Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Take a breather

I've photographed over 100 weddings now in my career as a San Francisco wedding photographer and I've learned a few things along the way.  My tips blogs will be all about helping you get the most out of your day so you can enjoy it to the fullest.

Tip:  Take a breather
 
You've likely spent hundreds of hours getting prepared for your wedding.  In fact, from the moment you got engaged you've been busy with the wedding details and your life has been a whirlwind of activity.  That's fun!  But it can also be difficult to shift gears at your wedding into a slower paced, calmer state.  And if you don't, you'll be one of those brides who's checking to make sure everything is just right during your wedding - and you'll lose out on the ability to simply enjoy it.

So here's my advice.  Take a breather at your wedding!  One of the best ways to do this is during dinner.  Trust me, when people are eating, they're not interested in you. Ha!  It's true though.  So you use this time to sneak away and relax.  And if you let your photographer tag along, you'll get some relaxed, fun and romantic photos without even trying. 

An example of what I'm talking about:

Kate and Jake were married at Foreign Cinema, a fantastic spot and of one many great San Francisco wedding locations.  It was a gorgeous wedding, planned to the "T".  But they were able to shift gears and relax by hitting a quiet bar next door while the guests ate.  They let me tag along and here's what resulted:
 
Kate and Jake have a drink

What I love about this is how relaxed they look.  They look like they're simply enjoying their moments together.  So wherever you are, get away during dinner.  If you're at a beach wedding venue, take a stroll through the sand.  If you've chosen one of the many Napa wedding venues , head to the vineyard.  The point is - by getting away for a few minutes, you'll likely shift gears and, almost inadvertently, get some great photos out of your San Francisco photographers.

About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios is a northern California wedding photographer specializing in artistic wedding photography with a photo journalistic style.  If you're in the process of choosing a wedding photographer, Lucky Shot Studios would love be considered.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The Vineyard Club, Geyserville, CA

In 2010 I was privilged to photograph some really unique wedding venues.  I'm going to use this blog to share some of my favorites.  I'll attempt to cover quite a range, from beach wedding venues to Napa valley wedding venues, and beyond.

One of my favorite wedding locations from the 2010 year is the Vineyard Club in Geyserville, CA.   This is a private club that hosts weddings - sorry, no website.  But here's the address and contact info:  355 Rock Round Road, Geyserville, CA, 707-857-9976.

What makes this place so special is it's 1950's lake house feel.  In fact, I think it is a 1950's lake house.  It's a gem of a spot situated in rolling hills of the East side of HWY 101.  Not only does it have an ancient dock (which nearly collapsed when I had everyone get on it for portraits!), but it's got little sailboard and canoes for rent.  It's a perfect spot for an adventuresome bride and groom.

Here's a few shots of Rachel and Mike on a gorgeous (and hot) summer day in at the Vineyard Club:
Rachel and Mike at the Vineyard ClubRachel and Mike at the Vineyard ClubRachel and Mike at the Vineyard Club

Yep - I loved this place and I loved this couple.  They were relaxed, fun and adventurous.  And that's the key to truly enjoying your wedding and your wedding location.