Amber & Justin
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Sarah & Eric
Sarah and Eric had a very specific vision for their wedding. Every detail was carefully considered. What stood out to me, was their trust. They choose their chef and trusted him to create the most amazing meal... and he did. They chose me to capture their day as it unfolded, and never questioned or looked back. That confidence is a gift to any photographer. This trust provides the space to work magic with that camera unhindered and is integral to the creative process.
Aislyn & Jeannie
Aislyn and Jeannie had a vision for their wedding: simple, on the ocean, private and intimate. They had a truck full of pews delivered to El Capitan State Beach in Santa Barbara which created a formality and structure to that private beach. "The Love Boat has Docked" was the theme of their wedding. The love they shared was felt by all those who shared that amazing afternoon with them. Same sex weddings are, almost by definition, non-traditional. But there is a theme across all of the weddings I photograph that seems to run deeper than any tradition. A deep mutual love and respect between the couples. I suppose that as traditional as it gets.
Big Heart Weddings
When I met Gina and JR for the first time, I knew right away I wanted to photograph their wedding. They had applied for a spot on my "Big Heart Discount" program. Gina spends her time as a volunteer mentoring youth with disabilities. Her passion for her work in this community and her contagious smile was only eclipsed by the connection she had with JR. As she spoke about her plans, I could see the patience and support in JR's eyes. I knew, their wedding day was going to be full of these moments and I couldn't wait to capture them on film.
One wedding: two very different posts
Selecting images to represent my work is always a challenge. Two photographers could choose completely different images from the same set of images. This selection or "edit" is similar to the editor of a movie and is critical to the final representation of the wedding. The image set I choose is the second half of the creative process and supports my theory of wedding coverage. Below are two posts from the same wedding. Post #1: A polished selection of the perfect shots; immaculately cropped, perfectly timed, color balanced, tweaked and ready for a magazine spread. Post #2: imperfect raw moments, no magazine spreads... however, illustrative... Which set moves you the most? Which set truly sets my work apart from the crowd? What if you don't know Ashley and Alec? Well, now is your chance to weigh in. No more lurking. Below are two posts, the first set of images are magazine-ish, cropped out and tweaked. The second... we'll tell me what you think. What would you rather see?
NOW FOR THE RAW
These captures have some flaws, but are also very powerful. Obviously, this image would have been better without the flowers in front of Alec's face. But is it so distracting we lose the strength of this moment? It's surely not magazine content, however... what this image does show is the truth in Ashley's eyes, you know exactly what she is feeling and thinking: ... "you know me ... all our time together and here I am ... that girl you fell in love with... in a wedding dress!"... they are about to leap off that cliff of marriage together and trust each other with everything.
Breaking the rules is usually a great idea.
I'm a firm believer in asking for forgiveness instead of permission. This particular shoot required smuggling my gear into a football game at Qualcomm Stadium by strapping my gear to my leg and sneaking by the guards. I often ask couples what they love to do together as a start on how to plan an engagement session. This way, I'm just a third wheel on a fun date and the shoot quickly becomes more about having a great time together, than a photo shoot. Arleen and Stephen love the Dallas Cowboys, so a football game was the perfect fit. From now on, I think I'm going to call these "Third-Wheel-Date-Sessions" from now on. That might scare a few of you away, but for those whose eyes just lit up, I'm your photographer! And now...the ring shot!
Luck is 90% picking the right lens.
I am often asked how I get so lucky with some of my images. As with anything dynamic like sports, there is a 6th sense of what is about to happen. This skill is critical with wedding photography and only built with lots of experience. The most powerful images are fleeting, only presenting themselves for a few seconds, then gone forever. The flow of movement, lighting, angles, lens choice all swirl together and culminate in a quiet voice that guides me in where to stand and what lens to grab. Believe me, I've seen my share of moments drift by without capture with my camera at my waist. When it all works, it feels like magic. I was doing summersaults and cartwheels at seeing the shot of Angela and Matt in the mirror, just moments before their wedding ceremony. Matt checks his tie, Angela checks her hair. It all came together; the stillness of the room, the truth, the weight of what they were about to do ... looks to me like the beginning of a marriage... wow, such a rush. This is why I shoot weddings!
Is true love perfect?
When I woke up on April 9th, I couldn't wait to get my eye behind the lens. I had the opportunity to get to know Canh and Carolyn and the elemental truths that had carried them to this commitment; the love, the chemistry, everything that brings two people together in such a powerful way. The strength of this connection overwhelms any challenges, no matter how difficult... almost with ease ... certainly beyond reason. For those of us lucky enough to capture weddings, we are exposed to this miracle on a regular basis; we can't help but be affected in a profound way. It can be easy to be jaded by the traditions that pattern a typical wedding, however once this has been pushed aside, you can view the event as it truly is; the unique and perfect union of two worlds. Perfect, as love makes it. This is what I look for in that lens. This is what I strive to capture. My hope is to convey that immense connection. Just maybe, when times get tough, they can look back on these images and draw from that strength they felt...maybe this can inspire us all in our own lives, to believe that strength can come from love that has no reason, surmounts all barriers.
