Rising Stars: Meet Kameron Marie Olson of Santa Barbara

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kameron Marie Olson.

Hi Kameron Marie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I fell in love with photography in my teen years and fell in love with the man of my dreams in my twenties.

If I’m being honest… my passion was not wedding photography – it was brands. I actually thought I would never get into weddings (I know, hang tight with me.)

It wasn’t until I got engaged, to said dream man, that I was opened up to a whole new world of editorial style wedding photography – and I truly did fall in love.

I spent all my free time drawing inspiration, mood boarding, and researching wedding photographers. In doing so I discovered a whole new art – the art of capturing fleeting moments from one of a persons most precious days.

It started as something I was investing in and building on the side of my cushy sales job – I actually shot my first wedding a month after my own! And a month later on my honeymoon I told my new husband “I really want to go all in on photography and leave my current job…” The day I got back from my honeymoon i was laid-off… and I’ve never looked back since!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the first year of building a business I think almost anyone thinks to themselves “is this really going to pan out?” I couldn’t imagine going full time doing what I loved, it sounded to good to be true!

There were months of making almost nothing and thousands of dollars in gear I invested in… it was stressful to say the least. I thought surely I would have to get another job on the side in order to make this thing happen. I prayed on it everyday that it would work out. And one day I was working on a gallery and responding to inquiring couples and I had the pinch me moment where I realized “this is my full time job now. I actually started a business, this is what I do and I don’t have to get some side gig to pay the bills.” That is a feeling I I hope I’ll never forget, nor take for granted.

If you are just starting out, give yourself six months to a year to get your feet off the ground, work diligently, and be patient.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an editorial + documentary style wedding photographer.

I believe your wedding photography should be effortless, elegant, and filled with genuine emotion. My approach blends the polished, artful quality of editorial photography with the raw, unscripted beauty of candid moments. From stolen glances to belly laughs and teary vows, I document your love story with authenticity and intention.

Based in Santa Barbara, I serve couples across California and beyond. Whether you’re planning a coastal-chic wedding at a tucked away villa in Cabo San Lucas, a romantic and intimate celebration at The Santa Barbara Courthouse, or a dreamy destination affair in the vineyards of Tuscany, I’m here to capture it all in a way that feels true to you.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
When I was just getting my foot in the door with my business, by chance (or fate) Aysia of South of June invited my husband and I to model at her (no other than…) wedding photography workshop! It was a week long retreat for wedding photographers to learn and grow in the industry. In exchange for modeling for one of the styled shoots she let me tag along on the retreat. It was pivotal in my business; to be able to learn from experts, network with other photographers and refine my portfolio right when I was starting out was such a Godsend. I thank her endlessly!

I highly recommend investing in a mentorship. I have worked with Samanta Katz and Kendall Aubrey, both were amazing and helped me grow so much!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kameronmariephotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kameronmarie.photo/

Image Credits
All photos by Kameron Marie Photography