Congratulations on your engagement! As you revel in the excitement of sharing the big news with your loved ones, the planning begins...
My name is Vanessa and I am so happy that your journey has led you to XO and Fetti Photography. My passion is capturing the unique love stories of couples who are wildly in love and unafraid to be themselves. I love working with couples who find ways to incorporate their personalities into their wedding. Imaginative couples who are silly, free spirited, kind, and playful. Your eccentricities make you, you. They are what made you fall in love with each other. They are what make me fall in love with you too! My style is every bit as eclectic as the couples I shoot for. Everything from framing to posing is essential to creating images that are artful, whimsical, and as magical as you are. I aim for the dreamy, romantic, fairytale feeling from start to finish.
A LOT of work goes into planning your wedding, but the day itself will go by more quickly than you can imagine. With my experience, you can rest assured that I will capture every detail you worked so hard to plan, from your quirky invitation suite to the thoughtful favors your guests will bring home with them. Most importantly, I will capture the precious, fleeting moments that encapsulate the joy of the day. From your first kiss as a married couple to the candid grins of your friends and family celebrating your love on the dancefloor. I will ensure that you and your guests feel at ease in front of the camera so that you aren’t concerned with anything other than being present and soaking it all in. These authentic moments cannot be recreated and you will enjoy every single one of them.
"I’m grateful to be part of such a joyous moment in someone’s life."
My name is Vanessa and I am so happy that your journey has led you to XO and Fetti Photography. My passion is capturing the unique love stories of couples who are wildly in love and unafraid to be themselves. I love working with couples who find ways to
incorporate their personalities into their wedding. Imaginative couples who are silly, free spirited, kind, and playful. Your eccentricities make you, you. They are what made you fall in love with each other. They are what make me fall in love with you too! My style is every bit as eclectic as the couples I shoot for. Everything from framing to posing is essential to creating images that are artful, whimsical, and as magical as you are. I aim for the dreamy, romantic, fairytale feeling from start to finish.
A LOT of work goes into planning your wedding, but the day itself will go by more quickly than you can imagine. With my experience, you can rest assured that I will capture every detail you worked so hard to plan, from your quirky invitation suite to the thoughtful
favors your guests will bring home with them. Most importantly, I will capture the precious, fleeting moments that encapsulate the joy of the day. From your first kiss as a married couple to the candid grins of your friends and family celebrating your love on the dancefloor. I will ensure that you and your guests feel at ease in front of the camera so that you aren’t concerned with anything other than being present and soaking it all in. These authentic moments cannot be recreated and you will enjoy every single one of them.
SENTIMENTALIST :
You are a romantic, and fairytales hold a special place in your heart.
ADVENTURERS :
You start planning your next trip while you are still on your trip. You live for your travel plans and enjoy learning about history, culture and the world around you.
KIND HEARTED :
You believe in the power of kindness and spread cheer and positivity whenever you have the opportunity.
STORYTELLERS :
You have a deep appreciation for art and stories; from music, to movies, to photography - you find the beauty in expression and appreciate what they bring into our world.
I’m a California native, born and raised in Los Angeles. I have always been a hopeless romantic, drawn to fairytales and timeless stories of true love. My husband and I are best friends and have been since we were teenagers. We met as next-door neighbors and although I have been taking pictures since I was a kid, it was my husband that helped me graduate from the disposable cameras of my childhood by giving me my first consumer film camera. We had a seven-year engagement and married after fourteen years of dating. There is no wrong way when it comes to love.
On our wedding day, our photographers gifted us tangible memories of the singular joy that is marrying your soulmate. Our laughter, our tears. The anticipation of getting ready, the excitement of driving off together at the end of the night. Our love, our story.
my journey
I began professionally shooting weddings shortly after that day. I started out under other photographers, working and building experience for three years. I launched XO and Fetti after discovering my own creative voice. I photographed the first XO and Fetti couple in June of 2016 and have had the honor of documenting many love stories since then! I want to build an experience for a couple from start to finish that only I can create. I want to give other couples the same gift my wedding photographers gave me. I’m grateful to be part of such a joyous moment in someone’s life.
“Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”'
-Elliot Erwitt
a few of my things..
favorite
My husband & my fur baby Pepper: It’s the best feeling in the world knowing that I can count on my best friend to cheer me on and support me with this small business. We met as teenagers living next door to each other and have been inseparable since! We moved back to our hometown early in 2020 and now spend most of our time with our 14 year old dachshund, exploring parks and eateries in our city and beyond.
All the Things: I’m a huge supporter of art and creative expression; I would draw a ton as a child for fun and was our High School newspaper’s cartoonist! As an adult, I love to say that I love “all the things” that are creative and artful, from pottery to dance. Lately, I’ve been obsessing over Grandmillenialism and Chinoiserie interior design.
My parents wedding day: A wave of nostalgia sweeps over me every time I document a wedding. I am a romantic at heart. When I was a little girl I would watch my parents' wedding video over and over again and I’d sit and flip through their film photos.I loved seeing my grandparents, my aunts, uncles and older cousins celebrating my parents union. Plus, I loved that it was the first wedding I ever attended - Yup. I was my parents’ flower girl!
Traveling: At fifteen, I was given a choice between a Quinceanera and a family trip. Can you guess what I chose? Don’t get me wrong, I love to celebrate milestones too, but exploring new places and making memories with loved ones has always made me happiest!
husband and fur baby
all the things
parents wedding day
traveling
MEET TEAM
the
founder & principal artist
Vanessa Mestas
You know that saying, there’s no “I” in team? Well, I truly believe that this photography company would not be where it is today without the support and contributions from my colleagues. Our work, our connection with our clients and our growth is because of our joint dedication to XO and Fetti’s philosophy and art. I am so grateful to have these talented people - these creatives - as part of XO and Fetti.
Jennifer
“My fascination for love and how unique and special it is, inspires me to tell your story as beautifully and authentically as possible. Love stories are an infinite source of inspiration to me and I believe that the most magical images are made up of connection, emotion, and light. I wholeheartedly believe that you should live in the moments you want to remember forever, and I am beyond thrilled to share those moments with XO and Fetti couples!”
Jennifer joined our team two in a half years ago. We adore her fine art approach to wedding days, as well as her sweet personality. Her calmness creates a serene space for our couples, making her a perfect creative for wedding days. She is our Principal Associate and is available to document weddings in SoCal and beyond.
Jennifer
CLAUDIA
“I have photographed moments for my family and friends for as long as I can remember; to me, taking a photo of a special occasion, a family achieving a milestone or even a teenager growing through life’s journey is a privilege and I’m honored to professionally offer my services for XO and Fetti couples. Documenting a love story, and the connections between family are what make me feel most excited about being a wedding photographer. I’m humbled to do what I do!”
Claudia has been a part of XO and Fetti from day one! She primarily second shoots; her kindness and fun personality are only two of the many reasons why she’s my right-hand woman. She occasionally takes on a wedding as Principal Associate but finds she connects best with intimate family sessions.
Claudia
Elaine
“I'm so excited to be part of the XO and Fetti team! I was born and raised in Los Angeles but have roots in Hawaii and am currently in Northern California shooting weddings up and down the Golden Coast. When I'm not shooting and editing, I love spending time by the water, cooking up Korean food, and baking a new treat! I'm the type of person who will always have room for dessert :) I'm usually reading through at least one fiction and one non-fiction book simultaneously, and my favorite part of being a wedding photographer is capturing memories for my couples and their loved ones that they can look back on and remember for lifetimes to come.”
Elaine’s work and aesthetic takes me to an ethereal, dreamy space. The way she captures authentic moments is alluring, timeless and classic. There’s a sense of serenity to her work, a calm presence that is welcoming and warm. We are truly fortunate to have her as an Associate, her work has been recognized by fine-art publications such as Once Wed and Magnolia Rouge.
