Alicia + Murat - Pleasanton, CA - Palm Events Center Wedding

Picking up a life in Miami to moving it to the Bay Area sounds exhausting; the last thing we’d want to do is plan a wedding in the wake of home hunting, box-unpacking, Ikea-haunting, and Target-running.  We couldn’t imagine doing it, but Alicia and Murat made it work and had us along for their beautiful wedding at the Palm Event Center.

Alicia and Murat’s wedding was emblematic of what we love most about weddings; the union of families over the connection the bride and groom have made with each other.  Murat being from Turkey and Alicia from Peru and meeting in Miami inherently made their party a great mix of people that was made that much better by the heart this couple brought to their day.

It’s difficult to forget Murat’s mother looking up at him lovingly as she walked him down the aisle and the ear to ear smile that Alicia flashed as her father walked her down the aisle and passed her to Murat.   We could not have been happier for their respective families as they spoke glowingly of the new son or daughter they were gaining that day, which punctuated the overall togetherness that was felt.  Alicia’s father delivered a heartfelt speech in Spanish that was translated by her brother; not everyone in attendance spoke the language, but there was still a sense understand him as he welcomed another son to his family.

Special mention must be made for Murat’s childhood best friend and Best Man, who ran Murat and the crowd through the full spectrum between joyous laughter and nostalgic tears.  It came as no surprise that the authenticity and heart that both Alicia and Murat have demonstrated in all our dealings with them was present in all those who love them.  

After treating the crowd to a choreographed first dance, Alicia and Murat let the party onto the floor;  it was charming that after the [appropriate] lovey-doveyness of their ceremony and program, that they put on display why they work so well together.  Given all the distractions of friends and family congratulating and celebrating them, they still found eachother on the dance floor again and again; i.e. given all the choice in the world, they of course choose eachother.

We love that we were there for these two, they’re a great affirmation of getting married and making it a party!

Tiffany + Timothy - Marin & San Francisco, CA - Battery Mendell, Financial District Engagement

We like to think of Tiffany and Timothy as superheroes in the sense that there is much more to them than their cool exteriors.  Tiffany’s alter ego as an accomplished dancer is one that imbues everything she does with style, power and grace.  She possesses an undeniable poise that makes her look great in every frame.   Similarly, below the unflappable exterior you’d find that Timothy is a board game aficionado which translates in these photos as…well, we’re not quite sure how that part of him translates, but he killed it anyway.  The superhero alter ego analogy admittedly breaks down with Tim, but we’ll just say that perhaps brainy games (think Ticket to Ride, not Chutes and Ladders) he plays is indicative of the intelligence that lead him to recognize/woo/propose to Tiffany.  Let’s just go with that ;-).

That said, Timothy’s decision to ask out the cute girl he met briefly at a professional mixer event was the correct one.  Since then, they’ve had multi-day hikes through Yosemite, fed some elephants in a Thai jungle, and then got engaged on the California coast.  For their engagement session, they wanted to represent their professional lives spent mostly in the city as lawyers and also the parts of them that compel them to the outdoors.

With this in mind, we started at Battery Mendell in Marin, CA and ended in and near the Financial District of San Francisco.  Battery Mendell might not be a jungle or an evergreen forest, but it’s position on the coast gives a powerful impression of nature.  We had a great time exploring the textures, elevation contrasts, and beautiful pockets of light the military ruins provided.  When we first met Tiffany and Timothy, they warned us that they would need a lot of coaching for their portraits, but that was a lie; they were naturals in front of the camera, and couldn’t have been better together.  We loved their range; from playful and casual to cool and sexy, they did it all and probably didn’t quite realize how good they pulled it off.  Total rock stars.

After our time in Marin, we headed into The City to finish our shoot in the Financial District and The Embarcadero.  We ran into some good luck and got access to the lobby ofThe City Club, grabbed a couple of shots in the area just before heading to Pier 7.  They gave us great stuff in every setting.  So. Rad.

Congratulations to these two and stick around for more since we’ll also be with them on their wedding day this year!

Sonia+Jack - San Francisco, CA - Mission District, North Beach Engagement

It was easy to pick up Sonia and Jack's casual cool over coffee on the edge of Lake Merritt.  It’s a common refrain when speaking of  our clients, but there was really a sense of reuniting with old friends when we met them.  On top of being great company, it was great seeing their warmth together, especially amazing when you consider somewhat inauspicious beginnings. 

By his own admission, Jack spotted Sonia at a bar in Chicago and opened with a line somehow relating her to Michelangelo’s Last Supper.  I don’t feel the need to elaborate because that can't be spun to go over well, but it worked out apparently (ending up engaged and all).  Following what could only be imagined was a period of forgiveness and/or distraction, they bonded over their love of travel (eventually living in Berlin for a bit!), and especially a mutual love for Motown and classic soul.  (sidenote: We can. Not. Wait for their reception/playlist!)

Sonia and Jack wanted this session to represent their move to San Francisco, the first place they would live together as an engaged couple.  Jack had spent time visiting family in the Mission District of San Francisco and knew well the wealth of texture and personality the neighborhood offered, and proposed we start there.  It was a great choice and from the first shot, we could not feel more privileged to document this period of their lives; just great stuff from the get go.  We moved through the city for different looks through Bernal Heights, the Financial District, and North Beach, each step of the way they could not have been better company and subjects.

They gave us a ton of great stuff that we’re happy to share with you all.  Enjoy!