So far I have posted a preview of Jess and Alex’s beautiful wedding at Firestone Vineyard in Los Olivos, but after Sunday brunch with the newlyweds yesterday I decided that today I would blog their rehearsal dinner at Trattoria Grappolo in Santa Ynez. Their rehearsal dinner was truly one of the most love-filled, emotional evenings I’ll probably ever be a part of. They have such an inspiring, supportive community of family and friends, many of whom spoke during the dinner. With so many people speaking straight from the heart, it felt intimate in a really different way that the more formal speeches of a wedding day, and I don’t think anyone made it through the night without a tear or two (or, let’s be honest, just a cascade of them).

In a not so typical version of photographing an event, I also put my camera down and spoke as well. I simply had to! During our first “meeting”, we didn’t start talking details about their wedding or photography for at least an hour. As they told me about themselves and how they fell in love, I had my first glimpse into the sort of couple they are and how they welcome people into their lives in a deeply authentic way. The minute they explained to me that they weren’t looking for typical wedding “vendors” but people who would become friends and feel emotionally invested in their wedding, I knew that some wonderful magical hidden design in the universe had led to us meeting. It still just amazes me that these two dear friends of mine have only come into my life so recently.

Up next…the bridal party luncheon!

After I featured her on the Portraiteer, we met up for coffee at Toms and walked around Abbot Kinney and the Venice Canals. During that coffee date, we decided we wanted to venture a little further afield the next time we met up, which is how our road trip to Newport got dreamt up!

Be sure to read Rachel’s blog post all about our road trip and her review of our brunch spot, Haute Cakes Caffe (which we chose thanks to the thoughtful recommendation of my friend Alex and some of Rachel’s blog readers!). Haute Cakes Caffe is one of those truly special places that feels full of local warmth and community, and serves food worth driving to Newport for. Rachel and I sat in the lovely outdoor courtyard for ages, we couldn’t muster the will to leave! Also, Haute Cakes wins my vote for having so many great gluten-free options, including a gluten-free English muffin that, magically unlike all other gluten-free bread attempts, doesn’t taste like cardboard. I can’t wait to try the gluten-free pancakes the next time I go. In case I haven’t made this clear previously, I have a pretty religious feeling about Sunday brunch. It is hands down my favorite part of the week.

I was super nervous about this portrait session because it was my first senior shoot. When Katie asked me to do her senior portraits I actually wasn’t sure because the trend in senior portrait photography is very posed, very Photoshopped, and it just didn’t seem like a good fit with my photography style. Which is when I had the slightly obvious aha! moment of…maybe I could do senior portraits my way, more natural and organic feeling, more candid and lifestyle, less airbrushed perfection and more personality.

After having a lovely time during this portrait session, I am pretty excited about the idea of doing more senior portraits next year. Claremont High juniors, hit me up! Granted, this portrait session was pretty easy because Katie is relaxed, sweet and totally gorgeous, so I can’t take too much credit for how great these photos are. All I can remember is me saying things like “ooooooooh, what if you went and stood there! and then…YES!” and lots of laughing, mostly at my strange leaping-around photo-antics. We started the shoot in Claremont near The Grove Vintage store because Katie’s mother Donna owns it and it is a significant place for her, then we wandered around a parking lot and an alley (thanks Katie for being up for creative collaboration and my random suggestions!) and finally we went to an open field near Thompson Creek Trail; I love that we were able to do something kind of modern and urban as well as vintage and rustic. So, without further ado, the first Sorella Muse senior session!

Jessica and Amanda were on the Harvard softball team together, and all of their softball teammates showed up en masse! It was so fun to see their energy and support for Amanda and Tom’s marriage. I’ve just been reminded more and more this summer how much weddings are about the community of friends and family that you call upon to support you as you embark upon the crazy-wonderful-challenging-beautiful adventure that committing your life to someone else’s must be (this is just me guessing at the moment, the closest thing I have to a spouse is my sister, but we certainly bicker like an old married couple…)

The Mitten Building was a gorgeous location for both the ceremony and reception, I was s(mitten) (GET IT?!) with the vintage vibe and all the exposed brick. The details of this wedding were so thoughtful, but then again, the minute I see peonies I’m just kind of joyfully floating for the rest of the day. Oh peonies, you steal my breath every. single. time. And I have to say I was amazed by how lovely the bridesmaid’s baby’s breath bouquets were; such a great inexpensive idea for a rustic summer wedding. Also, how cool is the old-fashioned fire truck that Tom’s friend brought for them to take some of their couple pictures with? I thought that was a wonderfully unique element to incorporate since Tom is a firefighter. Since I’m kind of obsessed with everything vintage, it’s not such a surprise that my computer now has like hundreds of photos of this firetruck on it. Anyways. Total tangent.

Congrats Amanda + Tom, and thanks so much Jessica for having me along to second shoot!

It is so important to me to continually be working on creative projects as a photographer. Shooting just for fun, just because, picking up my camera and exploring somewhere new, whether it be another country or an unknown city block, is central to pushing my creativity and I know that it contributes to my work as a wedding and portrait photographer by challenging me to constantly look at what’s before me and ask myself how I can capture it slightly differently than I usually might.

Derek is also Harvard 2010, but we only met this past January at a mutual friend’s party, and we somewhat hilariously decided to get together the next day for an impromptu photo shoot. He was in the Hasty Pudding at Harvard and is now an aspiring pop singer in New York. I love meeting people gutsy enough for creative pursuits, it inspires me so much. Derek was ridiculously patient with my random portrait ideas (what it’s like to be photographed by me: “hmmm…that wall looks cool, go stand there, and like, crouch sort of, and yeahhh, like stand this way, only more like…yeahhhhh…”). I’m so glad we got to know each other while photo-wandering around the lower east side, even though it was COLD…we had to take a taxi to the Brooklyn Bridge, we were shivering like crazy, but it was worth it. Thanks again Derek for being such a great creative collaborator and rad model!

I met Jess and Michael when I sat next to them during dinner at Kim and Ben’s off the grid, organic wedding at Oz Farm last summer. Imagine my delight when I got an e-mail from Jess in my inbox just a few months later after they got engaged! Jess and Michael are two very much in love musical nerds who entirely embrace being weird. And I love that! I mean, let me just say that again: I love love love that. You just know when you are around people who are authentic and true to themselves, and who even take a moment during their ceremony to acknowledge that they appreciate their weirdness. Yes! That happened.

I can’t rhapsodize nearly enough about the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. It is such a lovely Berkeley wedding venue, with the incredible landscaping and the lush variety of plants, trees, and flowers. It truly makes for a natural, whimsical, and intimate garden-setting. Jess and Michael got married in the morning in the misty redwood grove amphitheater, light filtering in through the trees. Afterwards there was a fun brunch reception resplendent with mimosas, and then a gap in the day before the tea ceremony and party at night, which took place at the Lake Merritt Sailboat House in Oakland. (My love of a great party is often indulged by being a wedding photographer! What says fun like a jazz band and great cocktails?)

One last thing I just have to say about this couple: they were so present. Weddings can of course be busy, hectic days with logistics and mini-crises and guests to greet and a timeline to be followed, but nothing is more important than being present with the person you love. While we were doing the couple portraits, I was so moved to see this deep awareness of the commitment they were making to each other that day, and the love that motivated that commitment. Congrats Jess and Michael!

Alyssa, second shooter extraordinaire! If you’ve second shot for me, you know exactly what this photo is: a light test.

As I was going through the images from Jess + Michael’s wedding at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, I was reminded just how amazing it is to have a second shooter at a wedding. (Especially when that second shooter is Alyssa. Thank you so much for your help, you rock!)

Like a lot of wedding photographers, I started building my wedding portfolio through second shooting. Most second shooters are photographers who have their own businesses, who are either just starting out and looking to expand their portfolio and learn from another wedding photographer, or who just enjoy the greater creative freedom that comes with second shooting because you don’t have the same responsibility as the lead photographer. I absolutely love to second shoot, I think it keeps me on my creative toes, and I love getting to hang out with another photographer and see how they work. I am second shooting two weddings this weekend as a matter of fact, and can’t wait to blog about them soon. For anyone looking at getting into second shooting, there are some great tips on how to be an amazing second shooter HERE and HERE.

As I would help with keeping the family group photos going smoothly and efficiently, as I shot the reception details because the lead photographer had to be somewhere else and the timeline was too tight for them to photograph them later, as I hung out with the guys getting ready while the lead photographer was with the bridal party, or just plain carried bags, changed lenses or grabbed the photographer a glass of water, I began to understand the benefits of having a second photographer at your wedding. I know from talking to couples that it can be hard to see the need or value of having a second photographer, which is why I wanted to write a quick post about why I think it’s a brilliant idea:

1. Two Photographers, Two Places: The most basic fact is that no photographer can be in two places at once (I know, I’ve tried). And there are certain moments during a wedding when you really want to be in two places at once, usually from a practical standpoint re: the timeline. For example, if the bride and groom are in separate places while getting ready, the second photographer can hang out with the groom while the main photographer is with the bridal party.

2. Two Photographers, Two Vantage Points: Two photographers allows for different angles, different lenses, and different viewpoints of the same scene. This is one of the biggest reasons I love having a second shooter. There are so many times when I want my camera pointed in two directions during a big wedding moment! For example, I often focus on the expression on the bride’s face as she walks down the aisle and have my second shooter capture the groom’s face as he sees her for the first time. I work with fixed prime lenses because I think they produce the most beautiful images, but when something is happening quickly, like the bride putting on her dress or the first kiss, this means I have to choose for either a tighter shot or a wide shot because I can’t zoom in and out, even though I obviously want both! With a second shooter, one of us can photograph that lovely tight shot as the dress is zipped up, while the other can be positioned to capture a wide shot focusing on the bride’s, family members and bridal party’s expressions. You’ve hired your lead photographer because you trust in their artistic vision and wedding experience, but having a second photographer just brings another perspective and another creative eye to best tell the story of your wedding day.

3. Cocktail Hour, Candids and Details: The hour after the ceremony is usually the time having a second photographer is key. Some portion of this time is usually when couple portraits are done, and the lead photographer can’t be at the cocktail hour also capturing fun party candids. Your closest friends are all dressed up and celebrating your wedding, it’s definitely worth having someone there to photograph that! Besides the cocktail hour, the lead photographer has so many shots they need to get, that it can be difficult to also grab a ton of candid shots and details throughout the day, whereas the second photographer can focus on these almost exclusively. So having a second photographer is particularly important for couples who have invested a lot of time, thought and love into all the details of their wedding day and couples who appreciate a candid, documentary approach to photography.

4. A Happy, Calm, Hydrated Lead Photographer: Yup, here’s my selfish reason! Having a second shooter makes the lead photographer (me!) feel more calm throughout the day. It’s like having someone on your team, someone supporting you and helping you to do your absolute best work. I know there are some photographers out there who maybe prefer working alone, and I can definitely shoot a wedding on my own if a couple decides not to add a second photographer**, but having someone who will run to the cocktail hour to grab Aunt Edna for family photos, who will carry my bag if I need to quickly move somewhere else for a shot, who I can trust to complement my work with lots of beautiful candid and detail shots makes me happier and calmer throughout the day! And usually my second shooters remind me to drink water, which also turns out to be pretty useful.

5. Double the Photographers, Double the Coverage: You just get more photography coverage on your wedding day. Which is awesome! Period. End of story.

I hope that was helpful for anyone considering wedding packages with and without second photographers. And feel free to post any questions or thoughts about second shooters in the comment section below!

**Quick note: You will see on my wedding pricing page that only my first basic package doesn’t include a second photographer, but you can always add one to that package, choose one of the other two packages that also include more hours and albums, or custom build a unique photography package that suits your wedding day needs! 

My friend Ashly, who writes the lifestyle blog ashly & monkey about newlywed adventures and living in Vancouver, threw down a blog challenge! Only… I’m like a month late in responding. Yikes. So I’m a little nervous that this blog post is kind of like thinking flash mobs are still all the rage. Is it too late to respond? Am I blogger un-cool?

The challenge? Share five things your readers may not know about you. Ahem. I can think of a lot of things you don’t know about me, and don’t want to know about me. Like that one time in bandcamp…ha! Just kidding. Here goes, tally ho!

1. I’m Canadian. Rather, my mom is Canadian, so I have dual citizenship. When the U.S. runs out of fresh water, I’m headed north. And yes, Canadians really are nicer and live in igloos.

2. Often, very little things seem important to me and I fixate on getting things just right. Like re-arranging my books in the exact order I plan on reading them. Like double checking word definitions before sending emails (I must type define: ______ into Google more often than anyone else) Like Photoshopping out the lint on my sweater in the picture above. That seemed…just…really important.

3. In addition to a heap of photography goals and dreams, I want to be a writer too. (Alright, so maybe I just want to be Carrie Bradshaw. I mean, a sex column and then a stint at Vogue and then a book deal? Um, yes. I’ll take it.) I even started working on a novel when I went to Paris, very Hemingway-esque of me…although the plot hasn’t advanced much since I got back. I’m hoping to spend more time writing this summer.

4. I’m 125% gluten-free. Yup, no wheat, no barley, no rye, none, not even a crumb. Not for trendy reasons mind you; if I didn’t have Celiac disease I’d probably still be using wheat flour instead of almond meal to make my chocolate chip cookies. Although I do have friends who have read the book Wheat Belly and since gone gluten-free by choice. I really need to get a copy of this book, I’m super curious. Added to my to-do list. Done. Anyways, even though breaking up with Italian food was hard, I now love living gluten-free, but it still can prove to be a challenge in social situations. So when brides like Jess somehow manage to remember me mentioning I’m gluten free AND then especially order a gluten-free pizza at their rehearsal dinner for me, I literally want to cry out of gratitude for such thoughtfulness. Have I mentioned lately that I have the best client-friends ever?

5. When it comes to popcorn, my stomach is a bottomless pit. It’s really a terrifying thing to watch.

WAIT. Is that it? I am having too much fun with this. Can we do a bonus round? Great.

6. I really want to raise chickens.

7. I have gotten a little obsessed with the idea of buying a Craftsman cottage full of character and quirky architectural details. Until I’m ready to be a homeowner, I guess I’ll just keep pinning.

8. I love getting postcards and letters in the mail. It’s much more fun than getting bills. (This is when you request my mailing address and send me a postcard)

9. I sing aloud in the car as if I had Rachel Brown’s voice. I don’t. I wish I did. But I don’t.

10. I LOVE lists! So, so much. Which is why I just couldn’t help making this list longer than it was meant to be. Typical.

**photo credit goes to my wonderful friend Alyssa who second shot Jess + Michael’s wedding with me in Berkeley, and snapped this rare behind the scenes photo!**

As I mentioned at the end of that post, my rad photographer friend Scot and I wandered around the Strip one night, cameras in tow. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to wear heels? The night after we had danced all night at Lazers & Blazers? Sometimes I just can’t resist those few extra inches that raise me to the height the fashion gods intended. But, feet aching and conference exhaustion aside, it was so fun to photo-explore together. In fact, these photos are *finally* making it to the blog because Scot just suggested we take a little road trip to San Diego for some more photo-adventuring, which made me think I should probably get these ones up before there are new ones to post.

This is one of my favorite things to do; grabbing my camera + a patient friend and just wandering. Not knowing where I’m going or what I’ll find allows for a kind of spontaneous creativity that I love.

Lastly, check out Scot’s great blog post about WPPI if you want to see some of the photographs he took of me!

Vegas, it was real. San Diego, see you soon.

One of the things I love about photographing couples is getting an intimate view inside a relationship, even if just for a few hours. I feel like I really get a sense of how two people connect, relate, and interact when I photograph them, and watching Ania + Michal was pure loveliness. They are sweet and affectionate, but more than that, I could sense such a deep level of mutual respect and quiet understanding.

Be sure to check out their California blog post because their travel photos are absolutely beautiful and very retro-cool. I have a huge photography crush on their post-processing. They do matte so well! And their photos of Venice and Joshua Tree made me want to pretend to be a tourist in my own town for a few days and wander around with my camera…(anyone who has been following my Instagram feed may have noticed that I’m always in Venice anyways! it’s just my favorite, favorite part of LA)

Also, they were kind enough to take some pretty rad pictures of me, including my new website bio picture! It was so interesting and helpful to be on the other side of the lens, I think it’s so important as a photographer to have the experience of being photographed every once in a while. I enjoyed getting a peek into their posing and shooting style: every photographer works a little differently, which makes it fun to watch others shoot. Thanks again Ania + Michal, it was so lovely to meet you both! I hope our paths cross again the next time I’m traipsing across Europe (fingers crossed that happens sometime soon)