Four photographers who work in Santa Teresa and Mal Pais in 2026 compared on family, couples, wedding, villa and brand shoots, with published prices from $350 to $2,400 and how to book each.
A family beach session in Santa Teresa costs $350 for 45 minutes with Jen Harter, who lives in town, and about $495 to $600 for an hour to ninety minutes with Raisa Zwart, who also shoots villas and brands. Megan McCullor starts couples and lifestyle sessions at $600 and weddings at $2,400, and Morales Solorzano is a San Ramon wedding team that travels here.
The short version
Santa Teresa is small, and the same few photographers cover most of the shoots you see on the beach at sunset. I looked for people who list Santa Teresa as a base or who have shot weddings and villas here, and I have only included prices I could read on their own pages or posts. Surf photography is a different job with its own rules, so see the surf photography guide for that.
- Family beach session at sunset: Jen Harter, $350 for 45 minutes.
- Villa, hotel or brand shoot: Raisa Zwart, a 60 minute package from $495 and a day rate of $2,200.
- Couples, engagement or elopement: Megan McCullor, engagement from $600 and elopement from $1,600.
- Full wedding with a second photographer: Morales Solorzano, based in San Ramon and travelling to the coast.
Booking platforms also sell Santa Teresa shoots from $325 for 30 minutes, but I prefer to book someone whose portfolio you have seen. Every name below books by message, so write early in high season, which runs from December to April.
Jen Harter
Jen Harter is a fine art photographer based in Santa Teresa, and her website covers weddings, elopements, couple, maternity and family sessions, lifestyle and landscape work, and an architecture section for villas and real estate. She is the one I would call first for a family on holiday, because she lists a single, simple product: sunset family beach sessions, 45 minutes for $350, with a quick turnaround. Her post says spots fill up fast in Santa Teresa, which is true from Christmas through Easter.
Book by WhatsApp on +506 8324 1900. Wedding packages and pricing sit on a separate page of her site, so ask for it in your message. Who she suits: parents who want relaxed, natural photographs on the beach, and villa owners who need listing images, since she does architecture and real estate as well.
The caveat: the $350 figure comes from an Instagram post, so confirm that it is current and ask what the price includes, including how many edited images you get and when.
Raisa Zwart
Raisa Zwart is a travel, brand and portrait photographer with homes in Santa Teresa and the Netherlands. Her Santa Teresa page offers family and portrait sessions, adventurous and easy going for travellers and personal brands, and commercial photography with an editorial touch for apparel companies, small businesses, hotels and Airbnbs.
The prices on her site: a 60 minute package is $495, including a preparation video call and 25 edited images of your choice. A 90 minute session is $600, a full day is $2,200, and video or social content starts at $600. Brand work starts with a call and a quote. Contact is by the Let's Connect button, by email at hello@raisazwart.com, or on WhatsApp at +31 6 1012 2131.
She takes a limited number of projects, and her site lists 2026 availability for April, May, June, September, November and December. October is not on that list, so a shoot this month needs a direct question. Who she suits: owners of villas, boutiques and surf brands, and families who want a longer session. The caveat: turnaround is not stated, so ask for a delivery date in writing.
Megan McCullor
Megan McCullor is a Costa Rica based destination photographer with a photojournalistic style, and her blog shows many Santa Teresa and Mal Pais weddings, including at Casa Capitan, Villa Oceana and OCiO Villas, a Playa Hermosa lifestyle shoot and honeymoon portraits. WeddingWire lists her as a wedding photographer based in Santa Teresa.
Her services page gives these starting prices: wedding $2,400, elopement $1,600, engagement or couples session $600, lifestyle for families, proposals and maternity $600, and destination weddings outside Costa Rica $7,500. The page does not state coverage hours or gallery turnaround, and the FAQ page was not available to me. Use the Book Now button to reach her contact page.
Who she suits: couples who want documentary photographs rather than posed ones, and anyone planning a wedding at a Santa Teresa villa. Read the wedding guide for venues, planners and permits. The caveat: she travels widely, so check that she is free on your date.
Morales Solorzano Photography
Morales Solorzano is a two person wedding team, Marlen and Oscar, based in San Ramon de Alajuela and travelling around Costa Rica. They have a page about Santa Teresa weddings, where they write about the coastline, the warm light and the beach atmosphere. Reviews on their site, mostly in Spanish, praise the delivery and the way they guide couples through sessions.
No prices or packages are published. Contact them through the website form, at moralessolorzanophotography@gmail.com, or on WhatsApp via the link on the site. Who they suit: couples who want a two photographer team and are comfortable paying for travel. The caveat: they are not Santa Teresa residents, so ask about travel costs and whether your date is held for you.
Prices side by side
| Photographer | Family | Couples | Wedding | Villa or brand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jen Harter | $350, 45 min | Ask | Ask | Architecture and real estate offered |
| Raisa Zwart | $600, 90 min | Portrait sessions, ask | Not offered on page | From $495, day rate $2,200 |
| Megan McCullor | From $600 | From $600 | From $2,400 | Not offered |
| Morales Solorzano | Not listed | Engagement sessions mentioned | Ask | Not offered |
Choosing the time and place
Book the last 90 minutes before sunset. In dry season that is around 5pm, and the light is soft for roughly an hour. Booking platforms name Santa Teresa Norte and Playa Hermosa as the usual family sunset spots. The tide guide shows when the beach is narrow, and the sunset spots guide lists backdrops. For a clifftop shot, El Penon in Manzanillo is a popular proposal location. The best beaches guide covers where the sand is widest.
Rainy season, from May to November, gives dramatic skies and empty beaches but cancels more sessions, so ask for a rain date. If you travel with young children, the Santa Teresa with kids guide has the beach conditions that matter at sunset. Hair and nails are worth booking a day ahead from the hair salon guide.
How to book without surprises
Send one message with your date, the beach, the number of people and the ages of children, and ask the five things that decide the real cost: the length, the number of edited photos, the delivery date, the deposit, and what happens if it rains. Deposits are common for photographers in Costa Rica. Pay in cash or by transfer as agreed, and get the answer in writing.
Browse every service listing in the /directory/services hub.
FAQ
How much does a family photographer cost in Santa Teresa?
Jen Harter posts $350 for a 45 minute sunset family beach session. Raisa Zwart charges $495 for 60 minutes and $600 for 90 minutes. Aggregator marketplaces start around $325 for 30 minutes.
Who is the best wedding photographer in Santa Teresa?
Megan McCullor has the most documented Santa Teresa and Mal Pais weddings, and her wedding packages start at $2,400. Jen Harter also shoots weddings and elopements here, and Morales Solorzano travel from San Ramon. See my wedding guide for venues.
Can I book a photographer for a villa or Airbnb listing?
Yes. Jen Harter offers architecture and real estate photography, and Raisa Zwart shoots commercial work for hotels and Airbnbs with a day rate of $2,200. Ask each for a quote tied to the number of rooms and images.
How far ahead should I book?
In high season, from December to April, book several weeks ahead, because Jen Harter notes that spots fill up fast. Raisa Zwart limits projects per year and does not list October in her 2026 availability. In low season, a week is often enough, but ask.
How long does it take to get the photos?
Jen Harter advertises a quick turnaround without a date. The others do not publish one. Ask for the delivery date in writing before you pay a deposit, especially if you fly home within a week.
Do I need a permit to shoot on the beach?
For a family session No permit requirement is published. Weddings and large events are a different matter, so check with your venue and planner using the wedding guide.
