California wedding photography

Leading up to your wedding day, gather all of the items you’re planning to wear and use on the wedding day in a box or bag. Jewelry, vow books, invitations, shoes, ring boxes, gifts, etc. can be styled with scraps from your decor like ribbon clippings from your bouquet, or extra blossoms from your floral arrangements. Keep these near where your dress is hanging so your photographer can easily access and style them without having to ask you to find and gather each item.

Prep coverage can begin in a hotel room, your parent’s home, or wherever you and your friends and family are hanging out prior to the start of the event. We typically arrive toward the end of the bridal hair and makeup appointment and start to style and photograph your dress and details, and snap candid shots of you all hanging out in robes or your casual attire. Once you’re ready to get into your dress, make sure whoever is helping you will be wearing what they feel comfortable being photographed in.

A first look means that you plan a private moment together to see each other and take some photos before the guests arrive. You can also schedule all group portraits, so that you can join the party after the ceremony. A traditional schedule means that you won’t see your fiance until you’re at the aisle, and the majority of portraits will take up the entire cocktail hour. Ask us how to split up the day to plan around lighting, get the photos you want, and your optimal experience.

If it will bother you to have photos of your ceremony with people having their cell phones out or standing in the aisle, we encourage you to ask the officiant to request for guest to put their phones and cameras away and be present. For church ceremonies, we will ask about any restrictions the church has about photography. Oftentimes churches don’t allow flash photography or for anyone to be closer than a certain row of seats. We respect the wishes of your venue and will follow any rules that are presented to us beforehand.

Golden hour occurs about an hour before sunset, and creates a soft, diffused, romantic light that allows for everything to be perfectly lit. This is a great time to sneak away for Couple portraits, even if it’s just 15 minutes. Sunset is a much shorter period of time that occurs right as the sun has set, sometimes creating a vibrant and varied sky color. People will either be silhouetted or lit with artificial light against the sky. We strive to budget time for both of these photo opportunities, and will offer suggestions during the timeline planning to ensure that we do so.

For a dramatic wedding exit at night, you'll want lighting that creates a magical and memorable atmosphere. Here are some effective options: sparklers, paper lanterns, fairy lights, uplighting, candles, string lights or even fireworks!

Sometimes venues already have string lights, and sometimes you have to bring in other sources to create a glowing look.

Bonus: We can create a night photo of just the two of you with the lights we use during the reception.

Having a second photographer is not required, but it does offer several benefits if it’s within your budget. With two photographers, you can cover multiple locations at the same time. For example, one can photograph the bride getting ready while the other captures the groom’s preparations or the guest arrivals. They can also capture different angles during portraits, and candid guest interactions while the primary photographer focuses on the Couple, the wedding party, and the family. It’s also beneficial to have a second camera around for critical moments as a backup.

The primary purpose of an engagement session is to capture the excitement and joy of the couple during this special time in their relationship, and to use in wedding stationery and decor, like a photo guestbook. The style and theme of the photos can vary widely, ranging from formal portraits to casual, candid shots. We get a bit of everything so that you can get to know how the posing process takes place, and how to create organic, real connected images together for the wedding day.