This love between you two? This love that led you to feel not just ready — but excited — to share vows in front of friends of family? This love that made everything click? 

It tops the list. This is it, and it couldn’t be better.

kaitie brainerd

After spending several years assisting wedding photographers on the weekends and scouring the web for couples willing to give a novice wedding photographer a shot, in 2017 I finally took the leap and quit my studio photography job to pursue wedding photography full time.

My experience in commercial photography is part of what makes me good at what I do now. I learned how to be perceptive, how to give people direction in a way that brings out the best in them, and how to frame people and scenes in an aesthetically pleasing way.


I started shooting weddings in 2011 as a side job in college. I secretly loved every minute of it but I was set on being a  fashion photographer. After graduating with my BFA in photography from Cal Poly SLO, I moved to LA to work full time as an e-commerce photographer. After years of being surrounded by the world of fast fashion and flawless photos, I found myself increasingly jaded and uninspired with the inauthenticity of the industry. 

Wedding photography proved to be the perfect antidote- it's the ideal mix of photojournalism realness, fine art creativity and raw emotional moments.

a Santa Barbara wedding photographer for couples who want to celebrate the hell out of the moment.

I'm Kaitie.

Your wedding isn’t a photo shoot and it shouldn’t feel like one, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have truly beautiful and intentional images.

My goal is to create a space for you two to be yourselves without any expectations, pressure or nerves. Because when you don’t feel the nerves, you get to connect with each other. 


The first thing you should know about me?

You are the reason I do this.

And you can see that connection in your photos.

"Kaitie's effervescent personality makes shooting with her both natural and comfortable, allowing her to capture an authenticity and joy that I never imagined could be translated in a picture.

 Her working style is unobtrusive, she seamlessly inserts herself into your event to beautifully capture grand spaces, small details, and most importantly those special moments that are so often overlooked."

jessica + konrad

"Kaitie's effervescent personality makes shooting with her both natural and comfortable, allowing her to capture an authenticity and joy that I never imagined could be translated in a picture.

 Her working style is unobtrusive, she seamlessly inserts herself into your event to beautifully capture grand spaces, small details, and most importantly those special moments that are so often overlooked."

jessica + konrad

I get pretty emotional at weddings. I really do cherish being a part of each couple’s unique love story.

And it isn’t just the words you share when you exchange vows (though that part tends to bring on the tears for me).

It’s how you go out of your way to connect with each other’s families. Or how you make each other laugh by having a first tequila shot instead of a first look.

You cheers to being stuck together forever, and you both know you wouldn’t have it any other way.



The little quirks that make you each other’s people: 

I know it’s kinda cringe to call yourself a hopeless romantic…

But honestly? I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t a big part of why I was drawn to wedding photography.

My fiancé and I were pretty much love at first sight. We met on the apps- so don't feel the need to tell me you met through “mutual friends,” when you actually met on Tinder :)

He proposed to me in a wetsuit with a surfboard (and a ring from Amazon) after less than 2 years of dating. 

candid over posed

Documentary approach

true to life imagery

And when you look at the images I create? I like to think you can see that passion.

That's what I love to see and celebrate and photograph.

Things 

A few of my

Travel


Outdoor Adventures

Rafting + camping + snowboarding + surfing

Travel

Bucket list trips include:
New Zealand  + Thailand + South Africa

Top Guilty Pleasure

Favorite

02

03

01

I have a fairly encyclopedic knowledge of all things related to The Bachelor (if you aren't watching The Golden Bachelor fix this immediately). Including this so you know I won’t judge you for your basic hobbies/interests.

Lately I'm loving...

SEWING //

PODCASTS

non-fiction books

board games //

LORD OF THE RINGS //

naps

trivia nights //

BEACH DAYS

TRAVEL bucket list

more about me

Things 

A few of my

Outdoor Adventures

Rafting + camping + snowboarding + surfing

Travel

Bucket list trips include:
New Zealand  + Thailand + Iceland

I have a fairly encyclopedic knowledge of all things related to The Bachelor, but I swear that’s the most basic thing I do. (Including this so you know I won’t judge you for your basic hobbies/interests)

Favorite

04

Lately I'm loving...

Top Guilty Pleasure

I have a fairly encyclopedic knowledge of all things related to The Bachelor (if you aren't watching The Golden Bachelor fix this immediately). Including this so you know I won’t judge you for your basic hobbies/interests.

sewing //

podcasts

naps

non-fiction books

board games //

breweries

beach days //

lord of the rings //