Keep an eye on Karen’s gorgeous Chinese dress in Red which she wore during the reception!

Congratulations and Best Wishes Paul and Karen!

Congratulations Pat and Joy!

An awesome season to get married, when it’s not too warm nor too cold; when the air has the right ‘crispness’ to it.
Jon and Tash’s wedding in early October reflected Autumn’s fabulous colors; shades of purple and orange on the flowers, gowns and accessories.
It was a day full of love, fun and laughter. So glad to be a part of it.

All the Best Jon and Tash!

….the day you walk down the aisle with him.

.. and it is not on Valentine’s Day!:) Ingrid and Llewy finally said their I Do’s at the St. Andrew’s Catholic Church on September 29. This was followed by a reception at the Pasadena Convention Center.

“Love is….” definitely everywhere; the invites, the wedding cake and the decors.

Although the Love is.. comic strip is not unknown to me, Ingrid and Llewy’s wedding just made me appreciate how open ended the phrase is, allowing one to freely define love in the simplest, most personal way.

Congratulations and Best Wishes Ingrid and Llewy, may you continue adding your own definition to the phrase Love is..

Thanks Mark G for second shooting.

Carla

The wedding ceremony was held at the Historic Park Plaza. It was great coming back for a second wedding at this beautiful venue.
Colors! a beautiful mix of colors at Evan and Danielle’s wedding and I say that (figuratively and literally)
I love the bridesmaids’ shoes which came in rich colored tones, the hanging flower-filled glass bubbles which adorned the chuppah and the flowers in pretty shades of pink,red, yellow, and mauve.

Mazel tov Evan and Danielle!

Many thanks Mark G. for second shooting.

This wedding has so much details and accents reminiscent of an old Hollywood movie première with splashes of red, black and white for the color scheme.

Personalized View-Masters for their 3D wedding invites; a host of paparazzi armed with old school photography paraphernalia, a champagne girl handing out the bubblies once you get through the red carpet, movie vendors dressed in retro outfit (check-out the Cigarette Girls!)

A silent movie accompanied live by a pianist, and a gorgeous bride and groom who played the enamored couple part naturally.

Congratulations and Best Wishes Danny and Julie!

I live in Valencia, this event is special for me because it is an “all Santa Clarita vendor – affair” including the priest =)
What an awesome wedding! Shout-out to Mark G for 2nd Shooting.

Makeup: Serina Hughes
Hair: Margaret Kiester & Jennifer Hasper Beyond The Fringe
Event Producer: Peter Goossens (Goose on the Loose Productions)
DJ + Lighting: SOS Entertainment
Video (Silent Movie/Wedding): Matrimony Pictures
Piano Accompaniment: Cliff Retallic
Flowers: Claire’s Flowers
Costumes: No Strings Attached Costumes

Time and time again, Crystal Marquis the reception venue, continues to wow me. We’ve witnessed and shot several weddings here and I’m still awed by the architecture and interior design. Aside from aesthetics, we have continuously witnessed how Art and the Crystal Marquis staff took care of their bride, groom and guests. This is my first time to give a vendor overview, I sincerely feel they deserve a glowing one.

Thanks Mark G for 2nd shooting.

The Road to Minneapolis: Utah – From California to Vegas, then we travelled to Utah the next day for 9 hours via 318 and 15N
Vince’s dream to drive a car the Bonneville Salt Flats came true today.

The Road to Minneapolis: WyomingFrom Utah, we passed by Wyoming to see Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. We camped in a cabin at Flagstaff Ranch which issituated near the South Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The geysers at Yellowstone were amazing. Old Faithful was true to it nature, spewing steam and evoking wonderI was impressed by the wildlife roaming freely in the area especially early in the morning.

The Road to Minneapolis: South Dakota

Day 4 of roadtrip going to South Dakota from Wyoming via Highway 14 (Bighorn Scenic Byway) The highway was tortuous but was worth it. We saw a herd of sheep grazing on the hillsides. We went to see Mt. Rushmore where Isabella gushed and taught me a few parts about the four famous presidents.

South Dakota’s Wall Drug was also a fun place to visit.

The Road to Minneapolis: Minnesota

The land of 10,000 lakes. My firstborn’s birthplace. It was sweet seeing old friends, old and familiar faces and places.

The Mall of America, the Cathedral of St. Paul, Target Field and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden brought back a lot of memories.

The Road to Minneapolis: Kansas and Missouri

From Minnesota to Kansas via I-70W. It took us 7 hours to reach Kans where we spent a great time enjoying home-cooked

meals with relatives. We also visited neighboring state Missouri to check Missouri 1855; a ‘village’ which reflects a typical

village life in mid 19th century Missouri.

The Road to Minneapolis: Colorado

From Kansas to Colorado via 70W. We stayed in Fort Collins with friends and visited the Swetsville Zoo, Budweiser Brewery,

Rocky Mountain National Park , the Stanley Hotel (No Ghost hunting here) and the Dinosaur Museum in Fruita, Colorado.

Colorado is very beautiful . It is in my top 3 places to live in the USA.









The Road to Minneapolis: Arches, Canyonlands and Monument Valley

On our back to California we went southwest of Utah to visit Moab. Utah is such an amazing place. It is definitely one of

those ‘worth returning to places’. There are so many things to do- hike, kayah, bike etc. We celebrated Jacob’s birthday

on a 4×4 Jeep guided tour at Hell’s Revenge where it rained and we were granted an awesome view of a rainbow on

the petrified dunes. Vince and I had fun catching lightning at the Arches National Park. It was one AWESOME experience.

The Road To Minneapolis: HOME

It was one great adventure, but as Dorothy would say it;

There’s no place like Home.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

We are excited to share Peter and Isis’ wedding at the Redondo Beach Historic Library.
An adorable bride and groom, a stunning wedding bouquet, and a lot of gorgeous personalized details that made this wedding extra special.

I personally adore the peacock feathers and succulents that made up Isis’ bouquet. Seeing ‘green’ in different shades from olive, teal, to turquoise in the bouquet, the bridal party’s accessories and table decors was refreshing.

Congratulations and Best wishes Peter and Isis!

Carla

Thanks again Mark G. for second shooting.

Lots of things to love in this wedding! Love Krys’ very unique wedding brooch bouquet that she got from Etsy. Check out the beautiful lanterns that served as table centerpieces and as gifts for their guests to take home. Using a bicycle cake topper was certainly a touch of whimsy.

To cap the wedding evening they arranged for a cart that served a delightful selection of sorbet and gelato. Congratulations Johnney and Krys!

Thanks Mark and Sonny for 2nd shooting and assisting!

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Vince

Vince

Vince

Thanks Mark G. for second shooting!

Congratulations and Best Wishes Michael and Andrea for a very romantic wedding.

Thanks Mark G. For second shooting!

Wedding Photography by Vince and Carla Wins Two Bright Lights Editors’ Choice Awards

As a testament to our outstanding clients, and our commitment to producing the best-of-the-best wedding photography, We are thrilled to announce that we have been selected as a winner of the 2012 Two Bright Lights Editors’ Choice Awards!

The award is given in recognition of the those whose number of published features in 2011 placed them among the top 5% of all Two Bright Lights members. Winners were published across many of the most respected lifestyle, wedding and other print and digital publications in the United States and worldwide.

We are honored to be part of this group of talented photographers and creative professionals. Our features this past year have enabled us to increase exposure for our work, and we are thrilled to have been recognized for our endeavors.

In 2011, We had the privilege of being featured in the following publications:

The yellow and grey color scheme was pretty and i thought it perfectly complemented the venue.
Here’s their wedding day story ( or at least, the gist of it)

Kim says:
“From the moment that I woke up that morning I was beyond excited.
I started the day off by jumping on the girls’ (bridesmaids) bed just because I was excited to marry ‘my’ prince charming.
I was also very excited to see all my friends and family together to celebrate with us.
Both of our families seemed to be ‘fit together perfectly’. Just that alone told me I was marrying the right person.
When I was hiding in the bridal room and I heard that the boys were there, I snuck a peek and caught a glimpse of Jason and just couldn’t believe how handsome he looked.
One of my favorite moments is the standard cliché, which is his reaction when he saw me walking down the aisle; he just said “oh dayuuuuuuum” and began to cry. That moment alone did it for me.
A lot of the guests were asking if the cake was Styrofoam which I thought was pretty funny.
I Really cant put into words how amazing and perfect that day went. I wish I could go back in time and relive it over and over again.”

A lovely bride, a very cool groom, obviously in love with each other and guests who were determined to have fun, the wedding was indeed a ‘home run’
Congratulations again Jason and Kim!

Thanks Mark G. for second shooting and Alan P. for manning the photobooth

button at the bottom of every post. Carla has been on it the past few weeks. I’ve heard of it before but only made an account today, so I’m still feeling my way in. Social sharing and imagery is right up our alley, give it a spin and pin some of our photos. Let us know if you need an invite.

In the coming weeks, we will be in Vegas to attend WPPI, a tradeshow and convention for Wedding photographers. Thanks to Mark G for second shooting, see you in Vegas!

Vince

-

Ivory and pink colored roses with lots of travel-inspired decorations set a romantic and vintage feel for this wedding. They hurdled the challenges associated with long distance relationships; they believe in fairytales.

Here’s their story:
Mitchyl & I have known each other since we were 10 and 11 yrs old. After 12 years of lost communication, destiny brought us back together. He resided in New Zealand while I lived here in California during the majority of our relationship. We survived a long distance relationship by visiting each other every 6 months, chatting via Skype on our day off, talking over the phone during my break time as a Night shift nurse and surprising each other (such as flying to New Zealand to give him a surprise birthday party). It was true love that bridged us from across the world.

We strongly believe in fairytale, yet we never dream to have a big, glamorous wedding. Our dream wedding has always been simple yet elegant, very intimate but an unforgettable one. We incorporated this vision by celebrating in an urban venue set with harpist, candles and rose petals for a romantic mood with only 53 guests. We both wanted to remember our wedding as something extraordinary ; filled with genuine love & happiness:)

Carla

Congratulations Amor and Mitchyl for finding love and celebrating it.

Here’s Miguel and Cindy’s wedding story. Enjoy!

What is your most unforgettable wedding moment?
Cindy: I clearly do not remember alot, alot of things because of how nervous I was, but one thing that I know that I won’t ever forget was that unforgettable moment when the doors opened and said in my head “This is it, we’re both here” and loved seeing the look of Miguel.
Miguel: When we both turned around up on the altar and the pastor presented us as the new Rodriguez family.

What do you like most about your wedding?
Cindy: I loved how Miguel surprised me with the video he had in the limo (that of course I cried too), I did want our wedding to be about us and focus on our love and he did that and I am thankful that he did.
Miguel: I liked everything and enjoyed every part of our day.

What thoughts were running through your mind during the preps/ wedding march..etc..
Cindy: I had a lot going on through my mind that day, worrying that things weren’t going to get done and being left undone, but after a while I just said “okay Cindy you have to just relax and enjoy your day, and let everyone else worry about getting things done. I also kept saying how blessed I am to have found someone and to be forming our new little family.
Miguel: I was VERY nervous, excited, happy, and felt really blessed.

Anything you want to say about your wedding.
Cindy: A month away from our wedding I was already scheduled to pick up my dress, when I arrived at the store, they had taken off with all dresses, including mine. I never got a call from them (till this day). I was devasted, mad, I mean all the emotions you could think about being negative, because they had taken off with my dream dress. I just kept thinking that I wouldn’t find any other dress to top my first one, and prayed for a miracle.I was very happy with my second dress. I LOVE lace and I wanted that incorporated in our wedding, so we did some DIY things like our lace vases, and flower arrangements. I hope everyone enjoyed our day because we enjoyed everyone’s presence there that day.

Ps. Cindy, that gown is gorgeous! Best wishes and Congratulations to you and Miguel!

Thanks again Mark Gonzales for second shooting!

What is your most unforgettable wedding moment?

The most unforgettable moment is right when they open the door to the church and walking down the aisle and seeing all the guests and Don.  It is definitely mixed emotions of excitement, relief (that the stresses of wedding planning is over) and of course, nervousness.  And as a couple, the exchange of rings and when we said I do. =)

What do you like most about your wedding?

We absolutely had lots of fun at our reception!  We just loved how it turned out, the set-up and most of all the energy that the guests had.  We were concerned that guests would be too shy to dance so we decided to do a “last dance” which is our surprise choreographed performance to kinda get the party started but it looked like they’ve already started even before our performance! We had fun performing our dance (we’re obviously not dancers LOL), we think it showed how fun and silly we are as a couple. ;p

What thoughts were running through your mind during the preparations/ wedding march..etc..

I woke up early that day and I just couldn’t believe that the day is finally here.  I am a worrier so I was nervous about a lot of things.  But I kept telling myself that if things don’t go as planned, it is now beyond my control.  I was just calming myself the whole time, trying to clear bad thoughts, remembering to “walk slowly” and to put “flower over flower” (how to hold bouquet) and just focusing on walking down that aisle towards Don, coz I know that once we are together, everything will be fine.  -

Anything you want to say about your wedding.

We did a lot of last minute DIYs. The candy buffet was one of them, the ceremony programs, the escort cards, place cards, menu and table numbers. Also the favors we had to put together, my parents were bringing them from the Philippines. Don and I worked together to get all of these done, so it definitely felt good when we saw our DIYs done. We felt proud of ourselves.

We’ve always wanted a fun wedding, the kind where guests are dancing and kicking’ off their shoes.  We wanted guests to remember our wedding as the one where they had a heck of a good time!  And we think that the guests enjoyed the night, coz we sure did!!!

A lovely couple who wanted to have fun, who wanted their guests to have fun; and they did. Congratulations and Best Wishes again Don and Nina!

Thanks a million Mark Gonzales and Rodney Singzon for second shooting!

Carla

What do i love about this wedding?
Tons! but first on the list is Kat’s smile.
She has this very sincere smile which just made her more radiant and youthful-looking. I felt like smiling and giggling with her when I browsed the photos.

She did the graphic design of the invites; using the guests’ thumbprints to create balloons on the canvass which served as the ‘guest book’ is a neat artistic idea.
The Eiffel Tower placecard holders were lovely as well.

Our best wishes Remil and Kat as you embark on a new life together in San Francisco.
Thanks again Mark G. for second shooting.

Carla

We wish we were there at your wedding.
We are so happy for you Coco and Ches for finding love, taking ‘home’ the love and deciding to let love grow. Congratulations and Best Wishes!
I was so teary eyed when I went over your engagement photos… Can’t believe it’s been roughly six months since we took these photos in San Francisco. We really miss you guys and we hope to see you soon!

Carla

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I can’t help but love these two…in the few hours that i’ve interacted with them, and i know that’s not enough,
i’ ve seen mutual respect and admiration for each other.. Keep the love burnin’ matt and shaby.

My first time to shoot alongside Vince and Mark. You were fun to hang around with, Mark! Thank you!

Carla

We planned on doing a “Ferris Wheel” shot way before the wedding day, when we got there, a photoshoot was being done by Sony. Determined to get the Ferris wheel shot, I gathered my nerve and approached the crew, I got a “no”. Persistent, I begged for a quick shot and after a bit of explaining to their photographer who probably empathized at Aneese and Jana who were waiting in the background, he relented.

It was so much fun, I got a kick with the thought of having interrupted a shoot with a wonderful set to get creative with. I pushed it some more and asked to shoot on their vintage “Jeep”, the photographer was so kind he didn’t hesitate.

Aneese and Jana even got a free ride on the Ferris wheel. I think it is a wonderful experience riding a Ferris wheel on one’s wedding day. The rains didn’t even dampen things.

Congratulations Aneese and Jana!
Thanks to Reynar for second shooting.

Vince

.

Congratulations on the engagement!
Carla

Melissa was radiant on her off-shoulder Vera Wang gown. She looked fabulous!

I enjoyed the photo session with Glenn and his groomsmen. Nothing beats a bond formed out of growing up as classmates and friends during the childhood years. Their camaraderie certainly helped achieve an easy and fun photo session.

Congratulations Glenn and Melissa!
Thanks to Mark G, for second shooting.
Vince

I love the details and props that they prepared to make their wedding more ‘personal’. Their invites were made to look like luxury cruise tickets, which was a very nice touch. Dalene looked elegant on her wedding dress and her stunning Valentino shoes showed off a quirky nature. “Teddy,” their ever supportive dog, was adorable on his tux. To spice up the ceremony procession, the bridesmaids did ballet leaps and pirouettes. At the end of the night after the Yacht has docked, everyone capped the evening off with a late night grub on a food truck.

Congratulations James and Dalene!

Thanks to Remedy Medina for second shooting, it was nice working with you again!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Vince

Thanks again Mark for second-shooting. Congratulations and Best Wishes Marlon and Addar!

Vince

This is my third try on LACMA, again my thoughts driving there is how am I gonna outdo my last one? I also went for a backlit look but this time I crossed the street and swung out my telephoto which allowed me to go for a compressed background and straighter lines. A slight change from my previous try, now I’m not sure which one is my favorite.

This coming two weeks will be dedicated to editing and processing 3 weddings, stay tuned!

Vince

I think that Kevin and Brittney gave justice to their theme by incorporating diy decors , used and worn-out bits and pieces to make everything look vintage. I love her mantilla style veil …so classic and lovely. And who doesn’t love the book ‘A thousand ways to please a husband’? that is surely old school, and I love it!:)

To every other little bride Who has a “Bob” to please,
And says she’s tried and tried and tried
To cook with skill and ease.
And cant! — we offer here as guide Bettinas Recipes!
To her whose “Bob” is prone to wear
A sad and hungry look,
Because the maid he thought so fair
Is — well — she just cant cook!
To her we say : do not despair;
Just try Bettina’s Book!
-Dedication “A Thousand Ways To Please a Husband”

All the best Kevin and Brittney. May you share many happy dinners on rainy nights!

Carla

Thanks to Mark G for doing an awesome job second shooting for Vince!

Thanks to A Thousand Threads for featuring Matt + Nicole’s Wedding
Thanks to Destination Brides for doing a double feature on Epa + Mai’s and Matt + Nicole’s Wedding

We love them coz they are one of our sweetest couples..so accommodating, generous and so into each other. I am still amazed at how they regard each other with a sense of something close to reverence?

Keep the love burning Lance and Jaime!
Carla

PS. Thanks for giving our Jacob some fluffy company.

Congratulations you guys! Thanks to Mark G for assisting and second shooting.

Vince

*Most of the time, love works in simple, predictable yet enduring ways.;)- Carla

>

The wedding was very relaxed and smooth flowing. Reynar, our second shooter, who by the way is also local, thought that it was one of the best weddings he had been to.
I love the presence of kids at their wedding. There were lots of them and were always smile- ready.

As the day ended, I felt like I still possessed the same energy that got me going at the start of the day. Valencia Country Club is a mere 5mins drive from my home.:) I’m so looking forward to more local weddings.

Congratulations Allen and Laura!

Vince

Nicole’s attention to detail is shown in the many aspects that made their wedding fun and special. I remember her call a few months ago when she explained over the phone some of her wedding ideas. The ‘I do’ stick-ons on the soles of her shoes was indeed, a sweet touch.

She looked gorgeous on her Vera Wang gown and the addition of a black sash on her waist and accessories during the reception gave it a different yet fun look.

Other wedding details that i liked include the ‘Mr and Mrs’ banner; the dessert station which boasted of mouth-watering sweets; the photobooth and the use of sparklers for their grand exit.

I was awed by Calamigos Ranch, it was picture perfect. There were little touches that made my job as a photographer a lot easier. There’s so much more to explore. I’m looking forward to November when I’ll be covering another wedding in this venue.

Thanks again to Reynar Jacinto for second shooting. Congratulations Matt and Nicole!

Vince

If there is one place in Southeast Asia that I’d gladly visit again, it would be Vietnam. There’s so many places especially in the northern region waiting to be explored.

It was nice to travel here without the kids, we were able to do a lot of things that we probably won’t dare do with the little ones around. Food was great yet affordable. Transportation was not an issue as there are a lot of options: renting a regular bicycle, motorbike and taking the bus or a metered taxi. Lodging was clean and cheap. Shopping! Shopping was great. I could spend a couple of days in Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City looking for bargains. To sum it up:

I love Vietnam!

We went to Cambodia by bus: from Ho Chi Minh City to Pnom Penh and Siem Reap. Travel time which includes a 45 minutes stopover at the Vietnam-Cambodia border is approximately 14 hours.

Cambodia’s countryside reminds me so much of my hometown in the southern part of the Philippines, in Maguindanao.

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, is certainly worth revisiting with the kids when they are much older.

Carla

While planning for the trip, the first thing that popped right out of my mind is what lenses would I bring? I thought that with all the walking and commute, carrying my primes and telephoto would be like covering a wedding everyday for a week. Thus my decision to bring one zoom and nothing more, I brought my flash but didn’t get to use it and was mostly left in the hostels.

There were a few times I wish I had my 70-200 for people shots and my 1.4/1.2′s for those really low light situations. But most of the time I was happy with the zoom I brought and my back and shoulders were really happy about it too. One of the reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, ‘shooting light‘.

As a sidenote, I’ve added a new Google +1 Button opposite the facebook like. Feel free to experiment and give it a go.

Vince

Thanks Jun Fontilla, Carlo Gonzales and Stephen Padlan for helping us cover the wedding.

On an another note, what a nice way to end the spring season- having fun at Greg and Debra’s wedding. There were so many moments and scenes to capture. The flowers were colorful, the music was great and everyone looked like they were having fun. Seeing people gather in a circle while dancing the hora was an experience I never get tired of.

Congratulations and Best Wishes Greg and Debra!
Just a couple of tidbits, Debbie designed her wedding gown and Greg is a photographer as well as most of the groomsmen. Go visit his site, xrez.com

Thanks again Nik Esguerra for second shooting.
-Vince

Can’t say I did not, but I had a great time during the photo selection. I love the colors! There’s radiance, freshness and candidness which I absolutely love. I think it was a beautiful wedding.
-Carla

Congratulations and Best Wishes John and Rina!

Carla

One thing different was how Gabby setup her hair and makeup in a salon. I’ve never done that before. The salon was truly a beautiful setting.

I always love outdoor ceremonies, there is always this feeling of lightness and airiness. I’m glad Reynar and I were there to witness it.

Vince

Carla, while going through the photo selection process dubbed their wedding, “a fireman gets married, one beautiful spring afternoon”
she added:
“For Erik is a fireman and they had plenty of firemen in uniform and in tuxedos as guests (with a matching firetruck) how nice!”

and it was a perfect spring afternoon…with just the right amount of clouds hovering above .
the flowergirl and the ring bearer looked like they stepped out from one of Shakespeare’s romantic plays, how lovely!”

I would dub their wedding: “The day the Angels and Dodgers Unite”;)

Bey Chua second shot and assisted on this event, thanks Bey!

Aside from the heartwarming dance, there were many little touches that i appreciated at their wedding. I loved their wedding’s eclectic theme..utilizing this theme to make use of and highlight their newly purchased house.I love that their friends and family helped a lot in decorating and preparing for this important event ..I loved  the smell of lemongrass- scented candles …everything was bathed in the glow of lanterns and tiny flickering lights strung in the surrounding trees. The tiffany blue ribbons adorned with flowers and crystals at the tips looked pretty as well; and how can i forget their first husband and wife dance with Tom singing along :
…..and it’s you and me and all other people
and I don’t know why, I can’t keep my eyes off of you….
 it was wonderful and we wish them all the best .

Carla

Thanks to Nik Esguerra for helping and second shooting.

Carla

I had mixed emotions at the start, excitement and some apprehensions regarding light set-up/time limit.
Bringing and utilizing my auxiliary lighting equipment has it advantages and drawbacks. It certainly is useful for situations wherein available light is not as ideal, though it hampers mobility. I think it is worth the ‘small inconvenience’ more so that it enhances the existing ambient light and to some extent render a different look from the usual stuff that I do.

It was little windy and the umbrella needed good propping, good thing Nik was there to assist and shoot with me. Thanks Nik!

Vince

Lastly, we went to catch the sunset at Odyssey.

Vince

We then headed off to the houses near a sandy shore where we planned on doing an “under a pier shoot”. Seeing from afar that the Manhattan beach pier is made of concrete, we proceeded to go to the ‘much farther’ log-made pier.While passing by the concrete-made pier, we were enthralled by the play of light passing through the pier columns. Straight out the camera I was seeing light rays like I was in a Cathedral. Given that the pier was little bit unsightly, the light more than made up for it. Made it even beautiful. At least from my point of view.

Vince

Lance is an “all-around-guy”. He’s into motorcycles, cars, cooking, plays the upright bass and is in a band. As the day went on and the sun a little less harsh we headed to San Juan Capistrano.

I love their “old town”, It was a photographer’s paradise, anywhere I looked, I saw possibilities. I would liken it to driving in a huge parking lot where there’s a lot of empty slots. Choosing where to park was the harder part.

Thanks to Bey Chua for assisting and second shooting.

Vince

Carla

Carla
see Leslie’s maternity session that we recently did here.

The church played an important role in their relationship, it’s where they first met 6yrs ago. As we moved from one area to another, Tiffany and Tom described how each area was special. From the front pew where they stayed during worship, to the industrial looking ceiling and the rooftop which they used as filming locations for the church’s various programs. They were part of the church’s film crew, so we had access.

We used their Arri and KinoFlo lighting equipment as props. They were even kind enough to let me use them along with my lighting equipment giving the photos personal significance. See you in May.

Thanks to Nik Esguerra for assisting and second-shooting.

Vince

Our next stop was Rancho Palos Verdes. What a beautiful place. Erik told me that the Golf Course was the only Trump property that was open to the public. It was a weekday and it was not too crowded, we capped off our day watching the sun set.

Vince

I am certain they got the best of both worlds.

Vince

PS. I’ve installed facebook connect for comments. Right now, from what I’ve heard, anonymous comments are not working due to a bug on facebook’s side. I will restore old comments once they get it fixed. For now, comments can only be done if you are logged-in on your facebook account. Remember to “uncheck” the checkbox if you don’t want your comment posted on your profile.

This is Leslie and Peter’s ‘first pregnancy’ and I hope that they will feel as glad as I did when they see the photos.
Vince

The ‘challenge’ is easily overcome when the couple and the guests are having a great time.. i just ‘click’ away….as the case was with Mark and Jeanine’s wedding at the Chapel of Roses and Crystal Marquis.

I have to commend them for a successful wedding despite Mark’s frequent trips abroad during the planning phase. This somehow reminded me of my situation with Carla while we were planning our own wedding.

Congratulations and best wishes!

My thanks to Melissa Enriquez for covering the event with me.

Pacific Asia Museum is just across the street and it was terrific! It was just the right size for the wedding. It was quaint and it has a lot of personality and angles. Anywhere I point, the background seems to be just right.

Congratulations Juan and Gaby!

Thanks to Rodney Singzon for second shooting.

Vince

]]> http://blog.vinceandcarla.com/weddings/preview-juan-gaby/feed/ 0 http://blog.vinceandcarla.com/weddings/the-neighborhood-church-palos-verdes-wedding-motohito-shizuka/ http://blog.vinceandcarla.com/weddings/the-neighborhood-church-palos-verdes-wedding-motohito-shizuka/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:02:43 +0000 Vince http://blog.vinceandcarla.com/?p=1272 Rodney and I had an opportunity to cover a ceremony only wedding. Their only guests were their parents who came all the way from Japan. It was very intimate. The church was just the perfect setting, it was truly romantic.

Playa Vista is special for Eugene and Cassie. It’s like an oasis in Los Angeles, a place I could imagine myself living in. Being based far north in Valencia, its proximity to all things essential in LA got me really envious.

After Playa Vista, we headed to LA County Museum of Art. I did an engagement there a few years ago and so I thought I would do it differently this time and inject some off-camera flash flavor.

In a few days, our whole family, will be heading off the country for a much awaited vacation, it was nice to cap things off with them.

Vince

I’m in awe of the place, it was a big contrast to the bustle of metropolitan LA. The sun was harsh but it was still cozy.

I couldn’t have orchestrated their “first look” any better, Jess planned it really well. It was like Romeo and Juliet, a moment that would make Carla easily cry. My thanks to Nik Esguerra for second shooting.

On a footnote, a facebook like button now appears specifically for each blog entry. It’s way down before the comment section. This got me fired-up and so I did a test. Excuse me for “liking” my own post. =)

- A formal dress for a wedding: Oh I thought maybe it was something formal fit for a wedding guest.
- School uniforms: Oh, I thought they’re bringing school shirts since Savio works at USC and Grace studied at UCLA. That’s nice.

Then the day came, I caught a glimpse of Grace and WOW!… a wedding dress…a very beautiful one at that! She brought it from Hongkong and they told me she wasn’t using it on her wedding day. I was blown away, I always endeavor to capture something unique every-time I shoot and this surely makes it easy.

Then it was time for the uniforms. Once more, instead of the shirts they brought their highschool uniforms back from Hongkong. They were classmates thus the uniforms.

I had fun, as always. It was a bummer the library and classrooms were closed but the unexpected surprises and wonderful company made the whole afternoon enjoyable and worthwhile.

Vince

And it wasn’t as difficult as we expected..For a first time mom, Giselle was the calmest and most patient..

Special thanks to lisa for helping us out.

Carla

And yes, Jacob kept us busy the latter part of last year. We kinda went on a short hiatus. Now we have adjusted and with a renewed fervor to shoot weddings.

Looking back, I’m glad we did what we did for Jacob. We know he’s gonna treasure them when he grows as old as we are now.

Vince
PS. I did another newborn shoot for one of Carla’s friend. Armed with our previous experience, it was easier, but still arduous. Plus the fact we had two more people helping me compared to our duo when we were photographing Jacob.

Thanks to Rodney for second shooting!

My thanks to Rodney Singzon for second shooting.

My thanks to Rodney for second shooting.

Password Hint: Street name of event location
Blog photos here and full gallery here.

Full gallery will follow.

Thanks to Remedy for second shooting.

Right within our “backyard” our first stop was the Saugus Cafe, which opened around 1890′s. Instead of meeting up in a coffee house somewhere, I thought why not do it there and sneak in a few photos. The diner offered a stark contrast to the usual sub-urban development sprawl within the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV). Staff were very friendly, so accommodating, we stayed there for quite some time. They even played mood music courtesy of their jukebox just for us.

Next is Mentryville, California’s first oil boom town. Now, its a basically a ghost town and a terrific place to shoot. Lot’s of possibilities, I can see myself going back again for few more occasions.

I had the pleasure to enjoy these places with Dan and Jisun. They were simply awesome! They were very willing to experiment with the poses. I can’t wait to shoot their wedding.

we love how steve and tina alloted ample time for the photo session with them and their family…it gave

everyone a chance to relax and be at ease with their poses; it gave us time to be more creative.

and we thank our dear friend lot for the referral.

Overall, a fun and unforgettable wedding that I’m privileged to have been a part of.

Full gallery here and more blog photos of the family here. (password hint: street where Eli lives – starts with “a” – all lowercase)

It’s nice to be back at Whittier, back at the splendid Crystal Marquis. A chance for me to re-explore the venue and challenge myself with new perspective and angles. A chance for me to benchmark our 5D mark II. I knew, lighting will be a challenge. The last time, we were literally pushing our good ‘ol 5D to its ISO limits. With the mark II, even though I’ve used it on weddings previous to this, I can now say from this experience that there is a marked noise improvement over its older sibling.

Crystal Marquis is full of history, it used to be a bank building. The owners kept the original floor and the art deco design intact. Our regards to the wonderful staff that we wholly recommend to anyone.

their wedding took place at a country club in camarillo…the spanish hills.

it was beautifully surrounded by valleys and mountains …although it was chilly, jen and ed thoughtfully provided guests with scarves for extra warmth.the great dining room was the perfect setting for ed and jen..elegant and cozy.

it was a memorable wedding.i liked the square table, its black and white theme; jen’s personal touches..the wedding photographs of her parents and grandparents and a photo of her own wedding imagined and drawn when she was 5…and the wedding cake that has a story that won’t be forgotten…

Everyone had a grand time which was apparent as everyone was brimming with emotion as the event was ending. We also had fun. We felt welcome. We felt home. Thanks to Lester + Joy + their friends and family.

Thanks to Alan for 2nd shooting. Visit the full gallery here.

david and charity are a fun couple.
I have never seen a bride dance as ‘wildly graceful’ as she did. David had a lot of good moves as well. They were an awesome sight.

congratulations again david and charity!

carla

see the full gallery here.

Vince

full gallery – now uploading – link will follow

We had the pleasure of covering james and bobbie’s wedding two weeks ago during the socal wildfires.

a vital part of I5 connecting sta clarita valley to almost all of los angeles was closed. it took us 3hrs of travel through the packed route 126.

One nice thing about it is that it brought a dramatic tint to the sun.

We’re just glad we didnt miss their wedding. A special thanks to our photographer friend ‘katsi’ for saving us during the first minutes of the preparation.

the venue was great, lighting was awesome.
and they were fun…and kind… and sweet.
but nothing compares to the sweetness of this…

like a firefly
her spirit glows when she hears
voice of an angel

trade in bare tree limbs
and climb up these green mountains
love’s lush promises

inside my eyelids
indelible images
memories of you

i am not sure if this is an original haiku by howie as haikus were very much a part of their relationship (i learned)
and it was so sweet to see a version of it displayed at their wedding.

-Vince

Full gallery to follow.

it was fun-filled and seeing ‘borat’ certainly made my halloween night!
kudos to april and miko for a successful wedding!

-carla

links to booth pics and wedding photos are at the bottom of this post.

We brought in studio lighting and printed more than 200 pics with photoshop edits on the fly. Booth print sample photo above left. Feel free to download photos but leave the photos un-retouched and logo intact. =) (right click -> open new window -> save image as)

- Vince

gallery now available here.

view the slideshow by clicking the photo after which check out their gallery.

Partial gallery now online click here. Password hint on gallery itself.