Today I feel grateful. I received a fantastic thank-you package from a lovely bride of mine from England, had some street tamales outside Trader Joes after a shopping trip, got to work with San Francisco Brides Magazine on an event they’re planning, and am going to spend the end of the afternoon with one of my best friends in San Francisco hanging out in Dolores Park with a bottle of something hoppy. Life is good. And to make it better I’d like to share a beautiful little engagement session.
Alright, so I’ve been extremely busy the last couple months and I end up blogging a lot less than I shoot. For me my work is all about taking and editing beautiful joyful images and delivering them to my clients in a timely fashion. What this has meant is that I just don’t get to take the time to blog every engagement session and wedding I shoot. My friend CK is telling me that I need to hire some staff, but I’m not quite ready to do that. So for now, that’s just the way it is.
But this blog isn’t about me its about my new friends Cindy and George. The reality is that I can’t help blogging certain shoots because I get so excited about being a part of a couple’s story. I had a pretty good idea when I met up with Cindy and George on a cold San Francisco day in July (yes, it really is cold here sometimes in July) that this was going to be one of those shoots that I was just going to have to blog. They like to laugh… a lot! And that makes my job a beautiful thing. We decided to start at the San Francisco Shakespeare Garden in Golden Gate Park. When we got there a wedding was just finishing up, so we hung out a little before we started shooting. Once we did, the fun didn’t stop.
I love black and white, and I had a tough time not blogging the whole shoot in b/w, but since the colors on this cloudy day were so beautiful I decided to show a mix. I think black and white is a beautiful medium for timeless elegant pictures, I also thing it does a great job of isolating emotion because the viewer can keep from being too distracted by the colors.
If Black and White = Elegance, then Color = Pretty. Now that’s the math I love, and I hope they’re teaching it in schools
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After the Shakespeare Garden we headed down to the baseball fields across from the Botanical Gardens where the fun continued.
Cindy is going to be a such an elegant bride.
George is pretty much a stud too.
For cuteness…. see below
Now that you have seen the laughter, the snuggles, and the playfulness of these images, you’ll probably agree with me that George and Cindy have the makings of a both a fun and absolutely beautiful wedding: Genuine sweet love, laughter, and willingness to be a little silly. Did I mention they really like each other?
One of the things I love is capturing dramatic portraits while the bride is getting ready, here, on the left you can see she’s getting help putting on her necklace, on the right you can see how the way she was holding her arms made a perfect frame for beautiful face and eyes on the left.
Meanwhile, the guys are having their own good time. My friend Chris Shum, who is an amazing award winning photojournalist in his own right was working his own magic with the guys. The two below are his. 
The flower girl was totally cute and stopped running around for one minute to let me get this shot.
The ring-bearer on the other hand looks like he’s still getting used to the idea of wearing a bow-tie…
I really enjoy the anticipation in this next shot by Chris.
Lots of crying and laughing….
Ok, here’s my favorite part of the day… I like a capturing fleeting moments, but there is something about a beautiful portrait that just get’s me so excited… Here’s a few:
I’m totally digging her blue shoes and his converse.
And a few more…. This wall really took my right back to Tuscany.
So many fun wedding details. Candy is always a winner!
As big San Francisco Giants fans (maybe that’s why we’re friends), Brett and Nichole ordered tables according present and former Giants players. 
Chris nailed this shot as Nichole and Brett made their entrance,
And once the toasts began the laughter and tears really kicked into high gear…
And the joyful tears just didn’t stop..
And then the dancing started in earnest. These people can get down!
When I saw this staircase and the wall’s colors and designs earlier in the day I knew I wanted to use it for an image… happily Nichole and Brett didn’t mind taking a minute out of their dancing to give it a shot. I think it was worth it
Finally they moved outside for some final dancing, and I love what this allowed me to do with the lighting as they danced unaware of everything around them. I got to frame this shot and wait for their kiss… Here it is:
At the Botanical Gardens we wondered through the trees looking for patches of light. Once we found one, I just couldn’t stop shooting.
And not only did we find cool light, but we also found mist… thanks to the afternoon sprinklers at the Botanical Gardens. I’m all for that grass getting watered!
Everything is just so green, and the colors in the afternoon shade explode vibrancy.
Tracy is going to be an absolutely stunning bride!
So by now you may have realized that Tracy and Charles have everything that inspires me to shoot weddings.
I could not decide between these last two shots. I love them both for different reasons. The black and white silhouette is just such a bold image, but the color of the evening sky and the tenderness of their touch really stands out in the second. Which do you like more?
You guys inspire me, can’t wait for September!
I love mirrors, negative space and the possibility of capturing the drama of the moment by utilizing them creatively. This next shot was untouched in photoshop… just a clean white wall.
Once at the Church I saw the officiant walking around with the wedding program and was caught by the fact that the colors of his robe matched it perfectly.
So many emotions run through a wedding day, but I love this image of anticipation as Aileen waits for people to be seated just before she walks down the aisle.
And here comes the bride…
Its always a little risky to leave the hall when the ceremony is going on, but I pre-visualized this image and was able to catch it quickly.
Below is one of my favorites of the day, there is something timeless and firm in the marble cross, with the soft juxtaposition of John and Aileen in the background on their knees.
Below, this little guy’s just chillin’, wondering why the guy with the camera keeps lying down in the aisle… (see above)
Another one of my favorites is here below. While I love the framing and the reflections of light off the stone, what makes this shot for me is the man’s reflection in the top right corner watching Aileen.
Now for a few of the couple at Sutros Park after the ceremony… Can you say, IN LOVE?
Once at the reception we were in for a serious spread! Mounds of fruit, lamb, salads and so much more.
And of course cake!
One of the other things that John and Aileen did a fantastic job of was making sure everyone at the reception had a great time. This included having a special entertainment room for the kids where they could color, play and entertain themselves with kid-fun.
And of course, they were appropriately greeted by the bride and (evidently very funny) groom.
And we did slip out for a couple more shots right before the sun went down…
How about some dancing?
As the sun fully set the beauty of the candlelit centerpieces really shown.
Unbeknownst to me, Rosaura has a special skill at being the human “kiss-cam”. Below are her shots.
Sometimes I’ll walk into a location and see a shot that I know will make it on my website. The minute I saw this orange wall light in the reception hall I planned this first dance shot. My absolute favorite of the day.
I’d also like to take a moment to thank Jessica Goldblatt of 
Leslie told me that they love black and white… me too! Especially when there is a gorgeous bride like her to photograph!
Sometimes I download the images on to my computer, open them up, and just start smiling. My wife can attest that I didn’t stop smiling all day…
Then, after the ceremony we headed into the vineyards for a little while…
And what’s wine country without a little wine?
Below, undoubtedly one of my favorite images of the day. I love the way the columns softly frame Nelson’s profile and lead into Pamela’s beautiful expression.
So sweet, so in love.
The minute I saw this lightpost I knew I wanted to take this picture…
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