Skip to main content
Weddings

James Lester Photography Reviews

James Lester Photography

James Lester Photography

San Luis Obispo, CA
5.0 out of 5 rating, 27 reviews
View more information

Reviews

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
5.0 out of 5 rating
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
5.0 out of 5 rating
27 reviews
100% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Alex
    Alex T. Sent on 08/31/2024
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Great wedding photographer!

    James did an amazing job for photographing our elopement ceremony in Pismo Beach! He was incredibly kind and considerate towards our families and our dog. His familiarity with the area led to some gorgeous pictures on the beach! We loved how the photos turned and highly recommend him for your wedding or event!
  • Tira
    Tira Sent on 07/13/2024
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Excellent Photographer

    James Lester Photography truly exceeded our expectations on our wedding day. From the very beginning, James was remarkably responsive and a joy to work with. He effortlessly put everyone at ease with his warm demeanor and professional approach. His artistry and attention to detail shone through in every beautifully edited photograph. We received our photos in a timely manner. I wholeheartedly recommend James Lester Photography to anyone seeking to capture their special moments with elegance and grace.
  • Lindsay
    Lindsay M. Sent on 07/10/2024
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Sooo happy with our photos :-)

    James did an absolutely fantastic job on our Madonna Inn Elopement ceremony. He knew exactly what to do, even when we didn't. Could not have asked for a better photographer.
  • illustration stars

    Are you interested?

  • M
    Michael E. Sent on 06/24/2024
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Our perfect day!

    Can’t explain how grateful we are to James. His knowledge and professionalism was so outstanding. His pictures were perfect and we can’t stop looking at them. The whole experience was great and I highly recommend him to anyone who wants a professional and genuine person.
  • Madison
    Madison J. Sent on 05/16/2024
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    James is the BEST!

    We could not recommend James enough! He photographed our wedding in Santa Cruz in March 2024. Leading up to the wedding, James was so kind, thorough and answered all of our questions. The day of the wedding, my husband and I read our vows to each other, just the two of us, and James captured everything perfectly! He also made us feel so comfortable (even though we both are usually uncomfortable in from of the camera). James captured beautiful pictures in the Santa Cruz forest but also captured super fun photos of our friends at a brewery afterwards. We could not be happier!
  • S
    Staci H. Sent on 04/15/2024
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    A must for your wedding team!

    I am so glad that we found James. His work speaks for itself; the photos from our wedding day are stunning. One thing you can't really grasp is how hectic the wedding day can truly be. I really appreciated the calm and sweet energy that James has; it was a nice break to take photos with him. It can be such a strange experience to pose in front of a stranger but he quickly felt like a friend.

    I had a lot of guests tell me that they were impressed with how on top of things he was and I couldn't agree more. He knew the florist that we were working with as well--it made me feel like my vendors were all on the same page. Again, such a gem! Thank you for everything!
  • J
    Jen Sent on 12/09/2023
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    The best photographer in the SLO area!

    Booking James for our wedding photographer was the best decision we ever made! He is responsive, professional, thorough, and very accommodating. He listened to our ideas (and our concerns) and understood our vision right away. We did both our engagement photos and our wedding day photos with James, and we could not be happier with how both sets of photos turned out. He helped us feel so comfortable in front of the camera, and the style and composition of the images are absolutely gorgeous. This was 100% worth every single penny and we would definitely use James again for photos if we are ever in the SLO area. Highly, highly recommend!
  • Kelsey
    Kelsey D. Sent on 11/07/2023
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    James Lester is an amazing photographer!

    James was AMAZING. He has a great eye, a calming energy, and really captures the details. We just got all our photos back and our expectations were beyond exceeded. From the moment we chose James, we felt like he really understood the vibe of our wedding. The photos are proof that he knew exactly what we were looking for and he really delivered! If you are looking for a wedding photographer who will put you at ease and capture gorgeous details from the big day James is your person! Thank you James!
  • Ellen
    Ellen C. Sent on 09/03/2023
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Wedding Photography

    Working with James was a highlight of our small wedding in Paso Robles this summer. He was so fun and easy to work with on the day, came up with great photo op suggestions, and helped arrange us and guide us on how to stand and look good for the best photos. Beyond just being so nice and accommodating, he was also super fast and sent us our photos within the week! We were so pleased with his work; the photos are stunning. Highly, highly recommend!!
  • Taylor
    Taylor Sent on 09/03/2023
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Seamless Experience!

    We were very lucky to find James, and I would highly recommend him for anyone looking for a stress-free and quality experience. He was extremely friendly and professional, and put us at ease throughout the entire planning process and event. He was very engaged beforehand, answering the many questions we had and helping us find the perfect locations and setup for all of our photos. On the day of the event, it was clear he had significant experience and knew exactly what shots to get, but he was also very flexible with any specific photo requests we had. The photos turned out wonderfully. Thank you James!!
  • L
    Laurie B. Sent on 07/08/2023
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Best wedding photographer!

    James was patient and professional. He has an eye for the perfect picture. His calm demeanor enabled us to be so relaxed during our photos. James was flexible with all of our desired shots and incorporated his artistic eye into each one. The photos turned out amazing. We could not be happier!
  • Lori
    Lori F. Sent on 04/21/2023
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Gorgeous Photos!

    James Lester did an absolutely amazing job capturing the perfect moments of our wedding day! He was communicative in the booking process, had a cool vibe both through email and in person and was very patient with us! We were excited to receive our photos ahead of schedule! James shot every group of guests we had requested. He assured us the lighting was perfect for our sunset photos in the Eberle Winery vineyard and sure enough, the pictures were gorgeous! He gets our very highest rating!
  • Genevieve
    Genevieve S. Sent on 12/11/2022
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Amazing work!

    My husband and I LOVED working with James! He offered us a package that included both our engagement photoshoot and full day wedding day photos. It was a great deal and very fair pricing for excellent quality pictures. Having the engagement photo session was super helpful because we had never taken profesional pictures before, and it was good to get to know James prior to our wedding day. He’s also an extremely nice and accommodating person! 10/10 would recommend for any of your photography needs :)
  • A
    Anthony M. Sent on 01/01/2023
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Wonderful!

    Our experience working with james, was absolutely wonderful! It felt like he really understood what we were looking for in our photos and delivered on that perfectly! As a bonus, it felt like we were working with a friend! We had two shoots with him, a private reading of our vows to one another, and an official ceremony with family and friends. We are in love with how the photos turned out and are so thankful. We’re also excited to have them printed and put into a photo album. This should go without saying, but we recommend him, his work is exquisite! Thank you james for capturing all of those moments and memories.
  • M
    Megan M. Sent on 12/23/2022
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    What are you waiting for? Book with James!


    I had never had professional photos done before and had to find someone four hours away from my home for my wedding. I was super nervous about it, but James offered to hop on a zoom call right away. My decision was made as soon as I talked to him. Booking with James is like getting an instant friend lol. Not only is he just a genuinely really kind human, he cares about your vision and capturing what is special to you on your day. My husband and I went up for engagement shots two months before the wedding. He made us feel at ease right away. It was like being with an old friend. If you’re worried about feeling awkward, this is your guy!! Not only that, he took photos that were absolutely stunning that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

    On my wedding day, he was a grounding force on a day full of nerves and emotions. He kept making sure we had everything we need. Even some guests made comments that he was “nonstop”. We had an untraditional ceremony and he captured the heart of who we are so well. We plan on making a trip once a year to take photos with James. He’s one of a kind and his work is remarkable. Thank you so much for everything you did for us!! Love, Megan and Sterling
  • M
    Megan V. Sent on 11/25/2022
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Wedding photography

    I have had the pleasure of knowing James since high school and have been following along his photography career through social media. So when it was time to pick a wedding photographer, I knew exactly who to turn to! James not only captures incredible shots, but he is professional and kind while doing so. James makes you feel comfortable and captures some truly special moments. I have so many incredible photos from my wedding day from James that I will cherish for the rest of my life!
  • B
    Brian Y. Sent on 08/14/2022
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Great photographer!

    James was such a pleasure to work with for our wedding photos! He was very thorough and prompt in all of our communications leading up to the big day. During our wedding, he was incredibly easy and fun to work with. We normally feel very awkward posing for photos, but James made us feel so comfortable with his calm and fun personality. He got all of the most important shots, while being very discrete. He has a great eye for details, as well as portraits and shots of the general scenery. We recently got all of our photos and we were blown away. We can not recommend James enough!
  • Amanda
    Amanda J. Sent on 06/18/2022
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Talented and Professional

    James was wonderful to work with. He was communicative and kind throughout the process. He was a calming presence throughout the photo session and I was wowed by the product we received. James was familiar with our venue and has a good eye. He captured all of the right moments and made us look great!
  • K
    Kelli M. Sent on 03/18/2022
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Definitely would recommend James!

    James was great through the entire (short) planning weeks. We decided to elope and James helped us pick the beach for the perfect place and was so responsive the entire time. James was able to get us our whole album so quickly and they were PERFECT- despite the windiest weather we've ever had on the central coast.
  • A
    Alizah M. Sent on 12/14/2021
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Best experience

    James was fun, chill, skillful, and very professional. He captured our love so effortlessly. He made us feel comfortable, resulting in more natural, intimate, and genuine photos. My husband who hates posing for pictures had a blast the whole time during our shoot. James’s style is also very unique with a subtle moody vibe, worthy of a vogue magazine cover. We could not have asked for a better experience and photos to cherish for the rest of our lives.
    Lastly, James was very responsive and flexible. He offered to drive down to Santa Barbara without extra charge when we had a last minute change. Thanks again James for saving the day!
  • Vineece
    Vineece R. Sent on 12/31/2021
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Captured Memories

    James possesses a talent for photography and it shows in his work, capturing couples in the most breathtaking and serene places. We were lucky to book his services for our wedding in October 2021 and he was a blast to be around. He made us feel comfortable in front of the camera and provided us plenty of guidance to ensure our poses were natural and organic. We thought we knew what to expect when he delivered our photos to us since we've seen his website and social media accounts, but we were not prepared for the beautiful images he captured at our wedding. We highly, highly recommend him to be your photographer!
  • C
    Colette Sent on 10/20/2019
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Best Photographer on the Central Coast

    James is a talented and creative photographer with a shining personality that makes everyone happy and feel comfortable in front of a camera. His prices are very competitive and his website is easy to navigate and his communication is superb. We couldn't be happier with our experience.
  • Anthony
    Anthony Sent on 02/22/2020
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating

    Amazing Photographer...He's our go to as our family grows

    James was a great for capturing our wedding. We first met James for our engagement photo shoot several months before. He was very professional and flexible, accommodating two locations and our puppy as well. He was quick to process the photos, much faster than we anticipated.

    We met the rest of the team on our wedding day with them putting in a long day, including a very long church ceremony. James captured amazing photos Marisol (bride) getting ready, her dress, and bridesmaids. So many family and friends felt that James and his team captured the moments and atmosphere that slipped by us as the bride and groom. We really enjoying working with James and his SLOtography team. Our family is growing and would definitely make the drive from LA to SLO to have James take our family photos.
  • A
    Amanda Sent on 10/12/2018
    5 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Average response time
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      5.0 out of 5 rating
    James shot my wedding and exceeded my expectations! He was so easy to work with and has such a natural eye for photography. Prompt communication, online invoice, flexible (we asked him to stay an extra hour on our wedding day), everything was a breeze. When we received our sneak peek photos during our honeymoon I nearly cried with how stunning they were, and I’m so excited to see the rest. I can’t say enough good things about our experience with him!
illustration stars

Are you interested?