The 9 Best Portrait Photographers in Orange County, CA

Let’s face it: Choosing a portrait photographer can be a really difficult task! There are loads of competing visions and personalities to select from. Yet, there is never enough time to do so — especially in a market as full of diverse talent as Southern California. That’s why we at Peerspace have put together this list of the top Orange County portrait photographers to work with in 2022!

1. Victoria Chrystal

Victoria Chrystal first picked up a camera while attending The Orange County High School of the Arts. And it was love at first sight! Fortunately, she nurtured that passion over the years, capturing and sharing memories that she wished she could have for herself.

Victoria’s portrait photography subjects include weddings, branding sessions with entrepreneurs, and family photography. And when working with her subjects, she includes a delightful mixture of candid and posed captures! We also enjoy the diverse backgrounds she works in, using wider fields of view and classic environmental portrait techniques to tell lifestyle stories about her subjects.

2. Andrea Domjan

Magazine-quality portrait, editorial, and lifestyle photography can feel far out of reach for the average person. The polish and perfection that comes with expert-level attention to lighting, skin tones, and composition are a few of the qualities that Andrea Domjan expresses in her work.

However, in her case, she is available to ordinary people as well! Among the most noteworthy Orange County portrait photographers, she works with both celebrities as well as the less-than-famous individuals while offering everyone the chance to have a luxurious creative experience.

3. Duffi of Chaotic Perfection

Duffi of Chaotic Perfection is the portrait photographer of choice for families throughout Southern California! Her style blends both the natural and unique aspects of you and your loved ones with her fine art vision of the moment. Duffi once expected to become a photojournalist.

And this love for storytelling through the visual arts still shines forth in her family, maternity, newborn, and high school senior images! The deeply nostalgic qualities of her work are further enhanced by the well-chosen apparel and backgrounds we see with each collaboration.

4. Lana Tavares of 222 Photography

Couples who are wildly in love seek out Lana Tavares for her unique storytelling angle! Her work is strongly traditional, using guided poses and expressions that are a perfect fit for family and couples heirloom photography. Lana also favors featuring the vibrant colors that present themselves in a scene.

Out of all of her many genres, we especially love Lana’s “adventure sessions!” Here she brings couples outdoors to hidden landscapes throughout the area that offer the perfect backdrop for a lifestyle storytelling session. Themes of intimacy, adventure elopements, and more are all powerfully enhanced by the stark aloneness that deserts, mountains, and beaches afford!

5. Candice Dartez

Candice Dartez describes herself as a lifestyle journalist, a designation that’s much easier to understand once you’ve viewed her work! Candice perfectly walks the line between the natural and spontaneous storytelling of documentary journalism while offering a vibrant, celebratory look at your lives through a fine art lifestyle lens.

What’s more, each of her images, from composition to processing, is the result of careful attention to the impact it will have on viewers. She is a lover of quality over quantity, something the photography space desperately needs. As Candice shares, “I do not want to take 100 mediocre images, I want to take the one image you cannot live without.”

6. Zachary Lee

Of all the Orange County portrait photographers out there, Zachary Lee offers the best reasons to sit down and have a session! Whether you are looking to express yourself in a new way, dust off an online dating profile, or simply because you want to, his vision of the human form and light is captivating and worth exploring deeply.

Zachary’s photography draws from all of the niches available to the portrait specialist. You might see Rembrandt lighting, fashion styling, conceptual themes, or other elements in his portfolio that masterfully convey emotion and beauty. And all without relying on shallow depth of field or cliché color filters. Instead, we see people in all their uniqueness, showcased with poses that are natural to their character rather than feeling forced.

7. Molly of Spirit Photography

Few Orange County portrait photographers manage to convey joyous aliveness in quite the same manner as Molly of Spirit Photography! Her style is passionate and warm-hearted, which speaks to her ability as a photographer to help her subjects feel completely at ease in front of her camera! Molly manages to get her subjects smiling in a truly radiant manner and would be our photographer of choice for folks who feel uneasy in front of a camera.

8. Jessica Haderlie

Jessica Haderlie is all about finding those moments of fine art beauty immersed in the everyday! According to Jessica, “I have a real passion for photography. I love how a photograph can remind me of how sweet life really is, especially on the messy days.”

This eye for unposed, authentic image creation often shows up in more documentary angles of capture. Jessica manages to show her family and couples engaging with each other in ways that feel more like we’ve stepped into a vacation than a planned photoshoot! It’s no wonder she’s considered one of the most talented portrait photographers in Orange County.

9. Zachariah Budd of Cultivation Studios

Zachariah Budd is the owner of Cultivation Studios, as well as counted among top Orange County portrait photographers! From wedding and engagement sessions to individual portraits for all occasions, Zachariah’s love for subdued yet gently warm colors gives his images a distinctive flair. His photography is also highly intentional, with not a single element within the frame feeling out of place or incidental. Each aspect highlights his subjects, suggesting mood, setting, lifestyle, or something more!

Find unique photoshoot locations in Orange County on Peerspace