I had the awesome privilege of shooting with Becker from Orange County, CA this past weekend at a fabulous wedding in Carmel Valley, CA. Becker is definitely one of the coolest guys in the industry and someone whom I look up to and respect greatly. Not only all of that good stuff but we absolutely had a blast shooting Scott and Meghan’s wedding along with Keats (Becker’s assistant).
The wedding took place on the luxurious Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel Valley amongst a beautiful redwood grove. I don’t think that there is a more beautiful venue in the world. Meghan was completely stunning and her smile was just radiant. As we got to talking, I found out that she went to school one town over from me (I went to high school at Palo Alto High and she went to Menlo Atherton) and that we actually knew some of the same people. What a trip. I knew there was a reason some of the people there looked familiar. Meghan’s Monique Lhuillier dress and Stuart Weitzman shoes were paired wonderfully. Add a few pearls that were her grandmother’s and a gorgeous ring, and she was complete.
Here is a teaser photo for you and it got me to thinking about the subject of black and white vs. color. Which one do you like? What do you prefer? When do you like one over the other? Please leave a comment down below, I’m interested to hear what you guys think.

Okay, I’m going to go on a bit of a rant for this post but I’m pretty sure that most of the brides will back me up on this. When I’m all through, hopefully, my point will be proven and this will help out some of the fellas out there.
There is obviously a lot of focus on the bride on the wedding day. Her wedding dress is stunning, maybe something from Vera Wang or Reem Acra or maybe a custom piece from a local designer (always a good green alternative) and her shoes are delightfully fashionable, perhaps Manolos, Loboutins or fabulous Kate Spade’s like Miranda wore in a previous blog post, the hair and makeup is pristine and she is a complete princess. But what about the prince? Something is drastically wrong with this “prince”! He is an awesome guy and will make a great husband for this princess, but WHAT IS HE WEARING? “Oh, this?” Yes, the rented tuxedo and patent leather tux shoes.
My personal opinion is that grooms need to step it up a little bit. Rented tuxes just aren’t doing it anymore. There are so many more options that would not only put you on par with your beautiful bride, but would give you a nice suit that you can re-wear after the wedding. A custom suit or a high-end suit off the rack is a simple solution and won’t take you any more time than renting a tuxedo. There is definitely something classic about a groom who is in style. Whether it be a slick bow-tie, a modern slim tie, contrasting pocket square, some new Ferragamos or Maglis, make sure to pair a custom suit with great accessories. When all else fails take some time and head down to your local suit boutique or high-end retailer to get some insight on what would look good for you. There are a ton of great resources on the web like wedding blogs, photographer’s websites, major wedding websites, etc. that can further help you get a feel for what style you think suits you the best.
There is nothing worse than taking a chance on a rental tux that has one leg shorter than the other, a button missing or just looks hideous. You owe it to yourself and your bride to look sharp on the wedding day.
And so I leave you with some style inspiration from Ryan and Kelly’s wedding in February. Ryan is the owner of R. Douglas Custom Clothier in Sacramento, CA and the groomsmen are all wearing custom suits. Ryan offers awesome custom suits and shirting for all your wedding needs, check them out.

Some of you may remember the couple who I had the pleasure of photographing their engagement session in New York City, Rinkal and Sheetal. We spent time in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Central Park, Times Square and all over the place. I had so much fun with this couple and was able to really get to know them as friends, which is definitely one of the coolest aspects of my work.
Well, their wedding day finally arrived and it was absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to share the wedding day images from Viaggio Winery. The wedding was absolutely epic. It was so cool to see all of the friends I made in New York at the Garba and awesome to make so many new friends (if we met or you want to meet, check me out on Facebook and we’ll stay in touch, I promise!). Dennis and the wonderful staff of Cazale’s was superb. Theresa Hart, the Raffertys and the rest of the staff of Viaggio were amazing! Rod, Rebecca and Zack from Element Studios were bringing some awesome film work. Kat’s cakes was extraordinary. And everyone else whom I’ve failed to mentioned that made it happen was just awesome. If I forgot anyone, let me know and I’ll make sure to mention/link you.
I can’t wait to post some photographs from the main wedding ceremony, but as a tease, here are some from the Mendhi, Prithi and Vithi ceremonies which were held Sheetal’s parents’ home in Brookside Golf and Country Club. The artist who did Sheetal’s Mendhi (henna) is Neeta D. Sharma and she is one of the most amazing designers around. Her work has been widely published and she herself has written several books concerning the subject. It was truly an honor to see her at work. View her work here.

I’ve always been a believer in sustainability, minimizing waste and looking out for the environment. I think it comes from my faith and from my roots in the surfing community. I know what it is like to get up in the morning when it is still dark to go paddle out only to see a red warning sign on the beach telling me that the water is too contaminated to surf. It bums me out to see carelessness and harm to the environment.
As a boutique wedding photography studio I’m offering my clients green alternatives and innovative options that will make clients feel good about doing business with us. As one of the only green photography studios in Northern California, my hope is that brides will realize that they can have the highest of quality in their prints, albums and service, yet still maintain an eco-friendly footprint. Green weddings are not just a fad, they’re the future.
Click on the media above to read more about our green wedding offerings. Also, if you know of any green wedding vendors who would like to submit an application to be listed on my green page, let me know.

No moms, I’m not selling you short, nor am I being condescending or blasphemous. I truly believe that Father’s Day is the most important day of our Calendar Year. Christmas is a splendid time, but often overtaken by greed/keeping up with the Joneses and hectic schedules. Easter is a wonderful time, yet it has lost it’s true meeting and has been so “politically corrected” that it doesn’t bring the weight and conviction that it used to. Mother’s Day, aahhhh Mother’s Day. Moms should be celebrated everyday!
The reason why I chose Father’s Day as being more “important” than Mother’s Day is not because one is better than the other or more worthy of having a holiday. The reason comes from deep thought on the decay of our once great society. Fathers are the lifeblood of any great society, they are the leaders of morality, the defenders of good, the protectors of the innocent and the strong back which our country rests upon. They represent the tipping point in our society. I’m not just making things up, there are a ton of statistics out there to prove my discourse. When the father is gone, the decay of a family sets it. Fathers were designed to protect and provide for their families like nobody else. Moms were not designed to do so, kids were not designed to do so, big brothers were not designed to do so. I know that these statements aren’t very politically correct, but allow me to express the value of fatherhood.
If there is one element that is missing in our society that is leading to the decay of our society, I believe it is the father in the home. My heart goes out to single moms who are working, going to school and trying to make ends meet. My mom was one. But I see the void in those families, I’ve even felt it, and it hurts my heart to know that there are millions of kids who will never feel the reassurance that a father in the home can bring.
I don’t apologize for saying any of this and I hope nobody is offended or hurt by my sentiments. I just wish that we would teach our boys to be men and one day to be real fathers. I wish that chivalry would make a triumphant return. I wish that our society would hold fathers accountable to the lives that they brought into existence. My dream is for a dad to be there for every little girl who wants to learn how to ride a bike. My hope is for a daddy to be there when every little boy wants to learn how to throw a baseball.
You’re reading words from a dad who didn’t always have a dad in the house. I love my dad, I’m going out to dinner with him in just a few hours actually and I’m glad that he’s there for me now and more importantly for his grandkids. If you’re a dad and you’ve messed up, it is never too late to make it right. It might be a hard road but it is worth. Me and my dad enjoy one of the best relationships today because he made the effort to be my dad. Being a “dad” is not just a word, its a way of life.
And so I share some photographs of fathers from some recent weddings. These photos mean a lot to me. They are the reason I do what I do. Enjoy.