Sat - March 24, 2007

Engagement Photos in Laguna Beach

Sometime I get a little nervous when people hire me without meeting me. It happens often when I book destination weddings, and lately it is happening more and more for the local weddings. These days, most people have busy schedules and don't always have time to come over and meet me in person before they hire me. They see enough of my work on my website, and they get a sense of who I am via the blog, so they obviously feel comfortable enough to book me... but until we actually meet face to face, you never really know if you are going to hit it off, or be on the same page, or whatever.

Thankfully I had a great time with my couple yesterday and I am really looking forward to their wedding in September. These two were referred to me from a couple whose wedding I shot in Kauai a couple years ago (thanks Leigh & Aaron!) and we met for the first time just a few minutes before we were going to shoot. I always try to explain to my clients that I like to show up at a wedding, "as if I were an old friend with a fancy camera". I know that sounds like a hokey sales pitch, but I truly believe it in my heart.

We had a blast running around the beach, getting wet and capturing some of my signature "relaxed portraits", and I have no doubt we will have a fabulous time at the wedding!

Posted at 12:36 PM     Read More  

Sun - March 18, 2007

March 17th Wedding at the Nixon Library

Wedding season is here again! Marisa and I shot a wonderful wedding to kick off the season in style. It was at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda and it was a beautiful St. Patrick's Day wedding. 75 degrees, nice breeze, cool people, great vendors to work with... oh, and another beautiful bride. Peter Merry was the DJ and the catering was provided by one of the groomsmen Mark, who owns Creme De La Creme.

I knew it was going to be a great day for photos when I found out Square Root was taking care of the florals and decor. They always do an awesome job and today was no exception:








All the girls were fun and easy to shoot:




And the bride certainly knew how to work the camera:




The guys cleaned up alright too:






I love these moments, especial how excited the bride is:










Talk about relaxed portraits:




This one will be a featured image on my website:




The reception was in a replica of the East Room at the White House:






The first dance:




The couple rented one of those old school photo booths for the guests to take photos and make a scrapbook for the couple, as well as take home a souvenir. The bride and groom also had to get in on the action:




Marisa and I also had to join in the fun:




You can check out a few more shots on Marisa's blog. Becker specializes in destination weddings.

Posted at 01:07 AM     Read More  

Tue - March 13, 2007

Party of 5 Engagement Photos

I just got done with a long day hosting another Party of 5 workshop (new dates announced) and we shot an awesome couple down in San Juan Capistrano again. These two will be tying the knot in July at the fabulous Montage Resort in Laguna Beach and they were so cool to come down and model for us. I smell a sample album in the works!

Check how easy these two made my job:








My favorite shot of the day:




(As you can tell, these two think I am really, really funny!)


I'll post some of the photographers as they email me their files!

Posted at 10:46 PM     Read More  

Mon - March 12, 2007

[ b ] Hilarious

I absolutely love this month's postcard. I think it is a perfect example of what I mean by a relaxed portrait. Julian was one of the coolest grooms I shot last year and we we just cracking up the whole time when we were shooting the portraits of him and his groomsmen.

I also love the shallow depth of field that my 85/1.2mm lens yields when it is shot wide open:

Posted at 04:28 PM     Read More  

Tue - March 6, 2007

Bermuda Wedding & Honeymoon Magazine

I just got the latest copy of Bermuda Wedding & Honeymoon magazine and it is chalk full of my photographs from Yessi & Julio's wedding last fall that coincidentally took place in Bermuda.

It was an awesome wedding, and within hours of posting the images on my blog, the publisher contacted me requesting images. We were happy to provide them and I was very pleased with the reproduction they did.

Not only did they feature the wedding, but they used several other images throughout the magazine. I really loved shooting in Bermuda and would love to go back, so if you are planning a destination wedding there, please drop me a line.

Unfortunately the magazine doesn't publish the articles online, and I don't have a scanner, so you'll just have to check the blog post to see some images.

Posted at 12:52 AM     Read More  

Sun - March 4, 2007

Sweet light in Laguna Beach

I just got home from a last minute engagement session in Laguna Beach. They couple is getting married next month out in Palm Springs and I am really looking forward to their wedding. When we started shooting, it was a bit cloudy, which I actually prefer for some nice soft light, but the sun finally made an appearance when it counted, right as it was setting, providing some perfect light for some relaxed portraits.

That nice soft light I was talking about:




I love the expressions and movement in this shot:




Here's the sweet light. This was taken as I almost got ran over on PCH. I didn't think it was funny, but the were cracking up:




Finally, after the shoot, I took a little walk along the beach and snapped a sunset shot or two. This one is straight out of the camera, no photoshop:

Posted at 08:20 PM     Read More  

Sat - March 3, 2007

New Client/Girlfriend/Super Model

Well... look who hired me to take some photos of her: The fabulous Jessica Claire! In the three+ years I've known her, we've taken a zillion photos, but we've never actually scheduled a real shoot, where she had to actually made an appointment, and got her hair and make up done, etc...

Well, that girl has a lot going on, speaking engagements, a new line of camera bags, and basically needed some nice publicity photos. Here are a few of her favorites:





This one is my favorite:




Don't worry, gave her a little discount! She only has to pay for dinner the next 25 times we go out.

Posted at 11:16 AM     Read More  

Wed - February 21, 2007

A Becker Bride on American Idol

Ok, if you've spend any time ever reading my blog you know I am not a fan of reality TV, but since one of my past brides made the cut for the top 24 on American Idol, I may actually tune in this week.

Sabrina Sloan, is a gorgeous, talented and incredible person. I have never personally heard her sing, but I recall when I shot her wedding, she was acting in New York doing Off Broadway plays and recently moved back to LA to act and sing. I know that even if she doesn't make it on Idol, she will make it one of these days because she just has the indescribable "it" quality. SHe has that charisma that most famous people have and she also is kind, humble and rooted with a strong faith. It would be great to see her win.

You can see her page on AmericanIdol.com and her interview here.





Here is one of her bridal portraits:




If you are an Idol watcher, tune in and vote!

Posted at 12:52 AM     Read More  

Mon - February 19, 2007

February 18th Wedding at Rancho Las Lomas

Wow! Back to back wedding so early in the season! I am hurting a bit this Monday morning, but it was a great weekend. I am glad I bought that hot tub last summer!

Yesterday, I shot at one of my favorite Southern California wedding locations... Rancho Las Lomas. It was another beautiful day, a little cooler than Saturday's wedding... around 70, but a glorious day none the less.

I take pride in my "relaxed portraits" and they are a hallmark of my style, but this shot takes the cake. As soon as I arrived, I ran into the bride and groom just hanging out. I think I may have to start a t-shirt and robe series for those couples who see each other before the ceremony! ;)




Rancho Las Lomas is a gorgeous location for a wedding:




Nice kicks:




Flowers by Fantasy Floral:




A few more relaxed portraits:








The bride was very expressive:






My friend Masen came along and caught the flowergirl pelting me with rose petals (more photos will be on his blog soon):




The resulting image:




A couple more of the couple:






I think we have an early frontrunner in the cake of the year contest:




The cake topper was from her parents wedding in the 60's:




Cute flower girls (technical note to photographers: Canon 50mm/1.2 wide open. ISO 200, 580 Speedlight TTL, foofing off back and left wall/ceiling):




And if you read the fine print of my wedding contract it reads: "the photographer(s) shall be entitled to AT LEAST one slice of wedding cake":

Posted at 10:07 AM     Read More  

Sat - February 17, 2007

February 17th Wedding

It's hard to believe it's winter here because the weather was glorious with temperatures in the mid 80's at this afternoon's wedding. The couple got married at the Central Baptist Church in Huntington Beach and then had the reception at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. It really was a great day and I was excited to get out and shoot again. I've known this couple for a while and it was awesome to be a part of their day. A few of my past couples were also their today.

Cool flowers & shoes:






The girls:






The bride:




The groom:




The boys:






The ring bearer:




Marisa caught this great moment of the flower girl throwing the petals at the ring bearer:




More shots on her blog soon.

Workin' it:




These guys were easy to shoot:








A couple from the reception:






Oh yeah, how could I forget... Tim Holmes from Red Door was in the house serving as best man. Or was that best dancer?:

Posted at 11:03 PM     Read More  

Anticipation

I am actually posting this from the wedding reception I am shooting this afternoon. We have a few minutes during the meal and I found a WiFi signal. I love how these girls were anticipating the start of the ceremony just as y'all are anticipating the rest of my images right? They'll be up later tonight. My vendor meal just arrived and I need some energy!

Posted at 01:48 PM     Read More  

Tue - February 13, 2007

February Party of 5 w/ Engagement Photos

I had another great group of photographers at my Party of 5 workshop today and I met a wonderful couple who volunteered to model for us since the original couple had a work commitment come up at the last minute.

My video crew also came down to shoot some behind the scenes footage for the upcoming launch of the [ b ] school.

I think the groom got tricked into coming down (or bribed, or threatened), but he was a good sport and we had a fun time:




These two were very into each other:




They also had a nice, serious model look to them:




They handled the paparazzi quite well:




And even did a post shoot interview for our cameras:




The crew:

Posted at 09:55 PM     Read More  

Sat - February 10, 2007

Kendra

This afternoon I shot a young lady who used to live across the street from my parents a few years ago. The last time I saw her, she was like 13 or 14 years old. Now she's 19 and trying to get into modeling and/or acting so she came over for some head shots a few images to get her portfolio going. Here's what we got:

Posted at 04:38 PM     Read More  

Fri - February 9, 2007

Mon - February 5, 2007

Beautiful Becker Brides

I don't know how anyone ever got the idea that I only shoot gorgeous brides??? ;)

You can make your own slideshows for free at slide.com

If any of my brides would like to put one of these on their wedding websites, theknot.com profile pages or myspace pages, just send me a list with a few of you favorite shots and I'll get you the files when I am back in the country next week.

Posted at 02:12 PM     Read More