The Flower Fields | Wedding Photography | Carlsbad, CA

I don't know about you, but I am so excited that the weekend is finally here!  And this is not just any weekend, but it's Mother's Day weekend.  So... I thought I would give you an idea for some fun. 

Robert and I recently visited The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, CA, and I have got to say it was such a nice break.  The fields span 50 acres of color filled beauty.  How could you go wrong?

The Flower Fields would make a fabulous place to take your mom for a little Mother's Day treat.  Oh, and the Carlsbad Premium Outlets are right next door, if you want to finish off your afternoon with some shopping :)

If you are looking for a sweet and romantic place to take your significant other definitely check out The Flower Fields.  This is actually the last weekend of the 2010 season. 

To all of our brides and grooms, take a break from all the wedding planning this weekend and head back to nature! 

To all the moms who read our blog: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!  

You can actually take Wagon Rides! ($5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children)

Loving these soft, warm colors of Ranunculus Flowers.

Such darling bell-shaped blossoms on these Pink Foxgloves.

My favorite Tulips are the ones with the Fringed edges.

A breathtaking View!

Here's the pricing for The Flowers Fields, if you are interested:

$10.00 for Adults, $9.00 for Seniors 60+, $5.00 for Children 3 - 10, Children 2 and under free

Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Address: 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Contact Jessica Elizabeth: Jessica@JessicaElizabethPhotography.com

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Photography Tip Tuesday | Fortune Cookie says:

It's funny that these nowadays fortune cookies aren't what they used to be.

I guess they've run out of ways to say "Luck will come your way." Instead, fortune writers are turning to nonsensical words of wisdom like "It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end." ........ WHAT???? O.o

 But tonight, I got a very appropriate note from my little yummy treat. 

Profound isn't it?

So since I'm in some weird "Confucius say:" mood, I will write my post in good ole' fortune cookie fashion...

Some of these are plain and simple, but most have a hidden, epiphanic, mind-blowing, WHOA.... type moment, so take the time to think and if you figure me out... AwEsomEnEss! :) Hope you get something out of it!

What does this have to do with photography? well... your mindset and philosophies manifest in your performance and art.

1. Count your blessings.
2. If you think you have the most horrible life, just remember that you're not living in (insert 3rd world country here)  fighting for your own life let alone basic human rights.
3. There's always someone out there who will be ahead of you... except if you turn the other direction and pull out a mirror they will always be behind.
4. Success isn't tangible. It's a journey with no final destination.
5. If you think you're doing fine, you're not. If you think you're doing bad, you're not.
6. Everything can be answered by this one equation, E = MC squared.... a child who can say "mom" or dad" knows this.
7. Failure is when you've accepted something is impossible. 
8. Be  _______________.
9. A 'To do' list... is transactional, but a 'STOP doing' list, is transformational.
10. You can have it all, you just can't have it all at once.

Rob

Inspired by Grace| Jessica Elizabeth Photography

As most of you know, I have a slight obsession for love and weddings.  I think my love affair with weddings began way back when I was ten years old and watched "Father of the Bride" for the first time- probably even before that.

This love affair was painfully obvious to everyone around me by high school.  In the 12^th grade, one of our projects, as part of a life long learning class, was to plan our own wedding.  Apparently, we were just supposed to cover the basics.  Most of my classmates turned in 2 or 3 page reports.  I, on the other hand, made a custom wedding album covered in silk and lace with a place to insert a photo of me and my then high school boyfriend on the front.  I made a bridal bouquet and a garter, I picked out the pattern for my flower girl dresses, I cut swatches for the bridesmaids gowns, and more- but you get the point.

I guess I might have scared that high school boyfriend a little- he broke up with me shortly thereafter.

As the years went by I kept adding to this album.  I would tear out pages from magazines to keep as inspiration for my own wedding many years later.  However, there was one magazine that I could never bring myself to tear the pages out of.  The magazine was just too gorgeous to even think of tearing a page from it.  So I kept them all. 

As luck would have it, the Editor-in-Chief of this magazine had been "tearing" out the pages for me all this time.  She collected all of her favorites from the past 10 years and assembled them into a book.  Who is she you ask?  She, is the one and only: Grace Ormonde.  The book is "Being in Love Never Goes Out of Style."  What a fantastic title! I couldn't agree more.

And now.... A Winter Romance- When Vintage Meets Modern....

I'm going to have to break these photos up into a couple of posts, since there are so many to share.  Check back soon for more photos and to learn about the vision behind the theme, the set design, and the floral design.  A very special thanks to Rebecca Salimpour of Natural Charms for the stunning floral design.  We must also thank Andre Movesesyan for assisting us in this challenging shoot.  Cinematic footage from Step 1 Productions coming soon!

If you are a bride looking for inspiration, make sure to purchase Grace's new book here: http://graceormondebook.com/ .

The book also makes a fabulous gift for brides to be.

Contact Jessica Elizabeth: 

Jessica@JessicaElizabethPhotography.com

Ponte Winery | Temecula Wedding Photography

Fall Wedding Inspiration: A Rustic Romance in the Vines

For those of you who may not know, Robert and I were married at the lovely Ponte Winery in November 2008. 

We always enjoy visiting Ponte Winery.  Whenever we need a break from all the chaos that is life in the OC and LA, Ponte is a great place to head, to get back to nature and just relax.

Recently, Kerry Pulverman of de Luxe Weddings & Events invited us to participate in a photo shoot with her.  Below are the photos from the tablescape Robert and I  like to call: A Rustic Romance in the Vines.

I figure many of our Fall brides are currently working on their themes and floral design, so I thought this might give you some inspiration to draw from.  Of course, when your wedding rolls around you will have the gorgeous Autumn leaves of red, orange, yellow, and green.  Rob and I just adored the look of the vineyard for our November wedding.  There is really nothing like it.

We would like to give a special thanks to Kelly Manson of  The Olive Rose for her beautiful Fall inspired floral design and kind collaboration.  

To learn more about the design behind the shoot, check out Kerry's Blog.

I can just imagine a romantic guy proposing to a super lucky girl, while we hide behind the Fall leaves hanging from the vines and sneak in a few photographs of the Engagement.

How much more romantic can it get being all alone out among the vines and the beautiful surrounding landscape?

To create a Fall feel, Kerry chose chocolate brown and silver linens.  Kelly chose to complement that with florals of orange and red tones, with hints of yellow and green.

Fresh flowers such as Cymbidium Orchids make a nice adornment to your napkins and charger plates.

Below are a couple of Robert's Artistic edits.  We love to create custom edits to transform those photos into more dramatic pieces.

Check out the drama on the sky and the table here:

I love Rob's interpretation of this photo.  The Rustic tones of this photo truly complement the theme of this tablescape.

Happy Planning!  Design away :)

Contact Jessica Elizabeth: Jessica@JessicaElizabethPhotography.com

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Long Beach | Wedding Photography | Pixie's Petals

Wow!  How did it get to be Friday already!?!  Did all of you have a fabulous week?

Well, Spring is definitely here in Southern California.  It's 71 degrees and beautiful.  So, I thought I'd post some photos of springtime florals that will surely get you in the mood for Easter.

Leslie of Pixie's Petals recently invited me to photograph her floral designs at the El Dorado Park  Restaurant and Event Center in Long Beach.  Thanks Leslie :)

I love the sunset's beautiful rim light on this tulip bouquet.

The gold branches coming out the bouquet make a nice added touch.

It was pretty tricky to get this bouquet to stand up.  But I was determined to do it!

Liking the modern design here!

This is one of my favorite photos of the day.

A little sun flare is always nice!

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Contact Jessica Elizabeth: Jessica@JessicaElizabethPhotography.com

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Photography Tip Tuesday | Ken Rockwell

Ken Rockwell. Ken Rockwell. Ken Rockwell. You have to know of him already; he's on every page of Google! (and I have to add, his name is awesome! It rings celebrity all over it... adult film perhaps?) But if you went to www.kenrockwell.com you won't arrive at some photographer's portfolio trying to sell you on his awesome photography. No, this guy sells his work with words. He primarily uses his site to post camera equipment reviews and does an AWESOME job of doing it objectively. What I love about him the most is that anyone, EVERY type of photographer, can relate to his recomendations. He goes beyond the "yes" or "no", 'two thumbs up' suggestion; he takes the advantages of that piece of equipment and matches it up to who it would be ideal for- That's what matters the most!

Next week: Nikon vs Canon - I know, that's like talking about universal health care to republicans, stem cells to republicans, or anything related to sex to republicans... hm, I'm predicting flames in my near future.... so not feeling PC today.

Rob

The other "Jessica Elizabeth"

Solana Beach | Photography | Kite Surfing !

Happy Wednesday to all of our faithful blog readers :)  Rob tells me that I have apparently been "slacking" on the blog writing lately.  I guess that's because I have so many fun photos to share that it's hard to decide where to start.

Well, here goes...  Funny story about Robert:

When we first started dating he was basically a computer geek with his fingers glued to the keyboard.  Although I think the Iphone has now replaced the computer as his newest appendage, he has gotten out more since we first met.  Most people that know Robert now, know that he loves outdoor activities, especially surfing and snowboarding. And he always complains that I don't let him engage in these activities enough.

Well,  just for the record he had never done either of those activities until I introduced it too him. LOL!  

Last week we witnessed kitesurfing for the first time, so I know it's only a matter of time until Rob takes up his newest outdoor sporting venture.  At least it produces some pretty cool photos.  

Here are a few photos we took near Solana Beach on a Super windy day.  Enjoy!

 

I love that from this perspective the the kites don't look much bigger than the seagulls.

But in reality, the kites range anywhere from 27-81 feet!

There were about 15 kitesurfers in the water at a time.  Wish we had the 14-24mm to capture it all :(

This wave totally consumed him!

Rob loves the leading lines in this photo.
For a minute there, it looked like his was about to be carried away by the kite.  I probably would have floated out to sea- LOL.

Active Bluff Failures? Nice and safe!
The lone windsurfer.

Photography Tip Tuesday | Improving Your Focusing Skills

In wedding photography, your ability to keep your subject in focus is VERY IMPORTANT; remember, you can never recreate the moment again. So what are some good focusing practice tips?

1. First and foremost, there is no doubt you should use autofocus. If there is not enough ambient light, have a video light ready or throw on an SB-800/900 for the laser-AF assist (WARNING: the laser(s) is a visable and distracting red color... use at your own discretion) You do not have time to fumble using manual.  You also should understand that there is no superior AF mode to suit all situations. Again, there isn't a mode that is superior for all situations. We haven't reached that ideal world yet.

2. Familiarize yourself with all AF modes that your camera system has.  I'm familiar with Nikon systems so I will discuss in reference to Nikon, but Canon has similar and comprable modes. Nikon's AF-S, or Single area AF, is best when you and the subject are not moving. ie. portraits. AF-C, or continuous servo AF, is best when either of you are moving; as long as you're locked to your subject, it will keep refocusing. ie. ceremony. Nikon does have an AF-Auto mode, which the computer decides when to use AF-S or C, but I find it does more harm than good. You shouldn't risk the lack of control at a Wedding.

Using AF-Continuous for portraits, and using AF-Single for moving scenes can hurt your chances of being in the right focal plane.

3.  For Nikon, there are 3 ways to use your focusing points: Automatic, Spot, and single point. I find that "spot" focusing is just right for me in most situations; it allows me to toggle over to areas other than center frame when I need to. The focusing system is homologous to the camera's metering system. The camera can gauge the overall scene to determine which focal plane the subject is (automatic), or it can gauge a section of a scene (spot focus), or just a single, specific AF point. Automatic isn't smart enough to know what I want every time and single point is TOO sensitive and ardous for event photography (on a 51 PT AF system, you can waste a lot of time toggling over to which AF point the camera should focus on, and lose the opportunity altogether).

4. The best way to keep your subject in focus is to use the center focus point in your camera (when the situation allows) because it is the largest and most sensitive spot. There will be situations like portrait sessions, where you can easily use center focus, lock on, and recompose. This will give you the best results. Realize that the AF points across the sensor are not as sensitive and accurate as the center AF point; use those points when the situation demands it.

5. Use the optimal f/stop when possible. Between shutter speed and focus, it contributes the least to sharpness, but in my experience optimal f/stop can still make or break an image. Just because an image is in focus doesn't mean it will be tack sharp.

I might be regurgitating features out of the camera manual, but I hope you appreciate the personal experience involved with each feature. I'll stop here, because I just discovered that Matt Saville posted on a very similar topic. Continuing on will only mean touching upon what Matt has already written, just in a BLAH'er manner. Matt, if you read this, I couldn't have said it better myself. Visit his blog on AF points here :) Happy Tuesday!

Avia Hotel | Wedding Photography

This past Monday, I had the pleasure of visiting the Avia Hotel in Long Beach, CA, with Kerry Pulverman of de Luxe Weddings & Events. 

The

Avia's

meeting and events manager, Melissa Selmanson gave us a lovely tour of the property.  If you are looking for an ultra modern venue with fabulous decor and a stunning view this is the place to be!

The

Avia

has a variety of private event spaces ranging from intimate spaces for a plated reception dinner for 60 to the spacious Rooftop Pool Terrace for about 100.  I love the laid back lounge vibe of the Rooftop Pool Terrace.

I truly enjoyed not only the creative decor throughout the hotel, but also the atmosphere both inside and out.  The

Avia

is located adjacent to the Long Beach Pike so there is no shortage of dining and entertainment opportunities for all of your out of town guests.  The Avia can arrange a room block so your guests can enjoy the entire weekend with you.

Avia_Hotel_Long_Beach_Wedding_Photography.jpg

The

Avia Hotel

Avia_Hotel_Long_Beach_Wedding_Photography_Facade.jpg

The

Avia

Rooftop Pool Terrace

Avia_Hotel_Long_Beach_Wedding_Photography_1.jpg

These awesome shades make me feel like I'm on a sailboat :)

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Avia_Hotel_Long_Beach_Wedding_Photography_3.jpg

These Cabanas are HOT!

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There are eco friendly plants throughout the rooftop terrace.

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The Avia's Courtyard is another great space for a reception.  The different shapes and colors of furniture is a nice fun touch.

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I can totally picture some sweet Bridal Portraits on this couch.

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Notice the rainbow prism effect in the mirrors on the right side? Pretty Neat!

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The Avia's Buffet style Kitchen is perfect for a morning after Brunch.

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Kerry took this photo of me photographing the Courtyard. LOL.

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Check out Rob's artistic edits of the views from Avia. What a transformation. 

The Avia

is located at:

285 Bay Street

Long Beach, CA 90802-8161

(562)436-1047

Give Melissa a call to book your event today! We can't wait to be there to document all the fun :)

Contact Jessica Elizabeth:

Jessica@JessicaElizabethPhotography.com

How Sharpness and Aperture Relates and Does it Matter for You?

Jessica started Wedding Tip Thursdays, so I'm starting Photography Tip Tuesdays. but I'm starting one day early, on Monday...haha!

Having your subject in focus doesn't mean that your shot will be tack sharp. It's a bummer when you take an awesome photograph, zoom to actual pixel size, and realize that the subject is sightly soft, but still acceptably sharp. Still this should make you wonder, "Why does this happen?"

A friend and I recently discussed this sharpness issue and because of him I was intrigued enough to delve and figure it out for myself.

We both mentioned how we sometimes got shots we knew were IN focus and should've been TACK sharp. For you Nikon haters, its spectacular 51 pt AF system has nothing to do with this post =) (He was a Canon user)  

To my surprise, I found out it's partially due to Aperture; there's an f/# range for every lens where you can acheive optimal sharpness. I'll skip the explanation cuz it's too impractical for wedding photography. Instead I'll summarize on the general rules you can follow that should work for any lens. So here's some advice on delivering the sharpest images possible.

Shoot at least one stop higher than the widest aperture your lens has. So if your widest aperture is f/2.8, then your optimal range is one full stop higher than 2.8, that is between f/4 - 5.6. You should be shooting at f/4-5.6 anyway if you're doing portraits or group shots because you want your subject's body safely within the DOF.

Sharpness can also be affected by the # of glass elements in your lens. Sharpness is best at f/5.6-8 with a lens that has 6-7 elements. If you have, less than 6 elements then you should be shooting at f/11 for best results. But that doesn't mean to stop all the way down at f/22 because as you go higher you'll encounter diffraction. This also implies that the more glass elements that you have, the more ability you have to shoot at lower f/#'s and get that sharpness you so desire! No wonder why our 70-200 2.8 is so magical; it has 21 elements!!!

Does this matter to Wedding photographers?

If you make enlargements of your prints, and offer sizes larger than 11 x 14, you should be concerned, because the sharpness of your picture will determine how good that print looks when printing, BIG. If you're on a 12MP camera and you want to make prints the size of walls, then consider optimal f/stop into your shooting style, and of course, only when the situation permits you to.

Of course nowadays, all you have to do is do a little digital sharpening and voila! Instant awesomeness. After all, a great photo isn't about how technically perfect the shot was. It's also ridiculous to be remembering what is the optimal f/stop while at a wedding with a thousand other things running through your head. But such knowledge differentiates between a master and the apprentice, and the next time I am shooting a wide angle photograph of a bride and groom in their essence, a photograph that potentially could end up on their wall, I'm thinking twice. :) 

Now if you are a geek like me that likes to turn everything, even art, into an academic exercise, then go ahead and read the online references related to obtaining that elusive sharp image.

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/lens-elements-and-groups.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acutance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberration_in_optical_systems

This one's VERY gnarly, at least read page 39: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/articles/DoFinDepth.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number#cite_note-3

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/lens-sharpness.htm

Happy Birthday "Issa-Mom"!

I dedicate this blog post to our cat, Midnight because he has enlightened my life as my first pet and as Jessica's first "son". 

So whats with "Issa-Mom"?

"Issa-Mom" is Jessica's nick name for Midnight. She always greets Midnight by saying, "Hiiii! Issa-mamma Midnight pikapeee!" No, this is not some Jar-Jar Binks reference, but some type of italian-pokemonish-baby talk.... for our cat. 

Is it cute? I think so. Deranged? I think that too. Despite the fact that Midnight is male, Jess also insists on referring him as "mama". 

Midnight will be turning 4 years old in a few days. He's a giant, cuddly, ball of fur that loves being massaged, ripping our couches to shreds, hunting insects, and knows how to talk to us. "reeeeeeeooooowww" means "clean up my potty you lazy scum bags" and "Re-reeow" is I'm hungry. Midnight is very laid back these days and likes to observe us from afar, like an owl. But as much as he likes being alone, he can be very clingy too. 

Hold your thoughts and judgements, we're not crazy cat people. Just avid pet lovers. I've yet to cross that fine line between pet lover and crazy-cat person (or so I think), but Jessica is starting to show telltale signs... *sigh*. 

So since the lighting equipment I rented for an upcoming shoot arrived at the doorstep today I decided to test it out on Midnight so we could have something to keep in our digital scrapbooks. 

What a great model he was! For the most part, it was pretty easy. We put the softbox right next to Midnight's favorite spot, put on our 50 1.4 and away we went. 

Here, Midnight was a second or so from jumping right on top of our softbox. Thank goodness he didn't, I would've had to return a thousand dollars worth of equipment in a lot of broken pieces. 

My favorite shot

We love ya Mama-Midnight! 

Finally, here's a great photography tip. If you want to improve the way you catch instant moments... try taking pictures of black cats! BELIEVE US.... IT HAS HELPED A LOT. 

Rob

Ponte Winery | Wedding Photography Temecula CA

We are so excited to share these photos with all of you :)  As many of you may know, Robert and I were married at the Ponte Estate Winery just a little over a year ago, so it holds a special place in our hearts.

Kerry Pulverman of de Luxe Weddings & Events invited us to do a photo shoot for her company and the floral designs of The Olive Rose.  We had a blast.  

We did a total of four tablescapes, but I thought it would be more fun to break the posts up.  So, here is a tablescape that I like to call "Vintage Chic."

I enjoy the contrasts in color, a soft blue with a rich chocolate- so delicious :)  

Fusion graciously provided all the linens for our shoot. I LOVE this particular linen.  It caught my eye right away the first time I stepped foot in Fusion.   The color is subtle yet stunning. The crystals add a very nice touch that speak fancy without overdoing it. 

Kelly Manson from The Olive Rose was so great to work with.  She is sweet, creative, and flexible- a great combination.

I never thought I would like Peacock Feathers in an arrangement, but now I am seriously a fan.

I love detail shots (if you haven't already noticed)!  Details are an amazing way to bring extension of your persona into your wedding.  Check out this great vintage hurricane:

I am completely in love with this place setting. I just had to purchase this bowl, plate, and charger as soon as I saw them at the very dangerous TJ Maxx Homegoods!  Kerry Pulverman gets me in trouble almost every time she takes me there :)

Kerry found this beautiful brooch.  And Kelly dressed it up with her lovely Amnesia rose petals.

The peacock blue is definitely a hot color this year.  Totally eye catching for sure!

I really enjoyed how Kelly was able to design arrangements that were vintage and soft, yet modern at the same time- just my style!

Now.... it's Thursday... so you know what that means....

Here is a tip for all of you who have not yet chosen your wedding venue.

Do you want to be one of the first to be married in a fabulous Vineyard Pavilion in Wine Country that is not even built yet?  Well here is your chance.

The new event space is set to open at Ponte Winery this May, and we can't wait to be there to photograph the weddings it will host.

Ponte Winery has kindly shared with us a rendering of their gorgeous Vineyard Pavilion. Here is your sneak peak:

Awesome! Right?

Here is the direct link to Weddings at Ponte Winery, if you would like to learn more.

Ponte Winery is located at:

35053 Rancho California Road

Temecula, CA 92591

(951) 694-9444

Anaheim White House Wedding Reception | Photography

This week's blog for Wedding Tip Thursday's: Win the Wedding Reception Dinner of Your Dreams by Celebrating Valentine's Day in Style.

The Great Valentine's Day Giveaway

Calling all grooms....A local venue giveaway you can't afford to miss!

I know there are at least a few of you out there who have not booked your Valentine's dinner yet.  (That's okay, we won't tell.)  And for those of you who have already booked, you might want to add a second "surprise" dinner to your plans :)

Here's your chance to impress your future wife and look like a hero!  

The Anaheim White House Restaurant has recently unveiled their brand new West Wing.  To celebrate they are giving one lucky couple the wedding reception dinner of their dreams, especially if you love Italian food.

How do you win?

To enter the contest, simply make a reservation at the Anaheim White House to have dinner February 12-16, 2010.  Call (714)772-1381.  Please let them know that you would like to enter the contest when you call to make your Valentine's dinner reservation.

A winner will be selected at random and announced on February 19^th by owner Bruno Serato.

What do you win?

A Wedding Reception at the Anaheim White House for up to 100 guests valued at $20,000!

Which includes:

• Food
• Beverages
• Tables
• Gold Chivari Chairs (check out the custom fabric in the photo below)
• Silver charger plates with Ivory Napkins (see photo below)
• Chandelier Centerpieces (of course, photo below)
• Golden Linens
• Use of the new West Wing

With all the fabulousness that is included in this generous giveway by the Anaheim White House, you should have plenty of room in for music, flowers, coordination, and photography to book your favorite vendors! We have our favorite vendors too, of whom we have collaborated with. We can wholeheartedly stamp our JEP seal of approval for their dedication and passion to take care of you! So feel free to contact us if you want to ask for advice.

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD EATING!

Treat your significant other to a Valentine's Dinner in the Abraham Lincoln Room:

Look up to see the Fabric Swagging in the Lincoln Room:

A charming Eiffel Tower vase accents the table pretty nicely. These centerpieces are found on many of the tables in this cozy venue. 

Hold your Rehearsal Dinner in one the many private banquet rooms in the Main House:

At last....The West Wing:

Check out the intricate details on this Candelabra:

I never knew napkins could be handsome, but this one definitely is. Bow tie and all:

The attention to detail in the room's design and features is lovely.  Look at the fabric on this Chivari chair.  Yes, it is included in your wedding reception!  And no need to spend extra money for chair covers or sashes.

The gold linens, silver chargers and ivory napkins are also included.  What a deal!

Rob was so inspired by the wall art he wanted to add a little touch of 'old world renaissance' to the  photo. Check out the before and after transformation!

Seven 4 One Hotel | Wedding Photography| Laguna Beach

INTRODUCING.....

PLANNING TIP THURSDAYS!

What you ask, is planning tip Thursdays?  Well, considering that we are Photographers, not coordinators, ours tips are going to focus on all things PHOTOGENIC!  

Each week we will feature something that we think will add beauty or art to your wedding.  We may feature a venue, a vendor, or a piece of your wedding wardrobe :)

So, why Thursdays?  Well, we figured most of our clients are hard working individuals with Monday- Friday 9a-5p jobs.  By Thursday at lunch or night, you are probably surfing the net in need of some hard earned relaxation to gear up for Friday.  And- by posting on Thursday- you still have time to schedule appointments for the weekend with any of our featured vendors- giving you something extra special to look forward to on the weekend.

Stay tuned, this is gonna be fun!

Now on to this Thursday's featured Venue....

I recently visited the Seven 4 One Hotel in Laguna Beach with wedding coordinator, Kerry Pulverman from de Luxe Weddings & Events.  Any of our 2010 and 2011 brides interested in getting married in Laguna Beach, but can't break the bank on other hotels like the Surf and Sand  or the Montage, or if you just want a little something different, you should check out Seven 4 One. 

Seven 4 One is a unique boutique hotel with an amazingly modern vibe.  Some of the perks of this hotel, from a photography perspective are: 

1) You can rent out the entire 28 room hotel- so we won't have to worry about lookey loos or tourists getting in all the shots!

2) The guest rooms are super fun to shoot in! Perfect for shooting all the getting ready shots. The modern design and really cool couches and pillow make a nice backdrop.

3) You can project a slideshow onto the wall of the open air courtyard.  Perfect for playing your customized JEP slideshow at your rehearsal dinner or reception.  And there's plenty of comfy seats for viewing.

And another random, but interesting feature of the hotel: There is a bed on the outside deck.  You can literally lay outside and listen to the waves crash or star gaze with your new spouse.

I'm posting a few teaser photos from our brief visit below.  You should really check it out in person to capture the intimate experience this hotel has to offer.

Here is a shot of the contemporary couch in the Sky Suite- perfect for some fun getting ready shots:

And here is the fabulous couch in the Sea Suite:

The Sky Suite and Sea Suite both come complete with a wet bar, wine refrigerator, and queen sized sofa bed.   These suites are perfect for the bridal party to spend the night and wake up refreshed and ready for the big day.  There is plenty of room for the girls and guys to get ready in their respective suite.  And of course, room for PHOTOS!

Once everyone is ready you can head on down to the Courtyard for the Rehearsal Dinner, Ceremony, or Reception:

I really enjoyed the unique details and modern decor throughout the hotel.

Check out these super fun lamps:

The bed on the deck...Unique for sure:

Seven 4 One is located at:

741 South Coast Hwy.

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

(949) 494-6200

So brides and grooms, what do you think?

USC Engagement Shoot | Los Angeles Wedding Photography

We still can't believe it believe it!  2009 is over and 2010 is here!  

In 2009, Robert and I finally decided to officially launch Jessica Elizabeth Photography.  The dreams of creating our own Signature Brand of photography became a reality. But we couldn't have done it without all of our cherished supporters.  A big thank you goes out to our clients, our family, and our friends.

We would also like to thank the amazing and very talented photographers who allowed us the opportunity to second and third shoot with them over the course of 2009!

For our final shoot of 2009, we thought it was only fitting to invite two up and coming wedding photographers to join us for an Engagement Shoot so that they could have the same opportunity we had so generously been given by other photographers this year.  Thanks to fellow photographers Mark Williamson and Peyton Cooke for tagging along with us for Marisa and John's shoot. Check out their photos from the shoot at their respective links above.  Mark and Peyton- although you may be "competition" we are happy to call you friends :)

A little bit about Marisa and John and the shoot...

Robert and I met Marisa and John back in June 2009.  We sat at Starbucks and talked about venues, pretty places to take photos, college and life.  Since John attended USC, the campus with its lovely brick buildings made a great backdrop for the shoot.  I remember one of my favorite dates with Robert was when he made a little picnic for me at CSUF, so we decided to create a mini picnic setup for Marisa and John.

All six of us had such a fun time enjoying each other's company, that we shot for almost 3 hours.  And after that Marisa and John joined us for a a bite to eat at the world famous Pink's in Hollywood! Delicious!

Marisa and John, we are super excited to photograph your wedding this June! We can't wait to see your lovely wedding gown and all the beautiful details :)

Best wishes to all in 2010!

Jess & Rob

And now, the to the photos. Look how CUUUTE THEY ARRREE!

Of course, we had to get a couple with Tommy the Trojan!

I must give Peyton credit for asking Marisa and John to climb up into the window sill, so we could get this awesome shot! KISS CAM! (inside joke)

A few candids with USC's iconic red bricks as the backdrop.

Doesn't that look gorgeous!????? I love the curves! oh, and you guys look good too! So in love...

Yep, that's me (Jessica) helping Marisa and John get cozy for their picnic.

They got to enjoy some alone time. Well, minus the four cameras, that is :)

Love the soft golden light of the afternoon.

And of course, it wouldn't be a Jessica Elizabeth Photography shoot, without Rob climbing a tree or a balcony to get a shot!

The view from above:

An Autumn Romance:

All these colors are a pretty rare sight to see for all of us Southern Californians. Good eye, Rob!

Rob embracing his inner monkey to shake the leaves from the tree.

Love the GQ poses from Marisa and John! 

Although Mark and Peyton, each created their own blog posts for this shoot, we still wanted to feature our favorite from each here, although, we did edit them slightly.

Thanks to Mark for capturing this shot:

Thanks to Peyton for capturing this shot:

Lastly, here are a few of Rob's custom edits:

A Winter Engagement

December is not a big month for weddings.  But this December we were pretty busy with shooting corporate holiday parties and engagement sessions.  One of these "engagement sessions" was actually part of a series of shoots put together by the PhotogShootout group.  PhotogShootout is a group of photographers that get together to network, learn, help each other grow their business, and of course shoot!  The December shoot was held in Claremont, CA.  Rob and I had never been to Claremont before, but we were both amazed by how cute and quaint the downtown area is.  Any of our brides and grooms still looking for a place to shoot their engagement session?  This may be a great place :)

The scene below was shot at the Claremont Train Station.  I LOVED the costuming and make-up for this shoot.  I especially loved the awesome vintage red coat, the headband, and the suitcase. 

Rob and I were so excited about these photos, that we actually ordered our first sample album.  Thanks to all the organizers of the event.  Thanks Steven and Alissa! You were awesome models! 

Here are some of the spreads that were included:

Coyote Hills Golf Course Wedding Photography: Fullerton, CA

A few weeks ago I had the honor of tagging along with fellow photographer Joel Austell at the Coyote Hills Country Club.  Interestingly, Joel and I had gone to film school together, but I didn't know he shot weddings until earlier this year when he shot a wedding for a classmate of mine.  Small world.

I had such a great time at the wedding.  Melissa and Gregg were both super sweet.  The day was full of love and laughter: just the way I like it!  

Melissa and Gregg,

Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your wedding day!  Best wishes for the future.

- Jessica

This photo captures the emotion of the day pretty accurately:

Check out Melissa's fabulous  Christian Louboutin shoes, along with her beautiful rings and bouquet:

And the dress:

Some romantic portraits of the bride and groom:

Shade Hotel Wedding Photography: Ashleigh & Luke

This past Sunday Robert & I had the pleasure of photographing Ashleigh & Luke's wedding at the fabulous Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach.  Ashleigh & Luke were the first couple to officially hire us to shoot their wedding.   When I told Rob the good news, he said "are they on crack?"  But in all seriousness we were so honored that I think we may have even been more nervous about the wedding day than they were.  We wanted their photos to be amazing after all the faith they had put in us, so we teamed up with some local photographers and actually shot 7 weddings before Ashleigh and Luke's.  Check out the results:

Ashleigh's Winnie Couture gown hanging from above the Shade Hotel's second floor balcony...

The "First Look"...

Luke's Reaction...

Luke escorting Ashleigh's Mom down the aisle....

Ashleigh and her handsome Grandfather...

The ring exchange...

The Kiss...

Ashleigh & Luke ROLLINS!!!!

Some fun post ceremony pics...

After the ceremony we headed down to the Beach with the Bridal Party:

It's really rare to have bridal party members that don't dread being in the group photos, but as you can see this group was surprisingly different.  They were so full of awesomeness that they even had their own signature poses like:

The "Magical Jump"

and the "Heisman Trophy"

and this one- PMP!!!:

If you think getting 8-10 people in a group photo is difficult, try 90!!!!

Here's some fun details of their day-

Ashleigh's hot shoes:

And their beautiful rings on the awesome Shade Hotel Sink!

The cake...

A couple more photos of the Newlyweds...

I know this is a crazy long blog post, but I would like to also acknowledge all of the great work from the vendors who were a part of Ashleigh & Luke's day:

JoLise and her team at the Shade Hotel

Kerry at de Luxe Weddings & Events

Anne at Pocket Full of Petals 

Epic Entertainment

Lido Bakery

San Juan Capistrano Wedding Venue: The Villa

This weekend Rob and I attended an open house for one of the OC's newest wedding venues: The Villa San Juan Capistrano.  For all you OC brides and grooms who dream of celebrating the sacrament of Marriage at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, then The Villa San Juan Capistrano is the place for you.  The Villa is literally across the street from the mission. 

The Villa which was built in 1920 has a rustic and very romantic feel.  It has many fun little locations for great wedding photo ops. We probably could have posted tons more photos, but here's a few to share. 

What are you waiting for? Check it out!

The floral design in the photos below were provided by the ever amazing and fabulous:  Square Root.

The lovely and delicious cupcakes were provided by: Frostings Cupcakes .

Claremont Wedding Photography | A Winter Engagement

December is not a big month for weddings.  But this December we were pretty busy with shooting corporate holiday parties and engagement sessions.  One of these "engagement sessions" was actually part of a series of shoots put together by the PhotogShootout group.  PhotogShootout is a group of photographers that get together to network, learn, help each other grow their business, and of course shoot!  The December shoot was held in Claremont, CA.  Rob and I had never been to Claremont before, but we were both amazed by how cute and quaint the downtown area is.  Any of our brides and grooms still looking for a place to shoot their engagement session?  This may be a great place :)

The scene below was shot at the Claremont Train Station.  I LOVED the costuming and make-up for this shoot.  I especially loved the awesome vintage red coat, the headband, and the suitcase. 

Rob and I were so excited about these photos, that we actually ordered our first sample album.  Thanks to all the organizers of the event.  Thanks Steven and Alissa! You were awesome models! 

Here are some of the spreads that were included: