Jessica Van Photography

There really isn’t anything I can do besides fully and completely recommend Jessica Van as your photographer. I’ve never used a photographer for anything, so it was a first time experience for me. If I had met Jessica prior to my engagement and wedding photos, I would have had her capture the proposal as well. Our home is covered in large prints of the moments she captured.
Her photos of our wedding are priceless. Even if she charged more… as she is already extremely affordable, the photos are worth thousands more than she charged.
Simply put, she has a great range of substance and style, and all those other words that describe photographic talent. If you want elegant and picturesque photos, she’s got it. If you want someone to truly capture the live moment, the fun, laughter, excitement, and tears, she’s got it. From iconic to ironic, funky to spunky, eclectic to electric, she’s got it. Some of these people out there want to charge you a freakin mortgage for something trendy — like putting a couch in the ocean and sitting on it. Want to get artsy? I’m sure she can figure it out for you, affordably, so you don’t have to eat top ramen for the next 2 months.
Besides all that, who doesn’t like working with people they like? Jessica is one of the most enjoyable people to be around, and she is just FUN.
Also, shout-​out to her fiancé, Dave. That guy also rocks the sun reflector screen like a boss. Daaave!

This girl is amazing! Jessica was so wonderful to work with throughout our wedding planning. She literally creates magic with her work! She made us so comfortable during photographs and that is so important. I never thought I would have as many beautiful pictures as I got from her, just in previews! Can’t imagine what the whole collection will look like. I highly recommend Jessica to everyone!

Elegant and exact are words that I would use to describe working with Jessica Van. We met her at a Gay and Lesbian wedding expo where she was representing Sarah France photographers. I told Tim, my husband, that we were using them. Our wedding was still over a year away, so I don’t think he knew that our road would lead us right to where we started.
I interviewed several photographers for our wedding. All of them were nice. The main differentiators were their experience, photo packages, and cost. I met with Jessica over lunch and we discussed what we were going for. She was on time and was very professional in our first meeting, which is always a good sign.
Jessica and I walked the property where we were having our ceremony. We looked different areas and discussed some ideas of where we could take pictures. After our meeting she sent me all of the necessary paperwork, which was thorough and easy to read.
We booked Jessica for an hour before our ceremony for some candid shots. She was on time and captured some very fun moments with the grooms and groomsmen. Jessica was great with our group and Rachel; her second shooter that she brought with her was just as pleasant.
When we arrived at the venue, Jessica and Rachel were ready for us. Our families were there and we split up into two groups for photos. We also had photos with our groomsmen around the venue. Once the ceremony started, I don’t really remember seeing Jessica or Rachel, but I know they were there because there are tons of great photos. She continued to make her way through the crowd over the evening with Rachel at her side to hold a light if necessary, or they would divide and conquer. We were also pulled aside for some candid shots by the water with the San Diego skyline as our backdrop. SWOON! The picture speaks for itself.
After we had cake and dancing and Jessica let us know they would be headed out shortly. She asked if we wanted any last shots, we said we were fine.
We had photos within a couple of days. I think she asked for a week to get something for us to look at. It was great. We were given a good batch of pictures that were cleaned up; I think there were about 60 or so. Our website went live shortly after that for us to share our pics with friends and family and also order prints. It was at this time that we also were given access to all of our files in digital format. We were able to download all of them in case we want to print them in the future. They were set up in a structured, easy to follow format with each step of the event broken into section for easy viewing or downloading, or selecting for print. We don’t print many photos, but Jessica would certainly know how to optimize the image and print quality based on the samples she gave us.
Since the wedding, it has come to our attention that we were featured at
and we saw ourselves once again framed by Jessica’s lens and all of the memories of the day rushed through me again.
Jessica has been kind enough to follow up periodically to see if we wanted to order prints, books, or any type of wedding memorabilia. She also let us know that our website is going to be taken down soon so that we could take another look before it was gone.
Overall we had a great experience. In hindsight, we would have liked to have had a bit more structure to the evening and a photo of/​at each table. With all of the commotion of the evening, my husband and I were easily distracted and didn’t get a picture at each table. It was my request that Jessica capture «the most candid moments of the evening without being intrusive»; she and Rachel executed to the fullest. We would work with her again and recommend Jessica Van fully without reservation. Our pictures were elegant and exactly what we requested! Thanks Jessica!
Erik and Tim

Jessica did an absolutely AMAZING job capturing the most priceless moments of our engagement, rehearsal dinner and wedding. She also get shots that are just so unique.
We plan to use her again for all of the special moments to come.

She is amazing! Did our engagement photos and we couldn’t have been any happier! One photo in particular was beyond amazing and worth every penny! She made us very comfortable and we had a great time doing the shoot!!!

Jessica is simply amazing, she has an eye for capturing priceless moments. You will not be disappointed if you hire her for any of your special moments.

There is something to be said for working with an artist who truly loves what they are doing, and who pours that love into each piece of their work. My husband and I were lucky enough to be introduced to Jessica through a mutual friend who raved about her photography skills, and let me tell you, Jessica is one of those artists! She is not only a wonderfully talented photographer but also an extremely passionate person who is laid back and tons of fun to work with!
When my husband and I got engaged one of the first things we started looking for was a great photographer. Photos are such a huge part of any big life event, which is why choosing a great one is SO important (and so worth every penny). We met with Jessica and instantly felt a connection with her. She made me feel really comfortable, and even though we had not known each other for long, it felt like I had known her for years! Since weddings are such an intimate and personal life moment, I knew feeling comfortable with the person was a deal breaker for us. This is where her laid back attitude became one of the stand out qualities about her! At our engagement shoot she made us feel so comfortable and it did not feel forced or awkward with her at ALL! She had great ideas that were really creative and it showed in the final photos!
We also had the luxury of having Jessica shoot the photos for our full wedding day and she seriously outdid herself The photos were more than we could have ever imagined and all of our family and friends have since commented on what a wonderful job Jessica did. She truly captured all of the important moments of that day and when I look back at some of the photos I feel like I can truly relive the moments. We have also had several distant friends and people who were not at the wedding comment on what an amazing photographer we had.
Jessica is as classy and as professional as it gets, but still brings her own San Diego flare. Her creativity is unmatched and she truly cares about making her clients happy. I am so grateful to have found her because I don’t think my wedding memories would be anywhere near the same without her amazing work.
Book with her, you can thank me later :)

My husband was due to leave the country for an extended period of time and we thought it to be a good time to refresh our photos. It was just my husband and I and our dog. Jessica is all the things a photographer is supposed to be: punctual, professional, creative, patient and passionate… but what is even more impressive is her remarkable ability to capture the essence of her subjects.
The vibe of comfort and ease she emitted was tangible and truly gave us liberty to live and love in front of her lens. The images Jessica turned out for us were described by numerous members of our family and friends as captivating, breathtaking, and inspiring. We’ve even had a friend say our photos lit a light within her to rekindle what was once lost with her husband. Jessica Van Photography is the REAL DEAL. Book her while you can, because this girl is going places! Her work is pristine, and her expertise in editing is incredible. We are proud to have Jessica Van Photography displayed in our home, and are forever grateful to have these precious moments on film.

Amazing! I must admit that the very first time I hired Jessica to do our first son and mother shoot, I was extremely skeptical. Not because I doubted her talent, but because I feel I am a very difficult woman to please, and on top of that, add a 4 yr old boy to the equation. I must honestly say, Jessica blew me away!!! The complete experience was just utterly beautiful and creative. The final images came out incredible, I couldnt stop looking at them!!! I have family and friends still acknowledging the beauty of her photography skills everytime they walk into my living room. She is such a delight, my son absolutely loved her and she knew exactly how to captivate his attention. After that initial shoot, I have made it a goal of mine to hire her every year to do our family photographs and my sons birthday pictures. So far, 3 photography sessions and everytime she manages to surpass my expectations with something spectacular.

You can’t do better than Jessica’s photography– My sister’s wedding photos bear witness to this fact! Jessica has a wonderful and artful eye for arranging photos, and did them all without being overbearing or bossy. This was a large wedding party, and Jessica made the wedding pictures very easy to do– they went very quickly (having been a bridesmaid/​attendant 14 TIMES I know what I am talking about). If you need proof of Jessica’s brilliance, check out her pictures of Emily and Marty’s wedding. Yes, it helps that they are gorgeous people, but the pictures make them even more fabulous.
I am hoping to talk Jessica into taking pictures of my family this next year– maybe she can work some of her magic for us too!

My new husband and I are still raving about Jessica’s photography for our November wedding. Both of our families state that her pictures of our wedding were the best they have ever seen (she posted a few pictures on facebook the day after the wedding). She has a very artistic and creative eye, making even the most mundane scenery seem romantic and beautiful.
I met her through my new sister-​in-​law who is her friend. After our first phone conversation, I totally trusted her. She has a very calm demeanor, which for a flustered bride is wonderful to have around. It was only because of her that I didn’t have the wedding in the dark, having forgotten how early the sun sets in November!
In addition to her personality, she is very prompt with her communication (both email and phone calls). She sent a questionnaire for us to fill out, which helped me know that she would get the photos that were important to us.
She also met me at the venue a couple weeks prior to the wedding so she would be able to pick good photo places on the property.
The day of the wedding she brought a wonderful assistant, Rachel, and they showed up early and stayed late. They were able to coordinate photos with very large bridal parties and family members, staying totally calm and professional even though we were running behind with the timing.
I just loved her and Rachel, and plan to hire her again in the future.
Her pictures are magazine quality for a reasonable price!

I loved the photos taken by Jae Rae Photography. The photos taken of my son when he was only a couple weeks old turned out amazing. Newborns are definitely challenging to photograph and want to pose on their own schedule. I appreciated Jessica’s patience in working with me and him to get the best possible photos and I could not have been happier with the results. I will cherish these pictures for the rest of my life and I am so glad I chose Jae Rae Photography for my son’s first photo shoot.

My family arranged a photo shoot with Jay Rae Photography in December 2011. We were so pleased with the results! Jessica was very flexible and really listen to what we wanted and made it happen! The photos turned out gorgeous and we were extremely satisfied! Jessica captured some amazing pictures of my family in the hills of Torrey Pines, she really capture the beauty of San Diego and added an awesome artistic twist to the photos. I will be using Jay Rae Photography again for our next event!

I met Jessica through friends whos wedding she photographed. She is a very talented individual. I wanted to have pictures taken for my sons first birthday, and she agreed to take them. We met at Balboa park and she got some amazing shots, which is easier said than done with a toddler! Jessica was extremely patient with my little guy and I could not thank her enough for that. I look forward to referring her to anyone I know that is in need of a photographer, and I plan to get in touch with her for our future events!