It's always nice to find an amazing venue so close to home. This will mark my first trip to The Venue at the Grove, but hopefully not my last. A stunning property that really comes to life once the sun goes down. Especially if you shoot with anamorphic lenses. I arrived early to scope out the property and was immediately greeted by staff who were kind enough to show me where the photo and video teams typically store their equipment. The photographer, Andrea, had also just arrived and was unpacking her equipment. Being a preferred vendor at the property, Andrea was kind enough to walk me around the property and show me some of her favorite locations. As we were heading back to the main area, our bride, Lindsey, was just arriving. Wanting to give her some time to settle in, I started capturing the venue's staff putting the tables and ceremony together. I love capturing this kind of BTS content. It offers a perfect opening to my feature films. I checked in with Lindsey and the bridesmaids to grab the flat lay details and got started, or should I say passed it off to Andrea to get started. Photographers have an eye for posing details that I just don't have. Luckily, they are typically nice enough to lend their creative genius long enough to allow me to capture a few of their arrangements. One area I excel in, however, is hanging the dress, mainly because I am tall enough to reach areas where the dress can hang without touching the ground. We try to keep the dress as clean as possible for as long as possible. Returning the dress, I stumbled upon the mother of the bride, Stacy, telling a story of a special heirloom locket she was passing down to Lindsey. Coming into the day, I knew about this detail; however, having supporting audio like this allows me to build out an otherwise simple moment into a storied point in the final film. Wanting to keep things ahead of schedule, Lindsey stepped into her dress, and with the help of Stacy, put on her various pieces of jewelry. Once ready, I had Stacy and Lindsey tie the gifted locket to Lindsey's bouquet. A perfect moment to complement the audio captured earlier. On the other side of the property, Ryan, our groom, had arrived. I headed over to introduce myself and ask that we recreate his getting ready moment for the camera. I pride myself on filming 90% organic real content on the wedding day, but this is one area I bend the rules. The content is just too important for the storyline of the film, and the guys typically always arrive on property completely dressed. Ryan was nice enough to comply with the request, and with the help of his best man and brother, Travis put the suit he had just taken off back on for the cameras. Back over at the bridal suite, Lindsey's father Todd was patiently waiting for his first look with his daughter. This is my new favorite wedding day tradition. Not only did Todd give me a fantastic reaction, but he also gave an amazing speech later in the day that complemented the moment perfectly in the edit. We then gathered the girls together and headed to the back of the property for some bridal party photos. The couple opted to forgo a first look so we would be shooting the bridesmaids and groomsmen separately. The property really shined for these midday portraits, offering us plenty of shade to pose in. Guests soon began to arrive, and before long, the ceremony was underway. The wedding was officiated by the groom's uncle, Brian, who delivered a fantastic ceremony mixed with some funny and sweet sound bites. I always love when an officiant starts the ceremony off with a lighthearted sound byte; it gives me a perfect opening for the film. The couple opted to exchange fantastic personal vows, both of which ended with the same final line, "I love you infinity times infinity.". Judging by Ryan's reaction, I think it was an unplanned line. After a kiss and pronouncement, we led the couple out for some sunset photos while the rest of the guests headed to the cocktail area. The forecast had called for rain all week, but what we got instead was a perfectly stunning Arizona sunset. Having about 30 minutes after we wrapped with portraits, the couple decided to join their guests for cocktail hour as I headed to the reception to capture details. I still had a bit of sun in the sky and managed to capture some of the most stunning detail shots of all time. Still geeking out over them. After some hilarious introductions from the bridal party, the couple was introduced and headed to the dance floor for their first dance. Dinner and speeches followed, and this crew absolutely delivered on speeches. Good audio is the mark of a good film, and this project had so much good audio! It's probably why it ended up being one of my longer feature films to date. Like I said earlier, this venue truly comes alive at night. The grove of trees that encompasses the property is covered in lights, giving the background of every shot a beautiful bokeh. Stunning. The couple shared a dance with their parents and a slice of cake before starting the real party! DJ Sterling crushed the dance floor, and the crew partied the night away. The evening was set to conclude with a final sendoff, so guests grabbed a sparkler and headed to the front of the property as the couple shared a final dance alone on the dance floor. Sparklers lit, the couple made their way through the cheers and the glow of their guests, concluding a truly beautiful wedding day.
The Team
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Back in Arizona to cover this week's wedding in Mesa. My day started at the couple's home, where Brian, the groom, was getting ready with the couple's four boys. I knocked on the door and was greeted by some friendly barks and Brian, who showed me inside. Brian was in the middle of crafting his vows with the help of his friend and officiant, Chad. I grabbed my camera to capture the moment and, of course, film the pups who were also wandering around the yard with us. I love candid moments like these, and I have recently started using them with their natural audio in the film to break up the much more crisp, clean, formal audio from the ceremony, speeches, and other mic'd-up moments. I feel as though it adds a raw feeling to an otherwise polished film. Back inside, the boys started to change into their custom blue-lined suits as Brian floated around the room helping as needed. After they were all dressed, Brian got into his matching suit with the help of his dad and best man, Bill. A perfect circle of life moment. After everyone was dressed, I made the short drive over to the brides getting-ready location. As I walked in, Becci, the bride, was just wrapping up her makeup process. The makeup artist knocked it out of the park, going as far as gifting the bridesmaids touch-up makeup kits and a bottle of tequila. Not wanting the gift to go unused, Becci gathered her girls for a quick toast. Bethany, the photographer, soon arrived, and the two of us got started shooting the dress and details. Becci decided to lean into the something blue tradition with a beautiful blue pair of heels for the occasion. After wrapping up with the dress shots, we handed it over to Becci to step into it in private. As she stepped into another room to change, her boys arrived. The plan was for Becci to share a first look with the three of them after she was all ready. We ushered them into another room as Becci stepped out. With the help of her mom, Mindy, Becci got all buttoned up and put on her jewelry. We tucked Becci back into a spare bedroom while we placed the boys for the grand reveal. Eyes closed, Becci gave the boys a three-count before opening. This was truly such a sweet moment to be a part of. I quickly packed up and made the last short drive of the day to the venue just down the road. As I made my way into the venue, I was greeted by two familiar faces. First was the DJ for the wedding, AJ Campbell, of Lubelle Entertainment. AJ is always so fun to work with! The second was another DJ friend, Gilbert of Genuine DJs. Gilbert was running the cold sparks and photo booth for the wedding. Awesome! It's always so fun to work with vendors you already know! Time was limited, so I quickly got started filming the ceremony site before guest arrival. The couple had originally met in high school, where they both ran track together. Although their romantic relationship didn't start there, their story did. Guests soon arrived and took their seats, and the ceremony was soon underway. Brian's boys escorted the bridesmaids down the aisle before Becci, flanked by her two sons, made her way down the aisle. Certainly a sweet procession I'll remember forever. Chad guided guests through their fun relationship story before the two exchanged their personal vows to one another. The two also opted to sign their marriage license during the actual ceremony, a fun touch I had not seen before. A kiss was shared, and the couple made their way down the aisle before sharing another halfway down. The second kiss is a great way to get a big group shot with all of your guests. Cocktail hour kicked off with a champagne tower poured by the couple. Pro tip: If you decide to do a champagne tower, pre-fill the lower glasses. This helps the champagne level in each glass be consistent. The reception kicked off with a sparkler grand introduction and first dance before we rushed the couple out to grab some shots in the last bit of daylight. We were shuttled around the area by Brian, who smartly brought the couple's golf cart to the venue. Arizona sunsets never disappoint, and we got some truly breathtaking content. We returned back to the reception where AJ had been keeping guests busy with his signature wedding scavenger hunt. Speeches were shared before the couple shared a dance with their parents and cut their wedding cake. Open dancing carried us into the night, and before long, the last dance was shared with Brian and Becci. I said my goodbyes to my friends and the couple before officially departing. Another perfect wedding in the books!
The Team
Venue: Mountain Bridge Owners Club
Photographer: Bethany Longmire DJ: Lubelle Entertainment Photo booth/Cold Sparks: Genuine DJ Entertainment Hair/Makeup: Lisset Cuevas Artistry
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Back in Northern California for this week's wedding to revisit a venue I've had the privilege to film at a few times in the past, Vine Hill House. A stunning property with sprawling views of the winery it sits on. Before we get to the venue, however, my coverage of Mika and Eric's wedding weekend takes me downtown to the Crooked Goat Brewery. The couple decided to host their family and friends at the brewery for a welcome party the night before their big day. During the party the couple had planned to have an open mic, allowing guests to come up and say a few words. Never wanting to turn down the chance to grab some additional audio for their film, I jumped at the opportunity. The evening went flawlessly, with what seemed like half the party wanting to say a few words to the couple. A testament to the people they are. With my gear packed up, I headed back to recharge and prepare for the wedding day ahead. Arriving on property the next day, I unpacked my gear and got an early start on coverage. Having filmed the festivities the night before, the group was already comfortable with the camera's presence. First stop was the main house, where Mika and the girls were wrapping up the hair and makeup processes. I checked in with Mika before grabbing a few shots of the process and heading outside with the details. With the groom not far behind, I and Roberto, the photographer, got started with the flat lay and dress shots. This venue is not short on cool locations and lighting for this type of content. We were alerted that the groom was ten minutes out, so we quickly packed up, not wanting to spoil any surprises. While this venue offers a wonderful getting-ready area for the girls, the groom hangs out outside in what will later become a cigar lounge during the reception. I headed over to meet up with Eric and start his getting-ready coverage. As much as I love to shoot real moments as they occur naturally, groom prep is one area I bend my rules. Typically the guys already come dressed, but I still need the content for the film. With the help of Eric's best man, we got Eric undressed and redressed for the camera. Back inside, the hair and makeup process had wrapped up, and we headed to the front of the house to grab some bridal party photos before Mika stepped into her dress. Rather than tuck ourselves into a bedroom for the moment, the front of the property was completely shaded and offered us a perfect location. Luckily, it didn't take much convincing, and Mika was on board. With the help of her mom, Mika stepped into her dress. With her wedding look complete, the bridesmaids were led out of the house so Mika could show off her dress. These reveals are becoming a popular trend, and I'm here for it! With the bridal party first look out of the way, we moved onto the more important first look, the one between the bride and groom. With Eric in place, Mika approached from behind, and with a tap on the shoulder, Eric laid his eyes on his bride for the first time. The couple decided to share private personal vows to one another before moving on to portraits. Personal vows add so much to the wedding film. It seems strange, but the opportunity to capture quotable audio from the couple on a wedding day naturally is pretty limited, so it's always exciting when a couple decides to write their own vows and share them for the camera. Guests soon began to arrive and take their seats for the ceremony. The couple opted for a short and sweet procession, reserving the aisle for the two of them, their parents, the ring bearer, and the flower girl. The ceremony was led by rabbi Dean, who walked the couple through the different traditions of the Jewish wedding ceremony. This culminates in the most iconic Jewish wedding tradition, the breaking of the glass. Following the ceremony we snuck the couple out for their sunset portrait sessions. The sun decided to put on an absolute show for us that afternoon, and the session was one for the ages. Dinner took place on the lawn in front of the main house and was capped off by some amazing speeches from the couple's closest family. We headed back over to what was once the ceremony site but now had been transformed into a dance floor. Mika and Eric kicked off the evening with their first dance, which started as a slow classic and transitioned into a fast choreographed number ending with an invitation to the guests to join in. The dance floor was never empty again, and the party raged deep into the night, blending Jewish traditional dancing with the mainstream hits. With my cards full, batteries drained, and a long drive ahead, I said my goodbyes to the couple and northern California. Until next time!
The Team
Venue: Vine Hill House
Coordination: Chelsea Events and Floral Design Photography: Roberto Chavez Photography DJ: AMS Entertainment Floral: Vanda Floral Design Hair & Makeup: Devotion Studio Catering: Trends Catering Music: Duo Gadjo Photo Booth: Selfie Booth Co. Transportation: Thunderstar Charter
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Our journey takes us north to Flagstaff for today's wedding to capture Jessica and Eric's big day. I arrived bright and early and immediately got started shooting this beautiful property. With rain in the forecast, I wanted to try and get as many outdoor shots as possible. Jessica and Eric had not yet arrived at the venue, so this gave me some extra time to walk the property and scout possible locations for portraits later. It's pretty cool to live in a place where, in a relatively short distance, the climate and environment can change so drastically. My day started in the warm desert, and now I was smack in the middle of a cool mountain forest. I love this state. Jessica and Eric soon arrived, and I got started with the dress and details. The weather forecast may be less than ideal from the outside looking in, but in the camera world, cloud cover makes for ideal midday lighting. Not wanting to risk filming the dress outside with the possibility of rain, the staircase and chandelier seemed like an excellent and unique secondary option. Soon my photographer counterpart Maya arrived on property. This is a venue that has full-service vendor options, and I would be one of the only vendors that wasn't a regular at the property. Maya and her second shooter, Stephanie, were fantastic to work with throughout the day. I passed over the details and dress and made my way to the groom's suite. Inside, Eric and his groomsmen were well into an intense game of Super Smash Brothers, one of my favorite games. I filmed the action for a bit before checking in on the girls. The girls were also deep into an intense game, but this time the game was Heads Up trivia. Realizing this was a perfect opportunity to match shots with the guys video game session, I let the camera roll. I love capturing these types of organic moments. The audio helps break up the scripted feel the speech and ceremony audio gives to the film. I told Jessica I'd be back in a few minutes to get started with the dress and headed back to Eric's room to film his getting ready. Not loving the lighting condition in the groom's room, Maya and I proposed we take this moment outside. The clouds had broken, and the sun was now out, providing some nice natural light for this moment. After Eric was fully dressed in his quite fitting green suit, I headed back to the bridal suite. Inside, Jessica had stepped into her dress and was ready for the cameras. With the help of her mom, she completed her bridal look. The timeline then called for a first look between the couple, so we headed outside, through a gate, to a nice overlook just beyond the fence line for the property. It's nice to work with a photographer who really knows the venue. Eric was in place, and Maya set out to grab our bride. I filmed the moment the two made their way back up the hill. With a tap on the shoulder, Eric laid his eyes on his bride for the first time. The two shared a few moments together before we moved into some bridal party shots. These two groups made the moment a lot of fun, even bringing a boombox to play some music. As Maya transitioned from bridal party to family, I departed to film the guests as they began to arrive for the ceremony. I find these moments of transition very important to film, as they create a seamless transition from pre-ceremony activities to the ceremony. Guests took their seats as the bridal party made their way down the aisle. The ceremony was officiated by Eric's uncle, Barry, who walked us through their relationship history, sharing some fun personal anecdotes along the way. Rock climbing is one of the couple's favorite pastimes, and they decided to integrate this symbolically into their ceremony by literally tying the knot with a piece of climbing rope. I love fun personal details like this. After exchanging some fun personal vows, a pair of rings, and a kiss, they were officially wed. With the sun setting, we rushed through a few family portraits before heading out into the forest for the couple's sunset portrait session. Wildflowers were in full bloom, and this quickly turned into one of my favorite sessions of all time. The natural landscape is just stunning. The sun soon set as we made our way back down to the covered patio for dinner and speeches before transitioning up to the patio for dinner and dancing. With a long drive ahead, I said my goodbyes to the amazing team of vendors and the fantastic couple. Thank you, Jessica and Eric, for this wonderful opportunity!
The Team
Venue: Aldea Wedding in the Woods
Photographer: Maya Papaya Pictures DJ: Tony the Entertainer Hair and Makeup: Boss Beauty AZ Floral: Four Sisters Floral
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My final stop at Viansa Winery for 2024. This place is just pure magic. The views, weather, and atmosphere are always incredible. Fingers crossed I'll get the chance to come back in 2025. I arrived before our couple and began filming the setup shots while Orchard Avenue Events put the space together. This would be a reunion of the team of vendors I've spent the past 3 weeks with. It's always nice to work with familiar faces. Downstairs our bride, Stephanie, arrived and headed to her bridal suite in the wine cave. I headed inside and collected the details needed for the flat lay and dress shots. Since the groom would be arriving second at this wedding, I used his suite to shoot the details before returning to the cave to film the dress. Perhaps at the next wedding I'll mix up my dress location, but for now I am still loving the framing the staircase to the tasting room provides. As I wrapped up with the dress, Pure Luxury Transportation was dropping off our groom and groomsmen. I returned the dress and headed over to film our groom, Brentley, as he made his way inside. I spent some time with the guys and filmed Brentley getting into his suit before heading back into the bridal suite for Stephanie's getting-ready moment. We would have to be extra careful today, as our chosen location for the bride was just around the corner from her groom. Brentley promised not to peek as Stephanie and her mom finalized her wedding day look. The big reveal was next, so we placed Brentley outside and told him to wait for a tap on the shoulder. Stephanie made her way from the wine cave outside where Brentley was waiting, and the two shared their first look. Having been inspired by the first look Joy and David did with their pup at Viansa a few weeks back, I asked Brentley and Stephanie during our last call if they wanted to do a first look with their two dogs. I am glad they passed on the idea after seeing the size of their two dogs. That could have ended poorly! After some photos with the pups and their bridal party. The couple was tucked away in preparation for the ceremony as guests began to arrive. I headed back upstairs to film guests signing in and taking their seats. Shots like this allow me the content to create a smooth transition from pre-ceremony activities to the ceremony. The procession soon followed along with the typical ceremony traditions. The ceremony was officiated by the couple's friend Austin, who walked us through their relationship history before Brentley and Stephanie exchanged their personal vows to one another. Following the ceremony, the couple took some family photos before embarking on their sunset session. Viansa truly shines in this moment as the sunsets here are always incredible. We made our way around the property to the various portrait locations before heading back inside to prepare for the grand introduction. The couple was introduced and shared their first dance before Stephanie's father, Steve, welcomed the guest to dinner and Brentley officially to the family. Following dinner, the two shared a first dance with their parents before the DJ, Tony, kicked off the party. With my cards full, I said my goodbyes and headed out. Another amazing trip to wine country in the books.
The Team
Venue: Viansa Winery
Coordination: Orchard Avenue Events Photography: Sydnee Marie DJ: Nor Cal Pro Sound Floral: Wine Country Flowers Catering: Ray's Catering Rentals: Twilight Design Transportation: Pure Luxury Transportation
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Check out this other California Wedding Still in California for the summer wedding season, this stop takes me to the East Bay Area for day two of my double wedding weekend. Even though I only try to film one wedding a week, double headers always find their way into my calendar each year. This venue, The Palm Event Center, has become one of my favorite venues to film at over the years. Not only does the palm tree-lined driveway and the vineyards that surround the property offer stunning scenery, but the staff is truly top-notch. This wedding in particular offered an extra layer of excitement as I would be spending the day with one of my favorite photographers, Nicola, and my old high school friend turned wedding coordinator, Jenny. I arrived at the venue bright and early, beating the couple by about an hour. Fantasy Sound and Lighting Design was busy transforming the space into the magical reception venue it would later become. I love filming setups as it allows the couple to see some of the behind-the-scenes action that took place before they arrived. It also gives me the perfect content to introduce the feature film. Cole and his groomsmen were the first to arrive and got set up in the lounge area. I introduced myself and got started filming details. Knowing Cole would be the first to arrive, I had him bring the flat lay details. Nicola was still busy capturing the morning off-site with the girls, so I was left to my own devices to stage the details.... My photographer friends are always SO much better at posing details and are typically nice enough to allow me to capture their arrangements. Lucky for me, Nicola soon arrived, and we got started capturing Cole's getting ready process. Cole and, well, really his whole family were so fun to work with all day, but in this moment he and his brother Ben were too much fun. Ben helped Cole into his suit before giving him the most awkward hug I've ever captured. I headed over to Sabrina, who was patiently waiting in the barrel room. Palm offers two spaces for ceremony, the outdoor lawn and the barrel room. When the couple opts to have their wedding on the lawn, I always have my brides use the barrel room for their getting-ready process. The chandeliers in the barrel room offer a stunning location to film the dress, and by opening the barn door that leads outside, the sunlight transforms the space into a perfectly lit option for the bride to get ready in. With the help of her mother, Tina, Sabrina finalized her wedding look before putting her scent on for the occasion. Filming perfume being sprayed into sunlight creates a really cool, dreamy effect in slow motion. Cole, not to be outdone, later found out about that effect and wanted to also have his moment with his cologne. He also threw in a hair flip for good measure. This had to be one of my favorite shots of the day. Sabrina, now in her wedding dress, shared a first look with her bridal party before stepping out to have a private first look with her dad, Kevin. Guests soon started arriving as Cole gathered his groomsmen and his parents for a final toast before the procession. I will always choose natural sunlight over artificial, but one of the challenges with natural light is not having control of it. Palm typically offers a challenging ceremony predicament. Half of the aisle is usually in full sun, where the other half is shaded. In order to maximize the time in proper exposure, this is one of the rare venues where I capture the procession from the back of the aisle instead of the front. This allows me to capture each group as they walk from the doors to the reception, to the back of the aisle, maximizing each group's time in consistent light. If I filmed from the front like I normally do, each member of the procession would only be properly lit for a few seconds. The rest of the ceremony went on without a hitch as the two shared their traditional vows and exchanged rings before sealing their commitment to one another with a kiss. Cocktail hour was underway as the couple got started with their family photos. I like to jump around during this time between filming the reception space, candid cocktail hour guest interactions, and filming a bit of the in-between moments from the family portrait session. Following cocktail hour, guests were invited to take their seats for the reception. Cole and Sabrina were introduced through the barn doors to the barrel room and made their way to the dance floor for their first dance. This has to be one of my favorite first dances I've captured. The dreamy Christmas esc uplighting and the spotlight I used to backlight the dance floor really made the moment extra visually captivating. Cole then formally welcomed guests to the reception before being whisked away for some bridal party and couple portraits outside. Palm truly delivered and even went as far as to give me a gentle breeze. Wind and slow motion really go hand in hand. We staged our bridal party photos along the palm tree-lined driveway before moving Sabrina and Cole to the vineyard for their couple photos. The sunset was magical and gave us just enough light to get through their couple photos. Back inside, a few speeches were deliverd before the couple shared another dance with their respective parent. The dance floor officially opened and was never empty again; this group loved to party! I ended up staying well beyond my coverage capturing the action and may have had a fresh donut from the flambe station set up for some late-night snacks before officially departing. What an awesome two-wedding weekend this was! The Team
Venue: Palm Event Center
Photographer: Nicola Leigh Photography DJ/Lighting: Fantasy Sound Event Services Florist: Delford West Floral Company Cake: Primrose Bakery Rentals: Pleasanton Rentals
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Back to Viansa Winery for the second leg of a 3-wedding adventure at the property. This time to capture the wedding of Jackie and Miguel. Getting the opportunity to revisit a venue (especially so close together) allows me to lean into the things that worked and avoid any of the things that didn’t. This really comes into play when shooting portraits, knowing what spots work and what the best time is to visit them. This also came into play when I arrived on the property, as there is a secret parking lot at the top of the hill large enough for a few of the vendors. While you can't park there for the entire day, it definitely helped not having to lug my gear up the hill to the ceremony and reception venue. I headed inside and ran into a familiar face, Sara, the coordinator from last week’s wedding. Orchard Avenue has really been too kind recommending me for so many events last year. It’s truly an honor. Once unpacked, I got started filming the property. I tried to stay fresh with my content knowing I had the ability to use any of the shots from the previous wedding that didn’t include any of the custom wedding decorations and theming. Miguel soon arrived with the guys up at the reception hall. I introduced myself and offered to snap some pictures of him and his groomsmen. We headed downstairs to the groom getting ready area. I was excited to film here again as the lighting and footage came out great the previous week. The contrast between the bright sun and the dim room creates a very unique contrast and edge in the footage. Miguel opted to have some custom embroidery done to his jacket, so we made sure to work in some candid-looking staged shots to capture those details. Wine was poured, and a toast with his groomsmen was delivered as the guys settled into a card game. Before too long Jackie and the bridal party arrived. If you read through my last blog, you’ll know that this venue can get a little tricky when the bride arrives after the groom. The guys getting-ready space, while conveniently located next to the girls, offers little privacy to the outside world. This requires some careful planning to make sure the two don’t see each other before their first look. Surrounded by his groomsmen, we had Miguel face the wall as she passed by. My attention shifted from the guys to the girls, and I headed into the wine cave to the bridal suite to start my coverage with Jackie. I grabbed the dress and details and got to work. The wine cave offers a gorgeously framed staircase to film the dress. Last week I was so captured by how perfect the shot looked wide that I completely forgot to grab some closeups. not today! I passed off the dress so that Jackie could step into it while I wrapped up with the rest of her details. We opted to stay in the suite for the bride prep photos this time instead of heading into the cave this week. While I was a bit nervous about the dimly lit warmer lighting, I actually think it turned out pretty cool looking in the end. The bride's mother gifted Jackie a card, which Jackie attempted to read before realizing it would be too tear-inducing. This moment was a great emotional warm-up for the two first looks to follow. The first with her dad, this still is my favorite wedding day tradition. The next with her groom. After the two shared a private moment together, we moved on to portraits with the family and bridal parties. Guests soon began to arrive, so I made my way back upstairs to capture the ceremony site and get my audio all set. I always like to film the transition of guests arriving at the ceremony site and taking their seats. It builds the anticipation for the ceremony ahead. One by one the groom, bridal party, and bride made their way down the aisle. As a solo shooter, one the groom, bridal party, and bride made their way down the aisle. It’s helpful when the couple has a long walk. It allows me to capture a few reaction shots while the bride makes her way down the aisle. During the procession, filming the groom's reaction is always the priority; however, I also try to get some additional reactions to really build the moment up. The two opted to share private vows; I truly wish every couple opted to do this before exchanging rings and a kiss. Cocktail hour was officially underway. For some additional entertainment, the couple had hired a mariachi band to play some music while guests enjoyed a beverage and some appetizers. Once the couple wrapped up with some additional family photos, they joined their guests for cocktail hour. This is something I always recommend doing. It allows the couple to actually interact with their guests. It may seem strange to say, but on your wedding day the amount of time you actually get to spend with your guests is limited. Everyone transitioned inside, and the couple was formally introduced. It’s always a race against the sun, so unfortunately we had to immediately whisk the couple away to capture their portrait session. Lucky for me, having just shot this venue the previous week, I was able to take the lead on the locations for our sunset session. This really is a venue that you can't go wrong staging since each location is so stunning. Back inside, the couple sliced their cake and shared their first dance with each other and their respective parents before sharing a Hispanic tradition. I actually have no idea what the tradition is called, but it involves the couple standing on two chairs, stretching the veil between the two, creating a tunnel of sorts. Guests are grouped into guys and girls, forming two lines. the train of guests then sprints around the venue, holding hands, passing through the tunnel, bumping the couples chairs as they pass through. While I would not want to be the one holding the veil on the chair, this was a super fun moment to shoot. With vibes high, open dancing was kicked off. I stuck around late enough to capture some sweet dance moves before saying my goodbyes and departing. See you once again next week, Viansa!
The Team
Venue: Viansa Winery
Planner: Orchard Avenue Events Photography: Esme Franco Photography DJ: Fog City Entertainment Florist: Vanda Floral Design Hair: Viviana Perez Makeup: House of Glam Officiant: Diego Mariscal Catering: Rays Catering Photo Booth:PicStar Cake: Flour & Bloom
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Sonoma, California. This venue is becoming a regular stop for me during the summer thanks to the amazing team of planners with Orchard Avenue Events. Viansa Winery is a piece of Tuscany nestled in the foothills of the Napa Valley. Perched on a hilltop overlooking the sprawling vastness of vines below. This place is truly breathtaking. I arrived on property bright and early, where I met Sara, our lead planner, in the ballroom laying linens and setting up the decor for the evening ahead. We chatted for a bit as I got my cameras set up. I typically arrived much earlier than necessary, this time before the bride and groom. I used the extra time to get some establishing shots of the property. This place isn't short on photogenic content. David, the groom, soon texted me that they were 10 minutes out, so I made my way down to the courtyard to film their arrival. There are certain small details that a venue can have that make my job extra easy. One of the biggest is location proximity, whether that be the location of the ceremony to the reception, or cocktail hour to the portraits, or in this case, the bride and groom's getting-ready areas. Luckily, this venue checks all of those boxes, and every location is just steps away. I captured David and his groomsman as they made their way to their getting ready area. I laughed as David immediately broke the fourth wall, smiling and waving at me as he approached. For those of you wondering, the fourth wall is when the subject of the shot acknowledges the presence of the camera. I know the term "nicest person on earth" gets thrown around a lot, but I think David actually could be the heavy favorite for nicest person on earth. It's pretty perfect that his soon-to-be wife is named Joy, but we will get to her in a bit. The groomsmen wasted no time in pouring a glass of champagne, and David toasted to the day ahead. David's father, Milos, helped David with his tie and into his jacket as I wrapped up my coverage with the guys. Joy soon arrived at the venue, and this is where things get a little tricky. As I mentioned earlier, the bride and groom's suites are located just a few feet from one another. Being so close, the bride has to walk past the groom on her way to her suite. With the help of a wall of groomsmen, we made sure no peeking from David would transpire as Joy made her way to the bridal suite. Along with the bride, the photo duo of Willow and Ben had also arrived. I introduced myself before Willow and I made our way to grab the bride's dress and details. I typically try to mix up my locations for detail shots, but the wine cave at Viansa is just too cool of a location to shoot the dress. We passed the dress back to Joy so she could step into it. Once covered up, we transitioned out of the suite and into the cave for the rest of the process. With the help of her mom, Ling Ling, she completed her bridal look. Tucked away once more, we placed Joy's father, Jeremy, for my favorite moment on a wedding day, the father-daughter first look. There is something about the raw emotion from this moment where it seems the entire life of the bride flashes through her father's eyes as he sees his girl in her wedding dress. Outside, David patiently waited for his bride's arrival for the other, more traditional first look. Joy made her way across the courtyard, and the two shared their first look with one another. There are some first looks that are quick and lack emotion, and then there are first looks like this one where it would seem the two could spend the rest of their lives living in that moment. Luckily we had a furry trick up our sleeve to move the moment along, Pua. Pua, for the record, is the couple's ADORABLE dog. Pua was released and was eager to have her own moment with the couple. I'm seriously considering a doggy discount on my services if you choose to bring your dog to your wedding. After some photos with the bridal party and family, guests began to arrive, and the couple was tucked away for the ceremony. The couple chooses to blend a traditional American wedding ceremony with an Asian tea ceremony. Following the procession, the couple shared a glass of tea with each of their parents in exchange for a gift. Sometimes these tea ceremonies happen really early in the morning, so I'm always thankful for the sake of coverage when it's incorporated into the main ceremony later in the day. The couple also opted to write their own personal vows, which turned out to be some of the best I have ever had the privilege to witness in my career. I know they are good when I start building the edit in my head while they are delivered. I think this is one of the rare instances where I didn't cut the vows down to a manageable length. They were just too good! Following the vows, Pua made her triumphant return with a full zoomie sprint down the aisle with the couple's rings in tow. Adorable. The two shared their rings and a kiss before the conclusion of the ceremony. Cocktail hour kicked off as the couple finished up some portraits and signed their marriage license. Before their grand entrance, they shared their first of many champagne towers with a quick message thanking their guests for attending. I must add, the light for this moment was absolutely breathtaking from a creative nerd's perspective... but I digress. After making the rounds outside on the patio for a bit, the couple gathered for their formal grand entrance as guests took their seats inside. David and Joy entered in full hype mode before taking part in one of the most creative photo dashes I've yet seen. At each table there were two bottles of Champagne and a tower of flutes. David and Joy sprinted from table to table pouring the bottles of Champagne down each tower while snapping a photo with each group of guests. As fun and creative as this was, it was a bit exhausting! With all the glasses filled, the couple shared a formal toast with their guests. We rushed outside to take in the last of the sunlight before making our way back inside for, honestly, one of the most anticipated moments of the night. The couple's first dance. If you watched the film, you would notice the couple practicing their first dance several times throughout the day. Luckily I was able to capture a few of these moments and include them in the film. The practice paid off because the two absolutely nailed their first dance together as husband and wife. DJ Angelo seized the energy left by the first dance to kick off the open dancing, which brought my coverage to a close. Don't worry, I'll be back to Viansa VERY soon for the next adventure :)
The Team
Venue: Viansa Winery
Planning and Coordination: Orchard Avenue Events Photography: Willow and Ben DJ: Blue Line Music Florist: Vanda Floral Design Hair and Makeup: Design Her Image Catering: Liberation Foods Photo Booth: Elite Captures Photo Booth Rentals: Encore Event Rentals
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I've said it before, but I will say it again. Red Agave Resort remains unmatched in their views of the red rocks of Sedona. It is always so stunning. I arrived at Jennifer and Austin's wedding day bright and early. Hair and makeup were underway, and our bride, Jennifer, was putting the final touches of her bridal look together. I introduced myself and grabbed some shots of the action. Aslan, my photographer counterpart, soon arrived on the scene. I've had the privilege of working with The Shepards Photo at several weddings in the past, and it's always a pleasure. We make a great team. We grabbed the details for our flat lay material from the bridal suite and headed outside. Nothing beats natural sunlight. Outside, the team at Red Agave was busy setting up for the ceremony and reception. While Aslan broke out his detail tackle box and got started setting up the flat lay, I got busy shooting the setup. Behind-the-scenes shots are my favorite way to open my feature films, and there is only a small window in the day that content is available on a wedding day. Besides, photographers are always much more creative than me in that department, and Aslan doesn't seem to mind me stealing his flat lay arrangements. After some details, we met up with Austin, our groom, and scoped out a good place for him to get ready. Red Agave's bungalows offer a very unique, moody ambiance that I'm obsessed with. Austin opted to wear a salmon-colored suit for the occasion. Not only was it an extremely unique and very cool option for the big day, but it also paid homage to the surrounding red rock of Sedona. A very nice touch. The couple opted to exchange gifts with one another, so once dressed, Austin dove into his present from Jennifer. You'll have to watch the film to see what was inside. With Austin tucked away, we brought Jennifer into the Bungalow for her getting ready. I should shout out Austin's parents, Kristen and Marty, for letting us take over their room for these two moments. Before Jennifer stepped into her dress, we had her open the gift Austin gave to her. I don't know if these two divulged what they were getting the other, but if not, they certainly think alike. Aslan and I stepped out so Jennifer could step into her dress in private with her mom, Jan. Once she was in a more comfortable place, we came back inside and captured the action. Getting ready content may seem unnecessary, but as a filmmaker, I use this content to build up the anticipation for the couple coming together later in the day. Without it, a first look or procession would have no payoff. Outside, Austin patiently waited to see his bride. The two shared their first look and exchanged gifts to their parents before getting into a brief portrait session. Once finished, I made the short walk over to the ceremony site. Lighting today was going to be tricky. The sky was bouncing between shade and sun. The good news is the clouds really added an extra layer of beauty to the surrounding red rocks. It did make nailing exposer through the procession and ceremony tough, though. The two made their way through the normal ceremony paces before exchanging their personal vows and performing a sand ceremony. I love that personal vows are becoming the norm in the wedding world. After the ceremony we headed out toward the back of the property for some photos. This is where the beauty of the property really shines. We bounced between family, bridal party, and couple shots as the lighting conditions changed. Whenever Aslan and I noticed some light peeking through the clouds, we switched from family to couple portraits, then back to family as the next cloud covered our light. Rather than having the typical catering service, the couple opted to have a taco truck provide the food for the reception. This was a really fun and unique idea. After dinner came the speeches and the formal dances as the desert sun faded away into darkness. The change in light allows me to illuminate the moment with a spotlight, bringing a cinematic touch to such an emotional moment. The night came to an end as I said my goodbyes to the couple and to the team of vendors I got to work alongside. I can't wait to be back at this property again next year.
The Team
Venue:Red Agave Resort
Photography: The Shepards Photo DJ: Sedona Sounds Makeup: Abby Elyse Makeup Florist: White Sage Floral Arts
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Desert View Weddings, the site for today's event. A stunning new venue located in Apache Junction, aptly named for its panoramic views of the surrounding desert mountains. I arrived early to tour the new site. It's always a welcomed surprise to work at a venue so well thought out as Desert View. The reception and ceremony sites boast a glass wall that fills the venue with natural sunlight. Between the two buildings is a turfed area for the cocktail hour. Having all three sites within a few steps of one another makes life much easier on a wedding day. As I finished up my tour of the site, the coordinator, Kaylie, arrived with her team to set up. The couple opted to arrange their tables in a "horseshoe" layout vs. the typical individual tables. I love when couples think outside the box. Around the reception were details alluding to the groom's occupation as a pilot in the Air Force. A fun homage to the couple meeting while Blake was deployed in Japan. In the bridal suite, Haruri was wrapping up her makeup process. I took the opportunity to film her dress and details before grabbing some shots of the girls mingling. Blake soon arrived along with his groomsmen. Instead of filming him in the smaller groomsmen suite, we transitioned the boys into the reception hall using the glass wall for some great lighting. I should mention that I was joined by Bailie, the fantastic photographer with Cactus and Vine at this time. Once we wrapped up with the boys, we headed back into the bridal suite to get Haruri into her dress. I always try to film this moment organically, and a dress with a lot of buttons certainly helps make that happen. It gives me plenty of time to gather all the shots I need. We opted to capture the first look in the ceremony building, so I grabbed Blake while Bailie walked Haruri over. The couple shared their first look, a few tears, and a few shots with their bridal party before being tucked away for the ceremony. Guest began to arrive and take their seats where traditional Japanese folding fans were waiting for them. Another great personal touch. Blake made his way down the aisle, followed by the rest of the bridal party. As guests stood to their feet, Haruri made her way down the aisle with her mom, Hiromi. The wedding ceremony was officiated by the couple's friend, John, who told some personal stories and gave some marriage advice before passing it on to the couple to share their personal vows. The two were then pronounced as husband and wife before sharing their first kiss. Cocktail hour was hosted outside between the reception and ceremony building while the couple snapped some photos with their family before joining. I always love when couples join their cocktail hour. Inside, Kylie and her team were putting the final details together for the reception. The couple was soon introduced and shared their first dance before taking their seats. Gilbert, the DJ, soon shared that the couple had placed custom scratchers on each of the guests napkins and that two guests had been chosen at random to win a prize. The prize turned out to be tee shirts of Blake's favorite band Creed. I still don't know if this is an inside joke or if Blake is just really passionate about sharing his love for the band Creed. After dinner, the rest of the program went flawlessly, and Gilbert kicked off the open dancing. Having had the privilege of working with Gilbert on a few other events, I knew he would have a trick or two up his sleeve. This time would be Co2 canons the couple shot off into their guests during dancing. My time with this fantastic crew soon came to an end, and I said my goodbyes to the couple and to the Phoenix wedding season.
The Team
Venue: Desert View Weddings
Coordination: K Marie Weddings Photo: Cactus & Vine DJ: Genuine DJ's Florist: Snapdragon Bloom Bar Hair: Sophglams Cake: Piece Of Cake Catering: AZ Inspirations Bar Service: Shake It Up Dress: Wedding Belles AZ Tux: The Black Tux Rentals: Material Girls Weddings Linens: Southwick Linens Limo: JET Limousines
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AuthorSteven Martinez // Cinematographer Archives
January 2025
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