Austin & Dara Photography

Austin shot our elopement at the Santa Barbara courthouse in November and I could not be more thrilled with the photos and the entire experience. I found two photographers in Santa Barbara I liked based on the work on their websites and contacted A & D and another photographer (who shall remain unnamed). The other photographer never even responded to my email and Austin responded to me the same day. He answered all my questions and was very responsive the entire time leading up to the event and afterwards. The day of the elopement he showed up on time (actually a few minutes early, I think), and made my husband and me feel very at ease the entire time he was shooting. The photos blew us both away; our friends and families agree that they are amazing photos. If you’re considering getting married in Santa Barbara, don’t even think about using another wedding photographer!

Photography is an artform at which this couple excels at. Their wedding photos are gorgeous but since I wasn’t getting married, I hired them to take some headshots for me and my business. They made me feel comfortable and managed to make the overall experience enjoyable — and the photos were just great. Thank you!

My partner and I could not be more happy with the service provided by Austin and Dara. We were new to the world of wedding photography and chose Austin and Dara based on their lovely website, their excellent reviews, and their responsiveness to our inquiries via email and phone at the beginning of the process. Here is what goes without saying: They are amazing in every way. Before the event, they helped plan with us and responded to our unique needs and all of our questions. They bring incredible expertise to this work. During our wedding day, they demonstrated how incredibly warm, genuine, and flexible they were. Our guests commented on how professional and lovely they were and we couldn’t agree more. As if this weren’t enough to warrant a high recommendation, our real astonishment came when received our beautiful pictures. Austin and Dara go beyond a particular «style» or «technique» of photography. They have an incredible eye for capturing moments without objectifying the subjects of their photographs. To us, this meant that we felt free to just be ourselves. We never felt that we needed to look or act a particular way. Austin and Dara’s photography is, beyond anything else, humanizing — they elicit and capture a wide range of emotions and beauty and let the moments speak for themselves. We give them our highest and most enthusiastic recommendation! ~Shabnam and Brian

I stumbled upon Austin & Dara while actually browsing online for wedding venues and knew right away that I wanted them to do our wedding. Finding out after how quickly they book up, I’m beyond thankful that we had the privilege of working with them on our big day. From the moment we met Austin, his personality, creativity, vision and passion was both refreshing and unmatched, and I couldn’t imagine working with anyone else. I have continued to check their blog and Facebook page for photo teasers over the months leading up to our wedding, and it makes me even more excited to see how ours turned out. Can’t thank you guys enough! If you stumbled upon this review, stop your research and book these guys before it’s too late. Ready, go!

There are absolutely not enough good things that I can say about the quality of Austin & Dara’s work. My wife and I just got our wedding photos back yesterday, and we are both completely blown away by how amazing they look.
To give a little bit of backstory, we were both interested in having a very small, intimate wedding that would bring our two families together (for the first time ever!), in very much the same spirit as a big, festive Thanksgiving celebration. We had a small list of requests for staged group and couple photos, but aside from that, we just wanted someone who could deliver high-​quality, candid shots that would capture the feeling of the weekend. We also have a few family members who aren’t crazy about being in front of a camera, so we wanted somebody who could work with that while still capturing great shots.
We started off by meeting Austin via Skype video chat, and after that, we knew that he was our guy. It was actually Austin and his assistant, Nick, who did all of our photography, and they both did a phenomenal job. Aside from the staged and group shots, where the photographers have to be front and center, these guys were like ghosts (they use the word «ninja-​esque» on their site, which is also very appropriate). Thinking back through the weekend, neither of us can really remember seeing Austin or Nick very much at all, and yet somehow they were always right there, capturing all of the incredible moments that the weekend had to offer.
Back when we were still in the planning phases of the wedding, we kept asking married friends what they would change about their wedding if they could go back and do it all over again. The one consistent answer we kept getting was that they would have gotten a better photographer, because the photos are what you keep going back to as the years go by. I don’t think my wife or I will be echoing this sentiment, because I don’t think we could have gotten better photographers.

We met Austin and Dara through a childhood friend while planning our wedding in 2008. Since then not only did this very loving and adorable family have become our GO TO photagraphers but good friends and great play dates.
There quality is the best ever and you can bet that they will do what ever it takes to make picture taking for 8 hours a great experience throughout.

Austin and Dara, besides having the greatest names ever, have the greatest sets of eyes in the business. My wife knows I’m not good at multitasking and not good at finishing tasks, and get sleepy just thinking of tasks. So she gave me my one wedding planning task, finding the photographer. At first I thought it was better than having to pick the wedding cake flavor or the flower vendor, or the venue, or all that other hard stuff. But once I got started, after my long bouts with procrastination, and I started looking at wedding photography portfolios my brain turned into mashed potatoes. I saw the same compositions, the same sepia tones, the same kinds of shots that look like love song karoake video montages. I then tried to swap tasks with my fiancée. Why can’t she pick the photographer and I pick the cake flavor? But she looked at me with those stearn, yet beautiful eyes (an impossible combination I know) and I stayed the course.
Then I saw Austin and Dara’s website, I saw cinematic shots with great life in them. I loved the palettes of color, the personalities captured, and I envisioned myself succeeding in my one wedding task, therefore laying the groundwork for a successful marriage. No matter how much I mess up, or leave the toilet seat up, or accidentally become inconsiderate, at least I picked a really great photographer that made all our wedding party glow with happiness. Austin and Dara are super great and down to earth. Talking to them on the phone was a blast, because their daughter gave us an impromptu singing performance and she has promise. They’re the kind of people you would definately want to invite to a nightime bonfire at the beach.
Austin showed up to our small but beautiful wedding at the San Ysidro Ranch and he was professional, easy going, and is someone you don’t have to worry about on your busy day. I’m not the most photogenic person in the world, but after seeing his shots, I’m thinking my wife is not the only good looking one in this relationship. I mean yes she’s always right somehow, but our future kids will be saying wow dad, no wonder mom married you. But seriously, Austin and Dara are great. I was beyond happy with their work and with them as human beings. It’s a great family business and my wife and I are happy she gave me one great task.

As a wedding photographer I always get nervous when I go to weddings: will my friends have picked a good wedding photographer or not? Will they have picked the heavy handed demanding photographer who is too concerned about getting photos for their portfolio to notice the couple is tired of standing in the sun? Will they have picked the young art school student who shows up wearing jeans and a hoodie and only shoots with one zoom lens and no flash?
Austin and Dara were none of these cringe inducing but all too real clichés. They were fun, professional and most importantly delivered a beautiful set of photos that told the story of our friend’s wedding in the most beautiful light.
It’s hard to get me to write a Unilocal review for any of my competitors but Austin and Dara were a pleasure to watch work. So this 5 star review is as honest of an appraisal as I think it can get. Austin and Dara are as good as it gets.

Austin & Dara were the perfect choice for our wedding.
From looking through countless portfolios in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, they were my top pick — and they were even better than I expected. The photos are perfect.
This review is a long time coming, as we were married in late February and I am just getting to it now. Everything turned out so well that I actually feel guilty for not writing them a review sooner.
Entertaining, funny, understanding and easy to work with — plus amazing photographers. Austin & Dara get my highest recommendation.
We only worked with Austin, since Dara had just given birth to their second child. He was great with our constantly changing schedule and time requests for our (somewhat) DIY wedding in Santa Barbara.
Austin’s ability to instantly put everyone at ease was truly impressive. I have worked on set for commercial shoots and films, and Austin definitely has what it takes to make you look your best.
Super creative and professional, improvising through bad weather and somehow making it fun. Their portfolio should speak for itself, but I am more than happy to say that we were thrilled to work with Austin & Dara.
You won’t find better photographers, better people or a better value for your money anywhere.

To sum it up in one word, Austin and Dara are SUPERB. When we first met them for our engagement shoot last June, we immediately knew we picked the best photographers possible! (Plus, their little ones are too cute for words). My then-​fiancé was a little nervous about doing the engagement pictures — he had no idea what to expect. By the end, he was wanting to do more, and we both felt like Austin was our new best friend. Unfortunately (for us, not them), we didn’t get to hands-​on work with Dara too often (she was busy having a baby!), but she was ultra-​supportive and super responsive with anything we needed/​asked. She even sent me a ping to see if I needed help finding any vendors! (P.S. We found our photo booth, hair stylist, and make-​up artist through them).
On our wedding day, we worked with Austin and one of their super-​cool employees, Nick. All my bridesmaids LOVED Austin, and the guys had a blast with Nick. We just got our final pictures, and they are so incredibly amazing! They give me goosebumps just to look at. Everyone that has seen them has raved about how stunning they are!
A & D — thank you so much for capturing all our wonderful moments in our engagement and wedding pictures. You are both good-​hearted people with loving souls, and you made us feel like friends, as opposed to just clients. We cannot thank you enough for working with us, and always being there when we needed you. We hope to see you in SB one day! Give Aliyah and Devan a hug for us!

I’m just going to say it because we all already know it:
Austin and Dara are the s!$t. Hands down, they are the best photographers around. Hiring them is the best wedding-​related decision you will ever make (besides saying «I do!»).
No ifs, and or buts about it, these two define top-​notch photography, AND, they are awesome people to boot. My husband and I were married on August 13^th and we are still getting rave reviews about our pictures.
A & D, you are both truly talented and amazing people and your love for the people you work with and the work that you do is evident in every single pixel of every one of your amazing photographs. Anyone who doesn’t sign up to have you photograph their wedding is crazy… or blind. You are both able to completely and fully capture life exactly as it’s happening and exactly as it feels, which is totally key for a wedding. Nothing is forced, nothing is awkward. It’s just all love. Seriously, you two are the BEST!

From the minute you visit their beautiful, informative, and user-​friendly website, you know that you are in capable hands. And then once you meet this warm family, you can’t help but fall in love and want to hire them instantly.
Austin and Dara are talented beyond words and deliver a product that is truly worth the money. We booked them for a complete wedding package including 11+ hours of wedding day coverage and an engagement shoot.
Not only are the photos top-​notch but they are a source of support and strength throughout the whole crazy day. Dara would whip out emergency items out of her tool kit all day that had me in awe (double-​stick tape, pins, this concentrated breath mint droplet thing) and she was just a calm, fun person throughout. Also, she takes AMAZING, up-​close shots of you and your loved ones’ facial expressions. Austin is equally talented and goes the extra mile, climbing into trees or laying stomach-​down on the carpet or floor, for the perfect shot.
From a mechanics perspective, they were always very prompt in responding to emails and requests, even reviewing my day-​of timeline and giving helpful notes.
In terms of value for the money, I don’t know ANYONE else who provides a gorgeous, 50+ photo slideshow OF the wedding that they display for your guests AT the wedding (!) and then upload to their website/​Facebook almost immediately (!!!) This alone should make you want to hire them right now. Words can’t express how awesome it is to get the immediate gratification of stunning professional photos while you and your guests are still riding the wedding high.
A&D get our highest recommendations!

Got married at The Granada in Sept. and Austin & Dara were our amazing photographers. They’re amazing people too, and you’ll really be truly lucky if you get the chance to work with them. Their photos are absolutely beautiful — you probably already know that –but they really are warm, professional, fun, engaging, encouraging, and just a joy to be around. They were incredibly easy to work with, did so much to reduce our stress and shot absolutely gorgeous pictures. Like the wedding, the engagement shoot not only produced great pictures, but was quite simply just a ton of fun as well. They really posses an impressive blend of being casual and incredibly professional at the same time. We really couldn’t be happier or recommend them any more highly.

Austin and Dara are AMAZING! They are fun, talented, and they love what they do. I can not say enough good things about our experience with this husband and wife team of photographers. They bring all of themselves to the plate offering their artistic abilities, love of life, and genuine love for their fellow human beings. They have done a great job of creating a service that not only offers a great end product, but a personal touch that makes sure all your t’s are crossed and your i’s are dotted so that you not only receive great images but you have a whole bunch of fun while your getting them.
Thanks again Austin and Dara.
With great thanks,
Israel and Angelina

Wow, this couple is beautiful; and they do beautiful work! I recently worked with them at a wedding in Paso Robles. Even 6mo pregnant, Dara is still working hard to make her clients’ day special. Both her and Austin are wonderful. They know how to capture «the moment» without being intrusive.
Choosy people choose Austin & Dara — they are the peanut butter for your jelly :-)
I look forward to working with them again and will happily refer them to anyone looking to photograph their special moments in life.

I’m not sure I can put into words how truly amazing the duo is. They have not only such good hearts and this really beautiful feeling whenever they are together, its really their easy breezy attitude and fun they have along with you that made them truly the best to work with.
This truly is the most important decision you will make because you’re day flys by so fast and can hardly remember all of those beautiful moments until someone, Dara & Austin, capture them. And not just capture but capture them in the perfect light, perfect frame… perfect…We had SO much fun re living our day through their lens.
Now for their photography! I can’t say enough. As someone who is in the business of getting their picture taken I was SO impressed. Its something you are going to HAVE to spend good money on. This isn’t a question. We are all on the penny saver mind set I think for a very long time if not forever but I’m telling you (not that they are crazy expensive) but the cost is worth every single nickel and dime.
I just can’t really say enough about the kind of people they are and especially on your day you want people who are good people and fun and lovely. I had my big moment of stress before the big moment with trying to make sure things were ready and I’m telling you, looking at Dara and having her around made me so much less stressed. Its like having your good girlfriend around.
I found them at a friends wedding and I will recommend them to anyone and everyone. Helped made our day so special and I have the pictures now to prove it! xo
The Zajfen’s July 3^rd 2010

I was impressed with Austin & Dara as soon as I met them. I worked a wedding with them last Summer and had the good fortune to get to know them as fellow photographers and people. The only thing more impressive then their kind demeanor, fun spirits, and joy is their photography. I continue to be amazed and what has prompted me this very moment to write this review is the ridiculous images I saw them produce at a Yosemite wedding recently (ask to see them if you haven’t). I recommend them whole-​heartedly and without reservation.

Your wedding photographer will be a huge decision and we are so pleased with our choice of Austin and Dara as photographers for our July 2009 wedding. They have both the fantastic photography skills and personality we were seeking in a photographer.
We started with extensive online research for photographers and, after narrowing down the selection based on online images, met with numerous individuals in person to find the best fit. After meeting with Austin and Dara, we knew immediately we had found our photography team.
What an individual appreciates in a photo is entirely subjective and the online search process is a great start to help find a photography style that you find appealing. Austin and Dara’s photos are amazing and we knew they would record our wedding in a style where we would look back at the photos and really appreciate our choice. In a field full of photographers taking one-​dimensional bland photos, Austin and Dara’s photos have a depth and feel that you don’t find in many images. Their images are full of emotion and keep you clicking on to the next one wanting to see more. I encourage you to browse their site to see what I am talking about.
We met with a lot of really great photographers but after meeting with Austin and Dara we knew they, as a team, would be a perfect fit which is really important because you will be spending a lot of time with your photographer. They are so passionate about their work and really enthusiastic to capture your special day.
We talked with them for bit and they showed us a current set of wedding photos they were working on which just reiterated what we already knew from looking at their online images… that they were qualified and had a style we really liked. They explained the wedding photography process were really positive and encouraging. As I said earlier, we left knowing we had found our photographers.
Check out their site:

and on facebook to get a feel for their personalities:
Austin & Dara Photography
As a bride or groom, you will find that the entire wedding flies by and you missed everything because your mind is traveling one thousand miles an hour. The photos will be your only way to see what you missed and you will truly appreciate having somebody you both enjoy being with who takes fantastic photos to record the event. We are so fortunate to have found Austin and Dara to record ours.

From the minute we met Austin & Dara we knew that we wanted them to shoot our wedding. Before meeting them, we checked out their blog and fell in love with their style and thought that their work was spectacular. Since our wedding was small (only 12 people!), it was important to us that we have a connection with all of the people involved, including the photographers. When we met them, we loved their warmth, energy and pretty much everything about them. They clearly have a passion for what they do and it shows — their work is excellent and we couldn’t be more pleased with the pictures from our wedding. Everyone that has seen them is so impressed and asks how we found them!
We highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend Austin & Dara — not only because of their unbelievable talent & ability to capture the moment, but because they are wonderful people who you just want to hang out with and have at your wedding anyway! If we could give them 6 stars, we would!!!

What fabulous luck I had finding Austin and Dara! As a wedding planner working in an area far from my normal vendors, I was very worried about finding the perfect fit. From the moment I sent
Austin and Dara’s website to the bride she was completely in love with their work.
I feel that Austin and Dara were the perfect
photographers both in style and in personality, to capture this special day for a bride and groom who are very dear to me. They truly gave this couple a gift they will treasure
for the entirety of their lives together!