Wedding Photography in Redlands, California

There's no better place to capture a wedding in the Inland Empire then in the city of Redlands, California. Redlands, a historical citrus growers city, still has many of its rustic buildings in the downtown area. These buildings make great back drops for any type of portrait work, especially weddings. This particular wedding was captured at two prominent wedding venues in the city; The Mitten Building for the ceremony, located in downtown Redlands, and Edwards Mansion for the reception.

Aside from the location, the weather was perfect for photographs. Soft light created by an overcast sky not only provided for great lighting conditions, but a dramatic sky as you can see in the photo of the bride and groom to the right. The Mitten building itself provided ample amounts of backdrop character for our exterior shots, however, as many photographers agree, the interior is somewhat dark. This wedding was captured during the day, so I had limited light coming through the southern and northern windows. However, I did have to set up my wireless flash units in strategic locations to ensure I got good shots. My lighting assistant was also mobile with a remote flash on a boom arm if needed.

As for Edwards Mansion, the grounds where stunning for exterior shots, but again, the reception tent was dark with low lights. Dragging my shutter helped a lot when it came to capturing photos and keeping the mood of the event without blasting light into the tent and washing out the crowd or getting that "flash" look. It was also nice to be the only wedding at Edwards Mansion that day. I have worked the venue while five other weddings and receptions where taking place simultaneously and it can get quite confusing when all the brides are wearing white and you're trying to locate your bride for photos. Don't blink, because you can lose her quickly.

Aside from the exceptional personalities of the attendees from this wedding, I think it was refreshing working with a unique bride who dawned a unique colored dress. The red really "made" a lot of the photograph's, especially with the brick background at the Mitten Building. It was truly a photographic treat.

Wedding Photography in the Inland Empire, Redlands, California

To view images from this wedding in Redlands; The Mitten Building and Edwards Mansion, click on a thumbnail below.

Wedding Photography at Eagle Glen Golf Club

Weddings at golf clubs can tend to lack elegance, especially from a photographers view point. Wherever you turn on a course, you have either golfers, golf carts, buildings, or flag poles in the background. Oh yes, and sometimes the occasional parking lot shows up as background. While Southern California is host to many golf courses and most do host weddings, there are not too many that I like better than Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona, California.

The course is nestled up against the northern part of the Santa Ana Mountains which provide a picturesque backdrop. The only down side to this is that most weddings I have photographed at Eagle Glen face toward the mountains and the setting sun. This could pose a problem with photographers who don't have the experience or ability to control their lighting. Other than that one little issue, the course is painted with rolling hills, ponds (lakes), and bridges, all of which provide for great photo backdrops.

On this particular wedding, the event coordinator escorted my assistant an I around in a golf cart as the bride and groom followed behind in their own cart. Being rushed for time, the event coordinator drove like he was in the fast lane on a freeway; I think at one point he forgot I was sitting in the back with all of my photo gear. Needless to say, it was quite the experience sitting in the back of the golf cart, riding backwards, and "flying" over the rolling hills, holding on for dear life. But I have to say that it was worth it considering the photos I captured prior to losing my sunlight.

Wedding Photography in Corona, California (Inland Empire)

To view images from this wedding at Eagle Glen Golf Club, click on a thumbnail below.

10 Wedding Day Photography Tips for Brides

Being a California photographer who captures weddings as part of my specialty, I have worked with many brides over the years. There are certain things I do to get myself prepared for every wedding, like check my equipment, charge camera batteries, and get plenty of rest the night before the big day; but, what about the bride? What does she do to prepare herself for the most important photos of her life?

Below is a list of things I think would help a bride prepare for her wedding day photos.  I think if a bride and groom followed these simple ideas, they would greatly improve their wedding photos.

Get plenty of rest

It’s tempting to stay up the night prior to your wedding, getting the last minute details together or just partying, but avoiding sleep can be detrimental to your wedding photos the next day. First off, if you’re just tired, you may not look your best in pictures, add a cranky and a stressed out bride, then you have a recipe for not so great wedding photos in the making.

The solution, do all of your planning ahead of time and when it comes to the eve of your wedding, get to bed early and get plenty of sleep. You’ll be glad you did not only on your wedding day, but, after the ceremony, when you’re looking at your photos.

Eat and stay hydrated on your wedding day

This may sound like a no brainer, but it’s all too often I come across a bride during the formal portrait session who is either cranky, or delays the photography due to hunger and thirst.  By being cranky and/or delaying your photo shoot can lead to rushed photos and or you not looking so good in your wedding photos.

Solution, eat small, protein rich foods, like a protein bar or chicken strips. Protein keeps you full longer. Stay hydrated with water and avoid alcohol, especially in warmer or hot climates, like Southern California.

Plan your photo locations

For most weddings, they take place in a single location. Some weddings may take place in a church then the reception is held elsewhere. However, it’s not uncommon to find yourself wanting to take your wedding photos at locations other than the ceremony and reception site; like the beach or a park.

If you do decide to venture off to a new location or locations for your wedding photos, it’s a really good idea to plan this in advanced. Most often, your wedding photographer will know where they want to shoot.  Regardless of who decide where the photography will be taking place, you need to keep everyone involved informed. Print maps and directions for everyone involved in the photos. The last thing you want is to just “wing” the locations on your wedding day and run the risk of not getting the photos you want or losing family members form one point to another.

Have a list of people you would like photographed at your wedding

This is going to take some planning on the bride’s part, but it will help speed up the process of your wedding day photos as well as ensure that your family gets photos with you and your groom. Put together a list of family members that you would like photographed. For example, if you’re going to want your aunt photographed with you and your new husband, write it down. If you want a photo of just you and your aunt, write that down too. It’s best to put the persons name as well as their relationship so that anyone could help you get family and friends together for photos.

Assign someone to assist with family photos.

Now that you have your wedding day family photo list, you’re going to want to assign someone, like a bridesmaid or family member, to assist with getting everyone together for the photos. Your wedding photographer will not know who your family members are, so it’s a good idea that you have someone who is familiar with your family assist you with logistics.

By having an assistant, you are eliminating the wasted “searching for family members” time and ensure that you’ll get the photos that you want on your wedding day.

Allow enough time for photos

Ask any bride and she will tell you that her wedding day photos are the most important part of the wedding. But at the same time, she will tell the photographer that they have only 30 minutes after the ceremony to take the photos. Huh?

Give yourself time to take the photos that will tell your wedding day story for generations to come. First, consult with your wedding photographer to determine the amount of time they will need to capture your images. Once that has been determined, check with the wedding or reception venue about the timing. If you’re working with a wedding coordinator, consult with them to determine the timing. They will in-turn work with other vendors, especially your photographer.

Pre-shoot as much as possible

Even if you don’t plan on seeing each other prior to the wedding ceremony, you can still have your photographer capture as much of the formals as possible prior to the wedding ceremony.

Some suggestions would be to have all the groomsmen and bridesmaids photographed prior to the ceremony. It may also be a good idea to get some family photos taken care of before the ceremony as well. The only challenge you will have is to get people ready early. You will save a lot of time between your ceremony and reception should you pre-shoot some of the formals.

Provide your photographer with an itinerary

One sure way to have missed photo opportunities is to not provide your photographer with an itinerary of the day’s events. You want keep them in the loop, so provide them with a detailed list of events and some sort of time schedule. Of course, time schedules will change as the day unfolds, but you want your photographer to be aware of the events that are to occur during the wedding ceremony as well as the reception. This way, the photographer won’t run the risk of a missed opportunity photo.

Carry facial blotters

Ladies, you know what I’m talking about. They come in a small little pack and are used to blot your face for excess oil. These little things come in handy on a hot summer Southern California day! It’s a good idea to carry a pack or two around while you’re having your photos taken. They can help reduce the “shine” off your forehead and face; making for better photos.

Have a contingency plan in case your photographer is a no show

While the chances of this are slim, it does happen; your photographer may have trouble making it on time to you’re wedding or may not even show up. I was just taking to a young lady who attended her friends wedding last year. She explained to me that the wedding photographer just didn’t show or call. And no guest had a camera (That’s a bit difficult to believe), so the guests used their cell phones to capture the special moments. I’m not saying this will happen to you, but you just want to be prepared.

It’s always good to ask a friend or family member attending the wedding to bring along their camera. In addition, you may want to invest some money in the disposable cameras and have them sitting on the tables in the reception hall. Guests can use them to capture your special moments during the reception.

When it comes to your wedding photos, you can certainly leave everything up to the photographer and hope it all turns out peachy in the end. However, if you want to ensure that your wedding day photos will turn out their best, then following the tips above is a step in the right direction.

Article printed with permission from Southern California Wedding Photography

Wedding Photography at Barona Resort - San Diego, California

Barona Resort in San Diego County (California) is probably one of the few wedding venues tucked away and off the beaten path; this makes for a nice, romantic venue to have a wedding. I was fortunate enough to make my trek from Riverside to Barona Resort to photograph this awesome wedding. I immediately saw that great potential for photos once I drove up to the front of the resort. The only thing I wish I had was lots of time to work with the couple, however, despite the short timeline, capturing stunning wedding photos here was no problem.

Southern California Wedding Photography in San Diego

Getting ready shots can be the most interesting to capture at a wedding. It's a time when the bride, gorrm, bridal party, and parents show their real characters. You can have celebration, or chaos just moments before the "show" is put on. For me, I enjoy capturing the human side of things as they unfold prior to the wedding. In this black and white, getting ready photo, the brides brother is helping her with her shoes as her bridesmaid holds her in balance.

Wedding dress details are a must. Most brides, and I would say almost all brides (there are a few exceptions) love to have detail photos of their wedding dress. Natural lighting allowed for this classic shot of the back of this brides wedding dress and veil.

Love bridal portraits. When I have the opportunity to use natural light indoors for bridal portraits, I try and seize the opportunity. Turning off the room light and only using natural light from the large sliding glass door allowed for this pleasant portrait of this radiant bride.

Barona does have a chapel where you can get married at. However, this particular wedding was photographed outdoors, with the lake as it's backdrop. One of the challenges was the setting sun behind the hotel. However, I used it to my advantage to create a little sparkle and realism in the photo of the bride being walked down the path by her brother. Check out the stunning landscape. Everything was well maintained.

I like exploring different angles when photographing weddings. Here, I've got my Nikon on the aisle floor shooting down at the couple. I think the bride and groom do appreciate the details as I'm certain they didn't pay much attention to the rose peddles in the aisle during the ceremony. On another note, the weather was perfect. Notice the blue sky, you wouldn't have thought there was a fire in San Diego earlier that day. But there was, however, luckily the wind blew the smoke out just in time for the wedding ceremony.

More detail shots. It's the "little things" that brides like. Here, I'm standing at a distance with a 200mm lens just watching the bride as she sits on the grass, waiting to be called in by the DJ. I caught her fidgeting with her rings. I don't think I would have got a candid shot as nice as this if I would have asked her to pose. It's always fun to hide amongst the crowed and just "find" those "little things" thank make a bride smile when she sees her wedding day photos.

What would wedding photos be without a few romantic shots. Here, the bride and groom engage in a kiss on the crest of a hill at the resort. Just behind them, the lake and the San Diego rolling hills. As a photographer, just pointing the camera and hoping to capture a good shot is not enough. I like working in post production as much as I do shooting the wedding. Here, I created a selenium toned image to give it a cool, romantic feel.

The reception, where the part just gets started. Here. teh bride gazes in to the eyes of her new husband. During the first dance and most of the evening, reception venues tend to dim the lights. I like this as it adds to the overall mood. Using my assistant, we strategically place wireless lighting behind the couple to "pop" them out of the background and create a warm, inviting, romantic first dance photo.