The third time turned out to be the charm for Sarah and Brad’s engagment session in La Jolla. Our first date was rained out, and the next time it looked like “Victory at Sea“ weather, so we decided to punt and see what the next Saturday would bring. It was worth the wait! Windansea looked like a postcard when we met at the stairs by Nautilus St.
I learned a few things on this shoot too. That green algae type stuff that grows on the rocks is slippery. Really, really slippery. I’m officially done wearing hiking sandals to beach sessions! The mud around the stairs is pretty slippery too, but you’d have to ask Brad about that. Despite the small comedy of errors, we actually had a terrific session.
Sarah and Brad will be getting married at the La Jolla Country Club this June and I am psyched to be their photographer.
This is the proper way to get down to the sand. I went the hard way!
By special request….
Last October I was taking pictures of fire coming over the hills at 5:00 am, and now on Valentines day I’m seeing Snow at 5:00 pm. I don’t remember every seeing snow this low on the mountains before, so I thought it would fun to share a snapshot. (Okay, Denver has mountains, these are more like hills) This is just the view from our back yard. 
Last Friday night I was lucky enough to attend the opening of the Herman Leonard exhibition at the Morrison Hotel Gallery on Prospect in La Jolla. Herman Leonard is perhaps best known for his iconic images of Jazz musicains in the during the 1940’s and 50’s. His love of photography and music combined to inspire a beautiful backlit style with incredible feeling. If you’re not familiar with Mr. Leonard by name, no doubt you have seen his images: Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington….and on and on. (Oh, and Albert Einstein.)
It is worth whatever you have to do to see prints like his first-hand. I have to confess that I haven’t unrapped a roll of film in almost ten years, but one minute in the gallery suddennly made me homesick for it. Herman shot with sheet film using the speed-graph cameras of the day. That large piece of film yields just stunning amounts of detail. The beauty is in the details almost as much as it is in the character of his subjects. His approach and the depth he creates with backlight is timeless.
You can imagine what a joy it was to actually meet the photographer himself during the reception! Herman came out for the opening, kindly answering any and all questions and laughing non-stop. He allowed me to impose on him for a picture in the gallery, which I had to work up the nerve to ask for. He couldn’t have been nicer. He said in an interview on KPBS the other day that people often take photographs with little regard for the backgrounds and they wind up with telophone poles coming out of people’s heads….well, I just wound up with picture frames instead. (check out the interview from “These Days”) I believe most in attendance took advantage of the opportunity to pick up a copy of Mr. Leonards’ most recent book “Jazz, Giants, and Journeys” I have to share what my inscription reads: “For Philip- Keep shooting, use film, but above all, Enjoy the music!” How cool is that?
Even though January isn’t exactly the busiest month of the year for weddings, I’m still keeping busy with all kinds of projects. 2008 is shaping up to be my best year yet as I already have twice as many weddings on the books as I did last year at this time. (Whooo Hooo!) I’m looking forward to shooting in some places that I haven’t shot before, like the La Jolla Country Club and the Park Plaza in Los Angeles. Some of the familiar places are changing too, such as the new ceremony space (with waterfall!) going in at L’Auberge in Del Mar. If you’re thinking of inquiring about your date, please do. I’ll be happy to check my calendar for you asap.
I’ve been doing more and more portrait work these days and I’m enjoying it immensely. For photographers, weddings are about making very quick technical and creative decisioins in order to keep up with the pace of events. It’s one of my favorite aspects of my job: I never shoot the same event twice! Photographing portraits on location is similar in some ways, but the pace is definitely more relaxed. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing several kids and families in recent weeks and it’s inspired me to want to do more.
This is Jakob at the park. He’s six, going on twelve.
Jakob with his Mom, Jacqueline. (I can’t remember how many languages she speaks, but it’s a lot!)
Everything came up cherries for Holly & Steven last week in Las Vegas. We met up at the neon boneyard on the north end of town for their engagement session. Even though it was about 40 degrees outside, they were psyched and ready to go. It was like a fast trip through the halcyon days of Vegas, winding our way around old signs from the original Stardust, Alladin, and the odd wedding chapel or two - though I think the popular favorite was the giant bow-tied pump from the Silver Slipper. Since we were only a few blocks from Fremont St. we spent a few minutes there rounding out our evening, before grabbing a drink (or two, it’s Vegas after all) back at the hotel.
Getting to Vegas was a road trip for everybody involved, but I know we all agree that it was worth it. Holly & Steven will be getting married in San Diego this February and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing them both again.
Check out the slideshow:
Amy and Scott were psyched and ready to go for their engagement session last Sunday. We planned on shooting just as long as there was still light in the sky, but then we kept on going; which was great, because time really does fly when you’re having fun. Amy and Scott were happy to try out all kinds of things, whether it was sneaking through the La Valencia Hotel, or shooting in a parking garage, they hung in there with aplomb. We spent a little time by the water, not far from where Scott proposed to Amy, before going underground to finish the session.
Amy and Scott have been thinking about having their wedding in Maui, but I’m still trying to talk them into Paris. ( “Oh gee, you mean I have to take all my camera gear to Paris? really? ) Can you imagine Amy, peaking through her veil, with Le Tour Eiffel over her shoulder? I can!
Alison and Robert
The Yacht “Newport Hornblower”
Saturday, November 10, 2008
I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Alison and Robert last Saturday aboard the yacht “Newport Hornblower” on San Diego Bay. The downtown streets were starting to fill up with Veterans Day parade bands as Alison made her way to the yacht via pedicab, along with the rest of the bridal party, to board for the 10 am cruise. ( A bride in a pedicab isn’t something you see everyday! )
The ceremony was short and sweet, and soon everbody was able to relax and enjoy being out on the water with blue skies and clear sailing. Friends and relatives from as far afield as Pennsylvania and Texas enjoyed the cruise, remarking on the beauty of San Diego from the bow, especially as we toured Point Loma near the yacht club.
After the cruise, it was just a quick ride in the limo up the hilll to Balboa Park for all the group photographs. Alison and Robert were both really down to earth and a lot of fun to be around, and I think it shows in their images.
It is a rule: You have to kiss under the bridge!
…and they lived happily ever after!
