Justin & Christa wed on a lovely day in May at The Mountain Mermaid, one of our favorite wedding venues here in Los Angeles: it’s a private estate with a colorful past, with rich textures in every nook and cranny, and great light – a photographers’ dream come true, really. Justin & Christa were their usual fun & fabulous selves, which already makes for an awesome day for us. (Hello Ben Stormer, are you jealous that we are writing nice things about other clients, at ”your” wedding venue, no less?)

I told the guys to imagine a ‘band photo’, and Justin pulled it off pretty well.

Instead of a guestbook, Justin & Christa had guests sign a guitar instead, a nod to their mutual love for music. Very cool.

Congratulations, Justin & Christa. Thank you for your friendship, and for having us be part of your special day!

After 4 years living abroad in Japan serving in the Air Force, Britany and Robert had a whirlwind two weeks in California. A few days after they landed they had their engagement session with us, then spent the next week driving all over California to visit friends and have a pre-honeymoon, then got back to So. Cal. got their wedding all put together, then had a beautifully intimate wedding day with about 30 of their closest family and friends. Two days after the wedding, the newlyweds pack their dog and cat into their car and are currently driving across the country to their new home in New Jersey.  An insane amount of travel (even by my standards), but I was thrilled to be able to be part of their big day!

Absolutely awesome was the fact that instead of favors, Britany and Roberto donated a hundred trees to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest (and you all know how much I love the outdoors)

Congrats again to you both and enjoy your new lives together!

Last weekend, Felicia and I kicked off Wedding Season 2012 with Paty & Orlando‘s travel-themed nuptials in Long Beach. We arrived at the Westin to find the place crawling with sniffer dogs and scores of guys who look like they were with the Secret Service: I guess the Dalai Lama was staying there before his lecture at the Long Beach Convention center! Thankfully we had no issues, and made our way to Paty’s suite where she was surrounded by her closest friends and family.

Orlando wasn’t shy in making sure he got enough kisses on his wedding day. Good job!

Paty’s 100-year-old grandma congratulates her new grandson-in-law. She not only made it to the wedding, she stayed throughout the reception!

Congratulations, Paty & Orlando! May your life together be full of travel adventures, for many, many years to come!

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Ceremony Venue: Grace Brethren Church. Long Beach, CA.
Reception Venue: The Sky Room. Long Beach, CA.  

Erin & Danny are absolutely some of the most awesome people you’ll ever meet, and we’re so glad that our paths crossed. Felicia and I have consultations with clients all the time, but our meeting with Danny & Erin literally felt like we were having coffee with old friends. Before we knew it, we had chatted for over two hours, and we had to break it up only because they had a meeting with the florist.

Needless to say, we were definitely looking forward to their wedding at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion – and we were not disappointed.

When Erin & Danny said that they loved photos, they REALLY meant it: They made photography a priority, giving us 3 solid hours to create some epic wedding portraits after their First Look. It was stress-free, we had ample time, and they were so into taking pictures. Erin & Danny, you totally made my day.

Erin & Danny practiced their First Dance throughout the day, and when it was showtime, they absolutely blew everyone away. It was a beautifully choreographed, and performed with emotion and finesse. Felicia was moved to tears just watching them move in sync with such grace and tenderness to Andrea Bocelli’s Con Te Partiro. Absolutely befitting the grandeur of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion where they wed.

Congratulations, Erin & Danny. Here’s to a beautiful life together. Thank you for your friendship!

Remember that wickedly-sweet session we did at the O.C. Fair last summer with Genna + Michael?

I sure do, and after that awesome evening with this couple I was amped to be shooting their wedding at Coto de Caza Golf Club in Orange County.  I knew these two were ready to have a good time on their big day and Felicia and I were there to capture the whole thing.

Michael had a gift dropped off for his “Almost Wife” while she was getting ready. Genna opened it, thrilled to find a wedding day Lladro figurine, which their families collect. On the first day of their married life together, Genna would also begin her own collection.

Michael got ready in the super classic wood locker room with plenty of time remaining for him to take a seat and enjoy a solo portrait session.

It had rained the day before, it was forecasted to rain the day after, and it had a 30% chance of raining during the ceremony, but thankfully the mildly overcast skies only created a wonderful soft light for Felicia and I, without a hint of rain.

Felicia grabbed this picture of Grandma from during the ceremony and it is easily one of my favorite candids from the entire day.

Congrats again Genna and Michael! Thanks for making us part of your celebration!

A few weeks ago, Jon & Maria celebrated their marriage surrounded by their very enthusiastic family and friends. We started the day in Long Beach at Our Lady of Refuge church, followed by pictures at the Cerritos Public Library, and then their reception at The Westridge Golf Club.

Maria’s Mom sang a rousing rendition of “At Last”, showcasing her vocal prowess. Seriously, she was a professional singer in her native Philippines and definitely wowed the crowd during cocktail hour.

Congrats, Jon & Maria! Thanks for having us be part of your big day!

As many of you know, Felicia and I love pictures.  We love making them and I love being in them (Felicia, not so much – she prefers being behind the camera).  Yet somehow, once a year I manage to convince my wife to head out and have our photographs taken.  I think she loves the idea of creating a historical record of our lives by having a session each anniversary.  Our wedding photography took place in Singapore, last year we had a shoot in Union Station in Los Angeles, and this year, for our second anniversary, we headed down to the San Juan Capistrano Mission.

Our friend and fellow wedding photographer, Ian Grant,  did a good job making us look good, and Felicia somehow managed to get me in a tux (I haven’t worn one since Jr. Prom)

We ran amok in the mission and wandered the streets of San Juan Capistrano for a while until Felicia started screaming bloody murder because her very-fancy-but-very-uncomfortable shoes Steve Madden Luxe stilettos were killing her feet. (edit by Felicia)

Thanks again Ian!

This is what I deal with on a daily basis…

Last month Felicia and I headed out to Temecula to photograph Amber and Sean’s big day at the Secluded Garden Estates.  The weather was just right and the newly opened venue was a treasure trove of cool locations to shoot at – cactus, oak trees, views of the valley, this place had it all.

Sean and Amber had warned us numerous times that the party was going to get insane and we should be ready.  We arrived “ready“, and the beer and champagne flowed immediately and by the reception everyone was at least two cocktails in. The dance floor became a crush of people and I had to dance my way through just to grab pictures of the party (and any of you who have ever seen me dance, know that wasn’t pretty).

This is my favorite picture of the day, it just says it all.  When Sean got the tattoo, the tattoo artist tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t have it.

You guys were both amazing and we plan to be taking you up on that offer to buy us beers really soon!  Congrats again!

Last month was a busy one for Felicia and I – we shot weddings in Napa, Dana Point, Pasadena and Temecula, adding thousands of miles to our little Volkswagon.  Right smack in the middle of the month we made our way down to the Chart House in Dana Point to capture Shawna and Matt’s big day.  Most of the day had grey skies which provided a giant cloudy softbox in the sky, but late in the afternoon the sun decided to join us which let the out of town guests basked in the glory of our Californian sun.   Thanks to Shawna’s percision planning, everything ran perfect and the day went off without a hitch – except the getting hitched part, that is.

When the sun finally showed itself over Dana Point harbor and  I snapped off half a dozen pictures to composite into a panorama of the epic view.

Congrats again to you both and all the best wishes for your marriage!

I’ve said before on this blog that one of my favorite things about shooting weddings is that Felicia and I are constantly surrounded by happy people, and we also have the privilege of meeting lots of people from all walks of life, and sometimes, from all over the world. We are indeed fortunate to share great chemistry with Justin and Natalie: We already had so much fun during their engagement shoot earlier this year, and by the time we shot their wedding, it really felt like we were being part of our friends’ wedding day.

Natalie – who incidentally spent several of her formative years in Singapore – decided to test Justin’s commitment with some traditional wedding ‘door-stop’ games. For those who don’t know what this is, basically, the bride & bridesmaids come up with several challenges to make it difficult for the groom to get to his bride. The groom has to show his sincerity by completing these challenges, and often resorts to offering bribes of money in red envelopes to the bridesmaids in the hopes that they will spare him more torment.

After witnessing what Justin had to go through, all I can say is that I’m lucky Felicia chose to spare me. I’m pretty sure she (and her very evil friends) could have come up with some pretty nasty challenges for me.

Justin was blindfolded and made to consume spoonfuls of the following, symbolizing the ups & downs of a marriage: spicy chili pepper sauce, balsamic vinegar, coffee beans, and honey. Only after he was done with these – without stopping for a drink of water – that he was able to meet his bride and proceed with the tea ceremony. I honestly felt bad for the guy. Especially since he was hurting really, really bad from a killer hangover. [Don't judge. Justin's groomsmen all flew in the day before the wedding, so he HAD TO have his Bachelor Party then. And of course, being such awesome groomsmen, they were very generous with the alcohol.]

Natalie & Justin had their ceremony and reception at the Alta Dena Country Club. The reception space was absolutely awesome with large windows and lots of gorgeous light. Love it.

Natalie & Justin, congratulations, and we’re absolutely thrilled for you both. Thank you for your friendship, and we wish you both a lifetime of happiness!