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Lee & Derek
Mon. July 20, 2009


When I was 24 I had a tough year. I was just out of college, and suddenly in my first year of having my photography business all on my own instead of working for someone else as I'd done for the previous four years. I was in the midst of heartbreak, shuffling ambitions, and friends getting married only to move away, and I felt, for the most part, completely without any kind of stability in my life.

I remember having a particularly bad week, and realizing that I needed to make some kind of change in my life, meet new people, or just find some kind of way to be happy in general! That was the week I met Lee.

Lee was also in a transitional year. Although she was from Chicago, she was living in North Carolina where she'd gotten a job a year earlier that while lucrative, was a soul-sucking abyss. She ended up working for my dad, and loved the job, but needed a roommate to cover the extra expenses of her town home. My dad had the idea to introduce us to one another, and it was instantly like we'd been friends for years.

I found out that Lee had a boyfriend, Derek, and that they were dating long distance (and had been doing so for several years already). Derek got a job in Tampa that year, so the long distance relationship had no end in sight. Lee was reluctant to leave the life she was building in North Carolina until they were certain that Derek would be staying in Tampa. It was not an easy time for either of them.

Lee thought a lot about Derek and their future. While she never questioned that he was the person for her, she had an almost infuriating desire to do things the right way and make absolutely sure that their relationship was one that would be forever. They traveled back and forth, from Chicago, to Raleigh, to Tampa, and many other places, making sure that while they were always a primary part of one anothers' lives, that they really took the time to grow themselves as individuals and live fully instead of just killing time until they were together again.

Lee and I would talk a lot about relationships and where our lives might go. She said one day, "I just feel that I am always happy when I'm with Derek. No matter where we are, I'm just always happy when I'm with him". It wasn't long after that she moved to Tampa. I would tell her, "You're crazy! You're moving to Tampa just to DATE??" But Lee always knew what she was doing.

By that time, they'd already been together for about 5 years, but it had been three years since they lived in the same city. Lee wanted to spend at least a year making absolutely sure that their lives still matched up and worked together on a day to day basis. They took separate apartments and worked hard on their relationship for the next year (or was it two years?), dating like a regular couple, instead of rushing. Lee developed her own life and friendships, and Derek excelled in his career. They realized that not only had nothing changed in their years of living apart, but that they were truly a team of two, complete individuals who were meant to be together always. They are best friends.

A few months later, Lee and Derek got engaged, and here is their wedding:


This photo is first, because it was so heavily influenced by me. I told Lee that red and blue was a perfectly acceptable and FABULOUS color combination. Obviously I was right:


The dress:


Lee on her way to go have her first look with Derek:


My beautiful friend:


Yup, gorgeous:


Derek is such a funny, nice, happy guy:


Here we go...


This series is to die for! Such a great moment:


Yay!


I love this one:


The day I met Lee and came to see her place (which I eventually shared with her), I asked if she had a boyfriend. She said, "Yes, would you like to meet him?" She said, "This is Ryan, he's four." Four year old Ryan has grown up quite a bit, but I see why she was so smitten with him!


Another little ring bearer--I adore these shots of him:


They were married in this gorgeous old theater--isn't it incredible?


Walking down the aisle with dad:


These two might be my favorites of the day:



Such an unusual place for a wedding!


FINALLY!! Many of the people here did not believe that this day would ever come (myself and Lee included)


We were wrong:


I'm still playing with the new beta textures from Totally Rad. They're not available yet, but I will let you know as soon as they are!



Veil + Windy day = Awesome:



Yummy light:


Yeah, they're cute:


They had a big wedding and knew that unless they had dinner on their own, there would be no dinner at all. So during cocktail hour, they had a private dinner in the theater so they could spend the entire reception mingling and talking with their guests:


First dance:


One more:


Here they are with Caleb, Lee's nephew. So sweet!


Note to brides and grooms: The best way to get the party started is to get out there on the dance floor yourselves and have a good time!


And to keep it going, have late night snacks of White Castle and cotton candy:


Last one:


Lee & Derek, I am SO SO happy for you. You are such an amazing example of what love can overcome, and your relationship is so awesome to watch. Thanks for letting me be a part of your day!!


Thanks to Matt Paddack for this photo, and for shooting with me!




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Liana & Mike: Part 3 of 4
Thu. May 21, 2009


Hello faithful readers! My body is slowly but surely adjusting back to California time, and I've got a TON of blog entries in the queue for the next few weeks. I'm also plugging right away on my own wedding plans, so I should have some new posts about that this coming week as well.

Instead of posting my images from Sweden today, I want to share a little bit more of Liana & Mike's wedding, which I started posting a few weeks ago. The wedding was at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, which is just an amazing, incredible property. Look:


One of the moments that I love during a wedding is that little bit of time immediately before the ceremony where everyone is getting ready. It's the height of the anticipation, and and the moment they've been waiting for for so long. Here's the girls about ready to walk down:


One last look between Liana and her dad before he gave her away to Mike:


Lines lines everywhere:


The ceremony site--perfectly backlit, of course :) That's what you get when you shoot another photographers' wedding!


A couple little ceremony details:


A great shot of Liana's dress:


I love the feeling of this one--Liana's expression and her Maid of Honor's expressions just make it for me:


A prayer and a kiss...


And a newly married couple!! I love this series:


Might be my fave of the day:


They sneaked off into the bushes for a real kiss once they tied the knot :)


Seriously, the property is so flippin' stunning:


Throw a beautiful bridal party in there and you've got a nice little photo:


Cocktail hour was simple and pretty in lovely light:


The setting is like a courtyard straight out of a European storybook:


A little sneak preview of the final part of the wedding---the reception!



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Liana & Mike: Part 2 of ?
Fri. April 24, 2009


On to part 2 of Liana & Mike's wedding! So after they saw each other for the first time, they scheduled a few hours for us to run around Santa Monica to shoot some portraits, like most good photographers would. (side note--Jeff is more traditional and does not want to see me before the wedding so we will not be doing this--more on that subject later).

Anyway, we all piled in the limo and cruised from Beverly Hills down to Santa Monica:


We then arrived at one of my favorite places in the world. You can't tell where it is from this photo, but I love it anyway:


Some of you may have guessed, it's the Viceroy-Santa Monica. It was decorated by my style icon, Kelly Wearstler. I love everything about this place--the decor, the rooms, the food---everything. I took all my branding inspiration from this hotel because it has the exact feel I wanted to give my business. When Liana told me that she and Mike had chosen it for their wedding night, I could not have been more stoked to shoot there!


We had such a great time--it's so fun!


I hope to incorporate plates like this into my decor when I eventually own a home:


Liana is affectionately known as "Liana Banana", so these yellow chairs were oh-so-appropriate:


Liana sure can work it like a model, especially for a photographer!


Mike's no slouch himself:


A little bit of a Marie Antoinette feeling bridal party photo:


Then a few more portraits in the lobby:


I swear, I could move in to this hotel and be perfectly happy:


I wanted to make a more etherial portrait of Liana:


Then we went down to Santa Monica Pier:


So hot:


Don't try to shoot here without a permit. You will get kicked out, like we did. Luckily, I shot and they twirled mid-kickout, so we still got these couple of shots:


Fun with cotton candy!


Everyone thought it was delicious:


Liana especially:


Looking beautiful:


Yup:


Next part coming up in a few days: the ceremony!


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Liana & Mike: Part 1 of ?
Wed. April 22, 2009


Liana and Mike are married! You know, it's always flattering when another photographer chooses me to photograph their wedding. Not that it isn't flattering when ANYONE chooses me, but it is a little extra special when someone who knows the industry inside and out (and every photographer in it) trusts me enough to capture a day they've though of all their lives.

I remember talking to Liana years ago about our future weddings, neither of us knowing at the time WHO those weddings would be to! When she finally met Mike, I was just so thrilled that she found someone she wanted to spend her life with, and it was an absolute honor to be asked to photograph that day.

Of course, being a photographer herself, the day was thought out to photographic perfection, making my job phenomenally easy! Every detail was flawless, and the day couldn't have been better. I have to admit, getting engaged the night before also made this wedding SO much fun to shoot, knowing that eventually I'd get to be in Liana's (very cute) shoes. I was focused on she and Mike all day though, and seeing their wedding come together so beautifully for her was so wonderful to see.

The day was so gorgeous, that it'll be a multi post, so for today, enjoy the first part! All images are digital, the film stuff will come later :)


Liana's mom and sister and bridesmaids did ALL the flowers--aren't they gorgeous??


A few details of Liana:


The dress--it was so stunning!


Nicole Deanne did the hair and makeup--she is SO talented!


Again, I just loved her flowers! Look at the little pearly details in the blooms:


The girls got ready in this super cool old house right near where the wedding was going to be, and it had lots of cool spots to shoot details:


I think she looks totally glam here:


And here:


Mike is so sweet. Liana had never received anything from Tiffany before and she told Mike she'd be happy with just the pretty blue box. Liana opened the first gift he'd sent over for her, and loved it--it was a little china Tiffany box. Then Laurel, Liana's sister surprised her with TWO more Tiffany boxes from Mike!


Look at the beautiful baby blue stone--it's a right-hand ring for Liana, which she wore to the wedding. As if she needed another something blue!


Time to get into that stunning dress!


Liana was one of the most beautiful brides I've ever seen, as I always knew she would be :)


Meanwhile, back at the castle (literally, the wedding was at Greystone Manor in Beverly Hills), Mike waited patiently:


and handsomely...


One of my favorite moments:


It's always nice to have some first moments in backlit goodness :) It was right about noon though, so it was a little bright to really shoot much:


Because they saw each other early, we had a few hours to roam around Santa Monica and find some great spots to shoot!


But you'll have to wait for part two to see where we went and what we did :)

For now, here's a little teaser:


Liana and Mike are hanging out down under right now (in Melbourne still, I believe), so leave them lots of love so that when they wake up, they'll have some nice words to see!









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A Shot from Liana & Mike's Wedding
Sun. April 19, 2009


I'm working on the blog entry for Liana & Mike's wedding, and it's going slowly because I chose over 300 images I'd like to blog! While I wade through what's good enough to post here and what isn't, I finally got a chance to really look at the film photos I shot at this wedding and I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY! I have lots to say on the subject, but for tonight, I'll leave you with this image, no photoshop or other editing done to the file at all.

This image was shot on a Contax 645 AF on Fuji 400 color film:


Full entry coming soon!


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