Wedding photographer · Escondido, CA · reviewed since 2016
iHow the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%100+58.7Reliability 26%99+25.8Value 15%100+15.2Experts Score= 100Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.100SCORE
AGradeiLetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20.
#62 of 201 photographersiPosition by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. · better than 70%
5.0★★★★★86 Google reviews · 24 photos
100%five-star reviews
5.00★last 12 monthsiAverage stars on reviews from the last 12 months only.
0%1–2★ in 2 yearsiShare of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.
Google reviewers rate Love Story Photography five stars based on eighty-six reviews, with the owner responding to twenty-two percent of comments. Clients frequently cite the photographer's punctuality, rapid communication, and organized pre-wedding planning as key benefits. Services include wedding coverage, engagement sessions, and family mini-sessions, with customers noting reasonable pricing and the ability to capture candid moments. The team is described as patient and professional, often coordinating with other vendors to ensure smooth execution and timely photo delivery.
Google rating: 5.0 out of 5 from 86 reviews (100% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 86 Google reviews (86 with written comments, 13 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 22% of reviews.
Score per factor (100 = best)iEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: satisfaction and craft & service; weakest: reliability.
Love Story PhotographyPhotographers median0 = centre, 100 = best
SatisfactioniSatisfaction · 54% of the scoreRecency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Love Story Photography: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 99.A
100
ReliabilityiReliability · 24% of the scoreHow rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Love Story Photography: 99/100 on this factor. Category median: 99.A
99
Craft & serviceiCraft & service · penalty only, up to −10 pointsGoogle review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Love Story Photography: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.A
100
ValueiValue · 14% of the scoreCustomers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Love Story Photography: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.A
100
MomentumiMomentum · penalty only, up to −10 pointsPenalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Love Story Photography: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.A
100
Replies to reviewsiReplies to reviews · 7% of the scoreHow often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Not enough reviews for this factor yet. Category median: 62.–
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Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.
Star ratings
86 Google reviews we collected
5.0of 5
5 stars86100%
4 stars00%
3 stars00%
2 stars00%
1 star00%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 86 written reviews
98%praise
Praise16098%
Complaints32%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Staff & attitude5333%
Would recommend3320%
Communication1912%
Quality & results1811%
Speed & response1811%
Honesty & trust138%
Price & value96%
What customers talk about
We read 86 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“The photos were incredible, the planning and communication was on point and the professionalism was appreciated.”
“Would 100% recommend his work for anyone celebrating a marriage or engagement.”
“We could not recommend him more.”
“), he truly cared about making it the perfect experience and answered all my questions (big and small), and was happy to do it.”
“Alan did an amazing job capturing our special day, and he delivered the pictures in a timely manner.”
“I booked online and he texted me right away to confirm, I really appreciated that he reached out right away so I knew the booking worked.”
“If you are looking for a photographer who is talented, professional, genuinely kind, and who will capture your day in the most authentic way, Alan is…”
“His price was really reasonable and the photos were gorgeous!”
People customers mention
Alan56 reviews
Images15 reviews
Heidi14 reviews
Merrigan3 reviews
Angel3 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Recent reviews
SSabrina3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a week ago★★★★★
Alan took our photos for a family mini session (15-20 min session that includes 20 photos). I booked online and he texted me right away to confirm, I really appreciated that he reached out right away so I knew the booking worked. His price was really reasonable and the photos were gorgeous! We did the session at the…
VVictoria3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 months ago★★★★★
Alan was a wonderful photographer! He captured every detail from our wedding so thoughtfully and I enjoyed reliving the moment and remembering things from our special day that I hadn't thought of since the day, thanks to his pictures. Picking someone to capture your wedding is an important decision, and can be…
Reasonable price
TTeresa8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 6 months ago★★★★★
We loved working with Alan! He captured our wedding day perfectly. He was very familiar with the venue, Safari Park. He was patience with us and the kids in the wedding party. During our pre-wedding meeting he was very organized. On the day of the wedding he was so prepared, efficient and positive. We are thankful…
DDAVID6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 7 months ago★★★★★
Amazing work all around! The photos were incredible, the planning and communication was on point and the professionalism was appreciated.
Alan was great and had amazing ideas for photos while still getting all the ones we wanted. His assistant was awesome too. He knows what he is doing and was a pleasure to meet and…
RRita6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a year ago★★★★★
I chose Love Story Photography to capture my June wedding ceremony and reception. I couldn’t have been happier with photographer Alan Merrigan. He’s very professional, easy to work with, punctual, responsive and the quality of work was superb!
AAmanda9 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a year ago★★★★★
Alan is such a kind soul and you can tell he is super dedicated to capturing your beautiful moments. My husband and I hired him for our wedding and couldn’t be more pleased. He sent us a great handful of “sneak peeks” and can’t wait to see the rest! Highly recommend Love Story Photography. Bonus is his wife, Heidi,…
Alan took our photos for a family mini session (15-20 min session that includes 20 photos). I booked online and he texted me right away to confirm, I really appreciated that he reached out right away so I knew the booking worked. His price was really reasonable and the photos were gorgeous! We did the session at the eucalyptus preserve at UCSD but he offers a lot of other locations. He was great with my kids (4 and 7) and encouraged some fun poses for them that turned out really cute. So glad I picked him and I will treasure these photos!
Response from the owner · a week ago
Sabrina, your family was so much fun to capture and I hope we can do this again in the future - Thanks so much!
V
Victoria Austin3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Victoria has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Alan was a wonderful photographer! He captured every detail from our wedding so thoughtfully and I enjoyed reliving the moment and remembering things from our special day that I hadn't thought of since the day, thanks to his pictures. Picking someone to capture your wedding is an important decision, and can be challenging, but Alan made it one of the easiest choices, he put our minds at ease and was so calm throughout the busy day. Thank you Alan for all your help and for your vision, we have photos to cherish the memories forever now thanks to you!
Price assessment: Reasonable price
T
Teresa L8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Teresa has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We loved working with Alan! He captured our wedding day perfectly. He was very familiar with the venue, Safari Park. He was patience with us and the kids in the wedding party. During our pre-wedding meeting he was very organized. On the day of the wedding he was so prepared, efficient and positive. We are thankful to have his beautiful photography to relive such a fun celebration! Would 100% recommend his work for anyone celebrating a marriage or engagement.
Response from the owner · 6 months ago
Teresa & Andrew, that's so wonderful of you - thanks so much! I had a great time with you, your families and guests! Happy to capture all those moments for you two!
D
DAVID BRUNS6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews DAVID has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Amazing work all around! The photos were incredible, the planning and communication was on point and the professionalism was appreciated.
Alan was great and had amazing ideas for photos while still getting all the ones we wanted. His assistant was awesome too. He knows what he is doing and was a pleasure to meet and work with. We made the right choice going with Love Story Photography
Response from the owner · 7 months ago
Hey David, thanks so much! You two were incredible, your happiness and enthusiasm made my part easy! Wishing you much happiness together!
J
Jillian EnriqueLocal Guide · 3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Jillian has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Alan was truly amazing and one of the best decisions we made for our wedding day. We absolutely loved how he captured the candid and in the moment memories. Every photo feels so natural and emotional, and the quality of his work is incredible. Check out the photos below! They do not do justice and I am sad I can't upload all of them for you to see!
Looking through our photos instantly brings us right back to the day. What stood out just as much was how Alan treated us throughout the entire day. Even when things felt stressful or chaotic, he remained calm, kind, and reassuring, which helped us stay present and enjoy every moment. He went above and beyond by staying overtime when the day ran longer than expected, and still delivered our photos in a very timely manner.
A special note that meant a lot to us is that Alan is the husband of our officiant, and together they are such a caring and lovely duo. You could truly feel how invested they both were in making our day meaningful and special. If you are looking for a photographer who is talented, professional, genuinely kind, and who will capture your day in the most authentic way, Alan is absolutely the one. We could not recommend him more.
Response from the owner · 7 months ago
Jillian - thanks so much for your kindness, and your beautiful words! We're so glad that we got to be a part of your and Daniel's best day and helped create some amazing pictures of it all! Heidi and I hope the rest of your lives together are just as fun as your wedding day was!
J
Jackie Shaib2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Jackie has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Double 5 star review!
Alan photographed both my engagement and wedding days! I cannot highlight enough how great Alan is both personally and professionally.
As a type A individual, Alan was there for me during the planning stages of the proposal (from when to do it for best lighting, where he should hide, how to get to the spot, etc.), he truly cared about making it the perfect experience and answered all my questions (big and small), and was happy to do it. Our engagement shoot was fun, he had great places to take us for stunning views, and of course the photos turned out amazing.
Alan did such a phenomenal job with the engagement shoot it was a no brainer to also use him for the wedding. We had a long list of family photo combinations we wanted and Alan didn't hesitate to assure us we would be able to capture everything we wanted. He showed up on time, had a great eye for detail, worked with us during last minute time line changes, and directed his staff as needed. He provides clear direction, gives feedback as needed, and is able to capture anything you want.
Not only was Alan professional, he is also personally extremely kind, warm, genuine, and sincere. Having his calming and positive energy around throughout the day was a life savor. He really made me and my wife feel so special and was able to constantly remind us what the day was actually about, each other. I truly could not imagine the day going any better or using/trusting anyone else to capture our wedding. We are so in love with the photos and will treasure them for a lifetime.
Alan is an easy recommendation to make, you will not be disappointed using his services!
Response from the owner · 9 months ago
Thank you Jackie - I had such a great time with you and your wife, your wedding was exactly what all weddings should be - caring, fun, and real. Honored to have been a part of it!
R
Rita Dickson6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Rita has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I chose Love Story Photography to capture my June wedding ceremony and reception. I couldn’t have been happier with photographer Alan Merrigan. He’s very professional, easy to work with, punctual, responsive and the quality of work was superb!
A
Amanda Mattox9 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Amanda has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Alan is such a kind soul and you can tell he is super dedicated to capturing your beautiful moments. My husband and I hired him for our wedding and couldn’t be more pleased. He sent us a great handful of “sneak peeks” and can’t wait to see the rest! Highly recommend Love Story Photography. Bonus is his wife, Heidi, is an officiant if you’re looking for one! She’s fantastic too!
L
Lauren PhillipsLocal Guide · 16 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Lauren has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Alan did an *incredible* job photographing our San Diego wedding and engagement session (which was great practice for getting more comfortable in front of the camera). Our wedding photos were beautifully curated and are the best reminder of our day. He is so friendly and easygoing, and really knew how to help us relax. He captured great atmosphere shots and candid shots of our guests, formal photos with family, and beautiful portraits of us as a couple. His sharp eye for capturing great shots and many years of experience as a photographer meant he did not miss any important photos, without even being asked. We feel very fortunate to have found Alan who was down-to-earth with a vibrant, true-to-life style and whose prices are frankly a steal compared to most in the area. Thank you Alan for being a part of our day!!! His wife Heidi is also a fantastic officiant which is how we found Alan in the first place.
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Diana V1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Diana has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We had the best experience working with Alan for our engagement session! He made a genuine effort to get to know us and made us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. The photos are absolutely beautiful, and he captured us so naturally. We couldn’t be happier with the photos! Alan is a truly talented photographer who knows exactly what he’s doing, and we’re so grateful for the memories he created for us.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Thank you for your kind words Diana, you both made the session fun for me too!
