News, notes, and behind the scenes info on Schnack Studios wedding and portrait photography!
SubscribeBetween dodging rain showers, we managed to fit in a great bridal portrait shoot with Paige! Paige hails from Austin, TX, and wanted to incorporate a cowboy hat and boots to give it a little Texas feel! The first portion of the shoot was done at the Olivenhain Meeting Hall, which has a great rustic feel. The second leg of the shoot was done in the eastern portion of the San Elijo Lagoon.
This issue of San Diego Style Weddings magazine came out back in October 2009 and a PDF copy has been sitting on my computer desktop ever since then, waiting to be dissected for tearsheets. Just got to it now. That’s how I roll…
One of the greatest things about my job is consistently getting to work with tremendously creative, talented vendors. With some openings this spring, I wanted to partner with select groups of vendors to create some tabletop/bridal fashion shoots. Not only would the shoots give us the opportunity to stay sharp, but they would serve as a vehicle to collaborate as a team to create something we wouldn’t normally get the chance to do during a wedding. It’s an opportunity to take some chances, push the envelope a bit, and create something remarkable. Plus, it’s a great way to generate some cross-promotion and buzz, so it’s a win-win for everyone.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been reaching out to a select group of vendors whom I know could help make these shoots absolutely magical. One of the vendors I contacted was Lollipop Events & Designs. Lollipop is run by a triumvirate of talented ladies–Vanessa,Jen and Cortnie–all of whom have known each other since the ninth grade. They’ve quickly become one of the most sought-after event planning vendors in California. We’re all from the Encinitas area so we’d all bump into one another quite often, and we’ve been dying to work together for the last several months. So when Vanessa called me a few weeks back to express interest and run some ideas by me, I was thrilled!
Their concept was “Wild Seaside Garden” and we selected a small area next to the La Jolla Bridge Club, just down from The Cove. The bridal model, Ren, was gorgeous, talented, and such a pleasure to photograph. The groom model, Kiptyn, who was recently featured on “The Bachelorette” TV show, did a fantastic job as well! We also teamed up with Isari Flower Studio for the gorgeous florals; the über-talented Alisa Benay provided the gown and head piece; the jewelry was created by Noaki Schwartz of Noaki Jewelry; Kip’s styling was done by Tam Ashworth for Stylish Silhouette; the wedding cake was created by Truly Scrumptious; makeup was beautifully done by Jennifer Budner. Special thanks to Girard Avenue Collection for the chairs and “I Love You” blocks; gourmet chocolates were provided by Dallmann Confections; hair styling was done by Jamie Rosa from Orange Blossom Salon.
Now, let’s get down to some tech-talk…
We wanted to keep everything looking pretty simple in terms of lighting. Most of the still life/food images were made using natural light, which was open shade. We mixed in a white reflector where necessary. We got a little more creative when the models, Ren and Kiptyn, were photograph. The main light was a large Chimera softbox camera left, about 6 feet from the subjects. We also had one ProFoto strobe (with standard reflector), camera right, as a kicker to throw some light on the bottom half of the frame where we were getting a little fall-off from the main light. We also had another ProFoto strobe behind and to the right of the models to provide some edge light.
There were so many great elements in this shoot, all of which are best described in Cortnie’s words on the Lollipop Blog! You can also catch a recap on the Ruffled Blog (parts I, II), which was kind enough to feature the shoot!
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe 2010 is already here, and after the doldrums that were 2009, the new year couldn’t have arrived sooner. As my dad says, “onward and upward!”
Work-wise, I couldn’t have imagined a better way to start the year than by photographing Natalie and Dave’s wedding at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. From the get-go, Natalie and Dave were totally into my wedding photography vision–they dedicated nearly an hour just for portraits.
The afternoon started with a wonderful first-sighting, something I encourage for every bride and groom who choose to see each other before the wedding. There’s nothing like that first look! We then strode down the Prado, allowing the beauty of San Diego’s Balboa Park to serve as an element in each image.
Their wedding was in intimate affair, which really fit in well with the clean, symmetrical lines of the main gallery, where the ceremony was held. Fazal Sheikh’s ‘Beloved Daughters’ exhibition, a beautiful installation of arresting portraits from India, made for an impactful background–the soulful eyes and expressions of unknown subjects watching Natalie and Dave’s every move. Natalie and Dave chose two simple willow towers as their ceremony arch, opting to let the visually spectacular surroundings take over.
The evening was catered by the always-great Indulge–Flor and her staff served up a delectable meal I’ll never forget. The reception was punctuated by great dancing in the atrium and a kick-ass photobooth, complete with great props!
Kate and Gregg were married this past Sunday at Estancia La Jolla. It was such an amazing day–perfect weather, fantastic venue, a super fun group of wedding guests and an unbelievable couple!
Special thanks to my second-shooter extraordinaire, Lindsey Byrnes, for her great work and fun attitude. Also thanks to Lynn Schuster, whose coordination skills made the event run smoothly. Finally, thanks to my old friend, Andy Hagenah, who kept the dance floor filled!
