Jenny and Josh arrived at the Davis Farmers Market yesterday for their session with big smiles and a box of chocolates. Great way to start a shoot!!
Meet Josh and Jenny!
These next two images were taken at the UC Davis Arboretum where it extends into downtown Davis. That stretch of Putah Creek was full of mallard ducks yesterday – and someone was feeding them so ducks all over the creek were making a beeline for the food. When I saw that we stopped where we were to get some shots with the water and ducks. You’ll see a couple of the ducks swimming past in the next shot – they were really moving!
Jenny.
Josh.
I thought Jenny and Josh would look great in front of this green wall. And they do!
Jenny.
Josh and Jenny.
Now we are back at the Arboretum.
We were walking around, talking, having fun and all the while looking for interesting places that would compliment Jenny and Josh, when we ran across this sculpture with an arch. We had to get some images in front of it.
Jenny.
Jenny and Josh.
We found this next location again by exploring. We had been commenting on the interesting mix of architecture on the Davis campus, when the blue tile set against the otherwise earthy facade of this building caught my eye. I thought the blue would go well with Jenny’s outfit and Josh’s blue eyes, and the earth tones would be flattering and make a nice contrast. I figured we’d do one shot there but we kept coming up with cool concepts to try!
Josh and Jenny “leaving for the weekend.”
Jenny and Josh.
I actually fell in love with Josh’s coat and seeing Josh in it reminded me of a Burberry ad. Here’s our interpretation.
Jenny.
When I saw this chain-link fence guarding these windows I immediately thought let’s try an album cover concept.
Josh on his album cover.
Jenny and Josh as a duo.
It was getting dark and we wrapped up at this next location. This tile wall just looks like a fun place to do some fun shots!
Among the many awesome things about being a wedding photographer based in Sacramento are the fantastic wedding venues and engagement photography locations all within an easy drive. In addition to the wonderful places in Sacramento, there’s the Bay Area, Napa, and Lake Tahoe – plus tons of other fabulous places all very easy to get to!
The engagement session featured in this video was done in Davis. The couple is the very cool Jessica and Kyle, whom you may recognize from their engagement session posted several weeks ago. Enjoy the video!
Wedding timelines! For some brides the planning just falls together, but for many brides figuring out how to fit everything into their wedding day and arrange the schedule in a way that gives them enough time for all their events, gives them the time they want for all their photography, keeps the day flowing smoothly and keeps their guests entertained can be a daunting task!
To me, a wedding is a fantastic event! Not just because I love photographing weddings, but on deep human level in so many ways. First there’s the ceremony, where friends and family come to witness and experience a couple sharing their vows and starting their married life together. A wedding also is a time when family and friends may travel great distances and all come together in one spot – there is a reunion aspect to a wedding. There’s the bride before the wedding and the groom before the wedding, sharing special moments with close friends and family for the last time as singles. There’s the fun that the bridal party brings to the day. There are the details – the flowers, the decorations, the lighting, the music, the food, the cake, the place settings, … all the details, big and small, that make a couple’s day unique. Then there’s the celebration, the speeches and toasts, the cake cutting, the garter toss, the bouquet toss, the first dances, the dancing, … and the party.
In the middle of all this are the bride and groom, looking gorgeous and sharp, sharing this wonderful day together. When you are in the middle of all those events, it can seem like the day is a continuous buzz of activity that flows together. I’d like to help break that flow apart for you.
As your photographer, I see your wedding day as a series of mini events – a series of mini-stories – each with a beginning, a middle, and an end; just like a movie. In fact, that’s how I cover your wedding day – as a series of mini-stories or chapters, complete in themselves, yet flowing together in your album to tell your complete wedding-day story.
Like a good movie, it all starts with a back story. These are events I don’t witness but are an important part of your day. That includes perhaps a special breakfast and a spa visit or a massage. The first thing that really impacts your schedule is your hair and makeup. Once your hair and makeup are done, your main story starts!
Here, then, are the major pieces of your story. Think of these as high-level building building blocks from which to construct your timeline. Not necessarily in order:
the bride getting ready before the ceremony, sharing the moment with her bridesmaids and parents
the groom putting on final touches and sharing moments with his groomsmen and immediate family
the first time the bride and groom see each other before their wedding, this may be a separate event or it may happen during the ceremony
the bride, groom, and bridal party enjoying time together – perhaps before official activities take over
the bride and groom spending time together and connecting with each other for the last time before they become husband and wife – if they do decide to see each other before their ceremony
the details of the ceremony and reception locations
the wedding ceremony
the entire wedding assembly cheering and celebrating the newlyweds
close family sharing moments with the couple
the bride and groom sharing moments together as husband and wife before their reception and party
the reception – a celebratory meal, toasts and speeches, the sharing of joy and happiness between everyone
reception traditions – the first dances, the bouquet toss, the garter toss, the cake cutting, and any other traditions that are important to the couple
reception dancing and partying
the bride and groom sharing time together at the end of their celebration, before they leave together as husband and wife.
Each of these elements alone is a story in itself. Together, they tell the story of your wedding day.
Of course, there are many cultural and religious variations that might alter this sample list of story elements. This list meant as a high-level guideline to be adapted in light of your own traditions in order to help you pull your own, unique timeline together.
It’s not a secret – I love weddings! And I love engagement sessions. And I love meeting people. I’m always excited to meet a new couple and I was really looking forward to my engagement session with Melissa and Jesse.
Meet Jesse and Melissa!
You probably know the way I do engagement sessions is to walk around with a couple and look for great light and interesting backdrops. Well, we sort of do some talking, too – like a lot of talking and getting to know each other and hanging out while we walk around shooting. This next photo of Melissa was taken in a spot I hadn’t been to before – I’d been in the area, but not that spot. I love the way the light accents Melissa’s gorgeous eyes and face!
Melissa.
There’s a story behind this next shot with Jesse, too. I noticed this chair next to a bike trail in Davis. It was just begging to be used in a few shots!
Jesse.
It was actually sort of cold, so in the next couple of shots you’ll see Melissa and Jesse bundled up.
Melissa.
Jesse.
Jesse and Melissa.
Jesse.
Melissa and Jesse.
Melissa and Jesse.
Melissa and Jesse.
Jesse and Melissa.
Jesse.
Melissa.
Melissa and Jesse.
Melissa and Jesse.
It was getting pretty dark and we thought we were through shooting. Then we ran across this string of lights in trees and just had to get one more image!
Melissa and Jesse.
I had a great time with a great couple yesterday!!!
Natalie, John, and I met up yesterday for their engagement session. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since Natalie emailed me to set it up and we started chatting in email. I just knew I was going to have a great time walking around Davis with them!!
The first shot was taken at the Redwood Grove at the UC Davis Arboretum. It could be somewhere in the Sierra! These next few shots were taken downtown Davis.
Natalie.
John.
We were shooting in front of this brick wall and it made me think of a DKNY ad. So, I asked John and Natalie to don serious expressions for our own interpretation of an ad. Of course, we were having fun so asking them to look serious just made us all start laughing. After a few more laughs we got serious for a minute – I think they really pulled off the look!
Apparently a local theater group had been rehearsing at this next location. There were signs everywhere telling us to watch out for sword fights! No swords…
…kisses instead.
Natalie and John are adorable!
John and Natalie were up for all the different concepts we tried.
Natalie and John.
Natalie and John wanted some shots near a brick wall – we found two of them on our walk!
I really liked this metal wall we found when we went exploring Davis in a direction I hadn’t gone before.
Natalie.
John and Natalie.
Now we are at a different part of the UC Davis Arboretum.
John.
Natalie and John.
Natalie and John.
John and Natalie.
Natalie and John.
Natalie and John.
What a great connection between Natalie and John!!
