MONTEREY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

specializing in wedding, proposal and family milestone photography on California’s Central Coast + beyond

A bride and groom holding hands and smiling at each other outdoors with trees and grass in the background.

Photography for couples who want to feel it all

Hi! I’m Maria, an experienced Monterey wedding photographer specializing in true-to-life color and authentic moments. My clients love my attention to detail and natural feel to their photographs. It’s important to me that you have the best day ever and to walk away with gorgeous visual testimonies of exactly how your day looked and felt. I serve my clients as a guide to how to make the most out of our time together, both at your engagement session and on the wedding day.

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A bride and groom standing together outdoors in a vineyard, smiling at each other during their wedding.
Outdoor wedding arch decorated with flowers and pampas grass, surrounded by purple flowers and tall green cypress trees, with mountains in the background.
A newlywed couple sharing a romantic kiss outdoors in a garden with lush greenery and mountains in the background.
Bride in a white lace dress holding a cascading bouquet with pink roses, greenery, and dried flowers outdoors.
An outdoor wedding or event setup with a decorated table, floral arrangements, and a scenic mountain backdrop. There are string lights above and greenery around the area.
“MARIA. IS. THE. BEST. Seriously.

I knew that chemistry would be critical to how we decided on our photographer. From our first call with Maria, through engagement photos, to our sweaty goodbye at the end of the wedding night, Maria has always felt like a friend who we just knew our whole lives and just happened to be capturing these special moments for us. Her ability to put us at ease, make us laugh, and appreciate OUR terrible jokes, all of it made her able to create and photograph all the moments that we will so appreciate years from now.”
— Allison + Travis

You are looking for a photographer with attention to detail, flexibility on the wedding day, and the ability to get to the essence of what is important to you.

bride and groom dancing at wedding in carmel
A black and white photo of a man and woman walking hand in hand in a park, both smiling and dressed in formal attire. The man wears a suit and glasses, and the woman wears a lacy dress. They are surrounded by trees and a park bench.
Outdoor wedding ceremony with couple exchanging vows, surrounded by guests seated in white chairs, lush green landscape with palm trees and mountains in the background, on a sunny day.
A wedding ceremony taking place outdoors in a forested area with trees and greenery. The bride and groom are dancing in the center, surrounded by their bridesmaids and groomsmen and guests. The bride is wearing a white wedding gown, and the groom is
A black-and-white photograph of a bride and groom walking hand-in-hand on a grassy area, with a background of trees and a pond, during a wedding ceremony.
A couple is on a rocky beach during sunset, with the man kneeling and proposing to the woman, who is standing and dressed in white.
A bride and groom standing together outdoors during sunset, holding hands and smiling at each other in a vineyard setting.
A couple holding hands walking through a grassy field with rolling hills and trees in the background on a sunny day.
Four women, including a bride in a white lace wedding gown, holding bouquets, walking on a grassy area surrounded by tropical plants and palm trees, smiling and enjoying a sunny day.
A bride being lifted and celebrated by friends at an outdoor wedding reception at night with string lights and trees in the background.
Outdoor wedding reception setup with round and rectangular tables covered with white tablecloths, decorated with floral centerpieces, surrounded by wooden chairs, in a garden with string lights overhead, greenery, and mountains in the background.
Woman in a white dress celebrating with arms raised, wearing sunglasses, at what appears to be a wedding reception. Guests surround her, some holding glow sticks, with a man in a tuxedo pouring champagne.

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Hey there! I’m Maria

Your new fav photographer

I photograph weddings and events in Monterey, Big Sur, Carmel, Pebble Beach and Santa Cruz, as well as a select number of destinations each year. My clients are looking for guidance posing while not being stiff, and true-to-life colors in their photographs.

More About Me
monterey wedding photographer- Maria Villano
  • A joyful bride and groom at their wedding reception, holding hands and smiling, with the bride in a white gown and the groom in a black tuxedo.

    "Maria far exceeded our expectations! She did a wonderful job capturing candid, emotional moments from our wedding day, but was also great at managing our large bridal party and formal family photos after the ceremony. Multiple people have commented on the quality of our wedding photos - even comparing them to magazine editorials."

    Antonia + Matt

  • A couple sitting in a field of purple wildflowers, kissing with their eyes closed, during what appears to be late afternoon or early evening sunlight.

    "Maria is incredibly talented, easy to work with and a truly professional photographer. She did our engagement photos and our wedding photos, both were stunning! I've heard nightmare stories of photographers who take forever to get you your photos and that is NOT Maria's style!"

    Christie + Joey

  • A bride and groom sharing a kiss outdoors, with the groom lifting the bride in his arms, surrounded by trees and grass.

    "We are so happy that we hired Maria for our engagement shoot and wedding day! She was so kind, organized and communicative from the very beginning. She made us and our families feel so comfortable while taking photos. She really listened to everything we wanted and crafted such beautiful photographs!"

    Mackenzie + James

Outdoor event setup with long dining tables and wooden chairs on a grassy area, decorated with floral centerpieces, with trimmed hedges and mountain backdrop.

Featured Events

palm springs Destination wedding

Rita and Cory’s intimate Palm Springs wedding was a perfect blend of vintage charm and natural beauty. Casa de Monte Vista is tucked against the San Jacinto Mountains…

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carmel valley wedding

Amanda and Scott planned a stunning Holman Ranch wedding in sunny Carmel Valley. Holman Ranch is a working vineyard and ranch with historic buildings and century old Olive trees.

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