Sorry I've been so absent, I've had a crazy month -- I'm not sure if you've read my other blog, but I've had three weddings and Ross' 30th birthday week, where we went away with our family to L.A. and Disneyland (some family shots from Disney/L.A. here ), so I've been seriously working, but not seriously blogging, by any means. So forgive my absence, but hopefully here are some fun shots for you to check out, and I should be posting said weddings shortly...
I recently shot a couple who goes to my church, and who I've known (well, Ann anyhow), for ages. I think I met Ann when I was in high school, and she was a youth worker in my youth group. So I've known her for a long time, and in that time, I've never really seen her with a super serious boyfriend, until she met Peter. And can I just tell you how great it is to watch someone you've known forever, finally find the guy of their dreams? It's just so fun to watch them interact, and see just how ga-ga he is about her, and how very loved she is and is feeling. It's so great. It's so fun for me to get to see couples interact on such a personal level when I'm shooting them, even if I have known them for 15 years or so. I just feel privileged to take part in something so important in their lives.
Anyhow, I digress. We had a great time shooting them. We initially shot on West Cliff Drive (that's Wesssst SiiiiIIIIde for those of you in Santa Cruz - there's always been a weird west side/east side thing in Santa Cruz, having to do with the surfers and their territory. I didn't try to understand it when I was with a surfer, and I don't try to understand now). But anyway, we were on the West Side, and it was a gorgeous location that I'd never shot before -- beautiful tree and cliff running down to the ocean. From there we drove a short ways to main beach, by the Boardwalk, and finished up their shoot there. I'm so happy with how the photos turned out, and how beautiful they both look (and, from a total camera-geek perspective -- oh MAN I am in love with the gorgeous pastel colors, and bokeh of my my brand new, awesome (85mm, f1.2) lens.
Also, Pink Sun Drops asked me last post, how I always get people to do jumping shots, and the answer is almost always, they've seen my work and ask to do the jumping shots (or dipping, or running toward the camera - those are other ones that get requested). And if I feel like the shots have been a little standard, or not tons of pizazz, I usually try and think of fun stuff to have people do, to make the shoot their own, and also just to make it a little more fun and interesting. I think I've talked before about how at every wedding and every shoot, I challenge myself to do something different, or see someething in a new way, and so while I always try and mix it up and see things fresh, there are some shots that a lot of people really like, and ask to do again and again, and the jumping shot is one of those.
This is an example of trying to do things a little different, they were being so playful and silly with one another and I suggested Peter pick Ann up and swing her around -- well, he was more than happy to do so, and just totally went for it, this is one in a series of these, and I just love how it turned out, the movement, the colors, the joy on their faces...
More photos after the jump...
The dip is another shot I get asked for a lot, or I'll ask couples to do it, just to get them in a more relaxed mood...
I just love this shot -- I love the look on his face, and the delight, and slight fright on hers. This picture works because of the emotion conveyed. What cracks me up, is how thrilled he was when I suggested he pick her up -- he was like, 'OH! I was so hoping I'd get to do this!!"