Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer

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Spanish Hills Country Club (Camarillo) may be the fanciest wedding site in Camarillo.
Spanish Hills Country Club is an elegant and exclusive private club. 

I was here once before.  I had a business lunch here, but it was at the other side of Spanish Hills Country Club.  It was my first time coming to this area for a wedding photography.  Spanish Hills Country club is custom designed for weddings and high end meetings.

They have sites for both indoor and outdoor wedding ceremonies.  It’s a great place for reception and dance.  They can lay down dance floor by the huge bay window. 

The view from Spanish Hills Country Club was amazing, you can look down at Camarillo, Oxnard, 101 freeway, houses, and farmlands over Ventura County.

Below picture shows a section of Spanish Hills Country Club.  I marked spots to show where I was and what took place.

Spanish Hills Country Club - Wedding Photography Plan

After wedding ceremony, we tailgated to the relative’s house, still in Camarillo.  This big house was a perfect setting for 60 wedding guests. 

Lunch was provided by DJ’s California catering, so you know the food was the best.  DJ’s Catering is local in Camarillo, but you see them all over the Southern California.  DJ’s California Catering is a big company with 30-40 employees.  They provide catering for high end events.  I have met them many times and ate their food many times.  The bride and groom were quite happy with the food.

At the reception, two people asked me for my business cards.  One particular couple was going to get married next year in Ventura area (perhaps on the beach).  I don’t usually expect people to keep in touch with me (because people are naturally flaky), but I am crossing my fingers for that couple to keep in touch.  I have a good feeling. 

Spanish Hills Country Club
www.spanishhillscc.com
999 Crestview Ave Camarillo, CA 93010 (805) 388-5000

DJ’s California Catering
www.djscatering.com
1221 Avenida Acaso, Suite C  Camarillo, CA 93012

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Today’s Wedding Schedule
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3:00pm - arrive at Radisson Suites Hotel, Buena Park
4:00pm - Ceremony starts, Radisson Suites Hotel
5:00pm - Formal photography by the pool.
6:00pm - Grand entrance, reception hall. Radisson Suites.

My incredible luck with rain continued today (and this year).
It rained hard yesterday, but I managed to complete formal wedding photographs outdoor.

Today’s wedding was in Buena Park, Radisson Suites Hotel.
It rained even harder today than yesterday.
When I was driving through Los Angeles it was pouring in full force.
Traffic was jammed, visibility was bad, and road was dangerous.
Look at the picture below.
Yes, I was photographying and driving, don’t try this at home.

Puring rain in Los Angeles. Professional photographer, don’t try this.

But, somehow, I knew I will not get wet.  I believed.
I am on my incredible streak of luck with rain.
When I arrived at Buena Park, the rain stopped.
This is what I saw at Radisson Suites Hotel Buena Park (below).
I photographed below shot about 20 minutes after going through heavy rain in Los Angeles.
If you look at lower left corner, you can see the dark cloud in Los Angeles area.

Buena Park is a big city in the middle of other big cities. They don’t have much parks and golf clubs in Buena Park, so if you want outdoor wedding, you should count out Buena Park.  Buena Park has a very few small golf clubs.

It’s ironic.  They are named “Buena Park”, but they don’t have a lot of good parks.  Perhaps “Park” stands for a family name.  FYI: My last name is Park .

Anyway, I expected I would not be doing any wedding photography work in the woods. Indeed, all our photographs were taken inside the hotel. It was a big wedding, so the only place I can fit this big group was either parking lot or by the swimming pool.

I chose to photograph the group by the swimming pool.  I was standing a few inches away from the edge of the pool most of the time.  I had to be extra careful not to fall in the water.  All the reflections from concrete and glasses made my job difficult, they turn people’s skin look cold and gray.  I had to compensate for that. 

The bride and groom stayed at Radisson Suites as well, so bride was less tired and looked fresh. 

Soon, the party went on. And rest was a history. 
God bless everyone.

Radisson Suites Hotel Buena Park
7762 Beach Blvd. , Buena Park, Ca, 90620 , USA
Reservations: (888) 201-1718 US Toll Free
Telephone: +1-714-739-5600 Fax: +1-714-521-9650
www.radisson.com/buenaparkca

Messengers - The DJ Entertainment
JoJo Valenzuela
pvalenzuela3@yahoo.com
(858)652-8783

Wedding & Event Videography
www.MedalMediaProductions.com
714-623-2589

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It didn’t rain all Summer, California desperately needs rain.
This weekend a rare Storm was coming to Southern California. 
Santa Barbara was getting some heavy rain.
We pulled a small miracle today and did all the photography without getting wet.

Wedding Ceremony took place on top of the clock tower at Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

Santa Barbara Courthouse is a popular tourist attraction.  But it’s also a functioning government building.  Santa Barbara Courthouse is always open to the public.  A lot of people come by to take pictures, some people read books on the lawn, and I even saw a young couple taking a nap  (on dry weather).

It rained yesterday at Santa Barbara Courthouse, the lawn was muddy.
It was Sunny this morning.  But the sky was getting darker.

After the ceremony we hurried down to the lawn and moved super fast to get the formal photography done. We couldn’t take photographs on the lawn because ladies’ heals were sinking to the wet lawn.
There were only few places we can stage for formal photographs.  Look at the picture below.  We took most formal photographs at the steps in the middle of the lawn. (see picture below).

Santa Barbara Courthouse, Lawn, red circle marks the -
spot where formal wedding photographs were taken

It started to rain as we started to wrap things up.  I did take some pictures in the rain.
Bride and groom got a little wet, it wasn’t bad.  It was a perfect timing.
We have managed to take care of all standard formal wedding photographs.

Before the wedding ceremony, Santa Barbara County Courthouse

After formal photo-shoot, Santa Barbara County Courthouse

It rained hard while we were driving to Ventura for Reception.

Santa Barbara County Courthouse
1100 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, California (805) 962-6464

vfw veterans of foreign wars, ventura
Available as a wedding reception hall
3801 Market St. Ventura ca 93003

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* Related Coffee Story

After years of weddings photography, I have developed some rituals.
One of them is coffee.
I always brew a fresh coffee right before I hit the road.
I have a good thermos mug that keeps coffee hot for 8-10 hours.
I always use a Minolta cup.  It’s plastic and insulated.
All my photography equipment is Canon, except for the light-meter and this cup.
I love this Minolta cup.

Anyway.
Today, when I was running tight on schedule (rainy day driving), I have realized that I forgot to brew my coffee.  I was devastated.

I went to McDonald’s and bought a cup of coffee.
McDonald’s’ coffee is pretty good, you know.
This coffee kept me company, but it was not the same.
I will never forget my coffee again.

 
McDonald’s Coffee, September 21, 2007 - Before Wedding

Next day, September 22, 2007 - Before Wedding

There is yet another ritual that I do right before the wedding.
I arrive at the wedding site and get out of the car with my Minolta coffee cup.
I set my Minolta coffee cup on top of my car and I get ready for the wedding.
Sometimes I fix my tie and put on Sun block lotion.
I do the last checkup on my cameras and take the lens caps off.
And I take a few test photographs. 
When I look for an object to take photos of, the closest object is always my Minolta cup.

Below are more pictures of my Minolta Cup.

Carpinteria

Oxnard, Heritage Square

Long Beach

Oxnard

Santa Barbara

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I just watched this clip from a TV news program.

Ivy House, an Inglewood wedding chapel, shut down September 11 and took all money from the customers.

Some customers paid $16,000.00 so Ivy House can provide everything (Music, Cake, Photography, Videography, food. flower, etc, etc…).  Considering most people book weddings 1 year earlier, there may be a lot of victims.

This makes us look bad.

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Today’s wedding was at Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at Long Beach.
The garden is located inside of California State University Long Beach.

It was a morning wedding.  Ceremony was scheduled to start at 9am.
I was scheduled to come to the wedding site (Japanese Garden) by 8am.
So, I had to wake up 4 am and hit the freeway by 6.

Waking up 4am on Saturday was not easy.
I was worried about not making it to the wedding on time.
I hit the freeway at 6am, the Sun was not up yet.

I was super hungry.  I only had my ritualistic coffee.
Traffic to Long Beach was very good.
As I was driving, the Sun was coming up.  It was a clear day over Los Angeles area.
But, when I arrived at Long Beach, everything went dark… morning fog was very thick at Long Beach.

California State University Long Beach, 30 minutes before wedding ceremony

It took me less than 70 minutes to get to Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden.
In fact, I was too early.  I left CSU Long Beach and went to Krispi Kreme near by.
We don’t have Krispi Kreme in Ventura County anymore, so I enjoyed a couple doughnuts there.  I bought 3 bags of coffee as well.  They should last about a year.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese garden is not just known for the garden. it’s also well known for the Koi Fishes.  They sell fish food right by the pond for $0.25.  You need to bring your own container.  You can sit by the pond and feed the fish… and watch them fighting for food.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, Long Beach

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, Long Beach

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
CSU Long Beach 1250 Bellflower Boulevard  Long Beach , CA 90840
http://www.csulb.edu/~jgarden/ 562-985-8889

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I booked four meetings for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday.
They are all wedding customers.
I should check to see if people are asking for same date.

On Friday & Wednesday, I need to go straight to the meetings after work.  I hope the traffic will be OK.

Saturday, I will go to Oxnard for Mexican Independence Day celebration.  I need to mix with my Hispanic network.  It's all for fun, and it's all for business. Muy Bien (that means "Very good" ).

On Sunday, I have a wedding at Long Beach.  So I need to drive 90 miles an hour back to Ventura County for a meeting.

So, again, I will have absolutely no rest this weekend. 
I will get my first weekend off late November.
Wish me luck~!!

Update: It's Wednesday night and this is what I have.  From 4 meetings one person flaked out.  So I only had three meetings.  From three meetings I booked all three weddings.  And I booked one additional wedding from the meeting I had 2 weeks ago.  So I had 100% closing rate from my 3 meetings (and some).

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This is my second Carpinteria Wedding of the season.
I usually drive by Carpinteria when I go to the weddings at Santa Barbara.  I don’t know much about Carpinteria.  One thing I know about Carpinteria is the big Santa Clause.  After 50 years, the City of Carpinteria had decided to kill the Santa (get rid of him somehow).  City of Oxnard had to rescue the Santa Clause from Carpinteria.

Santa in Oxnard, rescued from Carpinteria
Photographer: John Park

Back to the wedding: 
The bride and groom got ready at Best Western Carpinteria Inn.  Everything went smooth, but the bride and grooms were a bit nervous like many newlyweds often do (you know how it is).  But it was all fun.

The bride checked into Carpinteria Inn.  Then she went to Rincon Beach Club to get ready.  Rincon Beach Club is on Santa Clause Lane, by Carpinteria beach.  We were right by the railroad and Carpinteria Beach, but we never went out to take photographs there.  The Sun was way too bright. 

Note: We see a lot of beautiful beach photographs.  Those kind of beach photography weathers don’t happen every day.  The weather and timing have to be absolutely right for good beach wedding pictures.  Also, photographers normally use 1-3 assistants to control the lighting situation.

Rincon Beach Club is a cosy and fancy place.  It has a small room in the back of the wedding site so the bride can get ready and come out for the ceremony.  It was a hot day, but Carpinteria’s beach breeze kept everyone cooler. As a wedding photographer, beach breeze was a heaven sent.

A few wedding pictures coming up.
Thank you.

Rincon Beach Club and Catering
www.rinconcatering.com
3805 Santa Claus Lane Carpinteria,  CA 93013  
805-566-9933

Best Western Carpinteria Inn
www.bestwesterncalifornia.com
4558 Carpinteria Avenue Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-0473

Carpinteria Photographer - VenturaPhoto.com

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It took me 3 weeks to overhaul 3 cameras.
They were all EOS-3's, my main film cameras.

No, I didn't work on the cameras myself.
I took them to Pro Camera at Thousand Oaks.
It was a hassle to find time to drive to Thousand Oaks after work.

I have non-stop wedding schedule, so I checked in one camera at a time.

I spent over $400.00 on this project, yikes.
It's good to know all my cameras are rejuvenated.

Side note:
I'm  in the middle of non-stop weddings season.
I have a wedding this Saturday as well.
The bride and groom for this week's wedding ordered a 20×24 signing board and an easel.
We took pictures only a few weeks ago. 
And I just received the 11×14 reprint today.
I need to mount this on a 20×24 matt board tonight.

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VenturaPhoto.com - Photographer Santa Barbara

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** Today's wedding guests included 6 of my paste wedding clients ** 

I have never met the bride and groom until today.  The mother of the bride knew me enough from prior weddings, so everything was arranged by the mother of the bride over email. You see, I did two of her brothers' weddings 1 and 2 years ago. Now I am a wedding photographer for the baby sister.

We went back to St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oxnard for a traditional Catholic Wedding. One of the bride's brothers had his wedding here, so I knew the lighting situation (dark, tripod absolutely needed).  I was rubber necking for the two brothers to come to the church.  They showed up with a few babies. Then I saw yet another couple from my past wedding!  So there were total 6 of my past wedding clients in one place. 

We had a standard "No flash photography" rule during the ceremony.  In general, "No flash photography" is expected during traditional catholic wedding ceremonies.  Some priests enforce "absolutely no photography during the wedding ceremony" rule.  But that's a rare case.  If you are that strict about photography, then you don't get booked as often. 

After wedding ceremony, we went to Heritage Square for formal photography and outdoor reception.  I did several weddings at Heritage Square before.  I directed everyone to my favorite spot.  I picked that location because it had the only solid shadow at that time.

The Heritage Square looked very classy.
As you can see from the picture, it was super fancy and super romantic.

During the reception I had a chance to talk to some of my past clients.  One of the couples will get re-married in 2 years to renew the vow.  I better come up with some kind of discount system for returning photography customers.

Having 6 of my past clients in the same reception was fun.  Not only that, I could recall a lot of guests from prior weddings.  It was fun, but, at the same time, it was a little strange to have all that familiar faces in the same reception. 

Back to Heritage Square, Oxnard

St. Anthony Catholic Church
* Popular Catholic wedding ceremony site for Hispanic people in Oxnard area
2511 S C St Oxnard, CA 93033    

Heritage Square Weddings and Events
715 S a St Oxnard, CA 93030
(805) 483-7960