The Wedding Moment I love (and why pre-ceremony photographs are so great)

I thought I would share this moment I’ve seen happen at my recent weddings.  It’s totally cool, totally fun and a perfect way to send the couple down the isle.  No real way to plan for it but I think its a moment that every bride and groom would remember as one of the hight points of the day.  This happens when the formal photos are done  and the bridal party is gathered in what every room they got ready in. The energy in the room is great, everyone is relaxed and excited and the bride and groom feel so supported.  Just naturally some form of group huddle takes place.  This is a perfect time for a toast, like what happened here:

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And if there are no drinks handy, then the spontaneity still takes over:

 

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Point is, that these are awesome moments that I wish every bride and groom could experience.  Interesting thing is that I’ve only seen these happen when the first look and the formal photographs are done before the ceremony.  Something about being together and taking the photos breaks the nervous energy of the day, allowing people to connect and really be with each other.  This is one of the reasons that I suggest doing the formal wedding photographs before the ceremony.  It just sets up the day for an even greater number of amazing moments.

I know this doesn’t go over with everyone so let me know what you think in the comments below.

San Francisco City Hall Wedding – Marichris and Patrick

Marichris and Patrick had an amazing wedding at San Francisco’s Hall.  Most of the time I photograph the bride and groom at City Hall and then maybe at a few locations afterwards.  This time I met them at the San Francisco Marriott and we go all the getting ready photographs that usually come with a larger wedding.  Have to say it made for a great time.  Marichris got even more beautiful as she progressed through the getting ready process and it’s always fun to see a groom go through the various stages of nervousness, pride and excitement.  Their room had a deck with an amazing view and that made for a perfect first look location.  Then we took a limo to City Hall and there, their family trickled in until we filled the entire hallway.  Never had seen quite so many people there.  The wedding went well and the photos were just beautiful.  San Francisco’s City Hall is always amazing and is a great place for photographs.

Best of Luck Marichris and Patrick.  You are going to have quite the amazing year.

Beautiful bride at the San Francisco Marriott

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Smiling bride getting ready for San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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Sexy Shoes at San Francisco Marriott

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Smiling Groom at San Francisco Marriott

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Groom waiting for Bride at San Francisco Marriott

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Bride seeing groom before wedding at San Francisco Marriott

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Bride and Groom hugging at San Francisco Marriott

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Bride and groom kissing at San Francisco Marriott

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Bride and Groom in limo on their way to San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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San Francisco City hall

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Bride and groom sitting in rotunda at San Francisco City Hall

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Groom getting nervous at at San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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Bride and Groom at San Francisco City Hall wedding

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Marriage in Rotunda at San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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Bride and groom kissing at San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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Bride and Groom walking in San Francisco City Hall

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Bride and Groom celebrating their wedding in San Francisco City Hall

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Sexy moment at San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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A big family at a San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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Bride and her girls at San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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Groom celebrating the wedding Day at San Francisco's City Hall

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Redwood City Wedding – Leigh Anne and John

This summer I spent a wonderful day in July photographing Leigh Anne and John as they were married (after a short courtship of 18 years) at fabulous backyard wedding ceremony in Redwood City (about 20 miles south of San Francisco if you don’t know).  Leigh Anne wore a beautiful vintage dress and John had a jacket enough details to make any bride jealous.  The ceremony took place in a friend’s back yard.  The ceremony was short and sweet and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the passing of the whisky bowl.  The grandparents had no problem of course of one and the whiskey flowed.  But the moment of the day was seeing a young lady’s (maybe about 13) face contort as she sipped from the whiskey bowl and felt the burn of the fiery liquid.  Lots of laugh and made the afternoon.

The reception as at the beautiful San Mateo History Museum in downtown Redwood City.  Definitely a place worth checking out if you haven’t been there yet.  The rotunda made a great place for the reception and dancing.  And the museum exhibits were a blast to explore.  The highlight of the evening was a wonderful show put on by Leigh Anne’s belly dancing troupe.  Leigh Anne told me about it and I figured it was just a few ladies doing something for fun.  Well there was definitely a few ladies and they were definitely having fun but wow they were way more amazing then I expected.  It was a show at a level well above anything I expected.  Pretty amazing and so much fun to watch.

All in all, a great day.  Congrats Leigh Anne and John and best wishes in the next 18 years.

Bride's Vintage dress and hair piece at Redwood City Wedding

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Brides Henna Tatoos and Vintage Dress at Redwood City Wedding

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Bride smiling in backyard wedding in Redwood City

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Bride and Groom holding hands in Backyard wedding in Redwood City

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Bride and Grandmother drinking whiskey at back yard wedding in Redwood City

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Grandfather drinking at Redwood City Wedding

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Girl drinking whiskey at Redwood City Wedding

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Whiskey was a bit much for girl at Redwood City Wedding

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Bride and Groom leaving their Redwood City Wedding

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Family wearing Colander hats at Redwood City Wedding

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Table assignments at San Mateo Historical Museum wedding

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San Mateo Historical Museum's Rotunda

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guest gifts at at San Mateo Historical Museum wedding

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Family in jury's box at San Mateo Historical Museum Wedding

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Bride and Groom cutting 5 tier cake at San Mateo historical Museum Wedding

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Bride and Groom kissing at San Mateo Historical Museum Wedding

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Bride getting ready for bouquet toss at San Mateo Historical Museum Wedding

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The girl who caught the bouquet at San Mateo Historical Society Museum Wedding

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First Dance at San Mateo Historical Musem Wedding

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First Dance in Rotunda at San Mateo Historical Museum Wedding

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Belly Dancer at San Mateo Historical Museum Wedding

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Belly dancers at redwood city wedding

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Belly Dancing in Rotunda at San Mateo Historical Museum

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Bride belly dancing in vintage dress in San Mateo Historical Museum wedding

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Movie Placard for wedding in Redwood City

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What should we name their wedding movie?

Leigh Anne and John had one of the most fun weddings I had ever been to. A simple, sweet backyard complete with whiskey for everyone followed up by great food and dancing at the San Mateo Historical Museum in Redwood City (just south of San Francisco if you don’t know). Then when I didn’t think it could get any better, an amazing belly dancing troupe enchanted the crowd with moves that are simply beyond words.

And now I need your help. With the magic of photoshop, we can make the Fox theater (which is right across the street from the museum), announce Leigh Anne and John’s movie. I’m looking for suggestions for the movie. Leave your suggestion(s) in the comments below. The winning title will be immortalized in the wedding photo.

What should we name Leigh Anne and John's wedding movie?

What should we name Leigh Anne and John's wedding movie?

San Francisco Wedding Celebration for Kat and Wency

Last month I met Kat and Wency in San Francisco’s Alamo Square for a wedding day photo session.  They got married at City Hall and wanted to celebrate that occasion with a photo shoot in Alamo Square and the lower haight.  I’d have to believe that San Francisco is one of the few places on Earth where you can get amazing skyline photographs and then walk a few blocks to get shots with a 10 foot tall psycho pink bunny.  We had a great time and got some seriously memorable photographs.

This month I joined them for a wedding celebration at Rouge on Polk Street with a hundred or so of their family members and close friends.  No psycho pink bunnies but there were great tacos from Nick’s Crispy Tacos and an amazing tower of cupcakes from the San Francisco Cup Cake Artists at That Takes the Cake.  Kat and Wency were in fine form and I have to say I loved seeing that they made t-shirts with photos from our earlier session.  There was a video with more then a few embarrassing moments and since Wency has trouble growing a mustache, the celebrated the hairy lip with chocolate mustaches and a game to guess historical figures that sported stashes.  But I think the highlight of the night was Kat singing her vows to Wency a-cappella.

Please join me in extending congrats to Kat and Wency for their fabulous and heart-felt wedding celebration.

Here are a few of my favorites.  Please leave a comment if you are so moved.  That makes them happy.

Wedding couple in Alamo square with parasol

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vintage wedding couple kissing at alamo square in San Francisco

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vintage wedding couple kissing in front of pink bunny in San Francisco's Lower Haight

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vintage brideposing in front of pink bunny in San Francisco's Lower Haight

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bride and groom kissing at shoe garden in San Francisco's Alamo Square

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Man with sticky on his back at wedding reception at Rouge in San Francisco

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boy with paper mustache at wedding reception at Rouge in San Francisco

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Bride and auntie at wedding party at wedding reception in San Francisco

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girl eating cupcake in front of cupcake tower at San Francisco wedding reception

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Boy and Girl dancing at wedding reception in San Francisco at Rouge

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Bride reciting vows at San Francisco wedding reception at Rouge nightclub

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groom kissing bride in t-shirts at San Francisco wedding reception at Rouge nightclub

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wedding couple with t-shirts from engagement session at San Francisco wedding reception at Rouge nightclub

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If a wedding is in your future (or someone’s that you know), I would love to talk with you.  I love to work with fun loving people that want a photographer to capture the beauty and soul of the day.

Reach me here.

Marin Center for the Arts Wedding – Melissa and Cappy

Last month, I had the great joy of photographing Melissa and Cappy at their fabulous wedding in Marin. They chose the Marin Center for the Arts (just north of San Francisco in the Marin Headlands) for their ceremony and it was spectacular. Just a perfect location for photographs, the ceremony and the celebration. I met Melissa a few hours early as she and her girls got ready. Bara K. did an awesome job with Melissa’s hair and make up and we had a great time. I loved Melissa’s rustic elegance for decorations with chalk boards directing everyone and the rocks for table settings. They were perfect choices to highlight the beauty of the Center. I loved when they saw each other for the first time. They both were so giddy with excitement as Melissa walked towards Cappy. That first hug is always a great moment. We had a bit of rain during the family and bridal party shots but that actually worked for the better as it forced us inside where we go some really great group shots. My favorite moment of the night was the impromptu toast that the bridal party did for Melissa and Cappy right before the ceremony. There was so much love and support in that room that it set the stage for a great night. The ceremony was sweet and fun – complete with a dog-delivery for the rings. Katie Powers Catering continued the rustic theme with a platters upon platters of amazing dishes served family style.   But a bear stole the show – Cappy’s men hired the Cal bear to make an appearance and the room exploded when he walked in an shared more then a few beers with the party.  The night ended with lots of dancing and laughs and minus a few shuttle bus technicalities it was a great evening.

Thank you so much Melissa and Cappy for a night full of love, friendship and fun.

 

 

A few of my favorites. Your vote gets them an additional print of the most popular.

Bride Laughing at the Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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Bride and Groom's first look at Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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Bride and groom walking at the Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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Bridal Party - Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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Bridal Party Toast - Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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Wedding rings - Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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Wedding Ceremony at Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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Bride and Groom celebrating at Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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Fire truck at wedding at Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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Goodnight kiss at Marin Center for the Arts - San Francisco Wedding

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San Francisco Wedding – Alysse and Cody

I wrote about Alysse and Cody’s beautiful San Francisco engagement session a couple months back. That was a wonderful day so I knew that their wedding was going to be just gorgeous and it was. I met Alysse in Sausalito as she got ready with her mom, sisters and her best friends. Tara Brooks did a fabulous job with Alysse’s makeup and the room was alive with the joy and laughter of the bridesmaids getting ready.  We drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and out to Sutro Heights Park.  I’ve blogged about the beauty of Sutro Heights Park so I was really excited about the wedding.  It was a beautiful, if windy day and Cody and the crew did a great job of setting up the chairs and decorations.  They were planning for a short wedding but had a ton of family photos so we decided to do all the photographs ahead of time.  That plan worked out great.  They saw each other for first time along a nice wooded path and we played around the Sutro Heights Gazebo.  After a series of family shots we all went up to the buttress for drinks and cocktails.  Loved this schedule because it allowed everyone to relax and really enjoy the day.  At some point, the guests took their seats and the ceremony began.  Alysse was nothing but big smiles and she and her friends did a “Friends Forever” cheer just before she walked down the aisle.  I have to say, more then anything else, friendship was so present on that day.  They both clearly had strong friendships with many, many people and that made the day a perfect celebration.

Congrats Alysse and Cody – good luck in your new life together and thanks for letting me be apart of your special day.

 

And here are my favorites. Please vote on your favorite of these. They get an additional print of the most popular.

Wedding dress hanging in door way-San Francisco Wedding-Alysse and Cody

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Bride smiling in her makeup mirror-San Francisco Wedding-Alysse and Cody

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Bride smiling after putting on her wedding dress-San Francisco Wedding-Alysse and Cody

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Couple playing in Sutro Heights Gazebo - San Francisco Wedding - Alysse and Cody

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Sutro Heights Wedding flowers - San Francisco Wedding-Alysse and Cody

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Bride and Groom smiling at Sutro Heights - San Francisco Wedding - Alysse and Cody

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Bride and Groom kissing under Sun Flare at Sutro Heights - San Francisco Wedding - Alysse and Cody

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Groomsmen pulling groom away from bride - San Francisco Wedding - Alysse and Cody

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Bride and Groom exchanging wedding vows at Sutro heights

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Bride and groom celebrating at Sutro Heights Wedding - San Francisco Wedding - Alysse and Cody

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Bride and Groom eating wedding cake - San Francisco Wedding - Alysse and Cody

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Bride throwing the bouquet at Sutro Heights- San Francisco Wedding - Alysse and Cody

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Bride and groom kissing at sunset at Sutro Heights - San Francisco Wedding - Alysse and Cody

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San Francisco City Hall Wedding – Kazuyo & Chris

Last month I had the opportunity to photograph Kazuyo and Chris at their fabulously sweet City Hall wedding.  As always, San Francisco City Hall didn’t disappoint and was beautiful throughout out the day.  Kazuyo is from Japan so her family wasn’t there but Chris’ side showered her with love and there was more than enough to go around.  For me the moment of the day was catching Kazuyo explaining to Chris which finger the ring goes.  Just a super wonderful moment.  The ceremony was short and sweet and we spent an hour or so exploring the beautiful light at City Hall.  Then we all went out to the Palace of Fine Arts and the Golden Gate Bridge. The day in front of Grace Cathedral and like many sessions, the best shots came right at the end as they were walking across the street.  She looks so happy and he looks so proud.  Another fine example of how bigger doesn’t always mean better.

 

San Francisco City Hall Wedding – Michael and Dani


One of the best things about being a San Francisco Wedding Photographer is the opportunity to meet so many other great photographers. I’ve known Michael and Dani for about a year now and they are the wonderful combination of fabulous people and fabulous photographers. It was such an honor when they asked my to photograph their wedding at San Francisco’s City Hall. We had a great time waiting in line, talking to the various city hall workers, waiting in line again, and then finally getting to the judge. City Hall is absolutely beautiful and just a fun place for wedding photographs. Plus I was there with photographing with Rendy Lai who is just another great photographer and good guy. Michael and Dani looked great (even if they were a bit nervous being on the other side of the camera).

Thanks Michael and Dani. I had a great time being part of your special day and wish you the very best.

Bride and Groom Holding hands in San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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Bride and Groom waiting in line Waiting in the Hallway - San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography

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Couple standing by a safe - San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography

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Couple on the City Hall Stairs - San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography

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Shadow of a Couple kissing - San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography

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Bride and Groom celebrating - San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography

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Looking from above - San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography

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Bride and Groom Kissing - San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography

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Elizabeth and Chuck’s Renewed Wedding Vows at Sutro Heights Park

Sometimes as a photographer, knowing what to say is more important than knowing how to use a camera. I was with Elizabeth at the beautiful Sutro Heights Park in San Francisco. This was to be a combination family session and then wedding vow-renewal ceremony. Chuck and Elizabeth have been married 10 years and they wanted renew their wedding vows with their good friends and have photos of their cute-as-can-be daughter Kate. But the city was just packed with traffic as everyone and their mother was out enjoying the amazing fall weather so everyone was running late. Plus, where they planned to do their ceremony – the wonderful little Gazebo in Sutro Heights Park – was being used by another couple for their wedding. It really was just about all Elizabeth could take and I could see through the camera that she was getting understandable upset. So I put down the camera, got her some water and re-assured her that everything would be ok. We laughed a bit, sent “get out of here” vibes towards the intruding wedding party and made the best of it. Fortunately, Kate was adorable and we got a ton of amazing photographs. Such a cure little girl. The other party cleared out, their friends and the officiant arrived and their renewal ceremony was perfect. Didn’t go as planned but it was great – just like most marriages that last 10 years I imagine.

Congrats Elizabeth and Chuck – you have a beautiful family and I wish you the best of luck over the next 10 years.

Freshour family photography at Sutro Heights in San Francisco

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Blog link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/3731