I've known Samuel for awhile, close to 20 years now.  We first met as fraternity brothers at San Francisco State University but left off as life long friends.  I remember Samuel snapping away with his compact digital camera.  He would photograph random people and the simple sites of Daly City and San Francisco.  One day, Sam moved to Seattle, Washington for a few years.  It had been a while since we last spoke.  He was working successfully up there while I did my thing back home in the Monterey Bay.  I had a memorable time visiting him and taking on the sites.  Both of us have love for photography and decided to photograph some of our favorite spots.  Samuel likes obscure and semi-abstract street photography so it always took a second to figure out his mood or what he was going for.  Recently, he even attempted a children's book using a teddy bear will illustrations.  Knowing Samuel for all these years really made me thankful of our brotherhood.  Our families know each other very well and visits are now more frequent since Samuel moved back to California.  I can write a few good stories filled with the spirit of college youth and enjoying the beauty of the big city. I'm happy that I can capture these loving moments with Chloe and Sam.

Photography can have a personal connection with those who see it.  While it's nice to receive compliments for "taking a pretty picture", I really try to just shoot for my clients at that particular moment.  I'm captivated by how light is used and the approach.  If you have done as many engagement sessions as I have, then you can really understand how different each shoot is.  At the end, if I find myself looking at a photograph for a while then  the content is interesting and creative.  Having the right professional photographer can capture those moments genuinely with all the splendor of proper photography.  Photography composition is my primary approach to anything I take pictures of.  Beyond proper exposure, my photography skills have risen to understanding composition and framing.  This last picture of Chloe and Samuel running on the beach together is a great example of how to include the the subject and landscape together in a seamless yet creative approach to engagement photography.  I love their facial expressions along with them holding hands as they run from the breaking surf along the beach at Spanish Bay.

It's so great to see Chloe and Samuel together.  Their relationship has blossomed into love that will last for the rest of their lives.  This engagement session, like many others, is a chance to have both partners really showcase their love for one another. Remember I said Sam likes obscure and envogue-type photos?  I'm sure you can pick my attempt to replicate that.  I hope these pictures really connect with how they are as good genuine people whom I have had the honor of photographing.  Like most clients, I definitely want to get to know them and play out their love for one another in front of my camera.  As a result, the engagement photos come out perfect for them.  If you are looking for the right professional wedding and engagement photographer to capture your special day, please visit my wedding portfolio at www.rrphotography.us and email me at [email protected].  Thank you and namaste.  Randy with R&R Photography. =)

As this was my first 2015 wedding that I’ve photographed and with a new year come new beginnings and what’s better than getting married on January 1^st?  That’s what Alyssa and Joe did on the first day of 2015!  Their wedding was nestling in a quiet corner of Monterey and a stone’s throw away from Fisherman’s Wharf .  The winter chilled air did warm up as the day floated along.  As I arrived at Alyssa’s home a few hours before the wedding ceremony, the bridesmaids and make-up artist was already sharing stories from the night before.  After unassumingly listening to their New Year’s Eve after-after parties, I know the party continued into today’s wedding.  Alyssa was great as she not only was referred by a past bride of mine, she also worked with my wife a couple years ago.  That definitely broke the ice and the rest, as they would say, is history.  Alyssa looked absolutely gorgeous in her wedding dress.

Joe and Alyssa got married at the beautiful Perry House in Monterey.  The Perry House is the perfect venue for the most intimate California style weddings.  Only a limited number of family and close friends were invited to their special event.  I absolutely loved their intimate setting!  One of my favorite moments from the wedding day was the few minutes on the top floor where it was only Alyssa and her father.  While not too many words were spoken, the room was filled with emotions of love and happiness.  Alyssa’s father looked at her like she was still his  “little girl” and then checked on the rest of their eagerly waiting guest and most importantly, Joe.  I couldn’t be more excited to blog about this moment as I was taking a photograph of it. 

Guests were entertained with one of my favorite DJ’s, Evan with DNA. We also had one of the BEST first kisses and I couldn’t be happier to capture it in their photos. I love how the black and white help capture the moment. Another unique aspect to their wedding was listening to Alyssa’s father play the guitar and mother singing during the wedding and at the reception. It was very cool to photograph that! Congratulations Alyssa and Joseph! Thank you SOOO much for having me as a part of your wedding in Monterey. Wishing you both a future filled with so much love, laughter, and more adventures.  Don’t forget to visit my Facebook to see sneak peeks of recent weddings and engagements and the latest updates with R&R Photography.

As I often tell brides and grooms, a great wedding photographer captures the best moments of a wedding day.  There are the obvious ones like the first kiss or the first look but there are many more.  More than anyone can remember if they don't attend weddings as many as I do.  Some of my many favorite moments of a wedding day come with the few hours before the wedding ceremony.  I call this the pre-ceremony, the moments before the wedding.  A wedding day wouldn't be official without a professional wedding photographer present who anticipate and look for those special moments.  As I enter the room, the pre-ceremonial events are already happening.  They may have mimosas and fruit already passed along, some music filling the air and everyone excited to see me!  Instantaneously I already have a camera in hand and showing off some of the photos I have taken.  I find it beneficial to show my brides and family and friends the photos I take throughout the day as it shows my creativity on their wedding day but also get to show off a few of my instant favorites.  My clients are instantly excited and are now more confident as they see themselves in the camera.

At the end of the wedding day, everyone is excited to see the wedding photos from start to end.  It's a great experience to photograph these moments and I take great humility when I have the opportunity to capture them.  The feedback I get from the brides and grooms and their guests are positive and complimentary.  With all this comes a great experience of hiring a professional and seasoned wedding photographer such as myself.

It would be my pleasure and honor to be your professional wedding photographer.  Please email me at [email protected] to book your wedding in 2015 and 2016!