Documentary Film Wedding Photography for the Modern Bride

A Decade of Storytelling on 35mm Film and Digital | Serving The Carolinas and California

Film and digital wedding photography by Holly Castillo, serving Southern California and The Carolinas.
Timeless film wedding photography for couples in Santa Barbara, CA and the Charlotte, NC area.
Outer Banks photographer shares candid joyful engagement session at the beach
A couple leaves their wedding ceremony photographed on black and white by candid documentary photographer in North Carolina
Bride and groom at a courthouse wedding captured on film; Carolinas and California wedding photographer.
City photographer in Charlotte shows black and white photos in architectural engagement session.
A golden hour maternity photography session in Santa Barbara on the beach.
Black and white engagement photo in the Central California area.
Documentary-style wedding photography on 35mm film in The Carolinas and Malibu, California
California and NC wedding photographer captured this black and white photo of the bride with her long veil dramatically flowing in the wind.
Film photograph of the Mural Room at the Santa Barbara Courthouse with beautiful light streaming in the window.
A couple and their dog share a cute moment together on the beach in Malibu California for engagement photos
Two women kiss on their wedding day in Ventura County captured on film photography by California and North Carolina wedding photographer.
North Carolina wedding photographer capturing a romantic and dramatic kiss between the couple under a flowing veil.
A couple smile and hug in wildflowers in Santa Barbara for their engagement photo session on film photography
Documentary candid photo of a couple running on the beach in Malibu

timeless and nostalgic film and digital photography in The Carolinas and California. REAL FILM. No AI. No "Like Film" Filters.

I’m Holly Castillo—a film and digital photographer with over 10 years of experience in the wedding industry. I'm a wife, a mom of three, and a storyteller at heart.
A bride and groom kiss on 35mm film in Santa Barbara

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)


-E.E. Cummings

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Bride poses with parasol at Tuscan Rose Ranch in Santa Paula California.


"I just want to be friends. Plus, a little extra. Also, I love you." Dwight Schrute


A 35mm film photo of a bridesmaid helping a bride put her shoes on before her wedding.
Motion-blurred black and white photograph of people dancing at a formal event with overhead lights creating streaks of light in Moorpark.

As a documentary focused wedding photographer, I focus on the often-missed moments. I'm here to see the things you don't; the tiny details that you spent months putting together, the joy on your faces while you look at each other, the raw emotions of your family and friends, and the dancing kiddos. To document life's big and small moments in all their beautiful magic. With 12 years of marriage under my belt and wedding and family photos plastered throughout my home, I practice what I preach about the importance of documentary photography. I'm here as your support person, to make you feel at ease while we freeze time together: which is basically a superpower in a world that moves way too fast. I'm always here to help, but if I do my job right, hopefully you'll forget I'm there while you focus on what really matters- your connections to the people you love.

Follow me on Instagram for more recent work

@hollycastillophotography

Documentary Film Wedding Photography for The Carolinas and California

Film-forward hybrid photography for weddings and families across The Carolinas and California. Documentary storytelling with film and digital mediums & a laid-back approach.