Grand Tradition in Fallbrook: jumping in and getting my feet wet!

On Saturday I shot an absolutely gorgeous wedding at Grand Tradition in Fallbrook, CA, with Silvia of Cara Mia Studio. The couple, Michelle and Simon, wanted a group shot of the entire wedding party. A staff member was kind enough to tip me off that I could get to the top of the waterfall. "Make a left at that palm tree and go behind those bushes," he tells me while pointing. So I climb up there, and as I look down I see that there is no way to get a clean shot--unless I get INTO the waterfall. I start taking off my shoes and socks to get in, yelling down to Silvia and everyone else that I'm going in. Apparently, everyone thought I was nuts. I got in and everyone was cheering me!! How cool is that?!? Getting cheered on by 100 plus people at a wedding? It was awesome!! Silvia nailed a shot of me before crouching down behind some guests so that she wouldn't get in the shot. At right is Barbara, a photog that Silvia is training. I'll do almost anything to get the shot for a client :-)

Lebowski Fest!

I shoot mostly weddings, but being a photographer, sometimes I shoot unique events. Lebowski Fest is definitely unique. For those who are not Achievers (this is how Lebowski fans refer to each other), Lebowski Fest is based on the Coen Brothers movie, The Big Lebowski. It has become a bona fide cult classic. It has even inspired a philosophy and a book. Jeff Bridges plays the main character, The Dude, and John Goodman plays his mentally unstable sidekick, Walter. It is really impossible to describe the film, but it has to do with a slacker who loves bowling, a stolen rug (it really ties the movie together), a case of mistaken identity, fraud, kidnapping, and some nihilists. The Coen Brothers (who have NO association with the Fest) have said that the film is not really supposed to make much sense, and frankly it doesn't, but that's not important. What's important is that the movie is hysterical, and the fans of it have a very high commitment to the film. Very high. You can see more of my pics on the Lebowski Fest web site.
What cult films are you into??
(NOTE: Most of my work is candid photography, NOT camera aware or posed. Lebowski Fest is an exception.)

Wedding in Ramona, CA

I haven't had a chance to get Jennie and Nick's wedding up on my web site yet, but I wanted to share a few pics of their beautiful wedding. I shot this as a second photographer for John Schnack again. It wasn't hot like our last shoot in Temecula when it was 110. However it had been raining really hard the day before. They were unable to get a tent at the last minute, but luckily there were only a few drizzles. They had their wedding and reception at Jennie's parents house in Ramona. Primal Alchemy catering (great food!) transformed the barn into an amazing full service kitchen. Wedding planner Catherine Smiley Jones did an awesome job of running things and making sure every thing was gorgeous. The last shot is of everyone dancing under the moonlight--it had finally cleared up!