215
July 20, 2011
If I had to sum up Hillary and Ken's wedding day in one word it would be celebration. Both Hillary and Ken are incredibly full of life and love exploring the world together. They both share the same outgoing personality that could make life long friends of strangers in seconds. For their wedding, they invited their guests to join them just outside of Yosemite at Evergreen Lodge. Of course, knowing full well that many of their guests would be traveling a great distance to be with them, they planned on spending almost five days together with their guests.
Hillary and Ken expressed to me how great it was to do this. Instead of being rushed to see their loved ones, they got to go on relaxing hikes together and wild whitewater rafting trips. So when their wedding day came, it was not the time to say hello to each guest as they arrived for the first time; it was the time to celebrate and send off Hillary and Ken on the next stage of their lives.
We planned their wedding day with plenty of time for photography and relaxation. Originally we hoped to go into Yosemite Valley for dramatic photographs of Hillary and Ken in the park. But on the day of their wedding we collectively decided to head over to Hetch Hetchy to avoid the extreme traffic and congestion of Yosemite Valley. That simple decision alone not only provided us with options that we never would have found in Yosemite Valley (including making one my favorite wedding photograph possible), but also removed the stress of the crowds flocking to the valley. We returned from our trip to Hetch Hetchy with a few hours to spare before the ceremony so that they would have plenty of time to relax.
The ceremony was just a short walk from the Evergreen Lodge, along a little trail that opened up into a beautiful meadow. It was there, under the homemade Chuppah that Hillary and Ken exchanged their vows. The ceremony was led by Ken's uncle Jack which brought a personal touch and intimacy to the wedding that would be impossible to find anyplace else.
The reception was in an outdoor courtyard in the middle of Evergreen Lodge. The weather was perfect as everyone gather to enjoy cocktails and appetizers under the pines. Once Hillary and Ken joined their guests for the reception, the party took on a new life. Their energy and excitement carried the celebration. Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner outside in the warm glow of the evening twilight.
Hillary and Ken expressed to me how great it was to do this. Instead of being rushed to see their loved ones, they got to go on relaxing hikes together and wild whitewater rafting trips. So when their wedding day came, it was not the time to say hello to each guest as they arrived for the first time; it was the time to celebrate and send off Hillary and Ken on the next stage of their lives.
We planned their wedding day with plenty of time for photography and relaxation. Originally we hoped to go into Yosemite Valley for dramatic photographs of Hillary and Ken in the park. But on the day of their wedding we collectively decided to head over to Hetch Hetchy to avoid the extreme traffic and congestion of Yosemite Valley. That simple decision alone not only provided us with options that we never would have found in Yosemite Valley (including making one my favorite wedding photograph possible), but also removed the stress of the crowds flocking to the valley. We returned from our trip to Hetch Hetchy with a few hours to spare before the ceremony so that they would have plenty of time to relax.
The ceremony was just a short walk from the Evergreen Lodge, along a little trail that opened up into a beautiful meadow. It was there, under the homemade Chuppah that Hillary and Ken exchanged their vows. The ceremony was led by Ken's uncle Jack which brought a personal touch and intimacy to the wedding that would be impossible to find anyplace else.
The reception was in an outdoor courtyard in the middle of Evergreen Lodge. The weather was perfect as everyone gather to enjoy cocktails and appetizers under the pines. Once Hillary and Ken joined their guests for the reception, the party took on a new life. Their energy and excitement carried the celebration. Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner outside in the warm glow of the evening twilight.
Hillary and Ken started their first dance slowly and romantically with Jason Mraz's "Lucky" but that didn't last long. After a few seconds of traditional slow dance, the music cut straight into House of Pain "Jump Around" with Hillary and Ken whipping everyone into a frenzy that lasted all night long. In a short word, these people know how to party.
Of course every wedding has it's unique moments, something special that I have never really seen before. Evergreen Lodge is a beautiful outdoor venue for a wedding, complete with lots of places for your guests to stay on the property. But that also means there is plenty of places for tourists and other non-wedding guests to stay. So when the dance floor got moving, it was infections. So much so that other guests of the Lodge created their own dance floor just outside of the wedding area to get down. In a moment of pure celebration, Hillary left her own wedding to dance with strangers she had never met, many that traveled from around the world. The spirit of love and joy was beautiful.
Later on in the evening, the party moved indoors into the Tavern. With it's low ceilings and authentic 1920's feel (it actually was built int he 1920's and hasn't changed much) it had the perfect vibe for an after party. Every squeezed into the dance floor refusing to let the wedding party end.
Ceremony and Reception: Evergreen Lodge
Music and DJ: Spinheads
Ceremony and Reception: Evergreen Lodge
Music and DJ: Spinheads
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213
July 15, 2011
These days the majority of my work is in the Yosemite area. It's a beautiful place that always offers something new each and every day, but it is always invigorating to work in new places. New things to see, new places to experience, new stories to tell.
On a recent trip to Los Angeles with my family, we suddenly found ourselves away for longer than we had originally planned. I had already photographed one dramatic engagement session in at a place I grew up surfing and I wanted to squeeze in one more. With one last minute phone call to Nicole and Jason, who live nearby and are getting married in Yosemite this October, we had everything set up.
Nicole and Jason joined Katie and myself at Abalone Cove in Palos Verdes for an afternoon engagement session. It was a place that Katie and I have ben to many time to enjoy the sunset and hike at the edge of the ocean. Even though they had never been here before, Nicole and Jason looked instantly at home. They are both outdoor athletes, so they fit in perfectly with the hiking and the ocean, but more than that they were with each other. For them it was another new adventure to share together on the road of life.
The entire beach was swallowed in a dramatic light and the dualism of life.The sun beat down on us, but the cool ocean water was refreshing. Crabs ran around our feet as waves crashed into the rocks covering us in a salty spray. There is something magical about the place were land and ocean meet. As I was the one in control of everything, I made sure that we all got to spend some time in the ocean, because how can you not?
The whole time we were there really felt much more like a trip to the beach with friends rather than work. Nicole and Jason are so playful and loving that they made me job ridiculously easy. For me it was something special to be able to create art at these tide pools, a place that I have been enjoying for years.
Comments
Jason says:
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Patrick,
These pictures are amazing..... more spectacular than I could have imagined. And the photo shoot was so much fun. You are so right, the shoot was much more like friends hanging out! And Katie is so much fun to be around. You are both wonderful! Thanks for everything.
Nicole Vandevelde says:
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Patrick!! Thank you so much! We love your vision and style. And we had the best time with you and Katie! Can't wait for the wedding in a few months.
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214
July 13, 2011
James is the father of two beautiful girls and husband to his wonderful wife Kristen. He also is a top-notch photographer that I have been lucky enough to rope him into photographing weddings with me. I have had the pleasure of working with James over the past few years on many weddings throughout California. Some of you may even recognize him from your wedding.We've gotten to know the Steed's quite well over the past few years. They are such a beautifully humble family. They are incredibly patient and loving; models of how family members should interact with one another.
It was almost a year ago when my wife Katie was helping to organize a fundraiser for our local preschool. Katie was in charge of finding items for a (very successful) silent auction and convinced James to offer a family portrait session as a donation. Sure enough, with the opportunity in front of me, I made sure I was the high bidder for the session.
Of course, winning the session and scheduling the session are two different things. It was something we knew that we wanted and needed to do, but we never made time for it. There always seemed to be something stopping us. Until two days ago. Two days ago Katie and I looked at each other and knew that we needed to make it happen. With a quick phone call to James to check his schedule, we had been given the green light.
Tonight James and his family took us out to a little spot nearby our houses for a quick session. We actually took turns photographing each others family. We both know the incredible importance of professional family photography and realize the need to have talent on the other side of the camera to make it happen. I also noticed very quickly that my own children responded very differently to James when he was photographing them then they ever do when I photograph them. It worked out perfectly and it's something that I hope we can continue to do again and again in the future.
Make sure you check out James' site too!
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212
July 8, 2011
I love meeting new people. The simple fact that my work constantly brings new friends into my life makes my day. I love to hear their stories, to see them together, to relax and share a laugh. So when Ida called me at the last minute to see if Katie and I could join her and Elijah for wine tasting at the Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, I just knew I had to make it work.
A quick check of the calendar revealed that we could escape for a short overnight trip. Katie quickly packed an overnight bag while I gathered our camera equipment. Minutes later we were in the car, headed for an overnight trip to Napa Valley.
The next morning when Katie and I arrived at the Castelo di Amorosa winery we were blown away by its presence. Standing at the top of the hill, nestled between vines and trees, it stood as a sign of both power and a place of retreat.
We joined Ida and Elijah for a tour of the castle and the winemaking process. The level of detail and artistry here is amazing. The castle was designed to be an authentic Italian castle (complete with dungeon and torture chamber) and even featured various elements of construction, as if it was built piece by piece over serval decades. The four of us took it in through eyes of wonder. The castle is truly a beautiful place.
As the tour concluded, we gathered at a table to sample the castle's wines. As glasses were poured, we talked more and shared stories learning how similar we all are. It is wonderful to hear how two people meet and fall in love, to talk with them about the important things in their lives, and their plans for the future. Ida and Elijah are such sweet and beautiful people wrapped up in love. It also didn't hurt that we were enjoying some very tasty wine. Of course if you're reading this, I brought some back, so make sure you stop my my studio to share some with me!
When the time came, we walked together up and out of the castle into the midday sun. As I grabbed my camera, I realized it was one of the first days this year that I have been outside and really felt hot. Somehow, for Ida and Elijah it didn't seem to matter. Their enthusiasm and love for each other was so real and honest that the photographs just started to flow. I could tell that they were a little bit nervous, but really love does conquer all. They have this amazing passion that pulls them together, but it is tempered with humility.
I do wish that I could have taken more photographs of Ida and Elijah inside of the castle, but we could not disturb the tours that were constantly exploring the castle (plus we didn't want to get lost in the dungeon). The staff at Castello di Amorosa was incredibly gracious with us, and gave us as much freedom as possible to work within the castle and the surrounding area.
What had started out as just an engagement session turned into so much more. Katie and I were able to take a mini-vacation by ourselves for a night; we sipped fine wines and dined on delicious food. And to top it all off, we were able to make two new friends. I can't tell you how much we needed that.
It's going to be a while before we see Ida and Elijah again. Their wedding will be this November in Lake Tahoe. Of course, I am hoping that they make it up to Yosemite to come visit before then; November is just too far away!
Comments
Ida says:
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thank you so much Patrick! You certainly delivered, and the photographs are a true testament to your mastery behind the lens. Of course, I cannot forget Katie, as she definitely had her share in all of this, too! I'm sure sometime in the middle of that sweltering heat, you both wished you hadn’t traded swimming lessons for Napa ;-) We hope to see you both soon, and are actually planning a trip up on the 19th!
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211
July 1, 2011
In just a few months, Jessica and Ricky will marry in a church in Fresno. They have family in that area, but they currently live in Southern California. Right now they are in the midst of the last bit of wedding planning, working out the details and ensuring the day will be just right for everyone. But before that September day can come, Jessica and Ricky really wanted to meet up with me for an engagement session.
They knew they wanted to have an engagement session, but they did not have a strong preference as to where or what we did to create the photographs. They trusted me. Since I was given complete creative freedom I planned to take us to one of my favorite places on earth; the ocean. We headed to a place that I have spent countless hours and days, the rugged coastline of Palos Verdes with it's sharp contrast between land and water.
Jessica and Ricky have an incredible passion about them that I wanted to capture in these photographs. They share a healthy relationship of give and take, a relationship that is built in strength. As we went along, they held onto each other not as a couple that has been together for fifty years, but as that couple fifty years earlier; looking forward to sharing every moment of life's adventures and joys.
Hiking the rugged coastline of Palos Verdes is not the easiest thing; loose rocks litter steep, narrow goat trails above the ocean below. Together Jessica and Ricky climbed up and down as if they had been doing it all of their lives. We visited some incredibly beautiful places together in a day that I am sure they will never forget. This session held a special importance to me as well, we visited many of the areas that I spent exploring and surfing throughout my early life. The interplay between land, sky, and water is always humbling to me; the smell of salt in the air, the spray of water from waves crashing onto rocks, the ocean teeming with life all remind us how blessed we are in life. Even more than that, Jessica and Ricky have found each other in the midst of all of this.
Comments
Jennifer Movey says:
Saturday, July 2, 2011
WOW! Beautiful pictures! We would like a copy of each please! Great job!!!!!
Tony Eng says:
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Congrats again!! The pictures came out really nice and you both look so happy...Best wishes to you guys.
Sarah says:
Monday, July 11, 2011
I love the first one - such lovely silhouettes!
Jessica says:
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Patrick! Thank you for picking out an awesome spot in beautiful Rancho Palos Verdes. We had a really great time, one which we will remember for many years to come. Your love and passion to capture life in a photo lens is evident and amazing. We get positive responses whenever we show these pictures to family and friends. We look forward to having you with us on our wedding day. Much Thanks!!!
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Love the last shot! Where was this taken?
Thanks Sarah! It was in Hetch Hetchy in the tunnel on the way to Wapama Falls.
Thanks Patrick, these are amazing! I would highly recommend you to anyone looking for a great wedding photographer!!
Wow! These are incredible. I love how Hillary and Ken's fun-loving spirits show through. The intimacy of the ceremony was beautifully captured, as well. Can't wait to see more!