Who: Dustin Cantrell Photography
Why: When I first opened up Dustin Cantrellās website, I immediately went and did a Google search for the other Dustin Cantrell. Because the photos I was seeing on this Dustin Cantrellās website looked like they could easily cost twice as much as the photographer I was supposed to be writing about. Except, there is no other Dustin Cantrell Photography in the Bay Area. Which means that for those of you who have been looking for that unheard of San Francisco wedding photographer whose work stands up against the $6,000 artists, but whose prices are half that, well Iām here to tell you that your ship has come in. Simply put: Dustin Cantrell is a wedding photography unicorn. With the soul of a traveler (he believes firmly that everyone should couchsurf and hitchhike at least once in their lifetime), Dustin Cantrell stops at nothing to make sure you get the kind of wedding photos that overflow with joy, fun, and adventure.
Where/How much: Dustin Cantrell is based in San Francisco, but he shoots weddings all over the world. If you want super specific information about rates you can send him an email, but most packages begin at $2,800. This includes up to six hours of coverage, a USB drive of the full set of edited high-resolution images, a ten-year online gallery, and the right to print or purchase prints through the gallery.
Dustin Cantrellās two favorite books are Into the Wild and On The Road. What do they have in common? Theyāre both about adventuresāabout getting out into the world and living. Which is exactly how Dustin approaches his work. When it comes to your wedding, Dustin isnāt too worried about what the wedding industry does and doesnāt want you to do. As one recent client put it:
Dustin was amazing and totally committed to getting the perfect momentāthe perfect shotā¦ at one point he nearly fell off a rock wall by the water to get a gorgeous shot of us by the water for our engagement shootāand the day of our wedding he climbed INTO a bush to get the perfect shot (which he did). Not only is he a fantastic photographer, but he has the reflexes of a cat. From the moment I met him I felt comfortable. He has such a wonderful eye and sees things and places that make the images so special and extraordinary. Our guests didnāt even know he was thereāhe was stealth! When my husband and I went to look at the photosāwe saw some of the most touching photo-journalist-style picsā¦ little snippetsāspecial moments that we didnāt see until we saw them through Dustinās lens.
But just because Dustin is up for the adventure doesnāt mean he isnāt running a tight ship. As another client noted:
Dustin was our wedding photographer last month. We were extremely grateful to have found him; unlike other photo studios, Dustin truly loves what he does and does not nickel and dime you for his services. Before the wedding, Dustin was organized and attentive and always available to us. We had a mixed culture wedding which involved two ceremonies and the longest day of our lives. Dustin was committed to being there for the whole day (and he was!). He was punctual and attentive. It was a difficult job tolerating our pushy, disorganized family, but he pulled it off. Dustin sent our photos so promptly they were waiting for us when we returned from our honeymoon (this was about 2.5 weeks after the wedding). We absolutely love the photos. You can really recreate the day just by looking through them. He was clearly very busy! It is refreshing to find someone in the wedding business who is focused on what matters.
One of the reasons Dustin is so passionate about his job is because he didnāt have a photographer at his own wedding and regrets not having photos to remember the day. (Dustin and his wife eloped in Vegas and spent their honeymoon traveling around the US.) Now he uses that missed opportunity to motivate himself at every wedding to capture the kind of jaw-dropping photos you want to frame and hang on your mantle. I mean, hello, are you looking at the same photo above that I am? Plus, did I mention he even shoots with Polaroid cameras? Because he does. (True story: Polaroids make every event way more fun.)
In short, Dustin Cantrell is the perfect wedding photographer for couples who love to travel, arenāt afraid of a little adventure, and who want wedding photos that reflect all the joy that comes with really living. So, if I just described you and your partner, maybe you should head over here and get in touch with Dustin today. Because if thereās one thing Iāve learned about wedding unicorns, itās that they are fleeting.
Dustin Cantrellās wedding packages begin at $2,800. Click HERE to get in touch with Dustin today!
