ABOUT
Hi there — I’m Gabriel Harber – Bay Area Wedding Photographer Extraordinaire based in Oakland, California.
Since shooting my first professional wedding in 2002 and going full‑time in 2007, I’ve captured love and life across the San Francisco Bay Area — from redwood elopements and city hall ceremonies to backyard weddings and family adventures. My work celebrates the real, imperfect, goofy, sometimes messy, always beautiful moments.
I live in a lovingly restored Victorian home in Oakland with my wife, Loretta, our kids, Ellis and Zelda, and Hazel the dog. We keep bees, chickens, fruit trees, and veggie beds—living a mini urban homesteaders lifestyle. When I’m not behind the camera, I’m baking bread, foraging for mushrooms, soaking in hot springs, fixing things, or thinking about my next food project.
I’m a finder, fixer, maker, and old soul who brings light humor and grounded presence to your wedding day. I won’t boss you into stiff poses—I’ll nudge you gently, laugh with you, and stay out of your way when the moments call for it.
From Oakland to San Francisco, the Marin headlands to Mendocino, I’m ready to document your amazing celebration.
If you’re looking for a Bay Area wedding or family photographer who sees the beauty in imperfections and the humor in chaos, let’s connect. I’d be honored to capture your story, wherever it unfolds.
Gabriel is a true professional, wonderful human, and a great person to have on your team as you plan a special event!”
-Jaime + Niall
IT’S A COLLABORATION
A wedding is a massive collaborative effort. You will work put your heart and soul into this amazing event. The time you spend celebrating with your people will go by in a flash, but the memories will stay with you for years to come. I am so stoked to be able capture and to share these special moments with you.
OUR ANNUAL FAMILY PORTRAIT
My annual family portrait traditions (complete with time-consuming, chubby-cheeked kids) remind me how fleeting moments are—and why documenting them matters. Keeping things honest, quirky, and messy is essential.
Through the Years
MY KIDS
We dress up, explore in the woods and desert, and generally have a grand time together. Every November/ December my kids join me at the Dickens Christmas Fair where we play chimney sweeps. Here are some pics of my kids over the years. I love kids at weddings, and being a parent means I very much respect the decision to not have kids at a wedding.
HELLA HOBBIES!
I am an obsessive Do It Yourself-er. Ever since I was a kid, my drive to taste, take apart and put together, and explore has been high. If you are curious about some of my hobbies or thought it might be fun to pick up a new hobby of your own, here are some resources that I have found helpful in my recent endeavors.
Fermentation – bread, ginger beer, mead, sauerkraut, … check out The Art of Fermentation and Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz.
Beekeeping? Have you secretly always wanted to start beekeeping? Me neither, but now that I have started, I am hooked. If you are interested in starting your own back yard beekeeping operation, here are a few resources: Bush Farms, Randy Oliver, Beekeeping for Dummies, and Mann Lake.
Mushroom Hunting is so fun. It is a great excuse to get out into the natural world when the weather is crappy. Get All That Rain Promises… a pocket guide to mushroom hunting, and go find yourself some dinner.
Bought a new house, getting married, want to find cool old shit? The best place to do your vintage and antique shopping in the Bay Area is the Alameda Antique Fair. It happens the first Sunday of every month, and is an epic treasure trove of vintage and antique stuff and tons of great food trucks. Estate Sales are good too, but require more effort.
