Big Sur Trees & Sun Engagement Shoot {Mike & Jeanine}

Mike & Jeanine are getting married at the Highlands Inn in beautiful Carmel Ca. So what better than to shoot in the middle of one of the most amazing places on earth, AND coincidentally its their favorite place too! We headed up the coast after thanksgiving to meet them. The light, and cool fall colors were breathtaking.

They spend a lot of time being involved with YMCA, so they sported their "rags".

Since we had early fall rains, the clovers were out and we got some sweet shots in the redwood trees! I'm always looking for cool textures, backgrounds and things that are NOT normal.

I shot this shot with a 1/20th of a second, walking and panning with them, using a 16-35mm lens, my lens flare/landscape lens

Sunset times are the time of day I cannot get enough of.

No really, they were this much fun, and I can't help having fun with people who are having fun. Which is exactly what they wanted recorded of them, the story of them having fun being themselves!

Craggled trees, perfect backdrop, middle ground for this sweetness.

The end... of the shoot, but the beginning of their lives being recorded amazingly and forever they will have something that will remind them of why they enjoy each other. This is who they are and how much fun they have. Thanks guys for a great day!

Big Sur, CA Engagement Shoot { Adam & Amanda }

Today we just got back from shooting up in Big Sur! I love this area, Its so beautiful. We started at the Big Sur River Inn, where you can get the BEST breakfast, and then head down to the creek to soak up some sun and meet up with Adam & Amanda from Chicago who are getting married at the Highlands Inn (Hyatt) in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Its bursting with green right now.

Then the winds picked up to 30-40 mph and blew a cool sandstorm like breeze across the ground. I have always seen this but never laid down inside to get coated in sand to get a cool shot like this, but then if I don't take risks, what kind of photographer am I! I love trying new things, even if I fail, there is no loss. Getting wet, cold, sandy, muddy, sore, tired, achy, are all symptoms that tell me I'm trying and pushing the edge. And by the way, none of these are remotely bad things. These are superseded by amazing images that are worth 100 times the risks. Plus my couples get some unique sweet shots.

Thanks guys for hanging out this morning!

Photo of the Week

One of the most beautiful drives in the world, Highway 1 has some incredible views. Julia Pheiffer Burns State Park has this waterfall that goes into the ocean. Its 20 miles south of Big Sur. If you take the 101 south, take the 1, mileage wise its the same, but it may take an hour longer, but its therapeutic and relaxing.

Big Sur

My wife and I were able to get away thursday and friday to big sur, (on our way up to San Francisco for a wedding this weekend) the most beautiful stretch of coast in the world. Here are some of the photos from Sand Dollar beach, and then from our breakfast @ Big Sur River Inn, which has a restaurant right on the river, you can actually sit and have food/drink with your feet soaking. If you want to go during the summer months, it books up 2-3 months in advance. Saturday we had our wedding and i will post some highlights from that later today or tomorrow!