There's just something about a classic, dramatic black tie wedding that never goes out of style. Cheyanne and Christian chose the perfect venue for theirs: The River Mill in French Camp, a gigantic brick building - originally built in 1873 - that's surrounded by carefully-tended gardens, fountains and old oak trees. And as gorgeous as this converted chicory mill was, Cheyanne and Christian's elegant wedding details were more than a match.
Read MoreLapeña Family Blossom Portrait Session // Riverbank, CA
When Melissa booked a family portrait session, she had one request - that we shoot it at her family's almond farm in Riverbank during blossom season. Surrounded by lush wild grasses and a canopy of white flowers, the Lapeña family's love for each other had them practically glowing. And literally glowing, thanks to the sunset.
Read MoreStephanie + Robert's Romantic Winter Engagement Session // Knights Ferry, CA
One of the many benefits of living in California is the winters - or, specifically, the lack of winters. With this climate, even the middle of December can be the right time for a lovely, romantic outdoor engagement shoot. Stephanie and Robert are an amazing couple who were looking for a rustic feel for their engagement shoot. When I found that neither of them had ever been to Knight's Ferry, I knew immediately that I had to introduce them to the gorgeous park.
Read MoreGantzer Family Portrait Session // Ceres, CA
There's nothing like a relaxed, goofy family portrait session to make a weekend sing! The Gantzer family brought great energy and hilarity to this autumn shoot out in the glowing orchards of Ceres, CA. In addition to the family portraits, mom Adriana also requested some individual shots of her daughter Ainsley, who just started kindergarten this past year. Apparently her school portrait didn't turn out the way they would've liked - which seems crazy to us, because look at how photogenic this sweetheart is. Thank you, Gantzers, for letting us be a part of your family's fun!
Read MoreSolana + Kevin's San Francisco Giants Inspired Wedding // Stockton, CA
Do you think you're a Giants superfan? If you can't put "threw a Giants themed wedding" on your fan resume, then Solana and Kevin have you beat. There were lots of subtle nods to their favorite team peppered into the event - the grey and orange color scheme for the wedding party's clothes, the grey, black and orange ribbon poofs that lined the aisle during the ceremony. And then there were the not-so-subtle details, like Solana's garter, which proudly proclaimed GIANTS, and the specially-made cake topper that looked exactly like a miniature Solana and Kevin, decked out in wedding finery and baseball hats.
Read MoreProspect Theater Project Portraits for The Women
The Prospect Theater Project's third show of the season - a sophisticated version of Clare Boothe Luce's satire "The Women" - opens in less than a week. For the cast portraits, Director Carin Heidelbach and Stage Manager Mardi Brewer asked for 1930s-style glamour shots. To achieve the soft but dramatic lighting needed for headshots of this kind, we paired a wide front light with a narrow beamed flash and a strategically-placed backlight. The result? Old world beauty.
Read MoreMere + Cora's Joy-Filled Forest Wedding // Los Gatos, CA
Weddings are full of joy - that's a given. But every once in a while, there's a special alchemy that happens at a wedding, a convergence of a couple so suited to one another that they seem to radiate with happiness and a location that's not only beautiful but also holds a special significance in the couple's lives. And, of course, a merry band of guests that come to cry, laugh and dance the night away in celebration. Mere and Cora's wedding had all of this and more. Going through the pictures afterwards, it was difficult to find a shot where the subjects weren't beaming, be they the brides themselves or their families and friends.
Read MoreProspect Theater Project Portraits for Julius Caesar
For the past year, we've had the pleasure of shooting cast photos for The Prospect Theater Project, a popular performing arts venue in downtown Modesto. These shoots always pose interesting challenges - the photographs need to showcase the faces and characters of between ten and twenty actors and they need to be shot in a relatively short period of time, usually between scenes at rehearsals.
Read MoreSa + Jason's Windy Seaside Engagement Shoot // Berkeley, CA
Sometimes, if you're really lucky, there's a special alchemy that happens at a photoshoot - a mix of the perfect couple in the perfect location at just the right time of day. Sa and Jason's engagement shoot was like that: windy, but not too chilly. Just enough clouds to allow for sunshine and spectacular sunset colors. And at the center of it all, a couple that's so excited to be getting married that the rest of the world just drops away.
Read MorePoptastic Bride
We're over the moon to be featured on the fabulous Poptastic Bride today! The site has long been inspirational to us as photographers for its focus on funky, offbeat and totally chic weddings - in short, our favorite sort of events.
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