A Year in Review: 2017

2017 was a BIG year for me in many ways. Just like last year, it was both exhausting and exhilarating!   I photographed more weddings than ever before and crossed the country so many times I lost count. I flew so much I managed to earn premier status on two different airlines!  I visited a new state (Louisiana) a new country (Japan) and made 3 trips to Mexico.  Whenever I start to feel burned out or exhausted I take a minute to
reflect on the powerful and beautiful imagery I get to create and
remember how lucky I am to be able to do what I’ve dreamed of doing
since I was a kid- create pictures that people will remember.

One of my favorite aesthetic philosophers, Roland Barthes, broke down
his analysis of a photograph into two parts: the studium and the
punctum.  The studium is what a photograph denotes.  It is the subject.
Every photograph has one. The punctum, however is personal.  It is what a
photograph connotes.  It is what jumps out of the photo and wounds you,
personally connecting you to the image.  The punctum can coexist with
the studium, but it changes it. It transforms an image you like into an
image you love.  An image that you can look at for a second and think of
it all your life, as quoted by one of my favorite artists, Joan Miro. 
My intention in all of these photographs below are to create images full
of punctum- images that pierce you. Images that stay with you for the
rest of your life.  Images that turn into beloved heirlooms to be
cherished by generations to come.  I’m so grateful to all my 2017 couples and families who let me into
their lives to document a little piece of it and all the incredibly
talented wedding vendors and editors who’ve kept me on my toes
creatively and inspire me everyday.  I’m incredibly excited for all
my 2018 clients who I’m just getting to know and can’t wait to see what
magic we create together in the new year.  I already know I’ll be crisscrossing the states again with a handful of weddings on the East Coast and will be spending a few weeks in Europe photographing some incredible weddings, engagements and fashion editorials.

In addition to weddings, engagements and portraits, I had the opportunity to photograph four major editorials this year.  They were published in The Knot, Destination I Do Magazine (coming out January 2018) and on Style Me Pretty.  I also added more commercial work shooting for Joanna August, Vow to be Chic, Madly Bride and Hushed Commotion.  I was honored to win the Grand Prize in Rangefinder Magazine’s Wedding Photography Awards and had the honor of photographing the 2017 Knot Dream Wedding.  A landmark wedding as Amanda and Elena were the first same-sex couple to be selected by The Knot for the prize.  I had online and print features in Martha Stewart, Us Weekly, The Knot National and California Editions, Flutter Magazine, Style Me Pretty, Magnolia Rouge, Brides Magazine, Trendy Bride, Wedding Flowers & Accessories Magazine, Rangefinder Magazine, People Magazine, Modern Luxury Weddings Magazine, Dear Gray Magazine, Green Wedding Shoes, Carats & Cake and a few other international publications.   Brides Magazine named a photograph from Jo & Al’s wedding as one of the 50 Most Stunning Wedding Photos of 2017. Wedding Chicks named a photograph from Amanda and Elena’s wedding as one of the 20 Most Epic Wedding Photos of 2017. Style Me Pretty named Jenna and Shane’s wedding one of the Best + Most Beautiful Wedding of 2017.  And Martha Stewart included my photo of Melissa and Mike’s cake in their favorites of 2017.  While all of the publications and awards are so exciting, there’s still nothing better than the feeling I get when I press send on a gallery and imagine my clients watching their slideshow for the first time.  Sending a huge thank you to all my incredible clients for allowing me to document your day!  Another big thank you to the incredible planners, designers, florists, makeup artists and hair stylists, stationery designers, fashion designers, chefs and all the other talented artists I get to collaborate with every weekend! I love working with you all to bring beauty and joy into our clients lives.  And lastly thank you to all of my second shooters and assistants who work tirelessly to help me bring nothing but the best to my clients! I know I shoot a ridiculous amount of film and I love all of my assistants whose fingers are exhausted by the end of the day from speedily rolling all my film!  Cheers to the new year everybody! Sending love, light and joy for 2018!

Kristin and Kevin’s Classic New York City Wedding at the Essex House

Kristin and Kevin were married in the most classic of NYC venues, at the historic Essex House Hotel, right on Central Park. The day began with both of them getting ready at the hotel with their friends and families before meeting at a bridge in Central Park for a romantic first look moment.  As if it were straight out of any NYC rom-com musicians popped in under the bridge to serenade them and a group of tourists gathered on the other side of the bridge to watch their love story unfold.  We walked around the Southern part of the park taking a few portraits before being joined by their wedding party for photos amidst the lush green trees of the park in June.  Kristin’s bridesmaids sported mismatched Jenny Yoo dresses in both solid and patterned pink shades and were the perfect helpers with her gorgeous ballgown as we walked through the park.  They each carried large lush bouquets created by Poppies and Posies.  On the way back from portraits it began to drizzle and everyone huddled under the NY Athletic Club awning next door which made for a cute photo moment.

After portraits everyone headed inside for some much needed air conditioning on the humid summer day and we captured some family portraits in the beautiful ballroom, including some adorable moments with the bride and groom’s nieces and nephews who made some of the cutest flower girls I’ve ever seen!  The couple said their I Do’s in the ballroom followed by cocktails next door before returning to the ballroom for an evening of dinner and dancing with their friends and families.  The bride and groom have a very sweet dachshund named Georgia, who was included in their engagement session, and they decided to honor her on the wedding day by including her in their cake topper as a gold silhouette with them atop their cake. See their wedding on the front page of Style Me Pretty!

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Bride’s Purse: Furla
Flower Girl Dresses: David’s Bridal
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo
Invitations: Laura Hooper Calligraphy
Rings: Tiffany & Co.
Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bride’s Dress: Pronovias
Band: Hank Lane Music
Hair and Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge
Videographer : Kiss The Bride Films
Florist: Poppies & Posies
Reception Venue: Essex House

Sarah and Claude’s Intimate Wedding at the Fairmont Miraramar, Santa Monica Fine Art Wedding Photoraphy

Sarah and Claude were married on June 17th, 2017 at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, CA.  The couple, who are originally from TX and now live in New York, decided on an intimate destination wedding at the Fairmont because of their love for Santa Monica.  The couple met in a Barre class at the Exhale gym and started the morning off with a 6am private workout class at the Exhale at the Fairmont.  Callista of Callista & Co. designed and executed the day to perfection setting the tone from the start with delicate cream and light blue invitations by Written Word Calligraphy, which featured lush cream florals with blue and green accents.  The bride stayed true to her easy going style and wore flat Aquazzura sandals with dangly pearl earrings and very natural makeup with beachy tousled hair- perfect for their oceanside venue.  The bride rocked a very unique blue/green David Yurman engagement ring and they paired them with David Yurman his and hers bands for the wedding day.The bride has a love for stuffed animals and included one of her favorites from her childhood in the day by giving him a little squeeze before leaving the bridal suite, where she got ready with her sister.  Both of her flower girl nieces also carried a stuffed animal gifted to them by the bride- a bunny bride and groom.  Sarah and Claude took their bride and groom portraits across the street from the hotel in the iconic Palisades Park before saying their I Do’s in front of just 30 of their closest friends and family under the famous 140 year old, 80ft tall fig tree in front of the hotel.  After the ceremony guests were welcomed to a cocktail hour lounge created by Callista and enjoyed beachy hors d’ouerves including mini lobster rolls and cocktails with napkins that said “we met at the barre.”  After cocktails guests enjoyed an al fresco dinner at a mix of round tables and a head banquet table decked out by Twig & Twine with floral tablecloths by La Tavola and beautiful white lace chargers from Casa de Perrin.  After dinner the bride and groom danced the night away ending the evening with cake from the Butter End and Salt & Straw ice cream for their guests to enjoy on the dance floor or take home for later.  See their rehearsal dinner last week on my blog and both events on the front page of Style Me Pretty.

 

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Planning and Event Design: Callista & Company
Stationery and Calligraphy: Written Word Calligraphy

Table Top Rentals: Casa de Perrin
Linens: La Tavola Fine Linen Rental

Lighting: Pacific Event Services
Furniture and Dining Chairs: Found Vintage Rentals
Ice Cream: Salt and Straw
Floral Design: Twig & Twine