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:
 

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.

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:

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.

Have fun with your dress

In my near-decade long stint as a wedding photographer near Napa valley I've learned a few tricks of the trade.  And my tips blogs are all about helping you learn from what I've seen so you can get the most out of your Bay Area wedding photographer.

Tip #6 - Have fun with your dress

If you've read any of my other blogs about the preparation portion of your wedding photography (Clean your room, Looking your best, etc.) you've come to realize I care a lot about the preparation portion of your wedding photography.  That's because it's super critical to get it right in order to tie the whole day together. 

But, although this is serious business, getting it right doesn't mean it has to be serious!  In fact, just the opposite is usually best.  And part of being just-the-opposite-of-serious is having fun with your wedding dress. 

Look, we've all seen photos like this:

A shot like this is important and should be in everyone's album.  And virtually any bay area wedding photographer will make sure to get it done.  But it's so....serious!  Lighten up a bit! ; )

For instance, here's a fun dress shot of mine from a beach wedding venue in northern california.

And here's a fun couple of shots from a country wedding location

My point here is;  This dress will get worn once.  Have some fun with it.  Dream up things you can do in it and ways you can shoot it and collaborate with your photographer.  He or she will likely be thrilled with your adventurous attitude and you'll end up with some seriously fun shots!  Seriously! ; )

Happy Wedding!

The Capay Valley - a great alternative to oft-trodden Napa

In my career as a Bay Area wedding photographer I've seen a lot of Napa valley wedding venues.  They are all beautiful, in their own way, so you can't really go wrong choosing one of them.  But they often lack uniqueness simply because a ton of other people have gotten married there.  So when I find truly unique wedding venues I want to share those.  And that's what this blog is about. 

A couple months ago I photographed a wedding in the Capay valley.  Now I've lived in California pretty much my entire adult life but I've never been to - or even heard of - the Capay Valley.  And the fact that it's literally only a valley to the East of the Napa valley makes that all the more remarkable.

I photographed Sarah and Jason in a private olive orchard deep in the heart of this little valley - and I loved it.  It was rustic, it was secluded, it was beautiful.  Here are a few shots from the day.

If you know me at all you can see why I considered this place one of the best wedding venues I've ever worked at - there were just so many opportunities to create unique detail shots.  Of course, there were also plenty of opportunities to capture the bride and groom in the gorgeous surroundings.

My reco - if you're searching for something unique and close to a Napa, check out the Capay valley!

Do it yourself tip - The portraits

So I get it. In this economic climate, when it comes to choosing a wedding photographer, you may well choose Uncle Joe instead of the pricey professional.  After all, Uncle Joe's got a nice new digital SLR camera and he's taken some good shots recently.  And he's free! 

If you choose to go this route, my "Do it yourself" blogs will become very important for you - and Uncle Joe!  They're designed with the novice in mind and will help your family member or friend photographer understand how to work his/her new camera under various conditions.  I'll be bringing to bear all my years shooting bay area wedding photography and distilling my techniques down to simple steps.

In this tip, we're talking portraits.  Now portraits may seem like the simplest part of the wedding photography.  After all, everyone's standing still - like these guys!

But they're not quite as simple as they may appear.  Here are a few tips that will make your portraits look great:

1. Don't stand too close!  When shooting portraits, you should make sure your lens is set to 50mm focal length or greater.  Standing too close will mean you'll need to reduce the focal length of the lens (say, down to 35) to get everyone in the view finder - and that'll distort everyone.
2. Pick a spot in the shade!  This is really important.  People can't smile when looking at the bright sun.  And photos look awful when the mid-day sun is on top of everyone's head.
3. Shoot in manual mode and set the aperture setting at 4.5 or higher.  You'll need to do this to make sure you expose the picture correctly.  This is especially true when shooting the bride and groom because they usually have really contrasty clothes (eg., she's in white, he's in black).  Take some test shots to get the exposure just right.  Then just keep these settings in place.
4. Shoot with an "under-powered" flash.  This means your flash, when set in TTL mode, needs to be turned down about 1 EV (read up on your flash manual - it'll explain how to do this).

That should do it.  Now just shoot away.  And be sure to take multiple shots to make sure everyone's eyes are open in at least one! ; ) 

About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios is a 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.

Mont La Salle - an amazing Napa valley wedding venue

Last year I found myself photographing a wedding on the western hills high above the Napa valley at a discreet Napa valley wedding venue called Mont La Salle.  I'd never heard of the place, and it was a difficult ride up the mountain (I was riding with the bridal party in a big limo that made everyone car sick...), but it was truly one of the best wedding venues I've ever seen. 

Mont La Salle is an old, rustic and beautiful Catholic church and school. It sits so high up the mountain that the view below is almost as breathtaking as the architecture that surrounds you. 

My clients, Jane and Mike, were married inside the church and held the reception in the courtyard.  (A note - it does get cold up there, even in summer, so be sure to warn guests to bring something warm.)

Here are a couple shots from their wedding. 

My reco - call ahead of time before driving out there to check out the place as I think it's closed to the public most days.

About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios is a 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.

Cool stuff for your guests - Mumm

Choosing a northern California wedding venue for you marriage usually means your wedding is going to be a destination for your guests.  That's especially true if you select a Napa valley wedding venue. Guests coming to this renowned region are really going to want to explore.  But often, they don't know where to go.  And even if you live here, they'll likely consider you a bit too busy to ask you for any sightseeing tips during your wedding day. ; ) 

So my Post-Wedding-Fun blogs are all about places that are great for your guests to go either on their own or with an organized group after your wedding. 

Let's start with Mumm, in Napa Valley. 

Here's why Mumm is a great destination for out of towners:

• It's off the beaten path, yet easy to find.  Mumm is on the Silverado Trail, the less traveled and far more beautiful route in Napa Valley.  Your guests won't be as swarmed with tour buses and hordes of people (though there still will be plenty of folks around in the summer).

• It has ample outdoor seating with a great view.  The setting is perfect for sipping champagne while watching the sun setting over the eastern ridge of the valley.  If you have a large group I'd recommend calling ahead to see if they can accommodate large parties.

• It has champagne!  Obviously.  But this is a big deal since some people just don't dig wine.  Nearly everyone likes champagne.  And Mumm's champagne is some of the finest in the world!  You really can't beat sampling a DVX tasting while watching the sun slip into the hills.

• The grounds are simply beautiful.  Here are a few shots I took the other day while..yep..sipping champagne. 

So in sum - Mumm gets my vote as a great destination location for your guests.  Hope they enjoy it!


About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios is a 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.

Cool stuff for your guests - Bouchon Bakery

If you've chosen any of the many great northern California wedding locations for your wedding then your wedding is likely going to be a destination event for many of your family and friends.  This is especially true if you've chosen any of the fantastic Napa Valley wedding venues.  This gorgeous area is world renowned for it's wine and food.  And your guests really should sample it.  So my "Post Wedding Fun" blogs are all about helping your guests find hidden (and sometimes not-so-hidden) treasures in the Napa Valley.

One of those not-so-hidden treasures is Bouchon Bakery.  This bakery is a Thomas Keller establishment in Yountville (his others are The French Laundry and Ad Hoc - all based in Yountville). 

I'm particularly fond of sending my out-of-town guests to Bouchon because it's:

• Easy to get in to (not true for Ad Hoc and definitely not true for The French Laundry).  You just walk right up and order a delicious sandwich or pastry and eat it on the patio.

• Easy to get to - See the map.  It's straight up the main corridor that runs up Napa Valley

• Easy to enjoy the good life.  You won't break the bank by catching a mellow lunch at Bouchon (again, not true for Ad Hoc or The French Laundry) and your guests will be sampling Thomas Keller's creations.  Believe me - they're good!  (ie., see below!)

So my reco - send your guests to Bouchon for an late morning treat (coffee and pastries under the warm Napa sun can't be beat).  They'll then be perfectly situated, and properly fed, to enjoy a meandering trip up to the rest of the Napa Valley.  And hey, check out my other blog about Mumm.  That'd be a great next stop since you can't really beat cake and champagne. : )

About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios is a 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.

Cool stuff for your guests - time travelling along the Russian River

Choosing a northern California wedding venue for you marriage usually means your wedding is going to be a destination for your guests.  That's especially true if you select a beach wedding venue or a winery in Sonoma county. Guests coming to these renowned regions are really going to want to explore.  But often, they don't know where to go.  And even if you live here, they'll likely consider you a bit too busy to ask you for any sightseeing tips during your wedding day. ; ) 

So my Post-Wedding Fun blogs are all about places that are great for your guests to go either on their own or with an organized group after your wedding. 

In this blog, it's all about the exact opposite of the standard (and sometimes stuffy) wine country experience.  We're taking a trip back through time to see how the Russian River wine region looked (and acted) long before anyone knew how to pronounce "Pinot".  We're going to Guerneville and Monte Rio!

These two towns, about 5 miles apart from each other on Rt. 116, and halfway between highway 101 and the ocean, have character in spades.  Walking down the main street of Guerneville can remind you of a rough and tumble logging town.  But don't be fooled by it's hard exterior - Guerneville is really a friendly place with great restaurants (my favorite is Boon Cafe - see below) and a gorgeous beach.  What it doesn't have is any air of pretentiousness.

And if you think Guerneville is a little too metropolitan for you, drive West about 5 miles on Hwy 116 and you'll end up in Monte Rio.  This little town is about a block long so it has less to see, but it does have a great beach on the Russian River.  And it's got a great little hot dog stand (only open on Weekends, I believe) called Don's Dogs.  Definitely worth the drive!  Grab a bottle of wine from a winery along the way (you know..something that pairs well with grilled hot dogs..), sit in the sun on their patio and enjoy a delicious dog.

So there you have it.  You'll experience the Russian River wine region as it looked 50 years ago.  And you'll have some good grub doing it.  Enjoy!

About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios is a San Francisco 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.

Cool stuff for your guests - Thomas George Estates

Choosing a northern California wedding venue for you marriage usually means your wedding is going to be a destination for your guests.  That's especially true if you select a beach wedding venue or a winery in the Russian River valley. Guests coming to these renowned regions are really going to want to explore.  But often, they don't know where to go.  And even if you live here, they'll likely consider you a bit too busy to ask you for any sightseeing tips during your wedding day. ; ) 

So my "Cool stuff for your guests" blogs are all about places that are great for your guests to go either on their own or with an organized group after your wedding. 

In this post, it's all about exploring the Russian River valley.  The Russian River valley is my area to photograph weddings in the wine region because it's far from the over-crowded Napa Valley wedding venues.  Here, the pace of life is slower and the surroundings are more authentic. 

And after the wedding, your guests will have a gorgeous valley to explore.  Here are a few tips for your guests to enjoy the Russian River valley:

• Pick up a picnic lunch in Healdsburg at the Oakville Market
• Then head take Westside road West. (see the map)
• Meander West on Westside road taking in the amazing scenery and all the little wineries along the way (here, most wineries have no, or very inexpensive, tasting fees).

• Stop off at Thomas George Estates for a fantastic glass of Pinot Blanc in the garden and explore the wine cave while having lunch on their grounds.

• After a delicious lunch, continue West on Westside Road until you come to Wholer Road.  Take a left on Wholer road and marvel that you can actually make it across this rickety old bridge alive!

• Once across, take a right onto East side road and head back to Healdsburg.

By exploring the back side of the Russian River valley this way you'll find fewer people and much better hospitality.  Enjoy!


About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios is a Bay Area 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.

The dress - Bigger isn't better

In my near-decade long stint as a San Francisco wedding photographer I've learned a few tricks of the trade.  My tips blogs are all about helping you learn from what I've seen so you can get the most out of your Bay Area wedding photographer.

Tip :  Make sure you can move in your dress!

I don't know why some dress designers claim a big, puffy, thick, layered dress is considered sexy.  I've photographed every style you can imagine and I can tell you, without a doubt, that a big, bulky, puffy dress just does not make a bride look good.  Nope, it's pretty much impossible.  That's why, when you look at my website, you'll see brides in some hip, sleek dresses.  

When you're searching for a dress, I'd recommend something that allows you to be you.  You want to be able to move freely.  You want to be able to relax.  You don't want to be bustling and bustling and ... bustling. 

And when you have a dress you love (and the dress that loves you) you feel good.  Take a look at some of these cool dresses (and brides) - they're all adhereing to the rule that less is best.
 

So, in sum - when you're choosing a wedding photographer, try to make sure he or she has a good understanding of what looks good on a bride.  And then work with your San Francisco photographer to ensure that what you're planning on wearing will, actually, look good on film ... er...digital files.

Happy Wedding!

Cool stuff for your guests: A Mt. Tamalpais bike ride

Choosing a Northern California wedding venue for you marriage usually means your wedding is going to be a destination for your guests.  That's especially true if you select any of the many great San Francisco wedding locations. Guests coming to this town are really going to want to explore.  But often, they don't know where to go.  And even if you live here, they'll likely consider you a bit too busy to ask you for any sightseeing tips during your wedding day. ; ) 

So my "Cool stuff for your guests" blogs are all about places that are great for your guests to go either on their own or with an organized group after your wedding. 

In this post, it's all about exploring Mt. Tamalpais via an easy, fun bike ride to a famous little inn called West Point Inn.  According to Wikipedia,

"Mount Tamalpais is the highest peak in the Marin Hills, which are part of the Northern California Coast Ranges. The elevation at the East Peak, its second highest point, is 2,572 feet (784 m). The West Peak, the mountain's highest peak where a radar dome currently stands, is 2,574 feet (785 m). It stood over 2,600 feet (792 m) before the summit was flattened for the radar dome construction. The mountain is clearly visible from the city of San Francisco and the East Bay region."

Indeed, it's so close to San Francisco that it can easily be seen from many buildings in town.  Because of this, it makes a great excursion for your guests who want something a little more active to do than drink and eat.

Here's my reco for a fun, energizing afternoon:

• Rent a couple mountain bikes at Mike's Bikes in Sausalito.  This will cost about $50 - $80 for the day
• Grab a picnic lunch at Whole Foods Market in Mill Valley
• Head to Blithedale park.  Get on the bikes and head up the gradual incline of the Railroad Grade trail (the trailhead is on the right at the end of the park (it's a dirt road)

• Be sure to bring plenty of water - you're in store for a 4 or 5 mile ride up to West Point Inn

• But the ride is worth it.  If you do the trip on the weekend, you can grab refreshments at the West Point Inn snack bar.  And the view from the picnic grounds is simply amazing. 

• And hey, this is a vacation, so walking your bike is okay too! ; )

So, in sum, if you're getting married at any of the many Northern California wedding locations near Mt. Tamalpais, and your guests are of the active type, taking this ride is a fantastic experience (and will burn off some of those champagne calories!).

About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios is a Bay Area 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.

Cool stuff for your guests - Indian Springs, Calistoga

Choosing a Northern California wedding venue for you marriage usually means your wedding is going to be a destination for your guests.  That's especially true if you select any of the many great Napa Valley wedding venues. Guests coming to this region are really going to want to explore.  But often, they don't know where to go.  And even if you live here, they'll likely consider you a bit too busy to ask you for any sightseeing tips during your wedding day. ; ) 

So these posts are all about places that are great for your guests (and you) to go either on their own or with an organized group after your wedding. 

In this post, we're talking about  Indian Springs Resort, a gorgeous, luxurious and historic resort in Calistoga.  What I love about this place is it's rustic, throwback-to-the-50's feel.  In the midst of too much modernism, this place is a breath of fresh air, and reminds us of how the wine country used to be long ago. 

But don't be misled by the above paragraph.  Indian Springs Resort is a indeed a top-tier luxury resort.  You can get your mud-baths, your hydro-therapy and your hot/cold stone treatment.  But you can also lounge by one of the largest hot springs pools in the world with a hot dog and a lemonade and be reminded of what old-school luxury feels like.

So here's how to enjoy this place:

• You, or your partner, or both need to book a spa appointment
• Every spa guest is allowed to bring one guest to the pool for $20 (thus, you get two people into the pool for the price of one spa visit + $20)
• Make sure you do this on Sunday through Friday (that's the only time guests are allowed at the pool).

And if after all this you decide to stay there, they've got a wide variety of rooms that range from hotel accommodation to cabins.  And hey, if you stay, you get to ride these bikes around town.  Nice!

About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios specializes in Napa Valley 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.

Do it yourself tip: The Flash

So I get it. In this economic climate, when it comes to choosing a wedding photographer, you may well choose Uncle Joe instead of the pricey professional.  After all, Uncle Joe's got a nice new digital SLR camera and he's taken some good shots recently.  And he's free! 

If you choose to go this route, my "Do it yourself" blogs will become very important for you - and Uncle Joe!  They're designed with the novice in mind and will help your family member or friend photographer understand how to work his/her new camera under various conditions.  I'll be bringing to bear all my years shooting Bay Area wedding photography and distilling my techniques down to simple steps.  In this post, it's all about the flash.

The flash is a tricky thing.  When done correctly, it can make your photos look natural.  When done incorrectly, it can make your photos look simply horrendous.  Here's a few techniques for different times of day:

• Daylight (back lit subjects):  In this case, you'll want to power down the flash by about 1 to 1.3 EVs (read up on EVs here).  By doing this, you'll create softly lit subjects against a nicely lit backgrounds, as so:

• Dusk (back lit subjects):  In this case, you'll want to power your flash down even more than when shooting during the brightest part of the day.  My reco, turn the flash down to about 2 - 2.3 EVs.  That way you'll again get some softly lit subjects with barely any perception that you used an on-camera flash.  Here's an example:

• Night:  The best approach to shooting at night is to make sure your non-flash exposure is set to pick up some of the ambient light.  So shoot around a little bit without the flash on and adjust your exposure so you can pick up candles, chandeliers, dance floors lights, etc.  Then turn on your flash with your camera set at that setting.  I recommend using the TTL setting on your flash and adjusting your EVs so that your subjects don't appear blown out.  Here's a recommended setting:
  • ISO:  400
  • TV:  1/60th
  • AV:  2.8
  • Flash:  +1 EV (if using a diffuser)

Doing that should result in something like this below:

Best of luck to you in this!  And if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to comment below.

About Lucky Shot Studios:
Lucky Shot Studios specializes in Napa Valley 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.

Looking your best during prep photos

In my near-decade long stint as a San Francisco wedding photographer I've learned a few tricks of the trade.  And my tips blogs are all about helping you learn from what I've seen so you can get the most out of your Bay Area photographer.

Tip #2:  How to look good during your preparation photos. 

Ok, we all have seen some great preparation photos, right.  The bride looks gorgeous.  The lighting is perfect.  Everyone is serene and reflective.  That's how it is, right?  Right?  WRONG!  ha!  If you've seen my other blog about cleaning your room, you may be coming to the conclusion that even if your wedding is located in the best wedding venue in the world, it's still not all cupcakes and champagne during prep time.

Part of the myth surrounding prep time is that everyone will look gorgeous at all times.  Sorry to bust anyone's bubble, but that just ain't the case.  Yes, you are gorgeous.  And that romantic proposal from your fiance proves it - but when your make up is half on and your hair is in curlers and you haven't brushed your teeth...well...

So here's my reco.  To get some great preparation photos during the day make sure the photographer you choose knows how to tell the story of the preparation day without telling it too....explicity.  Below is an example of how I try to tell the story and leave enough out so that no one is left thinking "Damnit, I wish he wouldn't have photographed me like that!".

Of course, once your photographer has told the story in an implicit way, it's time for you to shine with a sweet portrait session of your own.

So go out there and grab an artistic wedding photographer and ask to see some of his or her prep photos.  You'll likely see gorgeous prep photos that tell the story and make all involved look their best.

Happy Wedding Day!