Notes on the light
Calamigos Ranch sits in Malibu Canyon, a working ranch turned event property with redwood groves, olive trees, and a lake at its center. It is one of the most genuinely rustic venues we film in Los Angeles, real wood and real trees rather than a designed approximation of them, and the canyon holds cool, filtered light well into the afternoon even on a hot Malibu day.
The spaces, and how they film
The Redwood Grove. Tall redwoods shade the grounds near the ranch house, giving portraits a filtered, cool light that holds up even at midday.
The Olive Grove. Rows of olive trees provide one of the property's most photographed backdrops, and it's where Andrew and Martha had their first look.
The Lake. A lake sits at the center of the property, giving the wider reception shots real depth and a genuine change of scenery from the grove.
The film, so far
We have made two films here so far: Andrew & Martha, a first look among the olive trees followed by a day that stayed outdoors almost entirely, and Ben & Catherine, an unplugged ceremony under the redwoods. Two weddings is enough to know this property’s rhythm, and we would like the third to be yours.
Filming here
Because the canyon holds shade and the property is genuinely wooded rather than landscaped, midday light here is far more usable than at an open, sunbaked venue. We take advantage of that for portraits in the redwood grove specifically, since the filtered light there is some of the most flattering we shoot in all year.