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Weddings

About

Hi, I am a San Diego Photographer! I love to travel! I am originally from Peru, but grew up and am based here in San Diego. Love the outdoors, whether it's hanging at the beach or getting in tune with nature.

Ever since I was little I always had a camera in my hand; I love documenting events and expressions. Feel free to reach out and let's chat about how I can capture your memories!

PS - I promise to make you laugh!

  • Hispanic or Latinx-owned
  • Woman-owned
illustration popular

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Frequently asked questions

Which of the following are included in the starting price?

2nd Shooter
Add'l Hours
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Digital Files
Prints

Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?

2nd Shooter
Add'l Hours
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Slideshow
Toning
Digital Files
Matted Prints
Prints

What primary photographic style do you identify with?

Contemporary
Natural
Photojournalism

What photography services do you offer?

Additional Hours
Destination / Travel
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Second Shooter
Wedding Portraits

What photography items do you offer?

Albums
Canvas
Digital Files
Matted Prints
Prints
Save the Date
Thank You Cards

Reviews of Melissa Montoya Photography

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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The photographer is professional, responsive, and highly knowledgeable about courthouse logistics and photo locations. They make couples and guests comfortable with friendly, patient posing guidance and creative use of surroundings. Turnaround is quick and photos are consistently praised; many say the experience exceeded expectations and is highly recommended.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

The photographer is professional, responsive, and highly knowledgeable about courthouse logistics and photo locations. They make couples and guests comfortable with friendly, patient posing guidance and creative use of surroundings. Turnaround is quick and photos are consistently praised; many say the experience exceeded expectations and is highly recommended.

Lisa
Lisa Sent on 04/04/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Courthouse Wedding

Melissa is very approachable and knew exactly what she was doing. We got married at the Courthouse with just the two of us. She was our witness. My husband and I had a blast. We requested to take photos with my husband’s Harley. We got some great shots at a location near the courthouse. I actually requested more time to do a fun shoot at in n out. It is not where we met but it’s one of my husbands favorite places. Melissa loved the idea. And honestly those are mine and everyone’s favorite photos. I would love to work with her again. She was very patient with me. I kept turning my head the opposite way she was telling me, but not once did she sound frustrated. Melissa was amazing.
N
Nadia Sent on 10/29/2025
5 out of 5 rating

10/10. No notes!

Melissa is very professional and was so knowledgeable about how to pose us during our photos. She made us and our wedding guest feel so comfortable and made our experience so much better. Even my mom who did not speak english really enjoyed her direction and demeanor. I highly recommend Melissa for any occasion, our photos came out so beautiful, you will not regret it!
K
Karla Sent on 09/03/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Don't wait - hire her asap!

We look amazing in our pictures! Melissa was so awesome to work with - she knows the courthouse grounds so well, located the best backdrops for us, and even directed us on poses to use. We have no idea how to be in front of a camera so some of the directions felt strange but dang, our photos look effortless! The experience was seamless and fun with her. Best photography experience, hands down!
Graciela
Graciela Sent on 07/23/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic Experience

We loved working with Melissa! The photos came out beautifully and the whole process from beginning to end was such a breeze. She was not only professional, but went above and beyond to get some amazing shots and get the best out of our spaces and guests. As a couple who doesn't love being in front of the camera, she made us feel so at ease and it shows in the end product. We'll treasure these photos forever.
J
Jace Sent on 06/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Better than we could have imagined!

I'm so glad we chose to work with Melissa for our San Diego courthouse wedding! We were coming in from out-of-state so her knowledge of the area and overall process was indispensable to us. Melissa helped guide how to register for our appointment, was present to explain where/what we needed to do at the courthouse, and even signed as our witness when we definitely forgot about that whole part 😅

Then of course the photos! Melissa was able to organize our large party of extended family with an ease and attention to detail that paid off in ways I couldn't have imagined! Our little 2 hour session gave me exactly all the little family pictures I requested as well as a wonderful album of just my partner and I that make me smile whenever I look at them, all within the immediate surroundings of the courthouse itself! And don't even get me started on how quickly we got our photos back in the first place!! Couldn't have imagined the day being as beautiful as it was, and Melissa captured that beauty perfectly ❤
Andi
Andi Sent on 03/02/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing and Flexible Photography with a Smile!

When my grandma offered to cover a photographer for our courthouse wedding less than a week before the date, my husband and I were doubtful we'd be able to pull it off. Luckily for us, we found Melissa, who quickly put our fears to rest with her prompt response (even on a Sunday!), cheery attitude, and experience with courthouse weddings.

We booked a 2 hour slot, and she was punctual and friendly from the moment we met up at the courthouse. Melissa clearly is well acquainted with the County Clerk's Office, and posed us in front of a dozen different beautiful backgrounds and lightings throughout the day. She really helped keep the energy high and positive throughout the day, and made what could have been an underwhelming process feel celebratory, beautiful, and memorable.

And Melissa's excellence went even beyond our wedding day: after giving us an estimate of 2-3 weeks to get our edited photos, Melissa ended up getting us the finished pictures in only a couple days (thanks to some lucky long naps from her baby son!). We couldn't be happier with our experience booking Melissa for our wedding photos, and would absolutely recommend contacting her for any of your San Diego photography needs!
Hayden
Hayden Sent on 02/17/2025
5 out of 5 rating

BEST courthouse photographer

Melissa was such a wonderful and incredible photographer to work with! I was so lucky to have her as our photographer for our courthouse wedding. She made our once-in-a-lifetime moment even more memorable! She is extremely knowledgeable about all the cute spots around the courthouse and amazing at making the most out of the time we booked with her. I'm not a photogenic person and tend to be shy in front of cameras, but she guided us with cute poses and angles, and the photos turned out beautifully. 😊

Highly, highly recommend her!
Chiara
Chiara Sent on 01/02/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Melissa crushed our wedding shoot! 10/10

We worked with Melissa for our courthouse wedding, and she was a star from start to finish. She was timely, efficient, and helpful while we were booking and planning our session with her, but she really shone during the photo shoot. She was super creative in using spaces around the courthouse to our advantage, turning unassuming concrete walls, ramps, trees, and hills into beautiful backdrops. She helped wrangle us and our guests for photos (harder than it sounds!) and helped us feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera when it didn't necessarily come naturally. She turned our final gallery around within 48 hours of our wedding, and our friends and family were thrilled with the results. Also, we weren't necessarily looking for a bilingual photographer, but this was very nice bonus, and helpful for ushering our guests through the process. Melissa is energetic, fun, and professional, and I would be pleased to work with her again and recommend her to others.
C
Chris Sent on 10/19/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Chris and Diana

Melissa is a wonderful person and a wonderful photographer. I couldn’t have imagined the experience being any easier or comfortable. From start to finish she was friendly, attentive and professional. She is who I will recommend to anyone who will listen. Thank you for documenting our special day so perfectly Melissa!
C
Caitlin Sent on 07/26/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful photos!

Melissa was absolutely brilliant to work with. She’s so professional and friendly. She gave us easy and clear direction. It was an absolute pleasure to work with her. She showed us a few raw shots during shoot and we knew immediately we made the best choice by reaching out to her. Somehow the final photos shocked us even more. We couldn’t recommend anyone better than Melissa! She captured our elopement beautifully!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

98
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2026 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner

Map

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Melissa Montoya Photography frequently asked questions

Melissa Montoya Photography includes the following photography services in the starting price:
  • 2nd Shooter
  • Add'l Hours
  • High-Res Images
  • Multi. Locations
  • One Event / Day
  • Digital Files
  • Prints
Melissa Montoya Photography includes the following photography services in their most popular wedding package:
  • 2nd Shooter
  • Add'l Hours
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • Multi. Locations
  • One Event / Day
  • Slideshow
  • Toning
  • Digital Files
  • Matted Prints
  • Prints
Melissa Montoya Photography offers the following photography styles:
  • Contemporary
  • Natural
  • Photojournalism
Melissa Montoya Photography offers the following photography services for weddings:
  • Additional Hours
  • Destination / Travel
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Second Shooter
  • Wedding Portraits
Melissa Montoya Photography offers the following photography materials for weddings:
  • Albums
  • Canvas
  • Digital Files
  • Matted Prints
  • Prints
  • Save the Date
  • Thank You Cards
Melissa Montoya Photography is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
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