Connection Over Perfection
Event & Branding Photographer, Orange County
Photography for people and rooms that are in the moment.
Forget the step-and-repeat. The best photo from your gala is your board chair mid-laugh, with no idea the camera's there.
I document private events, personal brands, and couples. Real moments, real people.
Based in Newport Beach, working across Orange County
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHY VENDOR — Environmental Nature Center, Newport beach, CA
Hi!
Mariano here, the one behind the lens...
Before I was a photographer, I trained as a life and leadership coach. That background shows up in how I work a room: I know how to put people at ease fast enough that they forget I'm there — whether that's two hundred gala guests mid-fundraiser or one person in front of a branding-session lens for the first time.
My job isn't to direct the moment. It's to be paying close enough attention that I don't miss it. Your son tripping over his own feet. The windblown hair your partner brushes from your face. A quiet, knowing glance while everyone else is looking somewhere else.
Every session starts the same way: a real conversation, then me Finding the moments. See how it works →
The Portfolio
Events & Galas
Personal Branding
Couples & Editorial
Testimonials
"Intuitive, creative, and full of heart. He made everyone feel at ease and beautifully seen — the photos from our event are alive with the spirit of the evening."
Carrie W.
Local business owner, Laguna Beach, CA
"I am in advertising, I work with professional photographers on a regular basis. Mariano excels in artistic skills as well as the empathetic demeanor needed for this work."
Paul C.
Creative Director, Seattle, WA
Tell me about what you want documented