Jennifer + Christopher's Wedding - Wedgewood Wedding & Banquet Center, Brentwood, CA

April 14, 2015 in wedding, city

We couldn’t be happier for Jennifer and Chris; through the process of preparing their day at the Wedgewood Wedding & Banquet Center in Brentwood, CA, we had plenty of opportunity to find out how great they are as a couple. We had a feeling that they might become some of our favorite people when we first met them, a feeling that was cemented when we had the chance to work with them for their Palace of Fine Arts/Sutro Baths engagement session. There is a very palpable love between these two, and their wedding day put that on showcase in the best ways.

For a couple who have been together and as through as much as these two (close to a decade together, and beautiful baby girl between them!), it was a powerful watching them exchange vows with so much meaning. Since they have shared so much together, no one could fault them for taking their wedding day as de rigeur, and approach it with a sense of inevitability and commonplace. This was not Jennifer and Chris. Their vows were voiced with sentiment matched only by the touches and glances shared between them.

Jennifer and Chris were meant to be together, and this feeling was shared by everyone in attendance. There was an overwhelming feeling of celebration for these two cementing their commitment to each other. Jennifer’s bridesmaids were beautiful and there for her every step of their day, and groomsmen were cool, colorful, and never held their excitment for the couple back. Groomsmen breaking out in chants of "Baby Doll!" in reference to Jenn & Chris' little one during the reception was heartwarming and a little unexpected from a group of cool dudes.

An excited grand entrance lead to heartfelt speeches that gave way to a spirited dance floor, along with a sighting of the groom’s dad on the dance floor. Everyone was inspired to celebrate Jennifer and Chris, and it was great fun and an honor to cover their day for them.

Special thanks go out to Jason Lee of The Lee Studio, who was nice enough to shoot along side us, and share his acclaimed work. He was an indispensable part of the coverage, and we were lucky to have him. If you love great photography, and especially if you're from the San Francisco Bay Area, check out his Kickstarter-funded photobook, Of Places and People.

-Joseph & April

courtesy Jason Lee of TheLeeStudio.com — courtesy Jason Lee of TheLeeStudio.com

Ceremony/Reception - Wedgewood Wedding & Banquet Center, Brentwood, CA

Bridal Hair/Makeup - Petra Martinez, Salon Epiffani

Florist - Paula's Family Florist

Cake - TL Cakes

Photobooth - 143 Photobooths

Officiant - Steve Siglin

J+M Wedding - The City Club of San Francisco, CA

February 04, 2015 in wedding, city

One of the most useful skills that I've honed with time as a wedding photographer is the ability to immediately "take the temperature" of a room. Being around weddings enough, you can very quickly pick up on cues that might give you an idea of what kind of day is ahead. This wedding that I covered for Duy Ho Photography gave great "vibes" right off the bat.

When we arrived at the bridal suite in Le Meridien in San Francisco, there was a palpable air of excitement and healthy anticipation. The bridesmaids welcomed us into their preparation and really set the tone for the day; they all had duties that were going to be executed well and they were all there for their friend's/family member's big day. This gave the feeling of togetherness and genuine happiness that made photographing them an absolute joy.

The bride of course was a huge part of this, never letting the gravity of the day get the best of her but at the same time, never letting the excitement at joining her man in marriage leave her face. Looking back, she was r the driving force in making the day absoultely beautiful.

After we got to know the bridal party, we proceeded to The City Club of San Francisco, where its Art Deco charm would serve as a backdrop for the wedding's festivities. After a short, but sweet, ceremony, the party settled into some heartfelt speeches at the reception dinner, and transitioned to a serious party atmosphere lead by Platinum Status. Having a band at your wedding comes highly recommended by me, giving a great depth and urgency to the music being played. When you have a 7-10 piece band playing their hearts out, it's difficult to deny, and most people can't help but dance. That was case here where the party got started as soon as the band hit their first note.

The excitement of the day and the beauty of the bride and groom certainly come out in pictures; I'm just glad that I got to be a small part of all of it.

-Joseph

K+T Wedding - 1300 On Fillmore, San Francisco, CA

January 31, 2015 in wedding, city

As a wedding unfolds, there often comes a moment that comes to define the day. Sometimes they are only obvious in retrospect, but there are others that make their signature obvious as they happen. These moments are personally touching for one reason or another, and then the challenge is to harness that inspiration and make certain that I capture images that convey the narrative and meaning of the moment as best as I can. I experienced this during the San Francisco wedding of K+T that I shot with Chris Shum Photography this past Fall, with a memorable reception at 1300 On Fillmore.

In the case of this couple, these day-defining moments came rapid fire during the toasts and speeches given particularly by a cousin very close to the Groom and especially the Bride’s father. We were first told of hilarious times growing up with the groom, which brought the house down, then spun 180 degrees with the most heartfelt speech from a father to his daughter that I can remember. This father courageously opened his heart to his conflict of emotions born of his happiness at his daughter finding real happiness, but also lamented that he had to give her away. Poignantly, he made light of the inherent selflessness of being a good father: in his eyes, the better job he did as a father, the better choices his daughter would make about her partner. The better the partner, the easier and more definitively he would have to give her away.

It wasn’t too far into the speech that the bride was overcome with emotion. In a breathless thank you after her father’s speech, it was apparent that his sacrifice was not lost on her. I’d be lying if I didn’t have to gather myself a little as well.

If the speeches were a high point, they were propelled there equally by chemistry of the K+T. The groom turned out to be the quite the crooner, performing a few tunes for her backed by a jazz trio. It was also great to see through his every action and conversation through the day his incredible happiness at starting the nucleus of a family with his bride.

It was a privilege to shoot this one with Chris Shum, cheers to the happy couple!

-Joseph