Nice to meet you!

I'm Alaina Yard

I am a San Diego-based wedding and family photographer that is an expert at capturing genuine joy, sentimental moments, and those sweet hidden glances. I’m here to help your unforgettable moments stay that way – unforgettable.

How I Started

I got my start in photography over 13 years ago when I began traveling internationally with a non-profit. That first camera traveled to over 20 countries with me and captured thousands of photos. I fell in love with the photojournalistic style of photography — capturing genuine moments without forcing them to unfold. Shortly after, I transitioned to working in the graphic and web design industry both as a freelancer and serving on staff as a Creative Director. I quickly learned that if I wanted great photos for a project I was working on, I was going to have to go take them. That is where my love for branding was born! Even though I don’t take on many branding/design projects anymore, I don’t think I’ll ever stop having a passion for helping small-businesses represent themselves better online. Now, the majority of my focus goes to what I truly love, documenting authentic moments for families and couples. This is near and dear to my heart because I truly believe the only way to really bottle all the joy and love in those moments is to hit the shutter button.

I understand more than most how important photos are. When I was a kid, we lost 99% of our family photos. I didn’t understand my moms heartbreak until I was older — photos are more than just images, they are our documented history. They trigger memories, make us feel nostalgia, preserve loved ones, and help us learn about our past. As your photographer, I have the privilege of capturing those moments for you so they are never forgotten. I shoot in a photojournalistic style with a touch of prompts and poses to help you feel comfortable in front of the camera.

My goal is for you to look back on your photos and experience alllll the warm and fuzzy feelings. You are living in the good-ol-times now, so lets document it together!

My goal is for you to look back on your photos and experience alllll the warm and fuzzy feelings. You are living in the good-ol-times now, so lets document it together!

a few fun facts

I love traveling to other countries! My husband and I spent a year living in Europe. This photo was taken at our favorite coffee shop in Budapest.

We love to adventure, explore, and hike whenever we get a chance. This was in Big Sur during an epic trip up the California Coast.

This is my wonderful husband Daryl and cutie dog Winnie. We’ve been married for over 8 years and still feel like newlyweds. 

Let’s go camping! My ultimate feel-good moment is a crisp mountain morning with a hot cup of coffee – clearly we are big coffee fans!

let's be friends