When I found out that Cecile & Robert wanted me to shoot their engagement session in New York, I couldn't have been more excited! Traveling to shoot is (for me) one of greatest perks of my job (some others include staying in my PJ's till 10 or 11, getting to enjoy a beautiful Wednesday outside here and there, and doing something I love). But seriously, I have a passion for travel and for getting to shoot things in new and interesting backdrops.
New York can't be called a new backdrop for me since I was born there and visit frequently, but it is certainly interesting! It was even more interesting the day of this shoot because it was the day of the Gay Pride parade, which one can imagine made the area even more colorful! But we didn't start shooting down in the West Village where the parade went through, we started somewhere way better.
You see, Robert and Cecile possess the holy grail of New York City: An inherited rent controlled apartment. Yes, it is better than mecca.
But the best part of their apartment is the obvious love Cecile & Robert have for it, and for one another:
We headed up the street to a little lawn area that had a merry go round. A fun couple like this--of course we're getting on:
I love these photos not only because of their adorable expressions, but also because you can see how weird this merry go round is! Not that they are on a seahorse and a bear--seriously?!
Eventually we got off the machine and hung out on the lawn for a few minutes. Cecile and Robert say they love to spend time there:
I love the relaxed attitudes they have! These photos feel like they could be on any given day that they might spend at the park:
Soft photos make me happy:
And so do sharp ones!
A little dangerous, but worth it (this blog does not condone standing in busy streets with your eyes closed unless you are a trained professional)
This is one of my favorites. The expressions, the wind blowing hair into Cecile's face--everything! It's processed with Totally Rad Actions Bullet Tooth at about 20% and pool party at about 20%:
Carefree and fun:
I love hot dogs from hot dog stands! I also love hot dog stands:
In the heart of the West Village. Mimes are creepy, but it made for an unusual photo!
The traffic police also make for a cool photo--they were kind enough not to give us tickets for stopping and standing :)
It was nice of this plant to grow flowers matching Cecile's sweater!
Lots of cuteness happening here:
And here:
Something about this one, I love:
Reason #143385798 why my clients are rad--they can do this:
What trip to the West Village would be complete without stopping at the famous Magnolia Bakery?!
Cheers!
So much cuteness I can't stand it:
I can't wait to shoot C & R's wedding in Houston in September--Houston better watch out, it's about to get a whole lot hotter up in there (if that's possible!)
Joe & Holly's Newport Beach Engagement Mon. July 12, 2010
Every now and then I'll get what I like to call a "mystery client". This is a client that books me entirely over the phone or email, and whom I don't meet until the wedding day or the engagement session! Holly and Brian, being Manhattanites, were one such couple, and their wedding will be at the gorgeous Four Seasons Santa Barbara late next month! I was so excited to meet them finally, and shoot their engagement session up in Newport Beach!
I recently visited New York myself last week, and i have to say, I was quite glad to get back to the sunny but not humid weather of California. The week we were in NYC, it was humid to the nth degree, the kind that makes you feel like you can't get dry after a shower and makes your hair frizz up the second you leave the house (I'm speaking generally but suffice it to say, I mean it personally).
**as a sidenote, I'll be honest--I HATE HUMIDITY with a passion. it's one of the reasons i had to get the heck off the east coast as soon as i could!**
I imagine that Holly and Joe were looking forward to a typical bright and sunny afternoon for their shoot, and it did seem at times during the day that they might get one! However, by the time we shot, it was overcast, and looked much more like a day in the city than one in Newport Beach.
Oh well, the best laid plans!
I'll be honest though--an overcast day to me is a bit of a welcome sight. The even light, the darker skies--I like the mood of it. And with a gorgeous couple like Holly and Joe, the truth is that they would look beautiful in any light!
They said they wanted the wild, natural areas, so I wasted no time in having them tromp through the fields. You know, like a warm up :)
Black and white photos seem right on days like this:
This is one of my favorite locations to shoot, and I haven't been there in at least a year! It was nice to be back:
I even saw things a little differently than I ever had before--I LOVED shooting in this tall wheat grass. These are two of my faves:
Forehead kisses are the best, aren't they?
Everywhere I turned there was a spot better than the next:
I love this one:
And this one:
We had to break a rule or two to get this one (but it was worth it):
I love the way Holly's skirt moves in the wind just a little bit on the side--it completes this photo for me:
Even though we didn't get the sunny day we hoped for, I might even say we got something better :) Holly & Joe, can't wait for your wedding!!
Every year, I start out with weddings booked. And every year, there are certain ones that I look forward to just a little bit extra for one reason or another. Natali and Brian's wedding is one of those, because it'll be the first one that I'll be getting to shoot in one of my favorite places, Palm Springs!
Although Natali & Brian are getting married at the fabulous Horizon Hotel, we photographed their engagement session at the Ace Hotel, to get a different feel for this set of photos than for their wedding!
This hotel is exactly the kind of place I love--retro modern, a little quirky, a little campy, and of course, perfect for photos!
This is what you see when you arrive:
They had a FANTASTIC suite! It was a bit dark but I couldn't resist a few black and whites:
Normally, I request that couples don't wear sunglasses during our shoot, but Brian looked so Palm Springs swanky, I couldn't resist just one. Natali, of course, looked perfectly retro Palm Springs in her eyelet lace dress:
The lobby of the hotel was so stylish for engagement photos:
It had this amazing knitted draping in the window. I could have shot there all day!
I loe these two:
And these two:
My favorite from this engagement session:
Seriously, stop being so awesome N&B!
The poolside had these shade things that were just so alien looking! They were like a 70's version of what the future should look like:
It didn't stop us from making some timeless photos though:
I think these two are going to make for some rad wedding shooting:
No matter what they are wearing:
Another favorite:
Natali requested some photos by the Palm Springs sign, and we got there at exactly the right time!
Timing is everything, isn't it?
Brian loved the scale of the mountains. I agree:
Palm Springs: Not a Misnomer:
Thank you both for BLOWING MY MIND on this session! I can't wait for the big day!
Just because it's Friday, and just because I'm stoked to be shooting Hana & Edwin's wedding on Maui in September, I thought I'd leave you for the weekend with just one shot from today that makes me happy!
I have to start this post by saying that I absolutely LOVE my job. I have no idea sometimes how my life worked out to be how it is, and a big part of that has to do with the relationships I have with my clients. They are just AWESOME people, and getting to know them is my favorite part of what I do.
Katie and Dave had me feeling like I was the luckiest person in the world getting to spend the afternoon with them in San Francisco. We cruised all around, starting off shooting them with their dogs in the Tilden fields, and winding up on a Tug Boat in the middle of the San Francisco bay. If you don't know, that's not an easy thing to pull off. Luckily, Katie & Dave have some great connections, and we were able to maximize them big time!
First things first though, Katie and Dave
I love their story so much. They went to the same high school, but they weren't really friends. They would see one another around, and somewhere there may even be a single photo of them together, but there was definitely nothing more than a passing acquaintance. Fast forward ten years to their reunion, and they both knew pretty instantly that they should be together. And so they were. And so they will be :)
Katie and Dave are a very dynamic couple, they love to see and do things, and one of those things is spending time with their dogs! Lately I've had a LOT of requests for portraits with dogs, and lots of clients wanting to bring them to sessions. I am loving it! It brings an extra touch of fun and excitement, and extra meaning to the photos.
However, most of the time they aren't going to sit and smile happily at the camera. How can they when LOOK, THERE'S A FUN SMELL OVER THERE, or OOOH! A SQUIRREL!!
This is about as close as we're going to get most of the time:
This was at the end of the Tilden shoot, and the dogs are simply tuckered out:
Probably because they spent most of their time doing this:
And this:
And looking for snacks (hey, who can blame them?):
But we still managed some sweet moments:
I love this one:
Like any great parents though, Katie and Dave know when to get a babysitter and have some alone time :)
And concentrate just on each other:
And take a minute in the quiet:
One really interesting thing about Dave is that he is a San Francisco Bar Pilot. If you don't know what that is, don't worry, most people don't, but it is really an amazing job. There are only 60 San Francisco bar pilots, and they are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. They are responsible for knowing every inch of the bay in order to guide in any ships that come to port there. The program to become a bar pilot is extremely rigorous, and many people either cannot get into the program or do not make it through.
Dave has just achieved his pilot status, so Katie thought that taking a tug boat out to the pilot boats to shoot would be a great way to commemorate such a great achievement:
I love this shot, and it was extremely hard to get. The boat we were on had to keep moving, and the pilot boats in the background were bobbing up and down as well. Not to mention the fact that Dave's co-workers were on or near the boats giving him a hard time (that part was only hard for Dave, I was fine with it) :)
Definitely worth the trip out there:
We cruised around the bay on the tug for awhile and just shot some fun stuff around the bay:
I just love Katie's look:
And her dress. And her ring. And her Dave.
San Francisco is such a beautiful city--I would love to shoot weddings and engagements there more often! It's only a 45 minute flight from Orange County, but it is like another world:
These two make me feel happy:
I can't wait to get to photograph Katie as a bride! I think she is stunning:
I love the feel of this one:
Of course, this is my favorite:
Fun fact: Katie forgot to bring jeans on the boat, and didn't want to have all of her photos wearing a cocktail dress (even if it is gorgeous!). What does any good photographer do in that situation? Help a sister out, of course! I would have been thrilled to trade my jeans for that dress permanently, if you want to know the truth :)
That's right, I am a full service photographer. I just roll like that.
Katie & Dave, I can't WAIT for your wedding. It is going to be incredible!
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