Holly and Ian are this cute couple that found me on Google. They were getting married in a few weeks and wanted some fun creative shots around the city. We had a great time in Golden Gate Park, China Town, and North Beach. Afterward we went to grab some dinner and had the idea of going ice-skating. If they weren’t such a nice couple I probably would have left once we go to the rink, since it was freezing cold and the line was around the block. It didn’t take much to convince myself to stay, and I am glad I did. Here are some highlights from this 6 hour shoot.
I have been fortunate to start of my New Year with a healthy dose of travel. I am currently in Perth, Australia on tour with a very talented band, Alma Desnuda. Over the past year that I’ve known them our paths have crossed many times, and I was asked by the band to come join them on tour to Bali. It was a beautiful week in Bali, with amazing shows, a visit to an orphanage, playing for friends at Buddha Soul, spending a night at a magical villa in a secluded village. I was originally coming to Bali for only a week, since I am in the middle of a busy booking season. However plans changed last minute, getting tickets at the airport and rearranging the flights the day I was scheduled to go home. We are in Australia now, and the tour is on the home stretch. Traveling with these guys has been an enlightening experience that I will always carry with me. In addition to this trip I was able to connect with some of the most amazing wedding destinations in Bali, and I will have a beautiful article to publish when I get back. I would like to share some of the Bali photos and a video. The video is from Alma Desnuda playing in the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali. Please enjoy, and if you’d like to see more, feel free to visit the band tour blog: almadesnuadalive.tumblr.com Alma Desnuda means Naked Soul in Spanish. The message behind the music is beautiful and I am happy to share the journey in a visual way. More beautiful footage is coming from the two weeks on the Australian tour.
Photo slideshow:
When I met Meghan and Joe back in Spring, I knew that their wedding was going to be something special. Their venue choice and their easy going attitude made me excited all the way to their wedding day. The amount of detail and work that went into every aspect of the wedding is exceptional. The venue itself is gorgeous, with an impressive redwood grove for the ceremony. The reception had two elevated stages that were the perfect settings for the food buffet and the desert bar. The old wine cellar ruins was the perfect spot for the cocktail hour and dancing. One of my favorite shots included the guitarist, Jay Alvarez. He played a Spanish song, “Ojala”, during the reception and first dance. Meghan and Joe met in Argentina, and the song is symbolic for them. Putting Jay with his guitar in the background tied in their special song into imagery. All the vendors were fantastic to work with. I am honored that Joe and Meghan trusted me with their special day.
Venue: Sand Rock Farm, Aptos
Planner: Lori Hood, Allison Weddings
Flowers: Chelsea Bowman, Belle Fine Flowers
Guitar: Jay Alvarez
Almost the end of the season for me and I was fortunate enough to photograph two friends’ weddings back to back. I first met Michael at community events and found many similar interests including photography. Michael and Silvia have been nothing but amazing, and their unending support and interest in my business has been astounding. This ceremony is only part one of two great events, with the main wedding happening in Silvia’s home town of San Paulo, Brazil. Am I going to go to this weeding? Good chance! After the ceremony the whole bridal party gravitated towards the food trucks across the street. Michal and Silvia attracted the attention of Canadian TV producers, from Eat St., who were doing a story on San Francisco street food. This cool experience by the newly weds got them TV exposure and some free buns from the Chairman Bao Bun Truck! After the truck stop we headed out to McCormick and Kuletos on the Warf to celebrate, with a front row view of the Blue Angel’s performance.
The following day we met up for family portraits in front of the Palace of fine arts. My artistic side sidetracked into a side photoshoot of Michael and Silvia to a garage sale across the street. I have to admit that the couple in frames shot has been done before, but then again what hasn’t? The reception venue choice was a bit weird at first, but Michal and Silvia insisted that we were not getting crapes at Squat and Gobble on Chestnut street. To my delight it turns out that Squat and Gobble has a beautiful back patio with a European flare. It is not huge, however the space worked well for the close knit group of 50 people or so. The incredible paella was cooked fresh, with enough leftovers to feed an army. I have a few more musician and couple shots to add to my growing collection.
Being a wedding photographer can be a tough job at times. Whenever friends get married sometimes I have a tough choice of being just a guest, or personally ensuring the quality of the couple’s photography. Making the decision for Juliya and Kirill’s wedding was easy, and in the end everything worked out. This wonderful couple got married on October 1st at the San Francisco City Hall. There were a lot of couples there, but we managed to get intimate portraits at various nooks and crannies of the building. After the ceremony and the city hall weddings, we headed out to the Legion of Honor for more photos. One of my favorite photos below should be titled “The two grooms” Our friend Gene Ekster suggested that Kirill and him start dancing the traditional Russian dance, “Kalinka”. It’s one of my new favorites. Our wonderful photo tour ended with the Cliff House, which hosted a wonderful lunch with the couple’s family and friends.
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