I’m super excited for Don and Barbara’s winery wedding in August, and had a great time hanging out and getting to know them a little more here. One of my favorite parts of this shoot (besides that the rain let up long enough for us to shoot outside), was the fact that we took all these pictures within five minutes of their house. Between the flower garden, the railroad tracks, and a little wine date we hit up a nice little slice of California right in their proverbial back yard.
Don & Barbara’s Engagement – Livermore CA
Julia & Dan’s Wedding – Marin Art and Garden Center
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Julia and Dan, their family, and friends. This truly was a beautiful day. The warmth and joy of the community, from getting ready, to the ceremony, to the reception, were almost palpable. I am continually struck by the honor given me in allowing me to be a part of celebrating a couples wedding, and being trusted with the task of documenting it for their future. Thank you.
On the technical side… In the last couple months I feel like I’ve been able to take my photography to the next level, and I’m excited about the results that have been coming out of my camera more than ever. Having been inspired fellow SF photographers Josh Gruetzmacher, Ben Chrisman, and Mark Kuroda I shot this entire wedding (except the family portraits) with the 35mm 1.4, and the 85mm 1.2, I’m seriously compelled by the image quality, the lens speed, and the constant attention required in hitting the composition without the help of a zoom lens. I’m in love the results!
Tahoe Weekend
This past weekend Heather and I drove up to Tahoe with a bunch of friends to hang out. I’ve been super-busy the last several weeks, and March is going to be a huge month for me. So it was nice to get away and rejuvenate with great friends. Ultimately people are always my favorite subjects, but sometimes its nice to make images of places and things that aren’t moving so fast. There is something zen-like for me in the captivating process of shooting nature. I love patterns, and though its probably hard to tell from my work, considering we’re so different in style and subject matter, Ansel Adams is one of my constant photographic inspirations. Right when we got to Tahoe I took a walk down by the beach and this is what I found…
Ashley & Henry’s Engagement- The Mission, Balmy Street, and the Bridge
Hanging out with Ashley and Henry was a great way to spend some of my Valentines day. You guys really gave me the warm fuzzies! Although it had been raining for much of the week, the weather was perfect for us. I’ve been wanting to spend more time shooting in the Mission and I’m grateful that Ashley and Henry were willing to go a little out of the box and trust me for this shoot. The Mission is such a unique part of San Francisco and I love all the colors of the murals and the life they bring to each picture. I think our only regret was that we couldn’t find a way logistically to bring their dogs along. Who knows maybe they’ll make a guest appearance at the wedding 
. I know this post is extremely long for an engagement session, but this really is just a sample of some of the great images of the day.
She’s beautiful… and Henry knows it.
What a stud. Henry just chillin.
Some of my favorite shots of the day are with the two of them in this little nook we found on Balmy between two houses.
This last shot is probably my favorite of evening, taken 4o minutes after the sun went down with the 85mm at 1.2. Hello gorgeous.
Aileen & John’s Presidio and Fort Point Engagement Session
I was able to get to know Aileen and John through their wedding planner Jessica Goldblatt, (who by the way is a yelp superstar! check her reviews out here). I love getting to know couples during their engagement sessions, and it was great explore the locations with A & J. Since they are getting married in the Presidio we decided to start out there, and then move over to the Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Point for some final shots. I’m really looking forward to coming back here again and spending some more time exploring this castle underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. I could have shot this whole session in black and white, which really has me in its grips right now.
I love this seagull shot. He really didn’t want to move, so I got a whole sequence of shots with him before he decided I was just a little too close. Here’s the last.
So cute!
People sometimes ask me if I do some “normal” portraits during my weddings and engagement shoots. The answer is yes! I just don’t tend to post them on my blog because they are mostly significant for the people in them, but let this last picture cast aside your doubts.Steve & Theresa
This week has been busy with engagement sessions, all of which have been completely unique, and fun in their own ways. Because of her love for the city and shopping, Theresa wanted to shoot downtown around Powell Street. We were able to get quite a few great shots, incorporating Macy’s Union, Square, the Cable Cars, and Muni. Here of course, are a couple of my favorites. I love the stop motion on this first one, taken with me in the middle of the street and my camera on my photobag with the shutter open for a 1/4 of a second.
I go back and forth, not sure if I like these last two down in the Powell Street Muni Station or not, so here they are for you to decide.
Ultimately I think they don’t reveal much about the relationship, which is the very point of an engagement shoot. But they’re funky, and I like the strangeness factor.
Leroy & Kristen’s Engagement
Who says we need the sunshine to create beautiful images? I love the rain, I love the clouds and I love the chance to get to know couples that are as in love as Kristen and Leroy. Honestly, the most fun I ever have “at work” is hanging out with couples that truly enjoy being together, couples like Leroy & Kristen.
Thanks Lynn for introducing us and holding the flash!
Jose & Vicki’s Wedding: Holy Angels Catholic Church
I had the opportunity to get to know Vicki and Jose over the course of the last several months as I shot their engagement session and met with them a couple of times to talk about their wedding. They are both equally gentle and fun loving, and through-out the course of their wedding day and into the evening at the reception I was struck by how genuinely they love each other and their friends and family. Because of Vicki’s family tradition, Jose’s family, and a bunch of other friends and family, came to pick her up at her house before they headed over to Holy Angels Church. After the ceremony we shot some images at Stowe Lake and then headed to the Basque Cultural Center for a rocking night of dancing. Another reason I had so much fun at this wedding was the opportunity to have the talented Josh Gruetzmacher along to second shoot with me. All the shots of Jose getting ready are his work, and they’re some of my favorite of the day.
