About - nathanjaffan photography

I love snowboarding but can’t stand-up paddle board, love carrot cake but don't like carrots, and think squirrels are cool because we don't have them in Australia. I can find humor in anything.

I know no other way than giving something my all and being as creative as I can with everything I involve myself in and with everyone I involve myself with. I believe in transparency, kindness and humility. I believe in expressing gratitude and giving others what you would want yourself. I believe we all have beautiful stories waiting to be put into pictures and I'd love to document yours.

Bonus points if we see squirrels.

I'LL TELL YOU MY STORY

if you tell me yours

I met my wife, Chelsea, in 2005. It was at a bar, the old-fashioned way, before iPhones and apps were even a thing. She couldn’t understand my accent and I couldn’t really hear her over the music. It was perfect.

She being from California and me being from Sydney meant we had a good excuse to share in our mutual love of travel. Inevitably though, you can only cross the Pacific so many times before the in-flight movie selection becomes a little repetitive. So in 2010, after 5 years and with thousands of photos to authenticate our relationship to U.S. Immigration, I arrived to this beautiful corner of the world with two overweight suitcases and a developing appreciation for sushi and guacamole.

I’ve had an affinity with visually documenting what’s around me for as long as I can remember. It started, and still continues, with travel, but I moved into couples and wedding photography in 2012. I’ve met so many amazing people since then, many of whom have become friends outside of this whole photo thing, and shared in their stories. I'm honored by the trust placed in me to capture such important moments in each and every one of their lives.

My biggest inspiration and source of pride are our two beautiful daughters, Bexley and Haven, both named after places in Australia. I’ve created a ton of photos over the years, but none more than of them. They inspire me. They remind me of the goodness in the world and to share in all the simple joys that they see. Because of them, my nights are shorter but but my days are brighter, and I wouldn't trade being their dad for anything.

YOUR TURN

KIND WORDS

~ Dina & Adam

"Nathan's professionalism and thoughtfulness throughout our wedding day, and the planning period before made everything easy, fun and exciting!"

bel air bay club wedding

pacific palisades

Nathan understands the demands of a wedding and planned our photos with such intricate detail. We felt totally relaxed, comfortable and thankful to have someone like Nathan in our corner. Nathan's professionalism and thoughtfulness throughout our wedding day, and the planning period before made everything easy, fun and exciting! He is very quick to answer questions or address any concerns you might have, and finds solutions that you hadn't thought of on your own due to his attention to detail and high quality of customer service. The images that Nathan took send me to happy tears each and every time I look at them, even months after our wedding. He was able to capture our love, and images of our family and friends in the absolute most perfect and realistic way. Through his pictures, we are transported back to the story of our day, and we will forever be indebted to Nathan for masterminding the entire event.

~ Zoya & Andrew

"Out of all my vendors, I spent the most time with him on the day of my wedding and he truly kept me at ease the entire day."

ritz carlton wedding

laguna niguel

I had so many questions while planning and Nathan was quick to answer every time! Out of all my vendors, I spent the most time with him on the day of my wedding and he truly kept me at ease the entire day. All my friends and family have raved about Nathan. He was so friendly to all my guests and my other vendors. I had 15 bridesmaids (hard to handle) and he kept us having fun throughout the entire day! Nathan is energetic, fun, friendly, and an incredibly talented photographer. I cannot express how much we appreciate him. He was able to capture our day so perfectly and we will cherish these photos forever.

~ Anastasia & Bill

"Nathan's personality and approach made our wedding day that much better. He was both professional and flexible to our changing needs the day of. He made everyone feel comfortable."

Surf and sand wedding

laguna beach

Nathan’s personality and approach made our wedding day that much better. He was respectful of our event while able to capture special moments. He was both professional and flexible to our changing needs the day of. He made everyone feel comfortable. I liked what I would call his natural style. His photography is not overly produced and you can tell everyone is genuinely enjoying themselves. When I contacted him I knew we had found our wedding photographer. Communication throughout the process was impeccable. Just what a bride needs! We look forward to working with him in the future.

A Last Little Bit About Me . . . Travel

Travel has always been, and continues to be, such an fundamental part of my life. Experiencing new cultures, languages, or a sunset over a vista for the first time make me as excited as a six-year-old waking up on Christmas morning. I suppose that's why they call it wanderlust. British travel essayist Pico Iyer describes it best:

Travel is like love, mostly because it's a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.

I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on earth. Then I ask myself the same question. Life is short, and the world is wide. Feel free to peruse some of my experiences from the places I've flown.

travel changes you. as you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. and in return, life - and travel - leaves marks on you.

Anthony Bourdain

CLICK TO CONTINUE

KIND WORDS

A Last Little Bit About Me . . . Travel

nathanjaffanphoto