Deja Vu – Granada Hills Wedding
Deja Vu
Today’s wedding reminded me of the wedding photography gig I did last August. The wedding ceremony was at De La Salle Catholic Church in Granada Hills. After the ceremony, we went to Brand Park at San Fernando Mission for formal wedding photography session. I went through the exact same schedule last August. The only difference was the location for reception.
Hot, Hot, Hot! (in San Fernando Valley)
It was a full Summer weather in San Fernando Valley. I grew up in San Fernando Valley, so I came prepared with a bottle of Sun-Block lotion I bought last year. I put on a coat of Sun block lotion at the parking lot of De La Salle Catholic Church. Hot temperature was a big news on TV today. Sierra Madre got caught on fire today (as I was out taking wedding pictures). Look at the picture below – 101 degrees at 3:37pm.
101 Degrees
After Catholic wedding ceremony, we went to Brand Park at San Fernando Mission. Just like last year, Brand Park was busy with hundreds of people from several different weddings. There were groups of wedding parties leaving and more wedding parties arriving. Some were celebrating Quinceanera but they were mostly there for weddings. There were about 5 wedding photography sessions going on at any given moment.
You see, San Fernando Valley doesn’t have enough locations to take outdoor wedding photographs. And there are a lot of people living down here (compared to Ventura county, where we have beach and more open spaces… golf clubs with mountains in the background). So public parks tend to get busy with weddings during the weekends.
I got very lucky today with photography spot. The other group under the (only) large tree just finished with their formal photography session. Pictures came out super-satisfactory under the tree, in the shade. Actually, there is more story to this “Tree” episode. I had to run across the park up and down. And I had to shout at my customers “Please go to that big tree! That’s the spot, please, go go~!” . Without that tree, we would have taken all our formal wedding photos under the piercing San Fernando Valley Sunlight.
We took care of all needed formal wedding photographs. We had some extra time in our schedule, so I encouraged everyone to stick around and get their single, couple, & family pictures done
I felt good about the pictures I took. I even took one “Wave” shot (above). I tell people to wave at me only when I get a positive vibe from the wedding party. This wedding party was very positive and fun.
We packed up and headed up to Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills.
Odyssey Restaurant – Reception
I mentioned earlier that there are a lot of people living in San Fernando Valley and not much locations for wedding photography. I think that applies with wedding reception venues as well. Odyssey Restaurant is located on the hill-top of Granada Hills. It’s one of the fanciest wedding reception locations in San Fernando Valley. At Odyssey Restaurant, I saw least 4-6 receptions going on at the same time. There is no recession in wedding business I guess.
Reception went on without any incident. It was a good wedding. People had a lot of fun.
Today’s Wedding Location & Vendors
DJ Thrive
San Fernando Wedding DJ / all occasions
818-962-3569
www.DJThrive.com
De La Salle Catholic Church
10738 Hayvenhurst Ave. Granada Hills, California 91344
Brand park (across from the San Fernando Mission)
15174 San Fernando Mission Rd. Mission Hills, CA 91345
The Odyssey Restaurant
15600 Odyssey Dr Granada Hills, CA 91344
(818) 366-5817
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Sylmar, San Fernando Wedding (my home town).
After last night’s wedding, I only had a few hours to get ready for today’s wedding.
Yesterday’s wedding was a film photography. Today will be a digital photography.
Today’s wedding took place around San Fernando Valley, centered in the city of San Fernando. Bride’s house was in Sylmar, the church was in Granada Hills. But we spent most of our time in the city of San Fernando. It was a Mexican wedding but I didn’t have to showcase my Spanish skill. They all all pretty much Americans.
San Fernando Valley ?? 
I used to live in San Fernando Valley. I grew up in Granada Hills.
I have a lot of memory of San Fernando Valley.
My mother still lives in Granada Hills.
I graduated Granada Hills High School, I am a Scott.
Chatsworth High was my Summer School.
I also took a few courses at California State University Northridge.
Every new year, I went to Galpin Ford in North Hills to pickup free calendars.
After all these years, I finally visited San Fernando Mission and saw the statue of Father Serra.
Across the San Fernando Mission was Brand Park where we took formal pictures.
Brand Park was packed with the wedding parties taking pictures.
I saw at least 10 wedding parties while I was taking photographs.
It was interesting to observe other photographers.
Some came with a full team of photo, video, and lighting crew. Those guys were from Telemundo, a big Spanish TV station. Some photographer wore pirate pants and bandanna. Yikes..
Brand Park, San Fernando
I was super hot and humid today. The groom took his jacket off every time he was not being photographed. We had a record-breaking heatwave, you see. It was not just the heat, but it was unusually humid today. As I was taking pictures, beads of sweat rolled down from my arms. TV news described today’s weather as “Tropic”.
But, despite the temperature and humidity, photography wise, I got very lucky. Sky was over-casted. I couldn’t see the Sun. So I had even lighting. Look at the picture above. No harsh Sunlight. No squinting. It was a “Golden Hour” at 3pm. I couldn’t ask for more. Imagine the same picture with a full Sunlight beaming down. At that position, the bride and groom would be looking right at the Sun.
Recetion went on smooth with Mariachi band and DJ to follow.
UPDATE, April 26, 2008: I had a very similar Granada Hills Wedding Photography gig. I went to the same church in Granada Hills for wedding. And I also went to Brand Park in San Fernando for formall wedding photography session. And it was also super-hot. [Granada Hills Wedding Blog]
De La Salle catholic church
10738 Hayvenhurst Ave. Granada Hills (Mission Hills), California 91344
Brand park (across from the San Fernando Mission)
15174 San Fernando Mission Rd. Mission Hills, CA 91345
The Elks Lodge
804 Pico street San Fernando, CA 91340
DJ – Party People Productions (Joe Vasques)
Serves San Fernando Valley and beyond 818-365-7643
Mariachi – Fiesta Mexicana, San Fernando Valley and beyond
mariachi11gonzalez@yahoo.com
818-365-1088
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