A-WEDDING LOCATIONS- Beach + Beyond

High on hill, overlooking the rolling fog almost covering the Golden Gate Bridge, Sahoko and Josh exchanged their vows at Blake Garden where Sahoko is doing an artist residency exploring dyes and paints from organic materials. I met Sahoko this past January while we were both working for Van Alen.org Climate Council. The Climate Council recently visited California researching the social dimensions of the food system something that Sahoko is passionate about (read more here and here).  She got in touch with me just a few weeks before their wedding and asked me to capture their nuptials. Having lived in the Bay…

There was just something special about this wedding that it was hard to put your finger on. Was it the buzz of eager anticipation in the air? Was it the warm, genuine hugs from the family and friends that flooded in with broad smiles on their faces? The constant soundtrack of laughter that enveloped you everywhere you went? Or was it just Emily and Shannon, who seem to have touched so many people with their generosity of spirit and sweet love story?

A marriage 20 years in the making… Linda and Kelly celebrated the lifelong commitment they made to each other over two decades ago at a beautiful wine country wedding filled with family and friends.  From the outside, you might think they had just fallen in love!  You can see their strong bond in every look and every move: the way Linda gazes at Kelly, emotion in her eyes and a shy hint of a smile…the way that Kelly clutches Linda’s hand in hers, bursting with excited energy and enthusiasm.  There’s no question that these two were meant for each other. I first met Linda…

Eva and Stanton were already married in a civil ceremony in San Francisco earlier this year and so the pressure was off for all-but fun for their celebration with family and friends at the Triton Museum in Santa Clara. Their ceremony was held outdoors, behind the museum, in a grassy, wooded area but we also got to explore the inside of the museum for their couples photos. It’s such a different environment, dealing with modern lines and architectural details of a museum, and I love the change and challenge from my usual Sierra haunts. Eva is German and her sweet…

Their wedding day was a beautiful and windy ocean-fresh day. Scatter in some oyster shooters and a lodge full of very close family and friends, and you have a pretty good idea of what a great time it was. I love the image below of the whole wedding party laughing.

Photographing another photographer is nerve-racking. Especially when that photographer is one who is incredibly successful and whose work you greatly admire. When that person is also a good friend, there is added pressure to not only produce technically beautiful photos but also to capture something a little deeper – the emotional spirit of the day. So, when Chip, who is an accomplished architectural and fine-art photographer (plus friend of ten years), asked me to photograph his Monterey wedding to Shannon, I was not only very honored but, I’ll admit, a little daunted.  That said, I’ve been photographing weddings for more…

I was so excited when Cherise and Chris chose me to document their 3-day camping wedding in Los Gatos. The whole weekend had an air of an intimate family reunion.  They started with a welcome party on Friday night as everyone was arriving. Great food (thanks Joshua Charles Catering) and laughter warmed the evening as everyone checked out what each other had written on the cool, custom designed response cards; it was the perfect way to start the weekend. I quickly made friends with Ben, one of the groomsmen, and jokingly became his drinking coach for the weekend calling out,…

Giang and David got married at the Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose. I spend alot of time shooting weddings at wineries, forested locations, and farms that I found the urban landscape of San Jose to be quite refreshing! Lots of compositional lines! Thanks to Jillian Kay for second shooting with me and to Cassie for assisting(and shooting a little too!) Having them both there to depend upon allowed me alot of mental freedom during a very busy day 🙂 The wedding ceremony was a mix between American and traditional Vietnamese. A unique and beautiful part of the ceremony included…

Earlier this year I went to San Fransisco to shoot Karl & Lauren’s engagement session and it was typical SF weather- foggy, raining, and misty but I was pleased that the weather didn’t keep them from the shoot and they were probably equally pleased that I didn’t mind getting my gear wet for their shoot! We all enjoyed ourselves running around like Golden Retrievers on the beach! Karl & Lauren held their wedding in the Redwood Grove on the UC Berkeley campus and had their reception right across the street at the Botanical Garden; both places were amazing and beautiful!…