Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer

Missing Attachment

Please don’t get me wrong, I love photography.  I always have fun at the weddings.  But I was happy to know that this was my last wedding of the year. 

I had such a busy 2007 that I rarely had solid 7 hours of sleep.  I have raised price on my wedding package yet again, but there is no slowing down on wedding inquiries.  I am looking at even busier 2008.  I am very happy that I can scream, but I can use some rest. 

Today is 3 days before Christmas.  They had a wedding ceremony at a church in Thousand Oaks, with all the Christmas trimmings.  The groom doesn’t have to struggle to remember his anniversary date.  Lucky guy

Above picture was a test shot (the very first shot to test shutter speed & flash).  We had some wet days earlier.  We were lucky to have a blue sky.   My good luck with rain continues.  But we had a classic “sinking heels” problem.  We tried to see if we can work around and take pictures here on the grass.  But the ground was way too soft, we had to move to the concrete ground. 

After the ladies, all the guys took pictures at this very spot on the grass.  Guys didn’t have high heels, you see.

One thing about the winter wedding is that we lose Sunlight fast.  We took most of the wedding party photographs before the wedding.  After the ceremony, we took formal photographs inside the church (flash photography) because outside was pitch black and cold.

Reception was a class act at Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks.  There were a lot of dancing.  People were doing all kinds of stupid dances.  Stupid is good when you are having fun.  Stupid is beautiful, it’s a bless. 

Table 14, where all the young ladies were at

Check out the table setting.  This is a classy setup.  Good decoration, and it complements the Christmas mood. 

Merry Christmas~~!!
Thank you everyone.  I’m going to enjoy my holidays off. 

Missing Attachment

This is my key-chain.  Figured… 

Missing Attachment

Stauffer Chapel, Pepperdine University, Malibu

I had a wedding customer from Japan. She got married at Malibu, Stauffer Chapel in Pepperdine University. I photographed both their engagement and wedding only in 1 week apart. A signing board had to be made in 5 days. Wedding album was completed and delivered in 5 days. The bride and groom stayed in the US for less than 2 weeks.

I helped the bride and groom with locating makeup artist and florist. Below is my journal on Aki & Noji’s wedding.

• October 15: I received an email from Japan. She said she’s coming to Malibu, from Japan, to get married. She also stated that he’s already decided to send me a deposit. I was very skeptical about this email. I sent her my generic reply. I was hoping she will not reply my email.
• October 16: The prospect from Japan replied my email the next day. We exchanged 8 emails that day. The bride and groom are Japanese. They live in Japan. But they have American friends in Malibu area. They already booked Stauffer Chapel in Malibu (Pepperdine University). Well, that’s what she wrote. I am still very skeptical.
• October 16: I asked the bride if she needs any help organizing her wedding. She said she’s looking for a makeup artist and a florist. I happened to know a Japanese makeup artist in LA. I introduced the makeup artist to the bride.
• October 17: The makeup artist sent me a “Thank You” email. The makeup artist stated that she’s booked for her wedding. I replied “Don’t get excited until you see the money”.
• October 21: The bride asked more questions. She asked about engagement photography, easel, etc.. The bride, as a Japanese, had a very good English skill.
• October 22: Received deposit from the bride via PayPal.
• October 23: Received detailed wedding information from the bride.
• November 8: Florist is booked.
• November 24: Bride and Groom arrived in the US
• November 25: Engagement photography session at Griffith Observatory. Since wedding was only a week away, everything had to be done in rush. Web album was made in 1 day. Bride and Groom picked their favorite shot the same day. The signing board was ready by Friday
  
• December 2: Wedding at Malibu. At beautiful Stauffer chapel in Pepperdine University.
  
• December 2: Dinner at Geoffrey’s Malibu. I was treated as a wedding guest. 12 of us set at one table. Geoffrey’s Malibu is a top notch restaurant where rich people come. The parking lot looked like a European Dealership.
  
• December 7: Album was completed and delivered to the Bride and Groom. We met at Starbucks in Woodland Hills. They loved the pictures.
  
• December 8: Bride and Groom flew back to Japan, bringing a lot of memory, leaving a lot of new friends behind.

• PS: Oh, The bride and Groom brought a gift from Japan. They read my blog and learned that I drink coffee when I take pictures. They brought some exotic imported coffee. Thank you.
  

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Missing Attachment

Along with my Coffee & Minolta Cup, this is yet another one of my photography ritual.  I must wear this watch when I take pictures.  I never forget this watch when I go to weddings.  I am afraid I will misplace this watch, so I bought another one as a backup.

I’ve been wearing this watch for over 15 years now.  I lost two of them already.  These are #3 & #4.  I use the calculator all the time.  I don’t know how some people can go out shopping without a calculator. 

I use stop watch and timer almost every day.  Also I frequently use tele-memo function to take short notes (where I parked, bride’s room number, etc).  This watch is a “must have” item.  People think I wear this watch to look different, trying to look “old school”.  But I really need this watch.

Casio has a newer model of this watch, but they only have 12 buttons on front panel.  My older model has 4 more buttons (a lot more calculation power).