What you see is what you get

Last weekend I had yet another opportunity to second shoot Aaron Wilcox. I’m sure I have said this before but I will say it again, I love to second shoot at weddings. I try and shoot stuff a little different then I would normally shoot and try new stuff. Some times it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

La Valencia is a gorgeous hotel in the heart of the fancy, and pricey, La Jolla. It is a place I often drive by and never go in because I’m not worthy of its awesomeness. This wedding got me in the door and now I know what people are talking about when they speak of La Valencia.

When I am second I try to spin off the first shooter. If he is tight, I go wide; if he is shooting from one side, I will shoot form the other. Well this wedding I shot a lot of reflections. I like reflections in general but this place was filled with them, so you will see a few more then normal on this post. Congrats Jeanie and Brian for a fabulous wedding and a good time.

The roses down the aisle were 3 inches thick, yikes.

Next 3 photos are views from the walk way around the hotel

Junior, the ring bearer

Jeanie and Brian sneak a little dance before the big show

Shamar + Chris

I had another opportunity to second shoot Bobby Earle :)

I really enjoy second shooting cause I get to try a lot of things or work on other things I normally wouldn’t have the chance to do if they where my own client. The bummer part is that I never really get to know the couple, which is what I enjoy most about being a wedding photographer. Not in this case. For the short time, I got to know them I got to see the love for each other. There was nothing flashy about this wedding but good old fashion, down and dirty, infatuation.

the peak before she walks out

This is my favorite part about this wedding- after the ceremony they escaped to a little room and did their own little vows to each other all by themselves... AWESOME!

k+t.... the san francisco treat

What a way to start off the New Year!!!!

I had the awesome opportunity to photograph my cousin Katie’s wedding in San Francisco. Normally I don’t like to shoot relatives’ or friend’s weddings because it can be tough, but this one didn’t feel like work.

This wedding was like no other… For one thing, it was on time- to the minute. Another thing is that they actually got married in August- so they had already been married for a few months. Let me elaborate. Thad is really smart and works on the other side of the world, but Katie is also really smart and she didn’t want her man leaving without her so they did a little civil marriage a few months ago. If you know anything about Katie, you know that she isn’t one to settle for a civil marriage so she, with the help of many others, planned this gorgeous wedding from the other side of the globe.

One of the things that made this wedding so amazing was the attention to detail. Katie and Thad (more so Katie) have their own and taste and it was apparent in every nook and cranny. You could really tell that this was no ordinary wedding because of how much love from family and friends was put into this wedding.

The wedding itself wasn’t MY favorite part… it was actually the day after. Kelli (who started her photography career) and I went over to my aunt and uncle’s house to share a slideshow of a 130+ images with the family along with the new (kinda) married couple. As we all sat around watching the photos fade in and out, I noticed my cousin crying. After the show, I asked why she was crying and she said after all is said and done those photos are all there is to remember the day and that those memories are irreplaceable. That is why I love my job.