night notes and wine spills: ben chrisman photography

NEW BLOG!

2008-07-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ross at Flosites, I just put up my new blog, which he custom created for me. I'll be adding some galleries in the next few days, along with the wedding from Santorini, Greece. But here is the new look with the wedding from a couple of old friends, Erin and Chris.

You can bookmark the new page at http://www.benchrismanblog.com

Thanks for looking. More on the way very soon.

Lauren + Frank | Tulum, Mexico

2008-07-11T11:56:00.001-07:00

Everyone knows how much I love Mexico. When I am there, I never want to leave. But that has never been more true than after three days at Lauren and Frank's wedding outside of Tulum. Everyone was so nice, the water was so warm and the party never seemed to end. I always love it when I see a pool in the middle of the reception area because people always end up jumping in. But this time, everyone got in. Even me. With my camera. After several shots of tequila. It was one of the most fun receptions I've ever been to.

Lauren and Frank live in London, but if they ever decide to throw another party in Mexico, I want to go. Thanks so much guys for an amazing trip.

Their slide show is here:

Betsy + Hansen engagement

2008-07-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

Betsy and Hansen are getting married next summer at Betsy's father's home in the mountains of North Carolina. But I caught up with them during their vacation, and found a pretty afternoon to take some photographs on a windy, but warm, day at the beach.

Ariel + Simon | Santa Fe, New Mexico

2008-07-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a strong connection between Santa Fe, New Mexico (where I am from) and San Francisco (where I live now). Several of my couples live here in the city, but find a reason to go to the high desert to get married. For Ariel and Simon, they got married at one of my favorite outside venues, Pecos National Ruins near Santa Fe. But before the wedding, they got dressed up for portraits and so we went to some places Ariel had scouted earlier. One was even a water tower, which they both climbed up without hesitation just a couple hours before they walked down the aisle.

Here is their slide show. To watch it, click the 'play' button in the middle:

Cressandra + Conan | La Posada, Santa Fe, New Mexico

2008-06-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

Here is the slide show from Cressandra and Conan's wedding in Santa Fe last month. I'll add more photos soon to the blog, but I've been traveling so much lately it has been hard to keep up with everything. I am in Paris now after an awesome four-day wedding in Santorini, Greece. I'll be back in the states next week, so I'll try to post more soon.

2008-06-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Tamra and Christopher's wedding from last November in Cabo, Mexico will be showing on the Plantinum Weddings tv show on the WE Channel over the next few days.

It was fun to relive that trip on television. You'll see me, Brett and Vlad sporadically throughout the show. And if you want to see Vlad's awesome version of the week, go to his film site vladfilms.com.

Heatherose + James | Oakland, California

2008-05-31T13:54:00.000-07:00

Heather and James had one of the most eclectically beautiful weddings I have ever attended. Heather's unique, custom-made gown was so much fun to photograph all day. And having the backdrop of the majestic Scottish Rite Center for the ceremony and reception was a treat. In addition, the décor was personal for Heather and her family, as Heather's mother, who is a florist, made all the arrangements, including all the bouquets, for the wedding. It was also wonderful to witness the raw emotion Heather and James felt throughout the day.

Erin + Tim engagement | Los Gatos, California

2008-05-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

Erin and Tim have been together for 11 years, but still flirt like when they met when they were 17 years old. It was great seeing a couple so connected and I'm looking forward to their wedding in Lake Tahoe later this summer.

Mariano and family | San Francisco

2008-05-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Last week I got to spend some time with Mariano Friginal and his family. It was a very windy and cold day in the city, so we spent a lot of time in their hotel room downtown before venturing out to Bernal Hill for a few chilly minutes. Mariano is a very talented wedding and portrait photographer in Fresno. I love shooting for fellow photographers. It's always an honor for me.

Carrie + Bobby | Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

2008-05-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

My first May wedding this year gave me the opportunity to not only photograph in one of my favorite places in the world, but also to photograph a bride who shares my last name. Carrie and Bobby brought in their friends from L.A., and they all knew how to have a good time. And as soon as I saw a big pool in the middle of the reception site, I hoped they would start jumping in by the end of the night. They did.

Thank you to the beautiful and talented Sol Tarmargo for shooting with me. Her photos brought a completely different look to the day.

Sol's photo:

Rachel + Paul | Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

2008-05-19T15:31:00.001-07:00

Right before I left Mexico two weeks ago, I joined my good friends Sol and Matt of Del Sol Photography to help them photograph the wedding of Rachel and Paul, who are wedding videographers in Mexico. I first met Rachel and Paul last December at Sol and Matt's own wedding when they were filming it. I know, that is kind of confusing with wedding photographers photographing wedding videographers who filmed wedding photographer's personal weddings. But here are some of my photos from the day, along with a few from a trash the dress session with Sol and Matt from earlier that week.

Here are Sol and Matt:

Millie + Mike | Isla Mujeres, Mexico wedding

2008-05-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Millie and Mike are two of the sweetest people I know. I first met them last year when Mike proposed to Millie on The Today Show (Millie is a graphic designer for NBC). And over the last few months I have been working for Millie's sister Maria photographing Multiple Sclerosis events for her company. So immediately I felt very at home with everyone at the wedding.

Millie and Maria's dad passed away five years ago, so the rehearsal dinner slide show featuring him was really emotional for everyone. But Millie said she could feel him there, and I definitely believe her. I am really glad I got to be there too.

And there is a photo below of Millie playing guitar. Since Mike surprised her by proposing on television, she decided to surprise him by singing a song to him at the reception. But up until a month ago, she had never sang or played the guitar. So she secretly took guitar and singing lessons before the wedding. She would even take her guitar on the train to work each day practicing each way for one hour. She played beautifully.

The slide show is below with the play button in the middle of the photo.

Still down South

2008-05-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

I am still in Mexico, but now in Playa Del Carmen, which is about an hour south of Cancun. I have a portrait session and rehearsal dinner to photograph this afternoon, but I wanted to get at least one photo up from Millie and Mike's wedding last weekend. Lots more to come from their beautiful wedding soon, and also a trash the dress session I shot yesterday of my good friends Sol and Matt of Del Sol Photography. So much shooting. So little time to sit in front of a computer.

American Photo Magazine's Top 10

2008-04-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, American Photo Magazine came out with this year's list of their Top 10 wedding photographers in the world. Somehow, I am on it, along with several other fanstastic photographers I really love. And even though my first instinct is to say 'awards don't matter', I know when I am an old guy I'll be telling anyone who will listen about when this happened to me. So whoever had anything to do with putting me on a list with such talented photographers, thank you. It means a lot to me now, but will only mean more as the years pass.

You can read the article here: American Photo Magazine

Elizabeth + Ethan | Bermuda wedding

2008-04-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

These last five days have gone by fast, and I haven't really done anything except for work on these photos, answer emails and visit the beach for a little bit each day. I've got to remind myself to not take as many photos as I did in Bermuda, but it is so easy when you spend three days with a group of beautiful people that love to party until 4 or 5 am each night. I'm really excited that most of them live in San Francisco so I can see them all again soon. Here are a few frames from the weekend, and their slide show is at the bottom. Thanks Elizabeth and Ethan for bringing me to a place I had never been before, and can't wait to go back and visit again. Have a great honeymoon in St. Barts as well!

Slide show (just hit play in the center of the photo):

Bermuda to Mexico

2008-04-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

I just got off the ferry in Isla Mujeres, Mexico after leaving Bermuda this morning where I had been for the last three days photographing Elizabeth and Ethan's gorgeous wedding. I have about 10,000 photos to start working on, but here is one from the dance floor on the first crazy night. More photos very soon, I promise.

Joshua and Isadora by Michael Benanav

2008-04-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

While I am sitting here in the JFK airport in New York waiting for my flight to Bermuda, I need to tell everyone about my friend Michael Benanav's new book, 'Joshua and Isadora: A True Tale of Loss and Love in the Holocaust'. It's an incredible true story about how his grandparents escaped the Holocaust. Michael also wrote one of my favorite books of all time, Men of Salt, which is about Michael's trek across the Sahara desert on camel researching the ancient salt trade of Africa. Michael writes for the New York Times frequently, and was recently caught in China during the fiasco that ensued with the Tibetan people. He has a knack of getting into interesting situations, and his books always explain everything beautifully. Here is a bit of the story from the new book, which just came out:

“Joshua and Isadora: A True Tale of Loss and Love in the Holocaust" is about my grandparents’ experiences during World War II; it recounts the twists of fate, both tragic and miraculous, that enabled them to survive as their families perished, and serendipitously placed them on the deck of a refugee boat at the exact same moment, where they first met while escaping from Eastern Europe in December, 1944. With no common language between them, they married three days later. Through the lenses of their lives, the book delves into some lesser-known chapters of the Holocaust: the deportation by forced march of Romanian Jews into a frozen slice of Ukraine called Transnistria, which my grandmother – then a teenager – somehow endured; and the slave labor units in which Hungarian Jews, including my grandfather, were forced to serve. The book follows them into Palestine, where my grandfather became an agent in the Irgun, a radical wing of the Jewish Underground that fought the British for Israeli independence.

This book has been a long time in coming. I first interviewed my grandparents about their lives over ten years ago – in the interim, I spent countless hours with them, coaxing out details, getting new stories after I thought I’d heard everything they had to tell. But I think patience paid off, in the depth that their stories acquired over the years."

You can find Michael's book at your local book store or by clicking here.

Erin + Chris | Antigua wedding

2008-04-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

I just got back late last night from Antigua after battling the American Airlines wire debacle. But it was certainly worth it to get to see Erin and Chris elope. Vlad joined me for the trip with video cameras in hand, and the four of us drank the best mojitos I've ever had and explored the island. Erin and Chris live in San Francisco, but decided to elope to a place they had never been before. Cool huh? No one knows yet, so hopefully none of their family sees the blog. But Erin and Chris are still in their bungalow overlooking the ocean, and are waiting to see the photographs. So here are a few.

I'm heading back to New York tomorrow morning, and then will be gone for basically a month with weddings and assignments in Bermuda, New Jersey, and a couple in Mexico. Lots to see. Lots to blog. Be back soon.

Shelli + Brian | Phoenix, Arizona wedding

2008-04-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

I first met Shelli and Bryan about two years ago at the wedding of Shelli's brother Philip and his wife Julie in New York City. I'm always thrilled to go back to Phoenix, especially when it's not too hot. Shelli and Brian's wedding went perfectly, and Shelli's beautiful smile and personality completely lit up every room she was in. Mi amigo Sergio from Tucson photographed the entire day with me, and did an incredible job, especially on the dance floor. Several of the frames in the slide show, which you can see above, are from Sergio. Shelli and Brian are in Hawaii now, and luckily were able to book a flight home after the airline craziness. I can't wait to see them again, especially since they are practically neighbors of mine here in the Bay.

Vlad and I are heading out to Antigua on Sunday for an elopement next week, so I might be out of email's reach for a couple days. But as always, you can reach Nathalie here at the studio. Her email is nathalie at benchrisman dot com.

Sergio's photo:

Julie and Philip

And one more from Sergio:

Becky + Kellen | slideshow

2008-03-31T21:20:00.000-07:00

Here is Becky and Kellen's slideshow from their wedding in Natchez, Mississippi earlier this month. It was a really fun three-day shoot, with lots of crawfish, laughing and late night bars. Becky and Kellen grew up down the street from each other as little kids, and have been dating since high school. They are so obviously in love with each other and so wonderful to photograph.

Becky + Kellen | Natchez, Mississippi wedding

2008-03-21T00:27:00.000-07:00

Here are a few quick frames from Becky and Kellen's beautiful wedding last weekend in Natchez. Because I was in Las Vegas this week for WPPI, which was as crazy and fun as ever, I didn't have much time to work. But we'll get more up soon, along with their slide show. It was a great three days of shooting back in Mississippi. I really love it there, and both families were incredible to be with. I've never eaten so much crawfish in my life. And special thanks to Bridget and Glen for putting me up at The Burn, and also Vicki and Jacob for taking me out in Jackson. See ya'll at Thanksgiving!

Laura + Satoshi | San Francisco engagement session

2008-03-11T22:06:00.000-07:00

I spent an afternoon last week with the lovely Laura and Satoshi, who are getting married later this year here in the Bay. We started at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park and ended up in Union Square. They are so much fun to photograph, and always smiling.

I'm back to Natchez, Mississippi tomorrow for this weekend's wedding of Becky and Kellen. After that, I'm heading to Las Vegas for the WPPI convention where the wedding photographers of the world will unite for several days of oxygen-filled hotel rooms, endless geeky camera talk and a few too many martinis.

From there I will fly to Phoenix where I will get to see the Livingood family again for Shelli and Bryan's wedding. I'll be on the road for about two weeks, which will slow me down a little with responding to email and phone calls (although I am always faster with email). But you can always contact Nathalie at the studio. Her email is nathalie@benchrisman dot com. I haven't formally introduced Nathalie yet, but I will soon. She is my superstar around here, and saves me from going crazy with work every day. She can answer any questions you might have if I am not around, or even if I am.

See everyone soon. Vegas, baby. Vegas!

Wedding Photojournalist Association awards

2008-03-08T12:13:00.004-08:00

Yesterday the WPJA announced that I have received the Photographer of the Year award, which is determined from the culmination of the year's contests. Ever since I joined the WPJA three years ago, it's been a fun ride with all my fellow photographer friends rooting each other on contest after contest. And past POYs have always been an inspiration, especially Carlo Carletti of Italy and Huy Nguyen of Dallas. I look forward to seeing who wins this award next year. It will be tough, for sure.

Here are the photographs that placed in the most recent contest.

Sarah + Dan | San Juan, Puerto Rico wedding

2008-03-05T23:24:00.006-08:00

Living out West, you see a lot of pretty sunsets. But I've never actually felt like I was standing in a pink cloud, which is what it looked like right after Sarah and Dan's ceremony at the fort overlooking the ocean. I got to spend three days with everyone, and I also got to see my old friends Ya and Kevin, whose wedding I photographed last year in Lake Las Vegas. I also learned a card game (a first for me) and watched Sarah and Dan's friend Mike eat a pig's brain. If you're vegetarian, steer clear from the last couple of photos. I'll work on the slide show over the next few days, but here are some shots to start out with. Mike is itching to see the pig photos.

The day after the wedding:

Mike's conquest at the rehearsal dinner:

Ya, Kevin and I

2008-02-29T06:02:00.005-08:00

FOUNDATION WORKSHOP SLIDESHOW

I think all of us had a great last night at the workshop. We all went out for sushi and watched every one's amazing projects for several hours. It was really incredible to see how far all the photographers progressed in just a few days. It was very inspiring, and I can't wait to go back next year. Everyone is ridiculously nice, talented and ready to party. I loved it. Below is the slideshow I did, along with a few shots from Erin, Allegra and Tyler, of photographing the photographers.

I'm at the Dallas airport now waiting for my flight to Puerto Rico. I'm a little tired, but ready to start this wedding season. The workshop was a great warm-up for me. Thanks everyone for such a good time.

2008-02-27T17:30:00.002-08:00

FOUNDATION WORKSHOP DAY 4

I went out to a truck stop today in Anna, Texas to photograph Ray from Apertura. He's going to have a great project.

The lady he was shooting

2008-02-27T12:10:00.002-08:00

FOUNDATION WORKSHOP DAY 3

It was a long day yesterday, with lots of shooting and tough critiques. We ended the night around 5 am at IHOP. Here are a few frames from the day. We're working on getting an official Foundation Workshop blog going, so I'll post that link when it goes up. And yes, I love reflections and also finding new ways to photograph Mark Adams (above). The man just can't take a bad picture.

2008-02-26T00:30:00.003-08:00

FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
DAY 2

We spent the first part of the day watching some great slide shows from Emilie Sommer, Mark Adams and Greg Gibson. The second part of the day was spent shooting, first each other (surprise, surprise) and then to a skate park. Tomorrow the real storytelling begins with people heading out all across the the Dallas area and even Oklahoma. I think this is when we all say a collective "YEEEHHHAAWWW" and get shooting for real.

2008-02-24T19:29:00.004-08:00

A LITTLE BIT OF COUNTRY
Dallas, TX

The Foundation Workshop started here today in Texas and I'm helping Huy (above) by photographing the photographers while they are photographing their stories. I know, it's kind of confusing. There are so many photographers here that I know and love. It's going to be a fun week as long as I can get some sleep at some point. The nights are known to go very late here.

We didn't get to photograph Tamra's bridal session because of the weather, but we're working on doing that later this Spring in San Francisco. But I still got to hang out with Tamra and Chris a lot. They showed me around downtown Dallas, took me to their incredible restaurant Hibiscus and even to a wine tasting. Thanks guys for the southern hospitality!

David Murray and Amy Deputy

My San Fran amiga Anna Kuperberg

Ray from Apertura

Erwin from Apertura

Joe Dickie, who is tag-teaming the workshop with me

Anna and David

2008-02-15T10:32:00.004-08:00

Friends, weddings and Diego the seagul

Brett is visiting this week, so Dave and I took him around the city yesterday photographing like tourists, eating French food and drinking cosmos in dive bars. I haven't been blogging too much lately, but that will change starting next week when the shooting kicks into high gear for me. I fly to Dallas for Tamra's bridal session next Thursday and after that will be working at Huy's Foundation Workshop for a few days. From there I'll be heading to Puerto Rico for Sarah and Dan's wedding and then it will be a pretty wild ride until the end of the year with weddings all over the country and beyond.

But before the weddings begin this year, below is a series of collages from every couple I photographed last year. We designed it to be a calendar, but I never convinced myself people actually use paper calendars anymore, so the design will go into an album instead. But if you would still like a calendar, send me an email and I'll make one for you.

Dave in the Mission

Brett in the Haight

Dave at the GG

A runner

Brett

Dave

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

2008-02-01T17:24:00.000-08:00

Mystic Recap

I got in from Connecticut and New York last night. The Walter Van Dusen Mystic 3 conference was a blast, and I got to see a lot of old friends and meet several new ones. Mike hosted Vlad and I for the week, and along with Earl and Walter, we had a big time in little Greenport, Long Island.

Thanks to everyone who came to see me talk...Jacklyn, Steve, Channing. That was really nice of you.

Vlad and I in one of our epic arm wresting matches

Vlad showing Mike how to work off all the alcohol

Walter and Earl at the Frisky Oyster

2008-01-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

Mystic Conference

On Friday I'm flying out to New York to see my friend Michael Cody and also speak at the Mystic Conference in Mystic, Conn. There will be a really good group of photographers there, including Michael, Walter Van Dusen (who is putting the conference on) and Photoshop guru Doug Boutwell. If you live in the area and want to hang out, you can find info here:

http://www.waltervandusen.com/mystic3.html

Also, I am looking for help this year in the office with post production work, so if you live in the Bay area and are gifted with Adobe Lightroom, shoot me an email and we can talk. You can expect to work at least 2-3 days a week. It's going to be a busy year. :-)

2008-01-02T16:28:00.000-08:00

Cabo San Lucas video

Near the end of Tamra and Chris' wedding night, Chris got thrown into the pool. As he was being pushed in by his friend, he tried grabbing onto anything, including me, to try to save his four-thousand dollar tuxedo. Vlad was right there with his video camera to capture the chaos.

Check out Vlad's incredible film from the entire week here.

And a short one with me and Brett here.

2007-12-12T11:54:00.000-08:00

Vicki + Jacob
Natchez, Mississippi

The first email I received from Vicki said she and Jacob were thinking about getting married in Taos, NM. Then it changed to Idaho. Then Thailand. And then finally Mississippi. And while I would have loved to go to Thailand for their wedding, I was really excited to go to Mississippi. I had always wanted to photograph a big Southern plantation wedding, but Vicki and Jacob made it so much more than that. I got to spend Thanksgiving with them, which was really nice of them to invite me to. Then we had one entire day to drive around Natchez taking portraits. And then they had the most beautiful ceremony I have ever seen. It was held in a pre-Civil War church built on a plantation which was used by the plantation owners and their slaves. It's in the middle of nowhere, and not many people ever go to it, which made everything that much cooler. And then Vicki and Jacob filled the church with candles, which gave the entire room a beautiful orange glow. After that, the reception was held at Vicki's family home, which is called The Burn. It's now a bed and breakfast, but it was used as a hospital for Union soldiers during the Civil War. And it's haunted to the point where some guest rooms are never slept in. At least not by living people. :-)

Here is their slide show.

2007-12-08T23:07:00.000-08:00

Sol + Matt
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

I'm in a hotel in Denver right now after being snowed in on my flight home from Sol and Matt's wedding in Mexico. It was 85 degrees when I left this morning. It's 9 degrees outside right now. But it was all worth it because Sol and Matt had a terrific wedding, and I was honored to be able to just hang out as a guest. Since Sol and Matt are wedding photographers, of course a lot of their guests were also wedding photographers, so there were cameras everywhere all the time. It was awesome. Here are some shots from the last few days.

Sergio hard at work

Matt and his Don Julio tequila

Snowy Denver

2007-12-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

Tamra + Christopher
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Tamra and Christopher's wedding was one of the best photographic experiences I have ever had. It was five days of beautiful people, world-class DJs (DJ Splyce from LA and Mark Farina from San Francisco), perfectly planned events overlooking the Pacific Ocean and an endless supply of tequila. The entire event was also filmed for the WE Channel's Platinum Weddings show, which should air early next year. It took me a few days after the wedding to feel normal again because of the intensity and excitement each day brought. And I get to do it one more time next February in Dallas for Tamra's bridal session. I can't wait.

Their epic slideshow, which is over 10 minutes long, is here.

Extra special thanks to Vlad and Brett. I couldn't have asked for two more talented people to join me on the adventure.

2007-12-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

Damara + Armando
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Damara and Armando, who are actors in New York, had never visited Santa Fe before their wedding. But the rings they liked were here, so they decided to bring their families into town for an intimate ceremony and dinner at La Posada Inn and Spa. They are planning on moving to San Francisco, so I look forward to seeing them again soon.

2007-11-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

Sarah + Shane
San Francisco, California

Sarah and Shane's wedding was a joy to photograph. Everyone was happy. Everyone was beautiful. And everything went perfectly the entire day. Thanks to Maria for doing a wonderful job with makeup and Mylinh for running the day so smoothly.

Their slide show is here.

2007-11-22T22:04:00.000-08:00

I’m in Natchez, Mississippi now for Vicki and Jacob’s wedding this Saturday. Since I grew up as a kid in the South, it’s always fun to come back. I guess the feeling of South never completely leaves you. I flew in Thanksgiving morning, so it was really fun spending the holiday with such a nice family. We are all staying in the home of Vicki’s parents’ house, which is a plantation estate that was a hospital for Union soldiers during the Civil War. It’s a fascinating part of the country, and I’m so happy to be here. I’ve looked forward to this trip for a long time. Here are a few shots from today.

2007-11-20T22:11:00.000-08:00

Linda + Eric (round 2)
San Francisco, California

Linda and Eric got married last month, but we wanted to add a few more portraits. They have so much energy, it's an adventure just keeping up. And luckily, they are big fans of fog, which makes me big fans of them, because weather photos are always fun to take. And as Eric said, "Everyone has photos with sunshine. That's boring." We did manage to find a little bit of sun, but it was never dull. Thanks guys for an amazing time, as always. And Eric, you're right. Blue Bottle coffee is the best.

2007-11-14T17:17:00.000-08:00

Toni + Bryan
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Toni and Bryan live in Monterey, California, but fell in love with each other and New Mexico when they both lived in Gallup earlier this year working as teachers. So even after moving back to California, they decided to get married in Santa Fe. Everyone at the wedding was so nice, and Toni and Bryan are definitely one of the happiest couples I have ever met. They are sitting on a beach in Mexico right now, but when they get back I'm going to beg Bryan and his friend Randy to teach me how to surf. Even if that does mean I have to get up at 6 am to go with them.

Their slide show is here.

2007-11-09T10:30:00.001-08:00

If any of you see this month's edition of Brides Magazine, they used a couple of photos from Leena and Spencer's wedding earlier this year in Napa for a story on destination weddings and honeymoons.

2007-11-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more frames from Tamra and Christopher's wedding day in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Once we get Brett's film back next week, I'll put up the final edit from all five days with a slide show. Vlad also has a really cool video up from the first few days of the trip.

2007-11-06T10:49:00.001-08:00

We just got in from Cabo last night. Amazing trip. Lots more photos to come. Here are a few.

2007-11-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

There is so much going on each day here, I'm behind on putting photos up. But here are a few from Thursday. The ceremony is tomorrow and the venue is right on top of the Pacific Ocean. To see more, check out Brett's blog and Vlad's blog.

2007-11-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

Vlad, Brett and I are here in Cabo, Mexico for the five-day wedding shoot with Tamra and Chris. Last night was their Halloween party. Today I'm heading out for a fishing trip with the guys and Brett and Vlad are hanging by the pool with the ladies. It's beautiful here right now, and our three-story house with a pool is just incredible.

2007-10-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

Linda + Eric
San Francisco, CA

Linda and Eric had one of the fastest paced weddings I've seen all year, which made the day a blast to shoot. In just seven hours, we fit in four different locations around the Bay. We started at their home in San Carlos, then drove to the church in the city. After the ceremony we went to one of their favorite restaurants in the Mission and finally to Golden Gate Park for the cake cutting. And next month we're going back out for more portraits, so I'm looking forward to more caffeinated adventures with my new friends.

The slideshow from their day can be found here.

2007-10-26T15:45:00.001-07:00

Juliet + Brandon
Bishop's Lodge | Santa Fe, New Mexico

Juliet and Brandon eloped to Santa Fe last week and had a beautiful and intimate ceremony in the foothills of the mountains. It was just the four of us, including their officiant Irene Swain, so I got to sign the marriage certificate, which is always fun to do.

2007-10-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

Kia + Timothy
The Fairmont | Washington, D.C.

In an orange dress that matched the changing leaves, Kia married Timothy on a beautiful day in Washington. We started early, with a ride around town in a 1933 Rolls Royce, where we visited the monuments and the subway, which we of course got kicked out of. From there we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the ceremony, which had several people crying by the end. And the party afterwards was just plain crazy. Thanks to Joey Pulone for taking awesome photos all day long.

The slideshow from their day can be found here.

Joey's photo:

Another Joey frame:

2007-10-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

Berni + James
Washington, D.C.

The night before my wedding on Saturday, Berni, James and I went out into the rainy streets of Georgetown for some quick engagement photos. I've known James a long time, and he is absolutely one of the best artists I've ever met. We have his work hanging all around our house. You can see his paintings and journals at http://www.organicdebris.com/ and his wedding photos here. I can't wait for their wedding next year, whether it be in Ireland, DC or anywhere in between.

2007-10-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

Evan + Jonathan
Wild Basin Lodge | Allenspark, Colorado

I met Evan and Jonathan last summer at Meg and Jeff's wedding in Colorado. Being able to hang out with everyone again was definitely one of the highlights of the year for me. Even though the plans for an outside ceremony were rained out, the weather brought a beautiful snowy night with everyone snuggling by the fire. I can't wait to see my friends again next year at Ryan and Helena's wedding in Idaho.

The slideshow from their day can be found here.

2007-10-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

Katie + Josh
Pecos, New Mexico

Katie and Josh's wedding had so many Harvard graduates as guests we could have been in Cambridge. Their wedding also brought two ceremonies, one Jewish and one Korean, which was incredibly interesting to see. Katie and Josh are now in Durango on one of two planned honeymoons. I'm sure they are having a great time. And if they see this, remember to check out the sushi at East by Southwest.

The slide show from their day can be found here.

2007-10-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

Lela + Matt
Santa Fe, New Mexico

The words spoken during Lela and Matt's ceremony were so thoughtful I wanted to record them and play them over and over. One line, among many, that really stuck with me was "You'll never find the perfect person, but you can try to be the perfect person." I thought that was a very honest and brave statement to make on your wedding day. It made me certain of Lela and Matt's future together and also proud I was there to witness the beginning of it. Here is their slide show.

2007-10-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

Alexis + Kevin
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Alexis and Kevin had the most international wedding I have seen this year. Guests showed up from Ecuador, Chile, Japan and all over the United States. Alexis and Kevin live in Washington D.C. now, but will be moving to Albuquerque, so it will be great to be able to see them again soon. Their slide show is here.

2007-09-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

New York City
The Today Show, an engagement and new friends

This week Laura and I were in New York. I photographed a marriage proposal on NBC's The Today Show, an engagement in Manhattan and got to meet with three couples I had never met, but will be photographing next year in Greece, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The weather was beautiful, and the whole trip really made me want to live in New York someday.

First off, the proposal. Millie and Mike have their wedding all planned for next year in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. But until Tuesday, Mike hadn't officially proposed to Millie with a ring. Since Millie is a graphic artist for The Today Show, Mike thought up a way to surprise her by proposing live on the air. He set it up with Millie's friend Magda to where Millie thought she was going to be presenting a charity check on the show, something she had never done before, but agreed to do. The night before the show, Millie told Mike she was going to wear a "scandalous" dress just for fun. Mike nervously convinced her otherwise.

Mike getting ready in the green room:

Queen Latifah was there to perform:

Waiting:

Hiding so Millie couldn't see him:

The question:

With Al Roker:

The cast before going to commercial:

After the show:

The night before I photographed Evelyn and Andrew for their engagement session in the city. They are holding off on their first kiss until their wedding day, which created a good challenge for me because I tend to rely on couples "making out" a lot. I was happy to try something different, and we had a great time.

And the night before that, Laura and I went out to eat with two couples that are having destination weddings next year. Dan and Sarah (left) are getting married in Puerto Rico and Caroline and Manny (right) chose Greece. I'm pretty excited about both of the weddings because they are all really nice people, and we'll be exploring places I have never been before.

Killing time in SoHo:

On the flight home with sleepy Laura:

2007-09-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

Jena + Eddie
Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico

The one thing that struck me about Jena and Eddie's wedding last weekend was how much they love their friends. At the end of the reception, everyone danced in a huge circle — arm in arm — toasting to their past and their future. It was a wonderful night to witness. Their slide show is here.

2007-09-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

Music week
Denver + Santa Fe

Laura and I spent much of the week in Denver visiting friends and seeing concerts. Monday night was LCD Soundsystem and Arcade Fire at Red Rocks. To make sure we would be in the front row, our friend Sam (with the beard) got to Red Rocks at 5 a.m. to be the first in line.

The lead singer of Arcade Fire came out and sang right in front of us.

Stacey and Eric, whose wedding I photographed last year in Mexico, also came out to the show. They just announced they will be having their first child next year, which is really exciting news.
The next night we saw The National, which is touring behind this year's best album in my humble opinion, Boxer.

We returned to Santa Fe on Wednesday and got to see an Austin band called Voxtrot. They are awesome, as well. The band just put up the first photo on their myspace page.

In other news, the WPJA announced the awards for the second quarter yesterday, and I ended up placing third overall. MJ and Mike (below) really helped out, with three of the photos coming from their wedding and engagement session. My buddies Erwin with Apertura and Matt also came in the Top 10. Brett, Vlad and Eric also had wins. Nice job guys!

I have a wedding tomorrow in Albuquerque, and then we're off to New York on Sunday for an engagement session and meetings. So Mike and Carlos, we'll see you at the sake bar.

2007-09-16T10:37:00.001-07:00

Liz + Justin
Santa Fe, New Mexico
You know you're having a good party when wedding crashers and cops decide to show up to your reception. Even with the surprise guests, all of Elizabeth's plans went perfectly on a beautiful late-summer night in the high desert. The happy couple are in Costa Rica now on their honeymoon before heading back home to Connecticut next week. Thanks to Heidi for orchestrating a great weekend for everyone. And to see the entire day, here is the slide show.

2007-09-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

Karen + Patrick
Lake Tahoe, California

Men in kilts and ladies from Kentucky ruled Lake Tahoe on Saturday for Karen and Patrick's wedding at the Fitzhaven Estate. Dave worked his magic with the tilt-shift lens, and Merrily made sure the day went perfectly as always. I love weddings in Lake Tahoe because the light is perfect, it never rains and the guests are always so happy to be in such a beautiful part of the country. To see more from the wedding, click here to see the slide show.

Dave's frame:

2007-09-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

Maggie + Michael
Santa Fe, New Mexico

On Monday I got to photograph a small wedding for a friend of mine who is also a wedding photographer in Albuquerque. Maggie and Michael had an intimate ceremony at Hacienda Doña Andrea with their son Zack and their closest family members. We lucked out with the light and Zack was so wired I had plenty to photograph. They are in Lake Tahoe this weekend for their honeymoon, which is where I happen to be as well for a wedding on Saturday, so hopefully they'll see this and be able to meet me and Dave up for a drink at the Sunnyside Lodge Friday or Saturday night.

2007-09-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Jennifer + Drew
Albuquerque, New Mexico

In the middle of the dancing Saturday night, I heard Jennifer say out loud to no one in particular "I'm having the best time of my life." That sums up the entire day. Beautiful wedding. Beautiful couple. And a beautiful future. With a slideshow.

2007-08-31T11:02:00.000-07:00

Alena + Martin
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Alena and Martin live in Germany and while traveling across the Southwest they decided to get married after dating for 14 years. They are my age, so that means they have been together nearly half their lives (they met in grade school in the Czech Republic). Their families don't even know about the wedding yet, which happened yesterday in a field overlooking Santa Fe. After the ceremony we searched downtown for portraits and ended up at the bar, where they were introduced to margaritas for the first time. They are headed to Carlsbad Caverns next before seeing the Grand Canyon and the big lights of Las Vegas. Then they go back home with their new rings of Mexican silver and quite a story to tell.

2007-08-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

Britny + Dominic
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Britny and Dominic married in the church they go to every Sunday and had a beautiful reception at Casa de Suenos near downtown Albuquerque. One of the best bands in New Mexico, Los Primos, serenaded the guests as they danced "La Marcha." Britny and Dom are now far from the desert sitting by the ocean in the Caribbean. Have a great time guys!

2007-08-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

Robyn + Ken
Lake Tahoe, California

Overlooking Lake Tahoe, Robyn and Ken had a rockin' wedding last Saturday. Dave Matthew's music and smoke from a nearby forest fire filled the air as Dave and I got to see one of the wildest parties of the year so far. I really look forward to seeing everyone at future weddings because there wasn't a dull second the entire day. Have a great time in Bora Bora guys! Thanks to Merrily for making everything run smoothly all day, especially with fixing Robyn's earring that got glued together. Here's the slide show.

2007-08-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

Sarah + Michael
Truckee, California

Sarah and Michael married in the backyard of their vacation home near Lake Tahoe with their adorable daughter Elodie. I've gotten to know Sarah and Michael quite a bit over the last few months, and they never stop laughing and or looking at each other with an intensity that is indescribable. It was a wonderful day to witness, and you can see their slide show here.

Thanks to Cameron for walking me through getting my photos bigger on my blog. She's an awesome photographer in Arizona.

2007-08-07T18:40:00.000-07:00

Catherine + Earl
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Saturday I got to photograph the wedding of a fellow wedding photographer. Earl is an awesome shooter in Massachusetts, and he and his lovely wife Catherine had a classic Santa Fe wedding with beautiful light and a mariachi serenade in historic downtown. You can see their slide show here.

2007-08-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

Charlene + David
San Francisco, CaliforniaCharlene and David had one of the most elegant weddings I have witnessed. From the ceremony at Grace Cathedral to the reception at The Regency Center, all of Charlene's plans went perfectly. Thanks to Dave for doing his usual awesome job. Here is the slide show.
Dave took this one:

2007-07-25T12:09:00.001-07:00

I *heart* my couplesThe last few days I've been overwhelmed with gifts from two couples I've photographed recently in LA and Santa Fe, so much so that I want to publicly say thank you to MJ and Mike and Laura and Lucas. Photo books, gift certificates, absinthe from France, sake, Magnum photo books....pretty amazing. Thanks guys. You make my "job" so much fun. :-)

2007-07-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Port Huron to MackinacLaura and I are in Port Huron, Michigan now to visit her parents and watch the start of the Port Huron to Mackinac Island sailboat race. The race literally starts in their back yard (the pic is the view from our room) so we get to watch all the boats come in and out. Tonight is the big party where thousands of people come to check out the boats. Laura's dad Ralph always throws a bash of his own, with a rock band made up of his lifelong friends, a bunch of Natural Light and tons of chili. So good luck to Ryan (far right) on Thirsty Tiger and all the other sailors.

2007-07-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Andrea + Austin
Denver, Colorado
The lucky sevens took me to Denver to photograph the ceremony of Andrea and Austin at The Sanctuary Golf Course overlooking the Rocky Mountains. It was a beautiful cloudy day, the party rocked and I got to hang out with some of my best friends. Lucky, indeed. Slideshow esta aquí.

2007-07-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

WPJALast week the WPJA announced this year's first contest results. I received a couple of awards, which you can see in the 'getting ready' and 'toasting' categories. Thanks to Jenny and Kevin's sister for giving me the shots.

2007-07-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

Laura + Lucas
Galisteo, New Mexico
Laura and Lucas are one of the rare couples I will photograph in Santa Fe this year that actually live here. Lucky for me, because they are some of the coolest people I know. We've gone out drinking a few times, they've come over for breakfast burritos and Lucas and I would to go to the coffee shop to plan their engagement and wedding photographs. It all paid off on Saturday. Along with my good friend Vlad, it was a day where I laughed so hysterically at times I had trouble taking pictures. By the time I left around 1 a.m, they had jumped in the pool and were still having the party of their lives. Everyone should be able to have days like that. You can view their complete slide show here.

Vlad took this one:

2007-07-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

The Teel Family
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Katie and her parents drove up from Texas for a vacation and we took the chance to get some family shots around downtown Santa Fe last week. I look forward to one day getting to photograph them all again.

2007-06-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Holly + Eric
Lake Tahoe, CaliforniaI guess we just missed the fire in Lake Tahoe last weekend. Holly and Eric's wedding went perfectly and New Jersey was definitely representing. I've never heard Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run" sung so passionately. Dave once again joined me for the rehearsal and wedding day, and I can't say enough about how brilliant Dave is with a camera. Much of the slide show, which you can see here (just remember to hit play in the lower left), is filled with Dave's shots. And I would like to thank Holly for thinking to hang a beautiful chandelier from the trees and Merrily for somehow getting it up there. I could have taken pictures of that all night long (and pretty much did).

Dave shot this one:
All the girls love Dave (sorry Kay, it's true):

2007-06-25T23:34:00.000-07:00

Charlene + David engagement
San Francisco, CaliforniaWith just five weeks before Charlene and David's wedding, we took to the campus of Berkeley and the streets of North Beach Sunday night chasing the sunset, getting lost somewhere in Marin County (my fault) and sharing a plate of garlic fries and cheesesteaks. If their wedding is half as fun as the engagement session, we're going to have a really good time.

2007-06-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

Sarah + Michael engagement
San Francisco, California
Sarah and Michael are getting married later this year near Lake Tahoe, so we jumped around the city last Sunday for a few hours. I'm heading back out to their house in a few minutes to get some additional shots with their daughter, so I'll try to add to these in a few days. I'm off to Tahoe tomorrow for a wedding, then back to San Francisco for another engagement session on Sunday. I can see lots of coffee in my near future.

2007-06-20T16:25:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth + Ethan engagement
San Francisco, California
Yesterday I went out to Baker Beach for an engagement session with Elizabeth and Ethan. They are getting married next year in Bermuda, which is a trip I'm really looking forward to. We had some nice overcast skies yesterday and Elizabeth was a good sport about the cold wind while wearing a dress. Here are a few of the frames.

2007-06-18T21:47:00.000-07:00

Leena + Spencer
Napa, California
Saturday brought me and my buddy Dave Getzschman to one of my favorite places - the wine country. Leena and Spencer married at the Montington Vineyards in Napa with an abundance of amazing food, dancing and vino. At the end of the night Leena and I were standing in the doorway of the barn where the reception was held wondering how the day went by so fast. "It felt like an hour," she said. The good ones always do. Congrats to a beautiful couple. You can see their slide show here.