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! 

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!

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 :) 

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.

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. 

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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Livermore California, my hometown. It's not only great to be back to where my video career started, but to share the day with tons of familiar faces. My day started at The Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort and Spa. A venue I have had the pleasure of filming many times in the past. I arrived bright and early, and the bridal party was well underway with the hair and makeup process. I said hello to some old friends and got to work filming the details. I love finding spotted light for my flat lay shots, and this venue offered several options. The property is covered in beautifully kept foliage and tons of shade from trees. After I wrapped up with the smaller details, I moved onto the most nerve-racking part of the day—filming the dress. Even though I've been through this process hundreds of times in the past, having anything to do with handling the dress still makes me nervous. Luckily there was a nice spot inside the bridal suite to hang it up, which limited the risk of getting it dirty. Details were wrapped at that point, so I moved next door to film Daniel. One of the reasons why I love filming at this location is the proximity of the important locations on their property. The groomsmen suite is located next to the bridal. While this leads to a bit of extra choreography so the couple doesn't see each other, it's really convenient to jump back and forth between the two rooms throughout the morning. I arrived and got the ball rolling on Daniel's getting-ready process. I typically cover this event earlier, then it would be naturally occurring, but luckily Daniel and his best man, Dante, were willing participants. At the end of the process, Stephanie surprised Daniel with some custom cufflinks that had been inscribed with their wedding date. I love personal details like this. Back in the other suite, the bride was ready to step into her dress. Instead of filming that moment in the room, we thought it would be better to step outside, where the lighting was even better suited for the moment. With the help of her sister, Sara, and her mom, Mo, Stephanie completed her wedding day look. Stephanie then opted to do a first look with her dad, David. If I haven't said it enough over the years, DO A FIRST LOOK WITH DAD! This is my favorite moment at nearly every wedding. After the two wiped the tears away, we got Daniel placed to see his bride. The two completed this moment with a private vow reading before jumping into some portraits. Side note: if you are on the fence about doing personal vows, the first look is a perfect option to keep the moment private. As we moved onto the bridal party portraits, Stephanie asked to do a dress reveal with the groomsmen. This, at least, was the cover story. As the guys turned around, the true nature of the moment was revealed as Stephanie held two six-packs of Smirnoff Ice in her hands. Some were happier than others to chug the bottle on one knee. Guests began to arrive and take their seats as one by one the bridal party made their way down the aisle. Stephanie decided to share her walk with both her stepdad Julio and father David. During the ceremony, the groomsmen played a bit of revenge on the bride by acting like they lost the rings, only to reach into the bushes and pull out another Smirnoff Ice for the bride to chug. Little did they know, the bride and groom had opted to conclude their ceremony with a shot of fireball. Steph was a trooper and powered through both. The reception took place outside in the orchard behind the ceremony site. I will die on the hill that outdoor receptions are superior to indoors. At least as far as the wedding film is concerned. The content under the sun just can't be matched. The reception went on without a hitch, and the couple danced the night away. Just like that, the California leg of my summer 2024 wedding season came to an end. 

Venue: The Purple Orchid
Photo: Tylar Delegeane 
DJ: Ace Entertainment 
Floral: Rose Bud Floral Designs
​Hair: Girl With A Curling Iron
Makeup: Status Salon
​Tux: Generation Tux
​Dress:Jamie Bridal

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Back in Gilbert for another wedding at Villa Siena, but first, a quick stop down the street at St. Annes Catholic Church for the ceremony. Since this would be my first wedding at this location, I made sure to show up early to walk around and scout locations for the pre-ceremony events. I noticed morning mass was still underway, so I quietly brought my equipment inside. I was soon greeted by the church's event coordinator, Jean, who was kind enough to show me the getting-ready locations for the bride and groom. As usual, the bride's space was much larger than the groom's. Luckily, we had planned for this possibility prior to the wedding day and elected to recreate the groom's prep later at Villa Siena. After gathering some establishing shots of the exterior of the church, the husband-wife photo duo, Aslan and Andria, arrived. I had been looking forward to working with these two for some time. As I introduced myself, the bridal party made their way into the church, followed by our bride, Chelsey. We made our way to check in with her and grab the flat-lay content. I always let the photographer lead the way with the flat lay arrangements; it's certainly not my area of expertise. Lucky for me, Andria was kind enough to allow me to grab some shots of her arrangements. I returned to the bridal suite to retrieve the dress and made my way to one of the few spots with shade outside to hang it. Aslan snapped some photos, I grabbed some wide shots before we both moved in close for some detail shots. I noticed a spot of light beaming into the small prayer room where we were hanging the dress. I love posing details in interesting light, so I retrieved the bride's shoes to do just that. After details, we returned to the bridal suite so our bride could step into her dress. Originally, the plan called for a first look and private vow exchange; however, things were running a bit behind, so we ended up adjusting course. It's always good to remain flexible and work in extra time on your wedding planning for situations like this. Guests took their seats, and the ceremony was underway. Catholic ceremonies have their pros and cons as a videographer. On the pro side, they offer a predictability that allows me to stay ahead of the events as I know the specific order and content that will be needed for the films later. On the other hand, you have to be extra respectful of the religious and sacred areas, not getting too close to the alter, and keeping a lower profile as you move around the venue. Priests typically aren't fans of photographers and videographers. Readings were read, vows and rings exchanged, and the couple shared their first kiss before exiting the church. After packing up, I headed over to Villa Siena for the remainder of the wedding day. It's pretty typical for guests to have a break between the ceremony and reception. Chelsey & Neeraj elected to use this time to capture their family and bridal party photos. I was very excited for the next event. In Indian culture, it's customary for the groom to be paraded into the venue in an event known as a barratt. The DJ Gilbert had an awesome audio setup that allowed his sound system to walk with the crowd, giving amplification to the music from the start of the parade to the entrance to Villa Siena. Too cool! Being a one-man show, I still wanted to get as many different perspectives of this moment as I could. I elected to place my different cameras along the parade route, switching as I passed by each. I first started with my drone getting an aerial shot of the group, then moved to my gimbal for some motion shots, and lastly to my handheld 80mm lens for some tighter details. This gives me the content of three videographers and tons of flexibility in the editing room. I forgot to mention the forecast called for triple-digit temperatures today, and the parade route would be mostly in full sun. As the music and drummer played, the dancing began, and we began the roughly ten-minute walk to the front gate of the venue. In his black tux, our groom didn't miss a beat, dancing every step of the parade route. I admired his dedication, but after the moment concluded, the symptoms of heat exhaustion set in. Luckily he was able to recover inside, and we moved onto grabbing some groom prep shots to match Chelsey's content taken at the church. The couple elected to have their reception in the courtyard where Villa Siena typically has their wedding ceremonies take place. Pro tip: if ever possible, PLEASE have your reception outdoors. The evening lighting truly makes the moments extra magical. The couple was introduced and shared their first dance. Neeraj welcomed the guests, and dinner was underway. When the lighting was just right, we headed out for sunset shots. There is something about the hotter Arizona days creating the most magical lighting in the evenings. Back at the reception, the couple heard some speeches and shared a dance with their respective parents. We moved inside for dancing, where Genuine DJ's kicked off the party. After grabbing some shots on the dance floor, my coverage came to an end. Until next time! 

Venue: Villa Sienna
Photo: The Shepherds Photo
DJ: Genuine DJ's
Floral: Blume Events
Hair & Makeup: Philly Hair & Makeup
Cake: Piece of Cake AZ
Nails: Nailed it by Tracy

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Gilbert Arizona. The location for today's wedding. My day started down the street from the venue at an amazing VRBO built for entertainment equipped with a pool, outdoor kitchen, and full-scale arcade. As I walked onto the property, I was greeted with a member of the bridal party who showed me inside and directed me to where our bride, Nesli, was getting ready. After a formal introduction, Nesli directed me to her detail setup, and my work began. I grabbed some shots of the invitations and rings before moving onto rearranging the room for the dress shots. In the other room, Nesli and her bridal party were busy practicing a line dance they would later perform in the reception. I love capturing these organic moments. Nesli had planned to move over to the bridal suite at the venue to put her dress on, so I wrapped up my coverage and moved over to the venue. As I walked through the gates at Villa Siena, I was instantly transported to the Italian country side. No detail was spared in the theming process of the property. You will see classical elements such as rounded arches, classical columns, acanthus leaves, colonnades, and symmetrical composition throughout the spaces of the property. Nesli soon arrived, and so did our photography sister duo led by Laci Windgate. These two were so much fun to work with, I would definitely recommend considering them for your big day. Nesli began to get ready with her mom, Susan, handling the buttoning of the dress, and there were a lot of buttons. This, of course, is great for me. It gives me plenty of time to build a complete scene. Both Susan and Nesli were so much fun to work with through these moments, taking a very lighthearted approach to what can be a stressful process. Once ready, we ushered the bridal party into the suite for a reveal. I always love first looks in any form. Down the hall, our groom, JR, had arrived and was ready for his getting-ready process. With the help of his comic relief/best men, we got JR into his wedding attire and ushered him out to the front of the property for the first look with Nesli. The gates to Villa Siena served as the perfect backdrop as the two shared their first glances at their wedding attire and soaked in the magnitude of the moment. We snapped some pictures of the couple and their wedding party before hiding everyone away in anticipation of the guests arrival. The ceremony was to take place in the courtyard in the middle of the property, so I made my way over to get some last-minute detail shots. Enchanted Meadow's had transformed the space with flowers while we were taking portraits out front. Guests soon started to trickle in and take their seats as me and Laci set up at the front of the aisle. One by one, the bridal party made their way down the aisle, including the flower girls, who decided to put their own "spin" on the moment. Everyone then rose to their feet as our bride entered the courtyard and made her way down the aisle. Their ceremony went off without a hitch, and the two shared their personal vows, I do's, rings, and a kiss. The reception kicked off with a grand entrance, followed by the couple's first dance. The couple added a bit of extra flair to your typical slow dance, which I always appreciate. Dinner was served, some toasts were shared, and the two shared a dance with their respective parents. Before transitioning to dancing, however, the DJ, AJ, had a fun game of scavenger planned. With ten participants and only nine chairs available, the players had to collect specific items from other guests and return to a chair. One by one, players were eliminated, and the stakes rose. With only two participants remaining, AJ decided the last item would take the two out of the ballroom, adding suspense: who would return first? The first player returned with the item in hand, holding it high above his head casually while walking around the dance floor. He seemed to have forgotten the rules of the game: to be the last one in the chair, not standing with the item. Seeing an opportunity, the second player soon arrived and sprinted for the chair. Only after her intentions were recognized did player one realize his mistake and also dash for the chair. Unfortunately for him, however, player two beat him to the seat and won the game. This was such a fun way to kick off the party. Dancing followed, and the night came to a close with a bubble exit. Until next time! 

Venue: Villa Siena
Photography: Laci Windgate Photo
DJ: LuBelle Entertainment
Florist: Enchanted Meadows
​Cake: Piece of Cake

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Kenwood California, the destination for this week's wedding. I feel so privileged to partner with so many amazing vendors. When Orchard Avenue Events reached out to ask if I wanted to be apart of this wedding, I jumped at the opportunity. I arrived bright and early, about an hour before my scheduled start time. Whenever I film at a new venue, I like to arrive early enough to tour the entire property. The lovely Landmark Vineyard staff were kind enough to show me the various event spaces. Our bride and groom were to start getting ready at a house located a short drive away on the other end of the vineyard. While our groom, Mayhew, would eventually get dressed in a cottage connected to the tasting room, both were currently located at the house. I made my way over to the cottage and found Mayhew outside practicing his mother-son dance with his mother Catherine. Unfortunately, I hadn't yet unpacked my cameras, so I missed capturing this moment. After a brief introduction, I jokingly informed Mayhew he wasn't allowed to have any other camera-worthy moments without me being there. He showed me inside where I found our bride, Shirley, in the midst of her hair and makeup process. After an introduction, she had a bridesmaid show me where I could find her flat lay details and wedding dress. After capturing these details, I told Shirley Id be back shortly to capture her getting into the dress moment, but since we had some time left in the hair and makeup process, Id head over to capture Mayhew getting dressed. Back at the cottage, I grabbed some shots of Mayhew's suit, which featured some custom embroidery on the neck and cuffs of his dress shirt and some additional embroidery on his jacket. I love these small personalized details. With the help of his dad, also Mayhew, our groom got ready for the day ahead. As I wrapped up the final shots, I looked out across the vineyard and saw what I thought was a bride in her dress on the front porch of the house. After a short drive-over, my suspicion was confirmed. Shirley had gotten anxious and decided to get dressed. Anne-Clair, the photographer, had also arrived at that time and, like me, was briefly panicked when seeing Shirley already in her wedding dress. We both shared a laugh and asked Shirley if she wouldn't mind recreating the moment for our cameras. Mayhew soon arrived, and the two shared their first look and took some portraits. We headed back over to the main property to grab some additional family and wedding party photos. Being so close to the reception area, I also used the opportunity to capture Orchard Avenue Event's staff setting up the reception tables and ceremony site. I always love to grab this content. It offers the bride and groom some behind-the-scenes perspectives, and it also serves as great content to start the film with. Hidden away, the first bus of guests arrived. They made their way to the courtyard, signing into the guest book before making their way to the ceremony site. The couple opted to have a 3-piece band for their procession and cocktail hour. As the band played, the bridal party made their way down the aisle, followed by Shirley and her parents, Anne and Sam. The ceremony was officiated by their mutual friend, Scott, who was also responsible for their meeting. Scott crushed the ceremony, offering some unique words tying in the couple's professional careers as video game developers with some marriage advice. I highly recommend having an officiant that knows both the bride and groom personally. Following the ceremony, the marriage license was signed, and the couple made their way to grab some sunset photos. The sunset was truly magical, and we took full advantage of every second of it. After being introduced, the couple shared their first dance and gave a thank-you speech to their guests before sitting down for dinner. As the sun set, a few speeches were given. One of which was by the best man who created a custom crossword puzzle with clues and answers about the bride and groom. The couple cut their cake and made their way inside to start the party. After grabbing some shots of the dance floor, including an amazing dance off to Van Halen's Jump by Mayhew and one of the other guests, my night came to an end. Until next time, California!

Venue: Landmark Vineyards
​Coordination: Orchard Avenue Events
Photography: Anne-Clair Brun
DJ: Fog City Entertainment
Guitarist: Clay Bell
Rentals: Encore Event Rentals
Transportation: Pure Luxury Transportation
​Catering: Park Avenue Catering 
Floral: Vanda Floral Design 
​Cake: Flour and Bloom 
Makeup: Bella Bridal
​

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Le Rêve Estate and Vineyard. Our destination for today's wedding. It's so wonderful to partner with some of the best coordinators in the industry and to have the honor of being on their videographer shortlist. Huge thank you to Kendall Melissa Events for the recommendation! I arrived on property about an hour before my official coverage window to get a lay of the land. Whenever I'm filming at a new venue, I try to give myself some extra time to give the venue a proper tour. As I wondered around the sprawling estate, the beauty and the opportunity to create a truly special film were evident. While the wedding day would all take place at this one venue, the site offered exclusive areas for all the major parts of the day. There was a stunning colonial-style house for the bride and groom to get ready in, a beautiful ceremony barn in the middle of a lush garden for the ceremony, a larger barn for the dinner portion of the evening, and a smaller party barn for the cocktail and dancing portion of the reception. In addition, there were about a million places to capture portraits. From the lush garden to the ripe vines, the sprawling alfalfa fields, to the cherry blossom-filled orchard, the opportunities were endless! Excited, I made my way to the house to start filming the getting-ready moments. As I entered the home gate, I ran into my creative co-partner for this wedding, Katie with KM Photo. Prior to every wedding, I spend about an hour talking with my clients about their vision for their film and the events they have planned for their big day. When I joined our virtual meeting, I was unaware that Katie was also on the virtual call. I proceeded into my normal topics of conversation, taking over the meeting with all things video. After about 15 minutes, it was brought to my attention that Katie was also on the call, and I had completely taken over a meeting meant for both of us. Embarrassing. We joked about the mix-up in person for a few minutes before making our way inside to start coverage. Getting ready would be a bit backwards today as it was the groom on property to start things off. When I say this place was stunning, it was truly stunning. We guided Patrick into a private study where the lighting was just perfect. We ran him through the getting ready process, working his dad and best man into the moment. As we wrapped up, a bus arrived outside with our bride and coordinator onboard. I gave Kendall a hug and introduced myself to Katrina. We all made our way upstairs to start her getting ready process. As stunning as the downstairs was, the upstairs was even better. The large bridal suite let in tons of natural light, and the white walls didn't cast any unwanted hues on our bridal party. We walked Katrina through the process, working her mom and bridal party into the moment. Outside, Patrick patiently waited for his chance to see Katrina. The couple opted to have this moment private, so I left my microphones off. After their first look, the two shared their vows and worked through some couple and bridal party portraits. With the cherry blossoms falling in the background, my slow motion camera captured all the magic of the moment. Though the wedding day would take place on property, the different venues were spread out. After capturing the necessary content, I began my trek to the ceremony site on the other end of the property. I made my way through the garden and into the barn, where I was greeted by another familiar face, Bryan Greenwalt with Music and More DJ's. It had been several years since I had the privilege to work with Bryan, but I knew he was top-notch and a lot of fun. Kendall had put together a solid team for this wedding. As beautiful as the space was, it would offer a challenge for our cameras. The barn doors opened up to the bright white midday sun, and the interior was more intimately lit with warmer tungsten lighting. When pointing our cameras toward the doors for the procession, we would have to choose between setting our cameras up for the interior or exterior lighting. Katie opted for flash; I opted to take a slight angel shooting across the aisle rather than down it. One by one, the bridal party made their way down the aisle before the doors closed to welcome our bride. Knowing the blast of the white light wouldn't lead to the most appealing shot, I opted to shoot Patrick's reaction instead. Once Katrina was inside, I shifted my focus to her as she made her way down the isle. The ceremony was short and sweet and ended like all ceremonies do, with a kiss. Guests made their way to the first barn for cocktail hour as the couple captured some family photos at the ceremony site. I split time between the two spaces. Once the family photos were complete, it was time for the part of the day I was most excited for. The couple portrait session. Lucky for us, the venue provided us with a cart to get us to all the different sites on property. We started with the garden, then made our way to the orchard before ending in the alfalfa field right as the sun set. Magical. The couple made their way to the dinner barn, where all their guests were waiting. They shared their grand entrance and first dance before Katrina's grandfather blessed the meal and read a short poem. Following dinner, we transitioned back into the cocktail hour barn that had been transformed into a party space. The couple shared dances with their parents before the party really got underway. I ended up staying way past my coverage because this group really knew how to party! The night came to an end as I said my goodbyes to all of my industry friends. Fingers crossed I'll get to shoot this magical venue again soon. 

Venue: Le Rêve Estate and Vineyard
Coordination: Kendall Melissa Events
Photography: KM Photo
DJ: Music and More DJ's
Hair & Makeup: Polish & Pout
Catering: The Hidden Table
Floral: Jones Flowersmith
Tux: The Black Tux
Dress: Miosa Bride

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