Hello there! We are James and Jess Wittmayer, a pair of best friends who fell in love thanks to photography and reality TV. There was also an important make-out session in a movie theater, but we digress...
We met shortly after James moved to Santa Barbara (Jess’ hometown) to attend Brooks Institute of Photography. Jess was already an established wedding photographer and he noticed Jess while she was taking photos at church. James’ friends told him she was out of his league, which intrigued him all the more and thus began the chase. Fast forward a few months when his roommate officially introduced us and it wasn’t long before James was in hot pursuit and, to be honest, it was a pretty short chase. From the very beginning our ability to make each other laugh has made for a perfect connection, and after a few months of sharing our hearts every night while sitting on a rooftop overlooking the city we became the best of friends and then one kiss changed everything. We began to fall for each other and fell crazy in love and had the most fun learning how to care for each other as every area of our lives melded together. We were married at a private estate in Montecito, CA, and it was one of the the best celebrations on the coldest and most magical nights in living memory.
Since then we have loved everything about working together, finding couples with amazing love stories and having the best time capturing their memories. We come alive when two people fall in love! We are obsessed with couples who are madly in love with each other and know who they are, both individually and as a pair. They have a strong inner beauty that can be felt when they walk into a room and we love to come alongside them as they get married. One of our favorite moments of our job is sitting down to listen to love story over a cup of coffee, or even better, a drink. With us, wedding photography is not just buying a service, it is investing in memories you’ll have for a lifetime. We are here to help you from start to finish, nothing is overlooked. Your details matter to us because we believe in your love and want to contribute to your story.
We spend our free time exploring new places, adventuring, traveling, laughing, quoting the movie, "bridesmaids", serving at our church and spending as much time possible with the ones we love. We are fueled by each others’ energy (remember, extroverts) and are always going. We do life with our whole hearts and believe that laughter is a must as are times of deep passion. This is our story, and we can’t wait to hear yours!
HELLO, friends
we're james & Jess
We come alive when two people fall in love! We are obsessed with couples who are madly in love with each other and know who they are, both individually and as a pair. They have a strong inner beauty that can be felt when they walk into a room and we love to come alongside them as they get married.
“We do life with our whole hearts and believe that laughter is a must as are times of deep passion.”
The city & sea lover on his passion for people, always having drink in hand & laughing till your stomach hurts.
MEET JAMES >
MEET JESS >
The coastal girl on rooftop conversation, Frank Sinatra & how one kiss can change everything.
A few things you should know
I am James Wittmayer, but a lot of people call me "Witty" for short. Let's do this whole get to know me thing Q&A style
Where did you grow up? Well, I grew up in San Diego. Growing up in a place where City and Sea were prominent forever instilled in me a love and passion for coastal cities. When I was just out of high school, I decided to move to Santa Barbara to attend Brooks Institute where I studied photography day and night, lived on a sail boat, and began my hot pursuit of Jess ... and won ;)
What drives you? Playing host is by far one of my favorite things. I prefer to spend most of my time with people — photographing, talking, teaching, connecting. So needless to say, I am an extremely extroverted human with the slight exception for my love of books. This usually involves a drink in hand a laughing until my stomach hurts. Whether on their wedding day or in their small business, I come alive helping others thrive!
CONTINUE >
Meet James
About Us
What Influences you and why photography? Pulling influence from my love of coastal cities and travel. My admiration of Louis Armstrong and Indiana Jones definitely play a role in my love of old world maps, jazz, and adventure. Photography all started with my deep desire to travel and connect with humans everywhere I go! Once I fell in love with Jess, I began to understand the power two people in love can have, and I absolutely love being the one documenting the beginning of it all.
What is your favorite thing about working with Jess? Waking up next to her every morning, rolling out of bed, drinking coffee together discussing the day ahead, falling in love with her more and more every wedding we shoot ... One thing is rather difficult to choose. I love the feeling of her head on my shoulder as we take a red eye to the next coast, the way she undoubtedly stays positive in every situation, those moments I look at her and know this is exactly where I am supposed to be.
MEET JESS >
Meet James
About Us
MEet Jess
Oh my goodness, hi friend! I’m Jessica Fairchild Wittmayer, but you can call me Jess. Let's do this Q&A style, shall we?
Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in beautiful Santa Barbara, and will forever love the coastal breeze and rooftop views of the city. Though I love my little slice of California paradise, I’ve never been able to resist my love for travel! Since I could remember, I have been traveling the world and falling in love with it's beauty and abounding culture. Of all the things I've seen and the places I've been, I am so thankful to call New York City and Santa Barbara -- two stark, yet irresistible comparisons -- my home.
What is your influence and why photography? A love for art, wanderlust, natural light, and storytelling led to my love for wedding photography. I started photographing weddings at age 18 and fell in love with capturing love stories! Through studying art in NYC and communication at Westmont College, a decade later my heart for photographing weddings has only grown.
CONTINUE >
About Us
grown more each day. When James magically kissed me and changed my whole life as we fell for each other, I began to see weddings different because I knew what is was like to be loved. Every time I photograph a wedding I fall more in love because I treasure those special moments between our couples, and photographing that same type of love we share makes my heart oh so full!
What makes you weak in the knees? Love and fashion. When my husband pulls me close, looks deep into my eyes and kisses me like he means it. I am a sucker for all things romance. Love notes, surprise date nights, fresh flowers, dressing up for each other, and constant pursuit makes me go wild! When James and I meet a couple who are best friends and madly in love with each other we are completely smitten! And Oh, Fashion. Christian Louboutins, Italian suits, and European dresses are amongst the many things I love.
CONTINUE >
MEET JESS
About Us
What’s your favorite thing about working with James? How can I pick just one? I absolutely love the little glances he gives me during the wedding day, and the way he shows his love without saying a word. In the moments of stress he wraps his arms around my waist and kisses me on the cheek and immediately everything is better. Or at home when I am overwhelmed he will leave love notes under my mousepad, or start playing Frank Sinatra on the Gramophone and pull me away from my computer and start to dance with me, and we will dance until there are happy tears rolling down my cheeks.
MEET JAMES >
MEET JESS
About Us
Negroni
San Diego
Louboutins
Travel
35mm 2.8
The coast
Handstand Pushups
Women's fashion
Dancing
FAVORITE DRINK
hOMETOWN
FAVORITE PAIR OF shoes
OBESSION
FAVORITE LENS
HAPPY PLACE
HIDDEN TALENT
GUILTy PLEAUSURE
FAVORITE WAY TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH
Dry Gin Martini
Santa Barbara
Valentinos
Gucci Belt
50mm 1.2
Anywhere with James
Talking her way out of a ticket
Flying Delta One
Quoting "Bridesmaids"
Category
JAMES
JESS
chose your fighter
James vs. Jess
FAVORITE DRINK
hOMETOWN
FAVORITE PAIR OF BOOTS
OBESSION
FAVORITE LENS
HAPPY PLACE
HIDDEN TALENT
GUILTy PLEAUSURE
FAVORITE WAY TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH
Negroni
San Diego
Louboutins
Travel
35 1.4
The Coast
Doing the worm
Women's fashion
Dancing
FAVORITE DRINK
hOMETOWN
FAVORITE PAIR OF BOOTS
OBESSION
FAVORITE LENS
HAPPY PLACE
HIDDEN TALENT
GUILTy PLEAUSURE
FAVORITE WAY TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH
Dry Gin Martini
Santa Barbara
Louboutins
European dresses
50mm 1.2
Anywhere with James
Talking her way out of a ticket
Disneyland Pass
Quoting "Bridesmaids"
HIS & HERS
The city & sea lover on his passion for people, always having drink in hand & laughing till your stomach hurts ...
MEET JAMES >
About us
MEET JESS >
The coastal girl on rooftop conversation, Frank Sinatra & how one kiss can change everything ...
MEET JESS
About us
Oh my goodness, hi friend! I’m Jessica Fairchild Wittmayer, but you can call me Jess.
Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in beautiful Santa Barbara, and will forever love the coastal breeze and rooftop views of the city. Though I love my little slice of California paradise, I’ve never been able to resist my love for travel! Since I could remember, I have been traveling the world and falling in love with it's beauty and abounding culture. Of all the things I've seen and the places I've been, I am so thankful to call New York City and Santa Barbara -- two stark, yet irresistible comparisons -- my home.
What is your influence and Why photography? A love for art, wanderlust, natural light, and storytelling led to my love for wedding photography. I started photographing weddings at age 18 and fell in love with capturing love stories! Through studying art in NYC and communication at Westmont College, a decade later my heart for photographing weddings has only grown more each day. When James magically kissed me and changed my whole life as we fell for each other, I began to see weddings different because I knew what is was like to be loved. Every time I photograph a wedding I fall more in love because I treasure those special moments between our couples, and photographing that same type of love we share makes my heart oh so full!
What makes you weak in the knees?love and fashion. When my husband pulls me close, looks deep into my eyes and kisses me like he means it. I am a sucker for all things romance. Love notes, surprise date nights, fresh flowers, dressing up for each other, and constant pursuit makes me go wild! When James and I meet a couple who are best friends and madly in love with each other we are completely smitten! And Oh, Fashion. Christian Louboutins, Italian suits, and European dresses are amongst the many things I love.
What’s your favorite thing about working with James? How can I pick just one? I absolutely love the little glances he gives me during the wedding day, and the way he shows his love without saying a word. In the moments of stress he wraps his arms around my waist and kisses me on the cheek and immediately everything is better. Or at home when I am overwhelmed he will leave love notes under my mousepad, or start playing Frank Sinatra on the Gramophone and pull me away from my computer and start to dance with me, and we will dance until there are happy tears rolling down my cheeks.
MEET JAMES >
< BACK TO ABOUT
MEET JAMES
About us
I am James Wittmayer, but a lot of people call me "Witty" for short. Let's do this whole get to know me thing Q&A style
Where did you grow up? Well, I grew up in San Diego. Growing up in a place where City and Sea were prominent forever instilled in me a love and passion for coastal cities. When I was just out of high school, I decided to move to Santa Barbara to attend Brooks Institute where I studied photography day and night, lived on a sail boat, and began my hot pursuit of Jess ... and won ;)
What drives you? Playing host is by far one of my favorite things. I prefer to spend most of my time with people — photographing, talking, teaching, connecting. So needless to say, I am an extremely extroverted human with the slight exception for my love of books. This usually involves a drink in hand a laughing until my stomach hurts. Whether on their wedding day or in their small business, I come alive helping others thrive!
What Influences you and why photography? Pulling influence from my love of coastal cities and travel. My admiration of Louis Armstrong and Indiana Jones definitely play a role in my love of old world maps, jazz, and adventure. Photography all started with my deep desire to travel and connect with humans everywhere I go! Once I fell in love with Jess, I began to understand the power two people in love can have, and I absolutely love being the one documenting the beginning of it all.
What is your favorite thing about working with Jess? Waking up next to her every morning, rolling out of bed, drinking coffee together discussing the day ahead, falling in love with her more and more every wedding we shoot ... One thing is rather difficult to choose. I love the feeling of her head on my shoulder as we take a red eye to the next coast, the way she undoubtedly stays positive in every situation, those moments I look at her and know this is exactly where I am supposed to be.
MEET JESS >
< BACK TO ABOUT
MEET JAMES >
< BACK TO ABOUT
VIEW OUR TRAVEL PHOTO ALBUM >
OUR TRAVEL LOG
OUR WANDERLUST
Spain
Cuba
Panama
Croatia
New Zealand
Australia
Argentina
Bahamas
South Africa
Madagascar
Maldives
Paris
Venice
Costa Rica
The Netherlands
Scotland
England
Germany
Italy
Switzerland
Uganda
Nicaragua
Mexico
Greece
Honduras
El Salvador
Iceland
France
VIEW OUR TRAVEL PHOTO ALBUM >
“Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”
— Ibn Battuta
The Many Adventures of James & Jess
Oh how we love adventure and traveling the world together! From destination weddings in Europe, Mexico & even the Bahamas to personal trips to South America and New York City as often as possible, we're always on the go. And honestly, we wouldn't want it any other way.
Excerpts from just a few of our adventures together.
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