This is my new Monterey Bay Wedding Photography TV ad which will be running on KION 46 in Monterey, Salinas, and Santa Cruz. I’m having a hard time deciding on which ad to choose! What are your thoughts?
Should I pick Black or white?
This is my new Monterey Bay Wedding Photography TV ad which will be running on KION 46 in Monterey, Salinas, and Santa Cruz. I’m having a hard time deciding on which ad to choose! What are your thoughts?
Should I pick Black or white?
What an absolute honor it was to photograph Patty & Jerry’s Cabo San Lucas destination wedding at Hacienda Encantada Resort and Spa in Cabo San Lucas Mexico!
From the beautiful rocky Baja shoreline to the amazing Hacienda Encantada resort and spa, it truly is a wedding photographers playground. I have been very fortunate to photograph many local destination weddings here in the Monterey Bay area but this was our first destination wedding in Baja Mexico.
Being a professional Monterey wedding photographer I am spoiled by the scenery in my own back yard, however this was different.
The magnificent backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, with whales and dolphins jumping all day long so close to shore was an amazing sight to behold.
A day before the wedding I hired Indalecio at the resort to drive me around the entire place in a golf cart. We scouted some breathtaking locations which I took advantage of the day of the ceremony.
As with most couples I photograph on their wedding day, we always become friends with the couples we shoot, and this time around it was no different. Hanging out with Patty & Jerry on the days leading up to their wedding and again on the days following, made me realize how lucky we are to do what we love for a living!
Destination Wedding Photography
Manuel Ortega Photography tells your wedding story through a unique style of photojournalism that beguiles viewers while giving an accurate representation of love, family, friends and events leading up to the actual ceremony. The Monterey Bay area photographer chronicles destination weddings worldwide but focuses on the local communities of Salinas, Big Sur, Monterey, Watsonville, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel, San Jose and San Francisco. Couples can tell their story through a unique blend of candid and formal shots that allow their true personalities to shine through in high-definition.
Giving Back to the Community
Choosing a photographer is a very intimate decision, and California’s central coast residents happily provide glowing recommendations and testimonials of Ortega’s skills, lighthearted personality and artistic vision. People don’t choose artists based solely on skills, and Ortega impresses many clients with his commitment to local causes, experience with high-profile events and down-to-earth personality and humor.
– Ortega takes part annually in the Birdies for Charity event that benefits the YWCA of Monterey County for domestic violence and intervention programs.
– The photographer donated his time, materials and skills to chronicle Tatum’s Garden, a Monterey Bay initiative to provide a safe and secure place for children to play, socialize and learn.
– Ortega sponsors a customer-submitted photography contest that feature senior portraits he posts on social media forums. Social media users then “vote for the best” portrait. Contest winnings include a free high school senior portrait for the one that receives the highest votes.
– Celebrities often choose the photographer, and local news anchor Michelle Imperato booked Ortega recently for her upcoming Pebble Beach wedding.
The Best Photography Captures Life as Art
Manuel Ortega Photography adheres to Ortega’s personal philosophy of support for family, community and real experiences. The talented photographer finds magic and art in everyday life and offers the following services for clients:
– Wedding and engagement photography in a journalistic-type study
– Location shoots of baptisms, children, birthdays and anniversaries
– Classic family photos and memorable artistic shots taken in stunning Monterey Bay locations
– Photos of children from maternity to graduation
– High School Senior Portraits that capture a teenagers true personality
– Photos of parties, special events, holidays and celebrations
About Manuel Ortega
Manuel Ortega began pursuing photography at the age of 13 and photographed his first wedding at age 18. Although Ortega has been in business since 2005, he has taken professional photos since 1990. Self-taught and observant of the smallest details, Ortega preserves the magic of events, places, people and relationships. Although specializing in wedding photography, Ortega also takes stunning maternity photos, portraits, family photos, and high school senior portraits that families can treasure for generations.
Wedding photography is not easy, In fact it is very difficult. Capturing emotional moments which happen so quickly under different lighting conditions can be a daunting, but there is nothing that compares to the exhilaration of knowing you got “the shot”.
I absolutely love what I do and feel very blessed that I can make a living doing what I love. I love wedding photography. Truth is, I love all kinds of photography, but especially wedding photography. I love the laughter. I love the tears. I love the emotion. I love the beauty. I love being there on that special day with a bride and groom. Best of all, I love capturing moments filled with emotion. Weddings are the perfect avenue to do just that.
Can you think of a life event that has so many different emotions attached to it? A bride looking in the mirror anticipating the event she has waited for most of her life. The look on a groom’s face as he sees his bride walk down the aisle. A father about to walk his daughter down the aisle, proud of his little girl and wondering how she grew up so fast. A couple just married, having a quick second alone before going off to meet their guests. I love freezing these moments for people, the moments they will want to remember for a lifetime.
I received a thank you card last week from a very special couple I didn’t meet until their wedding day. Laura and Todd are from Minnesota and they chose to have a destination wedding in a private resort in Big Sur CA. When Laura called me, I felt honored to have been chosen to be their wedding photographer. I felt an immediate connection with her infectious personality and I just knew her wedding would be a lot of fun. I spent one day with Laura and Todd and it is a day I will never forget. Trekking the short trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park for some formal wedding photography shots with the iconic waterfall as a backdrop was a lot of fun and one of the many highlights of the day.
It’s always nice when a couple recognizes the hard work you put into their special day, so when I received their custom hand written thank you card (with a photo I took) I was very happy to say the least.
The following is their testimonial, which makes me love what I do even more..
“Manuel,
Thank you so much for photographing our special day! You were awesome! We loved your energy and passion and our pictures turned out so beautiful. We absolutely love them. We’ve received so many compliments from our guests and others. Thank you for making our special day so wonderful and for capturing the emotions so perfectly.”
Laura and Todd
Minneapolis Minnesota