Timeless, clear imagery
Timeless and clear imagery
joyful, genuine, calm, sincere, organized, helpful
joyful, genuine, calm, sincere, organized, helpful
thoughtful, kind
I believe in creating extraordinary images with a story to tell
I’m Heidi, a photographer based on the Monterey Peninsula who truly loves capturing meaningful moments in beautiful, natural places. I photograph weddings, proposals, and portraits, and I approach every session with a calm, thoughtful presence—guiding you when it’s helpful and stepping back when moments unfold naturally. I care deeply about true-to-life color, thoughtful planning, and creating an experience that feels easy, personal, and genuinely you from start to finish.
what they say...
HELLO!
I’ve lived on the Monterey Peninsula for over 30 years, which means I know the area well—from hidden coastal spots to how light, weather, and timing all come together here. That local knowledge helps me plan smoothly and stay flexible, so you can relax and enjoy the experience while I take care of the details.
I've captured hundreds of small two person elopements to a 368 person wedding with 24 people in the wedding party. Every wedding tells a story. Let's tell yours...
1450 +
20 +
500 +
400 +
documented
368
You deserve a photographer who helps you feel at ease and not awkward in front of the camera—guiding you when needed and giving you space to simply be yourselves. Helps you be present in your moment and focused on the love around you. You deserve to enjoy your day without worrying about what’s being captured or what might be missed.
my vows to you
"My husband doesn't typically enjoy photoshoots, but even he was able to relax and have a great time. Heidi made us feel so comfortable (it felt more like hanging out with a friend)!"
you
to feel comfortable, confident, and present on your day—without ever feeling awkward.
deserve
their kind words
justin & kelli, wedding rock
On a wedding day, I’m doing way more than taking photos. I’m calming nerves, hyping you up, fixing flyaway hairs, straightening dresses, pinning boutonnieres, and quietly keeping things moving behind the scenes. I’m watching the timeline, reading the room, and stepping in with solutions before little hiccups turn into stress. Whether it’s gathering family for portraits, smoothing wrinkles, adjusting details, or rolling seamlessly into plan B without anyone noticing, I’ve got your back. My job is to keep the energy good, the experience smooth, and you feeling confident, supported, and fully present on your day. Plus, consider that there are TWO of us as I always have an assistant with me to help.
my vows to you
you
a hype girl...
what does that mean?
deserve
their kind words
"We were impressed with her positive energy, professionalism, and portfolio from the start, so we knew we were in good hands. She made us feel comfortable and carefree during out fun engagement shoot with our dog Dexter at Pebble Beach, The photos were delivered on time and came out beautifully for both our engagement shoot and for our wedding at Intercontinental the Clement in Monterey. It was fun to work with Heidi because you can tell she LOVES her job and it truly shows in her work. Thanks Heidi for capturing our wedding day, we will treasure your photos forever!"
tracy & adam,
the clement intercontinental and pacific grove
You deserve help creating a realistic timeline and a plan that truly supports your day—one that allows space for meaningful moments without feeling rushed or overextended. Since I began shooting over two decades ago, I have put together thousands of timelines. Everyone is a little bit different based upon your needs and vision for your day. As I thankfully have shot at most every local venue, I also understand what their timing is for food and beverage on their day - which helps greatly when planning. My goal is always to guide you toward the right amount of coverage for your day, so nothing feels unnecessary and everything feels intentional.
my vows to you
you
thoughtful planning and clear guidance
deserve
"Heidi was such a pleasure working with! We loved every step leading up to the wedding with her at the Carmel mission and reception at the Cooper Molera Barns. She helped us lay out a realistic timeline for the day to make sure that we were fitting everything needed into the timeslot for photos. And following up from the wedding she got us the photos quicker than expected! She is so sweet, so friendly, and very good with customer service to ensure a great relationship and "vibe" throughout the wedding day. We did engagement photos with her before the big day which really helped big time to get to know her and feel more comfortable when our big day arrived! HIGHLY recommend. Thank you Heidi! We love you!!!!"
their kind words
breanna & mike, carmel mission basilica, carmel river state beach and barns at cooper molera
You deserve someone who brings calm to your day—who knows what to expect, adapts when plans shift, and keeps everything moving with confidence and ease. Experience means you don’t have to worry when something changes, because it’s already being handled. It’s the quiet reassurance that lets you stay present, knowing your memories are in steady, capable hands.
experience you can trust
my vows to you
you
deserve
their kind words
"Heidi was a dream to work with for our wedding in Carmel-by-the-Sea this past October. From start to finish, she was a 5-star professional. She is incredibly organized and truly took charge of the day, which allowed us to relax knowing she had every detail under control.
The photos themselves are absolutely fantastic—our family and friends haven't stopped raving about them! She captured every critical moment from our ceremony at La Playa Hotel through the reception. We were also so impressed with the digital gallery she provided; it was incredibly easy to navigate and allowed us to download everything directly to our Google and iCloud galleries without any hassle. Plus, getting a 'sneak peek' just days after the wedding was such a treat. Heidi is attentive, talented, and a joy to work with!"
alex & gabby, la Playa hotel
You deserve professional equipment, backups, permits, and insurance—so nothing is left to chance on a day that can’t be repeated.
I have what you need to feel confident in your day without any worries.
your memories protected
my vows to you
you
deserve
their kind words
Wonderful experience!
It was an absolute treat to have Heidi photograph our wedding! She couldn't have been nicer and more responsive throughout the entire process. She had wonderful ideas for poses, even getting some great shots out of two people who are typically camera-shy! She really captured our day, and we will cherish our photos for many years to come!
jessica & Jeremy, folktale winery
You deserve photographs that honor your day as it truly was—natural skin tones, honest color, and moments captured with care. Free from passing trends and heavy styling, your images should feel just as meaningful years from now, allowing you to return to them and recognize yourselves, your people, and the way it all felt.
Heidi did such an amazing job with our photos! She truly has a gift and made our day so special. Our photos turned out beyond what we could have expected or anticipated. She was very professional and put everyone at ease the day of the wedding.
true to life, timeless images
my vows to you
you
deserve
their kind words
andrea & chris, la playa hotel
You deserve to see my pricing and offerings clearly and comfortably, without pressure or confusion. My approach to pricing is thoughtful and balanced—rooted in experience and care, while remaining grounded and fair. Above all, I want you to feel respected and confident in both the investment you’re making and the experience you’re receiving.
transparency and fair pricing
my vows to you
you
deserve
their kind words
Heidi was great! Extremely professional and helped make the limited time we had with her run smoothly. We got photos with everyone we requested, and everyone looked great! We got our photos back so quickly, which was such a nice surprise after our honeymoon as well. I’d definitely recommend her services!
brandon & angelica, big sur
where is heidi?
WHERE TO
FIND ME
Silent raves with my husband Brian... ha ha
Reading the latest WWII non fiction story - or perhaps a crime/thriller... My family comes from Estonia, so I have always had a love of our history.
Bike riding in Fort Ord. Rain or shine... There are over 65 miles to bike out there!
Baking as much sourdough as we can possibly consume (and giving it to friends/family) and coming up with new "mix ins".
On a long walk on a local beach in Monterey or Carmel while listening to my latest audiobook. My newest obsession is picking up sea glass... collecting it in a big jar at home now. Then hopefully catching the sunset.
Perpetually asking my husband Brian were are we traveling to next (hoping it is warm) and filling in the map on the wall in the house. This was his most recent Christmas gift to track our travels. Next up "big" travel is Italy in 2027 to see his family.
At our place in North Shore, Lake Tahoe. My place of peace and so many long hikes, bike rides and sunsets.
At the latest indie or box office hit - while sneaking in my favorite snacks (shhh)
Binging the latest thriller on Netflix... I think I have seen them all! I love a "who done it"...
my parts of a wedding day
favorite
This may have been my favorite part of creating this website — taking the time to reflect on what I truly love about weddings and the moments that matter most to me.
After hundreds of weddings I’ve been fortunate enough to document over the years, I’m still amazed that I get to do this for a living. What keeps my heart fluttering — what keeps me grateful — is emotion. Real emotion.
Yes, everyone needs a little guidance and posing along the way. But when a moment of pure, unfiltered emotion unfolds and you happen to be standing near me, you’ll often hear a quiet, instinctive “I got it" and a little smirk on my face.
That’s my goal — to capture the moments in between the moments. The ones you didn’t realize were happening until you open your gallery and feel everything all over again.
I am here for you. And this — this is what I love doing most. It hits me every time.
my absolute favorite parts of a wedding day
• During the dinner reception.. standing by with my long 200mm lens waiting for laughter to erupt and catching genuine emotions as it happened IRL
• When your partner see's you for the first time... The look in their eye - the sparkle.
• Your SECOND kiss at the altar or dip in the aisle
• Watching the stress literally melt off the couple's shoulders when the cocktail or dinner reception starts
• The candid moments. Whether it’s a flower girl giggling, grandparents holding hands, or a spontaneous dance-off at the reception, I love capturing genuine, unscripted moments that make each wedding unique.
• Watching the sweet emotion your family has on their faces as you walk down the aisle
• Capturing the unseen moments during the day and excited to know that you will have a smile on your face when reviewing your gallery of images and you say "I had no idea that was happening"
• When your parent see's you for the first time dressed for your day with such love and adoration
• That moment right before you walk down the aisle, the hand holding with your parent or closest friend
• That moment when you both walk out together during the recession and I say "take YOUR moment" this is yours - and you walk off together with such love and joy
her
Early on
story
family
My first job after college was in Monterey at the Hyatt Regency where I met her husband Brian. After a couple of years, we co-founded a local hotel reservation's service (similar to trip advisor - just think local in Monterey) that operated for 10 years.
In 2002 we joyfully welcomed twin daughters and that is when I picked up her first DSLR and took in person classes on photography and scoured every book I could find at Barnes and Noble. Yes, this was totally an "old school" way to learn.
Brian and I started Weddings in Monterey and since then we have helped document hundreds of beautiful stories.
I Grew up in Portland, Oregon and found my love for the outdoors.
I Loved playing on the tennis team and ski teams in High School at St. Mary's Academy in downtown Portland.
My mom had a second home on the Oregon Coast, so I spent as much time as I could at her beach house in Manzanita, soaking in the beauty of the coast.
My family is from Estonia and I spent many years singing in the Estonian Choir and folk dancing with our local Estonian community and traveling all over the country to various Estonian Festivals. I understand Estonian pretty well, but not great at conversing sadly.
college & Travels
Started out at the University of San Diego for the first two years. I eventually graduated with a BS in Hospitality Management from Washington State University.
During the last two years of college at WSU, I found myself living in Le Bouveret, Switzerland and going to Swiss Hotel school on the banks of Lake Geneva. After schooling I was given the opportunity to work in a five star hotel in Lake Geneva.
While living in Europe, polished up on my French.
Living in Europe for two years sparked a serious travel bug in me—and I’ve been chasing new adventures ever since.
Favorite traveled to destinations:
France
Estonia
Greece
Italy
Turkey
Portugal
Vancouver, B.C.
Russia
France
Spain
South Africa - Safari Ngala in Kruger
Namibia
Future bucket list:
Thailand
Singapore
Japan
Iceland
Bora Bora
Bali
Australia
Dubai
EVERY NATIONAL PARK
I HAVE NOT SEEN YET
IN THE USA
(probably via a Sprinter)
how I am unique and different from most other photographers
before
and
after
I often get asked why and how my images look like they do. Words like "clear", "no shadows"... and "these look like they should be on a cover of a magazine"...
in 20 years I'd like you to look at your walls and your album and not wonder what the day actually looked like around you. I shoot in a timeless style you’ll be proud to pass down for generations to come.
As I always say—photography is subjective. In the end, it’s all about what speaks to you.
no flash used
dark, hard to see faces
muddy
no flash used
dark, hard to see faces
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless.
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones,
contrast in background,
no flash used
dark, hard to see faces
sky washed out and not blue
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones,
contrast in background,
blue sky
no flash used
dark, hard to see faces
sky washed out and not blue
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
hazy sunset in image, hard to see faces
lack of definition in foreground and background
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones, faces are clearly seen,
contrast in background,
sunset obvious
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
cannot see dress dimensions
no contrast
dull colors
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones,
dress dimensions seen
bolder real life colors
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
face coloring is flat
no contrast
dull colors
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones,
can easily view facial dimensions, bolder real
life colors
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
face coloring is flat
background washed out
no contrast
dull colors
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones,
can easily view facial dimensions, bolder real
life colors
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
face coloring is dark
dull colors
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones,
can easily view facial dimensions, bolder real
life colors
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
flat contrast
face coloring is dark
dull colors
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones,
can easily view facial dimensions, real
life colors
depth in image
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
skin tone washed out
flat contrast
washed out
dull colors
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones,
skin tones perfect
dimensional, depth in image
true to life colors
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
fill flash used
evenly balanced tones,
can easily read sign, real
life colors
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash
no contrast or depth,
cannot easily read sign,
dull colors
no flash used
skin colors off
color of dress is gold and not purple hue shown
fill flash used
evenly balanced skin tones,
real color of dress
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
skin colors off
clothing colors off
muddy looking
no contrast
fill flash used
evenly balanced skin tones,
fills shadows
balanced background
perfectly contrasted
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
skin tones off
clothing colors off
background sky blown out
no contrast
fill flash used
evenly balanced skin tones,
fills shadows
balanced background
perfectly contrasted
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
skin tones off
clothing colors off
background sky blown out
no contrast
bland colors
fill flash used
evenly balanced skin tones,
fills shadows
balanced background
perfectly contrasted
sky not blown out
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
skin tones off
clothing colors off
background blown out
no contrast
bland colors/muddy
fill flash used
evenly balanced skin tones,
fills shadows
balanced background
perfectly contrasted
background not blown out
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
no flash used
skin tones off
sky washed out
no contrast
bland colors/muddy
fill flash used
evenly balanced skin tones,
fills shadows
sky as it was on the day
perfectly contrasted
before
after
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
fill flash used
evenly balanced skin tones,
fills shadows
balanced background
perfectly contrasted
sky not blown out
portable lighting
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional. If I did not have an assistant and shot in this manner, the amount of time it would take me to document your session would be much more substantial.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
taken with assistant and portable strobe
Using an assistant with portable lighting allows me to give you the best possible lighting in any situation. Whether it’s full sun, partly cloudy, or completely overcast, I can create beautiful, flattering images. Even in dimly lit spaces—like indoor ceremony sites or dark reception rooms—my lighting setup ensures your photos still look crisp, vibrant, and professional.
This also helps me maintain my true-to-color editing style, so your images stay natural and timeless—just as the day truly looked and felt.
portable lighting
taken with assistant and soft box
signature edit (always included in pricing ) by editing out in post processing
© Heidi Borgia Photography - 2026