San Francisco City Hall is just so breath-taking … if you are going the city hall route (which I *love* ! ) – this is definitely the place to be! They were able to get married in the rotunda area and spend lots of time roaming the building taking pictures afterwards… it was a really fun and inspiring morning and I was honored to have been there to share it with them!

Unseasonably warm days in January confuse me. When the leaves change and the temperatures drop my first inclination is to hibernate- to pull the shades closed and focus on my future. I make lists, I clean closets and drawers, I organize both my things and my thoughts and I start to feel rejuvenated and the energy that I expended so forcefully all wedding season slowly comes back to me ready to take on another year. But it’s been warm here .. and sunny and that has been infuriating me. How can I be expected to get any reflection done when it’s 70 degrees and beautiful out? I don’t want to reflect on life when it’s beautiful out- I just want to live it!

So finally! Rain! Reflection!

Here’s to those closets that need cleaning, the drawers that need arranging, and the thoughts and things that need organizing! Decide what to be and go be it.

xoxo

a drop in the ocean | a change in the weather | i was praying that you and me might end up together

Ron Pope

Melody and Steve tied the knot last summer at The Fairmont in downtown San Jose and were such a joy to work with. Coordinated by Irene Ibidapo, despite the crazy jazz festival going on outside, this day went off without a hitch! Jessica at Love Spun whipped up some amazing video footage and Amy from Amy Burke Designs designed some gorgeous orchid arrangements for both the ceremony and the beautiful ballroom. I’m not gonna lie …. it was nice to shoot so close to home! Only about a 10 minute commute

Onward!

Flowers : Studio Choo | Cake : Fox and Fawn | From a vingette styled by Esla Events | Confetti Banner : Everylane

the stars gleam | the poets dream | the eagles fly

Without you..

the earth turns | the sun burns | but I die

Without you..

One of my favorites images I’ve ever taken. I shoot the majority of weddings on my 50 1.2 but occasionally throwing on the 35mm pays off. The bridesmaid loosing it on the right completes this moment and I could never have seen it from that distance with my 50mm. A reminder not to get too comfortable!

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with The Holly Farm.

Coming from all over the world, Martin, Kelly, and their families all met up in sunny Carmel to celebrate their marriage destination style. I’ve written about The Holly Farm many times before but I have a hard time not continuing to rave about it. The property is nestled in the hills of the Carmel Valley and is truly a hidden oasis… By the time I arrive for the wedding on Saturday afternoon guests have already been on the property for a few days and have always made themselves comfortable in the adorable little bungalows.. playing bocce ball or horse shoes on the lawn or smoking cigars in the garden… employees follow you around, raking meticulous circles and figure 8’s into the crushed granite (or something like that … I know for sure that is isn’t sand because I made that mistake once ) and even though you know behind the scenes people are bustling around to make everything about the days event perfect, every encounter is met with a smile.

Martin and Kelly couldn’t have fit into the Holly Farm vibe any better. Their laid-back style and ease was intoxicating to be around and the amount of laughter and shared glances these two shared throughout the day just melted my heart.

A lot of times, when I am booking clients, I hear people tell me that it’s my candids that really draw them into my work. I am sneaky like a ninja (did I just say that? yes. yes I did) … and over the years have learned just the right moment to click my shutter (some call it intuition) but I have a hard time being critical or praising my own images. Usually when clients tell me what they love about my work, I just smile and say, “Thank You..” but in looking through Martin and Kelly’s images I was really struck by the many candids I managed to catch this day. You see, for me, weddings aren’t just about the bride and groom. Of course, they are the stars… but what I truly love about weddings is the sometimes once in a lifetime opportunity to have all of the people who you love the most and who love you together in one place. It’s so important for me to turn my camera on them and document their presence just as much as it’s important for me to capture that first kiss.

It was such a pleasure to have documented not only Martin and Kelly’s love but all the love that surrounded them that day…isn’t love really all we need?

Onward!

DJ-  Antonio Diaz/Soundshine Entertainment

Floral- Kate Healey/Big Sur Flowers

Dessert-  Freeport Bakery

]]> http://megperotti.com/blog/engagement-session-wrap-up-2011/feed/ 3 http://megperotti.com/blog/flashback-friday-images-from-the-archives/ http://megperotti.com/blog/flashback-friday-images-from-the-archives/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:56:46 +0000 admin http://megperotti.com/blog/?p=10959 Melody + Steve