The Hidden Name

A tradition with South East Asian weddings is for the groom’s name to be hidden somewhere in the beautiful and intricate henna work the bride wears.  The groom should find it sometime during the evening.

The groom’s name is hidden in the henna.

This particular photograph came about as the bride and groom were talking during a break in the reception.  As they were talking, he smiled, she extended her hand and he started to look and point.  I was close by – as I always am close by the couple – and captured this.

The Look of Love

Here’s another of my “Best Shots”.  This one is from an engagement session and simply captures the “look of love”.

The Look of Love

After photographing in several locations throughout Houston, this shot came through.  I try to not “over pose”, so I just position people and let them get comfortable and interact.  I had just taken another shot with both looking at me when he naturally glanced at her.  This is the result – even the stray hair is just perfect!

South Beach

There are very few places like South Beach in Miami Beach, FL.  Here’s a photo from one of my visits.  Enjoy and have a GREAT 2014.

South Beach’s Art Deco District, Miami Beach, FL

It’s Not Winter Everywhere

Just to remind you that it’s not winter everywhere, here’s a photo from a wedding in Cabo San Luca. Yes, if you want to get married in a warmer climate, simply do so! Vivien and David sure did and I enjoyed capturing their wonderful event – and all the fun that comes from drinking mojitos with the wedding party in the pool!

Cabo San Luca wedding

This was a post wedding photo session – something that I encourage during destination weddings. If you’re looking for a top-class photographer for your wedding in NYC, certainly check out Olga Topchii’s body of work; it’s sure to impress – www.olgatopchii.com. We had agreed to get up early the day after and do some shots on the beach. Needless to say the celebration lingered on and the “early” wasn’t as early as we originally planned. In hindsight, it was probably a good thing as the morning was a bit “foggy” (the weather, that is!)

Beautiful light coming from the side lights up the groom in half shadows while turning her face into the sun gives us a profile and nice even light.

Elissa and Justin

So, here’s a recent wedding for your pleasure.  Elissa and Justin are friends who contacted me about their wedding – they are fun.  They are genuine.  They are a beautiful couple.  I knew this was going to be a great event – out in Columbus, TX, at his parents’ country retreat.  They didn’t disappoint me!

Merry Christmas

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday surrounded by family and friends and may 2014 be an amazing year!

Here’s a photograph from a trip to New York City.

Rings

Here’s another in the “Best Shots” series.  Rings.

Beautiful way to capture the wedding rings

I’m always looking for ways to photograph the rings and try to place them in a way or location that has special meaning to the couple.  In this particular case, this was a beautiful outdoor event outside of Dallas, TX, and the bride and her friends had made all the decorations – including the table pieces.  I decided to place the rings on one of the table pieces that was at an outdoor cocktail table and shoot it.  I was looking at the simplicity, the colors, the way the rings stood out.

While this is a digital image, I also shot some film at this wedding – experimenting with a medium format Mamiya.  I no longer have that camera but still do offer film using Contax and Canon film cameras.

Thoughtful Bride

Continuing with the “Best Shots” series, here is one from my very first South East Asian wedding back in 2005.

Thoughtful bride

To say this was an overwhelming experience to be cast into would be an understatement.  I had prepared myself by researching as much as I could and talking with some friends who specialized in these events.  I loved it and loved this photograph of the beautiful bride during a thoughtful moment.  This was taken during the ceremony with my 70-200 f/2.8 L IS lens and Canon Digital Rebel – long since retired.  Come to think of it, that was five generations of cameras ago – Canon Digital Rebel ->  Canon 20D -> Canon 5D -> Canon 5D Mark II -> Canon 5D Mark III.

Many years later and several dozen South East Asian weddings later, I am still mesmerized at the beauty, pageantry, and customs of them.

Look at that artwork!

Let’s start a new series.  I’m going to call this “Best Shots” and it’ll feature some of my favorite photos along with the story being it.  So, let’s start off with this one.

Look at that amazing henna work!

This particular photo was taken as the little girl was mesmerized at the incredible henna work was being applied.   I was moving around looking for the best light and angle that would capture not only the design but also the texture as it is freshly applied.  As I positioned myself, I noticed she was not only watching the beautiful work, but she was also watching what I was doing.  I waited patiently to get the right expression and this is the result of that.

Henna work is by the Original Henna Company.

Welcoming back an old friend…

…yes, I am starting up the blog again.  That’s right, stop by to see some of my favorite images and stories brought back for you to enjoy.

The blog will be dedicated to all my photography work.  You’ll, of course, see some of my favorite images from weddings and portrait sessions, but you’ll also see some of my other personal work.

By doing this, I hope to give you a better glance of how I see the world.

I’ll start it with a photograph I recently printed so I can have it framed and displayed.  It was shot from a small balcony at an art gallery (Espacio Rojo) in Valparaiso, Chile, during a recent trip there.

The view from the small balcony at Espacio Rojo, a beautiful little art gallery in Valparaiso, Chile.