gabriel.ryan.photoblog.

2010-07-01T21:04:00.000-07:00

The Photo Blogger's Equivalent to Non-Verbal Communication... and why we moved our blog

2010-03-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

for the last 1,084 days, our blogger photo blog has been the perfect tool for the telling of our story; it was simple, free, and it was the space where you, our friends & our family, offered the most valuable gift you possess: your attention & a wonderfully elaborate conversation.

then, about a year ago, carlie & i began asking a new question, with the aim of bringing more value to you, our friends & our family...

what is the promise we are making as the gabriel.ryan. brand?

it is commonly known that in communication, most of the exchange that takes place in a conversation is actually non-verbal: facial reactions, hand motions, tone. so, it was in asking the question "what is the promise we are making..." that we discovered the answer would be found if we could properly answer another question: "how should we make that promise?"

we learned the value we bring to the market place as a husband and wife wedding photographer boutique is not simply the content of our conversation: the photos and ideas we love to share. we learned the value of our story, of our brand, is both the product we deliver as well as the way we deliver that product.

with that in mind, we began discussing the re-invention of our blog. and, after countless emails, a handful of fights, numerous mini-victories, and the aid of an incredible team of people over at into the darkroom, we are excited to share the new arena for this conversation to continue.

so, we urge you to update us in your favorite bookmarks, and stop by our new blog. we can't wait to continue the conversation!! come tell us what you think.

the new url is http://www.gabrielryan.net/blog. see you there...

Thank God for Northern California - Emily and Pablo

2010-03-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

it seemed as if God had opened the flood gates of His favor upon the east bay of san francisco, with nothing but greens and purples and golden light pouring down from the skies and dancing up from the earth.

no, i am not exaggerating... it was magical. and no, not like gob-and-the-aztec-tomb-magical, but REAL magic. add to that, two incredibly personal and beautiful people, and the joy of my job as a wedding photographer nearly stopped me in my tracks.

but, you've heard it a million times before. and the answer is, YES, we are truly blessed by our clients. so, for this post i would like to share [and hopefully, emily you don't mind me sharing], the words of our client and our friend, emily.

just days after returning from shooting emily and pablo's engagement in northern california, we received a hand-written thank you note. as if the gift of their friendship weren't enough, emily & pablo's gratefulness is truly touching. i slipped the card out of the envelope and it read:

Dear Carlie & Gabriel,

Thank you both so much for coming up to Nor. Cal. for our pictures... Pablo & I had SO much fun! I was amazed at how fluidly you two operated & worked together. Gabriel, the way you silently scoped out the area, with a big smile on your face, says so much about your passion for what you do... & I loved it every time you said, "killer," because I knew that you were really happy with a picture :) And Carlie, you guided Pablo & I so well! We never felt out of place or awkward and that's all thanks to your direction & placement of our hair, smiles, and poses. Together, you guys are AMAZING! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

You guys ROCKED it!

XOXO,
E&P.

no, emily... YOU guys rocked it!!

view our portfolio. contact your local southern california wedding photographer.

Topless Dreams

2010-03-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

ask any artist, any olympic athlete, any agent of change how she started her journey, and i guarantee you, if she is the real deal, that she started her journey with the end in mind, with a vision in her head, of what the view would look like from the top. she most definitely did not start out without at least an inkling of her vision... what things might look like once she completed her course. in comparison, ask most people how they go about their days, and though i don't doubt most people's passion & intention to be successful and live a more fulfilled life, i do have a hunch that most of us would fail to be able to clearly articulate the view from the top of the hill we are climbing.

that's what i mean by topless dreams... not sure exactly where you were going with it, but i urge you to continue the conversation with me.

1960's psychologist maxwell maltz studied how the human brain accomplishes tasks. and i believe his findings might help us lead a more purposeful & accomplished life.

in short, he compares our mind to a torpedo. when a torpedo is set in motion, it zig-zags forward until it intercepts its target. if the target moves, the torpedo course corrects and zigs. if the torpedo gets off track, it course corrects again and zags. hence, with the coordinates of the target always in mind, the torpedo's only aim is towards the final outcome - its target. how important is it to KNOW the target BEFORE the torpedo is set in motion?

we are much the same. the only difference; we are already en route. we are en route to our destination, whether we have a clear picture of our destination or not, and whether that destination stays constant or changes sporadically.

ironically though, i believe our destination is not the most important piece of the equation; the journey itself is. that said, without a set destination, we are merely wandering aimlessly, instigated and propelled by whatever calls our attention at the moment, as opposed to actually being on a purposeful journey... the kind of journey that causes other people to watch in awe.

in his e-book Zen to Done, leo babauta talks about the importance of finding your passion. start there, and i agree with the author, the steps required on your journey will become clear.

i propose living a life immersed in the journey. but to do so, you must... i must... first create the vision of the final outcome.

so, the next time you are about to ask a question on a forum, or you find yourself perusing the internet for information to complete a project or task, or you feel the urge to splurge on the latest gear, ask yourself to what purpose am i aiming? you may just find that the questions you have been asking all along, have been the wrong questions. and if you have the courage to take a bite of humble pie, i implore you to course correct, and zag back in sync with your vision of the future. my hunch is, your journey will be much more enjoyable.

know.your.story.

p.s. and because every post is better with a photo, here's a teaser from our latest engagement shoot in laguna canyon, styled by the oh-so fabulous event sylist, carissa of jl designs.

view our portfolio. contact your local southern california wedding photographer.

Three Weeks is Too Long Not to Blog

2010-03-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

LIIIIINNNNCCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

view our portfolio. contact your local southern california wedding photographer.

That Oozing Floating Ever-Present Kind of Love - Jodie and Nathan

2010-02-24T14:01:00.000-08:00

well, what do you guys do on the weekends? what do you do with your spare time? i continued typing in response to a chain of back-and-forth email as jodie and i really tried to articulate how we might best style her engagement shoot. simply put, jodie & nathan, and carlie & i, were looking for the uniqueness in their story.

and ironically enough, we found jodie & nathan's uniqueness in the simplicity of a cup of coffee. it turns out most saturdays, jodie & nathan follow a special tradition: first coffee, then breakfast, then they ride their bikes.

it's nothing extravagant, thinking of a cup of joe and some scrambled eggs, but isn't that the kind of place where relationship REALLY happens? isn't that the kind of place where story lives?

for jodie & nathan the answer is a resounding YES! love could be found in the way he ordered their drinks. love oozed out of them as they sat in the grass outside the coffee shop. and love floated across the channel as i just sat and watched two people enjoy the simplicity of the afternoon.

i feel like thank you is never enough for the joy our clients bring us. and despite my fear of seeming selfish for my next sentence, i must take this moment to say how much i love my own wife. carlie, i pray that you forgive me for devaluing the simple moments in life. i love you.

and jodie & nathan, thank you for sharing your story with us. you have transformed me in the simplest and most profound way.

enjoy.the.story.

view our portfolio. contact gabriel.ryan.photographers..

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Perfection Was Never the Aim

2010-02-19T15:12:00.000-08:00

rather than quickly offering the baited response, carlie and i pause, look at each other, and take a short breath through our teeth...

...well, believe it or not, we don't take THAT many photos of him... and then we proceed into a well versed and rehearsed dialogue offering an irrational explanation as to why we don't take more photos of our baby boy, when in fact, we had committed to capturing at least one... JUST ONE... intentional image of our little lincoln roe, each day for the first 100 days of his life in this world.

less than 30 days in, and we dropped our commitment.

now, i understand that it is not the end of the world. we will take many many MANY photographs of lincoln as he grows. and up until now, we actually have taken quite a few photographs. but no, that's not the point.

we failed to see through on our commitment.

and along with about 95% of the 304,059,724 americans who made new years resolutions, and finally found their excuses by valentines day, we dropped the ball.

BUT...

...and i love this part.

perfection was never the aim.

so what do we do? we take more pictures of our son today. we live the life we are in now, and we don't allow perfection to the gift out of the present.

enjoy.the.story.

view our portfolio. contact gabriel.ryan.photographers..

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The Perfect Engagement Shoot - Melanie and Jason

2010-02-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

you guys up for it?, i asked through the small sliver-like opening of their driver-side window, rain dancing off our cars in the parking lot.

jason nodded his head in agreement and anticipation with melanie leaning over from the passenger side. i parked my car, grabbed my gear and my umbrella, and we started shooting.

i am always in awe, though not usually until after the fact, of how creative the Master Storyteller can turn an unfortunate change of events, something completely out of my control, into something truly remarkable... and all He asks, is that i lean into it.

though i can't take much of the credit on this one. the day of melanie and jason's engagement shoot, the weather picked up momentum throughout the day, until we found ourselves in the parking lot of the lab, in costa mesa, watching sheets of rain pour down on our shoot location. and it was melanie and jason who saw opportunity to pursue something unique that rainy day. so, with their willingness to get a little wet, their excitement to capture something special, and their confidence in my leadership to guide them, we started shooting...

we found nooks & crannys, shot under trees & umbrellas, through corridors man made & natural... and finally, as it subsided just enough, under the soft rhythm of the rain itself.

the first half of the images below are some of my favorites ever, and not because of the rain... nor because of the setting or the wardrobe... and not because i feel like i am God's gift to photography [because i am definitely not]. these are some of my favorites because melanie and jason are just the kind of people we feel blessed to come across in our work; the kind of people that find themselves no matter the setting.

we can't wait for your big day, and are so thankful we will be there to capture it. oh yeah... and thanks for the sprinkles.

enjoy.the.story.

view our portfolio. contact gabriel.ryan.photographers..

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This Is How We Do It - Image Processing

2010-02-11T12:06:00.000-08:00

a core value here at gabriel.ryan.photographers. is setting clear expectations for our clients and delivering the goods on time, every time, exactly as promised... and with a smile. simply put, we make promises to our clients and we aim to follow up on each of those promises.

and though most of what we do, the actual work of owning a wedding photographer studio, is social; connecting with new people and getting to know them... there is still a very tangible need: delivering remarkable photographs.

for that aim, every image we present to you goes through a very specific artistic process. first, we capture the raw image. second, we create a proof of each image. third, we refine a select few that have been chosen to be hung on your wall or shared in your wedding book.

as simply as i can share, but no simpler, here's an overview of how we do it here, at gabriel.ryan.photographers.

.::THE CAPTURE::.
nothing can compare to a well-crafted image. as photographers and student's of our craft, we first focus to capture quality images... in camera. we define a well-crafted image to blend a great moment with the right light, great composition, and proper exposure. even though you will never see one of these raw images in your custom gallery, or on our website, it serves as the foundation for what defines our style here at gabriel.ryan.photographers.

.::THE PROOFS::.
what is a proof? well, first, the "proofs" are simply a set of well-crafted images that we have been further processed, to refine exposure, contrast, and tone.

after we have culled through the raw images from a shoot, we promise delivery of your proofs quickly, but without sacrificing quality. for weddings, we can turnaround proofs in 6-8 weeks. and, for engagements, the turnaround time is 2-3 weeks. it takes time to refine each image, but considering the debut of your proofs will be the first time you see your wedding images, we want to make sure they look great.

the first time you see ALL of the photos from your wedding, you will be browsing through your own custom online gallery. and, we also include a disc of the hi-resolution proofs in all of our collections, unless otherwise specified, which are delivered WITH the wedding book. these proofs are a great way to archive ALL of the images from your wedding and engagement.

.::THE SIGNATURE EDIT::.
for a select few, the artistic process continues. if an image is going to be shared in your wedding book, maybe you plan to frame & hang an image in your home, or even send a few fine art prints to your parents as a thank you gift, we want those images to look their absolute best. basically, any image will receive this special attention that is either: ordered through your online gallery to be printed, OR is selected to be a part of the story in your custom wedding book.

for this final step in the process, carlie [aka our empress of style] will open up each image individually, adding that signature gabriel.ryan. flare you have found on our website & blog, or in our custom books. though other photographers might disagree, we want to give you the digital copies of these fully-edited images, too... which is why we wait to deliver your disc of images with your wedding book... that you might have ALL of the final edits on disc.

we get asked all the time what do you actually do to your images and what do we get if we book you. at the end of the day, we revel in the responsibility to tell your story through our lens. and we can't wait for the day when that package arrives in the mail, with the gabriel.ryan. signature, and you open a box full of memories to be cherished forever.

.::UPDATE::.
p.s. we use a combination of our own custom lightroom presets, tra's totally rad photoshop actions, and kevin kubota's magic sharp, when processing our raw images to produce each client's set of proofs, and to achieve our look. also, we believe that our post-production efforts are best invested in the initial selection of our favorite images [the initial cull] and the final artistic retouching [the signature edit]. those two parts of the process are our stamp, our brand, our signature... so, we hold those parts of the process close, while outsourcing the bulk of our color correction to the incredible team over at shoot dot edit.

view our portfolio. contact gabriel.ryan.photographers..

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Finding a Tree in the OC - Amy and Shayne

2010-02-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

the two of them looked overhead, at the canopy of branches that seemed to stretch from one horizon to the other, and chuckled to each other. amy could not have been happier; we had found her "big ol' tree."

in emailing back and forth about wedding plans, amy mentioned that her invitations would have an oak tree motif and she really wanted a woodsy look for her engagement photos. we set the date and location. but, as the day approached, and due to the rain, many of the local parks were closed, including our location for the shoot.

fortunately, for every missed opportunity, one just as great seems to appear.

we had dismissed one of the local wilderness parks, having shot their before, and looking for something unique to offer shayne and amy. but, with the scarcity of open trails, still recovering from the passing storms, we headed for the local park, praying that they might be open...

...and, sure enough, they were. not only were they open, but the winter storms [thanks to the glorious climate here in southern california] had given birth to a blanket of green foliage, sprouting up from the once dry earth, transforming the entire park.

needless to say, amy was thrilled. the following images tell the story. thank you shayne and amy, for the invitation to photograph your wedding, and amy... i am so glad we found you your tree.

view the portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

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Dingy Driving 101 - Colleen and Jason

2010-02-04T05:08:00.000-08:00

carlie graced off the back of "reverence," camera in hand, into the boat, giving me the go-ahead to hit the throttle and pull away towards the horizon as the sun began to fall. i felt a little like james bond, motoring at the edge of the harbor; the chaotic industry of society behind me, and the unrestricted open ocean at the tip of my gaze.

as i began to drift off into my own macho-romantic fantasy, carlie began calling out orders to colleen and jason across the water, and... like a splash of cold water, woke me from my day dream.

although we typically divide the engagements and weddings on our calendar, with carlie & i taking on separate shoots since the restructuring of our studio and brand, carlie & i couldn't pass up this experience together.

colleen and jason had not only invited us to play a role in the telling of their story, by hiring us to photograph their wedding this spring, they also invited us onto their [forgive me, jason if i am wrong on the numbers] 58 foot sailboat named reverence, to shoot their engagement. and what started as a casual portrait shoot on board, quickly turned into a testing practice of my sea-legs and my ability not only to navigate a dingy, but to navigate a dingy as carlie shot from on board that dingy, capturing colleen and jason aboard reverence, from across the aquas gap. i immediately went from james bond, to steven spielberg, using motion to help capture the story of colleen and jason's engagement.

for the tequila, the music, and the company, colleen & jason, carlie & i thank you. we are thrilled to play even a small role during this part of your journey, but even more so, to get to know the two of you.

enjoy.the.story.

view the portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

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They said our life would never be the same...

2010-02-01T14:21:00.001-08:00

...and "they" were right.

the "they" that had 4 kids of their own. the "they" that never wanted to have children of their own. the "they" that were in the thick of it. the "they" that loved us dearly. and the "they" that happened to be in line with us at the grocery store.

it didn't matter who "they" were, they all said the same thing.

case in point; up until now, i have never had to change my shirt 30 minutes into the start of the day as a result of regurgitated soy powder and prune juice. up until now, i have never kept my fingernails manicured for the specific purpose of avoiding the unnecessarily accidental collection of poo-poo. neither, up until now, have i laughed so hard at somebody who was crying so hard.

maybe its to mask the frustration. maybe its because God has given me just a bit of insight into how He must see us. whatever it is, every once in a while [more like... 3 or 4 or 5 times a day], lincoln will begin to express his opinion. his face begins to shift hue, followed by a lower lip that begins to curl downward, and finally... the release. the release of all that tension, all that stress... his opinion. and the release comes in the form of a seizure of wails, uncontrolled and sporadic.

and for some reason, whatever it is, i laugh. not at him. not with him. but, because of him. lincoln, not his birth, not simply his arrival into our family, but lincoln himself, brings me joy.

he turned 3 months yesterday, and after a long day celebrating life and family together, he had to let go of just a little bit of stress ;)

enjoy.the.story.

view the portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

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This Is How We Do It - Custom Books - part 1

2010-01-27T13:32:00.000-08:00

albums hold photographs. books tell stories.

one of the most rewarding parts of doing what we do here at gabriel.ryan.photographers. is telling stories. and we like to think, that should we continue to hone our craft and tell each story in its own unique light, as artists... no, as passionately intentional story tellers... that the stories we tell will live much longer lives then we ourselves will live. that 100 years from now, some 20-something young girl will crack open one of our custom books, and ask her mother to share the story of her great-grandparents when they were her age.

it's about a lot more than just pictures.

the weight of that responsibility enlivens us; it gives passion and importance to not only what we do here, but also HOW we do it here.

from how we shoot each wedding, to how we select the images for our client's wedding book pre-design, to the quality we expect from our vendors that artfully craft each book into the final product: a living breathing story.

we would like to share, in part 2, a little more about how we do it here, but we couldn't without sharing our perspective first.

enjoy.the.story.

.::UPDATE::.
p.s. we use pro dpi to print our pages, and leather craftsmen to hand-craft our books.

view the portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

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Teachers Pet - Stacy and Kevin

2010-01-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

they were there for the sole purpose of checking out other people. but neither of them was interested, in physical appearance; at least, not on the surface. rather, they looked deeper into their subjects... to bones, to ligaments, to muscle tissue. stacy and kevin met in anatomy class.

stacy was the TA. kevin was one of the students. and when stacy found herself quizzing kevin, after mutual friends had talked about setting the two up, it turned from being strictly educational inquisition to a little something more.

now, with that anatomy class 4 years behind them, stacy and kevin pulled two large hand-crafted skateboards out of the back of kevin's truck, and rushed down to the boardwalk to catch the sunset, beach-side on their boards.

since stacy and kevin had found us online, this was my first time connecting with them in person, and i must say the pleasure was all mine. stacy and kevin, thank you... we look forward to fall, and the wonderful responsibility gabriel.ryan.photographers. will play in the telling of your story, as you tie the knot in september.

enjoy.the.story.

view the portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

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Real Love Simple - Jenny and Clement

2010-01-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

she glanced down at the earth beneath her, and smiled to herself. then, with the sun tucked behind the skyline of the foothills, jenny rose, grabbed his, and the three of us walked.

the simplicity that life can offer, when we choose to embrace it, is pretty remarkable. jenny and clement walking along the path; the sporadic rhythm of my shutter. it was almost too easy. but great photographs should be... not because of the technical mastery or the artist behind the lens, but because the story playing out, because the reflection in the lens, is real. simple.

jenny and clement, we can't express enough, how great it was to start our year off by getting to know the two of you just a bit more. and we look forward to your big day, just a few months out. until then...

enjoy.the.story.

view the portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

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Reflection in a Quiet House

2010-01-15T16:14:00.000-08:00

the citrus scent of murphy's lingers in the air as i relax on the couch, feet propped on our ottoman, laptop across my legs. i turn off all the noise: pandora, the tv... everything. and, i let the sounds of the outside world slowly seep into the living room. a late afternoon garbage truck makes his round, the driver surely anxious to complete his route before heading home to his family for the weekend. a muffled conversation between neighbors perks up, inarticulate but nonetheless there. but from inside our home... silence.

for the past week, carlie and lincoln have been a short flight, or a long drive, away. and though it's nice to have a quiet household and studio, in which to focus, work, and even gain some introspection, i miss my little family.

the 7:30am wake up call; lincoln's rhythmic cry alerting me he has woken from his rest and is ready to spend time with daddy. the conversations about ideas both carlie and i have, and working the creative process together. even sitting down to watch some mindless reality tv... i miss it all.

though it goes without saying, i think it is important to say. i love my wife. i love my son. and in the middle of a crazy world, a world with garbage trucks and muffled conversations, i am thankful that the heart of my story, that my heart, is part of those two incredible people.

Wedding Favorites 2009

2010-01-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

[1] to clarify our primary aim, in life, and [2] to develop a specific strategy with our business, that might add value to the market place and serve our primary aim.

there you have it. or rather, there i have it. for what value does a goal, or resolution, or my favorite... a commitment have, if not written down and spoken aloud?

so, as we turn the corner of a new decade, gabriel.ryan.photographers. is blessed by the story we have created thusfar, but as we must... as our heart calls... we look forward. we strive to innovate.

at the same time, while we couldn't be more excited for 2010 and 2011 and 2012, we couldn't be more thankful for 2009. and, after a much needed 3-week holiday, we return to the blog scene with some of our favorite photographs from 2009, and with the aim of blogging more frequently for what is certain to be another great year.

enjoy.the.new.year.

A Christmas Story

2009-12-25T06:01:00.000-08:00

sitting at my keyboard, atop the kitchen table, in the dimly lit room, i lift the steaming cup to my lips. across the room, the mini-twinkle lights of the tree provide the only source of light, glowing the room as only Christmas lights can do. and the stockings sit at attention, surely stuffed with good things to be had and thanks to be felt.

i love Christmas. don't you?

it's early, and the sun is just making its way up, when i decided to steal lincoln from his crib, giving mommy an uninterrupted couple of hours rest before the day really began. but i couldn't keep him to myself very long. i think grandparents have this extra special sense, maybe a 7th sense, that alerts them to the nearby awake and cuddly infant. and sure enough, only moments after setting into the rocker, whispering to lincoln the itinerary for the big day, pap swooped down from upstairs, like one of those great big owls that seem to fly without uttering a sound. he swooped down, asked for lincoln, and returned to his nest with his grandson.

so, i poured myself a cup of coffee, and though i usually take it black, spontaneously decided to add a bit of flavored vanilla creamer to celebrate in the quiet room. with love, and regret, and thanks, and peace, and hope, and peace [and yes, they typically play out in that particular order] i sat down at my keyboard, atop the kitchen table, in the dimly lit room, and i lifted the steaming cup to my lips.

merry.Christmas.

professional[Christmas]iPhonetography by gabriel.ryan.

Rocking the Beach Cities in Los Angeles - Alex and Ben

2009-12-18T21:37:00.000-08:00

i had been wondering when winter, or even fall for that matter, might actually show up. although it was nice for summer to lazily hang out into the later months of the year, i'll have to admit... i was looking for a chance to wear that new faux leather jacket, anxiously hanging in the hall closet.

when out of nowhere, the clouds rolled in, and the floodgates of heaven were released: torrential downpour upon southern california. so, i happily broke out my flannel pj's and my new faux leather jacket, looking forward to a couple of days on the couch eating chili.

the only downside to the late entrance of some actual weather, was it's untimely arrival. smack in the middle of what was supposed to be an entire week of rain, alexandra and ben had scheduled their engagement shoot in palos verdes. with few-to-no days left on our calendar, available for shoots, this year, it looked as if we might have had to push the shoot back, which neither of us wanted to do.

the morning of their scheduled shoot, i expected to roll out of bed to the same pitter-patter that had greeted me first thing on the previous few days, when instead, a beam of light slapped me across the face and proclaimed... it's GO time!!

needless to say, i was thrilled to shoot alex & ben's engagement. they were thrilled just the same. and though the air was brisk, we stopped at nothing to ensure the shoot would be a success.

alex... ben... we can't wait for the big day next year! enjoy the holidays being engaged!! and merry Christmas!!!

ben said he likes shadows. and shadows said they like ben.

alex staying warm.

the foam looked like snow... and was about as cold.

but the cold was no match for ben... or alex.

rock.on.

view my portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

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Hana

2009-12-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hana is one of my best friends. I just love her. She is incredibly passionate about life and every time I'm around her I feel so blessed to call her a friend.

Hana is starting a new exciting chapter in her life and wanted to have some updated photos of herself. hope you enjoy...

xo...carlie

Hana makes the most beautiful pieces of jewelry. She made button rings and delicate gold necklaces for the girls at my baby shower. I am so proud of her!

For Better, For Worse - Lindsay and Jos

2009-12-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

i don't typically know, within the first sentence of a client meeting, whether or not a couple is the right fit for our studio, but not so with lindsay and jos. they came bearing a joyful persona and ideas for the engagement shoot.

game over.

needless to say, lindsay and jos will melt your heart... like the way a stick of butter slowly softens when left out on the counter... well, you get what i mean.

and despite our little run-in with the authorities at The Ritz Carlton in laguna niguel, we managed [at least i believe] to tell a story with their engagement photos.

i'll just let the photos do the talkin...

...don't tell me you're still waiting for it?!?! i'm sorry but photos can't actually "talk." i hope you enjoy them regardless ;)

view my portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

and, if you want to stay current on all things current with the gabriel.ryan. story follow me on twitter.

How do I know when it's time to quit my day job?

2009-12-15T11:49:00.000-08:00

one of the most common questions to cross my inbox, facebook, and twitter feed, is some form of the following:

how do i know when i am ready to make the jump, from being a part-time photographer to a full-time professional? basically... can i quit my day job?

well... not that i'm any certified expert, but i have quit my day job to follow my dream of being an entrepreneur and a photographer [and yes, in that particular order], and i've been invited to interview regarding the seemingly elusive subject.

in fact, i was so good at quitting my day job that i did it... twice ;)

so, if you find yourself day-dreaming of life as a full-time photographer, from your cubicle chair, check out my interview with dane sanders TODAY @ 4PM PST. just make sure to turn the volume down on your desktop... you wouldn't want your boss to catch you.

here's the link to the live-stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/danesanders-tv

stop by. i'd love to continue the conversation...

Stormy Clouds Make Nicer Soft Boxes Than Rainy Clouds

2009-12-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

i peeled my left eye open first, to begin to alert my senses, anticipating the cry of our newborn. typically lincoln's grunts and squeaks float through the tiny hallway separating our two rooms at about 7:30, before he decides to finally let us have it, around 8am.

thinking of how excellent of a father i would be, should i be there for my infant son the moment he needed me, i had no more time to ponder the thought before i let the soothing drone of the fan lead me back to sleep.

sure enough, 8 o'clock on the nose, lincoln let us know he was ready to start the day.

jumping from our bed, i quickly put on my uggs, a hoodie, and a bit of guilt for missing my internal patriarchal clue, and swept into lincoln's room for a morning cuddle session.

it was at the moment that i was drawing lincoln from his crib that i noticed the pitter patter of rain from outside, and thought how fortunate it was that we made our little outing yesterday. otherwise, who knows when we would have had the time AND weather on our side to shoot a couple images of our own little family.

so, thank you Lord, for not only urging us to take the quick outing yesterday, but also for providing those glorious football-field soft-boxes in the sky for our shoot.

enjoy.the.holidays.

mommy and lincoln.

daddy and lincoln.

my favorite.

our new photographer friends, carrie sandoval and brittany woodall from baby as art, might say the best way to keep a newborn sleeping for a shoot is with a warm room and white noise... although, the cold air and crisp breeze seemed to ironically send lincoln off to la-la land, despite our best efforts to wake him.

and alas... we busted out the ol' tripod and self-timer for a couple photographs of our new family unit. we are the davis'.

view my portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

and, if you want to stay current on all things current with the gabriel.ryan. story follow me on twitter.

When is the last time YOU got on the other side of the camera

2009-11-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

it's 3am, and you decided to opt out of opening Old Navy with the hordes of turkey-drunk bleary-eyed bargain-hunters, and stop by my li'l ol' blog instead.

i'm honored.

really... even if it happens to be a few hours later and your sitting in front of your computer, watching football with a turkey sandwich next to your keyboard, i am honored.

carlie & i have so much to be thankful for, most obviously, the birth of our son, lincoln.

so... inspired by a thankful heart, and our new friend jodi anne, i thought it would be of value to a handful of you, specifically my wedding photographer friends, to share my skills and experience.

first off, although you & i can both take a mean self-portrait, capable of winning awards across state lines, we really want a few great photographs of ourselves, and preferably not showing our forearm extended to the sky, when marketing our services online.
second, we crave the assurance that we are on the right track with our business... or at least, that we are going in the right direction.

so, my photographer friends... here is my black friday answer...

contact me before the clock strikes midnight tonight, and type in BLACKFRIDAY in the "referred by" box, and we'll work out the details for a personal editorial-style-photo-shoot[slash]business-consult. what exactly do you get?

.::. 1 hour on-location editorial-style photo shoot
.::. a disc of all the hi-res digital proofs, including...
.::. 10 images of your choice to be re-touched for your marketing efforts
.::. coffee for 1 hour directly following the shoot, to discuss whatever questions you have related to your business as a wedding photographer

.::. the investment: $500

so, when do you want to schedule your shoot/consult?

It's Never Too Late to Take Wedding Photos - Jodi and Frasier

2009-11-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

after weeks of emailing back & forth, the weekend was upon us. and though it had been years since their wedding, jodi was just as excited, as any bride, to pose for my camera. she rested in the coat of his arms, confident in her self and in their love.

i just can't say enough about jodi! armed with her joyful & passionate spirit, she embraces life as a loving mother & wife. she also happens to be a professional photographer [which is always an honor and privelege], based out of las vegas. so, when she contacted me for a potential photo-shoot, i was immediately excited!

after a few emails we realized 1 photo-shoot wouldn't be enough, so we actually made a weekend out of it, and completed 3 different shoots: a family shoot, a marketing shoot for her own photo business, and a day after shoot.

when it came to the day after shoot, i was thrilled. i have heard similar stories all too often... of a friend of a friend, who was disappointed with her wedding photographer, or the photographs themselves, or simply the experience, and it was all too late to correct. or is it?

though it had been years since their wedding, jodi & frasier were just as excited, as any bride & groom, to pose for my camera. and i am honored to help take them back, and enjoy their story.

p.s. thank you kristin at the treasured petal, for providing this incredible bouquet. your floral work is always stunning.

and, much thanks to the incredibly talented stylist, tiffany patton, for rocking out on jodi's hair & makeup.

custom gallery featuring ALL their photographs: Jodi-Anne-Photo-Gallery

view my portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

and, if you want to stay current on all things current with the gabriel.ryan. story follow me on twitter.

Los Angeles Wedding Photographer - Rachael and Ryan

2009-11-20T10:18:00.000-08:00

the fog began to peel back over the sea, giving way to the warmth of the sun as if changing shifts. but, the blanket of calm and excitement did not change with the weather. today would be the perfect day.

upon arrival to the shade, an intimate & luxurious boutique hotel in manhattan beach, my assistant and i found carissa of jl designs laying down the canvas for rachael and ryan's big day. shortly after finding rachael, preparing herself for the day ahead, one of my favorites, paper tape films showed up to add a cinematic & vintage perspective to the day.

since their engagement shoot only weeks prior, i looked forward to the wedding day. rachael and ryan maintain a sense of calm & confidence in front of the camera, because they simply are who they are. they are in love with each other. they know who they are. they know who their family are. and they love it all. they love the uniqueness's.

often, my biggest challenge as a photographer is to pull the person-in-the-person out, and showcase the real heart of a bride, a groom... a couple... a heart. but, with rachael & ryan, they are so unabashedly themselves, photographing the two of them was a dream.

so, here it is... the last gabriel.ryan. wedding of 2009, and well worth the wait. rachael & ryan, thank you for the invitation.

enjoy.the.story.

moments before meeting her groom.

the wait.

the embrace.

ashley rose snagged this little gem during the portrait shoot.

an intimate bridal party.

ashley caught these next two moments, too.

the transformation from wedding ceremony to reception, with much thanks to wild flower linens.

the morning of the big day, i learned that ryan has a weakness for doughnuts. so, you can imagine his excitement when surprised with a dougnut-tree groom's cake.

man and wife.

custom gallery featuring ALL their photographs: Rachael-and-Ryan-Wedding-Photo-Gallery

view my portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

and, if you want to stay current on all things current with the gabriel.ryan. story follow me on twitter.

Orange County Engagement Photographer - Lacey and Robby

2009-11-11T14:55:00.000-08:00

12 days ago, our life was hijacked in the most exciting way possible; our baby boy, lincoln roe davis, decided he wanted to join the party a couple weeks early. and for myself, being a strong type-A personality, liking order and strategy, our early surprise threw me for a loop. my to-do list dropped like a brick, my email inbox ballooned, and i checked out. instead of cruising on the work train, i swapped the projects of the past 12 days for some much needed cuddling.

now, i don't mean to stop the cuddling all together [seriously, laying with your newborn can be one of the greatest treasures in life], but i figured now was better time than ever, to jump back in the saddle and get to work. so, here it goes...

last month, i met lacey & robby at the rose canyon cantina in trabucco canyon for their engagement shoot. the sun lingered down near the crest of the canyon's bordering hills and the three of us took a walk up the winding mountain road passed the cantina.

pause.

we noticed the silence and calm, not often escaped by myself or my los angeles counterparts. we noticed the calm, enjoyed the woodsy air, and let the carefree aroma of the canyon guide the next two hours.

she pulled her bangs back across her forehead, and he glanced over his shoulder at his bride to be... the woman he would marry next summer. needless to say, lacey & robby made my job easy. when a couple is in love as much as these two, and are comfortable in their own skin, my belief is that those qualities shine through their photographs, and can not be replicated or manipulated by any type of photoshop. lacey & robby are the real deal.

after the shoot, carlie met us at the cantina for margaritas, which then turned into a meal, which then turned into an epic conversation about love, life, and the future. lacey & robby, thank you for the invitation; the invitation to your story. i can't wait for the big day next july at the st regis in dana point.

in the mean time i must returned to some much needed cuddling.

a little yin & yang.

purrrrrrfect light.

seriously, lacey was rockin' it the entire shoot, but towards the end, robby couldn't be outdone and struck this GQ pose like he'd been doing it for years.

custom gallery featuring ALL their photographs: Lacey-and-Robby-Engagement-Photo-Gallery

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me. and, if you want to stay current on all things current with the gabriel.ryan. story follow me on twitter.

Love In Pain

2009-11-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

there was a calm about the room. only the sound of her breath lingered. and she labored for it... she labored just to breathe once more.

it's hard to believe that it has now been 3 years since i lay in that hospital room, grieving the journey my 19-year-old baby sister was taking. and i feel odd in sharing this truth, but those few days at the UCLA medical center, tirelessly crammed in a room full of family, were some of the best days of my life. for those few days, nothing else mattered. the pain of our quickly approaching loss, anchored the love we felt for my sister; anchored the love we felt for each other. so, even though those moments were some of the hardest of my life, i look back on them fondly.

fast forward 3 years, and i find myself once again, laying in the calm of this room. only the sound of his breath lingers. and i find myself in awe of the same God that gives and takes away.

yes, i am tired. yes, carlie is tired. yes, our baby boy is a lot of work, and at times even painful. and, yes i have never felt so much love in my life, as i do now. so i have a sense, with the love that i feel now, these will be some of the moments in my life that i will look back on fondly.

enjoy.the.story.

Lincoln Roe Davis

2009-10-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

3 years ago today, i had my first conversation with carlie renee davis. today, she gave me a son.

lincoln roe davis was born at 3:22pm, weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces, and 19 inches. and we couldn't help but share a few photos, before the day is set to rest.

follow me on twitter.

Orange County Engagement Photography - Kristina and Mike

2009-10-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

if boulder colorado had an ocean...

ahww... if only...

our conversation moved from one thing to the next, while they both continued to glow & smile. after dating for a number of years, we talked about how it is inevitable that someone at their wedding will make a comment like "it's about time" or "mike & kristina finally pulled the trigger..." but, at the end of the day, what matters most is kristina & mike's decision; their decision to take on this life together. and in the middle of it all, they are still the two young hearts that met at school years ago.

with mike still living in denver, i had yet to meet him, prior to the shoot. my nerves were settled as soon as we shook hands and i realized his heart was just as kind as kristina's. it would be a good afternoon.

so, we strolled down town san clemente, made our way to calafia, and called it a night after one rockin' engagement shoot. kristina & mike, i can't wait for the big day next spring!!

one of the first photos of the day, and kristina is already calm, collected, and ready to work it.

kristina asked if i could shoot the two of them dancing in the tide... uhmmmm, yes please.

okay... so, i couldn't resist. we stopped off at kristina's apartment in between locations, for a quick wardrobe change. because he has had nowhere to store it, kristina's living room has now become home to mike's fish tank. when asked to snap a couple frames of the aquatic escape, i was actually thrilled.

mike... the fish tamer ;)

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me. or, follow me on twitter.

Ventura Wedding Photography - Katie and Frankie

2009-10-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

any day is better in good company... add a wedding in the mix, and who could ask for anything more...

when the rog and myself pulled into town, seeing that we had beat traffic, we opted for a sit-down meal at pete's breakfast house before starting the work day. over juevos rancheros & french toast, we chatted about life, business, and the day to come.

originally from ventura myself, there was a sense of nostalgia that made me that much more excited & anxious to get the day started. with one last fork-full of potatoes, we cleared our booth, and made our way downtown to michael kelley's salon to meet with katie.

the day was simple; it was about two people. and those two people love each other deeply.

when it comes to delivering photographs from a wedding, i'm always looking for that kind of genuine love. you can spend six figures on your wedding, or secure the most luxurious venue on the block or plan every little detail to perfection... but, without love, you won't like your photographs.

it's interesting how much value in what i deliver my clients is pre-determined by them, but i can tell you, without a doubt, katie & frankie will cherish these photos. for nothing that i have done in camera or in photoshop, but for the way he looks at her, the way she smiles at him... for those reasons alone, these photos are priceless.

enjoy.the.story.

roger & i swung by the candlelight bar & kitchen to snap a couple detail shots, before the ceremony.

...then we stepped into the salon & spa to meet katie.

both bride & groom rocked laces: katie's pink-laced all-stars.

the first look.

some might think i'm super-human, with the ability to instantly canvas a particular moment with a 100 yard radius... nope, i just make sure to bring the best assistant photographers. thanks roger.

we took a brief stroll down main street before the hill-top ceremony: downtown ventura california.

another from the rog: pre-ceremony.

and, now... man & wife.

one of my favorites from the day.

packing up.

The Candlelight Bar & Kitchen
211 E Santa Clara St
Ventura, CA 93001-2717
(805) 643-3264

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me. or, follow me on twitter.

A Forster Mansion Wedding - Michelle and Justin

2009-10-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

the music stopped, the clinking of silverware against glass slowly rose & faded, and all eyes turned towards the center of the tent. licking cake from his fingers, he began to speak, sharing his heart with the guests of his wedding. he honored them and thanked them, for not just being part of such a special day for he & his bride, but for playing such an important role in their story. today would be like no other; today would be theirs - forever.

all was good in the world, or at least, under the stars at the forster mansion.

the ebb and flow of the entire day seemed to pour out rather effortlessly [much thanks to darcie from joyful weddings and events], which left me & my assistant the joyful task of capturing a handful of photographs that might honor michelle and justin's story.

there's not much more i feel i can say, but offer the sincerest thanks. michelle & justin, you gave me the greatest gift you possibly could when hiring me to photograph your wedding day; you put value on me. it is one thing to think wedding photography is near the top of the priority list during your wedding planning. and it is an entirely different thing to value the person behind the lens. seriously, i am humbled and so grateful. thanks for the invitation.

so, without further adieu, i give you mr. and mrs. justin fraley... 'til death do you part.

michelle & justin spent time to scout the area surrounding their venue, and hand picked where we would shoot the handful of portrait sessions scattered throughout the day. location #1 - the cemetery.

location #2 - an old barn in downtown san juan capistrano.

roger joined me, as my assistant for the day, and i found this little gem when i was sorting through his images.

the details were simple yet articulate, much like the words of ernest hemingway. flowers by tara wheaton with megan's garden.

during the ceremony, i couldn't resist highlighting michelle's ink. i think lincoln would like this one.

did i forget to mention how perfect the light is at the forster; combination open shade and backlight... yes please. oh, and the perfect couple, to boot.

after the ceremony, we took a quick jaunt down to los rios district in san juan [location #3] and these two are one of my favorite pairings.

cover shot! BOOYAH!!!

soft. stoic. perfect.

again, thank you, for being a rockin' couple with rad style and a genuine heart. out.

The Forster Mansion

27182 Ortega Hwy
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2702
(949) 661-6676

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me. or, follow me on twitter.

The Hobo Soul

2009-10-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

we made it about three-quarters of a mile before the engine died, inconveniently in the middle of a busy intersection. and when i say "we" i mean me and my new home...

...well, it was my new home then. you see, this was a few years ago; like 3 or 4 or 7 years ago.

single at the time, and living with a couple other guys in a house in huntington beach, my roommates and i had no idea what to do at first, when we came home and saw the eviction notice. with the housing bubble about to reach the tipping point and burst, our landlord could no longer afford to carry two mortgages, and decided to sell his first house and move into the home we had been renting for only a few months.

after the fog of disappointment wore off, i looked to two of my dear friends for inspiration: vern & jeff. at about the same time my roommates and i began renting the house in huntington, jeff & vern had moved into a 1973 winnebago which they had purchased in rosarito mexico. they paid no rent. they lived their life on the road... literally. and despite the lack of modern conveniences like electricity and a shower, the whole idea was quite appealing.

so, without haste [i only had 30 days to come up with a solution] i began scouring craigslist, ebay, the auto trader... whatever i could... to find my next home, and preferably one with four [or more] wheels.

...which brings us back to the intersection. having just purchased a 1974 clark cortez, in which i planned to reside, rent free, i was immediately faced with the realities of living in an rv, when we broke down, road-side, not even a mile later.

i'll be honest; i didn't last long. and most of my hobo days were spent in the driveway of a friend's house. but, for a short time, i embraced the life of a hobo... and it was kinda cool.

that was 3 or 4 or 7 years ago, and jeff & vern are still going strong. vern has since married and started the long beach film company. and jeff is following his passion in film, and staying true to the freedom life as a hobo has to offer. fittingly, his company is coined the hobo soul productions and he has recently headed up a number of incredible projects. for fun, i thought i would share one of their more recent short films.

enjoy.

Bay Area Wedding - Laura and Zack

2009-10-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

there's something about the open road that feels free.

cruising up the 5 freeway thru the heart of california, i loosely held the steering wheel for the seemingly endless stretch of highway that rolled out, without even a bend... and i liked it. a couple months prior, i was looking to book my travel & lodging for laura and zack's menlo park wedding, and i opted to make a road trip out of it. so, i fixed my eyes on the horizon and enjoyed the open road, as i lived through the story in my mind of the weekend yet to come.

the morning of the big day, my assistant photographer & i navigated the streets of palo alto, california, amidst a sea of college football fans making their way to the ucla-stanford game. we were on our way to a grand event, as well; but one with no winner or loser.

when we arrived at the ortberg estate, the property was buzzing with energy, and sure enough, laura was the source. though it was our first personal introduction, laura felt like an old friend. and when she carried herself, she gave off the sophistication and beauty of a classic hollywood actress.

needless to say, zack would be thrilled to meet his bride down the aisle.

the day rolled out flawlessly and carefree. these two would join their heart, and enjoy the celebration. thank you emily katz for sending laura & zack my way. i couldn't be happier to have been their photographer, and enjoy every chance i have to work with such a fine coordinator, as yourself.

until next time...

...oh wait! one last mention... so, a lot of our clients are on facebook, but i feel like few are on twitter. but, not laura & zack. in fact their whole crew seemed pretty social media savvy. the following was a tweet from the altar [don't know how he snuck that one past the church lady]:

@kgcarus - @wzt and @lauraortberg done and done http://twitpic.com/k5gnc
[3:19 PM Oct 3rd from TweetDeck ]

okay, now on to the photographs!

oozing with sophistication & style, laura's stunning gown by vera wang...

something old and something blue; manolo blahnik heels to boot.

i love how laura played with different hue's for the girls to mix in a bit of variety.

she labors for steve jobs at iTunes by day, and enjoys long walks on the beach with her tilt-shift at night... thanks for snapping this wide shot shanni.

en route to the party.

but first, a few editorial portraits.

another rad shot by shanni.

laura and zack opted for a simple backyard wedding reception.

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me. or, follow me on twitter.

The Mission at San Juan Capistrano - Engagement Photography

2009-10-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

rachael & ryan are tying the knot soon... in about 12 days, to be exact...

...and i couldn't be more excited to join them for their intimate wedding at the shade hotel in manhattan beach, styled by the fantastic carissa of jl designs.

about two weeks ago, we met in down town san juan to spend a couple hours of the late afternoon together, and it was perfect. rachael and ryan have natural ability: the ability to be natural.

you might think most of us have it, but that particular ability is often challenged once a camera, and a rather large camera at that, starts snapping away just inches from your gaze. but rachael & ryan needed little direction. we simply enjoyed the late afternoon together, and happened to grab a handful of awesome engagement photographs in the middle of it all.

rachael & ryan, you two are incredibly kind with a wonderful sense of calm about the both of you. i can't wait for the big day in just a matter of days...

change it up.

my favorite photo of the day.

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me.

and if you are interested in a photo shoot at the mission in san juan capistrano, here are the details for the location:

www.missionsjc.com
26801 Ortega Hwy
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-1300

Luncheon with Lincoln - A Baby Shower

2009-10-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

my fingers tirelessly traced the outline once more before tackling the cutting out of more shapes. for weeks, our home turned into craft-central, as carlie dreamed up the perfect baby shower.

and, as if having a son weren't enough of a blessing in itself, our incredible friends showed up, in some really big ways. jesi, with jesi haack weddings, served as carlie's sounding board for all things creative to logistical, and helped as we confirmed, revised, and re-confirmed the list of rentals needed for the big day [much thanks to megan davis with classic party rentals for putting up with so many changes].

when it came to decor, our friend carissa with jl designs offered her eye & her hand, in creating all the florals for the afternoon occasion. while lyndzee donated one of her killerly hip [did i just make up a word] head pieces from her signature brand lady vintique.

last, but definitely not least... the sweets. being that i was most likely going to be the only gentleman present, and really only around to lug furniture and snap some photos, i couldn't wait to see what melody from my sweet & saucy shop, was going to bake up for the girls. not to mention, i had negotiated payment by treats ahead of time, with my lovely wife & mommy-to-be.

so, there you have it! we are blessed beyond belief!! we have creative friends. we have generous friends. we have selfless friends. thank you so much for showing up. we know lincoln appreciates it :)

the invitations were handmade by carlie.

though fall had officially begun, the temperature would tell us otherwise. all the ladies were greeted with an invitation to cool off with a frozen lemonade and...

...a custom fan, traced & cut-out by yours truly.

we hung plain sheets & burlap to provide a little retreat from the sun.

carissa rocked it.

one of carlie's friends, and former bridesmaid, hana lash created custom jewelry as a personalized gift for each attendant. you can check out hana's etsy store here @ www.thalkin.etsy.com

everyone loves a photo sign-in guest book.

and, to keep with the middle name trend, lincoln roe [davis].

who was cuter as a kiddo? actually, maybe i don't want your opinion ;)

and now, my favorite part... you haven't lived until you've tried a candybar cupcake with peanut butter frosting & a caramel drizzle. thanks melody.

carlie wanted to make sure everyone went home with a treat or two.

lastly, carlie's favorite detail of the day.

to view more of our portfolio, click here. or, to hire us as your photographer, click here to contact us.

Building A Schedule - From the Ground Up

2009-09-26T18:16:00.001-07:00

i must make a disclaimer, that this post is not like most of my posts. it has nothing to do with wedding photography, and everything to do with living a productive life. if you are interested in the latter, i encourage you to read on...

whether you love 'em or hate 'em... whether you claim to be one, or couldn't even imagine the thought... most of us would agree that there is a directly-proportional pairing of productivity with early rising. the early bird catches the worm, doesn't it?

as a business owner, as a husband, as a soon-to-be father, and as a spiritual being longing for deeper relationship with my God & my community, over the past few months i kept feeling drawn to create a sense of order about my life. enough order, ironically, to allow room for the spontaneous. i once heard david allen, the master behind GTD, make a comment related to cooking, that struck deeply with my common sense. he rhetorically asked, how much more free are you to be spontaneous in the kitchen, if everything is in its right place, instead of feeling overwhelmed by pots & pans strewn across the counter tops? so, why would our daily routine be any different; keep the frame work in place, allowing one's creativity to flow un-hindered.

then, about a month ago, jasmine shared her daily routine with her inquiring fans [you can check out the post here]. and i felt that was the final push.

i wanted to have a daily routine; a schedule for myself to serve as the framework for my creativity & my sanity. my first inclination was to copy jasmine's schedule, and plan out the very next day with my calendar:
6:30am - wake up & pray
7:00am - answer email
8:15am - get my butt outside & enjoy the fresh air
...and on and on...

only, two things struck me [and thankfully, they did so immediately, before i started re-arranging my iCal for imminent failure]:

[1] i am not jasmine.
[2] i have a difficult time changing multiple variables at the same time.

and the second, led me to my plan of action. i knew that if i tried to map out a daily routine from the moment i rose until dinner was in the skillet, i would most certainly end up frustrated before i even finished my second cup of coffee. so, i thought a moment, about how i like to make changes...

one at a time.

once i acknowledged this bit of self-knowledge, i took the only possible next step. i focused on the first action i have taken, of every single day over the past 27 years: waking up.

my first goal: to wake at the same time every day [and preferably earlier than i typically was waking].

so, as i will typically do, i began to research, scouring some of my favorite blogs & books, until i had a plan of action to make the single & simple change, before moving on to my next goal. and i have to say, i am rather excited about the results.

over the past week and a half, i first started waking daily at 8:00am, and have sinced [successfully] moved my alarm to 7:45am. i simply go to bed when i am tired [no set time] and i plan on waking at the same time every day, letting my body do the work of telling me whether i need more sleep or less. if i need more sleep, my body tells me to go to bed earlier. and if i am more-than-rested, my body gives me permission to stay up a bit later. it's rather simple.

so, what is the call to action? well, do you want to be an early riser? do you want a daily routine? or is there some other habit you would like to create, but have had a difficult time making it systematic for yourself? i have included a few links that might help, and i look forward to sharing my progress in the near future, as i create my own schedule - from the ground up.

enjoy.the.story.

jasmine star's FAQ post: http://www.jasminestarblog.com/Index.cfm?postID=645

steve pavlina's "how to become an early riser" post [part 1]: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-become-an-early-riser/

steve pavlina [part 2]: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-become-an-early-riser-part-ii/

leo babauta's "the power of less": http://thepowerofless.com/

and, just for fun, here is a photograph i took on my favorite stretch of road: the 101 between santa barbara and san luis obispo.

A Weekend with The Ingalls

2009-09-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

we sat on the porch. and without the tools of social media, without twitter, without facebook, without iChat, we had a conversation... old school. just sitting on the porch, we had a conversation.

this past weekend was rather refreshing. and i didn't know how much i needed it, until i was there. but, on friday, i had the fortune of taking a small road trip, up the central coast of california, to hang with the incredibly talented & caring cameron & anna ingalls. upon my arrival, i was greeted with hugs and a warm meal, and the weekend followed up with a handful of adventures & good conversation, in one of my favorite parts of the world: san luis obispo, california.

check this... he can crack an egg into the pan with just one hand [for proof, check out this little twitter video @ http://www.twitvid.com/37033 ]. that's the kind of man cameron ingalls is. and, he is an artful storyteller. from his words, to his images, cameron moves with a spirit of intention. and it is pretty incredible to watch, from the way he takes photographs to the way he orders pad thai... seriously. he is THAT intentional.

so, cameron & anna, i can't thank you enough for your blessing & hospitality, and i pray that sooner-than-later, carlie & i are able to return the blessing for the two [three] of you.

cameron ingalls a la recepcion, sans flash.

Photo Induction - Molly plus Matthew equals Charlotte

2009-09-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

carlie patiently [slash impatiently] sat on one of the chiavari chairs, as i meticulously stepped through my post wedding checklist; camera bodies - check, lens caps on - check, un-used batteries - check, used batteries - check, memory cards...

we had just completed another "day at the office," having captured jon and quyen's vintage wedding at the muckenthaler mansion in fullerton. and, with the bride and groom sent off through an alley of sparklers, and a few remaining guests lingering to share a few last words, we were off.

on the way to our car, i reached into my pocket and pulled out my trusty iPhone, to find a direct message from one of my twitter friends: molly of mathieu photography. we had totally been cyber friends via the twitter world, and had run in many of the same circles, without ever having met.

that was about to end.

as we each packed up our gear from our respective weddings that day, we each jumped on the freeway in the dark of the night, after a long day of shooting, and met at the mecca of the late-night post-wedding dining establishment... In N Out.

over a double-double, fries and a shake, we talked about life, business, and babies. it seemed as if we had been pals since our elementary years.

and as many of you know, molly and matthew just gave birth to their first child: Charlotte June Snelson. i'll be honest, Charlotte is exactly one week old now, and i think i'm in love all over again. make sure to check out the full story on the mathieu photo blog here. but the day before... yes, literally THE DAY BEFORE molly went into labor, not even knowing the gender of their unborn child, carlie & i had the pleasure of shooting her and matthew.

here is your invitation to view the last photographs taken, before molly and matthew fell in love all over again, with the arrival of their little june bug.

enjoy.

p.s. by the way... i totally called it. [girl]

charlotte.

matthew.

molly.

hi-fives and low-tens were in hot exchange...

...as were other gestures of over-excitement.

carlie captured this one, and i can't help but LOVE IT.

remember that sci-fi show sliders, from the late 90's??? parallel dimensions collide.

one of carlie's favorites.

about 24 hours after this photograph was captured, molly snelson went into labor. i didn't realize my photo skills stretched so far.

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me.

Shooting Friends - Barb and Aaron

2009-09-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

first off, i have to apologize. i'm never personally a fan of the "sneak-peek" but must oblige, considering the circumstances. so, please don't stop reading. just know that more details and more photos will be coming soon, to a publication near you ;)

with the formalities out of the way, our friends barb & aaron tied the knot less than two weeks ago, and their orange county wedding took us for a trip across the globe to the place of their introduction: spain. and, this particular wedding was extra special, since not only is aaron a professional wedding photographer, but there were also a number of other pros at the wedding as guests; a rather humbling & exciting experience.

i'm always amazed at the connections required, the variables of circumstance, and the context of story, in which our clients meet & marry. barb & aaron are no exception. they met half-way across the world, and though they enjoyed each other's company in a foreign land, they did not think twice that they might not ever meet again, having not even exchanged contact information. so, when they met by chance, months later, at a coffee shop in their home town of orange, california, it was obvious that Fate, or Love, or God, was artfully crafting His masterpiece: barb & aaron's story.

without further adieu, i give you a single image from their wedding day [again i apologize for being such a tease, but i promise to share more later... as we all anxiously await the complete collection to be published at utterlyengaged.com]

i would also like to thank the incredible team that helped piece together the incredible details that made barb & aaron's wedding go off without a hitch:

the coordinator - christina - www.simplymodernweddings.com
the florals - kristin - www.thetreasuredpetal.com
the tunes - eric mosqueda - www.socal-dj.com
the private flamenco performance - paco & yolanda arroyo - www.arroyoflamenco.com
the treats - melody - www.mysweetandsaucy.com
the motion picture - megan & josh - http://themotionboutique.com
and the venue - casa romantica - www.casaromantica.org - 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672-5233

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me.

Shooting to Shoot - Maternity Photography with Carlie

2009-09-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

in the middle of a busy wedding season, it helps being married to carlie. it helps because carlie always seems to have some type of non-work project at hand. and, for a workaholic like myself, filling my spare time with "something else" helps keep me from filling that same time with the ever-dreaded, work-for-work's sake. not to mention, when i feel the need [though it is usually she that prompts my need] i always have a hot model ready to be photographed.

so, here is a continuation from a series we started last month, to document carlie's transformation from young womanhood to young motherhood. no sappy anecdote here; just a few photos of my beautiful bride and lincoln's incredible mother.

Muckenthaler Wedding Photography - Quyen and Jon

2009-09-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

recently, we were fortunate enough to photograph quyen & jon's vintage inspired wedding at the muckenthaler mansion in fullerton. and not only that, but jen over at green wedding shoes blessed all of us, by featuring quyen and jon's story first. so, once you are done perusing the images here, make sure to check out more of the details on the green wedding shoes blog here.

meshing two distinct cultures & two distinct eras seemed to flow effortlessly from every detail. quyen brought the traditions from vietnamese culture and her roots from the far east, whilst jon himself, down to the tie clip & ray bans, personified all that is Americana. and, as the guests arrived at the muck, it felt as if we were all taken out of the hustle of our 21st century lives, to the jive of the early part of the 20th century.

and, amidst everything... the details, the style, the attire... were two young lovers, so ready to take on life together. quyen and jon, carlie & i love you. we really do. and i pray the photographs we have to offer from your wedding day, serve as a timeless memento to the love that will so apparently fill your household as the two of you grow old together.

enjoy.the.story.

i absolutely love when couples incorporate their family history, by sharing wedding photos from years gone by... and i pinch myself to think that the photographs i take today, might very possibly outlive me. humbling.

the bride. the groom. and their killer florals from honey and poppies.

p.s. do yourself a favor and check out tiffany's blog. she rocked out quyen's make-up, which is so important for photos.

as a professional wedding photographer, how could i not be ecstatic when i saw old windows like this one, so artfully integrated at the altar.

the newlyweds.

this one's a throwback to their engagement shoot earlier this year. only this time, jon traded out his 12 gauge for a bride's bouquet.

every table was marked by one of these letter cards, offered by martha stewart.

this was my first time at the muck, but if you are interested in contacting them for your event, i highly recommend it:

1201 W. Malvern Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92833

Telephone: (714) 738-6595

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me.

Newport Beach Engagement Photography - Michelle and Justin

2009-09-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

have you ever met new friends that were too fun? or too cute? or just too plain rad? and all you wanted to do was play???

michelle and justin make me want to play.

first off, michelle and justin have cool personalities [and tattoos to match]. second, they are getting married at a haunted mansion this fall. third, michelle happens to be an incredible & aspiring photographer [you should check out her flickr stream]. and did i mention how cool michelle and justin are?

after meeting for the first time at megan & dom's san clemente wedding, just recently, i got even more excited for the big day coming up next month.

consider this simply foreshadowing for the awesome that will be brought when michelle & justin tie the knot...

meet justin.

and meet michelle.

they're fun... but a little shy.

michelle likes to go fast.

and who doesn't like a classic jump shot.

this was actually the very first photo we took during their engagement shoot, and it sorta reminds me of peter pan chasing his shadow. michelle and justin are a perfect match; like you & your shadow.

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me.

Del Mar Wedding Photography - Dawn and Michael

2009-09-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

it was almost a year ago that we met over tea and talked about their story... talked about the change of pace from minnesota to southern california... talked about their fabulous wedding that, at the time, seemed so far away. and finally, after much planning... almost a year of planning...

...the air was thick with excitement, as a handful of youngsters greeted the guests as they arrived at the church. michael clustered up with his boys in the corner, bantering back & forth cheerfully, only moments before the big reveal; before he would meet his bride at the altar. and almost with a sweeping understanding, the guests took their seats, and the ceremony began.

every time, no matter how many weddings i shoot... that moment brings me back. i remember seeing my bride, escorted by her father, walking to meet me; to join me. so, as i paused, for just a moment, and watched michael step forward for a better view, glowing with excitement, a tear dropped from his eye, and i continued shooting.

for so many reasons, i love my job. but, if you saw the engagement photos, you might surmise that dawn and michael enjoy life. and not in just the so overly quoted from dead poets society carpe diem kind of way... no, they really enjoy life's pleasures. in other words, dawn & michael have class.

dawn had not one, but two INCREDIBLE wedding dresses: the first, a vera wang with custom shoes from spain to match, and the second, a classy evening gown with gold jimmy choo heels to boot.

and, their reception was held at the ever impressive l'auberge del mar, with florals by thomas at lotus flowers shop [p.s. thomas is incredibly creative... check out the fabulous piece coupled at the entry to the aisle, something commonly dismissed at inside weddings]. lastly, documenting the occasion on video were the husband & wife team, jared & danielle of side by side video.

though these pictures don't move, here is the story i captured, not even two weeks ago...

i told you thomas was incredible. and, for the record, this piece was a last-minute idea that sprung from his creativity when thomas visited the church a week before the ceremony.

no words.

okay... so dawn's dress ROCKS!! and i love how this shot shows off how much poof her first dress gave.

mr and mrs michael huffer.

rockin' the rolls royce from the church to the party.

while dawn changed into her evening gown, i hung out in the lobby, only to find this guy stealing the show. i just pray that he doesn't put me out of business.

dress #2 and a GQ groom.

90+ degrees in san diego... of course everyone's going to be at the beach.

dawn's favorite from the slideshow we put together at their reception.

thanks to the help of rachel from bliss events, many of the details were in order.

whilst one of wayne foster's cover bands entertained the audience, this colorful groomsmen decided to let loose... that is... of course... until he saw a 24mm staring him in the grill. all of a sudden, the pink feather boa didn't feel so cool.

how cool are dawn & michael? cool enough to don a couple of aprons and serve all their guests ice cream as they departed towards the end of the evening.

and just because... i love this one.

CLICK HERE to view my portfolio. CLICK HERE to contact me.

Cupcakes

2009-09-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

i was looking through my journal today and thought i would share a funny entry dated april 10, 2009...

monday march 16th...

i woke up with cramps again. normally my cramps last about a day and then dear aunt flow arrives. well this was the fourth day of cramps and AF still hadn't made her arrival. i went downstairs and randomly looked up, "can you have cramps in early pregnancy?"..."absolutely... mild cramps are completely normal."

ok, calm down... no need to panic... i'll just watch some oprah on the dvr and relax on the couch with a big carton of ice cream. yeah, that lasted a while, and then i remembered that gabriel had purchased me a pregnancy test about 6 months ago that came in a pack of two. great, let's test this sucker out. while i am peeing, i think to myself, "this is such a waste of $20, there is no way i am pregnant!!" i put the cap back on, lay the test flat and wait the 2 or so minutes.

two bright ass pink lines!!! oh my gosh i started hyperventilating!!! hello, like seriously, wait, really, huh, mommy? i quickly regained my composure because well, i had to or i would call gabriel that minute and tell him!! i couldn't do that! he was at work, and i wanted to tell him in a sweet and calming environment.

tuesday march 17th...

so i waited. yes, that night wasn't calm enough. plus i needed to get him a special gift. the next day i called gabriel at work and asked him if he could come home early. see, gabriel and i only have one car at the moment and i get all claustrophobic in our house and i needed some fresh air! i need to run a few errands! since when do i run errands? well i did that day and gabriel was very impressed. i went by the bank for him and mailed off some client envelopes. little did he know i was also stopping by cvs to buy another prego test, (this time electronic) and stopping by the mall. so i take the test in the mall bathroom and sure enough within 10 seconds it pops up with a big fat PREGNANT, and well i almost peed a little... again.

next, i head down to the vans store to purchase some baby vans to give to gabriel, as a gift. but of course once i walk into the store i realize the guy that will be helping me was a bartender at the restaurant i worked at before gabriel and i were married. so here i am lying to the guy telling him that no, i'm not knocked up, these are for my uhh... sister-in-law!!! i get a kind, quick reply of, "oh good cause that would have been really fast!" thanks dude. so anyways, i get home with my little surprise all wrapped up with a big blue bow. (gabriel says it will be a boy cause i picked a blue bow, whatever.) i hid the package in the pantry and went on to make a delicious dinner. when we were finished i soon became sweaty and beat red. after about 5 minutes of awkwardness i finally tell him that i have a gift for him. that was the hardest sentence i have almost ever had to say! i pull out the pretty white square box and he says, "did you buy me cupcakes?!?!" um, no babe, it's not cupcakes. but man a cupcake would be so amazing!!

well, let's just say that gabriel is ecstatic to be a daddy and can't wait until my little bump starts to poke out! i absolutely adore my husband. he's the most loving, supportive, compassionate, gentle, strong, encouraging, appreciative, hard-working man i have ever known. i hope one day i can grow up to be more like him.

now, i need to make some cupcakes.

San Clemente Wedding Photography - Megan and Dom

2009-09-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

watching megan meet dom, watching dom court megan, watching the whole thing go down, was something special. i have known both megan & dom for a few years now, and couldn't be more privileged to have been witness to such a special day.

it's always an honor to be invited as the wedding photographer for a couple, but when they are friends, it tastes just a bit sweeter. and, as if the day couldn't look to be any better, upon arriving at the laguna cliffs marriott, where the beautiful megan was preparing for her wedding day, carlie & i were greeted with a gift for lincoln.

have i told you how much i love presents!!

anyways, back to their wedding...

megan & dom decided to do their first look near a quaint & secluded cove in laguna beach, before we made our way over to the ole hanson beach club in san clemente for the main event. when we arrived, every detail was in order, as per the crafty eye of darcie with joyful weddings & events and the flowers provided by megan's garden. and no, megan was NOT pulling flowers on the eve of her wedding, but her mother does happen to own the boutique flower and event planning studio that set the backdrop for the day.

and because every day, especially every wedding day, is better with cupcakes, megan & dom dropped some love for their guests with custom cupcakes by frosted cupcakery in long beach.

so, without further adieu, here they are... megan & dom's wedding photos.

dom & the boys taking it back to his days with throwdown of touring the world and slapping the bass, which lead straight into his current career as a graphic designer.

thanks again to darcie & megan's garden for all the FABULOUS details :)

one of carlie's & my favorites from the day.

their first look in laguna.

you two are blessed to have found one another, and i know God will bless your story. thanks for sharing this chapter with carlie & i.

to view my portfolio, CLICK HERE. or, to contact gabriel, CLICK HERE.

Wedding Photographer FAQ - Sites

2009-08-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

i sat on the floor, my back against the couch, as a dozen of us listened and shared attentively. the group of us had started a conversation; a conversation about how we could better share with the world who we each uniquely were as photographers, as people. then our host, david jay offered a solution and asked for our help.

that was back in february of this year, from one of the countless hotel rooms overlooking las vegas. and it was at that little user group that carlie and i launched our wedding photography website that now serves as our "handshake" [coined by our friend jasmine] to potential clients.

since launching our site, we have received a constant stream of inquiries asking who made our site. and it has become obvious that tons of our colleagues in the photo industry are looking for a solution to create something unique and marketable.

to answer the question simply, we made it ourselves.

and that is the beauty behind showit sites [which is the solution we have chosen for our website]. with showit, we can make any change to our website that we can dream up, and we can do it without forking over a small fortune to a programmer.

however, the real answer to that question, is that we had A TON of help. first off, we had the fortune of knowing an incredible artist, melinda moen, who drew up all the custom illustrations you might see on our site. we also summoned the expertise of the showit team, who was more than willing to answer all of our "how-the-heck-do-i-do-that" questions. and most valuable, we had the help of our colleagues: our fellow photographers. in fact, most of our wppi experience this past year, was actually spent in conversation with other photographers, and we couldn't be more thankful for our friends in this industry.

so, when it comes to making a killer website that tells the story you want to tell, i recommend a few things:

[1] first, get clear on WHO YOU ARE. what do you bring to the marketplace?
[2] find a solution that works for you. how easy is it to add content or make changes in the near future?
[3] invest in good people. what can you do to add value to someone else? chances are, they might return the favor.

and, because blogs are more fun with photos, here's a little something... about two weeks ago, we shot quyen & jon's wedding, and melinda [our good friend & artist] was in attendance with her husband & her barracuda. i couldn't help but snap something fun with melinda and her ride.

P.S. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I AM NOT SPONSORED BY SHOWIT. I AM JUST A RAVING FAN :)

Backyard Wedding Photography - Sarah and Jeremy

2009-08-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

if you follow me on twitter, or if you saw their laguna beach engagement shoot, you probably already know the love affair i have for our new friends sarah & jeremy.

and when it comes to jumping in front of the camera, they know how to work it.

so, when we made the short jaunt up the coast to redondo beach for sarah & jeremy's backyard wedding, we were nothing short of excited. and as with most backyard weddings, we rolled up the driveway to a home busting with energy; caterers heating up the kitchen, family members dialing in the finishing touches, the occasional bridesmaid dancing from one room to the next, and the bride anxious to meet her groom.

i walked through the threshold, and sent carlie upstairs to check with the girls. shortly after, i grabbed my bag of gear and hiked the second story to the bridal suite, to find sarah, the bride, patiently waiting on the edge of the bed; calm amidst a storm of energy.

she was ready for him.

as the day rolled on, carlie & i felt the blessing to partake in such an intimate ceremony, and to work alongside some incredible vendors like brandon and his rockstar team from oc creative media.

and, at the end of the day, it was a simple story. it was about a boy that was on a journey through his own heart and about a girl whose passion for life is second to none. and it was about their excitement to take on their story together.

and, sarah & jeremy, make sure to have a red stripe for me and a virgin pina colada for carlie during what is sure to be a relaxing honeymoon in jamaica.

i love how they incorporated these eclectic letters from urban outfitters.

when asked why he chose a purple shirt & tie, sarah's dad replied because it's her favorite color. that's one happy papa.

who wouldn't love to shoot this couple, in AHHHH-mazing light down a rad alley in redondo beach?!?!

some moments only happen once... and sometimes, only for a split second.

more editorial style wedding photography.

and it wouldn't be a gabriel ryan wedding without come cropped faces or a foot shot...

enjoy the caribbean & see you soon.

if you are interested in seeing more of my work, you can view my portfolio by CLICKING HERE or if you might be interested in booking me to shoot you & your story CONTACT ME HERE.

Palos Verdes Wedding Photography - Cara and Craig

2009-08-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

they stop at nothing short of the best. so when i rolled up this past weekend to photograph cara & craig's wedding in palos verdes, california, i was thrilled. i knew all the details would be in order.

and they were.

carlie & i made our introductions with the bridesmaid's and immediately began collecting cara's accessories for some detail shots, which included a rocking pair of jimmy choo's. i told you this bride has style!

after some of the finishing touches were made, we raced over to the malaga cove plaza, to meet craig and the boys, for cara & craig's first look. from their, the day seemed to flow effortlessly, much thanks to lindsey & her stellar team with circle the date.

cara & craig, your ceremony was gorgeous, your party was rockin, and we can't imagine this year without having crossed paths with the two of you. as always, we are blessed by your invitation, but even more so by the value you have placed in what carlie & i have offered you. i don't think i have ever received so much praise, at a wedding reception, as i did from you, your family, and your guests. i was humbled & blessed.

enjoy.your.story.

cara's jimmy choo kicks.

cara & craig decided to exchange gifts on their big day. and cara was thrilled when she pulled her luxurious new chanel handbag out of this box.

i love the editorial feel of this pairing.

to our fellow photographer friends, fortunately cara had allotted more than enough time to shoot portraits before the wedding. but, i still find it helpful to grab a couple different angles on each shot, simply to offer a bit of variety... not to mention, it's incredibly time efficient. one pose - two photographs.

rolling hills rocked out on the floral arrangements for the grand affair.

aloha, and enjoy your honeymoon in maui. and even more, enjoy your new life together!

Dana Point Wedding Photography - Noel and Brett

2009-08-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

when we first met noel in costa mesa, over a light lunch, carlie & i couldn't wait for her engagement shoot at the lab. at the engagement shoot, we finally had the chance to meet brett. and when we met brett, we couldn't wait for their wedding in dana point. this past weekend, we photographed noel & brett's wedding in south orange county, and... you guessed it... we can't wait to see them again.

not only are noel & brett two of the most cheerful and lighthearted individuals you might run across, but the posse they run with is just as delightful. in fact, it was the first wedding where the groomsmen traveled in tandem with a rolling cooler; stay thirsty my friends. and, another first for our studio was a voice mail that carlie received just yesterday. one of the groomsmen asked noel for our phone number, and called to leave a message, simply telling us that he appreciated our attendance & work at noel & brett's nuptials.

this weekend's event ended up being one of those days where i showed up to work, to serve our clients and add value to their story, yet it turned out i was the one whose value was increased. a light thank you, simple yet intentional, and a couple so excited about spending their life together, has truly blessed me in my work.

here's some of the photos from their wedding day...

we all knew noel would be stunning, but when she slipped on her bridal gown, we all agreed. and a few of us saw a bit of resemblance to the late marilyn monroe. what do you think?

at the reception, we had just enough extra time to put together a slide show with a handful of images from the big day. the groomsmen flipped over this one... literally... i think i saw one do two double-backs in a row.

can i tell you how much i love when my client's decide to do a first-look. they are always happy they did. and happy brides usually seem to photograph so nicely.

i had to throw one of brett looking stunna, as you will notice, most of this post is overshadowed by noel's awesomeness.

you guys rule! enjoy your honeymoon in costa rica!! pura vida!!!

Focus

2009-08-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

i like it, was never a suitable critique. it was my first formal interaction with photography, and my instructor, mr. bill hendricks, sought out a deeper response from all his students.

most of us were in the same boat; we saw a photograph somewhere and were drawn in deeper. something intrigued us about what we saw, we knew we liked it, we didn't know why, and we wanted to create the same thing. in response, we signed up for a black & white photo class at the local community college.

we still didn't know what we were in for.

fortunately, our prof rocked! and, over the course of that semester we dove into aperture & shutter speed, we meticulously digested basic daylight exposure [aka BDE], but most importantly we learned why certain images seemed to capture our gaze, while the rest faded into the background of our memories.

to prove a point, take a moment to find a photo somewhere... anywhere... right now... okay, if you like the image, chances are, it is composed well, and your eye first landed on the brightest and sharpest part of the photo. now there are of course, exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking our eyes seek contrast; something sharp against something blurry, something bright against something dark. and we like it. contrast helps us focus. and having a strong and singular focal point seems to almost always be preferred over an overly cluttered and staged image.

our lives are not much different.

and, though it pains me to share, i quite often find myself biting off more than i can chew. whether it be over-stating what i might accomplish in a single day, or chasing every rabbit trail i think might lead to greater success, i can be rather zealous in my pursuits, much to the same end as a good [not great] photograph that seems to lack intention.

fortunately that is not the end of the story. because, what i do feel strong at, and i would urge you to pursue the same, is an ability to re-set, re-compose, and fire again. perfection is never the goal - excellence is.

my name is gabriel ryan davis. i am a wedding photographer. i love my job. and i choose to pursue THAT with excellence. how might you do the same? what areas are you focusing on that are simply distracting from what you could be great at? trimming the excess is risky business, but my hunch is, the risk is worth it.

and because a photo blog post isn't complete without a photo, here's a little diddy taken by fellow mammoth men michael chantastic.

Porcelain Carlie - Maternity Photography with Carlie

2009-08-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

i know carlie behind the veil.

you see the tweets - the iPhone belly photos. you see the zany video blogs - the wacky dance moves.

you see her strength. you see her flawless beauty. you see her resounding sensibility. you see what she wants you to see.

i see all that, too. but i also have the privilege of knowing carlie renee davis in between those things. i see it all. and i love it. i love her.

so, earlier this week, with the birth of our son just around the corner, i asked to photograph my wife. she accepted, and the following is what we created. behind the veil, i wanted to show the frail, the fragile, the porcelain... that is my bride and she is beautiful.

Indian Wedding Photography - Santa Barbara, California

2009-08-04T11:51:00.000-07:00

i grabbed a cup of coffee at peets, jumped back in my car, and cranked the volume for the rest of my drive up the coast. kings of leon shot out of my speakers, and i shifted focus to the task at hand.

this past weekend, i had the pleasure of joining dane sanders for three days of shooting, beginning with a mehndi ceremony on thursday, an indian wedding on friday, and a stellar western ceremony on saturday. the couple was incredible, the details were fabulous, and the party's were each 100% rock star!!

i can't begin to express how stoked i was to have been asked to take part of such an epic wedding, all of which, was craftfully pieced together by the incredible lisa vorce. for the rest of the details, check dane's blog...

victor yields his sword, during the baraatis.

gia flashing her indian wedding bling [aka bangles].

no detail was spared on day 2...

...or day 3.

Cabo San Lucas Wedding Photography - Jenelle and Byron

2009-07-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

jenelle & byron know how to turn up the heat.

if you remember their engagement shoot, which wasn't too long ago, jenelle & byron had no qualms about rolling around in the surf and going for broke, and all for the love of the shoot. so, when carlie & i landed in cabo san lucas mexico, for their destination wedding, we had no doubt that jenelle & byron would bring it.

after an early morning dip in the pool, carlie & i made our way to jenelle's room at the riu palace in cabo to capture a few detail shots, as the day began. when we entered the getting-ready-room, jenelle flashed that signature smile, and carlie/lincoln and i, were made to feel like special guests immediately. after the brief reunion subsided, i grabbed jenelle's stellar christian louboutin heels and her custom dress, for a few shots, before the first look.

the rest of the day rolled out on point, while i had the pleasure of snapping a moment here, a detail there, and grabbing a "marry me mojito" in between.

i have to thank the restaurant sunset da mona lisa for providing the exceptional backdrop to jenelle & byron's cliff-side ceremony and reception. and, muchos gracias to the lovely luba & illeana from romantic cabo weddings for being the best wedding coordinators south of the border!!

and, of course, to jenelle & byron... you two are perfect for each other. not only are you perfect for each other, but you are both so blessed to have, what you do, in each other. thanks for bringing us in close enough to capture you and your story.

enjoy.

jenelle sent me this photo yesterday and i just loved it! melina did jenelle's make-up and it was absolutely stunning!!!

Lincoln's Room

2009-07-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

so i have finally decided what i want to do with lincolns room!! i have been so excited to decorate his room, the only problem was with all the previous ideas i had i knew i would change my mind later on and regret most of my design decisions. so i kept on looking and kept on brainstorming. anthropologie, urban outfitters and etsy were all my sources for inspiration. and i am so excited to share all my ideas with you!!

here is our color scheme. a little risky, but very fun!!!

and here is some art that i am going to have made in gray and the other mustard yellow. they are made by sugarloop on etsy.

and this is the mobile we are getting except of butterflies she is making one with owls!!! it's made by the incredibly talented royalbuffet. i can't wait to see it!!!

and one last thing to show you is the lamp. oh how i love the lamp. i'm going to put a bright solid red shade on it! it's from urban outfitters.

so thats some of it!! i'll post more photos once the room in finished which will hopefully be in the next 2 months.

Taken Back

2009-07-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

my left eye-lid peeled open at the touch of sunlight creeping in through the window of vern & jeff's 1974 winnebago, and i slowly rose, attempting to live every moment of the day for exactly what it was; nothing more, and definitely nothing less.

it was the day i would marry the girl of my dreams. so, i stepped out of the rv, overlooking our little camp-site, and enjoyed the ideal of a luxury hobo breakfast: campsite breakfast burritos.

from that camp-side breakfast, to hitting traffic on the way to the beach, to the first look i will never forgot, to the red velvet cupcakes, to the reception, to the midnight run to cvs in suit & dress to pick up a small fan, i enjoyed each bit. i savored each experience to anchor the weight of what would happen that day. i never wanted to forget, but more importantly, i wanted to live well that day.

and now that two years [and a day] have passed, i can tell you i have learned much. i have learned how much more i love my bride, than i ever thought i could. i have learned how much i don't have it all together. i have learned that i have much more to learn.

but, i have also found, with no excuse, that i have given myself license to shy away from the type of life that i embraced that day, two years and one day ago. so, today, i re-commit myself to you, carlie renee davis. i vow to love you, in the truest and the most artful sense; to accept you & to create passion. i vow to serve you & lead our family. and in it all, i vow to savor each moment, of each day, to anchor the blessing of our commitment two years ago. and when i fail [which i vow will be often], i pray for your forgiveness.

you take me back to myself. thank you. happy anniversary.

Laguna Beach Engagement Photography - Sarah and Jeremy

2009-07-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

but you're not even my boyfriend she exclaimed, quickly followed by the acceptance of his proposal.

as you might have guessed, sarah & jeremy's engagement was not of the traditional order of events; but then again, who said love has to be in order.

they met, dated, and broke-up. however, after the break-up, jeremy realized sarah was his soul mate, and pieced together his plan to propose. and, at the crescendo of the evening, jeremy dropped to one knee, sarah made the aforementioned remark, and then accepted his proposal.

sarah & jeremy's story is one that gives hope to true love; love that knows no boundaries. not to mention, sarah & jeremy are one of the raddest couples to grace the gabriel ryan photo blog.

sarah, thank you for saying yes. jeremy, thank you for being awesome. we can't wait for your wedding this fall...

side note: i just realized this is our 200th post. so, help us celebrate our bi-centnennial-ith post, and tell us what you think by dropping a comment below :)

Orange County Wedding Photography - Katie and Brandon

2009-07-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

that smile never left her face. from the moment carlie & i first stepped on the scene, to the grand exit down sparkler alley, katie's enthusiasm did not subside. though, i didn't expect much less. and without so much as a single word, katie's smile lit up whatever it touched. though, i didn't expect much less.

since their engagement shoot earlier this year, carlie & i have been blessed to get to know katie & brandon a bit more. and on their big day, we got to know their story even better, because not only got to spend a little more time with them, but with their family as well.

it is always our goal to fit in on the wedding day; to come off as old friends who just happen to show up with nice cameras. i have found that when carlie & i connect with our clients, and we have been so blessed with incredible clients, the wedding day seems to flow effortlessly. and, at katie & brandon's wedding, not only did we feel like old friends of katie & brandon, but of their family as well.

the love that brandon showed katie, the love that she showed him, and the love that everyone seemed to have for the both of them, was truly remarkable.

so, katie & brandon, thank you. enjoy your story. here it is...

Pinch

2009-07-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

i can only imagine...

life has already changed so much over the past few years, and even continues to currently, yet in 131 days life is sure to shift course once again.

...and i couldn't be more excited.

i pinched myself when carlie & i stepped into her doctor's office earlier today. i kept looking at each person in that office: the receptionist who processed our payment, the elderly woman reading her romance novel in the waiting room, the ultrasound tech that would show us the progress our son has made over the past 22 weeks. i kept looking at these people, and thinking,

don't you understand. don't you realize what's going down.

seriously! i mean... i know that women have been giving birth for thousands of years; that before pre-natal vitamins or la maz class were ever brought to the table, God has been making babies. i get it. i'm not the first father to hit the stage. but, seriously... don't you realize what's going down?!?!

i get to be a daddy. i get to be excited about first steps and going big potty all by himself. i get to teach him how to play catch and how to show mommy love. i get my surfing buddy.

i'm absolutely certain that none of this makes sense, and most of you are probably wondering what the heck i am rambling about. but, i guess i simply want to share how stoked i currently feel. for me, the near arrival of lincoln roe davis has sent me off the richter-scale in terms of the radness i feel.

i haven't even had the chance to look you in the eye or hold you yet [carlie still gets that role for the next few months], but i love you, lincoln.

p.s. thanks ashley & jeff for hanging out with carlie & i the other week. red velvet is my favorite, and the packaging was a nice touch :)

Bride and Bloom Wedding Photography - Gabriel Ryan In Print

2009-07-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

to get to do what i love, i am thankful. to be paid to do what i love, i am blessed. to be recognized for what i love, i pinch myself.

i think back to the days, not long ago, where the thought of creating a business that would add value to the lives of others, was simply a dream scribbled out on the back of a napkin. i think to those first few meetings at peets coffee, where i met some of the most incredible couples; couples that wanted to mark the start of their story together with something unique.

i like to think that much of the blessing bestowed upon carlie, me, and our business, has been the direct result of hard-work. i am a workaholic, and the feeling of achieving a certain level of creative productivity fuels my desire. but, at the end of the day, when i am honest with myself, i realize that i am just flat-out blessed to have come to know some awesome people. jasmine star and dane sanders, were two of the first, that made the effort to add real value to carlie & i, in this journey.

and because of a handful of these incredible people, for the first time since the birth of our studio, gabriel.ryan.photographers. has hit the news stands.

i believe it was late 2008 when carlie & i met the incredible wedding publicist, from inspired by this, leila khalil, and uber-fabulous event stylist, carissa jones, over coffee. their conversation engaged carlie & i, and really helped us dissect how we might better find our place in this whole wedding industry. so, girls... thank you.

so, without further adieu, i am more than stoked to share our most recent collaboration, which was featured in the summer 2009 issue of the bride & bloom.

for more photos, head over to carissa's blog.

and, lastly, thank you to all of the pros that helped rock out this shoot! we couldn't have done it without you:

melody from sweet and saucy shop
allison from invitation innovations
megan from classic party rentals, orange county
desiree from wildflower linens

The Awesome

2009-06-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

i'm not a big fan of teasers... but every once in a while, i am sorting through thousands of images from someone's special day, when a single image reaches out, grabs me by the back of the neck, and whispers into my ear "i am The Awesome."

the following was such an image.

now, back to work.

Orange County Engagement Photography - Noel and Brett

2009-06-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

stoked! stoked!! stoked!!!

i love my job, and i love noel & brett. noel & brett are the kind of laid-back, yet thoughtfully stylish kind of people i love to shoot. and though carlie & i already had the chance to meet noel last fall, at one of our favorite spots in the oc [the gypsy den @ the lab], we had yet to meet the man she fell in love with.

so, when we pulled back up to costa mesa for their engagement shoot, carlie & i were excited to get to know brett a little more. his calm demeanor seemed to bring out even more of noel's personality, and now it was obvious...

these two were meant for each other.

check it. engagement shoot complete, roof-tops and all.

my first car was a 1969 vw beetle...

...but not this one.

down for the cause.

San Diego Wedding Photography - Emily and Braden

2009-06-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

emily & braden exude my favorite adjective: intentional. every word, every touch, every detail, seems specifically chosen in context. and yet, they are not stuffy. in fact, emily & braden are... well... simply put... perfect.

they plan on-purpose, yet respond to the moment with true passion. their friends and family adore them, and strangers grow to love them, quickly becoming friends. and, in it all, they love story. as a gift that has passed back and forth during their dating & engagement days, emily & braden have archived their story in a journal; a journal that tells their story, from their heart.

when dealing with such intentional & passionate people, the pressure rises from within. i want nothing less than to honor emily & braden's story through the photos captured, and i pray that these images stamp their mark on this particular chapter.

emily & braden, you are now man & wife. and, carlie & i couldn't be more excited for the two of you.

The Icing in the Cake

2009-06-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

when you finish watching, make sure to go check out melody @ her sweet & saucy shop [your taste buds will be stoked you did]. thanks melody, for making the best red-velvet cake to ever cross the threshold of my face.

and jasmine, thanks a million for your friendship & for the occasional favor ;) and, though it has been stated a thousand times in countless other blogs & personal conversations, i can't help but say, you are fabulous.

and, of course, THE woman that lets me be me, and still chooses to stick around. carlie renee davis, you are it for me. i love you more than words... that's why i thought a video might work.

enjoy.

Orange County Engagement Photography - Jenelle & Byron

2009-06-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

they make a quaint little family: jenelle, byron, and blitz. so, when we pulled up to their home on that warm early-summer afternoon, carlie & i were excited to meet the whole family.

we had already met jenelle & byron, when they took the short trip to our home studio & client lounge in ladera ranch. but, as for blitz, we had only heard stories. and, after a brief introduction, inclusive of sporadic barking & sniffing, blitz welcomed carlie & i to capture a few frames of their quaint little family.

and though, blitz, you won't be joining us for the trip down to cabo next month, for jenelle & byron's destination wedding, you will be missed my friend. i'll make sure to have a margarita for you.

and now for the hotness, also known as jenelle & byron...

hops... imagine what he could do with some jordan's.

enjoy.the.story.

Mission San Juan Capistrano Engagement Photography - Megan and Dom

2009-05-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

mrs. tori sepulveda, my high school art teacher taught me the fine art of laying the foundation before creating a piece of art; the art of priming a canvas. rather than going to town on a stark white surface, she instructed us to throw down a quick wash of color. and for some reason, just that thin layer of paint & water was enough of a foundation to spring a complete, and eventually refined, work of art. and, in those rare spots, void of any further brush stroke, a little color would still show through.

quite like a canvas, i feel it is essential to first know my client's, before attempting to lay out their story in photographs. who are they? not just what do they do... where do they live... what are their occupations... when did they get engaged... those things are all important, but what is more important is who they are. what is there essence.

with great honor, i give you megan & dom. i have been fortunate enough to catch glimpses of their relationship since their introduction. in fact, megan, dom, and myself, all crossed paths at about the same intersection in our lives. and, i pinch myself to think, "what if i had known then..." what if i had known, that just a handful of years later, would megan & dom join their stories into one; their story.

megan & dom, carlie & i love you guys. and to everyone else, here they are: megan & dom.

Vintage Wedding Photography - Julie and Jeremy

2009-05-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

he smiled understandingly-much more than understandingly. it was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life.

although a quote from fitzgerald's "the great gatsby," it was also the way he smiled at her. it was the way he smiled, as he poetically articulated how he would lay down his life for his new bride. jeremy described julie as his "beginning," ushering in that quality of eternal reassurance.

the rest of the day overflowed with class. and, from the first part of the day, to the final toast, julie & jeremy's wedding overflowed with class. and, to no surprise, the elements were perfectly reflective of the early part of the 1900's and some of the couple's favorite works of literature, including "the great gatsby."

here are a handful of moments from julie & jeremy's story. you may notice that the images carry a bit of a different aroma than the standard gabriel.ryan. "look," as carlie took a bit of creative reign to continue the vintage feel of the grand occasion.

enjoy.their.story.

San Diego Wedding Photography - Kathryn and Pepper

2009-04-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

kathryn & pepper are HOT!!

i can't tell you how much fun we had at this particular wedding. from the 34,000 groomsmen, to the matching shades, to the sweetest family, to the dance floor, to the taco truck, to the custom-karaoke series of toasts, to the final song, seriously... kathryn & pepper rocked it out.

every story is unique, i believe, and kathryn & pepper's is proof. they met on the computer... but not on match.com, no, kathryn first "met" pepper while she was editing a video for the non-profit organization, invisible children. and as it would turn out, both kathryn & pepper would end up working on the same project, rosaline, and this small girl from Africa, thousands of miles away, would draw their stories together.

kathryn & pepper, thank you for blessing carlie & i. and thank you for the taco truck... seriously though, the taco truck was awesome ;)

enjoy.the.story.

Del Mar Engagement Photography - Dawn and Michael

2009-04-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

dawn and michael equal awesome.

just the other week, carlie & i had the incredible pleasure of taking an afternoon drive down the pacific coast, past the rolling hills of camp pendleton and the cliffs at san onofre, to san diego to hang with our new friends, dawn & michael.

upon arrival, carlie & i were stoked to hear that not only had dawn & michael done their r&d in regards to their wardrobe, but we would also be partaking in a little bit of photo espionage. the location: an exclusive resort tucked away yet somehow isolated from the hustle surrounding san diego.

we rolled up to the gate and when asked by the attendant as to our motives, we confidently shared that we were researching venues for dawn & michael's wedding...

success! the attendant allowed us entry, and the rest of the afternoon was a breeze. here's a bit from our time together...

San Diego Engagement Photographer - Emily and Braden

2009-04-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

dear God...

carlie & i have always both been curious at the oddity of starting a prayer in this manner. are we merely writing an oral letter to our Creator? or is it simply habit to transition into communication with Him?

whatever the reason, we realize that He is up to something. and whether your spiritual belief's align with ours, or not, i have a hunch that the art of story tugs at your heart strings like it does ours. it just so happens that our belief is one that our God is an artful story-teller, and intentional in his writings.

and, i know that emily & braden would agree. emily & braden are passionate people, who look back at the series of moments that have accumulated over the past few years, leading to this moment and time, and shake their heads in awe. emily & braden are thankful people, adventurous people, intentional people. thank you both, emily & braden, for the invitation to your story. we can't wait to see what God has in store...

in the mean time, here are some of the photographs we captured, with emily & braden.

San Diego Engagement Photography - Kathryn and Pepper

2009-03-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

i love when gabriel and i just click with our clients and we immediately turn into friends. it makes what gabriel and i do that much more amazing. kathryn and pepper just made us laugh so much. they are so in love and who doesn't love to photograph beautiful people in love.

kathryn and pepper showed us a little piece of their love story last week. we went to the harbor which is a special place for them and then pepper took us to his father's amazing sail boat. i dont think i had ever seen a sail boat so beautiful.

kathryn and pepper are getting married april 5th at balboa park in san diego. gabriel and i are so honored to photograph their special day. until then, i will leave with these... :)

Wedding Photography at The French Estate - Kathy and Gregg

2009-03-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

what can i say, but this... kathy & gregg are full of life.

the day of their wedding flowed seamlessly, from one moment to the next, and i know it's a tribute to what kathy & gregg value. the day of, when all the planning is behind you, when all the chairs are set, and the sun comes up on your wedding day, your values will come center stage.

those couples that are really clear on their values, on what they are about, are the one's whose weddings are truly remarkable. kathy & gregg are remarkable people, and their wedding reflected just that.

and of course, i must thank kerrie from platinum weddings, for ensuring all the details, including the chiavari chairs, were in order. and, thank you, kathy & gregg. from both carlie & i, thank you. your friendship is nothing but a blessing, and we pray these images can be even the slightest blessing in return :)

here are some wedding photos from their big day at the french estate in orange, california:

248 S Batavia St
Orange, CA 92868-3931
(714) 997-5038

J CREW Bride

2009-03-03T20:44:00.000-08:00

here are some of my favorite dresses for 2009!! that's it. :)

Ashley Rose

2009-02-26T01:38:00.000-08:00

today, vu bui, ashley rose, amy, ashley and myself (carlie) had some fun playing around with off camera flash. it's 2:00 am and i am incredibly tired, so i hope these photos will do. :)

Dance Carlie Dance Archives

2009-02-23T12:50:00.000-08:00

thanks to our friend kevin swan, this little gem was salvaged from the archives. in fact this footage is THE original dance-carlie-dance footage.

enjoy.

The Brides Maids

2009-02-20T16:34:00.000-08:00

i, carlie, have been wanting to do a post on this for a while. i love chatting with our brides about all things girlie.. the shoes, the flowers, the colors, the linens, the dress. but when it comes to bridesmaids dresses, the most common problem is that most brides dont want puffy sleeves and salmon color tutus. heellllooo, my favorite!!! just kidding! brides want something that is more fresh, chic, vintage, glamorous or whatever it is, just please no puffy 80's sleeves!!! so i wanted to share with you some dresses that i thought were very pretty. my hope is that you walk away with some inspiration and that you please throw away the cut out of the salmon colored tutu!

these beauties are from anthropologie.

and my favorite store for bridesmaids dresses is jcrew.

and a little sneak preview to my post on wedding dresses, my absolute favorite so far!!

Orange County Engagement Photographer - Katie and Brandon

2009-02-18T17:55:00.001-08:00

it was first over a cup of my favorite coffee, that we met katie & brandon. carlie & katie hit it off immediately, both holding a particular dress maker in high esteem, while brandon & i shared surf stories. it couldn't have been a better match.

and as their engagement winds down, drawing closer to the big wedding, katie & brandon, and carlie & i, stepped out on a wintry orange county day for their engagement shoot. although we had plans for a particular location, we immediately changed course as a light rain began to fall. to the east, the sky appeared ominously dark, and brandon claimed to have noticed a patch of sun shining over south county.

so, we jumped in brandon's fj, and made our way towards that patch of sun. the following good times were what followed...

thanks katie & brandon! we can't wait for your big day later this year... and we hope it isn't long before we have the opportunity to share life over pizza & beer like we did last sunday ;)

Jen Berry Photoshoot

2009-02-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

a couple weeks ago i (carlie) had the privilege to hang out with the amazing jen berry! this girl is seriously hilarious! she is so stinkin witty and sarcastic and i felt so at ease from the moment she walked in the door. i don't think i have laughed that much in a long time. i immediately felt like jen was a friend that i had known forever. actually i don't think i could keep my mouth shut cause i talked her head off the whole time. sorry jen. :( jen is also one of the most thoughtful and giving people i have ever met. about a week after our shoot i got a package on my doorstep. she had sent me two gorgeous bowls, some GR initial paperweights and a gift certificate to anthropologie. (i think she saw i was obsessed with that store when she walked into our home.) i couldn't believe it. she really knows how to make one feel appreciated and loved. i am so thankful that she contacted me to photograph her for her website and blog, for i have a one HOT new friend.

jen, thank you so much for hanging out with me for an afternoon. you are such a stud tromping through the fields with rattlesnakes, laying in the wet muddy grass, and climbing posts with barbed wire. :)

introducing the gorgeous jen.

Photographer FAQ - How to Win Friends and Party With People

2009-02-08T09:39:00.000-08:00

this morning, i got an email from a new friend of ours, sarah frenzel, and in her excitement regarding the up and coming wppi trade show, she noted "we'll catch up with you guys at WPPI. did you go last year? any tips for a newbie?"

what started as a quick response from the perspective of my opinion, really stopped me in my tracks and made me re-think the choices i made last year as a "newbie." and, in my humble opinion, whether you are a first year amateur (in the fast track photographer sense of the word) or a seasoned pro, we can all find value in asking ourselves a few questions to direct where we might spend our time & money.

if you are going to vegas, or any other work shop, or trade show for that matter:

do you want to come home with new contacts?
do you want to come home with new information?
do you want to come home with a new camera?
why are you taking the time to go?
what is it that you are hoping to receive from that investment?

if you know what you want to come home with, how to spend your time & money will become more clear. if you aren't clear on those things, it can become overwhelming pretty quickly, and other people will dictate where you should spend your time & money.

for carlie & i, at last year's show, we were most interested in meeting people who were starting out, just like us. so we spent our time talking to people, going to parties, having crepes & coffee with our new friends, and hanging out on the trade show floor. we also knew that we wanted to find a good deal on a rolling camera bag and a well balanced set of photoshop actions (having a "shopping list" before we got to vegas, saved us thousands of dollars no doubt). so, every category is fair game. just ask yourself, "why am i going? and what is it that i want?"

don't be afraid to be selfish, in a business sense. but also take the time to realize, that there are tens-of-thousands of other individuals, all rolling into vegas at the same time, who will be asking themselves the same questions and who are also looking out for number one. and since none of us live in a vacuum, my encouragement would be to see if you (and i) might be able to help a handful of folks leave vegas with what they were hoping to go home with... not necessarily out of any benefit to ourselves, but because you & i have a genuine interest in people.

i hope that helps.

Mammoth Men - Man-O-Gram

2009-02-05T09:14:00.000-08:00

in the early wintery months of 2008, eight celebrated, award-winning and downright awesome photographers from all over the country grabbed their snowboards to ride the mountains of mammoth, california. this marked the beginning of what is now known as…wait for it…the MAMMOTH MEN. what ensued during that getaway was a week filled with adventure, spontaneity, hijinks and storied tales. a bond was forged amongst these men and a commitment made to doing it again, and doing it often!

during the summer of 2008, the MAMMOTH MEN hit the road again. only this time, they loaded up 10 photographers in a prevost rock star tour bus, drove for five days up the california coast and shared it with everyone via their traffic happy blog. so much so that their blog readers actually got to choose their day-to-day adventures while watching them play out the next day. the blog following continued even after the west coast trip ended and garnered media attention in the blogosphere.

well, the guys are back for their much anticipated third installment of the MAMMOTH MEN. watch the mayhem unfold as these 12 photographers board their prevost and head into the american southwest to document their route 66 road-trip. packed with more guys, more miles and more camaraderie, it's not just a roadtrip...it's a lifestyle.

Mammoth Men 4 Trailer | The American Southwest from FRED EGAN on Vimeo.

Vintage Engagement Photography - Julie and Jeremy

2009-02-02T15:57:00.001-08:00

it was another day of editing photos, re-designing wedding books, and responding to emails, when i noted an inquiry from a newly engaged gentleman...

As for the conceptions we have of the wedding, we have gleaned a majority of them from the film (and the book?) The Great Gatsby. We think of phonographs, croquet, bronze cake pans in the shapes of fish, old glass globed ticker tape machines, champagne-colored vests, champagne glass pyramids and solid gold Cadillacs (not really).

those are the words of jeremy king. i can't tell you how excited carlie & i are after this last engagement shoot! julie & jeremy won our hearts immediately, in this first email.

their style matches our heart. and that makes our job much more enjoyable and much less of a job.

so, this past sunday, as we strolled through an open field, and found a quaint alcove of foliage, i felt taken back. it was as if my eyes were looking through filters of old film-grain and classic romanticism.

thank you julie & jeremy, for inviting us into your story. being english majors, graduates from uc berkley, we know you are as intoxicated with the idea of story as carlie & i, which makes your invitation that much more special.