Jennifer contacted me about a year ago for me to photograph her wedding. Naturally I would agree and found the exact package she wanted. She loved my style and she wanted exactly what I wanted... freedom to do as I please. So enjoy their story told through my photographs!
The day started early for both me and the bride. She did get there well before I did, and getting bad directions didn't help. San Francisco can be a very confusing place especially with bad yahoo maps directions (I need a GPS). After busting out my road map, I found the hair salon in no time.
The bride was happy to see me, and I started to do my photography thing as I chit-chatted with her.
With the hair all finished up we got ready to head back to the hotel where she would get her makeup done, freshen up, and get some food. Little I knew what was waiting for me and how the day will pan out.
Finally at the hotel room the bride quickly went to work calling the brides maids, makeup artist, grooms men, and everyone involved with the wedding.
With the makeup artist running a bit late because of a backup on the freeway that we could see from the hotel room I made my way up to the grooms room to peek my head in to check on my second shooter as well as to introduce myself to the groom since we still had not met.
Soon after my trip upstairs the makeup gal shows and goes to work... and so do I.
With the makeup almost finished up and the bride looking fantastic I had the chance to take a few photos of the dress beforehand.
Now back to the traffic. Since there seemed to be sooo much traffic in the area... on a Saturday... the limo was a bit on the late side and panic started. Now... since panic happens all the time where I work I tried to stay calm... im sure the bride did not need me to panic as well.
After getting all dolled up and ready to go and the limo at the front of the hotel the bride gets into the limo and gets ready to have a little fun on the way to the church.
Now the challenges begin. Aside the fact that it is in the middle of November, it did not help that it would become dark early. With the wedding ceremony starting at 4 p.m. I knew that there would be no way to get the fun photos we would regularly get after the wedding =0(
When I entered the church... my mouth dropped... "YELLOW"... wow... I felt like I was in a poorly lighted yellow gym. I felt like putting my head down with my tail in between my legs and walking out... no... the groom did not feel the same way but I could see how anxious he was when I peeked my head around the corner and snapped this photo. I know that all these are black and white photos but trust me it was dark and yellow (note: all these photos are also in color. the choice to show these photos in B&W was up to me).
This was not time to quit though. The ceremony would start any moment and I needed to make good photos.
I did not know what to expect but sure did not expect such a fast ceremony. With the rings on the fingers on within the first 5 min. I knew I needed to put my game face on. Still with lighting issues and my ISO up to 1600 and times at 2500 I still had a slow shutter speed of 1/30. Even with flash going, the high ceilings just sucked the flash. But I think I pulled it off alright! I got everything!
Though the ceremony was quick we where still behind on time and we needed to make some good photos for the wedding party. Since we where on a time line with the limo we had to settle with traditional group photos to make sure the important people are in the photo.
Off to the reception! So after the good ol traditional photographs it was time to leave San Francisco and make our way to South San Francisco where the reception would take place.
After fighting with the traffic, and making a little pit-stop for the bridal party ;-) we made it to the reception. There where no photos of just the couple yet so this was the opportunity to get a few out of the way... but it was pitch dark... yeah. Not something I was looking forward to doing. (one of the photos is located in the beginning of the post). With a little imagination I, and my assistant pulled it off.
And finally the reception... not much to explain here but pure fun!
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