For many couples who may be planning their Santa Barbara wedding remotely, it helps to read reviews and see photos. I thought it might be helpful to offer a different perspective of El Presidio from a light and lines point through the eyes of a wedding photographer.

For many years I lived downtown just up the road from El Presidio. I love capturing the Spanish architectural style that Santa Barbara is known for. We have been branded the American Riviera. There are so many beautiful spaces that capture this Spanish history of our gorgeous town, but not with as many historical ties as El Presidio. The story of El Presidio is engrained in Santa Barbara. One of the most interesting facts is that the old foundation crosses the street and can still be seen in the asphalt.

As an artist who experiences spaces for their lines, composition and textures, El Presidio embraces Santa Barbara’s Spanish energy. The aggressive texturing of the white walls and old wooden beams and branches of the exterior overhang give off rustic yet elegant backgrounds. Their attention to detail carries throughout from the rooms with thick beam tables to the stick fences. The intimacy of the space creates photos that feel like you’re time traveling back to Santa Barbara’s earliest years when it was just founded. The loft inside the church allows me to capture a unique perspective of the ceremony above the guest’s heads and create a wider variety of angles.

El Presidio’s location in downtown Santa Barbara makes it a perfect spot to plan your dream reception anywhere. If you’re looking to create incredible wedding photos that capture the heart of Santa Barbara’s Spanish architecture, El Presidio’s history and architecture are directly at the center. I love photographing here!