The Real Difference

Experience and Dedication

Our photographer, Dennis Swanson, has over 20 years experience as a full-time professional photographer. Photography is not just his weekend job or second career. With Dennis, it is a life long pursuit of creating photographic art that his clients love.

Dennis Swanson

Educated

Dennis has a BA degree from one of the most prestigious photography schools in the world, Brooks Institute, where he was trained in classical portraiture and commercial photography. It’s been said that to be a great photographer you need to know the rules before you break them. Dennis received his degree in 1984 and has been breaking the rules ever since. Even so, the education continues. Between conventions, seminars and internet resources, Dennis is constantly learning and putting into practice the new tools and techniques of today’s digital age. In this quickly changing, competitive and creative profession, resting on your laurels is not an option if you want to stay on top.

Fair and Up Front Pricing

We’re artists not car salesmen, so we don’t play games with our pricing. If you call or email us we won’t make you listen to a sales pitch or try to psyche you up before we let you know how much its going to cost. Our prices are fair, but our photographs are truly one-of-a-kind works of art, there’s no secret about it.

No Surprises

We try to make our wedding packages all-inclusive so you won’t get surprised by a lot of add-ons that come after the wedding. You will find everything we offer on our Wedding Menu. This way, before you contract with us, you can create a budget and stick to it. We include very high-end albums in most of our packages, but if you don’t see what you want on the menu, we can create a custom package for you.

A Real Studio

Studio 101 West is just like it sounds, a real studio. We are located in a commercial area of San Luis Obispo. You don’t have to meet a stranger in a coffee shop or wander around a residential area trying to meet a photographer in their private home. If you want studio portraits we’ve got the space. Our 2000 square foot studio offers a conference room, a private bathroom and a large comfortable projection room. We even have a room for the kids – complete with toys, a sofa, and TV!

Established

We’ve been here in San Luis Obispo for 20 years and we’ll be here for many years to come. If you want reprints from your wedding in 1998 we still have your negatives! We love the Central Coast and we’re not going anywhere.

Not Cheap

The advent of digital photography has brought scores of new wedding photographers who are trying to turn a hobby into a business, so there are a lot of choices out there. Many photographers will charge you much less, and many will charge you much more. If price is the main determining factor in choosing your photographer, you may not choose us. But if you want outstanding photographs with fun, friendly, professional service from an established business that will be there for you in the future, we would love to be your studio.