Jenny & Brian Wedding

Jenny and Brian had a beautiful wedding at Madrona Manor in Sonoma County.  It was a destination wedding as most of their family and friends, including themselves, came from Ohio.  I knew that I wanted to shoot their wedding when I met their parents.  I know that sounds funny, but Jenny's parents, Cathy and Dan, were a riot.  Cathy liked the shirt that I was wearing and asked me if she could see the tab so she could find one for Dan.  Jenny watched mortified as her mom got up, walked toward my back and flipped the collar of someone they just met a few minutes ago, while I had this goofy grin on my face.  I immediately thought, I love these guys already! 

So we hit it off really well that day and I was waiting all season to shoot their wedding.  Come wedding day, Cathy and Dan had told so many people in their party about me that they all knew my work and were asking me to take their photos and everything!  It was a trip!  I never had a reception like that and I had so much fun with everyone.   I feel like I have several homes to stay at if I ever visit Ohio.

Jenny was absolutely gorgeous and was laughing so much being her silly self in this regal mansion.  I really enjoyed this wedding and wish Jenny and Brian the best in all their years to come.  

Their wedding coordinator didn't like her blue toenails, but she and I did! Tribute.

This is one of my favorite bride shots!

Dan and Cathy.   This was such a precious moment with them.

Jenny looking like she's having fun.  Must have been all her friends behind me making her laugh. 

Mansions are really cool places to shoot!

Alice in Wonderland?

The father waiting to hand off his daughter.

They have a moment together, before he gives her away. 

Jenny being her silly self.

One of the wildest decorations on a cake I've seen. 

I had to squat and hold very still for this cool nightshot.

Can anyone guess why Jenny looks so shocked?

Of course what's a cake cutting without a cake on the face.  I encourage all my couples to not hold back. 

They had wine pairings with every course and about a gazillion toasts.

I hope they were able to remember all the sweet memories with all that wine!

Marianne & Duane | Barbados | Beach | Engagement Session 2

Barbados Part Deux 

The best part of being back is being able to share our trip with everyone else.  I know it makes people jealous and wish that their job flew them to exotic locales, but it's not all fun and games.  It's hard work!  We had to drive around in taxi's and go to unfamiliar locations.  Eat unfamiliar food.  Swim in unfamiliar beaches with unfamiliar waves.  Did we really want to swim in that crystal clear water and eat that juicy chicken curry Roti?  You mean we have to get out of our air-conditioned hotel rooms and take pictures in warm sunny weather?  What if a shark comes up behind me while I'm exploring a sunken ship while snorkeling? 

Man, that's just too stressful!  Despite all that, we had such a great time going around taking pictures all over Barbados.  We literally drove around the whole island!  Valdez, our driver, was so fun and welcoming.  He took us to old slave homes, sugar cane factories, huge island resorts, the best beaches, the golf resort that Tiger Woods got married at, just everywhere. 

All that unfamiliarity and hard work was worth it! Marianne and Duane's parents even followed us around too, to give us encouragement.  Or was it to make sure that I was taking good pictures?  hmmm.  Well I'm glad they came, because both their moms are fun to hang out with. 

If you haven't caught on by now, there's a little sarcasm about the unfamiliarity.  I LOVE traveling.  That's why I got into wedding photography in the first place. 

TO ALL FUTURE CLIENTS: If you're not having a destination wedding, then we can still do a destination engagement session!  Ask me about it. 

This was one of my favorite locations to shoot at.  I love architecture like this.  

This place housed the Queen of England twice, but each time it burned down.  Lucky for us. 

Valdez thinks that this looks like a postcard of Barbados.  Maybe I can start selling it as one!

This is their I'm relaxed and having fun in front of a bus stop pose.  They are highly trained models for sure.

This is their Banana Republic pose. 
 

Marianne was able to lift him off for almost one second.  Duanne imagined he was flying. 

One of my favorite shots that Ingrid took. 

The sky and beaches there were amazing.  I love nighttime photography, it adds so much drama.