I Do: The Wedding of Mark & Karina

As 2011 dawns, it's hard to believe it's been almost a year since I first met Mark and Karina. I can remember the three of us huddling at a lone table outside a Starbucks. It was a chilly March night, and all of the seats indoors had been spoken for. We chatted about their wedding day -- of their cozy church, of lush portrait gardens -- and best of all, Mark's motivation for marrying in November: the rest of the year is just too darn toasty to be in a tux. You have to admit, that's pretty good reasoning, especially from the standpoint of a photographer who's on the move all day under the sun.

Come their wedding in November, wouldn't you know, the chill of that first night was long forgotten, as we were greeted by one of the warmer days in memory. But it beat rain, and the weather was a dream, even in a tux. Mark and Karina prepared at the Hotel Maya, Long Beach. With its chic decor, outdoor mirrors, and sprawling harbor-side patios, this place is a photographer's candy store. I'm not exaggerating. Your mind will go bonkers trying to decide where to sling your lens first, it's that awesome.

Resisting the temptation to shoot at the Maya all day, we proceeded only a few miles away to their ceremony at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, unique to the area with its welcoming small town New England charm.





For portraits, Mark and Karina reserved Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at CSULB, yet another home run photo-op locale, shot under the fading glaze of magic hour.





The Betty H. Reckas Cultural Center hosted a beautiful reception, stunningly decorated by Shawna Yamamoto Event Design and the perfect closure to the day's festivities.




Mark and Karina, I want to thank you again both for being so generous, kind, and trusting. Keep in touch, always.

I Do: The Wedding of M & J

Atop the hillside of Rancho Palos Verdes, sits the shining jewel that is Wayfarer's Chapel. Built in 1951 by the son of Frank Lloyd Wright, the church commands the eye with its floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a generous view of the Pacific from atop the bluff it resides.

Back in the fall, I happened to drive past Wayfarer's while shooting an engagement session with another couple in Palos Verdes. (Actually, we considered parking in their lot so we could shoot in the meadow across the street, but thought better of it - :) I hadn't photographed a wedding at Wayfarer's up until that time, but thought it'd be a treat to do so. About a week later, I received the timely call from M & J with an invite to document their event at the chapel and jumped at the chance to do so. I could finally park in Wayfarer's lot without the threat of a tow.

I was commissioned for a two hour session, enough to capture the ceremony inside the chapel, along with a bracket of time for portraits before and after the nuptials. We made away with some great moments and enjoyed what was the juiciest sunset I've had the pleasure of photographing.

Congrats again M & J! This will be my final post of 2010, but there's 3 weddings bouncing through the editing queue and will be sharing those come January. Until then, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Marj & Jeff: The Wedding Slideshow

Journey's "Small Town Girl". It was the most perfect anthem for Jeff and Marj's charged Grand Entrance.

I gave some thought to using this tune for their slideshow, but couldn't quite partner the song with the whole of their wedding story. Instead, the images found harmony with another Journey classic, along with a little nod to all the other fans of Super Mario Bros. out there.


Click on the image above or HERE to enjoy the show!