Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur, Wedding Photography By John Ruddock

I also serve the greater Bay area!

The first steps to walking down the aisle start here.

Let’s capture those moments.

“John is truly a professional. He is very personable and very talented at his craft. He captured captivating photographs of my daughter's wedding with ease that we will treasure forever. He shot beautiful angles, in the best light and which gave us flattering shots. He was engaging and created a unique experience which put everyone at ease capturing magical moments that produced stunning photographs. I would very much recommend him to anyone that wants a true gifted professional to create a unique photography experience.”

-Jan

Wedding Galleries

Please take a moment and browse these beautiful weddings from 2024!

Note that these are not all the images from these weddings, and this is not my method of delivery.

1 Hour Wedding at the Monterey Stone Chapel.

Wedding Investments

No hidden pricing. I’m Not asking for your email.

I’m offering Full transparency because my work speaks for itself.

which wedding photography option is the best fit for you?

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A little about me

Hello! OMG you’re getting married! Thank you for visiting my website as you explore the world of Monterey Bay area wedding photographers! My name is John Ruddock and I grew up right on the California coast in Half Moon Bay. I currently live in Salinas with my 2 cats, 1 dog, and 1 wife!

Inspired by its beauty, I fell in love with video and photography at an early age and later received my BA in film from San Jose State. I have since moved my focus to photography. Because of my degree in film, I bring a very cinematic eye to my images. When I’m photographing your wedding, I’m constantly thinking to myself, “If this was a movie, what would be THE shot right now? What would be the one that really tells the story?”

After moving down from San Jose in 2019, I’ve spent the last 5 years photographing the incredible wedding venues and landscapes of Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur. This has allowed me to find very pretty, obscure locations and shoot at amazing venues from NestIdown in the Santa Cruz mountains to the Alila Ventana in Big Sur and beyond! You’ve chosen a fantastic area to begin the rest of your lives together as there’s so much it offers. Speaking of offers, on my site you will find attractive wedding photography investments for any length wedding from adventurous elopements on the cliffs above crashing waves to a full 10-hour day at a mind blowing venue. I’m not hiding my prices from you and I’m not begging for your email. Have a look and see what suits you. Let’s make you look good!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have and let’s make it happen!

“Working with High Orbit Media was such a seamless process. From the moment we started inquiring, John was very professional and attentive via phone call, emails, and text. During our wedding day, he took phenomenal photos and he made us feel at ease without any extra stress. During the reception John was actively taking pictures of the venue, our guests, and special requests from our friends and family. Our family and guests love the photos he took (we have been sharing the digital link!)”

-Elizabeth

FAQ

What is your style of photography?

Great question! I always lean towards keeping it real. I will never add ‘fake’ elements to your photos and won’t over edit unless I’m being very artsy. You can also expect a handful of black and white images mixed in. I will mostly seek out those memorable candid moments but we will of course do posed photos as well. For more on this, please see my blog on my photography style right here.

Do you do engagement sessions too?

Yes I do! Three of my wedding investments include them. Engagement sessions are always done at least a month out from the wedding. This gives us a great chance to get to know each other and for my to find your best looks.

How many photos should we expect to receive?

For weddings you can expect 50-60 quality images per hour. This can vary from wedding to wedding.

Do you personally edit Our Wedding photos?

I definitely do!

Do you Edit and Deliver every photo you take?

I will select all the best images and edit those only.

How will Our final photos be delivered?

Your photos will be delivered through a beautiful online album that you can download from. You can also share this album with anyone.

Will we have access to the raw, unedited images?

No, I do not offer raw images to my clients because they only represent half of my work and may not reflect my best work. Think of raw photos like raw food. Other than sushi, would a chef ever serve you raw food? Of course not!

How long will it take to receive our final photos?

Delivery of final photos will be within 30 days although it’s usually much faster than that. This is dependent on how busy I am at the time.

Do you have backup gear?

Yes, I have several lenses of different lengths and multiple camera bodies, SD cards, flashes, and batteries.

Do you have insurance?

Yes I do. Many venues require photographers and other vendors to carry it so you can have a carefree wedding.

What is required From us to officially book with you?

To book your wedding photography with John Ruddock there is a 50% retainer as well as an agreement signed by both parties.

What is your cancellation policy?

The 50% retainer also serves as the cancellation fee. If High Orbit Media cancels, the 50% retainer will be returned.

We’re from out of state. Would you travel for our wedding?

Yes I will! I do ask my clients to pay for my travel and hotel.

Get To Know John!

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Great question! I am Bay Area born and raised. I grew up on the stunning California coast in Half Moon Bay, got my degree in film from San Jose State and now live in Salinas, CA.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY? I originally fell in love with video but as I gained more experience I started enjoying capturing moments instead of recording entire scenes. And what day has more beautiful moments to capture than a full wedding day? I understand the importance this day holds for you and I thrive at being tasked with documenting these fleeting moments.

WHERE DID YOU GET MARRIED? My wife and I actually eloped on the cliffs above Carmel Beach on a wild, windy day between the rain drops on.

YOU’VE DONE STANDUP COMEDY BEFORE? Yes, I have performed at several different spots in the south bay. I have also emceed the San Jose State Film Festival and the Tech Challenge at the Tech Interactive in San Jose. I have acted in some short films as well. I enjoy the spot light but I won’t steal it from you on your big day! If you book with me we’re going to have a good time, haha.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT? I love baseball and am a huge Giants fan. When I’m not photographing weddings, I’m the on field photographer for the Little League World Series West Regionals in San Bernardino every summer. See my sports photos right here!

IF YOU COULD ONLY EAT ONE FOO- Bacon cheeseburger with pepperjack.

BEER OR WINE? Beer. I like my hazy and juicy IPA’s.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BEACH? Carmel Beach in Carmel-by-the-sea. Not only is it incredibly photogenic but it offers a variety of different looks. It’s really great for proposals and engagement sessions but I’ve also shot weddings there too.

WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD? I’d definitely go to New Zealand and hit all the Lord of the Rings locations. That’s a dream trip for me.

SO I GUESS THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION OF WHAT YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE IS? It does. But I would also throw in Dumb and Dumber, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, and Interstellar.

HAVE YOU DONE MUCH TRAVELING? Yes, I’ve done a lot actually. Most of my travels happened before I turned 20 but I’ve been in 17 different States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Mexico, Europe, and I even did a month long safari in East Africa back in the summer of 2001. I shot 13 hours of video on that trip and turned it into a feature length documentary that included interviews with almost everyone who went along. That trip was amazing!

IT SAID ABOVE THAT YOU HAVE 2 DOGS AND A CAT? Two cats and a dog, actually. In fact, this photo of my meow Cash was used in the SPCA of Monterey County’s calendar in 2021. He was Mr. November!

WHAT ARE SOME FAVORITE TV SHOWS THAT STAND OUT? I’m big on comedy so I was (and still am) a big Seinfeld fan. I was also big on Lost during it’s run. My biggest comedy influences would be Jerry Seinfeld, Seth Macfarlane, and Jon Stewart.

ANYTHING ELSE? I like meeting new people and making their day with awesome photographs! Let’s go!

Why get married in Carmel, CA?

Carmel has been nominated by USA Today for 3 prestigious awards. See the article right here!

Blogs

Looking for suggestions on where to elope? Check my blog on the best beaches around Monterey Bay.

Have any specific questions? Message me directly right here.