Filed in: West Coast Wednesday

Good morning from Huntington Beach everyone!  I’m preparing for my Guest Writer; Ashley & her fiance’ David’s wedding up in Monterey this weekend I’ve been thinking about my road trip music and a few of my favourite artists kept coming up.

So in the true form & fashion of doing my best to over-deliver, I’m sharing with you not one, not two, but three artists with you today.  They’re all equally amazing and remind me of when I used to perform in clubs in Chicago, Kansas City, MO, Portland & a few other cities.  Not to mention just the overall amazing times that were had with my friends and colleagues at the time.

What’s really cool about the three groups that I’m going to share with you is that they were part of a collection of the founding musicians that created the music scene today.

First, there’s New Order – an English (Imagine that!) musical group formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner (vocals, guitars, synthesizers), Peter Hook (bass, backing vocals, electronic drums) and Stephen Morris (drums, synthesizers). New Order were formed in the wake of the demise of their previous group Joy Division, following the suicide of vocalist Ian Curtis. They were soon joined by additional keyboardist Gillian Gilbert.

Second, there’s Nitzer Ebb (pronounced NIGHT-zer or NIH-tzer—the band pronounces it both ways) is a British (Again… Imagine that!) EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan “Bon” Harris (programming, synthesizers, drums, vocals), Douglas McCarthy (vocals), and David Gooday (drums).

Finally, there’s Front 242 – a pioneering Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. During their most active period (effectively ending in 1993 with the albums 06:21:03:11 Up Evil and 05:22:09:12 Off) they influenced many electro-industrial and electronic artists.  Front 242 was created in 1981 in Aarschot, near Brussels, Belgium, by Daniel Bressanutti and Dirk Bergen, who wanted to create music and graphic design using emerging electronic tools. The first single, “Principles”, was released in 1981.  The band’s name came from a variety of sources. UN Security Council Resolution 242 was the first to call on Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian Territories, and 242 was a motor used in some Fiat cars.  The front part of the name comes from the idea of an organized popular uprising.  Perhaps more to the point, after the Second World War, 242 Belgian citizens were condemned to death for collaboration with the German occupiers.

I could probably go on & on pulling more information about all three groups, but I think that their music speaks quite nicely for them.

But before you check out this week’s West Coast Wednesday Video Of The Week and you’re thinking… Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Orange County Wedding Photographer that loves the 80′s music, fashion, photography and art, feel free to contact me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

So without further ado, I give you New Order with “Perfect Kiss”, Nitzer Ebb with “Join In The Chant” and Front 242 in “Headhunter.”  So feel free to sit back with your favourite morning beverage, enjoy the videos, enjoy a few minutes of incredible music, vocals and live performances.

Have an awesome West Coast Wednesday and also remember to make it a totally positive one for someone else too – cheers!

BTW, the Super Secret Project for Brides and Grooms is really coming together!  I’m definitely counting the days until I’m able to share it with you after Thanksgiving next month.  If you’re curious about what it is leave a comment and I might share a hint with you.

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Filed in: Testimonials

Good morning from Huntington Beach everyone!  I received a great note on Facebook from Ruthie & Anthony about their gorgeous Ventura Wedding that I photographed at the Wedgewood Golf Club.

You might remember Ruthie & Anthony from their sexy Engagement Shoot that we did in downtown Los Angeles at Union Station and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  They’re such an awesome couple full of love & the ability to put a smile on anyone’s face, any time of the day.

And, I’m soooo not kidding.  Check out this really great note I received from them.

“Hello!

All Anthony & I can truly say is THANK YOU for all of your hard work and dedication. Our day was amazing because of you & we will forever be thankful.

Just wanted to let you know that we truly enjoyed working with you and appreciate your work.

Mr. & Mrs. Cruz”

If you’re wanting beautiful romantic Wedding Photography like I did with Ruthie & Anthony at the Wedgewood Golf Club up in Ventura, California and you’re thinking to yourself…  Hey – I’d really like to contact this Orange County Wedding Photographer in Huntington Beach, California that shoots out of the box Wedding Photography all over from OC to LA to Ventura and to San Diego.  Feel free to get in touch with me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

I hope you’re having a terrific great start to your week – cheers!

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Filed in: Weddings

Good afternoon from Huntington Beach everyone!  I’ve got some terrific yumminess to share with you that I put together before I headed to The White House Event Center for Michelle & Matthew’s wedding yesterday afternoon.  In between shooting and working on my “Super Secret Project” for Bride’s working on some more artistic edits from Ruthie and Anthony’s Ventura Wedding I photographed at the Wedgewood Golf Club.

You may remember Ruthie & Anthony from their totally romantic and sexy Engagement Shoot that we did in downtown Los Angeles at Union Station and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  So when their Wedding Day arrived, all of us knew how much fun we were going to have and I was totally excited to work with them again along with their amazing family & friends.

I had the honour of Ruthie & Anthony’s wedding and all I can say is that their wedding day was so relaxing and fun – that everyone who attended absolutely enjoyed themselves.  I’m confident that is due to the two amazing ladies; Sarah & Amy from the Wedgewood overseeing every detail from the Flowers by Roni, to the delicious cake from LaStarr Bakery all the way down the ceremony to the reception.  Everything was perfect!

Ruthie made quite the entrance for the ceremony too.  She was in a beautiful gown from Jobyna’s Bridal in Glendale, princess cut earrings from Golden Castle Jewelry in Fullerton and hair & makeup from Liz.  Anthony with his entourage were dressed sharp as a tack as well in tuxedos from Men’s Warehouse.

So before you check out Ruthie & Anthony’s wedding at the Wedgewood Golf Club in Ventura and you’re thinking to yourself…  Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Orange County Wedding Photographer in Huntington Beach that wants to enjoy life to the fullest and capture all the infinite memories that happen throughout the day, then feel free to get in touch with me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

Now without further ado, here is Ruthie & Anthony’s wedding in a romantic slide show I put together.  I hope you’re having a great weekend & their wedding is available on Pictage too for professional prints, canvas wraps and so much more – cheers!

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  • Sean Bridgewater - You guys picked a great month and it will be easy to help Anthony remember your anniversary because it is 8 days after mine (16 years baby). Ruth, you were a beautiful bride and I’m sure Anthony paid the photographer not to take any pictures of him crying. Anthony, there were not many pictures I saw where you didn’t have a big smile on your face. That tells me everything I need to know about the precious gift God has blessed you with. Remember this bro:

    “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord” Proverbs 18:22

    Congratulations and may God continue to bless your family!

    Sean

  • Andreanna Cruz - I just love the video. It was like a mini walk through of the wedding. I am very happy for you and Ruth. Ruthie you looked beautiful and Daddy I love the inside of your jacket. Wish you guys the best of luck. Even though you won’t need it. See you in December!! Love YOU!!!!

    Andreanna

Filed in: Wedding Tips

Happy Baby Friday from Huntington Beach everyone!  It’s Baby Friday and I have a different kind of Wedding Tip Of The Week to share with you today.

This is a fantastic bit from my good friends at Elegala.com about something I think we all like to do and want to do as often as possible.  It’s about how to save some money on your catering budget.  It’s quick, down-n-dirty easy read with some terrific bits of information that I think you’ll really enjoy.

There are quite a few fantastic thoughts that are touched on in the article, but before you check out today’s Wedding Tip Of The Week and you’re thinking to yourself…  Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Orange County Wedding Photographer in Huntington Beach, California that wants to enjoy life to the fullest, feel free to get in touch with me anytime.  We could meet up over a coffee drink anytime or perhaps some Nachos & Newcastles.  Yummy!

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

Have a great Baby Friday – cheers!

Ways to Save – Five Tips for Your Catering Budget

Serve up a tantalizing (yet wallet-friendly) culinary experience with these five easy ways to save on wedding catering.

Suffering from catering sticker shock? You’re not alone. Most couples will allocate about 50% of their entire wedding budget to wining and dining their guests. If you’re already dreading the look on their faces when offered bread and water, browse through our favorite money saving tips. Budget savvy brides can get creative – and wow their guests with a mouthwatering and memorable meal that won’t maximize your catering budget.

Eliminate Courses
A traditional five course meal can be tedious and expensive, so why not serve a three course meal that’s extraordinary? Eliminating a soup, salad, or an extra dessert will go unnoticed and will free up some of your catering budget for what really excites you.

Appetizer Tables
Passed hors deuvres, while elegant, can drain your catering budget. Consider instead an appetizer table. And don’t fret that this decision will scream “low end.” Bring the table to life with creative displays – even a vegetable tray can be served with an elegant presentation. Guests often appreciate this format as it offers more flexibility and choice.

A Casual Affair
The most stylish events are not always black tie. A recent trend has brides breaking from the stuffy formal affair and embracing a more casual and festive atmosphere. Consider instead a down-home barbecue, a New England Clambake, or a Mexican Fiesta. With a little insight and ingenuity, you can serve these relaxed themes in a manner that’s positively chic.

A Non-Dinner Affair
Dinner is the most expensive meal to serve. Save on catering by considering a brunch, lunch or even a dessert reception. Infuse the unique affair with creative details and fun, witty invites. Your guests will notice and appreciate the different approach while your wedding budget breath a sigh of relief.

A Cocktail Reception
Along those lines, consider a menu consisting entirely of hors d’oeuvres. If your reception does not coincide with a meal time, a cocktail and appetizer reception is perfectly suitable. Since these events typically run for only two hours, in addition to saving on catering – location, staffing and other rental fees are also considerably reduced.

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Filed in: West Coast Wednesday

Good morning from Huntington Beach everyone!  There are so many amazing things going on here in Orange County that I just don’t know where to start.  I think a good spot is that one of my fantastic brides; Shelby and her amazing fiance’; Matt who I recently photographed for a 12 Hour Engagement Shoot in Anaheim, San Diego & Orange County are being featured on WeTV for David Tutera’s “My Fair Wedding” this month.  So it looks like I really need to trim down on the waist and I’m so excited that I’ll be on WeTV again like I was for Kim & Ken’s “Platinum Wedding” back in September 2008.  This is super super super exciting!

That’s happening, I’m shooting a lot of events every week still through the fall and… if you’ve been following my Twitter and Facebook updates – I’ve been working on the Super Secret Project that is getting ready to go live after Thanksgiving.  I can’t say much about it just yet, but it is Super Secret and it’s for Brides and Grooms.  I may share (accidentally leak) a hint here & there between now and then – so… anything is possible.  But for now, my lips are sealed.  Hee hee hee!

Then there’s the David Bowie tribute album: “We Were So Turned On.”  Can I just say that I’m uber-excited about that!  Not just because there’s all these amazing artists involved in the program or that my all time favourite band; Duran Duran performing “Boys Keep Swinging” on my fellow Durannie; Kitty Amsbry’s website: “Gimme A Wristband!“, but that it is one absolutely amazing artist; David Bowie that is being covered and replayed with a different flair.

If you don’t know too much about David Bowie, check out a pinch of his history from Wikipedia.  It’s absolutely incredible!

Bowie’s innovative songs and stagecraft brought a new dimension to popular music in the early 1970s, strongly influencing both its immediate forms and its subsequent development. A pioneer of glam rock, Bowie, according to music historians Schinder and Schwartz, has joint responsibility with Marc Bolan for creating the genre.  At the same time, he inspired the innovators of the punk rock music movement—historiographer Michael Campbell calls him “one of punk’s seminal influences”.

While punk musicians trashed the conventions of pop stardom, Bowie moved on again—into a more abstract style of music making that would in turn become a transforming influence. Biographer David Buckley writes, “At a time when punk rock was noisily reclaiming the three-minute pop song in a show of public defiance, Bowie almost completely abandoned traditional rock instrumentation.  Bowie’s record company sought to convey his unique status in popular music with the slogan, “There is old wave, there is new wave, and there is Bowie…”  Musicologist James Perone credits him with having “brought sophistication to rock music”, and critical reviews frequently acknowledge the intellectual depth of his work and influence.

So how appropriate for me to share not just one, but TWO of my favourite David Bowie songs.  First, there’s Fashion – which has always been a classic that I loved since I first saw it.  Then there’s Heroes – which is a very introspective, romantic and moving piece.

But before you check out this week’s West Coast Wednesday Video Of The Week and you’re thinking… Hey – I’d really like to get to know this Orange County Wedding Photographer that loves the 80′s music, fashion, photography and art, feel free to contact me anytime.

I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

So without further ado, I give you David Bowie in “Fashion” and “Heroes.”  So feel free to sit back with your favourite morning beverage, enjoy the videos, enjoy a few minutes of incredible music, vocals and live performances.

Have an awesome West Coast Wednesday and also remember to make it a totally positive one for someone else too – cheers!

PS, Be sure to keep in touch for potential little clues to the Super Secret Project.  I am just super super eager to share it with you, but so totally bound by secrecy.

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