Very helpful in reference to positioning of the person being photographed. Used lighting to minimize shadows.

Very responsive and accommodating, excellent communication. Doug was willing to help fit my family in on short notice.

Working with Doug for my professional head shots was fantastic! Doug is the perfect combination of personable and professional which immediately put me at ease and made the shoot a ton of fun. We did the shoot at the SB County Courthouse which is of my favorite places in SB and provided the perfect backdrop for my photos. read more

Doug Ellis Photography - Event Photography Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Dough photographed my wedding and he is amazing! He made our small wedding party feel totally at ease and captured some great moments. He was professional, easy to work with, and his prices were reasonable. We got our digital wedding pictures back in just 1 week with options to print or create an album. I recommend Doug if you'll be getting married in the Santa Barbara area! read more

Doug Ellis Photography - One of the many zany moments of our wedding day that Doug captured - Event Photography Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This review is long overdue! Doug Ellis was wonderful to work with. My now husband had him take our surprise engagement photos on November 2018. Let me tell you. I'm a very awkward person in front of people in general and even more awkward when in front of the camera. So for Doug to be able to take great candid and also posed photos of the both of us and have it look super natural was amazing to me. SOOO amazing that we had to have him take photos of our wedding the following year. His chill, easy vibe made me feel so comfortable the entire time. I had zero problems or issues with him as he was always so timely and prompt with everything. He has great communication and I would absolutely recommend him to anyone having a special engagement. Thank you so so so much Doug. You are a gem. read more

Doug photographed our wedding in November 2019, and he captured the joy and love of the day beautifully through this photographs. Both Doug and his assistant were calm, friendly, fun and professional and caught all the best moments! If you are looking for a wedding photographer that is very vocal and will tell people how to pose, Doug isn't for you. His style is fostering moments that are natural and capturing them. Both my husband and I love candid photos much more than posed, and Doug was perfect for this. Thank you so much for capturing all the special moments on our wedding day. read more

Doug Ellis Photography - Event Photography Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We had a couple's photoshoot with our dog and some individual headshots that Doug was willing to do for us. Doug and his assistant were great, very professional and knowledgeable about photography lighting. I really liked that we didn't feel rushed because that could've added to the stress of a photoshoot in general. The pictures came out great with the high resolution touch ups! Doug can add a tan for you without the UV damage and whiten your teeth if you need it! Thanks for our first photoshoot experience Doug. We'll definitely utilize your service again! read more

We did a family session with Doug. I'm thrilled with the photos! Doug is an excellent photographer, he's professional and patient. I'm especially impressed with the quality of the lighting In the photos. Thank you Doug! read more

Thank you for a very sensitive and spontaneous headshot! I really appreciate your dedication.

I am EXTREMELY happy with my experience with Doug and the outcome of my branding photoshoot from a few weeks ago. Prior to meeting, Doug took time to get to know more about my business, the vibes, and messages that I want to portray. He made suggestions regarding my wardrobe and props to make sure that I was fully prepared beforehand. During the shoot, Doug provided great direction while also allowing me to just 'be' so that he could capture my true essence. And the library of photos that I received afterward is more than I could have ever dreamed! Will definitely solicit Doug's services again! read more

We had Doug do our team's professional website photos while visiting Santa Barbara. Doug was extremely thorough, professional and responsive throughout. I'd highly recommend him for anyone in the area looking for a great photo experience. read more

Doug Ellis Photography was a wonderful find! Not being from the area, we were met in Ojai where we were staying and had a fantastic photo shoot ! Not only did Doug Ellis know the best background settings, but the lighting was key! He was able to get our 11 month old to photograph well especially since he was crying and not a happy camper in the beginning. The beautiful pictures will be our happy memories from a wonderful week in Ojai, Ca. Definitely will stay in touch if and when we can get back to that magical place. Highly recommend Doug Ellis Photography for all your precious moments. read more

Hired to do surprise engagement photos. He met with me to scope out spots, bringing his knowledge of the area. He communicated on the day of, so I didn't have to wonder if he was in position, and everything went down perfectly. The photos turned out excellent as well. She was very pleased! read more

I just received my new business headshots from Doug and they are the best that I've ever had taken! Doug's entire process was stress-free, supported, joy-filled and grounded. I've worked with many other photographers in the past (former life as an actor) and can say hands-down that this was the most comfortable I have ever felt in front of the camera. Doug works with you to make you feel at home IN YOU. This is a rare and unique gift to receive and certainly an incredible talent on his part! I cannot recommend Dough highly enough. A talented photographer and a wonderful human being. read more

Working with Doug has been so much more than a photo shoot. It was an exploration into myself. Who I am and what I like (and don't like so much) about myself. Our first phone call made it clear that I was dealing with a gifted artist. I knew Doug would find dimensions in me that had never shown up in pictures before. To be honest, I had to take a few deep breaths to make sure I was ready to be exposed. I have no regrets! If you are ready to see the you beyond your appearance, and have beautifully professional pictures in the process, Doug is a powerful partner. Anyone looking to have professional photos taken can be confident in the outcome of a collaboration with Doug Ellis....an artist, a coach, a philosopher, a nice guy and a talented photographer! read more

Santa Barbara Photographer Doug Ellis (https://dougellis.com/) has done three sittings for myself and my guitarist son- Album cover!-, and just recently helped me out at the last minute with an architectural session to photograph my house for the rental websites when the regulars were becoming complicated. What a wonderful outcome! I very much dislike the clearly exaggerated lens-engineered real estate photos since I believe they manufacture misunderstandings and create disappointments. Not with Doug! He perfectly captured the lovely character of an environment I wanted to be honest about, and sure enough, it might be the most "viewed" of all. More importantly, as a portrait photographer, which is his gift and specialty, Doug has an uncanny ability to capture who you are, and get the best representation of what you must be like as, for example, a fun person, sympathetic friend, competent colleague, or trusted professional. It's almost as if he can tell what you are thinking. He's all business, has the best equipment, is always organized, makes great suggestions, and in general is so much fun to work with. He is comfortable in any setting, loves movement, and really knows his light! His terms and license brochure and appointment forms are all very literate and seamless. Check out his website, and you'll be sold. read more

Doug worked with my daughter and shot some of the most wonderful pictures of her that I've ever seen. Doug has a fantastic eye, and he works to bring out what's inside his subject matter. There are a lot of photographers, but there are few like Doug. His work with light and natural poses speak volumes in his pictures. He is very patient and waits until he gets the right shot. You will be very pleased with your pictures from Doug Ellis Photography! read more

Doug did a great job with taking photos for my husband's professional website as well as for our baby announcement. He was professional, fun, and easy to work with. He was great at suggesting what my husband should wear, poses, etc. and was also very timely in getting our photos back to us! 5 stars all around, whether for headshots, lifestyle, or anything really! read more

I loved working with Doug on my recent photo shoot for a picture on the author's page of my forthcoming book. He's super professional and talented, really knows what he's doing. Everything about his whole operation is top notch, which gave me a lot of confidence. I can get nervous in front of a camera, but Doug made everything so easy that by the time it was over, I felt happy and relaxed. The results were wonderful, way better than what I'd anticipated, and I had lots of good shots to pick from. He continued working with me through some minor retouching until I had just what I wanted. The project was had a tight turnaround, and Doug helped get things done for me on time. I highly recommend him and will be looking for the next opportunity to work with him again myself. read more

I've now worked with Doug on both professional and personal projects. My wife was so impressed with the professional project he worked on for me that she asked him to take some personal portraits and also contracted with him for some corporate work. Doug is a great photographer and very easy to work with. He makes the subjects very relaxed a creates very natural and unforced portraits. I read more

Doug was the best! Doug took photos for our small courthouse wedding. He was professional, friendly and his prices were totally reasonable. He made us feel very comfortable posing for pictures, got many different locations and was very prompt in sending them back edited and lovely! If we ever need pictures again Doug is the man to call! read more

Doug Ellis Photography - We eloped! Thanks Doug for the great photos! - Event Photography Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Doug was our wedding photographer this past April in Santa Barbara and we could not have been happier with not only our photos but also with how Doug operates. From the first time I spoke with him on the phone I knew that it would be a great day. Doug is professional and has a VERY gifted eye. When we met Doug in person the first time it felt like sitting down with an old friend which, in my experience is very important with someone who is essentially recording one of the most important days of your life. He is so calm and his energy is absolutely perfect. I can attribute the lack of panic on my wedding day to my confidence in Doug's abilities; not only in photography but also for reading a situation and just knowing intuitively what was needed or wanted. To top it all off, he is a very funny man!! All in all, choosing a photographer to capture a special event is a difficult decision. Save yourself some time and meet with Doug. We interviewed so many others in the area and once we met him, saw his portfolio, and heard his motivations there was never a question who had the job. And, as an aside the compliments are endless for our wedding photos. So it isn't just us! Thanks again, you truly made our day that much more special. read more

I've needed new headshots five different times over the past twenty years. I've never felt so grounded and at ease as I was with Doug. Also, I have not received so many good shots that it was difficult narrowing down which photos to use. Doug is definitely a master of light and he knows when he gets a great shot right when he gets it. You can see him light up. He wisely asked what makes me feel relaxed and grounded and I told him it's when I have bare feet. He asked, "Want to try some shots barefoot?" I did and it worked so well. Then, whenever Doug sensed I was getting a little stiff he guided me through a few simple movements (like surfing) that had me instantly loosen up and reconnect to the authentic me. I'm very happy with the results and my publicist is thrilled too. read more

Doug was great! I'm not the type of person who takes many pictures which is why I came to Doug for some new professional-looking shots. He was extremely helpful and said all the right things to keep me relaxed and looking my best in my photos. I will certainly be referring Doug to friends/clients in the future. read more

Doug did headshots and partnership photos for our new firm. We were very pleased with the photos and found he was fun, efficient, and professional. It's clear he has many years of experience and makes the process easy and enjoyable! read more

Easy & Relaxing to work with! My headshots turned out great. If you need photos in the Santa Barbara area I would not hesitate to contact Doug Ellis. read more

I've never had so many compliments on my business portrait as I have on the ones Doug took. Comments like, "He really captured your personality" and "Your essence shines through," show that Doug is looking for more than just nice shots of you. He's going deeper to bring out who you really are. read more

Doug photographed my wedding. And did a terrible job. He had family members holding his equipment. It took forever to get high resolution pictures. Don't hire him for your wedding day. read more

Doug was so easy to work with. Taking photos is a bit torturous for me, yet, it has to be done professionally these days for branding. I feel like Doug was able to bring the best out in me and the other folks in my photos. The sessions were relaxed and he was able to give helpful suggestions for various shots and expressions. Doug's eye for lighting was quite extraordinary, and he really understood what I was looking for in terms of my color preferences and moods. I highly recommend Doug for capturing the unique of the individual as well as the group. read more

Loved working with Doug, and the finished product is excellent! We recently had family photos taken with Doug and couldn't be more pleased with how everything turned out. We have a 2 year old son and Doug was very accommodating to our schedule, starting the beach shoot at 7.30am (perfect lighting with the ocean mist and no people in the background, and perfect timing for our toddler to be in a good mood!). He made us feel very comfortable and that came through in the pictures, even with my husband who HATES being photographed. The finished proofs are amazing and Doug got them to us about a week later - quick turnaround. To top it all off - we were just visiting Santa Barbara and Doug's restaurant recommendations were ON POINT too! :-) Thanks Doug! read more

I have been using photographers for 30 years since I was an actress and casting agent in San Francisco. Headshots are not easy to do - the lighting must be perfect and the photographer needs to be able to capture the essence of the person - including the glimmer in the eyes. Doug Ellis is able to do that. His photography is natural, artistic, unique and beautiful - and truly captures who you are. I don't think you can go wrong! read more

Doug and his team were on time, professional, and had great personality. They even got the nervous photo takers in our company to laugh and have a good time! The photos were beautiful, and Doug even sent a pre-photoshoot document that outlines his advice for what to wear, etc. We could not have asked for a better photoshoot experience. Thank you Doug! read more

Doug is a very talented photographer. He has a great eye and very easily adapts to the desired imagination of the moment. I've received outstanding compliments from the pic's he shot for me. I highly recommend Doug Ellis Photography ! read more

We decided on a Tuesday morning to elope that day! Doug happened to be available and met us at the courthouse. It's always a risk hiring someone without meeting them first, and Doug was fantastic!! Great personality, super nice, awesome photographer!! We were at ease from the first minute we met him and he was great at his job! The biggest problem we have now is deciding which photos we want!! I would absolutely recommend him to anyone who is thinking about using him. read more

Great experience working with Doug. He's organized, responsive, easy to work with, and a consummate professional. All this and the pictures were awesome too. Would definitely work with him again! read more

Doug is an amazing photographer. I get so many complements on my pictures. We did several different looks and I even got a few facebook shots. He is kind, quick and incredibly talented. I highly recommend him. L. Walsh read more

I just had the good fortune to recently have Doug as our wedding photographer. Our photos are stunning. They are not your average stale, posed, fixed, and static photos. Doug is able to truly capture a moment, of laughter, or of tears of joy, of love. It shines through his photos. One thing that really stands out to me is that there were a number of random photos that friends had taken and many captured Doug in action. In every single one of those, Doug was smiling and laughing and absorbed into what he was capturing. He's simply a bright light... such a beautiful talent.... read more

That guy who made the photo is SO TALENTED!!! I am getting so many compliments, it is already embarrassing...not really;)

Doug captured our wedding day moments perfectly. I keep finding myself going back to the photos and reliving the moment. He was easy to work with and had a great attitude, which made our photoshoot even that much more enjoyable. Highly recommend his work! Book him now! read more

Doug is a tremendous photographer. He is so genuine, and it shows in his work. We hired him for our corporate "headshots", and our goal was to do something more creative: no ugly elementary-school backdrops, no standard poses, we wanted natural, outdoor scenery with headshots that were relaxed and professional. We got exactly what we wanted, and couldn't be more pleased with the results. He has a great eye, yet was open to my suggestions as well. I will continue to call on Doug for our corporate needs for sure. Thanks Doug! read more