Tina + Steven
Villa Castellamonte
Dominican Republic

I've been saying this all week, but for the record, Tina and Steven's wedding last weekend in the Dominican Republic was one of the best wedding experiences I've ever had. Laura and I flew in three days before the ceremony, so I had a lot more time to photograph and get to know the families than I typically do. We rode ATVs across the island, hung out at the pool, got sunburned, drank piña coladas and got stuffed on lobster. Tina and Steven's family treated me and Laura as if we had known them for years, and we have so many new friends now. Thanks for the incredible time everyone.

You can see a large version of their slideshow here, or a smaller version by clicking the photo of the island above.

Laura and I just got back from the Dominican Republic, which was an amazing experience. I'll start working on that wedding tomorrow, but first here is the slide show from Ya and Kevin's wedding in Las Vegas, which you can also see here.

Ya + Kevin
Las Vegas, Nevada
Ya and Kevin had a truly unique Vegas wedding. There were no drive-through chapels, no Elvis impersonators and no regrets like Ms. Britney Spears. It was a perfect ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton 0n Lake Las Vegas, with plenty of happy tears and Chinese traditions. Ya and Kevin are one of those couples who just know will always be happy. Vlad and I couldn't have asked for nicer people to photograph. I only wish I could be with them next month when they throw their reception party on the rooftops of Manhattan. Have a great time guys, and see you at sushi soon!

Tamra + Chris engagement
Las Vegas, Nevada
Last night Tamra, Chris and I stayed up until 2 a.m. photographing their engagement session here in Las Vegas. We went up and down the strip, then to the old-school downtown and ended up drinking wine at the Wynn to end the night. Tamra flew in her make-up artist Nicole from L.A. and Chris hired a bodyguard to help make sure the tourists weren't always in the photographs, which was really pretty helpful (photo below of Eric). We had a good time all night, and Chris even won a hundred bucks gambling. Tamra and Chris, who live in Dallas, are getting married this November in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and I'm counting on a very, very lively night south of the border.

I have a wedding here in Vegas on Saturday, so I'll be here a few more days. Vlad flies in tomorrow morning to shoot the video for the wedding, which is going to be a really beautiful ceremony on Lake Las Vegas. So, more photos hopefully after the weekend. But first, here are a few frames from last night.










Eric, the bodyguard:

Coachella + Phoenix + Denver

I've spent the last two weeks driving across the Southwest with Laura, going to concerts and visiting friends. It's been a really fun last hurrah before the wedding season kicks in next week. Starting next weekend, I'll have a wedding nearly every Saturday until the end of November. But until then, here are some photos from Coachella, the three-day music festival in southern California, where Laura and I camped with 15,000 thousand people by night, and listened to our favorite indie bands with 180,000 people by day. It was our third year at Coachella, and we'll probably be back next year. Hopefully in a condo with a pool.

Laura with her boy toys:Rufus Wainwright:
In the crowd watching The Decemberists:
With our friend Devin from San Diego:
The Dome:
Ben:
We then went to Phoenix to stay with our friends Sarah and Eric, and visit with Bill and Kevin. I love visiting Phoenix. The sushi is great and Eric (below) always takes us to the wackiest bars.

And on Wednesday I drove up to Denver to see Grant-Lee Phillips and my amigos Sam, Pari, Stacey and Eric. I photographed Stacey and Eric's wedding last Fall in Mexico and we've all been hanging out ever since. After the show, we went to the Thin Man bar, where Stacey and Eric first met. Stacey was taking pictures of her coffee and cigarettes and Eric was at the bar surfing the Internet. Stacey pointed the camera towards Eric, he waved at her and after a few months of non-official dating, they were a couple. Cool story. Cool couple. Thanks everyone for the fun two weeks. And a big thanks to Sam for the Grant-Lee tape. It's found a home.

Stacey and Eric:
Grant:
Pari:
Sam and Grant:
Eric:
All of us:
After the bar ... :
... and on the ground:
Eric driving home: