We’ve remained friends with them since the big day and wish them the best on their first year anniversary today! Special thanks to Debby Le for third shooting all day with us.

vintage 1947 Cadillac Fleetwood limo

These two are the best! Angela and Erin with Sterling Social events

See the wedding in print in the september 2012 issue of California Wedding Day Magazine

Coordination / planning:  Angela and Erin of Sterling Social

Ceremony Venue:  Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church

Reception Venue:  Bacara Resort and Spa

Cutting Cake:  Decadence Cakes

Floral/Decor:  Brown Paper Design

Ceremony Music:  Ybarra Music

Reception Music:  JB Project Band of West Coast Music & DJ Infrared

Videographer:  Artisan Production

Invitations:  Carlson Craft

Printed Materials:  Messex Industries

Lighting & Fabric:  Bella Vista Designs

Linens:  BBJ Linen

Dancefloor & Furnishings:  Designer Event Rentals

Hair:  Toni & Guy

Make-Up:  Artistry By Danika

Wedding Dress:  Rosa Clara from The White Dress

Groomswear:  Tom Ford

Bridesmaid Dresses:  Priscilla of Boston from The White Dress

A couple of hours of wandering in the snow, trying to keep warm, chasing the light, and having a little fun was exactly what we needed to get to know them better create photos showing their adoration of each other in their own element.

As artists, we set out every year with the goal of defining ourselves with a ‘style.’ Somehow we desire to omit what didnt work as well for us the year before, and set out to include techniques that we’ve encountered that did work out. Its not that difficult to make an image that overall looks good, feels good, and represents the person / place we are choosing as our subject. But that largest persisting challenge for us is to make an image that also represents ‘us’ in the work. Is every image that we create unique because there is a different personality and setting in front of the lens?

I always said yes to this.

But every year, at the end of the year we start to peer into the folders that have been safely archived in search of something special that hasn’t been shown yet (or special enough to get another round). And what manifests is a collection of images that, by themselves, display a uniqueness of style … but together convey to us what is inherent about how we see. And although we’re approaching the end of another year and the beginning of a fresh start, we remind ourselves that – like you too – we have a secure perspective on the world around us.

We are setting out into 2013 with some big changes in store, but must not forget our history and the moments that have brought us here. Thank you to everyone who gave us the chance to spend time with you to help tell your story. By opening your doors, you give us the window to convey our vision. We couldn’t do this without you.

Here is a ‘brief’ collection of what we (and our nikons) witnessed this year  …

Every year we try to come up with a cool idea for our holiday cards. Our goal is to try to outdo the previous year with an even more crazy/absurd/ creative concept. We threw around ideas of finding a unique location, doing a photo painting or maybe just popping into sears for a good old fashion portrait!

After a few weeks of brainstorming we came up with this concept. We thought it would be fun to create a layered image of us x 6 to create a snowflake-like pattern. We are such unique and individual snowflakes.. Haha, or just crazy.

Anyhow, we set up our D700 on a C-stand with an arm extension about 15 feet high. Using our 16-35mm we were able to get a wide enough angle to capture the whole setting. We tried using a softbox with the Elinchrom Ranger Quadra, but the light it produced for the shot was too uneven. We then decided to use the Elinchrom Ringflash RQ which mounts directly onto the camera, it produced the perfect light  we needed for this shot, bright in the center and radiating out towards the edges. From here, we taped off the area that we needed to place our bodies, and then photographed a series of shots in each outfit. We took turns photographing one another and sometimes putting the timer mode on and running into place. We shot with the camera tethered to the laptop, so we could review the shots as we captured them.

Once the shoot was over, we uploaded them into lightroom/ photoshop and composited all of the images into one single frame.

It was a bit of work.. but honestly for us, it felt like play. Well, hope you enjoyed our silliness and that each and everyone of you has a happy new year!

xoxo ~Leanne + Paul

So when we’re going over the timeline a week before the wedding I ask Alexis if there are any special ‘details’ or custom arrangements I should keep an eye out for …. she tells me she made some flags out of vintage fabrics, but thats about it. We arrive to discover that not only were all of the flags, pendants, bouquets, ceremony ‘flowers’, hair accessories, and bridesmaids gifts all handmade, but Alexis and Heather actually papermache’d a bear head and hands for the ‘ring bear’. So good. Needless to say we were trusted and treated like family, so thank you Brandon and Alexis for having us with you on your big day … we can only hope our images begin to capture the quiet coolness that is your singularity.

fox cake toppers where all Alexis’ handy work. so rad.