Scottsdale Arizona. Our location for this stunning wedding. There is truly something magical about the desert; however, that magic is extra special in the wintertime. I arrived early on this November morning to Troon North Country Club, our venue for the reception but also where our bride Kayla was getting her morning started. After grabbing some shots of the hair and makeup process, I made my way upstairs, where Megan, the photographer, was underway shooting the detail flat lays. I introduced myself, captured some of Megan's wonderful detail posing, and returned back downstairs to retrieve the wedding dress. The cloud cover offered a wonderful opportunity to film outdoors at a time when filming would otherwise be too bright. After wrapping up details, we searched for our groom, Jordan, who was upstairs dining with his groomsmen. After some introductions, Jordan gathered his suit and made his way back outside for his getting-ready shots with his dad, Dave. Once again, the cloud cover offered perfect diffusion for us to be able to film outdoors. Back downstairs, our bride was just finishing her hair and makeup process and was ready to put on her wedding gown. As she was laced up, just on the other side of the door, we could hear her bridesmaids eagerly awaiting the big reveal. Kayla stepped out, and the tears began to flow. It was time to make our way over to the second location of the day, Our Lady of Joy. I arrived at the church just as the guests started to trickle in. I quickly made my way inside to capture the space before the guests took their seats. This stunning church, located just down the road from the country club, offered tons of natural light, a rarity at other religious venues. Guests made their way inside and took their seats as the procession got underway. Kayla made her way down the isle at the arm of her brother. After two readings, the couple exchanged their vows and rings and were prayed over by the pastor. The two then shared their first kiss and made their way back down the isle. Outside guests gathered with bubbles in hand to create a truly magical departure for the couple. Cue the slow-motion shots! Back at Troon North, the cocktails began to pour and appetizers were shared as the sun set. For those who don't already know, Arizona sunsets are unmatched, and Mother Nature pulled out all the stops for this one. Guests made their way inside as the reception got underway. DJ Damone got things started as the couple made their grand entrance to the cheers of their guests and the light of sparklers. It was then time for the couple to share their first dance, a moment they had been practicing for months. Flawless. The party officially got underway after some additional dances with Jordan's parents and after sharing a slice of their wedding cake. This was a truly magical experience from start to finish.
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La Jolla, California. This seaside town would be our destination for this magical wedding day. I arrived early on a beautiful November day. The sun was out, a light breeze was blowing, and the smell of the ocean was in the air. I made my way over to the starting location for today's wedding. La Valencia Hotel. A picturesque hotel perched over the Pacific Ocean A fantastic venue in its own right, but just the starting location for our wedding day. I made my way down to the villa, where our bridal party was getting ready. When I knocked on the front door, I was greeted by a familiar face, Siobhan. I had filmed Siobhan and Kelly's wedding the year prior, and she was the one who recommended me to Jenna. I made my way into the suite and saw several familiar faces from the previous wedding. Jenna was in the middle of her hair and makeup process. After grabbing a few candids, I began where I always do: the details. The hotel offered several locations for the dress. However, conveniently located just outside the room was a mural with some colors I thought would work well with the dress and our starting location. I was soon joined by the photographer Natalie, and we joined forces to film the rest of the details. When we returned to the room, Jenna's hair and makeup had been completed, and it was time to get her into her dress. With the bridal party waiting, Jenna made her way into the room for the big reveal. With the help of her sister, Kelly, Jenna put the final details of her outfit together. The Museum of Contemporary Arts, the venue for the rest of the wedding day, was located just down the road from the hotel. Billy, our groom, was patiently waiting by one of the exhibits for the arrival of his bride. With the cameras in position and a tap on the shoulder from our bride, Billy got his first glimpse of his stunning soon-to-be wife, Jenna. Once the emotions began to settle, we made our way around the museum, grabbing some portrait shots of the couple. The sunlight peaking through the tinted windows of the museum truly made for some breathtaking imagery. Outside the bridal party and families gathered for their portraits, this is where I also got to meet the true star of the show, the couple's golden retriever, Enzo. Once portraits were wrapped up, guests began to arrive for the ceremony. Champagne in hand, they made their way to the courtyard in preparation for the procession to begin. The sun began to set as each bridal party member made their way down the isle. Today's ceremony was going to be truly stunning. Jenna, escorted by her father, Ken, made their way down the aisle, where Billy was patiently waiting. The two exchanged their heartfelt and lighthearted personal vows to one another before sharing their first kiss under the setting California sun. Once the ceremony had concluded, we had a choice to make. Do we stay for cocktail hour, or try to rush down to the beach for some epic sunset shots? Luckily, the couple chose the latter, and I was left speechless at the results of that decision. These were some of the most epic shots I have ever gotten. Upstairs, the transition into the reception was underway. The coordinator, Sabrina, had outdone herself with the details. The couple was introduced, shared their first dance, and had a dance with each of their respective parents. DJ Justin kicked off the dancing, and the party was underway. Having shot this group before the previous year, I knew it would be a wild one. My evening came to an end, as did my time in Southern California. Until next time!
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Carmel California. This stunning seaside town set the stage for this incredible wedding. I arrived bright and early on Saturday morning. Kelsey informed me that the city of Carmel does not have addresses for their homes, she wasn't kidding. With a picture of the location and help from Google Maps satellites, I was able to find the home of Kelsey's grandparents, Bill and Sally. I noticed our bride had not made it to the house from her makeup location, so I patiently waited in the car outside. Within a minute or two, I was greeted by Sally, who had made her way out to investigate the suspicious car parked outside her stunning Carmel home. I introduced myself, and we chatted for a bit. She told me all about the area and the history of the homes in the neighborhood. She also casually brought up the fact that her husband, Bill, frequently plays at my number one bucket list golf course, Cyprus Point, located just minutes from their home. To say I was jealous was an understatement. Sally invited me inside to get started on filming the details Kelsey had dropped off the night before. Soon the first half of one of my favorite photo duos, Elisabeth, arrived to get started on photographing the details. Sally and Bill's home had perfect lighting to get our flat lay and dress shots. We heard a knock at the front door, and in walked our bride Kelsey, as well as her mom Kristin, dad Brent, and sister Katie. After formal introductions were shared, it was time to get our bride into her wedding dress. Katie and Kristen made quick work of getting Kelsey into her dress and jewelry. Brent then came into the room and shared my favorite wedding day moment, the father daughter first look, with Kelsey. It was then time to head to the church for the ceremony. Carmel Mission, our ceremony site for the day. This 250 year old Carmel icon offered so much natural beauty and character to the wedding day. The property had several amazing portrait locations as well as a courtyard to stage the first look. After the tears were wiped away, Kelsey and Nick shared their vows with each other. The vows were incredible, and as a filmmaker, I knew my job would be easy during editing because of them. Guest began to arrive, and before too long, our ceremony was underway. The two shared the vows they had recited earlier during their first look and a kiss to make things official. It was then time to move over to our reception venue, the Monterey Peninsula Country Club. I have had the true honor of filming at this location a few times in the past. Each time I step foot on the property, I am struck by the fact that a place so beautiful exists. I really have the best job ever. After some incredible portraits were taken, we moved inside to start the reception. During the bride and groom's thank you speech, Kelsey dedicated her bouquet to her mom, Kristen, for all the hard work she had poured into this wedding day. It's rare to see something I've never seen before at a wedding, but this was an incredibly sweet gesture. The couple shared their first dance, and the party was officially underway. My time in Monterey had come to an end.
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Sedona Arizona. This place just never gets old. Every time I make the drive in, im just awe struck by the fact a place this beautiful exists. I first met Jonny and Melanie the year before at their friends wedding in Tahoe California. It's as if the two couples were competing on who could have the most majestic wedding location. The clear winner being me for getting to attend and capture both! I rolled into the village just past their venue where the two had rented neighboring apartments for the getting ready portion of the day. Makeup was in full swing as I made my formal introduction to Melanie and got started filming details. Her detail box included some unique and fun posing elements such as a custom wax stamp that I would use to pose with the national park themed invitations. Its always a treat when couples think outside the box and get creative. After filming the dress, the photographer Robert arrived and the camera man collaboration began. We filmed some candids before moving over to Jonnys room just a quick walk away. I grabbed my phone to verify the room number, but soon heard the distinct wedding day party music coming from one of the rooms on the lower level. My assumption that this was the right room was confirmed when one of the groomsmen welcomed me inside. This was going to be a lively crew. I introduced myself to Jonny before I made the more important introduction to the real star of the show, Joey the couples adorable poodle. I ushered Jonny and Joey to the back bedroom to film the getting ready content. With the help of the best man Michael, Jonny was dressed to impress in his beige suit for this fall wedding. After helping Joey into his suit (yes the pup had a suit) Jonny handed each of his groomsmen a special gift, a custom made bobble head. The attention to detail on the bobble heads was incredible and there resemblance to their respected groomsmen was uncanny. Too fun! Back over at the brides room it was time to get Melanie dressed. With the help of her mom, Joanne, Melanie was zipped into her stunning lace wedding dress. Hidden away, we brought Melanies father Mark into the room. The two shared one of my favorite wedding traditions, a father daughter first look. Mark gave me some great sound bytes and after the two collected themselves we released the bridesmaids into the room. Outside, Jonny was patiently awaiting the arrival of his bride to be. After a tap on the shoulder the wait was over and he gave me one of the best first look reactions i've seen. It was adorable. The bridesmaids and couple were quickly swept away to go take photos at a amazing vista view location Robert had up his sleeve, while I made my way to the venue just up the road. This would be my first time at the Sedona Golf Resort, but not my last! I had to come back to play a round sometime in the near future. This place was stunning. I was greeted by Regan, the coordinator setting up the detail rich welcome table the couple had prepared. She showed me around the venue and I then got to work capturing the rooms transformation in progress. Outside the florist was busy decorating the custom signage Melanie and Jonny had made. The ceremony looked out at the historic Sedona Bell Rock. A remarkable backdrop for a first kiss. Guests began to arrive and take their seats and the procession soon followed. The officiant, Robert spoke a bit about marriage before reading a poem by Dr. Seuss, a fellow USC grad. The couple exchanged their personal vows, rings, and a picture perfect Sedona first kiss. We had to hurry out to portraits as the sun began to set. A short drive was necessary and the passengers divided up between the two cars. I made the obvious decision to call dibs on taking my new four legged friend Joey and we set off. The spot Robert had in store for us was breathtaking. Its always nice working a new venue with someone who was worked there before. After about 20 minutes we packed up and headed back to the venue. Another animal had arrived to the venue in our absence, a miniature beer slinging donkey named Diego. Joey had cuteness competition. Introduced by David, the couples DJ, Melanie and Jonny made their way through the awaiting guests to join their hyped bridal party on the dance floor. The stage was set for their formal dances. Dinner followed along with some fantastic speeches before David kicked the party into full gear. The night soon came to an end as I said my goodbyes to a fantastic couple and vendor team before making the long drive back home to Phoenix. The end to another fairy tail Sedona wedding.
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The wedding of Taylor & Josh took place at the Red Agave Resort in Sedona Arizona. When I arrived I was taken aback by the beauty of this property. Taylor & Josh are Texas natives but wanted to have their families and friends experience the beauty of Sedona first hand. The best part about the Red Agave Resort is the guests get to stay on property in their very own cottage for the duration of their stay. After meeting up with Josh who was running around making sure every detail was perfect, I officially started my coverage. There certainly was plenty to shoot! Candace the photographer showed up shortly after and unknowingly gave me a lesson on detail posing. Photographers are always so much better at it then I am. It's always a great feeling having an instant creative connection with a photographer and knowing we are both on the same page. I defiantly felt that working with Candace. The grooms cabin offered a moody option for the grooms getting ready (which I love), but we wanted a bit more light for the bride. Lucky for us, just outside the cottage was a perfect shaded area and Taylor embraced the move. During her prep her dad, Pat offered a helping hand. Having the father of the bride help with prep was a new experience for me but definitely something I will be recommending going forward. Josh was placed outside of Taylor's cabin and the two shared their first look. This was a beautiful moment and both seemed lost for words. We quickly moved the two back in doors as their guests began trickling out of their cabin's for the ceremony. Shortly thereafter the procession started and the wait began for Taylor's arrival.... after a few minutes and loops of the procession song, it dawned on us that perhaps Taylor wasn't aware of the start of the ceremony. Candace rushed into action and our suspicion was proven true. Whoops! Luckily the rest of the ceremony went on without a glitch. After the ceremony pictures were taken and the party officially began. DJ Fred kicked the party off strong and everyone danced the night away. The couple bid farewell under the glow of sparklers, shared a dip kiss and the night was over. This was truly a special wedding to capture for me. Enough from me though, Ill let their film below do the talking.
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The wedding of Leslie & Joey will always be special to me. It was the first wedding I ever filmed in Sedona. Growing up in Northern California I was fortunate to have Yosemite just a few hours away and would frequently visit. It was sad to lose such a breathtaking location when I made the move to Arizona. Sedona certainly fills the void left behind. As you drive in you are hit with the iconic red rock views you always hear about but only fully appreciate when you see it with your own eyes. This day was going to be special. When I arrived at the venue, Agave of Sedona, those red rock views were on full display. The cloudy September day offered perfect diffusion to capture the true beauty of the landscape on camera. As I was filming Leslie & Joey's details, I was greeted by the fabulous Melissa and Meagan with Melissa Rae Photography These two were hilarious and so fun to work with all day! After filming & photographing Leslie's dress we learned that she in fact had a custom hanger not included in her box of details. Reshoot time! Luckily we had plenty of time before the getting ready was set to begin. The bar offered a perfect venue for Joey's getting ready since Leslie was currently occupying the hotel room they had booked. This venue is literally next door to the Marriott hotel Sky Rock Sedona which makes it easy for both the wedding party and the guests attending. Once Leslie moved to the venue, we had her step outside the bridal suite for her getting ready. Typically I asked the bride if they would like to either have their mom or maid of honor help with the dress. Leslie unknowingly made this choice easy since her mom was the maid of honor! The bridal party surprised Leslie with hand written notes that we quickly had to put away as the waterworks began. You have to preserve all the hard work Desert Bridal Company put into that makeup! We then went through a series of first looks with Leslie's dad and later brothers before a quick first touch and prayer with Joey. With the couple tucked away, guests began arriving for the ceremony. Agave of Sedona's ceremony site is truly something you need to see to believe. The view is incredible! The procession and ceremony went on without a glitch thanks to Weddings in Sedona's expert coordination. After the ceremony some pictures were taken and the couples private vows were exchanged, it was then time for the reception. DJ Bobby Russel with Sedona Sounds MC'd a thrilling introduction and the couple shared their first dance. After dinner and some speeches, it was time to fulfill the couples sweet tooth with some cake. I had apprehensions about cutting the cake, it was truly a work of art. Abbie Cakes truly crushed it! The party followed and dancing was in full swing. Before we knew it the wedding came to an end. The couple was ushered out by their bubble blowing guest to their awaiting Jeep and drove off into the night. This capped off a truly unforgettable Sedona wedding day for me.
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Napa California, my old stomping grounds. I love Arizona, but having the ability to sneak away in the brutal summer months to film weddings in Northern California might be the best part about my job. Its even better when you already know the couple, friends, and family you are setting out to film. Rosheen and I first met the year before at her cousin (and bridesmaid) Partow and fiance Kian's wedding the previous year. She told me she loved the film and asked if I was available to film her big day. Lucky for me I still had the date available and it was a very easy yes. You couldn't have asked for a better Napa day. The sun was shinning, the temperatures were cool, and some small clouds added character to the sky. Coverage started with prep at the Chardonnay Golf Club. and I was introduced to my fellow camera wielding friends Giovana and Justin with Giovana Hurst Photography. Justin quickly busted out a super 8 camera which immediately made us friends. The groom was situated in the clubs locker room, well actually at the bar at first, but then was moved to the locker room to start the getting ready coverage. The locker room offered everything the groomsmen needed, mainly couches and tv's, but it was a bit dim for our needs. After some scoping, we landed on a beautifully lit secluded hallway just outside the entrance to the locker room. Groom prep is always a breeze and it was time to move onto our lovely bride Rosheen's big moment. Her space was also a bit dim for our taste but a quick reposition outside fixed the issue. Nothing beats natural sunlight for the getting ready content. Rosheen was hidden, her bridal party was assembled, and the big reveal took place. After emotions settled it was time to move on to the ceremony. Guest began to arrive and take their seats and the ceremony was ready to start. A string quartet ushered Bobby and the bridal party down the Isle. The ceremony was set to be extra special with Bobby's grand parents as the designated officiants. The music dimmed and the readings began but wait, we didn't have a bride! Everybody enjoyed a laugh as the quartet kicked back in without missing a beat. Funny enough I had only seen this blunder once before... ironically that was at Rosheen's cousin Partow's wedding the year before. Too funny! The rest of the ceremony went on without a glitch. The venue rolled out the red carpet for us during the couples portrait session as we were carted around the property to some jaw dropping viewpoints. After the sun set we made our way back to kick off the reception. This was the part I was most excited for as the couple are both DJ's in their professional lives. Plus, I saw this group in actions the year before and they definitely know how to party! After about an hour of filming the dancing it was time to say goodbye to both Rosheen & Bobby and the mild temperatures of the Napa Valley.
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San Diego California. What more can you ask for in August as an Arizona resident? I was honored to make the drive out to the coast for Jesse & Kendall's big day. First stop? Tacos of course! Luckily I always arrive for my destination weddings the day before, leaving plenty of time to make a pit stop. Kendall and Jesse were set to wed at a venue I had filmed at years before. The Thursday Club . This venue sits on a hilltop with sweeping views of the California coast. Before we could get there though we had to make a stop at another iconic San Diego venue, Humphreys Half Moon Inn. This is a hotel that doubles as a concert venue. Ive been fortunate enough to attend a concert or two here in the past. When I arrived for bride prep, I was hit with something I had forgotten living in Phoenix. Humidity! Im sure my friends in San Diego are rolling their eyes at this, but when you leave the desert after a year you become hyper sensitive to any amount of moister in the air. I arrived to a packed house of Kendall's bridal party in various stages of their hair and makeup process. I was guided to the back bedroom where the lighting was perfect for the dress shots and got to work. I was soon joined by the wonderful Paige of Paige Hill Photography. We worked together as she posed the details and I (being 6'4") was in charge of hanging and staging the dress. When it was time to switch, I made my way outside where Paige had set up the details. She too made a comment about the humidity, being that she is a San Diego native, this validated my earlier grievance. We wrapped up details and then grabbed some shots of Kendall who was in the middle of getting her hair done. Off to the venue! After making my way up the hill, I arrived at The Thursday Club. Walking through the door I was greeted by the lovely coordinator, Courtney with Breezy Day Weddings. She was busy setting up tables so I quickly grabbed my camera to catch some of the action. Along with coordination, Breezy Day also does floral. I love these kinds of shots. They show the venue transformation as it shapes into its final form. Jesse arrived shortly after and with him the other photographer Nikki. We worked together to get some "getting ready" content with Jesse. Staging groom prep is pretty typical for me as a solo shooter when the couple is getting ready at different locations. We tucked Jesse away in anticipation for Kendall's arrival. Running slightly behind, we rolled right into her getting ready process. Kendall decided to get the emotions flowing early gifting Jesse a box of items she had been secretly collecting since they started dating. After the couple exchanged their personal vows, I moved downstairs for the ceremony. Thursday Club has a more intimate ceremony site, and Jesse and Kendall's guests maxed out the space. This requires some careful coordination with the photographer to make sure we both get the shots we need and don't affect the ceremony more then we need to. Luckily Paige and Nikki were pros and the ceremony concluded without a glitch. After some photos... ok a lot of photos... it was time for the party to start. Kendall and Jesse decided to have their guests knowledge about their relationship history dictate the order they'd be released to dinner. This made for a fun twist to an otherwise dull moment. After dinner the couple shared their first dance along with a dance with their parents. The cake was cut and the party got started. Bill Calhoun, the DJ, kept the party rocking as the sun set. My time in San Diego with Kendall & Jesse had come to an end.
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Pageo Lavender Farms. This venue will always be special to me. When I was first starting out as a wedding videographer in 2012 I shot a wedding at this venue and met a photographer who has since become a great friend in the industry. She got her wedding featured on a site called Style Me Pretty. and the wedding got a lot of publicity. The video I shot was also featured on the blog. It was my first sense of accomplishment in this industry. Fast forward several years later, the groom Thomas, reaches out to see if I am available to cover he and his fiance Estephanie's big day at Pageo. I jumped on the opportunity. It was as if I was visiting a lost friend, the property had changed in some ways but maintained the same charm I remembered from years past. I entered the bridal suite and noticed the room was empty. The bride was running a few minutes late. I took the opportunity to roam the venue and get some establishing shots. The bridal party arrived first and showed me to the details I needed to start my coverage. This detail box had some unique Items including the glass monogramed ring box I used to stage my ring shots. Its always fun to be surprised with unique details like this. While filming Estephanie had arrived and begun her makeup process. I grabbed some shots of her as well as her bridesmaids preparing for the day ahead. Estephanie was planning on using her mothers cathedral length vail, and her motherMaria, was busy steaming away making sure it would be perfect for her daughters big day. The photographer, Sierra, arrived and we began the process of capturing the brides getting ready. After a grand reveal to her bridesmaids, it was time to head to the church for the ceremony. Catholic ceremonies offer unique challenges as a videographer. Especially for a videographer who solo shoots all of his weddings. Catholic church's typically have built in audio systems, rules about how and where we can film, and often times uncooperative priests. Luckily for me the priest Luis, was excellent and super helpful. Estephanie made her way down the isle escorted by two honorary bridesmaids (her nieces) with her vial in tow. Her groom awaited at the top of the isle in awe. The ceremony was underway. For all the challenges a catholic mass may bring, one helpful quality it does offer is time. Ceremonies seem to be getting shorter and shorter, and with it comes the challenge of getting all the necessary shots in a short period of time. However there is no shortage of time with a catholic mass. As a videographer I am able to not only get the typical shots I need, but experiment with all kinds of different shot options. Having filmed many catholic weddings, I know what moments where I need to capture the action at the alter, and other moments when I can focus on guests or creative shots. Before too long the guests lined up to take communion letting me know the ceremony was coming to an end. The couple shared their first kiss and made there way to the back of the church while they waited for their guests to exit. When everyone was ready outside, the couple exited to a full mariachi band and their awaiting cheering guest. Estephanie and Thomas were officially married. I made the short drive back to Pageo and found the venue completely transformed by their coordinator Lexi and her team. I got to work capturing the reception while the guest began to trickle in. The reception was kicked off by the DJ Moses Martinez (the best last name if you ask me) and the couple shared their first dance. The first dance was followed by a special choreographed dance by the couple before the rest of the guest joined in. Pageo offers spaces for both the dancing types, as well as the more mingling types. Outside the couple was gifted a live painting by the wonderful artist Gwyneth Boon. This is a newer trend which I absolutely love. The chosen moment for this live painting was the couples first kiss and Gwyneth crushed it. Following the gifting it was time for the couple to head back inside and cut their cake. This was the last event on the timeline for me, but I hung around a bit longer in hopes of capturing the couple on the dance floor. Thomas and Estephanie gave me the content I needed and my night was done. Until next time Pageo!
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I've often been asked what my favorite venue is of all time. Well here it is. Palm Event Center. It's not because its in my hometown of Livermore California (well technically Pleasanton), It's not because of its beauty (though it is), Its because it has hands down the best staff of any venue I've ever been to. That's not a knock on anybody else, they are just wonderful to work with as a vendor. They have a welcome cart with water, snacks, and copies of the timeline when we arrive, special spaces for us to stash our gear, and they feed us when the couple eats so we don't ever miss a moment. They are just professionals and I'm always excited for the opportunity to work there. When I arrived at the AC Hotel for the getting ready portion of my coverage, I was met by the brides lovely mother Lisa, who showed me the dress, details, and to the room where her daughter Sonia was getting ready. Our correspondence up to this point had been virtual, so an introduction was in order. After formalities, I began covering the details. When shooting details I often look for a cool streak of light to lay out the invitations. Typically my coverage starts during the high noon sun making lighting a bit flat. In this case, I was able to find a unique piece of light streaking across the air conditioning facade (I know weird place, but it worked) and got to work with my automated slider. After shooting the rings and invitations I moved onto the dress. This room was going to be tricky with the bridal party having makeup setups in both the main space and bedroom of the suite. The room had a two way door to the bathroom that caught my eye. The door to the bedroom had lots of natural light pouring in so I opted to hang the dress on that door while shooting through the other door toward the dress. This technique worked well and I was able to get a totally unique dress shot. The photographer Marissa soon arrived with her partner Lizzie and the collaboration began. We grabbed some shots of Sonia wrapping up her makeup process before piling the bridal party onto the bed for some bridal party content. Moving over to a suite down the hall I was introduced to Mike, our groom today. Mikes room had great lighting but was a bit smaller then Sonia's. We kindly asked his groomsmen to hang in the hall for a few minutes while we grabbed the necessary shots. We made a pit stop on our way out of the hotel to film Sonia's getting ready moment with her mom. This is always a beautiful moment. It was then time to head to the venue. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Erin, the coordinator for this wedding, who was busy making sure every detail and floral arrangement was perfect for the couple. Palm had undergone some renovations since I last filmed there so I took a second to take them all in. After some bridal party photos guests began to trickle in. I made my way over to the DJ to work out audio. Kevin was great and got my audio in order for the ceremony. Though I always bring my own lavaliere microphones, its always nice to have a solid backup in the DJ. The ceremony was officiated by the couples friend Josh who walked guests through the traditions of a Jewish ceremony. After some readings, vows, and a exchanging of rings it was time for my favorite part, the breaking of the glass. Though it took a few stomps, Mike managed to get the job done and the two shared a laugh and their first kiss before making their way back inside. Cocktail hour is probably my favorite time of the day. The lighting is good, the interactions are pure, and its really easy to get those beautiful candid moments my business is all about capturing. After some drinks it was time for the couple to be introduced to their awaiting guests. They made their entrance through the iconic Barrel Room double doors and made their way to the dance floor to share their first dance and parent dances. The real party then began. A tradition that most other religions are seriously lacking is the hora dance. Sonia and Mike made their way to the dance floor to two awaiting chairs and were then picked up by their bridal party. Surrounded by all of their guests the simple lyrics were repeated as their chairs bobbed up and down. This is always such a fun moment to capture. After some additional dances were shared, it was time to cut the cake and close out the evening. I said my goodbyes and made my way to the exit. My time with Sonia and Mike had come to an end.
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AuthorSteven Martinez // Cinematographer Archives
March 2024
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