & Eric
Botanical Gardens, San Francisco California
"Danieka is an amazing wedding photographer and she did a wonderful job for our engagement shoot and for our wedding. We have hundreds of beautiful, candid photos capturing every moment of our wedding, including unique shots that truly wowed us and our guests. In addition, she is very approachable and did a great job making my wife and I all feel comfortable as neither of us had done professional photos before. Finally, Danieka went above and beyond by sharing a wedding day of timeline with a suggested sequence of events and timing that helped us run ahead of schedule on our wedding day. From the very outset, Danieka was a joy to work with. From communication, to punctuality, to capturing amazing photos and memories, we couldn't be happier and would wholeheartedly recommend her!"
Michelle & Andy
Cavallo Point Lodge, San Francisco California
"Danieka, aka Picturist Photography, was an absolute joy to work with! She remained in constant contact with us over 2.5 years and stuck with us throughout multiple reschedulings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of that she really got what we were looking for in photos and she captured truly beautiful candid moments and also captured some of my favorite portraits of us together as a couple. With both of us being uncomfortable in front of cameras Danieka was able to make use feel less awkward with her calm presence. She even surprised us with a couple unique photo ops. Thank you Danieka! We love our photos and can’t wait to share them!"
Rachelle & Remy
Private Residence, Santa Cruz California
"Danieka was incredible. From day 1, she was so excited for us and really listened to what we wanted. When we did our site visit with her, she was a great partner in brainstorming what shots we wanted where. Day-of she was such a joy - she was so happy for us, helped us get centered and calm before the ceremony, and was totally stealth-mode throughout the whole night - I didn't even notice her during the ceremony! And the photos <3 ... so incredibly beautiful!! Not only were all of our portraits and group shots stunning, she is an expert at candid shots. We have so many great photos of our guests enjoying the event and each others' company ... she really captured all of the memories for us. I recommend her 1000%!"
Dayana & Rodolfo
Waterfall Lodge & Spa, Ben Lomond California
"Danieka was so fun and a joy to work with. She captured the most amazing moments for our wedding. Could not have asked for a better photographer. We loved her!"
Maria & Tony
Carmel-by-the-sea Engagement, Carmel California
"Amazing! Danieka took our engagement and wedding photos. She was so kind and professional that we felt so comfortable with her. She has an amazing and unique eye for photography. She truly captured beautiful moments of our wedding to look back send relive over and over again."
Megan & Carl
Private Residence, Santa Cruz California
"From New York, we planned our intimate wedding in California. We had our closest friends and family join us for our very own fairy tale wedding in the woods, and Danieka captured every single moment of it so beautifully. I found her through simple searches while planning, as I am not from the area. I loved her work and contacted her immediately. We set up a zoom call to meet (being 3,000 miles away), and she has been a true professional from the start. My husband and are not the “pose for photos” type (we are so awkward).. yet capturing the moments was extremely important to me- especially with our whole family being together. Danieka made it so easy. She directed us perfectly, yet also allowed everything to magically flow..." (read more)
Melanie & Shem
Private Residence, Livermore California
"We had the most beautiful day and Picturist Photography only added to the warmth, charm and magic of the moment. From first introduction to the big day - Danieka and her assistant were so thoughtful with every click of the camera and took great care of us. Thank you so much! The pictures are amazing and a sweet reminder of our wedding day."
Devon & Nick
Amphitheater of the Redwoods, Santa Cruz California
"Our wedding was perfectly photographed and every moment captured beautifully. When we got the photos back my wife and I were blown away and taken back to our special day. Danieka was phenomenal, made the whole process so fun and enjoyable, and, honestly, was hardly noticeable in the best way. We could not have asked for a better photographer!!"
Kim & Ben
Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve, Los Gatos California
"My fiancé and I came across Danieka's portfolio via The Knot and immediately reached out. She was quick to respond and set up a consultation with us to discuss our photography needs, vision etc. She was very polite throughout the call and followed up with a contract after (we opted to get our engagement photos done). Not only was she very responsive via email (leading up to our engagement photos) but she made it such an enjoyable experience. We met at Bear Creek Redwoods, she brought an assistant with her and the whole time - gave us tips/tricks on how to hold each other, which direction to look at etc. It was our first time taking any sort of professional photos and it was nerve wracking in the beginning but we felt more comfortable as time passed..." (read more)
Audrey & Mathew
Seascape Golf Course, Santa Cruz California
"Where to begin with Danieka! From the very beginning she was so easy to work with and so communicative. My now husband and I had never had professional photos taken and needed lots of guidance, she made us look so amazing and comfortable in front of the camera. from the natural posing to the perfect locations and lighting , she nailed it. She is so dedicated to her couples and we had the best time shooting our engagement photos and even more fun the day of the wedding. Danieka exceeded our expectations on our wedding day, she was somehow everywhere at once and captured all the moments we asked for and then some. She told me what to bring and she did the rest, from photos of my dress and all the little details... (read more)
Sarah & Jordy
Hollins House, Santa Cruz
"Danieka was so kind and professional since the first day I spoke with her on the phone! If you are a couple who isn't well practiced in taking photos together/professional photos together, Danieka is your person! She makes you feel so comfortable during her shoots. I was blown away how well the photos turned out!"
Scott & Liz
Sand Rock Farm, Santa Cruz California
"Let me start out by saying that I am a planner...and oh do I love a good list. Which, for a great deal of our wedding planning came in handy. But how does your photographer react when she receives a giant spreadsheet listing EVERY photo you want with pictures of EVERY guest? Yeah...Danieka took it in stride and just laughed with me. From our very first call, I KNEW Danieka was the photographer for us. She was flexible -- and in an age of COVID and crazy planning, I can't stress ENOUGH how important flexibility and empathy has been -- and really focused on what WE wanted. She has this incredible thread of creativity, sending me sample photos and inspirations of shots that were unique and not like the standard "cheesy wedding pose photos" you see all over Pinterest..." (read more)
Carolita & Kylar
The Forrest of Nisine Marks, Santa Cruz California
"COVID-19 had us changing and updating our wedding plans almost up until the day of! Throughout all of it, Danieka was professional, flexible, thoughtful, and responsive. While we were unsure of many details, we were never unsure of our decision to work with her! We were delighted to go through the pictures and see the thought that went into capturing the big moments and little details of our day. We were nervous about being in front of a camera, but Danieka did an excellent job of making us feel comfortable and most importantly, like ourselves. Don't hesitate to work with such a sweet and professional photographer!"
Samantha & Andrew
New Brighton State Park, Santa Cruz California
"With an intimate family wedding of twelve people, we knew that whoever we hired as a photographer would need to be someone who would honor and weave themselves into the celebration. Danieka was even more than we could have ever dreamed. Not only did she mesh so well with our families, but she also was a stealthy magician blending in without anyone noticing. Her lifestyle art of capturing our day was exactly what we had in mind; she truly captured the spirit, love and celebration. Danieka’s appreciation and acknowledgement of the often over looked details are just one of the many unique skills she possesses. We highly recommend Danieka for her high quality professionalism, artistry and joyful spirit."
Crystal & Erin
Cowell Ranch Historic Hay Barn, Santa Cruz California
"My partner and I feel so very lucky to have found the Picturist to document our wedding. We interviewed quite a few photographers and honestly we didn't feel like we found a match until we met Danieka. There were folks that were supposedly well know and sought after but we didn't get a genuine or caring vibe from them. Danieka was responsive, thoughtful and just plain enjoyable to connect with from the beginning. Her photos are honest, full of emotion and truly capture the moment. Her system is well organized and she walked us through everything. Her rates are reasonable and affordable in a field where that isn't always the case. The photos we now have are so much more than we could have hoped for. She truly captured our love! The pictures are full of our warmth, laughter and even quirkiness. Plus the pictures are stunning... (read more)
Kate & Kevin
Outdoor Art Club, Mill Valley California
"Gorgeous photos; easy to work with; affordable options - highly recommended!!
We could not be happier with our experience with Danieka of Picturist for our June 2019 wedding in Mill Valley!! From our first interaction with Danieka through receiving our full set of wedding pics after our big day, each interaction was prompt, professional and left us feeling confident with our decision to choose Picturist, and grateful to work with such a skilled and kind wedding photographer. Most importantly, our wedding photos are STUNNING. And so are our engagement pictures... (read more)
