Erika + Spencer: Wedding at Bistro 45 Pasadena

Though this wedding forewent the dances and formalities we’ve come to expect in favor of food, conversation, and company, nothing was lost in the celebration of Erika and Spencer’s joining of hands. If anything, the low-key experience enforced how dear the couple was to their tight-knit group of guests.

I’m often asked what I would do in a variety of situations. Once again, at a less structured wedding, it’s watching the guests and telling the story through them.

It’s been nice keeping things local in Pasadena as of recent. From Bistro 45, I tasted and acquired new inspiration to apply to my own cooking. Not that I can control where the work brings me, but I hope to visit more local spots through my clients’ indirect recommendation.

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Matt + Brian: Skirball Cultural Center Wedding

Two tight knit families, a gorgeous venue, a cast of colorful characters. The day is loosely structured. I get to roam freely and be a fly on the wall. At times, the simple get togethers are the ones that shake my nerves a bit, as I have to be sharper than usual while crafting a story.

I have a loose formula for good photos. Space, light, time. More often than not at events, I can only exert control over the first two. At Matt and Brian’s wedding, I found myself bending all three quite often. I even dusted off a technique I haven’t used in a while and produced a few panoramas of the Taper Courtyard at the Skirball.

Admittedly, I felt a bit sad once we reached the end. The food and conversation at table two, though short lived for me, was a treat. I shared company with a former Jeopardy contestant and a fellow cook who also enjoys serving up Chinese cuisine by wok. I hope I’ve successfully conveyed my inspiration through this set of photos.

Venue – Skirball Cultural Center
Florals – DB Creativity
Cake – SusieCakes

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Alexis + Jason: Maxwell House Pasadena Wedding

Disclaimer: No coffee was involved in the making of these photos. Alright, now that I’ve pointed out the obvious dad joke with the venue name, Maxwell House, we can move onto the wedding.

The interesting thing with smaller weddings has got to be the connection you make with the couple. Though we had an engagement session together and I’ve put them under the spotlight before, a wedding day differs as you can expect, with heightened emotions and anticipation. As there was no wedding party to split my attention, they were the story in almost each frame. With the luxury of more time and space, I really appreciate how many of my horizontal compositions turned out.

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