Today I got to work for a good friend of mine Melissa Murphy (take a look at Melissa’s work here). Melissa is the first person I call to assist me with weddings and today the shoe was on the other foot, so to speak. She is so much fun and very talented. We had a great time!
Melissa’s friends from high school, Jonna and Julien, got married at La Valencia in beautiful La Jolla surrounded by friends and family. OK so that may not be that unusual but Julien’s family came all the way from France. I even got to use a little of my French (from MY high school days), when I accidentally bumped into Julien’s grand-mere, “Je suis desole” – there it is! Sorry I don’t know how to do the accents :( Here are some pics from their lovely day.
As always, click on the photo and it will open a little bigger in a new window.
Today Jessica and Dustin got married in downtown San Diego at the Meridian. It was a really modern and unique setting. And these two were a lot of fun to shoot. I met with Jessica and Dustin a number of months ago and we really hit it off. I was in the middle of planning my wedding and we both had a lot of the same ideas about what we wanted for our weddings – something casual, relaxed, and of course, fun!!!
Jessica picked out a very simple but elegant dress from J Crew and fortunately has a friend in the fashion industry who helped jazz it up for her. The red made it really unique and looked so hip with the red shoes and red and black wrap, what style!
I love this broach that Jessica wore on her dress.
Since we were right in the heart of downtown San Diego before the ceremony we took a short walk to get some photos. I love it when we can do pics in places where the couple will be returning to in the future.
There are some great colors downtown. I think I could shoot downtown for years and years before I would exhaust all the amazing backgrounds!
As usual, I told the couple just be yourselves and act like I’m not here :) That’s when some of the best stuff happens!
The bride walking down the aisle with her mom and dad.
Sometimes I take photos that might not appeal to everyone but for some reason or another I really like them. This might be one such photo. I think I love this pic because it could be anywhere and anyone. I love the bride and groom’s feet together (and I think Jessica has some pretty hot legs) the people holding hands in the background, the water in the fountain splashing, and the concrete around them. It could be a park in Italy or the roof of a highrise in downtown San Diego.
And of course the happy couple after being announced husband and wife!!! Thanks guys – it was great!!!
Today I got to shoot Laura and Bobby’s wedding. The day started off at St. Mary Magdalene Church in San Diego and the reception was held at the Del Mar Powerhouse right on the beach. I had never been to either place and they both were beautiful. Here are some pics from their day!
Laura gets a little emotional before the ceremony starts.
The happy couple leaving the ceremony. The church was one of the prettiest I’ve seen in San Diego.
Heading out to the beach before the sunsets. It was a great venue to get some great pics!!!
It was a little cloudy for San Diego, but that makes for great photos. It never ended up raining.
Is there anything more romantic than this?
Despite the clouds the beach was full of surfers.
The clouds looked really cool as the sun was setting.
This little guy was my buddy all night long. He wanted to be in all the pics but mostly in the ones with the bridesmaids. He also would tell me when it was time to take it “ok, now!” and could get everyone laughing!
The wedding I shot this weekend was extra special as I was a guest of two great friends and wonderful people. Gena was one of the first friends I made when I moved here in 2001 from Kansas. We worked together at a school for emotionally disturbed children. She was also with me the night I met my husband and I give her credit for me being in the right place at the right time to meet him! (She was meeting a blind date and didn’t want to go alone. Needless to say he turned out to be a dud, thank goodness!)
Gena is one of the most generous and giving people I know. She is also a very talented artist and designer. And her hubby Jim is just great too! He is an amazingly talented artist. You can see his work here.
The first time I met Jim he and Gena were not dating, they had known each other and been friends for 10 years. As soon as Jim left I let Gena know that I thought he was the guy for her, and asked, why aren’t you dating him??? Not long after that they gave it a whirl and the rest is history!!! Which I think says so much. A lot of marriages don’t make it 10 years but to date and marry someone you’ve been friends with for 10 years! I think it’s great.
Gena’s sister Danielle watching Gena get ready. There were a lot of tears at the beauty shop and later. Tears of joy :)
This is Renny, Gena’s son AFTER getting his hair done. He wanted a mohawk but they settled on a messy do.
This, of course, is batman, need I say more??? Put a little boy in a beauty shop for 4 hours and he will find something to do!
Gena, Danielle and one of her bridesmaids Marissa. I included this pic because it’s sweet but more because you can still see batman in the right top corner of the pic suspended from the ceiling. I’m not sure if he’s still there?
Gena after getting dressed. I could post photo after photo that I took of her.
And another.
Gena and Jim right before the kiss.
And the first dance.
Today I went all the way to Exeter, CA for Stephanie and William’s wedding. And what a beautiful wedding it was!!! I had no idea what to expect as I had never been to Exeter, nor had I met the bride or the groom. They found me through the wedding photojournalist association. What I found when I got there was a lovely and gracious bride and groom and their wonderful families. I had a great time – I know, I know I was there to work, not have fun – but that’s the way it goes! (If you click on the pics below they will open in a bigger window.)
I am such a pushover for the getting ready pics! Often I feel these are some of the best moments of the day, just the anticipation before the wedding, all the getting ready excitement. (The collage is because I had couldn’t pick just one for my blog!)
As a photographer this was really hard for me. William wanted to be completely alone with Stephanie when he saw her for the first time on the wedding day. I totally respected that but of course I wanted to be in the room with them to catch the moment. Actually I think it turned out rather well as outside the door I snapped this quick pic of Stephanie’s face when she first saw William. No offense William, but she is prettier!!!
Here are William’s two sisters taking a peak out the door. I called them red-headed sister in the green and red-headed sister in the purple! Real original, I know, but amazingly beautiful girls and great sisters to William. I could tell they have a real bond. One day these two will be beautiful brides and I hope I get to be there to take their pics too!!!
Stephanie waiting for the ceremony to start and looking stunning!!!
What a great setting! I think it means so much to be married at the family home.
The happy couple leaving the ceremony.
And the get away. What a fun way to leave. Stephanie threw the bouquet out the back of the car and these two were outta there!
