I rarely get as far north as St. Helena and tend to forget just how beautiful the area is. I'm used to chilly San Francisco and it felt fantastic to escape to wide open spaces and almost unbearably hot weather. Arianna and Matt's wedding was full of warmth and laughter. Stacey Dillon did a beautiful job coordinating and I felt spoiled by the delicious dinner Tra Vigne prepared. The outdoor space at Tra Vigne is magical and Susan Barton's floral arrangements only added to its charm.

Emily and Adam had one of the most unique weddings I've ever had the pleasure of photographing. Their wedding perfectly combined their Indian and Jewish cultures. It was overflowing with joy, tears, and flowers. Emily actually went to the farmer's market to hand select all the flowers for the wedding and she custom made each of her bridesmaids' bouquets to match their dresses. Their friends and family gave hilarious and heartfelt toasts that I'll never forget. Emily's father told about how she had a dream of a man named Adam from Menlo Park only a short time before meeting her now husband, named Adam, from Menlo Park.

Blogging about Emily and Adam's wedding gives me an opportunity to discuss a common misconception. People often think wedding photographers encourage couples to do "first looks" to make the schedule easier on the photographer. My goal as a wedding photographer is to tell a story through the loveliest possible photos. Successful storytelling and beautiful imagery are a result of genuine emotion. It is my experience that a first look enhances the level of emotion by giving the couple a moment of calm to connect with each other in the midst of a hectic day.

I respect the tradition to first encounter each other in the ceremony, but it's also incredible when a couple chooses to take that quiet, private moment. It's almost a side benefit that the resulting photos can be some of the most treasured. I think Emily and Adam's photographs will show you what I mean. Their ceremony was in no way less meaningful after seeing each other beforehand!

Erin and I met our freshman year of college when we spent spring break volunteering in New York. We lost touch a few times over the years, but now that we both live in San Francisco we're making up for lost time. Erin is loyal, genuine, intelligent, kind, and the first person I call for a night out or a long chat over tea. Last month we spent a day in Point Reyes exploring and taking photos. I'm so lucky to have such a fun and beautiful friend!

I flew to Las Vegas a few weeks ago to shoot Angela and Thomas' wedding. The ceremony took place at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, which is one of the most beautiful churches I've been in. From the photography perspective it was a dream location, which is not often said about churches. It was bright and colorful - so unusual! The reception took place at Caesar's Palace and was full of excited friends and family, Greek dancing (some family members had flown in from Greece for the wedding!), and delicious food. I especially loved the time I spent with Angela at the beginning of the day as she was getting ready. She is a generous, honest, and warm woman and Thomas is a very lucky man (of course he's pretty great too!). What a couple!

(Sidenote: The photos of Angela getting ready are all unposed. The image of her in a doorway was taken when she finally had a few moments to herself and was feeling some butterflies.)