Ashley sent me the sweetest email a few days before the wedding about how happy she was that I would be photographing their wedding. It really touched me and she now has a special place in my heart. You might remember their awesome engagement session in San Francisco, CA a few months back and if you do, you know already that these two have tremendous style. Ashley is such a beautiful bride and so photogenic (thanks for making my job easy). Isai is so “well put together” and has all of the details of attire down. It was good to see a young guy that uses shoe trees and knows that wearing a custom suit on the wedding day is the only way to go(suit and shirting by R. Douglas Clothier).
Thank you so much for having me down and making me a part of your wedding. Let’s hang out soon. I hope you guys had fun in Ocho Rios, Jamaica! Enjoy.

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It was late February when I drove in the traffic and rain of the San Francisco Bay Area towards my escape, err, flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. There is something awesome that happens when you look from the airplane and you see yourself flying over the border of a country. It is almost as if an adventure begins and the excitement truly captivated me.
I was hired by a couple form San Francisco, CA to photograph their destination wedding in Punta de Mita, Mexico
and I’m glad that they had me there for a few extra days as I was able to explore the city and really capture the essence of this sleepy fishing town in the Riviera Nayarit.
From a “non-conformist tourist” perspective, Punta de Mita is a great escape from the highly commercialized tourist destinations in Mexico. By the end of your stay, you’ll feel more like a local than a gringo. There are several excellent surf breaks in the vicinity and Sayulita (famous for it’s surfing) is just up the road. The fishing, I’ve heard, is awesome and boats/gear can be chartered for a reasonable rate. The restaurants on the beachfront are typical of Mexico, some good and some awesome. I highly recommend the Blue Water Grill (try the seared ahi and mahi mahi plate) and Margaritas (mango margaritas and lobster/shrimp combo).
There are quite a few condos for rent on the beach, a few luxury penthouses and several upscale hotels. The Hotel des Artistes was a personal favorite and the views from the rooms here are spectacular. There is also a St. Regis and a Four Seasons up the beach for the luxury minded.
My personal recommendations for your stay would be such: stroll down the beach towards PV (southeast) and check out the beautiful beachfront homes and coral formations. Take a morning to go to Villa Ananda Ayurveda Spa for a relaxing massage or yoga, this place is truly amazing. Make sure and spend some time walking through the “heart” of the town. The people are friendly, the children love having their photo taken and you’ll walk away with a better feeling than the average tourist who avoids such places.
Be warned, this sleepy surf town will steal your heart. You will truly find a place to relax and enjoy yourself when you travel to Punta de Mita. Here are some photographs from a roll that I had forgotten about. This is the real Punta de Mita, Mexico. Enjoy.

This is a photograph from Anna and Anthony’s beautiful wedding day celebration at Oak Farm Vineyards in Lodi, CA. This particular photograph speaks volumes to my heart, especially as the father of a little girl. Someone commented that this photograph was priceless, I agree and It got me to thinking. Can you really put a price on this moment? Enjoy.

Ever Ours is a fabulous wedding blog that features beautifully thought out inspiration, photographs, thoughts and wedding trends. If you’re a bride, one of the best things you can do is head over to Ever Ours and other wedding blogs for great ideas that can help you envision the beauty of your wedding day. Thank you Lydia for sharing Danielle and Kris’ engagement session that I photographed in Laguna Beach, CA a few weeks back. Enjoy.

You don’t see a lot of props in my work. You don’t see a lot of “contrived situations”. I am a believer in real love, tangible, believable…true love. The connection is everything. If you look into the eyes of the people I photograph, I want you to see someone who is comfortable, in love and full of emotion. It is my belief that there should be a certainty to the images that a photographer makes that goes beyond the scene, the props, the skin and takes the viewer to a place where they “feel” something.
Here are Ashley and Joey. They’re indelibly in love and I love that about them. I’m looking forward to photographing their wedding at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Modesto, CA and reception at Two Guy’s in Turlock, CA. Enjoy. 3