Modern :: Romantic Wedding Photography :: Los Angeles, Orange County Wedding Photographer

Rock and Roll

2012-02-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it happens

Brad

2012-02-08T09:43:00.000-08:00

Jessica and Dane, a San Francisco Engagement

2012-02-03T00:41:00.000-08:00

Lisamarie

2012-01-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

Stephany and Ryan at Box Eight Studios

2012-01-20T01:39:00.000-08:00

Autumn Reeser + Jesse Warren = Finn!!!

2011-12-13T18:20:00.000-08:00

I had an awesome time hiking around Griffith Park with 3 of the coolest peeps ever. If mom and pops look a bit familiar... don't worry you aren't going crazy. You can check out what Autumn has been up to HERE and you can check out Jesse's newest stuff HERE. You can even check out what Finn has to say about all of these shenanigans on his twitter account HERE!!!
OH, and BTW, Autumn has a pretty awesome blog that I recomend checking out;
www.movelifestyle.com

1... 2... 3... Smile!

2011-12-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

I am now taking on Family and Kid Sessions in addition to my wedding work. To book your session please email me HERE.

Danielle and Peter

2011-11-20T00:48:00.000-08:00

Jill and Family

2011-11-20T00:03:00.000-08:00

Kris and Jeannette, part three.

2011-11-18T19:28:00.000-08:00

Kris and Jeannette, part two.

2011-11-15T22:45:00.000-08:00

More tomorrow...

Kris and Jeannette, part one.

2011-11-14T22:04:00.000-08:00

It was about this time last year that I was pretty sure I just spent the day with two people that I was going to be best friends with.

Kris and Jeannette, you both inspire me every day. I am lucky to have you in my life and I was even luckier to be your wedding photographer.

Happy 1st Anniversary.

Chad and Brooke

2011-11-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Red Boots

2011-11-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

Kelly and Kevin, a Terranea Wedding

2011-11-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Chad

2011-10-28T03:55:00.000-07:00

Suzanne and Jeff

2011-10-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

In the Trees

2011-09-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

this guy was all over the place tonight...

2011-09-18T01:48:00.000-07:00

Michelle and Terry

2011-09-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Eric and Karen, Box Eight Studios, Los Angeles

2011-09-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

Alexa and Trent... and the cutest dogs ever.

2011-09-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

Courtney

2011-09-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

Gianna and Gary

2011-08-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Elisabeth

2011-08-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Liz and Dave

2011-08-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

Mayumi and Darius

2011-08-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

Vera Wang

2011-08-10T00:22:00.000-07:00

I think all I can say is wow, what a awesome place to get featured. Check out Morgan and Jillian's wedding HERE

Gianna and Gary +1

2011-08-09T02:02:00.000-07:00

Suzanne and Jeff

2011-08-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

I spent four glorious days in Napa at the Carneros Inn with Suzanne and Jeff. I came back with more exposed rolls of film than I have ever shot, too many bottles of wine, and two new amazing friends.

I wish we could do it all over again.

Stephany and Ryan

2011-06-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

Lovely Ladies

2011-06-07T00:41:00.000-07:00

So I noticed that I never really post any of my formal shots... This would probably explain why I get asked if I still take the "traditional" shots...

So, here you go... just a little proof. =)

Brittany

2011-06-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

a few from last weekend

2011-05-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

Featured on Grey Likes Weddings

2011-05-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to see what Summer over at GreyLikesWeddings.com has to say about Matt and Jen's wedding at Casa Romantica in San Clemente.

Two from this weekend...

2011-05-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

Parenthood

2011-04-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

From Yuma with love

2011-04-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Tess and Joe on Balboa Island

2011-04-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

Mamiya AFD 80mm 1.9, Portra 400

Top 5 Wedding Photographers in the World

2011-04-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

According to the awesome ladies over at www.RufflesandPearls.com, I am one of the top 5 wedding photographers in the world... I am honestly not sure what to say about that other than, THANK YOU!
(still in a bit of shock). You can check out the blog post by clicking on the image below.

Ashley and John

2011-04-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

The amazing Otto Schulze shot along side of me for this wedding. BTW, speaking of Otto, he is playing "Where's Otto" in this post... you get ten extra bonus points if you can spot him.

Anticipation

2011-04-18T15:39:00.000-07:00

Nick and Maria

2011-04-17T00:57:00.000-07:00

Good friends. Some of the best you can ask for.

I have to admit, a part of me was crushed when I found out I was already booked for their wedding date.
People like Nick and Maria don't just get married everyday... they are the embodiment of love and partnership. They care for each other so equally it is inspiring.

I love you guys.

Courtney and John on Film

2011-04-15T02:08:00.000-07:00

For the gear heads; Mamiya AFD 80mm 1.9, Fuji 400h, skillz

The Warmth

2011-04-11T20:10:00.001-07:00

Tess and Joe

2011-04-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

Kate and Brad

2011-04-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

Ashley and Franco

2011-03-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

Eric and Karen at Box 8 Studios

2011-03-27T01:30:00.003-07:00

Lisa is haunting in Blackstar Canyon

2011-03-25T22:23:00.001-07:00

Xander and his Mighty Eagle

2011-03-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

Matt and Jen at Casa Romantica

2011-03-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

Franco and Ashley are so in love

2011-03-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

400h, Mamiya AFD, 80mm 1.9

Jose Villa at Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse

2011-03-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks back I headed up to the Santa Ynez Valley. Jose Villa hosted a one day workshop at the Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse. It was an amazing day.

Styling; Jill La Fleur
Stationary; Paper & Thread
Floral; Flowerwild Designs
Makeup and Hair; TEAM hair & Makeup
Cake; Erica O'Brien Cake Design

All images shot on Fuji 400h and Reala 100, with a Mamiya AFD and a 80mm f1.9

Kate and Brad

2011-03-06T23:45:00.000-08:00

Mayumi and Darius

2011-02-14T00:58:00.000-08:00

Natasha & Chris, Colony Palms Hotel

2011-02-12T03:48:00.000-08:00

Jillian and Morgan, The London West Hollywood

2011-02-08T03:32:00.000-08:00

The ever charming and handsome Drew Willingham was my second on this event.

Amorina and Matt

2011-02-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Nicole and Chris

2011-02-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

Julie

2011-02-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

Published in Blush

2011-01-26T22:08:00.000-08:00

Some of my work made a little appearance in Blush magazine's spring|summer issue. Specifically, these shoes.

Eric and Karen

2011-01-24T17:55:00.000-08:00

Eric and Karen are getting married at possibly the coolest place ever. Boxeight Studio in LA. Oh, and Karen is as creative as they come... so you can expect some pretty darn cool details in the near future.

Julie and Mike

2011-01-21T18:43:00.000-08:00

Julie and Mike had their nuptials at the charmingly rustic Temecula Creek Inn. More images soon.

Jeanette and Geoff

2011-01-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

Some people just plain ol' need to be wed... Like these two.

If you only knew what they have gone through to get here.

They have EARNED their wedding day.

They are the embodiment of "love mends all".

I can't tell you how excited I am to be part of their wedding.

Chelsea and Jeff, Norman Oklahoma

2011-01-11T22:28:00.000-08:00

Eric and Olivia

2011-01-10T16:49:00.000-08:00

Franklin and Gower, Fall 2011

2011-01-10T14:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I shoot other stuff. Like Franklin and Gower's Fall 2011 Lookbook. I love their jackets. Amazing quality and incredible style. www.franklinandgower.com

Lindsey and Chris

2011-01-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

A Napa Wedding, Lisa and Dan

2011-01-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

Burning the midnight oil

2010-12-23T12:19:00.000-08:00

2010

yeah

what a whirl wind

To think I started the year with the simple goal of love your life... I think I kicked 2010's butt.

But it wouldn't be that way if it weren't for you, my amazing clients and fans.

Thank you. With every part of my soul, thank you.

I am working around the clock to give each and every wedding collection the attention it deserves before it is released. Here are some hard dates for those of you out there that have been so patiently awaiting your wedding images.

// If your wedding was shot in October 2010, you can expect delivery before the end of the month.

// If your wedding was shot in November 2010, you can expect delivery of your images before the end of January (most likely sometime mid January).

// If your wedding was shot in December 2010, you can expect delivery before the end of February.

Happy Holidays!

Eric and Olivia

2010-12-09T17:08:00.000-08:00

The Fabulous Fletchers

2010-12-04T01:16:00.000-08:00

Wanna make your photographer happy? Ask for something different... that is why the Fletchers are Fabulous.

Sometimes I take pictures at the Beach

2010-12-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

Mr. Steal Your Girl

2010-11-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

Look out ladies...

Courtney and Scott

2010-11-16T23:11:00.000-08:00

As far as I can tell Courtney and Scott are the first people in love to be photographed with the brand new Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G. I will have a full review up shortly... but in the mean time enjoy some pictures. I shot the majority of this session wide open (f/1.4) and while there is a bit of sharpening added to the images, trust me when I say it is minimal.

Theresa and Steve are in the woods

2010-11-09T15:55:00.001-08:00

Something awesome happened in Napa

2010-10-28T00:33:00.000-07:00

It was amazing...

2010-10-26T21:17:00.000-07:00

John

2010-10-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

John is an artist. See for yourself HERE

Julie and Mike

2010-10-20T21:38:00.000-07:00

Julie, Mike and a mustang.

Courtney & Geoff

2010-10-13T01:22:00.000-07:00

Chelsea

2010-10-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

Watch for Chelsea and Jeff's beautiful Oklahoma wedding.

Splash

2010-10-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

"splish-splash, a bridesmaid was taking a bath..."

My Love

2010-10-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

4 years ago I married the most beautiful person I have ever met.

I am sitting here trying to think of a way to describe how much she means to me, but everything sounds so cliché.

She is too important to me to get some run of the mill "roses are red, violets are..."

I guess the best way to put it is to say that she is the reason why I love being a wedding photographer. More importantly I think she is the reason I am any good at it.

You know that saying; "It takes one to know one"?

How about we change it for a second?

Yeah? Good.

Here is my version; "It takes someone in love to know love."

I love Stacia more than that time I stood there hugging her and eked out my first "I love you". (yeah, I said it first. So what. She proposed, so we are even.)

Every wedding I am at I am consistently reminded of my love. It is my love for her that reminds me what I am looking for through the lens of my camera.

She is my constant inspiration and muse.

So, I sit here, like an idiot.
Completely overwhelmed with love.
And no clue how to express it.

I would marry her all over again if I thought that would prove my point.

I am going to have to resort to a cheesy line... I have been doing a lot of traveling for weddings lately. In fact I will getting on a airplane tomorrow morning, off to another corner of the earth. Which means I will not be with my bunnie on our anniversary. That is a big deal to me.

So, in honor of a movie that we stayed up late watching countless nights...

"I miss you like the sun misses the flower. Like the sun misses the flower in the depths of winter."

I love you Stacia. I can not wait to be home to hold you in my arms.

Happy Anniversary Bunny.

Christa and George

2010-10-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

Ashley and John Love Los Angeles

2010-09-14T23:03:00.000-07:00

We started in the amazing Bradbury Building and then hit the streets,

and the roof tops,

and then the streets again.

LA has this wonderful ability of scaring you and loving you all at the same time.

John and Ashley... a prelude.

2010-09-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

A historic Los Angeles Building, a crazy bum, the edge of a roof top parking lot, dodgy back alleys... and then the most beautiful light you could ever expect to find.

Stick around for more Ashley and John in a couple days...

Belen and Chris

2010-09-09T19:25:00.000-07:00

I just shot Belen and Chris's awesome wedding a couple weeks ago (click HERE to see Belen's amazing wedding dress)... the images from that epic shin-dig will be up here soon.

In the mean time, enjoy these here engagement pictures.

"Stand by you and take your side"

2010-08-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

I can't really put this wedding into words...

It was too perfect...

Every second of the day oozed love...

I listened to "Sort of" by Ingrid Michaelson the entire time I edited these photos... I think it fits perfectly. (here is a LINK, go play it in the background while you look at the images).

Kelly and Rob, The Outdoor Art Club... A Prelude

2010-08-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

(Blame it on being Canadian)

"I can't thank you enough for an awesome time on Friday! We had so much fun with you and everyone keeps telling me how great you were and how easily you just fit in with the gang. I can't wait to see some of your beautiful pics, especially those one's on the bridge. You were such a champ for climbing on that thing, I would have never known you were afraid of heights ;)"

"You felt more like a friend than a wedding vendor and just made the night that much more cool. Hope your flight back was ok! Talk to you soon!"

Kelly & Rob have no shortage of friends. Half of Canada followed them down to The Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley to help them celebrate their big day... Here is the first part of their story.

More coming very soon... =)

Mill Valley

2010-08-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Who thinks I should post a wedding on Monday??

Good, so do I.

Monday, 8am sharp.

Now go have an epic weekend.

Chelsea and Jeff, Part two; A Costal Tryst

2010-08-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

I just finished photographing Chelsea's bridal session at a private coastal estate in Dana Point, and I want so very badly to post the images...

Chelsea is going to be one beautiful bride.

But alas, I must keep her beautiful/amazing wedding gown a secret from Jeff.

SO, it seemed like a good time to post the rest of the engagement session...

Chelsea and Jeff share the kind of love that inspires. Their connection is one that runs deep... it is simply obvious. From the way Jeff pulls her close when he hugs her, to the way Chelsea grins when she talks about him. It is the kind of love that lasts. It is the kind of love that DESERVES wedded bliss as much as it is going to create it.

I feel so fortunate that I am going to be there for their big day. Not because they are cool people or always look good in pictures... but because I know their wedding will be an over whelming celebration of their love. I think I am counting down the days more attentively than them...

SO, Chelsea and Jeff, If you hear one extra (loud) cheer from the back of the ceremony when you are announced as man and wife... you know where it came from. ;-)

A Wedding Film

2010-08-23T22:55:00.000-07:00

I like to look for inspiration in different places... usually places rather unassociated with the wedding world. A fashion magazine or two, an architecture publication, I even got an idea from a children's book once... I figured out that the less I look at other wedding photography the more I would have to work to make images unique... and so far it has been working.
The only disconnect is that I love weddings... I love everything about them, especially the pictures. I will admit that there are some of my fellow wedding photographer's blogs and sites that I will never stop looking at, but I think that is more so because I count them as friends... For the most past I have vowed not to seek out inspiration from my peers. So, what does a wedding photographer who has committed himself to severely limiting the amount of other wedding photographs he looks at, do?

He watches films.

Wedding films.

I will be honest here, and tell you that at first I was very disappointed with the majority of wedding videography that I was seeing. It was poorly done, badly edited, the sound tracks sucked and worst of all they were really hoaky.

Then slowly it happened.

I found a film that moved me... and then I found another... and another. Before you knew it I had found a plethora of inspired, brilliant film makers that had decided to make wedding films. I visit these select points of inspiration on regular basis... watching, admiring and thinking. Thinking about how I can blend the world of photography with the cinematography. There is a distinct perspective that a good cinematographer takes and uses. Even though they are using a medium that conveys movement and action, they can still make an incredible impact with a single frame... if done right.

I thought I had some good sources for those single frames of inspiration.

Until now.

Watch. Be moved. Be Inspired. Be Blown Away.

Coco + James // Teaser from Americana Cinema on Vimeo.

This is the single best Wedding Film I have EVER seen.

Visit americanacinemablog.com/wordpress/ to see the Film in its entirety.

Belen

2010-08-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Congratulations Chris and Belen... more coming soon...

Chelsea and Jeff, Part one; A Balboa Island Engagement

2010-08-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

Chelsea and Jeff are rather incredible. I seriously cannot wait to shoot their October wedding in Oklahoma. It is going to be an affair to remember, just like their engagement shoot. This is part one of a two part series...

I wanted to be my dad too...

2010-08-16T00:50:00.000-07:00

There is nothing better than having a mini me that mimics everything you do.

Xander Von Rieter is currently accepting fall 2027 wedding bookings.

I'm back

2010-08-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

So, I know I have been a bit absent from the blogging lately.

Things have been a bit crazy.

The wifey, boys and I took a much needed vacation at my parents house outside of Seattle not to long ago... and I finally had sometime to just sit and reflect a bit...

In the past month and a half I have been to three different states, racked up some decent air mileage, driven to different corners of California, taken pictures of beautiful places and amazing couples taking a major life step together.

It has been incredible.

In the next couple months I will be hoping on planes a little over eight times. Jetting off to all ends, taking pictures of people in love, and their day of day's.

It is pretty surreal.

I never thought I would be the photographer that people would search out. I never thought I would have gotten a call from NY or a e-mail from Brazil, from enthusiastic brides asking me to shoot their weddings. I never thought I would be forced to get past my mild fear of flying so I could be apart of all of these amazing events. I never thought I would be the photographer that would photograph a first dance on plexiglas covered roof top pool, I never thought I would be the photographer that got weekly e-mails from other photographers looking for advice or help. I never thought I would find a career that is more of a passion than a job.

Sitting there on my parents deck looking out towards the sound...

It occurred to me...

My life is pretty incredible, and I am pretty darn lucky to be the guy living it.

So, thank you to everyone that likes my pictures. Thank you to my wife for helping me live a dream. Thank you to every bride and groom that hires me. Thank you to every couple that puts me on a plane bound for some exciting destination. Thank you to all the blogs that have feature my work this year (something like 40+ at last count). Thank you to everyone who has ever taken the time to stop and read this blog.

You are all making this life possible, and I think I should do my best to share some of it with you.

Like the title says; "I'm Back"... and I am going to light up this blog with some of the greatest weddings you have ever seen. Cross my heart and hope to... you get the point.

In the mean time here is the view that got me thinking.

Epic lil' Elle

2010-08-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

My wife says I use the word Epic too much... She is probably right. I guess I just get fired up about everything pretty easily. I think life is a pretty "epic" thing... therefore all things in life must be "epic" right?

Especially a new life. Meet Elle.

Kelly and Rob are on a bridge

2010-08-09T15:44:00.000-07:00