Thanks for the love, We love you too.
From the Editors of Style Me Pretty ~1 Michael + Anna Costa.…how do I count the ways. You’ve given us SUCH a lovely day of wedding gorgeousness, with photographs that would make even the grumpiest of wedding gurus smile in total delight. And this next fete is no exception. With the modelesque bride and groom, the intimate but oh-so-romantic styling, the flowers that Camilla Svensson Burns (1) (2) (3) crafted with pure love. And, of course, Jill La Fleur was involved in a day this lovely with a Santa Barbara backdrop that gave her the perfect canvas to work her magic. SMP Feature • San Ysidro Ranch
From the Editors of Style Me Pretty ~2 We simply adore California photographers Michael + Anna Costa around here and to prove our undying love for these two talented shutterbugs we are spending the entire day with some of their most fabulous weddings. We are kicking off the Costa-extravaganza with a chic Santa Barbara soiree that kicks some serious wedding behind. It is the perfect blend of Los Angeles cool with Santa Barbara elegance and the images are out of this world! SMP Feature • Four Seasons Santa Barbara
Petrel & Jacob Farkas • (The Invitation and Accessory Boutique) Hi Michael and Anna - I just wanted to let you know that our wedding pictures are the coolest! We are so happy with them and they brought tears to my mom’s eyes! I wish we lived in Southern California so we could thank you personally. I also just wish we lived in Southern California. The pictures you took brought back all the wonderful feelings of that day. We had so much fun and you captured all of it :) Thank you for the incredible, artistic, memorable, unique, and overall amazing photos.
jacob
Charlene & Marco Maiolo Hi Michael & Anna – Hope you both are doing well? Marco and I were just reminiscing about the wedding; our 1 year just passed not long ago. Honestly these pictures are just amazing, there’s no other way to say it but AMAZING! We are so happy with the turn out and we just dream about that day. It really was perfect!
Jill La Fleur of La Fleur Weddings and Events • (Destination Wedding Planner) “Michael and Anna are Amazing photographers, and absolute joy to work with! I can not recommend them enough for their creativity and professionalism. Love them both! (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
From the Editors of Style Me Pretty ~3 Michael + Anna Costa might need to enter the SMP Hall of Fame. The weddings that they send us are pinned, favorited and commented on like crazy with brides and grooms that are always madly in love, flowers that scream romance and a photographic style that is all together delicious. So when we spotted this beauty, we knew we had to have it. Something about the pretty pinks all in a row and the jaw droppingly gorgeous Los Olivos backdrop had us at hello. Throw in the photographs that Michael + Anna snapped…and well, you have the definition of wedding perfection. SMP Feature • Los Olivos Wedding
From the Editors of Style Me Pretty ~4 It’s no secret that Malibu is a dream wedding locale with it’s gorgeous mountain and ocean vistas and its perfect weather all year long. And this next stunner is no exception with its amazing photos from Michael + Anna Costa, a gorgeous bride, pretty purple and green centerpieces, and the beyond beautiful petal covered aisle. Add to all that horses, camels, and yes, even zebras and you have yourself a pretty fabulous wedding! SMP Feature • Saddlerock Ranch Malibu Wedding
These comments were snagged from online wedding forums.
Josh & Shelly Kenyon • (Jolby & Friends) Photography was the most important element in remembering our wedding. We spent endless hours researching and interviewing. Professionally, creatively and personally, Michael and Anna Costa were top notch. Their images are impeccable. Being a designer myself, I was very critical and knew that only the most creative and well documented photos would do. The Costa’s not only captured expressions, light, movement and elements of our wedding that were most important, when they were around it was like having a loving couple, as excited for our day as we were. When it was appropriate, they were invisible, capturing every detail all the while. If you are looking for photographers that are literally the best in the Santa Barbara area, I highly recommend using them. Just check out their site… it gives a pretty accurate glimpse of their style. Hope this helps for those of you who appreciate great photography and are looking for the best of the best.
Teresa Strasser • (TLC show, While You Were Out) We truly cannot say enough wonderful things about Michael and Anna Costa. Everything from their creativity, artistic vision, professionalism, technical ability, work ethic and conscientiousness are unparalleled. Not only were they an absolute pleasure to work with, but we were quite simply blown away by the photographs they captured. We have received more compliments than we can count on our wedding photos. With the Costa’s, you get more than just wedding pictures – you get works of art.
Ariel Yve • (Ariel Yve Designs) The Costa’s are two of the most talented photographers of our time. Their vision, execution and event day rapport are second to none. I’ve not only entrusted them with the the duty of photographing my own wedding, but have wholeheartedly referred both of them to dozens of my clients over the years. Michael and Anna’s kindness, talent and consistency make them my go to photographers for incredible wedding, event and editorial photography. Simply put, their work is spectacular! (1)
Andrew & Taylor Major • (Winemaker, Major Wines) One of the best decisions we could have made was hiring Michael and Anna Costa. Their pictures are beautiful, artistic and captured the greatest weekend of my life in a way that I never imagined possible. Whenever I show people our pictures, the discussion always goes from, “What a beautiful wedding,” to an abrupt “Holy SH*T this photography is amazing!!” It’s the one chance in your life to have truly amazing photography and the Costa’s delivered. Another great thing about the Costa’s is that they didn’t take things over, and they seemed to have a lot of fun. Oh, and their photography is smart too. Their pictures aren’t just about snapping the important moments – they illuminated the emotions, fun and levity of every moment. Whether it be your grandmother giving you a hug or your plate of salad, the Costa’s will shoot your wedding in a way that you can feel exceptionally proud of your greatest day. Thanks Michael & Anna! -Andrew
Rob & Michelle Hyland • (Producer, NBC Sports) Our wedding pictures are UNBELIEVABLE If you are looking for the best photographers for your most special day, Michael and Anna are your ONLY option. Yes they are talented, and yes their images are flawless, elegant, timeless, and beautiful, but the best part about working with them is the experience. My husband and I felt like our oldest friends were taking our pictures. They were creative, organized, on time, enthusiastic, and so much FUN. They make you feel comfortable and guide you through the whole process. They were always at the right place at the right time. They brilliantly captured every special moment of our wedding.
How we found Michael and Anna: We got married in NYC and we flew Michael and Anna over from LA. My husband hired them for the proposal. My husband proposed on the Santa Monica Pier and he asked Michael and Anna to play paparazzi for the day. It was only a few months after the proposal that I found out that they were there documenting the whole event. Needless to say, Michael and Anna were there throughout the whole process. They loved telling our love story through images and that is what you want on your wedding day, someone who knows you as a couple, someone who knows exactly what you are looking for and how you want to be captured.
Chris & Sierra Rose As we were planning our wedding, we both felt that selecting an extraordinary photographer was the most important decision we would make. After all, we and our guests wouldn’t really remember the food or music, but we would have the pictures forever. After interviewing and looking at the portfolios of about 10 photographers in Santa Barbara, the choice was very clear: Michael & Anna Costa. When you take a look at their website you will know why. Michael is truly a gifted photographer. Anna is incredible as well. His pictures do not just document a wedding – they genuinely capture the day’s emotions and mood. When we got our pictures back, we were absolutely amazed. Michael is so creative and really knows how to bring out the best in people and their surroundings. He has an amazing talent for capturing a look on someone’s face that may only be there for a millisecond: pure love in someone’s eyes or a genuine laugh. And nothing is more important on your big day. Michael Costa is not your average wedding photographer who just takes predictable photographs. Of course, he takes great posed shots, too. But the pictures we love the most are the ones that show Michael’s incredible imagination and versatility. The perspectives he uses in his photos are fresh, and his pictures are really “raising the bar” when it comes to wedding photography. I am not at all surprised that his work is winning awards and catching the attention of wedding magazine editors. Working together as husband and wife, Michael and Anna Costa really inject a genuine sense of romance into their photographs. First, I think they take the kind of wedding photographs they would want for themselves: beautiful, poignant, and breathtaking. Second, Michael and Anna spend time getting to know every bride and groom. It’s clear from their work that they view every single wedding as a unique and meaningful event, which it is. They don’t use a “cookie cutter” approach where every set of wedding photos looks exactly the same but with different people. The work they did for our wedding is something we will treasure for our entire lives. (Slightly amended due to length).
Marcus & Whitney Gilmour Michael and Anna photographed our wedding at the Firestone Vineyard. They were not only professional and organized, but unbelievably creative and truly captured those “special moments” that we were hoping for. Our wedding photos are not just “pictures”, but “works of art”. They are stunning and we are so pleased with them!
Tracy & Michael Leach We have just received our wedding photos from Michael and Anna and we are thrilled!! We absolutely love them. They are all fabulous…we don’t know how we will ever be able to narrow them down. I can’t believe the number of special moments they caught….I never knew they took half of them….. that is what is so great about them. They are spontaneous moments and not at all posed or fake. Each photo is so artistic and beautiful! They are both amazing and wonderful to work with!!!! Another great feature is that they post the photos all online through Pictage so that as soon as they are done you can access them from the website. This was great for us since we live in Canada. We highly recommend them! They are the best out there!
Darrin & Jen Brachfeld We were married February 2008. Anna & Michael Costa are amazing to work with. They made us feel comfortable in front of the camera and guided us when needed for the most beautiful, artistic pictures! We are so happy they captured our wedding. The Costa’s were highly recommended to us by another photographer who doesn’t do weddings.
Julie & Blake Towsley • (CBS Show, Survivor) My husband and I were married in Malibu, CA on May 15th of this year. The entire event was so amazing and memorable. In the beginning stages of planning our wedding there were a few details that were a must, there were some that were negotiable and there were some that I didn’t really care about. Our wedding pictures were of the upmost importance to us. We searched high and low and finally came across Michael + Anna Costa Photography. This talented, married couple was a gift from above. Not only were they super professional and delivered the most unique and beautiful photos, they were also very down to earth. We met with them and they came with gifts for us and lots of useful advice. We met with them several more times before the big day…many of which were more like friend outings than business meetings. Getting to know Michael and Anna made it so much easier for me to allow them into my life and made it so much less stressful to be in front of the camera. They took the coolest engagement pictures and then the wedding pics were more than we could have hoped for. I highly recommend them for engagement, wedding, and any other special event you have coming up. You will not regret it.
Aaron Kitch & Allison Cooper Michael and Anna photographed my wedding at Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, CA in July ‘09. Their photographs (which can be seen on their website) are proof enough of their talent, and my husband and I were delighted that the photos they took at our wedding were as beautiful and creative as the ones we had seen from other weddings they’ve photographed. They were also a pleasure to work with – relaxed, yet very professional with great work ethic. They have our highest recommendation!
Katie & Ethan Applen • (CEO & Co-Founder, Lakes & Legends Brewing Company) Excerpt from the email Katie & Ethan sent to us after viewing their wedding photos for the first time: These are a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!!! Thank you SO much! We absolutely love them and can’t stop going through them!!! ...Thank you, thank you again! So excited to have these :) They’re stunning!
Photography was one of our top priorities when it came to choosing our wedding vendors. We were super picky and spent hours driving all over Southern California meeting with various photographers. When we met with Michael and Anna, we were hooked and called off our search. We were awestruck looking at their photo albums and just had an all around great time talking with them! Michael shot our engagement photos and both Michael and Anna shot our wedding. The pictures we got back are breathtaking and we couldn’t be happier. From the lighting to the expressions, the pictures give us such joy when we look through them and remember our wedding. They accurately reflect their style and personality as well as ours and we get so many wonderful compliments on our photos. Michael and Anna were also such a joy to work with. Always on time for anything, always responsive if we had any questions and completely professional and fun! We recommend them a hundred times over and are constantly signing their praises…they’re the best in the business.
Jason & Kimberly Tatham My fiance and I just got our engagement pictures back from the Costa’s and we were blown away. They are just too beautiful for words!! I know everyone says that about their own pictures, but ours really are the best! LOL We’ve shown them off to all of our friends and family and they can’t believe how amazing they turned out. I even have one friend who lives in another city and is taking them to show her photographer because she wants her engagement photos to look just like ours! :) Besides having wonderful photos, Michael and Anna are so fun to work with! It can be a little weird to have someone taking pictures of you while you’re making out with your fiance, but after a few minutes we felt totally comfortable with them. I think the fact that Anna was leaping around in the background trying to make us smile helped, hehe. Hiring them for our wedding photography was the best decision we made!!! I wouldHIGHLY recommend to them anyone who wants fabulous photographs!
