Who is
Joey Broccardo?
A Southern California photographer inspired by the coast, good light, and the occasional road trip.
that’s ella—she’s not around anymore, but it still makes this one of my favorite photos.
This is a story about a kid, born and raised, in San Clemente, twelve years old, picked up a camera.
Before too long people started to ask,
“Can you shoot my wedding?”—and just like that, it took off so fast.
Started small, figuring it out, learning on the fly,
never had any doubt.
Before he knew it, it wasn’t just a hobby,
just like that he was chasing the light, along for the ride.
Capturing your moments and your once-in-a-lifetimes,
the real stuff that matters—not the forced or staged.
And at this point, he’s just seeing where it goes,
but so far—it’s been a pretty good road.
*If you didn’t read that in your head like the Fresh Prince intro, go back and try again.*
Most of what I shoot is weddings, seniors, and sessions around San Clemente, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano—with the occasional Laguna Beach day mixed in. Nothing overly staged, just real moments as they happen.
If you’re planning a wedding and this feels like your kind of approach, you can check out more of my work here.
A few things you probably wouldn’t find on a photography website
- Sold his first photos to the County of Orange at 15.
- Member of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus (ECV 64), and so recorded.
- Writes comedy and is still working up the courage to do a stand-up set.
- Happiest fishing in the Sierra near Bridgeport with his sons.
Q&A
What’s your style?
I like to pay attention to how you actually interact when you don’t think anyone’s watching—little mannerisms, the way you laugh, all of it. Then I build the photos around that. Real people, real moments… sometimes a little dorky, but that’s kind of the point.
On the editing side, I keep things clean and true to how it actually looked. No heavy filters or trendy edits—just natural color that holds up over time.
What if we feel awkward in front of the camera?
Totally get it. That’s exactly why I’m behind the camera—I don’t feel comfortable in front of it either. I’ll guide you through it so it doesn’t feel weird, and after a few minutes you’ll forget the camera’s even there.
Are you going to make us do anything weird?
Probably… but hear me out. If I’m telling you to do something, there’s a reason. I’m usually seeing the light or a moment lining up, and we’re about to get something really good out of it.
What are you like during a shoot or wedding day?
Pretty laid back, but when I see great light or something happening, I get fired up. I might get a little excited, maybe a little loud—just know it’s because I know we’re about to get a killer shot.
Anything else we should know?
Yeah… quick heads up—my mouth doesn’t always have a filter. Back in photo school, one of my instructors actually pulled me aside and told me I needed “an editor for my mouth.” That stuck with me. So if a perfect moment happens and an F-bomb slips out, just know it means something really good just happened.