Dina Douglass: Best Wedding Photographers 2011

Andrena Photography Los Angeles, CA andrenaphoto.com

Los Angeles–based Dina Douglass has built a reputation for working with a variety of cultural and religious traditions. She’s especially well known for her work with South Asian weddings, where hours of preparation often go into colorful, elaborate outfits and settings. The events find a perfect match in Douglass’s style, which emphasizes vibrant colors, a polished look and skillfully lit portraiture. “We travel heavy,” she says. “I don’t think anyone should be afraid of gear. It enables you to control situations rather than having them control you.” Douglass has followed clients to such far-flung destinations as India, Indonesia and Ecuador. “Being a student of the world and trying to understand the backgrounds of my clients is something that has helped,” she explains. One of the keys to making sure she meets everyone’s expectations, she says, is “understanding what’s important to the bride and also what’s important to the family—because they’re usually very different things.” The couple often wants documentary-style and fashion-forward shots, but their families tend to want group photographs and important moments in the ceremonies. “Those crucial details can happen in the blink of an eye,” she says, “and if you miss that, in the parents’ view, you will have ruined the entire wedding.”