based in oaxaca, mexico

photo · video · drone · film

ready to confirm availability?

2027-2028 Availability

Oaxaca Elopement & Wedding Photographer · Photo + Film

Cinéma vérité for two.

Photos and film of the real moments of your wedding.

Elopements & small weddings · Oaxaca and off the beaten path · from US$6,000

Check 2027–2028 Availability

Feel at home

You chose Oaxaca for its magic, its cuisine, its climate, and because it's far from ordinary. Some of your guests may be meeting each other for the first time here. You want every one of them to feel welcome, at home.

Nicole and Robert with the calenda dancers in downtown Oaxaca

This was my experience, too.

My wife and I got married at Carmen Alto, here in her hometown, with only our closest friends and family. The Mass was in Spanish, and my family simply went with the flow. Between the food, the slower pace, the hospitality, the weather, and the beautiful old buildings, they got to know a very different Oaxaca from the one in the news. They felt welcome and safe, and they didn't want to leave.

I've lived in Oaxaca since 2007, photographed weddings here since 2008, and raised three kids who were born here. I speak English and Spanish, and I'll make sure everyone, from your grandparents to your new in-laws, feels at ease in front of the camera.

Paula dancing alone in her wedding dress in the shade, black and white

The lens I see through

Films and books that have shaped me since I was a child taught me that when a whole life can hinge on a moment, the ordinary can become extraordinary. I find the experience of walking around Oaxaca like that of walking around Paris, and the writers and artists of Paris in the 1920s and '30s would feel at home among the artists of Oaxaca today.

As an American who moved to Oaxaca in his 20s, I identify with Hemingway's memoir of his time in Paris in his 20s, and I keep that sense of wonder and becoming alive in my approach to my couples' experience here.

Even though life can be absurd and even cruel, it's still up to us to make it mean something. Every day gives us a chance to, and none more so than the day we commit to our life partner.

More about me
Chris twirling Maya in streaks of sunlight at Criollo, Oaxaca

When you look through your photos

You want to see great candids, unadorned and natural, but you also want to see magazine-worthy portraits and eye-popping works of art that capture the atmosphere, the mood, the world of your day.

You want to see yourselves as you are, naturally, but also as you felt on that day—like you were floating on air in an alternate universe where your happiness reached another plane.

You want to be wowed: “Wait, we were there, in that incredible place? That's us?!”

That's why my approach blends the cinematic, the editorial, and the documentary. It has to, to meet the moment of what this day means to you.

But wait, you say. How can this work if we feel awkward in front of the camera? You’re not going to make us pose, are you?

Not to worry. You're in good company. Lots of couples feel the same way.

Laura & Merlin, wedding clients of Douglas Favero Photography

“I have to express my thanks for the work you provided us with, because it demonstrates such a high level of quality and professionalism in the uniqueness of the photography, but above all for making us feel at ease, in front of your camera with your charisma and unpretentiousness we could share the magic, chemistry and happiness of our love.

You became part of the atmosphere that enveloped us. How could someone like me, so uncomfortable in front of the camera, feel such trust with someone I've just met as if you were a life-long friend?”

—Laura & Merlin

What other couples say

Anneka & Alejandro's wedding at El Cardenal, Oaxaca, photographed by Douglas Favero

“Douglas was an incredible photographer to work with for our wedding.

We are a Mexican American couple (my family is English-speaking and my husband's is Spanish), so it was wonderful that Douglas was able to communicate with all of our family and friends in both English and Spanish.

The photos from the wedding are PHENOMENAL. We keep receiving comments about how beautiful they are.”

—Anneka & Alejandro

Brooks & Vero, wedding clients of Douglas Favero Photography

“It was a very complicated event, with the open-air ceremony, the calenda, and the reception, but we think you captured it all in an excellent way.

We've shown the album to our friends with great response. Everyone's admired it.”

—Brooks & Vero

Criollo Oaxaca

Maya & Chris

view wedding

RealOaxacaWeddings

Santo Domingo & La Fábrica Patio

Xime & Luis

view wedding

Quinta Real & Jardín Etnobotánico

Margoth & Isaac

view wedding

Casa Quiote, Jardín Etnobotánico

Nicole & Robert

view wedding

Casa Mar y Mar, near Puerto Escondido

Eli & Roman

view wedding
Packages & Pricing

How it works

  1. 1.

    We talk.

    A free call to get to know each other and what you have in mind.

  2. 2.

    We choose the place together.

    I know Oaxaca well and can suggest places and help scout them, here or wherever you're going.

  3. 3.

    The day.

    I guide you when it helps and stay out of the way when it doesn't.

  4. 4.

    Your photos and film.

    A curated collection and short film, editorial and cinematic, and a sneak peek within 2 days.

Check 2027–2028 Availability

Elopements

Based in Oaxaca. Elopements worldwide.

Photo and film, all by me. Elope among agave, at Hierve el Agua, or somewhere few people have heard of. See elopements, from $6,000.

Elope among Agave

see elopements

Surprise Proposal at Hierve el Agua

see the photos

WPJA award-winning · Featured in El País

as seen in

What you won't have to worry about

photo · video · drone · film

Just me, or a small team.

Most weddings need a photographer, a videographer, a drone operator, and, if you wantfilm, someone else again. I do all four myself. For an elopement or an intimate wedding, it's just me, all day. For a larger celebration, I bring in a small team that I direct, so the photos, video, and drone footage all have the same look.

See the videography

Quick answers

How much does a Oaxaca wedding photographer cost?
Photo and film start at $6,000 USD, all in: your 8-hour day, with photo, video, vintage film, and drone, all by me. A 35% deposit and a signed contract reserve your date. See pricing, or ask me for the full packages.
When is the best time of year to get married in Oaxaca?
October through February is ideal. By April it's quite hot, and May is very hot. Rain usually comes from June through September, mostly as afternoon or evening storms.
How far ahead should we book?
Popular venues usually need to be booked more than 12 months ahead. Nine months is risking it for popular dates.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. I'm American, I've lived in Oaxaca since 2007, and I speak English and Spanish, so I can talk with both families, your planner, and every vendor.
Do you photograph weddings outside Oaxaca?
Yes, in the rest of Mexico and abroad, including San Miguel de Allende, Chicago, Heidelberg, and Paris. Destination weddings start at $6,600, with travel included.

Not Quite Ready?

Take your time. Come back and visit. Look through the galleries, the elopements, and the vintage film options. Download the free elopement guide below. When you're ready, write to me.

A couple walking together through an agave field in the fog, Oaxaca

a free guide

5 Things to Know Before You Elope in Oaxaca