As a professional wedding photographer since 2008, I still wake up in the morning of a wedding day feeling excited and nervous. One reason is I take wedding photography as a platform to exhibit my photography skills. I’m constantly studying wedding photography by attending annual master classes at WPPI, networking with local wedding vendors in the Monterey Bay and constructively reviewing my current body work. To photograph a wedding with precision, skill and beauty requires preparation, focus and passion. I couldn’t be more honored to photograph Sean and Rita’s wedding.
I’ve known Sean, the groom, since I was a teacher at North Salinas High School. Through his group of loyal friends, Sean has always been well-mannered with a great sense of humor. Sean is a fun guy to be around and has a great attitude towards life. Last year, when Sean introduced me to his fiancé, Rita, it was a great opportunity to be considered their wedding photographer. Throughout the months before the wedding, Rita provided all the details that I needed to bring my best photography. Thank you Rita for all your support and attention to detail as these photographs has your “wedding fingerprint” all over.
Sean and Rita’s wedding was beautifully planned at Kirigin Cellars in Gilroy, California this past summer. Outdoor temperatures that week reached past ninety degrees, so I already knew that it was going to be warmer than normal. My team and I arrived early to capture all the wedding details from their sporty table center pieces, Rita’s gorgeous wedding dress and to the rolling hills of Gilroy. Sean and Rita were preparing for their wedding day but wouldn’t see each other prior to the ceremony is a traditional following. They did have a private moment together prior to their wedding ceremony exchanging love notes and even holding hands. Their anticipation to get married was growing more than ever and excitement definitely filled the warm summer air. With all their invited family and friends, Sean and Rita, expressed their love for one another and committed themselves to a life of love and marriage. I hope these wedding photos will remind them of all the fun and excitement they shared with one another. Congratulations you two. =)
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
From Salinas to Pacific GroveEnjoy these engagement photos of Samuel and Chloe enjoying the finer spots in Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove, California
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. =)
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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 1st? 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 in[email protected] to book your wedding in 2015 and 2016!
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Well Exposed and Composed Photographs
The devil in the details within general photography includes understanding the exposure, sharpness and composition of a photograph. This is more technical talk, I know but it’s an important skill to have to create well exposed photographs at the moment you press the shutter. I have enjoyed taking a photojournalistic approach to my wedding photography because it gives me opportunity of creativity with my camera. It’s about being in the right place to take the best photograph at that special moment.
Curate Wedding Albums
One thing I secretly shoot for during weddings is with the intent of having a photograph in the bride and grooms wedding album. I take photos of everything! =) Wedding details, bridal prep, special guests are all fair game as I want to have these photos at my disposal when creating your wedding album. While it does take time to organize and curate a wedding album, it is necessary so the end result is a beautifully orchestrated flow of wedding photographs from beginning to end.
Passionate and Dedicated
What’s the first thing you think of when you wake up? For me it’s light. It sounds weird I know but I enjoy taking photographs so much I think about the quality of sunlight every day. That small thought along with hours of photography practice, study and self-critique has been the motivating factors in creating the best photographs on your wedding day. I sincerely enjoy creating beautiful photos.
I’m Always Learning
Some times in the morning, I wake up to CreativeLive and watch with a cup of coffee. Every year, I participate with WPPI. This year I’m entering one of my wedding photographs into competition. Why? So I can be better. The great thing about photography is that there is always something to learn. As a result, my expertise is continuously refined.
A Unique and Distinct Style
I’m constantly inspired to everything around me. Follow me enough and you’ll find me at local museums, beautiful landscapes and interest in style and all things photography. As a result my style of photography begins with a journalistic approach. I do like being the fly on the wall but can easily switch roles to a candid wedding photographer. The combination adds to my signature style and composition. =)
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Excellent Customer Service
I’m aware that being professional and personal is a continuous balance. I definitely answer emails and return texts as soon as possible but also maintain a level of comfort and ease. I know wedding planning can be stressful so as your professional photographer, I try to make it as easy and free-flowing.
Open Lines of Communication
Whether you are a new or returning client, I want to respond to inquiries and questions as soon as possible. I have many avenues of communication, such as email and phone. Feel free to use my social media outlets like Facebook and Instagram or shoot me a text if you need to communicate something to me.
6 Years of Professional Experience
Within the last six years of professional wedding photography, I have had the opportunity to photograph more than a hundred weddings. I love how each wedding is different and how I capture life long memories. I have the experience to anticipate special moments and turn on a dime with unexpected surprises.
Lots of Positive Feedback and Reviews
We have a number of websites that have reviews about R&R Photography. Yelp and Facebook are the most often visited but also check out Central Coast Bride here. I’ve enjoyed reading personal experiences from past clients. Thank you to our wonderful supporters as it’s a great feeling to bring happiness to others through photography.
Use of Social Media Channels
Right now I’m more on Instagram than anything else. My Facebook page is a close second. You can find me on Google+, Twitter and Pinterest as well. Feel free to follow and comment. I love connecting with others plus it’s a good way for me to connect with my favorite wedding photographers on a national level. Through social media I’ve gotten great advice and critique from the best wedding photographers plus book a number of clients within the past couple of years.
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I absolutely love shooting all weddings but when I have the opportunity to shoot a Filipino wedding, it’s always something special. In addition, I have Renee Flanders tagging along for this beautiful wedding. Renee is one of my recent brides in which I had the honor and pleasure of being her wedding photographer. From one professional photographer to another, it’s nice to be admired through a shared passion. She’s a local like me from the Monterey Bay area but currently in Germany and with immediate plans to come back home. She’s an avid photographer and specializes in portraiture work and was highly curious about wedding photography. So when she asked me if she can hang out during one of my weddings, I was excited to have her along. Renee has a great personality and can easily engage with her clients because of her down to earth personality and infectious smile. It was a good change of pace having her because she wasn’t afraid to ask questions (which I absolutely liked) and to was a good refresher of what I really know as a master photographer. Throughout the wedding day, Renee was professional and personal with everyone she engaged with. I recommend Renee for head shots, senior portraits and other portraiture work. You can find Renee here (website) and here (facebook)
We started with Maddie in her home in North Salinas and it was already filled with family and friends who have traveled hundreds of miles coming in for this special occasion. It was a familiar feeling as like for most families; weddings become special events for not only the bride and groom but with some Filipino flair. There was food cooking in the kitchen and family members were either getting ready or chatting away as if the party has already started. It’s a celebration of life and love with many special moments to be photographed. I was very excited to capture these moments. As the day started, we began with photographing some of the wedding details such as the brides shoes and wedding dress but also other noticeable details that would only matter to Carlos and Maddie like the caged birds in the garage which Maddie’s mom has a love for and photographing their children in their best clothes. With such attention to detail, photographing their wedding will be just a beautiful and timeless as a wedding should be. By the time we were finished with the wedding details, I was whisked upstairs to get a glimpse of the bride. Maddie made a beautiful bride standing in front of her maid of honor, aunts and mother and in a moment’s notice; it was time to head out to Madonna Del Sasso Church as Carlos was patiently waiting.
The ceremony was emotional with Maddie’s father had tears of joy filling his eyes as he gave his daughter away and many others also felt this strong emotion. As like most Filipino weddings, no one was shy in snapping away with their smart phones and iPads (gasps). I think Renee asked if these were distractions as a professional wedding photographer and I quickly replied, “Not at all, because the photos I take will be better.” Isn’t that what your wedding photographer should say? The wedding mass was filled with Catholic rituals, regular mass and the moment everyone was waiting for, their first kiss as husband and wife. After that, it seemed like everyone was ready to celebrate. We quickly got the formal family portraits out of the way in the church and headed to Carmel Valley, where Carlos and Maddie celebrated with special day with an intimate group of family and friends. While most Filipino weddings have a guest count with 250 or more, Carlos and Maddie went small. Like 100 guest small. It was a great reception as it was not too fast paced and the weather was beautiful. Thank you again Maddie and Carlos for having me as your wedding photographer. We love customer referrals so please don’t hesitate in forwarding my website and email address to those looking for great photography.
Sometimes I don’t feel like writing. Okay, a lot of times I don’t feel like writing, but I’m good at it. I read a lot and write just a tad less. Since my high school years until my doctorate work, I’ve written papers, essays and reports consistently with adequate breadth and quantity. When I committed to blogging, I thought to myself, “This should be easy”. Was I in for a surprise? This year, in the heart of the wedding season, my blogging stopped. It was at the backburner sadly enough, but gladly enough it was because I was photographing amazing weddings from the Monterey Bay area and across California. It was about a couple of months where I didn’t even write a rough draft of my blog. My weeks were filled with photography, production and lots of business dealings. There was just not enough time in the day to write.
So know I write here, right now. What do wedding photographers blog about? What else? We write about weddings and all that comes along with it. From wedding details, the venue, wedding flowers, wedding rings and brides and grooms. So not only do we photograph these things, we should (ahem), I should be writing about the same things as well. Easy enough right? Well even with more than twenty weddings booked this year and a few on the horizon for 2015, there to be more to blog about. As an artist who uses photography as their chosen medium, it important to write about what you see and in some cases it may be valued even more. As many writers can attest, the delivery and tone of words and style of writing is just as important as a complimentary illustration or photograph. That’s why I love showing off my wedding photographs with just a quick caption to really hone in on what exactly is being expressed.
So what more may I write about with future blogs? Well expect all things weddings at any given blog but also expect much more. I’d like to write about all my opportunities within photography. I’m lucky enough to extend to real estate photography, boudoir and family portraits but also have great adventures like weekend road trips or visiting family and friends across California. So in time, I’m sure you’ll get to know more about me other than just being a wedding photographer. Now that I think of it more, my blogging will be an extension of my other social media channels as well as my endeavors as a wedding photographer. So please come and visit my blog as I definitely do my best to write about what is in front of my lens but also share the beauty around me. I’m so lucky to be a wedding photographer where I get to photograph moments of love, happiness and triumph between couples who are in love with one another and have close family and friends to share this monumental time in their lives.
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With 2 weddings left to photograph this calendar year, autumn is upon us. I’m fond of October as it always brings back good memories of when I was a 4th grade teacher. Imagine student’s nestled in their desks working away with Math and History and a cool-warm breeze floating through. With the leaves on the trees not yet deciding to show their beautiful foliage yet, it doesn’t mean that the good parts of the fall have not started. There’s my favorite baseball and football games to watch (go Giants and Niners), spending more family time enjoying our local Indian Summer and also my time to take a quick breather. I enjoy taking this month to reflect on my experiences and review my recent photographic body of work. While I take every photo assignment as if it’s my one and only, I try to create the best images I can. I love to create expressive photographs and may also be my worst critic. It’s really a blessing to enjoy wedding photography so much as a labor of love. I’m truly honored to be blessed with this skill, craft and talent.
I’ve had a wonderful wedding season meeting so many wonderful people, so many beautiful venues and golden sunsets. I think I have captured some of my favorite wedding photographs within these past months. With the weddings I photograph, there is always something special happening. There are this special moments of love and adoration that only a camera and a master photographer can capture. I attempt this feat whenever my eyes are behind the lens. Past all the decorations and flowers comes family and friends who are blessed with two people who truly love each other. Getting married is a day of happiness and love and to be captured artistically and naturally. These are my favorite kind of weddings. I love to photograph expressions as they are happening. I love to be a fly on the wall and see how happiness unfolds in front of my camera.
This autumn, an old-new project has resurfaced. I really enjoy photographing people. That’s a solid foundation for my success as a wedding photographer, so in part the next evolution for R&R Photography is to include family portraiture. The history of family portraits began even before the Renaissance period filled with vanity. In recent times, people take family portraits to share them with family and friends on their social media. I’ve enjoyed making great photographs for my family and have made it a family tradition to do this every year. This extends my brother and sister’s immediate family as well. So now, more than ever, I have started a new endeavor as a family portrait photographer serving the Monterey Bay area. So if you are interested in great family photographs this holiday season, please don’t hesitate in contacting me. We can meet over a cup of coffee and collaborate on making your family portrait session special. I look forward to meeting more people and share my unique style of portraiture to the world, or maybe around these parts.
In engagement photography, composition is one of many key elements in creating a picture. For my shutterbugs, that’s the constant search in all genres of photography but more so when doing portraiture photography. With each of my clients, I take as much time in getting to know them and getting a good vibe so I can clearly define the composition as their key element. Tom and Linda were nice to meet me on a couple occasions. They came as a customer referral so I knew they liked me from the start. We shared drinks and as my aunties would say, “talk stories”. I told them how much I love photography and my excitement of making beautiful images. Linda shared how she likes wine as she’s from northern California and Tom likes to drink wine. It was great sharing an evening over drinks at Zeph’s. So when came to their engagement and photographs, I had a good idea in where to be creative.
One thing I mention in one way or another to clients is about how I compose a photograph. The eye incoherently pays attention to the rule of thirds, a measure of composition. When photographing Tom and Linda, it was easy to apply the rule of thirds as they were my key elements and understanding how depth of field changes one’s perspective on a scene. I have various lenses as tools so I may change perspectives and create my favorite kinds of portraiture. This couple was great in front of the camera. We got to talking a lot and more so they eventually forgot I was taking pictures at the same time. It was great to get their “guard down” as the honesty of a photograph is now prevalent.
Another composition strategy I use with couples is the 180-degree rule. Shutterbugs, take notes as this isn’t always mentioned in those novice photography books. If you have taken an entry-level cinematography class then you can identify these scenes in television and movies. In most scenes it involves two people talking or kissing and the composition may be similar to the photographs in this blog. If the composition is spot on, it helps the viewer understand the relationship between the two. Basically the 180-degree rule is aligning subjects or objects along an imaginary axis. It was fun to have Tom and Linda in a picture perfect position and just have them settle in their places and have fun with it.
Overall, the engagement shoot went off without a hitch. As I showed them photos from my camera, it was great to see the smiles on their faces while getting a sneak peak. My trusty assistant and daughter Kayla also was there lending more moral support but had fun hold a large reflector. Thank you Tom and Linda for a fun time and I can’t wait to shoot your Summer wedding in Carmel Valley. All the best and see you very soon.
In this day and time in wedding photography, it’s very important to have the bride and groom actually like their professional photographer. Crazy I know, but too often I come across fellow wedding photographers who mention their lack of connection with their brides and grooms. As a result, while their wedding photographs are technically correct but there is many more that lack expression or honest untamed emotion. Now this may be over the edge for many of my shutterbug readers but more often establishing great lines of communication between the photographer and client is paramount. I mention this every time I meet with brides and grooms regarding my wedding photography and the services of R&R Photography.
I met Athena and Tim as a customer referral from Steven at Higher City Films. Steven and I have been working closely for the last couple of years. His talent and approach to wedding cinematography is inspiring and reminds me of myself a few years ago. Tim and Athena were great to meet from the start. She mentioned her background in journalism and his love for motorcycles. Instantly, I thought it would be great to incorporate his bike into the engagement photo session. They liked the idea and after a couple more meetings and answering all their questions, R&R Photography and Higher City Films were in.
As always, I’m excited when we earned our client’s trust and confidence to be their professional wedding photographer. It was great to also do Tim and Athena’s engagement photos with his motorcycle a few weeks prior to the wedding. Their wedding day started out great. We arrived at their home and were welcomed by the mother and grandmother of the bride and bridesmaids. Athena was so great as she prepared all the ceremonial wedding objects on her bed and I quickly got creative and started to take photographs of her wedding dress, high-heel shoes and all things wedding. I definitely won the women’s respect as a photographer after showing them some of the photos from my camera.
Tim and Athena’s ceremony was absolutely beautiful. It was nicely located in the rolling hills near Hollister. While the sun was shining bright there was not a cloud in the sky to offer some shade and relief. The weather was warm and set the beginning to a gorgeous sunset later. As Tim and Athena began their ceremony of matrimony, I can see many smiles from their family and friends. The vows were exchanges in harmony and laughter. They truly showed their love for one another and it was great to capture these moments. Tim and Athena ended their wedding day with food, drink and lots of family and friends who danced the night away. Thank you for allowing us to capture these photographs.
When it comes to a Memorial Day weekend, most people can think of a few common things. It may include the daily BBQ cookouts, an extra day off and spending time with family and friends. With good weather it can be a reinvigorating holiday. On top of all that, there should be a thick atmosphere of remembrance and humility. As a son, grandson, nephew and brother of military veterans I can’t help but be reminded of the importance of Memorial Day. In the good words of James Garfield, “For love of country they accepted death.” Thank you for those who have served and fought for our freedom.
Memorial Day is also my unofficial start to the wedding season. Just in the 3-day weekend, R&R Photography was booked for an engagement photo session, a college graduation portrait session and a full day's wedding. Also with SIX weddings lined up one after the other, I’m excited to jump start the season with a beautifully planned engagement shoot with Acela and Beto. I came highly referred as they knew a couple of past brides and grooms that I had the honor to work with. Acela had a lot of good questions when inquiring about my professional photography skills so what better way to show off my skills than to bring a couple of wedding albums and two 11x14 matted and framed wedding photos. I did strategically use a nicely dressed military groom as Beto is also in the military. Maybe that would give me an advantage over my competition. Wonderfully enough, my team and I will be excited to see them with their California mission-style wedding in San Juan Baustista later this Fall.
Now when it comes to planning an engagement photo session, I love to listen to the bride and groom’s idea and vision. With knowing exactly what they expect, I know where to focus on with my creativity and including my own brand to the engagement photographs. Like most modern brides, Acela created a specific board on her Pinterest just for me. This was great because as a professional photographer, I have visual learning tendencies so sharing engagement photos are absolutely perfect.
Acela and Beto make a great couple. Often through their photo session, they laughed so naturally and created a good energy as I had the opportunity to take their photos. Their intimacy shows how much they are in love with each other and how exciting their wedding will be for not only themselves but attending family and friends. As I was taking their engagement photographs, it was relatively quite at times as you can hear water from a small river nearby or the gentle winds blowing through the historic redwoods of Big Sur. These are my silent moments of euphoria as I enjoy being in a natural setting and taking photographs of beautiful people.
Thank you Acela and Beto! We’ll see you in September on your special day. =)
There’s something that had to be said with photographing the most beautiful wedding repetitively. I don’t know if every wedding photographer has this experience but it’s the essence of wedding photography when the photographer loves what he or she is taking photographs of. The photographs within this blog and showcase of Ryan and Kathleen’s wedding have been one of many favorites of mine because of their cool demeanor and just the relaxation of enjoying their wedding day. It’s kind of the secret to success when having the perfect wedding day. R&R Photography has a photojournalistic approach to wedding photography where the bride and groom get to just live in each moment during their wedding day. We love to capture those moments.
When we arrived at Mission Ranch in Carmel to prepare for Kathleen and Ryan’s wedding it was a pleasant surprise to see our good buddy, Clint Eastwood, signing some autographs and taking a couple of snaps with our military men. With a start like that, we knew this wedding was going to be very special. My prior communication with Kathleen and her mother, Mary, were all through email and an initial call. Mary was emailing me from Wisconsin! So it was great to finally meet them in Monterey a couple days prior to the wedding. Kathleen was so “California cool” with everything. She made her expectations clear and it fit with everything that I wanted to do as a professional wedding photographer. Everyone couldn’t be more excited about what was about to happen.
We arrived at Carmel Mission Ranch where it has spectacular views of Point Lobos, Carmel River Beach and the Pacific Ocean. The weather was absolutely beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky and bright! It was a surprisingly warm Spring day. Ryan and Kathleen enjoyed their wedding day with close family and friends nestled in the heart of Monterey Bay. I got to photography Kathleen as she was preparing with her Maid of Honor and bridesmaids while the rest of the team was hanging out with Ryan and the guys. It was such a great experience taking these wonderful wedding photographs. There were lots a personal detail in the wedding that we were able to capture and have it compliment to the entire wedding.
Ryan and Kathleen’s wedding was a great jump off to the 2014 wedding season. It’s been a great few weeks as we were able to experience 6 beautiful weddings every Saturday for 6 weeks. Wow is right! It’s been fun and I have had a wonderful time taking such amazing photographs of brides and grooms and their family and friends. I’m overwhelmed with all the warm welcomes and have enjoyed every moment. Thank you for all the support and praise with R&R Photography. Please don’t hesitate in emailing me at [email protected] to discuss your professional photography needs.
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Athena was picture ready as most brides to be are with their engagement shoot. She was primped and dressed for the part with Tim in tow as we drove down to Big Sur. Most grooms are are pretty hesitant in taking photographers when they agree to do a session. Tim was a trooper. I was more than happy to have a couple be able to agree to some local gems of locations on a shoot like these two. I guess being as fun loving as Tim and Athena are, I shouldn’t be surprised. Initially when meeting Tim and Athena, she said that she likes photography so I knew my A-game better be on point. While it’s my intention to have couples be relaxed in front of the camera, Tim and Athena were very personable and made the most fun of their candids.
As planned for the last location, Tim also brought “his other girl”, a Yamaha R1 sports bike. It is a beautiful machine and probably goes as fast as a speeding bullet. Both are avid riders so it’s only fitting to snap a few motorcycle photos. By the end of the shoot, we were all pretty exhausted. With sharing more of the afternoon together, we came away with a better working relationship and made some new friends. Tim and Athen’s Spring wedding will be nestled in Hollister, California and we can’t wait to see them again.
I can also add some sharing of my own journalism. In college, I was able to take time and write and it would be nice to revisit that necessary chore. So to change things up and add more of a personal touch to taking photographs, these are a few I’d like to share with you this week.
On a Saturday morning when I’m not shooting a wedding or engagement I enjoy walks on the beach. Cliché right? Instead of going in that cold Monterey Bay water, I like to take the best photographs I can at that given time. If I’m traveling with my friends more over than not we’ll arrive a few hours after estimated time so anticipating unexpected events is part of the photography equation of the day. With a fast cold front approaching the overcast give some mercy with the harsh sun hidden for just enough time for me to take this quick snap (1/2500 for those guessing my EXIF data).
I love sunsets so it’s always great to have a camera in my hand and take a fantastic photograph of each moment’s pleasure. On this particular day, I took my family to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and I was already shutter-tired at taking photographs with crowds of people. The sunset provides a great backdrop to just expose of the sky and let everything else just beautifully fade away. In addition to taking a landscape photo with a portrait orientation, the other fun part to this photo was anticipating on seeing the shades of blue at the back of my camera. It was great to feel that I nailed a shot.
The Monterey Bay provides various measures of landscape and basic street photography. It’s easy to take a willing body and go for a walk through your neighboring town. The photograph of Kayla was taken in the city of Monterey off of Lighthouse Ave. The color of the wall is pleasingly bright so I asked my little girl to strike a pose and she did! You can find some great shutterbug spots if you know what to look for. I’m a big fan of looking for leading lines in framing my composition. It’s an easy tool to help viewers appreciate a good photograph.
As you come through life you come across good friends so it’s important to include them in your life’s photo album. I hired Nick from the east coast and we have been chums since day 1. This portrait shows the sincere joy and positive energy he has for life and seeking the truth. I liked him even more when we came to share our favorite author is Jack Kerouac. In time, we also had the opportunity to create together in writing a book, Something to Start. Nick now has his own show and is on live Friday nights. You can catch him here.
This last photo is a culmination of how a photograph may be interpreted. The photo includes magnificent photographs of the evolution of Earth with specific time in a series of events. In addition, the connectivity to a small family plus the vertical leading lines helps with the composition of this picture.
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R&R Photography receives customer referrals often. Even with the couples we meet at bridal shows, Google searches, and other marketing efforts, past brides have been our biggest fans. They rave about us to family and friends and it makes me feel that much more important as a professional photographer. The fun part is I get to see it for myself mostly through popular social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr. It’s great how within the last few years hashtags have been so popular. Simply think of a unique title and put a hashtag in front of it and there you have it! It’s like your own online digital wedding album and the best part that it’s free. I often go back to those hashtags and post a couple of post-edited photos to share with family and friends. Well, this wedding was no different in the sense that I met Rebecca and Julio from a past bride and groom. I take great pride when this happens because it lets me know that I’m doing a great job and providing a service that only last for once in a lifetime.
Normally when I meet with clients looking to hire me as an engagement and wedding photographer I bring a couple of sample wedding albums and really just actively listen to how they envision their wedding day. I know I can talk a lot, so that’s why I make sure I shut up and just listen. After a couple cups of coffee with Rebecca and finally meeting Julio, I got to answer all their concerns and finally we were excited to make the match. I was eager to shoot their wedding because it was in my hometown Salinas. I grew up here and have fond memories as a child so it’s not hard for me to find so much beauty in the largest city in Monterey County. To create beautiful and memorable photographs is so important and yet one can have an artistic approach to it with wedding photography.
With the wedding day starting with overcast, it provided good light for those wedding detail shots. Rebecca and her girls were getting ready nearby and with a little trust, I was able to take a few worthy items and begin taking some commercial-like macro shots of her jewelry. Her shoes looked great and from doing enough weddings I know when I see a pair that stands out. With a traditional church wedding mass, Rebecca and Julio scooted to Sacred Heart in Salinas with rituals of prayer and marriage. After mass and a few traditional wedding photographs, we then headed to a Salinas landmark. Don’t let the newly repaired and painted large yellow hats distract you, but Sherwood has some great willow trees and is a go-to locale when shooting in Salinas. Congratulations again to Julio and Rebecca who have given me great praise and encouragement after seeing their wedding photographs. It’s truly and honor and blessing to be a part of their wedding day and to create these moments of their life with photographs.
If you are interested in my style of wedding photography, please don’t hesitate in emailing me at [email protected] or call at 831-540-5087. Texts work for me too! =)
The great thing about meeting the most elite wedding photographers is a simple approach and giving them a good firm handshake. I got to meet my favorite photographers like Scott Robert Lim, Lindsay Adler, Yervant and Cliff Mautner, who received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. Another great thing that happened was looking at all the beautiful wedding albums they had on display from a wide array of printing companies. I definitely could see my wedding photography in those albums and can’t wait to incorporate them in my wedding packages. With the past wedding off-season, I took more interest in curating my wedding photographs as creating wedding albums are also a favorite of mine. Geeky enough, I enjoy organizing the photos chronologically and telling a wedding story through an artist’s eyes. As I review photographs from the great one I mentioned, I also notice how they tell their love story through photographs. It’s great to see other people from across the world doing the same thing I do and better! With every wedding being different, my experience has told me to understand more of the approach and philosophy to wedding photographs and less about the technical details. At this point in my profession, I know it’s more about how you take a great photograph and much less about the brand on your neck strap.
So much is said when you’re your own worst critic. You always think of how much more it can be better. In light of that, knowing that there is so much recognition from past brides and grooms and their family and friends who have enjoyed your photography, the passion of being better is a great feeling to have. And that’s great as I should continue to refine my style of wedding photography and look forward to capture these unforgettable moments in a lifetime. Going to this year’s WPPI in Las Vegas was a great affirmation to when doing what you love you’ll never feel like you’re working a day in your life.
Five years ago, I fortunately met a great educator who incoherently taught me a great lesson. Since then I have continued this life lesson and when reflecting upon my journey into photography I have realized that it was built on a strong foundation. We have been good acquaintance and kept in touch through Facebook likes and comments. I say incoherently because I’ve heard his “mantra” at least three times a week and everyday if I’m so lucky. So why did it just suddenly kick in? I was in a rut and wanted to extend my bounds in photography. As artists, we are our own worst critic when it comes to our own craft. And you can only get so much online information that it spills over and out of your ears. So then what? You practice. And with the great words comes, “Practice makes progress.” Genius right? You mean if I continue practicing I’m progressing? Sure absolutely. So what does every brilliant artist that we’ve learned in elementary school do? Practice. I continue to practice and practice, plus I’ve added an older love to the component. I practice on 35mm and medium format film.
With film, it would be illogical to just snap away multiple rolls of the same photos then get them developed and pick out the best ones and edit later in front of a computer. Instead, you can take your time and really pick and choose about what is “picture worthy”. It all comes together since I was a young kid. I loved watching movies and started to see things cinematically. Then picking up my parent’s SLR was fun because I get to imagine and take photos and then anxiously waiting for the prints. Fast forward about 25 years and now I’m progressing to defining my photography more technically. To be inspired by other photographers, artists, independent-lesser known movies, realism, current events and sports practicing with film helps with that.
When I practice I think of three basic things; nailing the exposure, defining the composition and taking a risk. So you can see with the photos how fun it would to just have a camera in your hand and more manually than an iPhone, snap away. It’s fun to have two beautiful girls to take photos of and be my muse. As you can see I can take my SLR anywhere and take great photographs of life travels, family vacations and just hanging around. So back to the lesson at hand, practice does make progress. You should be encouraged to practice whatever you do more and more. Progress can go a long way with no boundaries of the end destination. Reflecting through my personal photography has immensely helped with my professional photography. Often enough when I speak to veteran professional photographers and show them my work, I’m complimented by them repeatedly on my ethics of practicing. Thanks for the lesson, Mr. Chriss. Cheers to you.
Within the past couple years, pinboard-style photo-sharing website, Pinterest has been a gift in many ways. Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing things you love. Millions of people use Pinterest in their lives and work. Ultimately, in my profession, as made a powerful impact in the modern wedding industry. It has educated and refined brides and grooms so now they have examples of how they envision their engagement and wedding day. Often enough, brides will share their boards and favorite detailed shot which is great for me as a professional wedding photographer. Not only can I now listen to how my clients envision their wedding but also see some examples through Pinterest. As a caveat, I don’t even attempt to mimic an exact replica of the photo but use them as inspiration to how I approach wedding photography. The result is a nice dovetail of Pinterest inspired engagement and wedding photographs and still originally created by R&R Photography.
I instantly enjoyed meeting Colette a year ago when she was deciding on her engagement and wedding photographer. One of the first things she said after I asked for the wedding date was, “I hope it doesn’t rain.” Immediately I knew that she has done her “wedding photography homework” and was eager on choosing the best professional photographer for Mike and her. We met at a local coffee shop and showed her a couple of sample wedding albums and answered all her questions and concerns. I think it was a couple weeks later and I was booked. From then on and past her wedding day, I continue to communicate with her at every facet of my wedding photography business. I often get those thank you emails from past clients for just my promptness to responding to emails.
The day of Mike and Colette’s wedding started with beautiful weather. It didn’t rain at all with a month in advance. My team and I arrived late morning and were eager to get started. Preceremonial photos are by far my favorite part of the day but there isn’t any other part of the day that I enjoy less of. I definitely have more opportunities to get creative with precermony photos as the bride and her bridesmaids are happy to start the day with taking photos. They can watch me take creative and beautiful photos of the wedding dress, the bride’s shoes and wedding rings. I often show them these photographs immediately to get their feedback. Colette and her girlfriends loved them! After that, I knew my A game was on and my confidence was ready for the day’s events.
Colette and Mike’s first look was just as magical. I won’t give you all the details, but there was love, laughter and tears… from more than just one person. Another indication that today’s wedding is going to be special. We whisked off from the hotel to Wedgewood in Carmel. It’s great to shoot there often during the wedding season as the staff there is excellent with customer service. Again not a cloud in the sky and Colette and Mike had a beautiful wedding at the gazebo with their banquet room overlooking a gorgeous California landscape. The day was filled with many more photo opportunities from the actual wedding kiss to family formal portraits to candids during the wedding reception. Our thanks and appreciation goes out to Mike and Colette for having R&R Photography as your engagement and wedding photographers. We wish all the best and congratulations again.
I always believed my professional photography would open new opportunities for me. Within the last five years I have been blessed with shooting more than 100 portrait sessions, engagements and weddings that extends beyond the Monterey Bay and have met a lot of good people that resulted in being friends and/or has continued to utilize me for their professional photography needs. Last week was no exception as the Sakay Family from Salinas, California inquired for a family portrait session. It was a couple years since I took photographs of their family and with a new addition; they were certainly due to update some new family portraits. So when Lydia Sakay called me a few weeks ago I jumped on the opportunity to do some great work for returning clients. I was already excited to see them again and catch up but this family portrait became really special as the location was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Like many Niner fans, the wounds have not fully healed as losing to divisional rivals is never an easy pill to swallow. In addition, Candlestick Park is no longer the home of our beloved San Francisco 49ers, so the nostalgia of championship football and NFL football glory will soon come to a physical destruction. It was definitely something to look forward to and ultimately taking my professional photography to a new milestone.
From the start of the tour, just looking at Candlestick looked like an historic monument and being built in the 1950’s one can imagine the resources available in constructing something the entire San Francisco Bay Area and many more can embrace. The Sakay family was definitely Niner-fitted as they knew what they were getting into and prepared for another family treasure. With a few snaps in the luxury boxes and team locker room, the peak of the experience was standing on that football field and end zone. I touched the field and looked up to the bleachers and upper deck and was in awe with my surroundings. For a moment, I forgot why I was there in the first place as the feeling of San Francisco Giants and 49er greatness happened on that field. Once I snapped back into reality, I was able to take some great family portraits of the Sakay family.
It was a great experience in many facets; I was able to do what I love and photograph people, traveling back to San Francisco and also reflecting on historic events that happened in Candlestick Park. Professional photography has been a great outlet for me and I’m excited to service my clients through my talents and craft. It is upon these experiences that remind me of why dedicating one life’s work is such a satisfying approach to life. A special thank you to the Sakay family for allowing me this opportunity as I know it doesn’t happen often. So the next time you are looking for a professional photographer, please don’t hesitate in emailing me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.
Meeting Rudy and Melissa early last year was a fun experience. As a young couple ready to get married, they truly had an amazing love story on how they met and how their relationship matured through the next few years. As I’m sure we can all agree that every relationship has their peaks and valleys and lessons gained and learned. They were no exception and yet their love continues to flourish way past their wedding day and their chemistry between each other becomes more apparent with these professional engagement and wedding photographs.
Often enough with engagement shoots, we love to collaborate with our bride and groom to choose the best locations and establish a good theme for their photo session. I usually ask what would be their ideal response from family and friends who may see the pictures and go from there. While R&R Photography enjoys our local spots in the Monterey Bay area, it isn’t stretch to travel farther to meet our client’s needs and expectations. Rudy and Melissa were very open to the idea of traveling to San Francisco to not only take in the sites but to have us tag along and take these amazing photographs of them. Everyone had a great time hanging out and just talking about all the wedding planning ahead. We even ended up at one of my favorite spots, Nation’s, as I often ate their cheeseburgers during my undergraduate days at San Francisco State University.
From the start of the wedding, R&R Photography was there with all the pre-ceremony details. I met up with Melissa at a local hair salon in Salinas and met her mother and a few of her bridesmaids and maid of honor. It was a fun jump off to the day as we laughed and had fun with taking photographs. By the end of the session, Melissa was dolled up and looked beautiful as ever. She was definitely a gorgeous bride anxiously preparing for her special day. On another side of town, Rudy was also getting ready with his family and groomsmen. From my second shooter and assistant, it sounded like they were having their own fun in celebrating a momentous chapter in their lives. With most weddings we have the opportunity to photograph; it’s much more than just a bride and groom getting hitched, but more of two sets of family joining together.
The ceremony was held at Madonna Del Sasso Church in Salinas with a full mass ceremony. The only limitation we faced was the limitation of photographs as requested by the pastor who was very vocal about where we should be. While these limitations aren’t fun for R&R Photography, we do respect them and communicate with our bride and groom. In the end, the wedding ceremony was just as serene and even had a good moment of laughter as Rudy and Melissa mocked a wedding kiss by kissing each other on the cheek rather than the lips at first. Laughter filled the church and everyone came together for professional family photos afterwards.
Overall, it was another successful wedding shot by R&R Photography and our clients are in love with the photographs we captured. If you are interested in booking with R&R Photography, please don’t hesitate to call or text me at (831) 540-5087. I’d love to hear from you! =)
The second Winter project I had was working with Steven Garza with Higher City Films in creating a promotional video. As the lead creative for Higher City Films (a.k.a. HCF), it’s fun to think out loud and through ideas out for the promotional video. Casual conversations, surprise phone calls and late night texts traded off over the holidays so it was really exciting to put it all together. Like Steven, I like the artistry of simplicity. Our promotional video shouldn’t be us “trying” to be anyone else but ourselves. So we met up on an early Winter Saturday morning and drove to one of our favorite spots in the Monterey Bay. It was cold, I remember that, but it was also fun and honest. We took our time and ended up spending the entire morning filming. With Steven’s magic, our 2014 promotional video looked fantastic and ready to be debuted at the bridal show.
With another bridal show later this month, things are definitely looking up for me with R&R Photography. It will be exciting for me to see how this year unfolds. I hope that I may accomplish everything on my “Dream and Do” board that I see/read every day in my office. I plan to blog every Tuesday and continue to check in and see where this New Year will take me. I am inspired with all the brides and grooms that I meet and honored that they enjoy my artistic approach in capturing the memories of their engagement and wedding.
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Every year, R&R Photography participates with Central Coast Bride with their awesome bridal shows. We meet a lot of people at the shows and it gives us an opportunity to speak with brides about our style of engagement and wedding photography. We really want to get to know the brides and grooms and see if our style of photography fits with their expectations. We love to collaborate with our clients and set clear objectives but also gives us define lines of where it is advantageous to being creative. Our goal really isn’t to book weddings there but to meet and engage with brides and grooms and set up a meeting in the near future. We enjoy meeting new people so please come and say hi when you come by. I have a limited amount of tickets available as my guest; please don’t hesitate in contacting me at [email protected].
With Central Coast Bride’s wedding planning tools, Brides now have easy access to everything they need to save loads of time and stress. Whether you want a Cambria Wedding or a Ventura Wedding, a Santa Barbara Wedding or a Monterey Wedding, a Carmel Wedding or a Paso Robles Wedding, Central Coast Bride has everything you need to ensure your perfect wedding is easy! We like easy so it has been a great working relationship with Kevin and Carolayne of CCB.
Bridal shows can be hectic for brides and grooms as it’s a great one stop shop to take care of everything. Not only the photography, but food vendors, wedding venues, florist, music and lots more are there at your service. By the end of the day, things may be so overwhelming your head is about to spin off! So my advice is to take your time with each booth and have fun with it. Planning a wedding as tedious as it may be can be fun. I’m sure there are wedding magazines and/or Pinterest sprucing up these wedding planning chores to make it more enjoyable or at least more organized. I love speaking with brides and grooms about my wedding photography. I can only hope that I can express well enough but more often I can just show them photographs from recent past weddings. We normally use the most recent wedding photographs from the past season as our portfolio. This way, our style continues to be fresh and evolving. Choose vendors that are not only experts in their craft but people you like and have a great energy with. Imagine how more enjoyable the day would be with strangers that you like.
And for those who decide to not partake in this Sunday’s bridal show due to the NFL playoffs, a part of me wants to be with you too. In most situations we’ll meet just the bride and her entourage while, if the fiancé is so lucky, to be home watching the Niners on TV. Good thing for Wi-Fi and Instagram.
This past weekend I had the great pleasure to be invited to a holiday concert. While all festivities are special this time of year, I was in for a treat. My good friend, Allan, who I have known since high school but more importantly have kept in touch via Facebook inspired me to not only watch talented men sing their hearts out but donate my talents for a great group of gentlemen. Secretly, I had the best seats in the house as I got access to a balcony to take one amazing shot. In addition, all the good people at First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz were very helpful and sweet. The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performed their holiday concert called Shine in Santa Cruz.
So I invited my buddy, Steven from Higher City Films and off we went. On a brisk cold night, we were excited of the unknown. You see, in the heart of the wedding season, professional wedding photographers need to prepare and be ready for anything and everything. There's anxiety that comes along with that kind of unique opportunity. In many fashions that adaptation then results in an artistic approach. That's usually the approach R&R Photography comes with in covering wedding and engagement photography. This night was different and it was fun.
As we arrived at the church, Steven and I were warmly greeted by everyone. I got to see my friend Allan and we checked out the venue. The church is beautifully decorated with holiday cheer and certainly can fit a good amount of people. I checked with a church official and asked if they were expecting a full house and he responded, “Oh yeah”, with a nice smirk implying a majestic series of song will be upon us. The church’s parish administrator, Brooke helped me the week prior in just getting some of the logistics but even that was warm-hearted and informative.
So what’s next? I told Steven we should meet the guys. With no hesitation we headed downstairs to the music room where all the preparation was taking place. We go to meet some of the gentlemen singing that night and snapped off a couple of photos for the blog. Camera shy? Not at all, we were welcome to take a few quick pics. We then headed off to the dining area where more of the men were preparing. With more holiday cheer cleverly disguised as red wine and homemade cookies, Steven and I got to observe their preparation to the concert. We overheard technical cues and the array of song lists and continued focus, but more over the fun of singing and performing. The conductor, Tim, was great and well in-tuned with the guys as he made sure he had everyone’s attention in that room.
The concert in itself was powerful, inspiring and a great reminder of what the holiday season is all about. Love. In this happening, I was pleasantly surprised on how I was warmly greeted as a true visitor but left with a good feeling of love. I didn’t know anyone other than Allan plus I brought a friend of mine to keep me company and at the end I could have just gone to the church and watch an amazing concert all by myself and have come away with the same results. So in the spirit of the season have a happy holiday and spread good cheer.
Merry Christmas from Randy with R&R Photography
While I have much more to blog about from this past wedding season, the last couple of weeks have gotten me into the Christmas spirit. As a guy, it probably started with all the NFL football games on Thanksgiving with all the food and drink and with the recent cold weather. None the less, it's great to see family and friends that I may not see on a normal basis. Through the success of having a photography business, my weekends are filled months ahead limiting me to visit long distances other than blocking these dates out in the first place. My sister and her family live in Bakersfield and we make an entire weekend of celebrating birthdays and starting the Christmas spirit. We even have a White Elephant gift exchange and the children gets to open their presents. On top of all the food and drink one may consume, the entire home is filled with warmth and laughter. Most of the photos you see in the blog are from that weekend.
Oddly enough, there is quiet time to talk and catch up about the last times we seen each other and how the children are growing up. This really sets in as reminders of how we were children and now managing adulthood. My brother and sister are blessed to be married with children and the exciting part of family vacations are the destinations to new places. In addition to all the fun holiday cheer, no one should be surprised that the best photographer in the family should set up at production for some proper holiday photos. Year after year, we have carried this tradition. Hopefully, this may inspire others to create their own family traditions even if this would be the actual first year to do so.
So in the spirit of the holidays through the frigid cold (of California), I wish you happy holidays and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You may also hear some news of marriage proposals this season and many happen more than any other year. Should you do so, don't hesitate in sending them may way. So again from our ohana to yours all the best and have a safe and restful holiday season.
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2013 has been a very good year for R&R Photography. We booked the most weddings and formal events since 2008, got to do a few destination weddings plus out of state clients who came to the Monterey Bay for weddings and engagements and customer referrals accounted for more than half of the weddings we booked. In addition, our secret sauce of under promising and over delivering had paid great dividends from our past and existing clientele. On behalf of R&R Photography, we would like to thank all our brides and grooms, parents and grandparents and all those included when deciding on a professional photographer. In reflecting the success and challenges within this past year, I continue to smile at the moments in which I had the opportunity to take some amazing photographs. The reaction and response has been overwhelming and secures my notion that following a dream is the best pursuit of happiness. I am truly humbled by all the tears of happiness and joy that I came to see behind my lenses and cameras.
I truly love taking photographs for people and for myself. I usually tell brides and grooms that many times I want the best wedding photographs more than them. That definitely sets the tone on how important wedding photography is to me. I have enjoyed waking up on the morning of a wedding and be excited. As quirky as that sounds, dedicating my life's work to creating a series of wedding photographs has created more inner peace and solitude that benefits my mental health but moreover giving brides and grooms and their family and friends photographs that they can enjoy for a lifetime. As I continue to evolve my skill set and style, I often review my portfolio and relive these emotions time and time again.
2014 will be a year of continued success and even bigger accomplishments on the horizon. Some of my biggest aspirations will include having my wedding photographs be published in a magazine and to win a few wedding photography competitions all with my truest artistic form of wedding photojournalistic photography. While this will take much perseverance and fortitude, I'm confident my skills and attributes will be in arms reach towards becoming a more revered professional wedding and portraiture photographer. In addition, I plan on teaming up with other wedding vendors and to also make new friends with other established wedding photographers. While I haven't had too much luck with other photographers wanting to talk shop, I'm sure there are other like-minded creatives who value learning from one another and sharing their experiences and life lessons. R&R Photography will continue to serve the Monterey Bay area and stay the most exclusive event and portraiture photographers in 2014.
For booking inquiries, don't hesitate in emailing me at [email protected] or call me at 831-540-5087 for a faster response. To view pricing and packages on our website, click here.
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Photographing birthday parties are always special to R&R Photography as it is another opportunity to take show our talents in telling a story. We met Adela through a past bride who loved our wedding photography. She loved it so much; she referred us to her niece earlier this year. We always aim to please when it come to customer referrals as we know how important it is to do a great job when someone else passes our services along. Adela is a great kid! I got to know her from our times planning her quince. She chose to be a vegan and we discussed the advantages of living a healthy lifestyle but also the urge to eat homemade Mexican cooking. Adela also has a bright future ahead of her as she plans to study hard and move on to college outside of Salinas, California. In all, this kid has a lot going for her and I’m so honored to take photographs of her 15th birthday party.
A quinceanera is a special chapter for young women. It’s the ritual of growing from a little girl to a woman. A specific event within the quinceanera involves a father changing the birthday girl’s shoes from flats to high heels. The symbolism of the changing of shoes is also the acceptance of her parents that comes with the responsibility of becoming a woman. Adela fits this role to a T as I saw leadership qualities when she was practicing her dance routines with her entourage.
Adela’s birthday started with getting ready at her house, i.e. makeup, putting on her birthday dress and spending time with family and friends. We were then quickly headed to Cristo Rey Church in Salinas. The mass included special prayers for the birthday girl and also shared with family and friends. Immediately after the mass, Adela and her friends met with R&R Photography at a local park in Salinas. We always enjoy shooting on location and sharing the beautiful landscapes of our home town. After some formal photos with the entourage, we had some fun playing Red Rover but we also dated ourselves as these kids had to learn how to play the game. Lol. It was a great moment to take memorable photographs of Adela and her friends.
Adela’s reception was filled with good food, family and friends and a photo booth from R&R Photography. She danced for everyone and also had some thankful words for all those who came. We thank Adela and her family for the opportunity to photograph such a wonderful event. If you are looking for a professional event photographer, please don’t hesitate in contacting me at [email protected] or at 831-540-5087. If you like to see more of our quince/cotillion portfolio you can check it out here as well.
When introducing R&R Photography, many people may ask what R&R stands for. “That’s easy, it’s for Randy and Ron or Ron and Randy, depending who you asking.” Funny enough, that humor is what brought this high school friendship to close to 20 years now. Ron and I have been close since high school with both living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-1990s and then reuniting back home in Salinas. While Ron my solid second shooter of the team, he definitely has enough experience to shoot on his own. In addition, Ron enjoys taking photos that may be off beat as he tends to work with longer focal lengths and plays a more subtle role as a wedding photographer. Feel free to reply to R&R Photography’s Twitter and Yelp accounts as he maintains those social networking channels.
Since 2010, R&R Photography has been looking for videographers that would work well with our style of photography and personalities. While we never have any issues with other wedding videographers, like photography, each artist comes to a wedding with how they want to interpret the day’s events. This past year, we were lucky enough to work with Steven Garza of Higher City Films. Ron and I met Steven from a previous job we worked at and while Steven was reluctant to film weddings, he know that Ron and I were having fun with wedding photography and becoming more successful at it. It wasn’t until 2012 that Steven took the leap into video wedding photography for a fellow friend and co-worker that needed his services from a fall out with his videographer.
R&R Photography
R&R Photography
Steven’s work has evolved since that first wedding and he continues to present an artistic approach towards wedding photography that may not always be apparent. I’ve enjoyed working with him and watching how creative he can be with a video DSLR. Since then, Steven has grown into his own team with High City Films enlisting his wife, Alyssa, at times but more with his cousin, Tommy who is the kid of the bunch. Tommy has been fun to work with as he is considering studying photography in college. I look forward to seeing what he has learned from hanging out with us and what he learns in a formal setting.
In all, I can’t ask for a better team to work with. It’s always enjoyable to have friends working side by side. I become more comfortable and confident knowing there is a strong supporting cast of creative that continually pushes boundaries within photography and themselves. This inspires me to be even more different and to shoot weddings within my own freedom. As a result comes beautiful photo journalistic wedding photographs that our clients can enjoy for a lifetime.
R&R Photography
With the holidays fast approaching, lots of family, friends and clients will always ask me, "What is the best camera?" I always respond with, "What camera do you have now?" You see, the camera that you have now that takes photographs is going to be the best. The conceptual approach is more towards actually taking the photograph and not getting caught up with the consumer race of buying the latest and greatest DSLR or smartphone. The best photographers are thinking more about the principles of photography like composition, light and exposure in comparison to megapixels, ISO performance and name brand. While I tend to shoot with both Nikon and Canon, I don't let them dictate on how I take photographs. As a result, I tell people about how to take better pictures in general.
At the same token, people often ask me about taking better photographs when they are traveling. I love being a tourist as I try to find the most common hot spots for street photographs with a simple Google search or through Flickr and discover the hundreds and thousands of photos that most people take and then attempt my own rendition to it. The photo of the Public Market Center in Seattle and Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco are typical photos although, night photography is more unique. You stand right in front of your subject and snap the photo. Travel photography afficianados really attempt to look at these city monuments in a different light. For example, the photographs of God's Door of Pfiefer Beach in Big Sur (top photo) and Waimea Canyon in Kauai, Hi (bottom photo) offer different perspectives that are interesting and not so often used. Similar to street photography, you may want to look into framing and sub-framing subjects more that may be off center and provides a more interesting composition. So the next time you head out with your camera, think more about taking photos to your liking and how you would like to remember it rather than trying to find a camera to "do all the work" with bells and whistles that you may not necessarily need.
Lastly, one should also attempt to take photos of family and friends that may not be so candid but still show connectivity and common themes. Earlier this year at a family vacation in Hawaii, I got to sneak this photo of Lea, Andrew and Chloe after a day at the beach. They were in the water all day and when it was time to head back they quickly fell asleep in the car. It was a semi-long drive back to the cottage and I was able to turn around from the passenger side seat and take this great photo of them sleeping in the car. The fact that the children are laying upon one another also shows how close they are to each other. I always suggest to take photographs of children at their eye level so it's more likely that you would get down low and even get down to one knee to take a better perspective. In addition, look at the background of the photos. If I took the same photo of these children at a higher vantage point, you would see all the clutter in the back to the minivan. That would add more clutter to the photo and take attention away from the real photo of watching these children sleeping.
The first introduction with Wally and Nicole was via FaceTime or Skype. I often meet clients through the wonders of technology not only for the convenience but also a good number of my clientele come from out of the Monterey Bay area. It was great meeting them for the first time and being introduced to their newborn child who is cute as a button. Instantly, we hit it off laughing and getting to know each other. They told me the details of the wedding and the kind of wedding photographer they are looking for. In my heart, I knew I could be the right photographer for them. I shared with them the approach R&R Photography takes with shooting weddings and all the products that come with each wedding package. It really isn't a hard sell as I make certain that I am as informative as possible so they may compare my photography skills and ideology to other wedding photographers. At the end of that first conversation, both Wally and Nicole and I felt it might work out which is a very good feeling. Their search for a wedding and engagement photographer is coming closer to an end.
Within the next week or so, Nicole and Wally contacted me and we were off to a beautiful engagement shoot at one of my favorite spots in the Monterey Bay area. They communicated their likes and dislikes about taking engagement photos in which I listened attentively and made the necessary arrangements for a great engagement shoot in Carmel and Big Sur. They trusted my expertise with the area and were open to my creativity and how I would like to photograph their engagement shoot. We started in Carmel in a quiet park where many locals meet and began taking photographs but also getting to know Nicole and Wally more. I gave them a lot of direction so they knew exactly what I was looking for but as the engagement shoot continued, both Wally and Nicole felt more comfortable in front of my camera. As an experienced photographer, I like to talk and joke around during the engagement shoots to ease the anxiety of my clients. It was a great pleasure taking these photographs of Wally and Nicole because they have great personalities and they are certainly made for each other. The compatibility of these two is quite noticeable, from their sense of humor and during my request of photographing their public displays of affection. I couldn't ask for anything more. From Carmel, we headed off south to Montasary Beach and towards Big Sur. With a half mile trek to the last location shoot, Wally and Nicole were good sports having a team of photographers capture these moments of love and serenity from the majestic trees and ocean view. Wally and Nicole's wedding will definitely be a highlight for R&R Photography in 2014.
I think it's easy to shoot in a beautiful setting such as the Perry House in Monterey. The property alone has a lot of historical sense and the interior design is very charming. The house is nestled on a hill that overlooks Fisherman's Wharf. Although, what really made the Perry House a home was the love that Cienna and Jesus brought. In celebration of their 10 year anniversary, Jesus and Cienna wanted an exclusive amount of family and friends to really celebrate their renewing of vows. The ceremony was in the backyard area of the Perry House under the Indian Summer sun of Monterey. Attendees witnessed how two people renew their love for one another through ritual and sharing their favorite poem. The personal touches of the ceremony really connected with the family and friends as Jesus and Cienna have a beautiful love story to live and tell. Their children were also their maid of honor and best man. Rightfully so, but I'm sure their family vacation to Disneyland the week after also had some pull with the kiddos. =)
Jesus and Cienna were delightful to meet since the first time we "Facebooked" and until now they consider me as a new friend. Their warmth and complimentary personalities are proof why they are such good people to know and to shoot for. Throughout their celebration, I over heard how loving and compassionate both Jesus and Cienna were. During a time of of sharing, it seemed that everyone wanted their chance to speak on how grateful they are to have been a part of Jesus and Cienna's lives.
Shooting an anniversary event has a similar feel to shooting a wedding, but there are some special moments that can't be captured in a wedding than with an anniversary, 10 year anniversary to that fact. History, is that ingredient. A 10 year anniversary celebration has that message of "We've been around enough to know a few things". It was a great experience to capture that moment and to wonder why not more people celebrate this monumental occasion. One can imagine the peaks and valleys a husband and wife would endure throughout their marriage. Way pass their "cupcake stage", a husband and wife of their magnitude required an unconditional love to devote toward themselves, each other and through their children and beyond.
The day was close to perfect as they imagined. From getting ready upstairs at the Perry House, their daughter was perfectly positioned for a timeless photo of her getting ready all the way to the end of the day where it seemed the party can last way past their "visiting hours". The photographs made that day were instant classics because Cienna and Jesus were so hospitable and open for me to really create their day expressively and honestly. So that's what really made the Perry House a home, even for a day. The inviting feeling of Jesus and Cienna celebrating their 10 year anniversary with close family and friends and myself with R&R Photography to capture the day's memories and events. Thank you again Jesus and Cienna for the honor of photographing your day. I hope these pictures help you relive this celebration and bring you a smile on how the next anniversary celebration will be. This is really when your moments should be noticed.
Wedding receptions has lots of life to it. Imagine already a day filled with laughter, love and tears of joy from the beginning of the day up to the ceremony. Most weddings should begin with a professional wedding photographer with each bride and groom. We cover their day getting ready with makeup and hair but also with the close family and friends tending to their needs. This can be a stressful time if no time tables have been set, but moreover each couple knows where they have to be at the start of the ceremony. Once the ceremony is underway, the procession begins and all the major participants are ready to go. The bride and groom take the stage and are forever linked through marriage. After formal family and wedding entourage photos inside the church, R&R Photography usually whisks their bride and grooms to another location to take a more intimate approach to wedding photography.
Then here comes the reception. The relief one must feel after the pre-ceremony and ceremony is unimaginable. Everyone now wants to party! This is where we take a small break and get ready to what’s to come; introductions, first dance, father/daughter and mother/son dance, speeches and prayers, bouquet and garter toss and cake cutting. Whew! So what’s our favorite part of shooting a reception? Well, two things; shooting candid photos and stolen moments. I personally love taking candid photos. I enjoy interacting with the guests and taking their photos. They know exactly who I am (two dslrs side to side) and what I’m there to do. “So do you mind if I take a photo of you two (all of you)?” Who says no, right? Lol.
The second thing I love about shooting receptions are capturing these “stolen moments”. These are moments of joy and happiness but also interesting in composition and exposure. It ties into the photojournalistic approach mentioned in last week’s blog but still holds true here. R&R Photography then goes into stealth mode and observes what’s going on in the reception room. The more interesting moments happen when you least expect them so experience is the best resource. I always find the bar to be a good start. There’s always a party there.
Receptions are fun to shoot for R&R Photography. Our personalities and skills to capture the right photos at the right time give us a great advantage to be a part of the fabric of a reception. The results are great photos that you can remember with as the years go by. Think of R&R Photography when booking your wedding or referring to your family and friends.
R&R Photography
R&R Photography
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Most professional engagement and wedding photographers have a distinct style that they are trying to convey to create a unique viewpoint towards wedding photography. Some of the most dated styles of photography include a traditional approach where the photographer will consistently pose the bride and groom as with other participants of the wedding. Few and far in between, these photographers will tend to use photography techniques to even the exposure and provide a clear photo of portraiture. Another sought out style of wedding photography includes photojournalism. Many photojournalist will commonly take on wedding gigs on the side to supplement their income as a freelance photographer, but may not fully instill there expertise towards such an approach. R&R Photography takes great preparation towards accomplishing their photojournalist approach.
Many clients will ask about photojournalism and we creatively respond to “politely ignoring us (R&R Photography) and enjoy your wedding day.” Our greatest strength is to take photos of the most unassuming moments of a wedding. From the bride putting on the finishing touches before the wedding ceremony all the way to stolen moments of a reception, R&R Photography captures these memories with the coordination of both professional photographers, Randy and Ron. Often enough, I would follow the bride throughout the wedding day, as Ron would follow the groom. On many occasions, R&R Photography will also switch our assignments to break up any monotony of routines but to also pick out vantage points from where each photographer is located throughout the wedding.
Having a photojournalistic approach to wedding photography provides a great sense of preparation in order to be at the right place at the right time during a wedding. R&R Photography communicates often with their clients to discuss timelines, locations and overall flow of the day. This prepares us on how to anticipate special moments. For example, R&R Photography often attends the wedding rehearsal of their brides and grooms so they may meet family and friends but to also get a first look on how the procession and recession is organized. As a result, the professional photographers of R&R Photography can place themselves in the most ideal locations for intimate photo opportunities such as the groom seeing his bride for the very first time.
These are what makes the moments of a wedding day so special. To have experienced wedding photographers anticipate the moments of a wedding and to capture them honestly and as it happens is highly valued for a bride and groom looking for more than candid and formal photographs. No script, no re-do, no problem. Randy and Ron of R&R Photography have been taking this approach to wedding photography for the past five years and past clients have raved about the intimate connection of our wedding photographs to the actual event/memory. Should these types of photographs be of value to you, please don’t hesitate in contacting R&R Photography for your wedding.
I was lucky enough to meet Craig and Cindy from a local bridal show in Monterey and they were impressed with the unique photojournalistic approach R&R Photography prides itself on. As explained at a local coffee shop in Monterey, where we followed up with them the next week, R&R Photography doesn’t mind being “politely ignored” as we love taking photographs as moments happen. Often enough we ask brides and grooms on how they want to enjoy their wedding day and the most common response is to just live the moments and have someone photograph them as they are happening. R&R Photography will sometimes “stage” photos as ensuring that light and photography composition is optimized but moreover, taking memorable photographs require anticipation. With experienced wedding photography, R&R Photography knows where to be in the most likely wedding moments.
For example, on any particular wedding day, family and friends cry at emotional event like the first time you see the bride or groom, when exchanging vows and at first looks. R&R Photography takes these moments and photographs them seamlessly and without disturbance. As a result, the bride and groom will be pleasantly surprised when seeing the photograph but get just as emotional as there will now be a remembrance or keep sake to cherish forever. We often achieve these photos with many photography tools such as professional DSLRs, a wide array of camera lenses and other tricks of the trade for photojournalistic wedding photography.
Craig and Cindy enjoyed this immensely as their wedding day was filled with a beautiful backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and natural settings of Pacific Grove. The special day began with family photos in the mid-morning and then Craig and Cindy greeted family and friends right before their intimate wedding ceremony. Cindy had a longtime friend and band mate perform during the wedding ceremony which filled the air with pleasant and relaxing music. In addition, she also had a very dear friend do a reading which brought an emotional smile to the bride and groom. The ceremony then ended with a romantic kiss that would be any wedding photographer’s must-have shots.
The reception was nestled in Cannery Row with beautiful sunlight and busy weekend tourist shouting out “congratulations!” as Craig and Cindy walked the streets and entered the restaurants. Close family and friends participated in the festivities as the bride and groom planned everything to a T. It was a Pinterest dream but with a more artistic and subtle finish. The food was delicious and the view was even more spectacular with local scuba divers and sail boats coasting the ocean. We even saw sea otters enjoying some abalone. Congratulations Craig and Cindy as we wish you a happy life together, forever.
A place of immense beauty, Monterey is an ideal setting for unforgettable wedding celebrations. When people get married here, they generally invest in one or more professional photographers. There's nothing quite like a nice collection of photos to immortalize a joyous union between two families. Whether planning weddings in Monterey or elsewhere, people should exercise care in choosing photographers. Each professional wedding photographer has unique strengths and abilities. While most of these professionals can do a decent job, certain skillful technicians can produce unusually artistic wedding images. Though these exceptional photographers deliver results that are well above average, they are often quite affordable. Many outstanding photography studios list remarkably low rates in order to improve their market shares.
Finding the Best Monterey Area Photographer
The best photography companies offer a wide variety of services. Beyond photographing receptions, forward-thinking studios advertise bridal portrait shoots, engagement shoots and even reception photo booths. Outstanding studios also provide leather-bound photo albums and highly affordable enlargements. Of course, professional photographers are flexible and able to document events of all types. Entertainers, lecturers and others often use professionals to photograph key engagements. For high school portrait shoots, look for a photographer who can create timeless portraits that age gracefully. To make the most of their available options, people should book photographers well in advance. Oftentimes, the most skillful photography studios have intensely busy schedules.
Best Days for Wedding Photography
For the purposes of hiring a photographer, it is important to know about peak wedding times. Overwhelmingly, Saturday is the most popular day for holding weddings. As a result, it can be tricky to hire in-demand photographers for Saturday receptions without plenty of notice. During the spring season, Saturday wedding receptions are particularly common. To book the best photographers for in-season weddings, it is advisable to book at least six months in advance.
Photographers with Experience
There are many fruitful avenues for researching brilliant local Monterey photographers. Since word-of-mouth advertising is generally quite reliable, it is sensible to consult friends and family members during this process. Looking over wedding albums is a fine way to get a feel for the available photography studios in any given area. When searching for studios, consult professionals who have experience in the wedding industry. Individuals in this category include wedding planners, caterers and florists. These sources often have inside knowledge about photographer attitudes and working styles. While photo quality and pricing are important considerations, people should also focus on finding professionals that are polite and easy to work with. On the day of the wedding, keeping the happy couple comfortable and relaxed can help produce better photos.
A Website Photography Portfolio is a must!
Needless to say, the Web is a tremendous resource for researching photographers. Studio websites always include samples of past work. Naturally, studios select from their best photos when designing website portfolios. Many customers will want to view a broader range of images before making their final decisions. Sending a quick email request can often produce more wedding photography samples. Keep in mind that different photographers have their own personal styles and may work best in different environments. For example, some photographers specialize in outdoor events while others are more comfortable shooting indoors with backdrops and props. Though individual abilities vary, a skilled wedding photographer is typically quite adaptable.
Well before the wedding date, it is important to communicate the needs and preferences of the couple and the wedding party. Some weddings are playful and unusual while others are more traditional and formal. These days, unconventional theme weddings are rapidly gaining popularity. Discuss these choices with photographers to ensure that they arrive ready and able to deliver satisfactory photos. As a final word of advice, always read over photography contracts carefully before signing. This measure can prevent surprises and ensure a more positive photography experience.
Call for more information
To speak to a professional photographer serving the Monterey Bay area, call R&R Photography at 831-540-5087.
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l have always enjoyed shooting a wedding for younger couples like Luis and Lorena. Their energy and open-mindedness to have a photographer like ourselves to be totally creative but also taking the traditional formal photos are a good balance towards wedding photography. Since we first met them at a local coffee shop in Salinas earlier in 2013, wedding advisement have been consistent with open lines of communication. Often Lorena would ask about the timeline of a wedding day and for the most part, R&R Photography likes to accommodate but we will share our experience as we shoot a good number of weddings each year.
Ideally, R&R Photography would like to shoot all the formal wedding entourage and family photos prior to the ceremony. As wedding tradition, the bride and groom don’t normally see each other prior to the ceremony but many of our clients are now open to seeing each other with a great wedding photo opportunity that we call “the first look”. Imagine blindfolding the groom and having his bride stand either beside him or behind him. With careful directions, R&R Photography will document the moment of having the groom see his bride for the first time and often enough resulting in tears from both the bride and groom. In all cases, this is a great moment to remember.
While the typical first look in a church wedding is having the groom look at his immediate future wife down a church aisle, it is important for wedding photographers to place themselves where they can capture that moment sincerely and without disruption of the procession. R&R Photography ranks this moment as an important photograph. Through the church wedding mass, we also take our time in capturing the most significant moments while being considerate of the pastor’s request of not taking photographs during the most important mass activities.
Once the wedding is complete and after a few minutes of receiving wedding congratulations, the bride and groom are whisked back into the church for formal photos as requested. R&R Photography is great in preparing all the necessary lighting and posing so these photographs are time efficient but also organized so more family photos can be taken. In all, R&R Photography understands the significance of these formal photos as it is a long time staple in wedding photography.
Overall, Luis and Lorena were a great joy to work with as R&R Photography was lucky enough to shoot their engagement photos in beautiful San Francisco. Luis, a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan, wanted their first location to be at AT&T Park. Their wedding and reception was beautifully set in Hollister, California. Thank you to Luis and Lorena for having R&R Photography as your engagement and wedding photographer. We wish all the best and happiness.
A few months ago, R&R Photography had the pleasure of meeting Fred and Sulema who were referred from past clients of ours. They remembered the professionalism and the great photos Ron Verba took at Fred's best man's wedding, Mark. With no doubt Fred knew who he wanted for his engagement and wedding photographers. So Ron sat down with the couple at a local coffee shop and collaborated on their engagement shoot and tentatively planning with their wedding. Many ideas come into play from the exact shooting location, day and time and the mood of the final result. At the end, R&R Photography created a beautiful outdoor engagement shoot in Carmel Valley which Fred and Sulema's family and friends enjoyed deeply.
At the day of the wedding, both Fred and Sulema were very nervous and excited. Family and friends traveled far and wide to share their very special day. Madonna Del Sasso church was decorated with flowers and had a solemn tone once you entered the church. As the wedding ceremony started, a sense of magic seemed to unfold. Church music filled the air and smiles upon smiles from guest and the wedding entourage as they entered the church. R&R Photography captured every moment in a calm and serene matter as there are limitation to shooting a church wedding in many cases. As experienced wedding photographers, R&R Photography knows how to get the right church wedding photographs at the right time. No flash, no close ups of the bride and groom at the alter, no problem! We still captured it all.
At the end of the wedding ceremony, that's when this young bride and groom got to really show off their excitement. They really wanted to party so after all the formal and traditional family wedding photographs in the church we headed out to a secluded part of a local park with beautiful willow trees and take amazing photos of the bride and groom along with their wedding entourage. The wedding group photos were fun and energetic so it was a bit challenging changing the tone of the moment, but we had to get some photos of the bride and groom alone. So we then asked the group to "take a walk", politely of course. The result was a moment of sigh and relief from Fred and Sulema and really soak in the freshness of being married.
Below are those remarkable wedding photographs that the bride and groom can enjoy for their lifetime. It's astonishing to see these two show their emotions and happiness in front of the camera as I know it may be difficult for some to just act as honest and natural as can be. Their reception was just as beautiful with more food and drink than one can imagine.
Thank you Fred and Sulema and we wish you all the best with your marriage and to beautiful life that is ahead of you.
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Since the first time we met Angel and Daisy at a bridal show, there was a good feeling about this young couple. They were well mannered and very nice. They also explained how beautiful they planned to have their church wedding and reception close to the beach. We enjoyed meeting with them through out the engagement and wedding planning. In the end, their special day was shared with close family and friends and with a reception full of laughter and activities for everyone. Angel and Daisy looked so happy together and these photos are just a glimpse of what their wedding day looked like. Enjoy.
This wedding had all the make ups to becoming a fun-filled event. When I entered the hotel room where Leslie and her bridesmaids were getting ready, there was already a party atmosphere. The lovely ladies are already sipping on mimosas the room was filled with laughter and anticipation. The bride was taking her time in getting ready, as she should and when we got to the venue, guests had already arrived and wedding details were unfolding quite nicely. Jake and Leslie had a beautiful wedding overlooking the Monterey Bay with close family and friends. They enjoyed dinner and we even got some time to sneak away for a quick bridal portraits session at the beach nearby. We definitely enjoyed capturing all the beautiful moments of the day, from the pre-ceremonial preparations all the way to dancing the night away. Congratulations again Jake and Leslie! =)]]>
Weddings can be emotional and with this particular special day there was no exception. There was a lot of tears of joy, laughter and love filling the cool Seaside air. I've known the bride, Monica, for a long time and was so happy that she chose me as her wedding photographer. Her exact words were, "I'm glad that it will be you taking photos of my wedding because it will be that more personal." It truly was as I knew most of the bridal party and some of the guests. The wedding decor was set for a Spring wedding with a beautiful wedding cake and lots of sweets and the outdoor view of the Monterey Bay was more than anyone could ask for. Joshua and Monica were great through out the whole day and partied the night away. So much fun.
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This Memorial Day weekend was all about travel, enjoying great scenery and meeting an unforgettable bride and groom and their family. From the start, I was excited to hear about their wedding plans and visualizing how I would shoot their engagement and wedding in Lake Tahoe. Since Nina was in constant contact with me up to the date, many of my fellow wedding photographers feared that she was a potential bridezilla. Once hearing that I merely scoffed at the notion and told them "I have a gut feeling that this couple will be absolutely fine and more enough prove how great they are." Plus they were referrals from a recent bride and I know Amanda wouldn't steer me wrong. =) The whole weekend was absolutely fun driving around the lake and taking some amazing photographs of these two. I definitely wanted to capture the beauty of the landscape, play with shadows from historic pines and evergreens but also show the love Paul and Nina had for each other. Congratulations again and we'll see them again in 2014! =)
Lookbooks are a revived platform of showing off a collection of photographs to show off a model, a photographer, a style, or a clothing line. This has been practiced from many established designers and models but now is more practiced with upcoming fashion creatives and easy to manage as the entire project doesn't need a lot of chiefs. As a photographer, it's a great extension of collaborating with others but to also create a vision collectively. Love Baggage is a cute design from my new friend Tera in Aptos, CA. Her throwback style mixed with modern ingenuity has a versatile make up of cigar box purses and 1950's fashion. I enjoyed trading texts with her in the prior weeks of finalizing the game plan. With shooting two models in the forrest of Nisene Marks the photo shoot was filled with lots of walking but also quirky fun and spending a Friday morning in an unusual place for most of us. It was a great contrast to the designer and environment, plus anytime outdoors in nature is always a great time for me. With more lookbook projects in the near future, expect to see a few more in the near future.
As I normally blog about all things related to weddings, I recently had some other opportunities outside portraiture and event photography. With the rise of Pinterest and Instagram, it seems that everyone loves taking quick photos of food, me included! While making my monthly visit to one of my favorite sushi restaurants (shot out to sushi chef Joey), the owner/manager invited me to take more photos as they are looking into revamping their menu with updated photos of their most popular sushi rolls. Without hesitation I said yes and quickly she replied "how much?". I smiled and said, "Well whatever you pay me I'm coming back to use it for sushi!" We laughed and proposed that a good family sushi dinner will suffice. So once the picture menu comes out, I'll be taking my wife and kids to not only enjoy a well prepared dinner but to also enjoy the fruits of my labour. It doesn't match the creativity and fun of shooting engagement and wedding events but it does have it's perks. Arigato.
On behalf of Ron and myself, we would like to thank everyone for support and praise we have received since starting our photography business in 2008. Since then, we have come across wonderful people who love our style of wedding photography and had exceptional feedback from past brides, grooms, family and friends. In addition, the folks that decided not to book with R&R Photography had expressed their own remorse wishing what could have been.
With our brand of customer service, we stay engaging, entertaining and energetic. Enough E's for you! R&R Photography definitely wants to under promise and over deliver! We want our brides and grooms to know that our lines of communication is always open and love to hear how they envision their special day. With that, R&R Photography then incorporates their creativity to our own. The result is personalized wedding photographs that show the honesty of their day.
Secondly, our style of photography is a nice blend of editorial work, documentary compositions and candids. Ron usually uses longer focal length lenses to capture the day, similar to covering sporting events and concerts. He captures those stolen moments of when the bride or groom isn't necessarily looking at the photographer. They know he's there but his style really becomes stealth in times of joy and happiness. Along with my approach of documenting the day with shorter focal lenses, I have more of a sweeping landscape that shows an intimate outlook towards the subject. With my outgoing personality, I'm more likely to do the talking and giving directions of how the day should unfold. Lastly, we both love candids! Imagine the reception with two wedding photographers taking photographs of people dancing and having a good time. Don't be surprised to see us sing every song during the reception! =)
Within this year, we have reached over 1000 people with our Facebook posts and currently have more than 900 people hitting "like" on our Facebook fan page. We want to express our gratitude and humility to you all. Often enough people ask why we have been so successful and our response comes too quickly with setting the stage on our approach to customer service and our style of photography. Thank you again and all the best.
~Randy and Ron; R&R Photography
R&R Photography with Randy Fenoli from Say Yes to the Dress
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When meeting Fred and Sulema you may think they are another couple looking forward to getting married, when in fact like many relationships that come to this point their love story has many layers. Through peaks and valleys both were able to overcome what other relationships may have been faced with. Instead, Fred and Sulema were able to nurture their love for one another and start the next chapter of their lives. Together they make a beautiful couple and have a great bond. Through out their engagement shoot, we can see a sense of family that will be instilled long after the wedding. Their son showed his presence through out the day doing what young boys do; galavanting, playing with others and even sneaking to get a quick photo with mom and dad. At the end of the day, breaking bread with Fred and Sulema's family was also joy. We all laughed at jokes, talk stories and enjoyed everyone's company. Like all engagement shoots, R&R Photography takes these moments to really get to know the bride and groom and relive the times of how they met, how they fell in love and how they decided to live together in matrimony.
Carlos and Renee had a beautiful wedding nestled in the hills of Seaside, CA. With the fog rolling in at first glance, one may think that the wedding photos may not turn as planned. Instead, they were pleasantly surprised as I used the fog to capture some texture in the sky behind majestic cypress trees. The venue itself is beautiful and while I was there taking wedding photographs, I also doubled as an impromptu events coordinator. It wasn't hard at all to move the activities of their first dance, cake cutting and speeches to a seamless string of memories. I wish them well as they are back in Germany and hope to see them soon. Carlos - thank you for your service and patriotism. Renee - thank you for supporting him. Come home safely and soon. ~Randy of R&R Photography
It was a great day hanging out with these two. Steven and Alyssa are very down to earth and the car ride down to Big Sur was filled with good music, great conversations and laughter. While most think of Big Sur for it's beautiful coastline, there are a lot more to offer with historic trees, running creeks and other natural sites to view. Having an engagement shoot there was a no-brainer as Steven, Ron and I visit these parts as often as we can. The engagement photos have an honesty to the love Steven and Alyssa have for one another. It's natural, simple and subtly artistic. The colors and photo composition is also a detriment to their easy flowing relationship. With their summer wedding soon approaching, we are excited to see these two live their lives together in happiness with more dogs to add to their family in the coming years. =)
Sandra and Cristian are planning a destination wedding but wanted engagement photos here at home. I've known Sandra through other weddings as she is a phenomenal make up artist. Last year, I had the honor of working with Sandra on a bridal shoot. Her work speaks for herself and like me, Sandra's passion to be creative and bring the beauty out of things leaves her clients wanting more. Cristian was a great sport too. Being a man's man, taking professional photographs takes some time to open up to. He enjoyed it and showed his gratitude at the end of the shoot with admiration. This set of engagement photos provide a window of the love both have for each other. Carmel was beautiful that day and with calm winds and a good overcast, the photo shoot went off without a hitch. Congratulations Cristian and Sandra and have fun getting married later this year!
I've known Ryan for over a decade now and when he asked me to not only be his wedding photographer but his best man, I thought of what an honor it is to be considered both. I absolutely love wedding photography and love capturing those moments of happiness and joy. Now I have the pleasure of also acting as the best man for Ryan and Lisa. So what's the best gift that I can give these two love birds? "How about an engagement shoot in San Francisco, you guys?" They absolutely loved it. Not only was it picturesque but there was a deeper meaning with Ryan and Lisa. In their early days, they would travel to the city to spend time together but to also get to know each other. The Golden Gate Bridge especially was a special location for these two. It's was a great day filled with fun, inside jokes and a great sushi dinner on Lombard Street. R&R Photography continues to aim to please.
When photographing brides, it's important to make sure that signature photographers capture their honesty and joy. Often enough, it isn't hard to make a bride smile during her wedding day so it makes our job that much easier. R&R Photography loves to find quirky spots that may not initially look like a picturesque spot until you see the final product. This is where trust between the bride and photographer is important. Photos like these don't come as natural when you doubt the creativity of your wedding photographer. When deciding on a wedding photographer, think about their approach to weddings. If they match with yours, then you have a pretty good fit for some fantastic photographs. Your wedding day should be filled with fun, laughter and joy. Don't you think your photos should reflect the same thing? With R&R Photography, it's our priority to show those moments in an artistic and cinematic way.
With the 2012 wedding season officially closed, it was nice to be a guest at a wedding. Often enough, wedding photographers may be so focused with that task at hand, they may not always soak in the essence of a wedding. In my case, as a true photographer, I still have a camera at hand and really enjoyed taking photos of my closest friends and family. The wedding location was subtly nestled in the heart of the central coast and even in October, the weather was pleasantly surprising with warm tones and laughter filling the air. This wedding was even more special as my 10 year old daughter, Kayla also picked up her camera to get some amazing photos of the bride and groom as well as the details of the wedding in which puts everything together. The feel of these photos come very close to my heart as they were all shot in either 35mm film or medium format.
With R&R Photography, we know the importance of capturing the details of a wedding. From the wedding venue, flowers, rings and all the way down to the wedding dress, they are significant pieces to making the entire day perfect. We make sure to capture these images in artistic ways with influences from commercial and fashion photography. What really sets us apart is the nature in which we take them, mostly in natural light with the help of staging them to show their beauty and create emotions of happiness and awe. Should a bride and groom invest in having these wedding details captured, count on R&R Photography to not only take beautiful images of them but to also present them in a modern and simple approach.
Twice a year, R&R Photography participates in bridal shows. The excitement of meeting new brides and grooms carry a new meeting during these events as we have the opportunity to talk about their wedding expectations all the way down to the minute details and their expectations with wedding photography. We always come across folks that love our style of photography but more importantly enjoy our approach to weddings. We show off our recent weddings and products and services we offer. At the end of the day, we meet with hundreds of new people and follow up to book more weddings for the upcoming season. At the end of the day, we are more excited as it sets the tempo for next year. We can't wait to shoot more engagements and weddings... after the holiday season, of course. =)]]>
Developing your own film can be the end piece of truly creating a photograph. Now I know with the factors of digital photography, ease of sharing pictures via social media and the craftsmanship of 35mm and medium format film it may not be for everyone. Even master photographers have veered away from film photography but the essence of creating a photograph from start to finish has a therapeutic and emotional release. The idea of developing your own film gives bigger sense of completion. While post-editing in Photoshop may be more of the norm, there is still an art to taking a roll of film and manifesting it to a deeper layer. Take in point these photos of my children. Kayla (above) is 10 years old. A decade later what will be the state of film photography? A lost art or losing art form? None the less, I will continue to develop my own film as well as work in the digital realm but the concept of photography is to created a photo from start to finish. How one does that is individualized but for the bigger purpose of art, involves mastery and craftsmanship.
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High school seniors all across the country have anticipated the excitement of finishing their last year of high school. With the projection of moving on past high school, many seniors may do a number of different things upon graduation. From going to college, joining the military, traveling or volunteering high school seniors are looking to soak in the moments. That's where senior portraits come into play. By looking at a R&R Photography senior portrait, one may remember the specific time in their life where it sincerely is the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. These photos capture that essence of a grown child manifesting into a young adult. The joy and laughter through their smiles and eyes bring enjoyment throughout their family and friends. We love to see these photos on their Facebook pages with comments upon comments of "Congratulations" and "great pic!"
The concept is pretty simple. Take at least one photo everyday for the next year (365 days). Now accomplishing it may be the challenge and really the enjoyment if you're a serious shutterbug. Every wake up and think, "What photograph am I taking today?" Okay maybe too extreme but the ability to take a photo a day can be fun and stress free. I encourage everyone to try it and see how long you can last. One may agree that life is art. If that's the case, then there should be artistry within an arm's reach of you. Now we all can't shoot weddings every weekend but the beauty of photography is expression emotion, a particular subject or exposing dramatic scenes. It's all there when you know the right place to look. See photography cinematically like a movie. Then one may find what's worth taking a photo of. You can also try taking more than one photo through out the day and choosing the best one to present. That's easy. So go ahead, pick up any device that captures a picture and shoot away!
Quinceaneras and debuts seems to be an event we shooting more of and totally love. From the cultural and traditional roots to the modern celebration of family and friends dressed up and enjoying the night away. Similar to shooting weddings, the event is full of love, laughter and admiration. For these young women, have total attention of the room may seem overwhelming but a great opportunity to show how loved ones celebrate a young girl to womanhood. These moments are often defining chapter's in their lives and set the tempo for the rest of their adolescence. Now I'm sure I may be over analyzing the matter and any reason to party is a good reason, but finding the artistry in these events have been fun and innovative. The expressions found behind the lens show each young lady as happy as can be.
R&R Photography loves engagement photo sessions! Often enough no destination is too far and the collaboration between all participants makes these photo sessions individualized. Prior to the shoot, R&R Photography will discuss your ideas and how we can incorporate them to our style of photography. This gives us the opportunity to really know our bride and groom. Not only are photographs expressing their adoration for one another, but conversations always include laughter, joy and some quirky antics from Randy and Ron. The beautiful thing is at your wedding day, you will know R&R Photography well enough to not hesitate to ask for a candid. At that moment, R&R Photography knows that their best photography will happen on your special day.
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Photography in itself is a powerful medium to remember events and moments in one's life. Wedding photography has been a great experience for us to really connect with other people that we would have never met in the first place. I have had brides and grooms so down to earth and honest with each other that their wedding day shows the truth of celebrating love with family and friends. The photography then becomes beautiful in itself because the love has lead the lens to what is can be captured in a photograph. As a photographer we are lead to what should be captured, your moments.]]>
With a semi-underground fad that only extended to skilled shutter bugs and hipsters that obviously try too hard with their entry level dslr, street photography has come to increase in population within the last few years. While there are a couple of street photographers that I visit on YouTube, my rendition of street photography is half stealth and half tourist. Monterey and Santa Cruz are two of the most interesting places to shoot in these parts. With that you get great photos of our home and the beauty and artistic approach towards whom come from all over the world to see.]]>