I had become pretty good at using flash in a controlled studio setting, but I wanted to get better at other types of situations. I knew it would be overcast in the morning for a few days so I wanted to practice strobes in overcast lighting. People say overcast is the best, but sometimes it's flat and you get no pop in the eyes. The challenge was to use the strobe to carve out features and create both a natural portrait and punchy portrait. My model was Shannon who I had met on another shoot. She had never modeled before and did an amazing job. Great length on her body, and good facial structure for the shots I wanted. The funny thing about this shoot is we got a variety of shots within a 20 yard radius space.

I met Becky long before she was a a bride, probably 5 years before. Back when I was in college I worked with her at Starbucks. We reconnected when she and Paul sat at my bar rail on their day off! The wedding day at Eagle's Ridge was beautiful and Sunny, which translates to the high 80's in Gilroy California. The sun set behind the high hills of Heckler Pass in a very clear sky. Favorite shot has to be the bridesmaids giving their friend a hug as the sun dropped behind the hills. There was an old looking clock overhead, that served as a reminder that time passes by.

This would be the second time I worked with Michelle and Danny, the first being their engagement shoot. For their ceremony and reception, they chose the Holly Farm located in Carmel Valley, CA. The Holly Farm is secluded from the world with winding paths and private sun-filled cottages tucked away among exotic paths, towering bamboo, banana trees and sweetly scented blossoms. It was a very fun fast paced day! Hands down one of the most animated wedding parties I've shot! Looking at the pictures now, you can see Michelle and Danny's love for one another come across in the photos :)

Apple and Jonathan's wedding took place at the Carmel Valley at the Rancho Canada Golf Club, which is one of Wedgewood's Banquet centers. The ceremony took place on the very sunny Monastery Beach which is located right off of Highway 1 just before Big Sur. The day's schedule was conveniently on the back of the hand fan's being handed out by Apple's cousins on guests' arrival. At the venue I found a nice grove of oak trees to act as shade and also a backdrop for the bridal portraits. What I found beautiful and convenient was this group of mirrors on the wall. I used it as a background for the cake and it looked amazing! It was a fun Sunday afternoon :)

I love this couple. They are so close and so in love. One of the biggest tear jerking moments I've ever been present for happened at this wedding. Before dinner Chris made a speech about how he loves retreating to the mountains and skiing. He said that at the top of the hill theres that overwhelming God experience. Then he told Kim that she was his mountain top, the best experience he could have. Those are moments that I love capturing on camera.  The reception was in the beautiful Card Room of the Pebble Beach Lodge. It was overcast all morning, but broke right after the ceremony, very coincidental ;) 

Amanda and Lon were my first clients located a decent distance away. Their venue was Reyes Vineyards located in Agua Dulce, California, about a 5 hour drive from Monterey. The ceremony was on a green lawn with the vineyard as a backdrop. The sun was kept the temperature in the high 80's, but the dining area was tented and there was a nice breeze! Being at a vineyard, there was a wide variety of varietals being served... nice!!! 

It's always a nice compliment when a fellow photographer asks you to shoot their wedding. So was pretty pleased when I found out Steve was a photographer and that he liked my work. He and May wanted to get married on Asilomar Beach in Pebble Beach (great idea)! What was perfect was the overcast with just enough light peaking through the clouds for dramatic shots. The beach can be a nightmare without proper coverage (trust me I've experienced it). Anyways, everything turned out great and they were a pleasure to shoot!

This was a fun shoot with Diana! She has a lot of character and knows how to convey it on camera! We shot just before sunset in Camel Valley. Diana has a collection of dresses, but the one she chose for our shoot perfectly complimented the greenery in the forest. While I mostly use natural light for this shoot, I decided to use a little flash work also. I dropped in the light directly over head with the beauty dish and I also splashed it on the left and right to create a little more drama in the photos later on in the shoot.