Business Details
8 Years
experience
Your Trusted California Wedding & Elopement Photographer
Milk & Thistle Photography was founded in 2018 by Carlee, a dedicated photographer with a passion for capturing authentic moments. Based in San Luis Obispo, California, our business specializes in wedding and elopement photography, emphasizing natural storytelling and emotional connection. We prioritize client comfort through personalized communication and techniques that ease the stress of being photographed. Our approach blends artistic vision with practical reliability, including backup equipment and flexible travel options across the U.S. and internationally. With a focus on timeless imagery, we aim to preserve the genuine essence of relationships and celebrations.Our team occasionally collaborates with trusted second shooters to ensure comprehensive coverage of your event. We guarantee transparent editing practices that enhance, not alter, your natural beauty. Client satisfaction drives every decision, from our turnaround times to our willingness to accommodate specific shot requests. Our portfolio showcases diverse settings, from intimate local venues to global destinations, reflecting our adaptability and commitment to capturing unique stories. We maintain a professional yet approachable presence, both in person and online, to foster trust and ease throughout the photographic process.
Services
Wedding Photography
Elopement Photography
Engagement Sessions
Maternity Shoots
Travel Photography
Details
- Year established: 2018
Highlights and features
- We offer over 5 years of professional wedding photography experience since 2018.
- Our team provides travel flexibility with no extra fees for U.S. weddings.
- We utilize trusted second shooters to capture multiple perspectives of your event.
- Backup equipment ensures uninterrupted coverage for critical moments.
- Client-focused editing preserves natural beauty while enhancing emotional authenticity.
What people say
Authentic moments
Natural posing
Pinterest worthy photos
Timeless imagery
Stress-free experience
Services
Wedding Photography
Our wedding photography service documents ceremonies and celebrations with a focus on candid storytelling and emotional authenticity. Using a blend of photojournalistic and artistic techniques, we capture key moments while minimizing posed shots. Clients receive a minimum of 35 images per hour of coverage, with turnaround times of 6-8 weeks for full weddings.
Elopement Photography
Specializing in elopement photography, we create intimate visual narratives for couples choosing smaller celebrations. Our approach emphasizes natural interactions in meaningful locations, whether local or destination-based. This service includes flexible scheduling and no additional travel fees within the U.S., ensuring stress-free documentation of your unique commitment.
Engagement Sessions
Engagement sessions help couples acclimate to being photographed while creating lasting memories before their wedding day. These sessions build rapport between photographer and clients, reducing camera-shyness through relaxed, conversational techniques. Images can be used for announcements or simply as personal keepsakes.
Maternity Shoots
Maternity photography celebrates the beauty of pregnancy through carefully composed, emotionally resonant imagery. Sessions focus on natural lighting and authentic expressions, creating timeless portraits that honor this transitional life stage while maintaining the subject's comfort and dignity.
Travel Photography
Our travel photography service documents weddings and events in diverse global locations, from California's central coast to international destinations. We adapt to varying environments and cultural contexts while maintaining consistent quality, with experience shooting in New Zealand, Fiji, and multiple U.S. states.
People
Carlee Tatum
Photographer & Owner
Carlee Tatum founded Milk & Thistle Photography in 2018 after transitioning from dental assisting. Specializing in wedding and elopement photography, she brings a client-focused approach emphasizing authenticity and emotional storytelling. Her work balances artistic vision with technical reliability.
Questions
How long have you been photographing weddings?
I've operated Milk & Thistle Photography full-time since 2018, with prior photography experience dating to my teenage years.
Do you charge extra for destination weddings?
No additional travel fees apply for U.S.-based weddings. International or smaller non-wedding shoots may incur travel charges.
What's the benefit of a second shooter?
A second shooter provides multiple perspectives and captures simultaneous moments, ensuring comprehensive coverage of your event.
What equipment backup measures exist?
I maintain multiple camera bodies on-site, with at least one backup unit available during all sessions and weddings.
How are editing requests handled?
Minor adjustments like blemish removal are included. Major alterations aren't offered to preserve authentic representation of your special moments.
What's your typical turnaround time?
Wedding galleries deliver within 6-8 weeks, with shorter sessions typically completed in 3-4 weeks.
