Preston + Teresa: The Wedding (2004 repost) Wed. February 3, 2010
A wedding before my 50 1.2, 5d, and trusty Totally Rad Actions (what did I ever do without them???)
Wow, it's crazy how many of you remember Preston and Teresa from the Knot chat boards back in 2004! Due to a quite overwhelming response, I have decided to dig through the archives and rustle up a few of their wedding photos.
I shot this wedding in Cabo San Lucas in 2004 at the Marquis Los Cabos-an absolutely jaw-droppingly gorgeous location. It was brand new back then, and this may have even been the first wedding there. Becker shot this wedding with me and some of the photos below might be his--there's no way for me to go back and tell at this point!
Anyway, enjoy!
Preston and Teresa, six years ago:
The ceremony contained Jewish and Spanish elements to pay tribute to both their cultures:
The breaking of the glass:
First kiss:
This is one of my favorite shots ever. I think that the coming back down the aisle photos are some of my favorites of the day more often than not!
Some beachy portraits:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this one! What a gem--I had totally forgotten about it, but the colors are so refreshing:
Teresa may or may not have been a backup dancer for Prince at one point--that is a rumor I cannot confirm or deny:
We did a day after session--it was the first one I ever did. I have no idea if anyone else was doing these back then, this was before blogs and forums were really popular, so I thought I was being terribly daring. Here's one that Becker shot of me shooting:
And the resulting image:
Looking at these photos, while I have always and still do love them, I can't believe how far I've come both personally and professionally. It's hard to see those differences day to day, but looking through this wedding brings 2004 back to me like it was yesterday. I wasn't even living in California yet!
** PHOTOGRAPHER NOTES: for those who are curious, these are ALL shot on the contax 645 AF--i chose not to post any of my digital photos in this post, although the sneak peek ones in the link above were shot on my 5d i decided to experiment and try something new since i was only shooting for fun! i had a nervous week or two while i waited for these to come back because i couldn't see them immediately and had NO idea what i'd be getting. i'm super pleased with the results. **
I LOVE being a wedding photographer and shooting weddings. When I book a new wedding, I get so excited at the thought of what I'm going to be getting to shoot, and being at a wedding is like getting to discover tiny treasures all over the place! When I look through the photos after I come home, I like to take my time, sifting through them for the diamonds, the shining moments that a couple is going to treasure, and show their children. When I select images to blog, or for albums, I think of grandchildren 60 years from now looking at the photos and thinking "things were just so beautiful back then"
During the winter months, there are fewer weddings to shoot, especially in California. It's just SO nice here during the rest of the year, that more often than not, people pick spring, summer, or fall months to get married. I like to stay inspired and occupied, so I emailed Kate Holt of Flower Wild and asked her if I could shoot something for her. My only requirements were that it be original, beautiful, and something she would LOVE to see and have photographed! Kate brought her friend Rebecca of Duet Weddings on board, and this shoot was born!
The couple is a real couple, Anneka & Patrick, who were SO wonderful to work with. Also, this dress is so small that Anneka is probably the only person on the planet who could fit into it. It fit her like a glove!
Here are my faves from the day:
The dress. OH, THIS DRESS! I die every time I see this. The dress if from a great store called Unique Vintage where you can rent or buy dresses!
One of the two bouquets that Kate painstakingly put together. I love how the flowers mirror the little flowers on the dress, and I always adore a little sparkly brooch on a bouquet!
Lots of details :) Normally I don't really LOVE white bouquets because I like color that pops, but this one was oh-so-perfect:
At the bottom here you'll see a little yellow bouquet that Kate also made. Look at the beautiful vintage mug on the right--so cool!
This is Anneka. She is such a beautiful bride!!
A peek at the table setup from inside the amazing house where we shot. This courtyard was a ideal place for this little setup:
I would love a brunch, baby shower, or intimate wedding to look like this! Maybe I will do this the next time one of my girlfriends has a baby, or maybe even for my own birthday :)
The florals were jaw-dropping. Eclectic and whimsical, my favorite combination:
Putting arrangements in different kinds of vessels adds a nice twist to a table:
Sugared cherries--delish!
Some crystal balls and juicy pomegranates completed the look:
These paper heart cutouts were so darling!! Any cute paper would make these easy and inexpensive to add to a few chairs at your reception:
Anneka looking stunning in that glorious dress!
*sigh* I love this one:
Straight out of camera, zero retouching. I guess this is why people love film:
Patrick--our resident British rock star/groom:
This lapel flower was co-designed by Kate and I :)
At first I was a little bummed that we didn't have sun, but I think it adds to the shoot after all:
I couldn't love this more--I know because I've tried--I'm at capacity:
This house was SO glorious. The courtyards, the doorways, the lush flowers--I would love to live somewhere like this:
The backyard has some lemon trees--they are so fairy-tale looking!
Love:
This one makes me happy for no particular reason:
So does this one:
Kate thought that we should bring this sofa outside, and yes...I do think it worked :)
My two faves of Anneka:
DESSERTS!! Kate had Joy the Baker whip up some pies and tarts for us to use! They were DELICIOUS--especially the pie. Yummmmy--I could barely wait to eat it till the shoot was over!
This one feels like a cross between Eve and Alice in Wonderland:
Life is but a dream...
We decided to play with these little paper hearts--I could see these being used in other colors OFTEN!
The headpiece was also rented from Unique Vintage
Just some eye-candy:
Another one of my faves:
Playtime!
We actually borrowed a second dress as well. When I first saw it I declared it "bad 60's prom"--it was not nice on the hanger. But when I suggested that Anneka try it on at the end of the shoot, I just HAD to shoot her in it!
I do love the mood of these:
And this:
And this:
A few fun details of Anneka's pink dress:
I wanted to shoot inside a bit at the end--I'm so glad we did!
Some black and white, just for the fun of it!
There's something so classic about these:
I'll leave you with two photos of Anneka that I go back to over and over again. They have that certain something...
Kate, Rebecca, Anneka, Patrick...thank you SO much for doing this with me!
Be sure to check out the Green Wedding Shoes feature on this shoot with Kate's comments on how she styled the flowers, tables, and bride!
Yesterday I had the opportunity to team up with the ever-amazing Kate of Flower Wild and Rebecca of Duet Weddings for the most charming, dreamy shoot up in the Hollywood Hills!
This is just a sneak peek because I shot film for this particular project because we wanted everything to look more dreamy and fairy tale-like. I have to say though, that although I only shot a few photos on my trusty 5d, I do love these so much! I'll be showing you more just as soon as I get them back!
Carrie and Jayson's Wedding at San Ysidro Ranch Fri. December 11, 2009
Yay! This wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty today so I can finally blog it!!
Oh, let me count the ways in which I loved this wedding.
1. San Ysidro Ranch is perfection, plain and simple. If you are planning a small wedding, this place is second to none and I dream of the day that I might be able to shoot there again. If you are getting married at San Ysidro, call me, and book me, please!! These photos are just a tiny sliver of the gorgeousness that abounds at San Ysidro:
2. The dress by Elizabeth Fillmore, purchased at The White Dress in Costa Mesa, same place where I got my dress, coincidentally! This dress was divine--flowy, original, and stunning:
3. The flowers. Oh, the FLOWERS! Kate Holt from Flower Wild is a flower goddess, which is why I am going to work with her as often as humanly possible. We're teaming up on a little project next week, AND...
(drumroll please)
She is designing my FEBRUARY 23 WORKSHOP! What February 23rd workshop? The one I released only to my mailing list, not on the blog, twitter, or facebook. Want to get on the list for the next one? **CLICK HERE** to add yourself.
In any case, the flowers! Yes, the flowers...
4. This wedding is where I met Stacey Craven with Smoke and Mirrors Makeup Spa. She is, in a word, incredible. Stacey has a true talent for bringing out the best in a face, and travels the whole area from San Diego to Santa Barbara and beyond:
5. Carrie and Jayson. Every now and then you get a couple that just plain "gets it", and you know the wedding will be amazing. I knew it with Carrie and Jay from day one, and I was not surprised that they pulled off something so effortlessly graceful and beautiful. Plus, they're gorgeous in that relaxed, not trying too hard way that I just adore:
6. They did a first look. This is just such a nice way to start off your day. It's such a special moment, and I love when couples decide to see one another prior to the ceremony. It lets us shoot before the chaos starts so the mood is so much more relaxed and fun, and there's no rush or stress afterwards chasing down the fading light!
7. Carrie and Jayson are in love, and it was easy to see. Enough said:
8. Maverick. Isn't Maverick a rad name? Maverick is Carrie's son and SUCH a little ham! The guy has tons of personality and is a pleasure to be around. He's a ball of energy, but at the same time so mature. And cute!
9. A relaxed mood: I can't tell you how much of a difference it makes to have a couple who is relaxed on their wedding day. I think this partially had to do with the wedding being so small, but a couple that is wiling to stay relaxed and just enjoy their day goes a LONG way!
10. I can put flowers twice, right?
11. An outdoor ceremony. I know that being in California I am lucky enough to get to shoot outdoors more than my fair share, but I never ever get sick of it. Shooting outside is one of the reasons I moved to California in the first place, and I fully take advantage of it!
12. Carrie and Jayson did things their own way. Traditions are great, but creating your own traditions is just so personal. Carrie had Maverick walk her down the aisle and I thought that was just so sweet. I love love love this photo:1
13: Emotion. Weddings with a little emotion to them let me do what I do best--capture something real and beautiful on your wedding day:
(they "tied the knot"--another tradition!)
15. I just love LOVE. Isn't it lovely?
17. Light. I don't have to point this out, I'm sure, but the light was A.MA.ZING.
19. The fields at San Ysidro Ranch are to die for:
20. Coordinator Alexandra K. Because of Alexandra's attention to detail, we had a golf cart waiting right after the ceremony, enough time to shoot all the photos we wanted, and just generally a perfect day.
21. Living Cinema Video. These guys actually chose this spot--I didn't see it but I sure do love this photo! There are times that it is difficult for photographers and videographers to work together, but this day was NOT one of those times. Curtis and Laura work as a team, and they also work as a team with the photographer to make sure that we can both do the best we can actually do. Props to them, and take a look at their site, they are wonderful!
22. Details. I love me some details. I know that the ceremony and portraits and reception are super important, but I just adore shooting details--it's a passion of mine! When couples take the time to really make a day that is special, fun, bright, interesting, and full of details, it really shows. The details are the thing that guests really remember--my cousin Kabrel always says, "The devil is in the details"! That was the motto for my own wedding too :)
23. Deliciousness. I love cake. I eat cake at every wedding I shoot. If I shoot your wedding, I will eat your cake too. If there is extra, you might even catch me sneaking a piece into my camera bag to take home to eat in the tub as your images are downloading. I'm not ashamed!!
24. Happiness. Carrie and Jay are happy and that infused every single thing that they did and every moment of their wedding. That kind of joy is contageous in the best possible way, and a pleasure to capture on camera.
All in all, this was my kind of wedding. I hope to shoot many more like this one next year!!
Wedding at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara: Carrie & Jayson Wed. October 28, 2009
A couple of weeks before my wedding, I shot the most beautiful little wedding up at the San Ysidro Ranch in California. I'm behind on blogging (for obvious reasons) and I have a ton of weddings and shoots to share, but I just had to show a few photos from this little gem of a venue. It's up in Santa Barbara and such a hidden jewel! The San Ysidro Ranch is intimate, wild, beautiful, lush, and all the things anyone could ever want in a wedding venue. The wedding I photographed there had all the same qualities--it was one of my favorite things I've ever shot from start to finish!
The ceremony itself was so simple and sweet--just like Carrie and Jayson (and Carrie's son Maverick). Maverick is such a show-stealer--what a little ham! I wish I could share more photos, but this wedding is submitted for publication so I can't show too much. It would be such a shame not to share just a few favorites though:
This photos is typical of what you might see around any corner at San Ysidro:
Carrie getting her makeup done by the wonderful Stacey Craven. Her hair was incredible also and was crafted by a true artist, Sheila Stone:
A nice little family photo:
Carrie is a stunner. Her Elizabeth Fillmore dress was to DIE for, and this bouquet....well let's just say that floral designer Kate Holt of Flower WildOUTDID herself for this stunning masterpiece:
Carrie being walked down the aisle by a serious faced Maverick (great name, huh??)
The lilac fields at San Ysidro--I could shoot this wedding every day of the week and twice on Sunday:
So many places to shoot:
I SO WISH I could show you every little detail of this cocktail area and reception and at some point I will, but you can get the idea from this photo:
The every amazing Alexandra of Alexandra K coordinated every single little detail and managed to look gorgeous doing it:
An intimate, 5 course dinner--what could be better?!
I also had a wonderful time with the video team of Curtis & Laura from Living Cinema! I can't wait to see what they come up with. This was a wonderful team to work with all the way around.
If anyone out there is getting married at San Ysidro Ranch, let me know and I'll be there in a split second!
Congratulations Carrie & Jayson--you are wonderful together!
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