Ridin the trolley in Santa Barbara

Anytime i get to go to Santa Barbara, is a good time. You add a gorgeous bride, a penthouse suite at the Canary hotel, photos at the beautiful historic courthouse and a ride on a trolley...then Andre is happy! Drew and Kerry's wedding last weekend was such a great time. The ceremony was at a sweet church right by the couthouse. Very formal, but very fun indeed. Right after we took a trolley around town that dropped us off at various locations for pics. Needless to say we made a beer and chip run and Vons...absolutely necessary before photos!
Drew and Kerry truly were a gorgeous couple, picture perfect! From San diego, they decided to get married in Santa Barbara where they actually got engaged. It was raining literally up until we had to leave for photos. The air was fresh, the city clean and quiet. it was amazing!

The first great photo of the day was taken right in the lobbey of the newly redesigned and renamed Canary Hotel. I love this wall.


I have been shooting brides sitting down a lot lately. Its my new thing, and i think its workin'.




Drew and the Father of the Bride just minutes before the ceremony.


THis could be my favorite shot and moment of the day. Imagine taking photos in front of like 85 people just watching by the church. Hey, when you're as beautiful as this couple, how could you NOT look?!

Soraya and Roger at the Ranch in Chicago. Ole!

I was SOOO excited to shoot Soraya's wedding for many reasons. One, Soraya is a great friend from Rock Harbor who moved to Tenessesee a couple of years ago. Two, it was great to see a few friends at the wedding. Three, it was in CHICAGO, my FAVORITE city! Take a look at the shots at the bottom. i LOVE this city...the air, the people, the restaurants, the architecture.
I was so stoked to see Soraya happy. Roger is a total stud. i just met that day, but i could tell from our conversation and the way he looked at Soraya that he loves her VERY much. He is a great guy. They have a sweet fairty-tale story of how they got together, ask them about it.
And the location of the wedding, Forget about it!!! it was ridiculous. Her brother Freddie has a horse ranch that was breathtaking. What a great day, a firey Puerto Rican family, amazing food, a beautiful horse ranch, mimosas...need i say more?



Soraya getting ready with Rogers daughter. Precious.


Bouquet and riding boots. awesome.






Yes, thats a horse. He creeped up on us during our shoot.






















The food and wine was AMAZING, some of the best i have ever had...(OF COURSE in chicago)...And being a wine lover, there were some killer bottles there. Dariush, which i had for the first time...phenomenal.


The view of the city from the John Hancock tower.


This could be one of my favorite shots i have ever taken. I LOVE millennium park. The bean is rad.

Julie and Darrin

Julie and Darrin were married in Temecula at Falkner winery, one of my favorites with one of the most beautiful views in the valley. Let me tell you, this couple was awesome. Darrin is one of the nicest, coolest guys i have ever met. He looks like the long lost twin of Lamont Hiebert, the singer of a great band Ten Shekel Shirt.
Any wedding in Temcula is fun, but this last Saturday we found a lot of fun textures and colors popping out at the wedding right before sunset. The ceremony was also a joy to be apart of. Darrin actually washed Julie's feet during the ceremony, a very powerful and symbolic gesture found in the Bible of lifelong servitude and humility. It was beautiful!

I LOVE fun colors that pop and contrast with a white wedding dress. Ladies, you heard me say it, get colorful shoes for me to photograph!




This wooden wall was a great backdrop.








The boys praying before the ceremony




Even though we lost some sun for photos after the ceremony, it was peeking through the hills to give an amazing backlight with super rich and warm colors


The feet washing. I wish i would have done this at MY wedding ceremony.








The happy couple light on their feet. What a super fun reception with mariachi and all!

Jake and the Puppy Greer

Congrats to Kara and Rob Greer! I shot their wedding a while back, and they have just been blessed with a beautiful baby boy!!! Did i mention that I LOVE doing baby shoots! New parents are just glowing when they have a newborn in the house, and its great to be in the midst of all that joy! LIttle Jake had the sweetest little nursery...full of monkeys!! I also learned a lot about newborns...like the Peepee Teepee.
Jake was incredibly calm for a newborn, until the very end, when he wanted less attention and more nap time i think. He has beautiful blue eyes which really pop in some of these pics.

They had the cutest nursery. I wish you could see all the monkey gear!




I thought about photoshopping a CB radio in his hand on this one...


The pup and baby.




















Rob had to get a shot of Jake is this Guns N Roses tshirt. I would too! this thing rocks!