Filed in: Inspiration

David Esquire Inspire PhotographyI say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963, Washington, DC

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Filed in: Engagement Shoots

Engagement Shoot Destination Wedding Photographer Germany Baby Portraits BerlinGood evening from Minneapolis everyone!

As I’m looking out my window at the street below with the bustle of the shoppers, the snow gently falling and the twilight of the night sky just breaking through the clouds – it’s hard to believe that I was just in Orange County photographing Jen & Nathan’s Engagement Shoot.  Crazy I say!

I recently was introduced to Jen & Nathan from Leah & Linsey with The Double Knot wedding & event planners.  If Leah & Linsey sound familiar it’s because I have had the honour of photographing both of their weddings along with them working their magic for my clients.  Like LeeAnne & Garrett’s Timeless Orange County Wedding I just photographed!

So to be able to work with another couple that’s in the perfect hands of Leah & Linsey is guaranteed awesomeness!

Speaking of awesomeness – let me just say working with Jen & Nathan was more like an afternoon of playing instead of working.  We first started out in Downtown Brea at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour.  Farrell’s is has a TON of sentimental value to Jen & Nathan because this was their first date location.

Aaron helped serve up a totally epic ice cream sundae for Jen & Nathan for their shoot & let me tell you – keeping my mind on the photos instead of the yummy ice cream I could smell was a little tough.  But I was easily distracted from the ice cream with all the fun Jen & Nathan were having for their playful and romantic portraits.  PLUS!  Aaron gave Jen & Nathan a fun introduction & announcement about their Engagement with the rest of the restaurant.  He was totally cool!

Once it was a wrap at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Downtown Brea – we headed to the Fullerton Arboretum for more fun & relaxed portraits.  The Fullerton Arboretum is a 26 acre botanical garden with a collection of plants from around the world – being the perfect location for a variety of timeless portraits.

As we were touring the Fullerton Arboretum, taking in some of the sights, capturing fun & relaxed portraits and sharing stories – we were interrupted by one of the staff at the Arboretum.  He had informed us we were not allowed to capture any “professional” portraits without a permit.  Which I thought was odd as I have been photographing portraits there for more than 15 years and never once needed one or had one.

No worries though.  He was totally polite to us & we were cool with him as well.  As we were heading to the entrance, we kicked around the idea of getting a permit & made our way to the information office.  We were told we had to have a permit, which was quite expensive ($100 for 90 minutes) and it has to be purchased in advance.

BUT!  I asked the staff member what if we were to be walking around without any professional gear & just used a mobile phone.  He said that is totally fine & we just needed to keep it light as we were walking around.

Sooooo… You know me & you know what that meant — a totally MEGA opportunity to rock some of my Signature Mobile Phoneography portraits.  Like you may have seen HERE for my “Instagram Weddings & Portraits.”

I asked if Jen & Nathan were up for the challenge and they gave me a resounding YES! So we headed back to my rental car, dropped off the gear (I kept the CF cards tho) and with my Nokia Lumia 1020 in hand – we went back into the Arboretum to rock more portraits.  And, let me tell you!  Just having a great Nokia 1020 to capture totally epic & colour-rich portraits is definitely the way to go!

Before you scroll down to check out some of my favourite portraits from Jen & Nathan’s Engagement Photo Shoot and you would like to chat with me about your wedding or event, feel free to contact me anytime day or night.  I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

PS, With Veteran’s Day having been this week, I would like to share if you’re in or have been in the military – check out the EPIC Military Discount Program.  It’s the BIGGEST in the world at 50% OFF.

And remember…

Sharing is Sexy!  Be sure to share Jen & Nathan’s Engagement Shoot on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter
To help other couples see how much fun they can have with the right photographer!

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Filed in: Weddings

Destination Wedding Photographer Germany Baby Portraits BerlinGood evening from Esquire Photography HQ in Minneapolis!  Have a got a totally romantic treat for you from Orange County, California.

I recently had the honour of working with Leah & Linsey from The Double Knot wedding & event planners for LeeAnne & Garrett’s wedding.  If LeeAnne & Garrett sound familiar, it’s because you had seen their sexy & dreamy Engagement Photo Shoot at the Fullerton Arboretum & downtown Fullerton.

When I arrived at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Whittier – Garrett was wearing a totally funny shirt like I shared on Facebook before the wedding when he was going to get ready.  But once he popped inside the church – it was time for him & he men to rock their tuxes from Men’s Wearhouse.

LeeAnne was tucked away getting ready with her ladies before the wedding, but when she came into the church for the ceremony in her Oleg Cassini wedding dress – she took Garrett’s breath away.

After their wedding was sealed with a kiss, we totally had a blast with the family portraits, some fun with the bridal portraits and then LeeAnne & Garrett took my Signature Romantic Portraits to a whole new level.

Their wedding reception was held at Memories in Whittier which was built in 1902 which was the perfect location for The Fabulous Esquires Big Band to keep the dance floor rockin all the way through the night.  Memories in Whittier was a perfect location for their wedding reception as they had a cigar entertainer, professional dancers and decorations that took you back to a period where romance & elegance donned the night.

Before you scroll down to check out some of my favourite memories from LeeAnne & Garrett’s timeless wedding and you would like to chat with me about your wedding or event, feel free to contact me anytime day or night.  I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.

PS, I hope you’re having a great weekend AND totally check out the not one – but TWO WINNERS of the Military Contest – giving away a FREE WEDDING DRESS from Simply Bridal.  Here’s the LINK to enjoy the video announcement.

PSS, Also, if you’re in or have been in the military – check out the EPIC Military Discount Program of 50% OFF.

And remember…

Sharing is Sexy!  Be sure to share LeeAnne & Garrett’s wedding on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter
To help other couples see how much fun they can have with the right photographer!

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Filed in: Events, Inspiration

Destination Wedding Photographer GermanyWhat is only a few short months ago, feels like a lifetime ago to me.

Let me explain a little bit about why I feel like that first…

As you know, I’ve had the honour of being Christin & Christoph’s family photographer in Berlin, Germany.  From photographing them in a Romantic Portrait shoot at Graffiti Heaven in Berlin to their totally gorgeous Destination Wedding in Mirow, Germany, to an intimate Family Portrait session when their son; Felix was born – they have all become very close to me in my heart & mind.  Not to mention how “at home” I feel when I’m there with everyone.

Well… When Christin mentioned to me that her parents were celebrating their 25 year Silver Anniversary last year – we coordinated a surprise for them & have me photograph their celebration.

Also, their Silver Anniversary celebration was planned to be at the Strandhotel in Mirow, Germany – the very same place Christin & Christoph had their wedding reception – which was really great too because I missed seeing the Family Stegemann who owns & operates the Strandhotel.

From the minute I surprised Family Stegemann peeking my face through the window – to popping into the grand ballroom & surprising Christin’s parents, combined with the amazing traditional German food & deserts, the music of Helene Fischer playing through the night – keeping everyone dancing & “Mr. Schnapps” and I toasting & PROOSTing – the celebration was totally perfect!

Now about the comment with this event feeling like a lifetime ago….

The best way to describe how it feels when I’m in Germany with Christin & Christoph and their family, Bob and JP – it’s like I’m “home.”  I don’t mean the kind of home that you feel good in, but the kind of home that is warm to your heart, comfortable & familiar and even more like the warmth & love one should feel or experience at Christmas.

Since I’m not there as much as I would like or even better – over there full time 24/7 – every day in the US feels like a light year and every month an eternity to me.  In short, I miss them!

Ok… enough mushy, sentimental talk – it might turn my coffee to decaf.  LOL!

So! I’ve gathered a few of my favourite portraits of OMA & OPArazzi (formerly known as “MAMA & PAPArazzi” now that Christin & Christoph’s son; Felix is here and otherwise known as Bernhard & Doris LOL!) and created a video that I’m honoured to share with you.

Before you scroll down to check out the video of all the fun we had and would like to chat with me about photographing your family or event, feel free to contact me anytime.

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, the form on my contact page, the old fashioned phone at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or direct at: 562.225.5915.

PS, stay tuned for some more awesome photos from around the world!  I have LeeAnne & Garrett’s wedding in California and Shriradha & David’s destination wedding in Atlanta to share with you soooooooooooon!

And remember…

Sharing is Romantic!  Be sure to share this awesome event on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter
To help other families see how much fun they can have with the right photographer!

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