LOVE BIRDS! MINDI AND ANTHONY

Working with Mindi and Anthony has been a great pleasure. From the very beginning they were super enthusiastic about my work and that made me feel very happy and inspired. I don't think I have had more frequent communications, before the wedding, with any other bride. Mindi and I ran into each other a lot on FB and she told me many times how excited she was about me being her photographer. When a bride tells me that, everything is different, it takes me to another level. The two of them were just amazing on wedding day; the emotions, the excitement; everything was there for me to capture.

Another awesome thing about working with Anthony is that he is also a huge Star Trek fan and he agrees with me that Deep Space Nine was one of the best series.

I am a little sad that the wedding is done; but this is a new beginning for Mindi and Anthony. A new life begins for them and I feel tremendously blessed to have made wonderful new friends.

The wedding took place at Anthony's parent's house. The place looked great! Mindi and her wedding consultant Amina did a great job transforming the house into a wedding venue. I loved it. The ceremony was held in the front yard of the house under a beautiful tree.

The awesome people that made this event happen:
Wedding Consultant - Amina Michele of Some Like It Classic
Catering - Farrelli's Cinema Supper Club
Officiant - Scott Swanson of Portico
Wedding Gown - Demetrios Bride
Make Up - Sarah Sanmarco
Wedding Hairstylist - Edwin Mateo from Etch
Rehearsal Dinner Hairstylist - Matteo Skow
Stationery - Joanie Guidry of Paper Crazy
DJ - Jerry Comer of Solid Gold Sound
Florist - Shawna & Kevin of Your Event Florist
Rentals - Tri-Rentals
Cake - Amy Kossman of Piece of Cake Desserts
Getting Ready Location and Rehearsal Dinner Cocktail - Gainey Suites Hotel

Special thanks to Katrina Wallace, owner of Sedona Bride Fine Art Photojournalism, for coming down to Paradise Valley to second shoot with me. She got some super sweet images.

I know it's going to be a good day when I arrive to find the bride and bridesmaids checking out my website :-) Photo by Katrina.


Anthony.


Her dress was exquisite.


A romantic letter from Anthony to Mindi. Photo by Katrina.


Mindi getting her make up done by Sarah. Great job Sarah.


Ready!


Mindi, stunning!


Too hot outside. We decided to do the first encounter inside the stairwell at the Gainey Suites Hotel.


First encounter.


It was very emotional.


Back in the room for a make up retouch and Katrina helped Anthony with his boutonniere.


Badass.




In the limo


The ceremony and reception venue. The private residence of Anthony's parents.


More stunningness!!




Place cards.


Programs. Photo by Katrina.


Mindi almost makes me cry here. Photo by Katrina.


Anthony seeing Mindi walk down the aisle. Mindi arranged to play the Star Trek theme song for the processional; Anthony loves Star Trek! Photo by Katrina.




The beautiful ceremony location.


Katrina took this great picture of a flock of birds going by; which tied in perfectly with the wedding's bird theme.




The reception area.


This cake looked great! By Piece of Cake Desserts.


First dance.


The sweetheart table.






The robot.


Anthony taking care of business, the business of taking off the garter.




Mindi with her brother having an emotional moment.


Mindi and Anthony having the time of their life.


Thank you Mindi and Anthony for choosing me as your wedding photographer. I had a wonderful time; I can not wait to meet you guys again soon.

ALBERTO AND ANDREA WEDDING

Alberto contacted me in April of 2008 and it was very evident that he knew exactly what he wanted and that it was very important to him to find a very good wedding photographer. When I finally met Andrea and Alberto; they made a great impression because I could tell that they were very focused on each other and creating a wedding about "them". The ceremony was very sweet and the reception was a blast.

Music, music and more music. It is uncommon for me to photograph a wedding where the groom is a super talented singer and musician who spends a good part of the reception performing on stage. But Alberto was not my typical groom; his whole family is into music; his dad is the leader of El Mariachi Tapatio and his brother Louie leads the grupo Imas. Alberto is the musical director of hid dad's mariachi band, a co-director of Los Changuitos Feos Mariachi and has his own Tex-Mex band; he is also a music teacher at Tucson Magnet High. He is very, very dedicated; he was even grading papers at one of our pre-wedding meetings.

Andrea is one of the sweetest brides ever and she blew me away with her badass attitude during the portrait session. The two of them make a perfect couple; I loved being there to photograph their wedding at Saguaro Buttes.

Their circle of friends and family is very impressive; they all were super nice to us and they made us feel great.

Reception performances by:
Mariachi Los Changuitos Feos
Hollywood Knights
Imas
Mariachi Tapatio
that guy
15 Monkeys
Los Changuitos Feos Mariachi

Thanks to Kyle Yu for being my second shooter and lighting assistant.

Andrea


Andrea getting ready.




Alberto and his brother Louie.


Their first encounter.






One of Andrea's bridesmaids a true UofA fan.


Image by Kyle Yu


Andrea's grandpa




What a beautiful bride and what a sunset!






Alberto, Andrea and Kyle, on the right, holding the lightstick.




Their entrance. That shadow on the right is me; I accidentally shot my own shadow.




Alberto is a fantastic singer.








Louie and Alberto's cousin prepared a special surprise number for the couple.


Andrea's dad toasting.






Alberto singing with his brother.


Alberto dancing with his mom.
















The weather was perfect. The bridal party enjoyed being outside smoking cigars and an amazing Scotch.

NIKKI AND RICK'S WEDDING

I feel that Rick, Nikki and I connected from the first email. I knew that I had to be their photographer; I knew that we we were made for each other; and I am extremely happy that we made it work out. They also have a very special appreciation for the Hotel Valley Ho and it completely fits their style.

When a groom tells me that photography is the most important thing about the wedding besides his bride; I know that he is the kind of groom I really like. There is nothing more precious to me than working for clients that show deep appreciation for what I do. I am truly inspired by clients that do this.

Nikki and Rick have an awesome engagement story and I love the painting that Rick made for Nikki to propose to her.
Rick and Nicki had a great wedding almost entirely adorned and designed with their own personal touch. It was so much fun shooting their wedding and I wish them both a long and happy marriage.

Venue: Hotel Valley Ho

Thanks to Kelly Rashka for her awesome contribution as second photographer.

This is Nikki wearingusing a blusher, yay!!!!!!! I love blushers!


Dress shot by Kelly.


Rick and all his groomsmen wore these socks.


Getting ready image by Kelly.


First encounter.

Nikki and Rick. I love this portrait!


Shooting portraits with Kelly holding the light.






Rick was floating with happiness.


Kelly loves to shoot shadows and I love her shadow shots.






Behind the scenes shot by Kelly.


Another awesome Lensbaby shot by Kelly; she is the Lensbaby masta!




Every seat had one of these fans with a different game. Image by Kelly


Nikki taking a peak at her ceremony area.


Image by Kelly.






Nikki and her uncle.


Signing the license.






First dance.


They had a fun photo booth by Snap Booth.

Nikki


Late in the night.

Can you see me?