Shannon + Chris - San Francisco, CA Palace of Fine Arts/Baker Beach Engagement

From the moment we met Shannon and Chris at the local Daly City hang, 7Mile House, they felt like old friends.  There was just great degree of innate compatibility between us, but it’s also hard to imagine anyone not getting along with them.  As a couple, they exude an uncommon warmth that makes them imminently approachable and just a great hang.  From that first meeting over drinks and bar food, we couldn't believe our good luck to have them as clients.

For obvious reasons, we were really looking forward to doing their engagement session planned for the Palace of Fine Arts and Baker Beach; we knew that the warmth that they expressed in dealing with us would surely surface between them, and give us a lot of great stuff on camera.  We weren’t wrong.

A common refrain of couples is at least a slight discomfort or unfamiliarity with being in front of the camera (“what do I do with my hands!”), but there was really none of that to be had with Shannon and Chris.  It just seemed that they knew that if they would let how much they care for eachother guide their interactions, they’d be fine; they were completely correct, and that made it a lot of fun to be behind the camera with them.

As far as the shoot, we had plenty of soft light from an overcast day; combined with the way the rotunda and associated structures at the Palace of Fine Arts shaped that light made for some fantastic spots of light that looked great on them.  After the Palace, we made quick pit stops around the Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Point, and then started our shoot on Baker Beach, where we were blessed with the sun peaking out just a enough from behind the clouds to kiss our session with a good bit of drama.

Let’s just say it, these are just some of the cool kids all grown up and in love.  Find spot.  Give loose direction about which way to face.  Abracadabra, there’s your magic right there in front of you.  It’s one of the many reasons that we’re totally amped to be shooting their wedding this coming in July in the Garden State, New Jersey!  We’d love to meet the friends and family who shaped these two really beautiful individuals who we found are even better together.

-JT

Lisa + Matthew - The Claremont Hotel, Berkeley, CA Wedding

We first met Lisa+Matt in a quiet coffee shop in Alameda, CA, and were immediately struck by the warmth they shared; though they had only recently been engaged when we met them, they felt like old souls, effortlessly molded to each other.  Outside of being great company, it was beautiful to see the moments of fond remembering as they told us their story.  There was already a sense of teamwork and living for and through each other in them; that we caught them just before a weekly dinner at the restaurant of their first date was no coincidence. 

Their wedding at The Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, CA was more of the wonderful same, but shared with an intimate set of friends and family.  There was a palpable and genuine sense of happiness for their union in their guests and it certainly comes through the photographs.  It was energizing to be around people who were so happy for Lisa+Matt to exchange tearful, heartfelt vows, because they believed so much good was in store for the new family now and in the future.

Going through the day with Lisa+Matt made us appreciate their beautiful venue, The Claremont Hotel, nestled on a hill overlooking Berkeley, CA.  It seemed that everywhere was a great opportunity for us as photographers, and it was a joy to shoot there throughout the day.  We were able to concentrate on the tenderness of the day, particularly between Lisa and her daughter, who was also her Maid of Honor.  Throughout the day, Lisa’s daughter did a loving job of everything from preparing her mother for the ceremony, or making making sure that the dress from Janene’s Bridal Boutique was ready to photograph.

Matt’s parents stood out as they constantly beamed, seeming to always have a broad smile on their faces.  It was great to see that they were so happy for Matt to cement his place next to his soulmate, and even happier to accept Lisa and her daughter into the family.  Matt’s father and his infectious joy was a hallmark of this wedding, and even better for us, he wore that happiness on his face all day.

As for Lisa+Matt themselves, we could not have asked for more real and loving people on their wedding day.  Photographing them was never a question of whether or not we “got” anything, but only how good it was.  They were wonderful to work with, and it took so little work to get evocative expressions from them; there was no doubt that there was a deep love between them, and you could literally pick that up from looking at them together.  The best.

Lisa+Matt’s day was a distillation of the important parts of life; good friends, family, and the love that they share between them.  We are so honored to have been there to document it for them.

Ceremony/Reception The Claremont Hotel c/o Alexis Garhammer || Officiant Michael Wright

Dress Janene's Bridal Boutique || Florals Pat Gibbons Floral Designs

Cake Katrina Rozelle Pastries & Desserts || Music Sherry Lewis, An Elegant Touch of Strings

Erralyn+Michael's Anniversary/Family Session - Livermore, CA

The moment in a child’s life when the social calculus no longer dictates that it’s cool for mom or dad to drop them off to school is almost a rite of passage.  It’s often heartbreaking for parents, but to be fair, some kids have to deal with high and tight mom jeans, bad dad combovers, and perhaps a healthy dose of adult-responsibility addled pensive nervousness.  You can’t blame the kid; they shouldn’t be encumbered by their parents’ uncoolness.

Well, that’s most kids.  Maybe not these kids, not for a long while at the very least.  Erralyn+Mike are approaching their 10th wedding anniversary, and just short of that as a family with children.  Knowing them as we do, you’d never guess they’ve been at it that long.  They’re a consummately handsome couple who are wonderful people on their own, but are even better together.  There is a spark within in each of them that make them magnetic company that we just loved to be around.  Each is so giving of themselves, had strong opinions that served as jumping off points to deeper conversations, and senses of humor that really jived well with us. 

Aside from Lyn+Mike, they have three girls who are notable for their own strong senses of self and their obvious love for their each other.  They came decked out by mom in coordinating outfits [it needs to be noted that this was not blithe “matching”; there was a defined motif of maroon accented with blue that was made unique to each kid with deft use of garment type, style, and materials] that unified them visually but allowed for their individuality.  What made the wardrobe choices so appropriate became apparent the longer you spent with each of Lyn+Mike’s daughters; they were all smart, sweet kids, but in their own ways.  It became clear that the different wardrobe was not simply in service to looking good in photos, but actually a reflection of who they were as young people.

Lyn+Mike haven’t lost their verve for each other despite being a decade in.  It’s inspiring in our own marriage that they are so passionately in love.  While some might be worn down by the responsibility of caring for a family and lose touch with each toher, this is not the case with them.  This fact was obvious by how remarkably little needed to be done with them for their closeness to come through the camera.  Their love is never far beneath the surface, and and always on display.  You almost have to feel for their three daughters, since mom and dad are at such high risk to get all mushy and stuff in front of EVERYONE ;-).  Well, perhaps not really, they are also a class act, but I wouldn’t put it past them to pick out a special time to horrify their kids with some PDA, just for kicks.  They are just that cool.

All this made it exciting to photograph Lyn+Mike and their girls.  It was especially great watching how their eldest took care of her younger sisters.  She would often help us set up shots, get the youngest in line, and overall just make things easy for us when working with them.  She was well respected by her younger siblings and willfully followed her lead, and as such was instrumental in helping get some of the best shots of the afternoon. 

We startede in Downtown Livermore with the whole family, and then set off with just Lyn+Mike to the beautiful drive just south, near Del Valle Regional Park for some shots on a ridge overlooking the valley near sunset.  A beautiful time all around.  We’re really excited for their anniversary party a little later this year; we’re sure some really great will end up here in not too long.  A huge thanks to Cat+Jey for putting us in contact with this great family!