Exciting News – Moving Into New Studio

2013 brought so many amazing events and changes to my life: The continued success of my photography business, a great year keeping bees, meeting and collaborating fantastic colleagues, and of course, the birth of my baby daughter.  Is it any wonder that 2014 would be any different?  I think not!

I am thrilled to announce I’ve moved into a beautiful studio in San Francisco.  I am still in the process of framing up new work for the walls, but when they’re up, I’ll snap a few images to let you see 🙂  Until then…

Here’s wishing everyone an amazing 2014!  And if you’re thinking of booking a wedding for 2014 – don’t hesitate – weekends are filling up quickly!

Cheers!

Raissa + Brian – Marin Headlands Wedding – Mt. Tamalpais Wedding – San Francisco Wedding Photographer

The door opened at the cafe, and when I looked up from my hot cocoa, we both smiled and let out a quick chuckle. Now, thinking back on the phone call I received from Brian, apologizing that they’d be a bit late for our meeting, of course that’s why his voice was familiar in some distant way. As it was, Brian just happened to once upon a time live one floor above me in the same dorm room some (many) years ago at Cal Poly SLO.  “Out of all the gin joints in all the world…”  But yeah, it is a damn small world.

So the world is small, but it’s also enormous.  It’s full of wild encounters, amazing people, and endless stories.  Today Raissa and Brian wrote their own story, on their terms. They tied their own knot, literally, as a symbol of their bond.  Their wedding ceremony was intimate, love-filled, comedic at times (horse-radish!), and honest.  I am honored to have been a part of it. What follows are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

Raissa_Brian_blog 0001

Continue reading

Kim + Matt – Bodega Bay – Compass Rose Garden Wedding

Kim and Matt’s Wedding was everything you’d expect from a day up on the northern coast of California.  A touch of wind, fog moving in, and a slight chill in the air.  It was my first time photographing at the Compass Rose Garden, and I loved it.  No wonder these two fell in love with this place.  Nestled back in among lush green trees with ferns dappling the hillside, it was a photographers best case scenario.  Everything was outstanding this day; The flowers were amazing, food was off the hook, the cheese spread clinched best in class, and some amazing toasts from friends and family were orated with excellence.  I have never seen someone get so emotional about shoes (Katie!).  There was also the wedding dress strap snap heard round the world, a wave at the dinner table, and some general craziness happening on the dance floor.

What follows are some of my favorites.  Hope you enjoy them. 

kim_matt_blog 00001

 

Continue reading

Melissa + Scott – Upstate New York – Adirondack Wedding

Melissa_Scott_blog 0001

Bit of a side story here. I grew up on the east coast until I moved to CA when I was 16 years of age.  Man, what a cultural difference.  Southern California was like a foreign country. The styles, the freeways (The 5, The 405), Hal Fishman reporting what the Hollywood Stars were doing on the local evening news, the way people talked – it was all so different. But now I am one of them, and it’s the east coast (northeast) that is so foreign to me. There’s this immutable intensity that shrouds everyone, and for no particular reason. Maybe it’s the winters and ice and salt coupled with the bitter cold? But the moral is that I miss parts of it.  I miss those lush, fecund, green summers.  I miss rain squalls that brew off in the distance and march unstoppable, bringing a deluge of cascading sheets of rain, whether it’s needed or not. I even miss that intensity, which I rekindled – not on my own terms however – but a 1/2 mile from the car rental kiosk (sorry I missed the turn and stopped short guy.)  Nothing like getting a huge and agro middle finger waved at you for a greeting.  Ah, much as it ever was…  And with that, I give you Scott and Melissa’s Wedding in the Adirondacks.

Melissa and Scott have been together for a long time.  Like a loooooong time.  I didn’t know this until I got out to NY.  I mean, I had chatted with Melissa on the phone about some general details, but we didn’t go into great depth about her and Scott.  So it was a surprise when I kept hearing these repeated phrases as I walked around, sipping on a few beers at the rehearsal, “Yeah, I didn’t know if they’d do it, but here we are.”  And there I was as well, a few thousand miles from home photographing someone’s wedding in upstate NY.  Honestly, sometimes I have to step back and look at the duality of my job.  On one hand, it’s totally rad that I get to travel and photograph a couple’s destination wedding, and on the other hand, it’s absolutely ludicrous!  Either way, I was thrilled to have attended and been allowed the honor to capture Melissa and Scott’s wedding at the gorgeous Burlap and Beams. What follows are some of my favorites.

Continue reading

Nate + Katie – Tahoe Tree Company Wedding – Lake Tahoe Wedding

I was fortunate enough to have had back to back Lake Tahoe weddings.  If you’ve never been to Lake Tahoe, don’t bother, it’s horrible.  It sits at over a mile in altitude, cleaning your lungs with every breath as National Forest surrounds everything, anchored by one of the most pristine lakes in the world, flanked on all sides by the Sierra Nevada.  Ack.  Whoa, that just made me want to go back up there!  Nate and Katie’s wedding day was absolutely perfect.  We had great weather, an amazing gathering of family and friends, and a spectacular location.  I can’t say enough about the Tahoe Tree Company’s grounds.  Yes, I love to garden and landscape, and walking around the place, I must say it was one of the nicest nurseries I’ve been to.  And what a great place to host a wedding, right?  Grounds that nurture and coddle young saplings and tender flowers until their all grown up and ready to embark on a life of their own.  Sounds like a perfect metaphor describing two beautiful people starting a new chapter of life.  What follows is one gorgeous day that will be followed by many more to come.

 

nate_katie_blog 00001

Continue reading

Steve + Abbie – Lake Tahoe Wedding

When a really good friend comes to the table to cash in his chips, what’s a guy to do but say yes?  Steve and Abbie are dear friends, and I was stoked and honored to have been asked to photograph their Lake Tahoe beach wedding.  A few caveats were laid down if I was going to do this baby pro-bono publico.  I had to enjoy some craft brew made by one of his friends (check)… and I think… that was it.  Wait, does that mean I will work for beer?  Possibly, but if we haven’t known each other for almost 2 decades, it’s not gonna happen.  Holy crap I am getting old!  But what photographer worth his or her salt wouldn’t want to capture a stunning bride in one of the world’s most pristine places.  Steve, you’re not so bad yourself, but that dress Abbie!  I loved it.  The ceremony was short and sweet, with tons of love and energy floating through the air.  What follows is short and sweet as well, but I am sure you’ll enjoy it.  And no brother, you didn’t burn down any bridges; although I may be needing a place to crash when the pow comes 🙂

steve_abbie 0001-1

Continue reading

Allied Arts Guild Wedding – Gabe + Casey – Menlo Park Wedding

Owning a VW has it’s advantages.  When you meet another person who can appreciate the Vanagon Westfailia as much as I do (read money pit), you know you’re in good company.  My first meeting with Gabe and Casey was at a cafe in Menlo Park.  They got some soup, I had a mocha.  We spoke of other stuff than wedding talk.  Things like where they were from, how they met, motorcycles, and yes, VW’s.  By the time they returned to the table with their meal, I think it was decided that I was the guy for them.  I can only say I am honored to have been your photographer.  It was such a blast to hang out with your family and friends, see you guys interact and have a great time, all the while capturing some amazing moments.  What follows is a slice of the day… or a tiny baklava bite… your choice.

gabe_casey_blog 0001

Continue reading

Lindsay + Aaron – InterContinental Hotel -San Francisco Wedding

It’s an editor’s nightmare I tell you!  There were so many amazing photos from Lindsay and Aaron’s wedding, I had trouble cutting it down. But… since it’s my blog, I can do whatever I want with it! So get ready for a ton of photos, but it’s well worth the extra cruising time.  Anyway, blah blah blah, this wedding was super fun and crazy love filled.  These two are such sweethearts. I just melted watching them grace each other for the first time, all gussied up on their big day. They took turns crying! He is definitely her lobster… whatever that means?! I know, I know, it’s a Friends reference, but I would need to watch the episode to brush up on the history. But you know, it’s great to see people so in sync with each other. Makes life down the road that much easier! Here’s wishing you guys a smooth sailing, loved filled and blessed life.

lindsay_aaron_blog_00001

Continue reading

Kimberly + Matt – Engagement – Woodside, CA

Kim, Matt, and I met on a glorious (you have to say it like Will Ferrell does in ‘Old School’ talking about “Blue”) summer day at my home in Redwood City.  Oddly enough, our city motto is “Climate Best by Government Test.”  You’d be surprised how many people know it, and quote it when I tell them that’s where I live.  But anyway… The day was gorgeous and we decided to kick around my neck of the woods for some photo opportunities.  When I am out cruising on my road bike, I am constantly imprinting cool places in my mental Rolodex for future ideas and shoots.  As scattered as it may be sometimes (my mind), every now and then it hits the jackpot.  This was one of those days.  What follows are some really fun shots, great light, and super cute couple.  Kim – aka Katie 😉 – and Matt, looking forward to seeing you guys back on the west coast in a few months.  Until then, abrazos fuertes!

kim_matt_blog_00001

Continue reading

Craig Falls

The title has a double meaning.  Craig really did take a fall, of sorts, but it’s also his actual name. Craig, my neighbor down the street, was hit by a Chevy Silverado just over a week ago.  He was cruising around 32 mph when the truck made a left turn but didn’t see Craig coming the opposite direction.  He impacted the passenger side fender, and his face and helmet cratered in the windshield. His carbon frame broke into pieces and his alloy handlebars are twisted and mangled. So was Craig.  He told me all he remembers thinking was, “I’m not going to miss this…”

His list of injuries includes but is not limited to:  Lots of fractured face bones, a torn rotator cuff, most likely torn ACL, broken wrist, facial lacerations, broken nose + displace septum, and all kinds of bruising.  For all this, he is remarkably well and healing.

I thought a photo of the carnage would be a good idea and memento for when he’s back in the saddle.  Get well soon buddy.

craig_falls 00001See you down the road.

-Todd