Driven by a passion for photographic excellence and possessing years of experience, Manuel Ortega Photography is the top Professional Wedding Photography studio on the Monterey Peninsula. His unique ability to anticipate and capture even the most fleeting of special moments is evident in his photography.
Manuel is a Monterey Bay area Wedding Photographer with service including Carmel, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Salinas, Watsonville, San Jose, San Francisco and destination weddings worldwide. Manuel Ortega Photography is conveniently located at 191 Lighthouse Ave across the street from Oya Salon and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Manuel is a Monterey Bay area Wedding Photographer with service including Carmel, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Salinas, Watsonville, San Jose, San Francisco and destination weddings worldwide. Manuel Ortega Photography is conveniently located at 191 Lighthouse Ave across the street from Oya Salon and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Services
My love for the art of photography started at the age of 13 when I took my first snapshot with an old Kodak 110 camera. Realizing I could capture a moment in time, I was instantly hooked by the magic of reproducing instantaneous depictions of life. Two years later, I worked all summer long and eventually saved enough to buy my first 35mm camera.
The goal of the one on one mentoring session is to answer specific questions or provide answers to specific challenges that each photographer is facing. Photographers are also encouraged to bring in images (either on a usb drive or on a laptop) that might provide insight into their needs. I will critique your work in a positive way.
Reviews (10)
Sally Jimenez
Jan 21, 2021
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Manuel and Melissa definitely make an amazing team. They are so comfortable and fun to work with. We had the honor of having them shoot our daughters pre shoot and quinceanera and I couldn't be more happier with them. Our pictures were absolutely beautiful. Melissa helped with the vision and set up the shot and Manuel captured it. Every detail caught. My daughter loved working with them and they made it so fun for her.. Definitely recommend Manuel Ortega photography for your next event.
This is not our first time using Manuel Ortega Photography nor will it be our last.
This is not our first time using Manuel Ortega Photography nor will it be our last.
TruthSeeker TruthSeeker
Aug 10, 2020
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Manny & Melissa are true artists behind the camera and their personalities are like gold! They came highly recommended from our venue in Pebble Beach when my husband and I were planning our wedding. After meeting with them it was an easy choice and they were clearly the best decision we made when planning our wedding! The photos we received were breathtaking and our custom wedding album brought us to tears.
They have photographed high profile weddings such as NFL players and other well known athletes, so if they have your date available book them quickly!
They have photographed high profile weddings such as NFL players and other well known athletes, so if they have your date available book them quickly!
Kristen Claggett
Aug 02, 2020
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Manuel and his wife, Melissa, are surely a dynamic duo! I cannot thank these two enough for making our photo session easy and so much fun! Manuel is a pure genius behind the camera. He has an incredible eye for shots and poses that will leave you cherishing these images for a lifetime. Melissa was just as wonderful in assisting with lighting, offering other poses, and helping to keep our dog’s attention towards the camera! These two are just a joy to be around. I immediately felt comfortable with them! I cannot express how awesome these two are and I cannot recommend them enough! After our session
Tiffany Morales
Jan 25, 2019
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As a business professional in the wedding industry we are fortunate to work with some amazing vendors... Manuel Ortega has not only been my top recommended photographer for many years, but he was my top choice for my brothers and sister in laws special day! After the first appointment my brother Justin and sister in law Mia were over the moon to work with him and Melissa because they felt like family, genuinely caring about capturing every detail. Day of, they executed perfection through a lens!
Manny and Melissa were like a choreographed dance positioning themselves fluidly in the right angles
Manny and Melissa were like a choreographed dance positioning themselves fluidly in the right angles
Cindy Martinez
Nov 11, 2018
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I had Manuel and Melissa take my daughters maternity photos. Both Manuel and Melissa are professional, creative and amazing, and take pride in their work. My daughter felt extremely comfortable during her photo shoot. They both left us with some amazing photos that captured my daughters happiness, beauty and smile. I am proud to say these are photos that will be passed down to the future generations.
Thank you Manuel and Melissa you are both absolutely amazing!
Thank you Manuel and Melissa you are both absolutely amazing!
Luis Zamudio
Jul 30, 2018
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We had an amazing engagement photo taking experience! Manuel and Melissa are so friendly and Patient! Manuel is a master behind the lense and his craft and definitely understands how to use light and background images to create a gorgeous setting! The pictures were Beyond amazing.They both work great as a team and pay close attention to the small details that help create a beautiful setting to get that perfect picture! I highly recommend him! Hopefully he isn’t booked when it comes time for us to get married!
Megan Smith
Jul 05, 2018
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There truly aren't enough great things to say about Manuel and his wife Melissa. They are so professional and incredibly easy to work with. They make you feel so comfortable, confident, and relaxed when working with you. I hired Manuel for our wedding after I saw a sample picture he had up at our venue. We knew we had to have him as our photographer. He knows how to capture the right lighting (no color is washed out), the right moments, and has such a creative eye for capturing the PERFECT epic picture for your event. Manuel and his wife truly captured the spirit and joy of our special day. We
HeatherHeatherLand
Jun 12, 2018
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Manuel was the photographer for my wedding in Big Sur and not only were the photos amazing, it was such a great experience. I knew that I needed him to be my photographer and when I checked his availability I was ready to be flexible with my wedding date to make sure he could be there. The website, contact information, and handling all the preparation even before the day was easy and comfortable. He was familiar with the location and has such a great personality that he was just one of the gang. His wife Melissa is equally as amazing and a fantastic photographer in her own right. The candid shots
Sheryl Goularte
Feb 04, 2018
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Working with Manuel and his wife Melissa was first class service. Not only are they the nicest, down to earth couple and they're easy to work with, but their work is AMAZING!! After searching several websites looking for the perfect photographer for my wedding as soon as I saw some of a Manuel's work I knew he was the one. I can happily say I did not make the wrong decision. They did our engagement photos as well as our wedding day. Our engagement session we had so much fun shooting & they turned out gorgeous. My wedding photos are absolutely stunning and we LOVE THEM!! I've gotten endless compliments
Jennifer G.
Sep 09, 2017
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My now husband and I are from New York, and we decided to have a destination elopement in Carmel by the Sea, CA, with just seven immediate family members present. The thought of booking a photographer from 3,000 miles away, without a face to face meeting was a daunting task, but from my first correspondence with Manuel, he put me at ease and made the entire process of booking a breeze. Similarly, our wedding day was seamless because of Manuel and Melissa’s impeccable professionalism and their breadth of experience documenting weddings. On the day of the wedding, my husband was so nervous that
