Results tagged “Wedding Photography” from Destination Wedding Photography - Destination Wedding Photographers, Arizona

 

A couple of months ago, we had a client who really wanted to hire us and had every intention of doing so until she fell on hard times and could no longer afford us ... or the wedding she had originally envisioned.  She was determined though, to have her wedding and despite current circumstances, still make it a day to remember!  Her determination to overcome the disappointments she faced made a strong impression on us and in turn, we offered our services to her at no cost.  Over and over, she told us that we helped make her dreams come true and that she was forever thankful.  In fact, it was us who felt thankful.  She reminded us of how truly fortunate we are to be doing something we love for a living and it felt wonderful to give back!  We were privileged to be given the opportunity!  We will be posting her wedding in an upcoming blog (and no, the photo above is not from that wedding ... it was a very unique event and we don't want to spoil it.)

 

For this reason we will be making this an annual event.  We are giving away a wedding in 2011 to the couple who presents the most compelling story to us.  Please let us know what your story is.  We are excited to offer this opportunity to a very special and deserving couple and hope if you come across this posting and have a story, you will be willing to share it with us.  The rules are simple.

 

1.  The wedding must take place in 2011 and we must not already be booked.

2.  The wedding can take place anywhere, Arizona or otherwise.  If the wedding takes place outside of Arizona, travel fees must be covered by the couple.

3.  Please provide us with as much information as possible about your wedding (location, venue, date, special wedding day events, etc.) and at least one photo of yourselves for posting on our blog in the event you win.  You must already have the wedding date and venue firmly established.

4.  Tell us your story and be as open an honest as you can with it.

5.  This giveaway applies to new inquiries only.

 

Email us at sierrablancophoto@yahoo.com .  We will be choosing a winner at the end of October.  The winner will be provided with up to 8 hours wedding day coverage by Sierra Blanco Photography, a DVD of edited, high-resolution digital images with print rights and a private, on-line slideshow of your event. 

 

We adore traveling and when we get the opportunity to mix a beautiful wedding with an exotic location, well ... it really doesn't get any better than that for us!  Over the past few years we have been steadily building our destination wedding business and have been blessed with many unique opportunities that have in turn allowed us to see many wonderful places we wouldn't have otherwise seen.  What we have found in working in this segment of the wedding business is that all too often, couples settle for a resort photographer or something along those lines and ultimately end up with a beautiful wedding in an exotic location, but with no really stunning images to show for it.  For 2011, we have decided to do a destination wedding photography giveaway.  The only costs to the winner will be that of travel.  The rules are simple.

 

1.  The wedding must take place in 2011 and we must not already be booked.

2.  No place is too exotic or too far.  Locations in the continental US are welcomed as well.  Sorry, but weddings in Arizona will not be considered for this giveaway.

3.  Please provide us with as much information as possible about your wedding (location, venue, date, special wedding day events, etc.) and at least one photo of yourselves for posting on our blog in the event you win.  You must already have the wedding date and location firmly established.

4.  Tell us the story behind why you chose a destination wedding for yourselves.

5.  This giveaway applies to new inquiries only.

 

Email us at sierrablancophoto@yahoo.com .  We will be choosing a winner at the end of October.  The winner will be provided with up to 8 hours wedding day coverage by Sierra Blanco Photography, a Trash-the Dress session on location the day after the wedding, a DVD of edited, high-resolution digital images with print rights and a private, on-line slideshow of your event.

First, let me begin by saying ... I'm still here :-)!  I have had a lot of people asking questions lately wondering why I'm not blogging anymore.  The main reson is that life got extremely crazy starting this past spring and, though I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I'm not quite there yet.  Some big things happened for us at the beginning of the summer (no, not a baby) and I will be letting you in on that sometime very soon.  I do have a LOT, LOT, LOT of postings to catch up on very soon and I can't wait to share them.  We have had a lot of beautiful weddings and shoots (some near and some far away), so stay tuned ... I promise there will be plenty to see over the next couple of months!!

 

Until then, I did want to share this photo.  The wedding took place last spring (one of many that haven't been posted yet) and a photo from it won 9th place in the "Full Frame Black & White" category in the Quarter 1, 2010 WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association) Competition.  As always, I am honored to be recognized among such a talented group of photographers!  Thanks to Sue and Billy for trusting me to capture such special moments as this one that occurred during their "first meeting"!

Lisa and Chris chose to do a day-after shoot in Sedona, the location of their wedding, since they are not from Arizona.  They chose not to dress back up in their wedding attire though, opting for a more relaxed, fun feel.

I guess we could have just pitched a tent at the Sedona Golf Resort ... Lisa and Chris were married there on September 20th, the day after Marie and Scott's wedding :-).  The day was much nicer in terms of weather - no rain.  It was another beautiful ceremony and another crazy reception (not to mention emotional) and these two were so much fun to work with.  Both serve in the military and they have the military to thank for bringing them together.  They are a wonderful couple and we enjoyed the chance to get to know them!

Marie and Scott were married September 19th at the Sedona Golf Resort.  The day began under very stormy skies, which didn't sit too well with Scott, but as if by magic, just as the ceremony began, the rain lifted and the clouds above lit up in spectacular fashion!  It really was quite an amazing day and the reception was wild to say the very least (many drinks found themselves broken on the dance floor that night.)  We were so pleased to be a part of it.  Thank you both and congratulations!

We are back to blogging!!!  Well, at least for a while.  Our usual way of blogging is to get a posting up within a week or two of a wedding or shoot so our clients can have a sneak peak before they get their photos.  Unfortunately this has not been the case this fall.  Our fall season has been one of our busiest with 17 weddings to date, and it is not over yet (2 more to go) ... oh, and that doesn't include portrait shoots.  For now we are having to blog as we finish deadlines, but for those that follow us, keep checking back ... we have a lot of great postings to come including an amazing wedding in Mexico, a wedding in West Palm Beach, Florida complete with a traditional Chinese Lion Dance, a couple of HOT trash-the-dress shoots and much, much more!!  Thanks for visiting :-)!!

 

Sarah and Jon were married September 18th at Highlands Church in Scottsdale.  Jon serves in the marine corps and looked very handsome in his dress blues.  Sarah was just plain stunning ... and man, could she pose - can't wait for the trash-the-dress shoot!  The wedding was beautiful and the couple was wonderful to work with.  Thank you both so much for having us as your wedding photographers.  We had such a great time!!

Shannon and Dave were married September 17th at Merry-Go-Round Rock on Schnebly Hill in Sedona.  It was a beautiful day - complete with those wonderful Schnebly Hill breezes - and a beautiful ceremony full of emotion.  They held their reception down in Phoenix the same day, so I was only commissioned for a couple of hours to cover the ceremony and formals afterwards.  Thank you both so much for having me as your wedding photographer!

To any bride who thinks a cloudy or stormy day on her wedding day is a bad thing - think again!  As long as it isn't pouring, those storm clouds can add drama and saturate colors beyond your wildest dreams.  It also lends a soft light to faces, making for lovely, evenly lit portraits.  In fact, some of the most stunning and powerful wedding photos we have taken were captured on those dreaded stormy days.

 

Case in point, the wedding of Sara and Drew.  They were married September 12th, 2009 in an outdoor ceremony at Red Rock Crossing surrounded by family, friends, their dogs ... and storm clouds heralding thunder and spewing lightning bolts in every direction.  Fortunately it never rained more than a few drops during the ceremony and formal photos afterwards, and boy did it deliver a boatload of great images!  The only scare came while getting ready.  The bottom did fall out, complete with torrential rain and hail all worthy of starting another great flood.  It soon waned and all was good for the rest of the day.

 

As you can easily tell from the photos, two key players in this wedding were Sara and Drew's ridiculously cute dogs, Cookie, the chihuahua, and Chili, the daschund.  Also of great importance was the attendance of Sara's grandparents, which was very touching.  Thank you both so much!  Sara, you were a stunning bride and Drew, you kept us laughing all day.  We had such a great time and absolutely fell in love with those adorable dogs of yours :-).

 

Oh, I almost forgot the big story of the day!  As Sara was taking her walk down the aisle with her parents, it became clear that some big revelation had hit Drew like a ton of bricks.  No, it wasn't that he was about to leave the single life behind or anything like that ... Drew forgot the ring.  Oooops!  He muttered under his breath, "She's going to kill me."  Sara was great though and just laughed it off when the time came.  It was so sweet too as everyone started offering their rings to Drew to use in lieu of the real thing.  Just after arriving to Agave of Sedona for the reception, Drew prompty held out the real ring, humbly presenting it to Sara and placing it on her finger. Disaster averted.  Good recovery Drew :-)!!

 

I was very excited to hear that I placed in the prestigious WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association) Quarter 2 Contest!  As always, the competition is very stiff and I am always pleased with any placing among such a talented group of photographers.  The award was for sixteenth place in the Trash the Dress Portrait category.  I love doing TTD sessions because they are so much fun and I really get a chance to tap into my creative side.  Special thanks to the always beautiful Aubrey for putting up with swamps and alligators and mosquitos for this wonderful shoot ... your AWESOME!!  Funny thing is, she hates her feet :-).  Love ya!!

 

Hellooooo ... we are back :-)!!!  No we didn't die, we have just been gone for several weeks for both vacation and work and there will be plenty of upcoming postings to show where we have been and what we have been up to.  But first we have a couple of postings that we need to post from before we left.

 

Kelly and Evan are getting married in Flagstaff next May.  Neither of them live in state, but they made a trip out this way to get some wedding planning out of the way.  They figured that it would be the perfect time to schedule their engagement session, and they couldn't have been more right.  A few weeks ago Flagstaff's famous fields of sunflowers were in their full glory and we definitely took advantage.  They also wanted some shots around Sedona, so we took them to Merry-Go-Round Rock on Schnebly Hill for sunset - which was quite spectacular by the way!  We had a great time guys!!

Kelsey and Thor were married August 9th at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.  We loved everything about this wedding - the couple (they were stunning), the venue, the peacock feather and star theme, the weather (beautiful and cool) - just everything!

 

Lowell Observatory is one of Flagstaff's big claims to history.  Our 9th planet, Pluto, was discovered here in 1930 and though it's classification has since been downgraded to that of "dwarf planet" it still holds a special place in our solar system, in our hearts, and at Lowell Observatory.  A beautiful sculptural exibit of all the planet's (including Pluto) is on display right now and it made for some great props in photos!

 

Kelsey and Thor, you were both so wonderful and gracious, as were your family and friends, and we so much enjoyed being a part of your big day.  It was truly a pleasure and we hope you love your photos as much as we do!  Now for the TTD session :-).

We were extremely honored, not to mention excited, to have our image on the cover of the July/August issue of the Wedding Chronicle!!  The image was taken at Armanda and Jonathan's wedding in Monument Valley last December and their wedding was also featured inside the magazine.  You can pick up a copy at any AJ's store in Phoenix!

This is how far behind I am on my blogging ... I always try to have the photos posted before the clients get their images so that they get a little sneak peak.  Just as I began this posting I got an email from Michelle and Eric letting us know that they had just gotten their DVD.  Up side is that the email was very sweet and they loved their photos!!  Thanks guys :-)!

 

A couple of weeks ago Michelle and Eric made their way from Phoenix to Flagstaff for their engagement shoot.  We started out downtown and finished up on the mountain, stopping by one of our many sunflower-filled meadows along the way.

 

Michelle and Eric, we had such a blast with you both!!  This was such a fun engagement shoot and you both made taking great images extremely easy.  You were even willing to run so we could get photos as the train went by ... awesome!  We can't wait for the wedding in November!  See ya then!

Kendall and Ryan were married July 11th at Little America in Flagstaff.  They were great to work with at their engagement shoot and equally great to work with at their wedding!!  The couple lives in Phoenix but met at NAU and therefore chose to have their wedding in the high country.

 

It was a beautiful day, and though it did look a little threatening in the way of rain early on, by ceremony time the skies were perfect and so were the temperatures!  I personally loved Ryan's choice of suits (and shoes and socks) for himself and his groomsmen ... gotta love men who wear socks to match the bridesmaids dresses - lime green by the way :-).  And of course Kendall looked simply amazing in her beautiful lace covered dress!

 

Thank you both so much for having us as your wedding photographers and for including us in your beautiful day!  Enjoy!  We also greatly enjoyed working with Shane Brandolini of DJ M4!

 

The bug didn't come with the dress ... it was just passing through :-).

We have been fortunate this year to have quite a few publications in several magazines and we are really excited about them!!  Aside from the ones shown here, one of our images made the cover of the July/August issue of the Wedding Chronicle.  We were blown away when we got the news from the editor and we will definitely be posting that when we receive a copy!

 

Arizona Weddings Magazine featured Armanda and Jon's wedding in Monument Valley and they used another image from their wedding as a full page spread to introduce their "Northern Arizona" section.

It is always an honor to place in any competition but especially the Wedding Photojournalist Association's quarterly contests.  The competition spans the globe and the photographers are extremely talented.  I am happy to say that I one of my images placed fourteenth in the Ceremony category.  I love this image and am proud it placed!  Thank you to Payvand and Jeremy for allowing me to photograph their exceptionally beautiful Persian wedding!

This was by far one of the coolest weddings we have ever had the good fortune to photograph!!!  There were even props (I finally found a bride who voluntarily, and of her own accord, posed with a tumbleweed) and a really cool ring bearer with a personality of his own!  Enough said ... this one speaks for itself!

Olivia and Ashley were married at the Sedona Golf Resort on June 20th.  Olivia began her preparations at the Enchantment Resort and finished up at the venue.  The couple lucked up with partly cloudy skies and nice cool temperatures - at least for the time of year ... it can get really hot in Sedona in late June :-).

 

Olivia and Ashley put a lot of time and effort into planning this wedding and it showed in the details.  Ashley was extremely nervous before the ceremony, which was so sweet, but was completely relaxed for the reception.  Thank you both so much!  We enjoyed working with you as much on the wedding day as we did on the engagement shoot a year ago :-)!  It was a beautiful wedding and we wish you both all the best!

 

We want to thank Yvonne Chavez, www.northernarizonaweddingplanner.com and www.touchoftradition.com , who did an amazing job coordinating this event!  We also wish to thank Jason Hicks for doing such a wonderful job assisting us and creating some beautiful images to add to Olivia and Ashley's wedding day story!

 

Christie and Clint were married at the Amberian Peaks Lodge in Greer on June 13th.  Christie initially contacted us last August, on the first day of our trip to Hawaii for our own wedding as a matter of fact.  I was driving the road to Hana (a very desolate road) and actually had to pull into a local park to talk to her because we kept breaking up :-).  We hit it off immediately on the phone and we have been looking forward to this wedding ever since!

 

We adore the White Mountains, especially in early June when everything is springing to life and the meadows are covered in wild purple irises.  Greer is one of the most beautiful of all the small towns that dot this vast natural area.  I was soooo excited when Christie said they would be having their wedding there!

 

When we showed up it was pouring rain and things looked quite bleak as far as the weather was concerned.  Christie and Clint were troopers though and didn't let it bother them in the least.  When it was mentioned to Christie that they were planning on moving the ceremony inside, she replied with a determined "NO."  She had decided on the White Mountains (they live in Phoenix) for its natural beauty and nothing was going to stop her from getting married amongst the tall pines - not even torrential rains.  She was kind enough though to check with us to be sure the photo equipment would be OK.  We smiled and told her not to worry about it ... we had protective measures in place for that kind of thing :-).

 

And so the ceremony went on as planned and Mother Nature played nice and 15 minutes before it was to begin, all the rain went away and the skies cleared and it was lovely!  The weather held out the rest of the day and it couldn't have been more perfect.  Christie and Clint, thank you both so much for having us as your wedding photographers!  It was so wonderful working with you, both at your engagement shoot and at your wedding.  I know you have been eagerly awaiting this posting - enjoy!!

 Kristy and Paul were married on June 6th at Tlaquepaque in Sedona.  Their ceremony was held at the chapel and the reception took place at the Secret Garden Cafe, both in Tlaquepaque.  Maria Grace, www.twoheartsonelifeweddings.com , was the officiant and we always love working with her!

 

Paul is an F-16 pilot and his job will soon take the newlyweds away from Arizona to new horizons in the Sunshine State of Florida.  With them will be their new addition ... that's right, they are expecting their first baby - though you would never know it from the way Kristy looked in her beautiful sheath gown - amazing :-)!!!

 

Kristy and Paul, thank you both so much!  You were a pleasure to work with and your families and friends were wonderful as well!  Can't wait for the next shoot ... either a maternity shoot or a baby shoot :-).  Enjoy and congratulations!

Molly and Joel were married in an intimate ceremony among close family and friends on May 30th at the lovely L'Auberge de Sedona.  They chose the creekside venue which is always so quaint and beautiful in the springtime.  Their ceremony took place under a canopy of emerald green trees by a babbling stream as baby ducks swam close to their mothers ... can't get much more idyllic than that :-)!!

 

The couple followed their morning ceremony with a lovely lunch.  By the way, the kids in this wedding were the cuttest ever, as you will soon see.  Molly is a photographer herself, so we had much to talk about ... she even did a wedding once, but thought it was too much work. That is so true but it can be very rewarding, especially when you get clients like these two :-).  Molly and Joel, thank you for having us as your wedding photographers.  You made us feel right at home and it was so wonderful working with you both!!

We photographed Kendall and Ryan a few weeks ago in Flagstaff for their engagement shoot.  They brought along their adorable Yorkie-Poo, Keighley to pose in some of the photos (and I must say, she did a great job.)  Ryan's grandmother also came along and was nice enough to "babysit" Keighley in the down time :-).

 

The weather looked menacing but held out long enough for us to finish the shoot, at which time it poured.  Kendall and Ryan, we had a great time and are looking forward to your wedding in July ... wow, not to far away :-).  See you then!

OK, I admit it ... I am drowning right now between deadlines and traveling for weddings, which is why I am sooooo beind on my blogging.  After the next two engagement postings, I still have 4 weddings to blog and 2 more will be added to that list after this coming weekend.  So for all of those clients patiently waiting to catch a sneak peak, I swear I haven't forgotten you and I will get to them as soon as I can :-).

 

On to Robin and Jeff's engagement shoot.  We conducted this shoot a few weeks ago in Sedona - Red Rock Crossing and Merry-Go-Round Rock to be precise.  Though it began with a little rain it cleared out nicely, leaving us with a great sky and beautiful light.

 

Robin and Jeff, it was a pleasure getting to know you both better and we can't wait for your wedding in October!  Enjoy the sneak peak!

Two weeks ago Amber and Troy traveled to Phoenix from Los Angeles for their wedding at the always spectacular Desert Botanical Gardens (one of my very favorite venues)!!  The Chihuly exhibit was still going on, making for great backdrops to photos.  Troy is a director and couldn't resist getting behind the cameras every now and again - I totally understand though.  I was the same way at my own wedding last year :-).

 

There were many special elements to this wedding including Troy's mom officiating the ceremony, which made for some wonderfully tender moments.  The most exicting element though was Amber's pregnancy.  I loved her attitude towards being five months pregnant and wearing a wedding dress - her words, "it's obvious, so I figured why not flaunt it!"  And that she did in her lovely sheath gown ... you go girl :-)!!  She was absolutely radiant!!  The final special element was the couple's decision to reveal their baby's gender with the unveiling of the cake ... the topper - a pair of blue baby shoes ... it's a boy!!

 

Amber and Troy, thank you so much for having us as your wedding photographers.  You were a genuine delight to get to know!  Seriously, you are two of the nicest, most genuine people we have ever had the pleasure of meeting!  We wish you all the best in life :-)!

 Recently we met with Liane and Andy to photograph their engagement shoot.  They both have roots in Florida (which is where their wedding will be held next year) and met while in school at FSU for metorology.  Andy got a job out here and the two moved to Flagstaff in Late March.  They both love wine and originally wanted to have their shoot at a winery, but since there are none of those lurking about in Flagstaff they decided to improvise with a bottle of wine and some wine glasses (with their nick names - Pita and Leach - engraved on them) at Hart Prarie.  They also did some fun shots wearing their jerseys and some cool sunglasses they picked up in Vegas.  The light for this shoot was absolutely amazing.  It has been quite stormy here of late and this can make for some of the most spectacular and exquisite lighting conditions that Mother Nature has to offer ... it definitely did on this day!

 

Liane and Andy, it was a pleasure getting to know you both!  Enjoy!

A couple of weeks ago we met up with Sarah and Brady to photograph their engagement shoot.  We met at Scottsdale Fashion Square and let the shoot spill over into Old Town Scottsdale ... both are situated next to each other and have an overabundance of fun and wonderful backdrops to use :-).

 

This shoot was conducted during Phoenix's record breaking May heatwave and it was HOT!!  Really HOT!!  Sarah and Brady did great though and we treated them to a fun play session in the water fountain at the end.

 

Sarah and Brady, you were so much fun to work with and we can't wait to shoot your wedding next year at the beautiful "Castle" in Chandler :-)!!  Until then ... enjoy!

A couple of weeks ago we met with Jodee and Todd for a Trash the Dress shoot.  Jodee and Todd were married out of state in Louisville, Kentucky last October and Jodee contacted us because she wanted one last shoot in her dress before she either sells or donates it.  She also just wanted to make some fun photographs with Todd where they didn't have to worry about timelines or getting the dress dirty :-)!

 

We met up at the Mesa Arts Center (a really cool location for shooting) and finished up in the Superstition Range.  We have to give props to both Jodee and Todd because it was sooooo disturbingly HOT ..... 105 degrees hot!!  Needless to say we had to take many breaks for water and shade so no one would end up in the hospital with a heat related illness :-).  They really did an amazing job and never once complained.  We even let them have fun at the end of the shoot at the Arts Center, allowing them to take a dip in one of the many fountains.  Made for fun photos too :-)!

 

Jodee and Todd, it was such a pleasure meeting and working with you both!  You were so nice, fun to be around and wonderful at posing for the cameras :-).  By the way, I just have to throw this out there because I was thinking it the whole day and never mentioned it ... I really think Jodee looks like a young version of Jodie Foster - who agrees??  Thanks guys and enjoy!

 

Shanna and Justin were married at the Sedona Golf Resort in and intimate ceremony surrounded by close family and friends on May 3rd.  Our coverage of the event was limited - only two hours.  Who would have thought so many great photographic opportunities could be garnered in so little time!  Love, laughter, tears of joy ... they were all abundantly visible in this lovely wedding.  This wedding definitely displayed a strong sense of love between families and most apparently, between the couple themselves!

 

Shanna and Justin, thank you so much for having us as your wedding photographers.  It can be awkward when meeting for the first time on the wedding day, but you both made us feel instantly at ease, as did your families, as if we had known you forever.  It was truly a pleasure ... you were both amazing to be around!!  Enjoy!

 

Amanda and Tony were married at Los Abrigados in Sedona on May 2nd.  The weather reports were not real promising, calling for rain most of the day, but luckily they got it wrong and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day!

 

We conducted their couple formals before the wedding at Tlaquepaque and Schnebly Hill.  The ceremony was lovely and Tony's display of emotion as he gave his vows were unbelievably touching.

 

Amanda and Tony, thank you so much for having us as your wedding photographers ... it was such a pleasure working with you both!!  Hope you enjoy the images - you are such a beautiful couple!!

 

I love the look on Amanda's face at their first meeting :-).

Payvand and Jeremy were married on April 25th at the Hilton in Chandler.  They had a traditional Persian Ceremony and it was simply breathtaking!!!  We absolutely adore photographing cultural ceremonies!  It is a wonderful way to learn about and experience the customs and traditions of other cultures throughout the world.

 

The sofreh table is the most ornate component in the persian wedding and this one was made by Payvand's mother, who did a beautiful job.  Some components of the sofreh table include the Mirror (of fate) "Aayeneh-ye Bakht" and two Candelabras (representing the bride and groom and brightness in their future) placed on either side of the mirror.  The mirror and candelabras are symbolic of light and fire, two very important elements in the Zoroastrian culture.  When the bride enters the room her veil is covering her face and when she sits down and the veil is removed the first thing the groom should see in the mirror is the reflection of his bride-to-be.  The sofreh is also decorated with a multitude of grains, nuts and spices each with it's own symbolic meaning.

 

Other notable components of the ceremony include a shawl of fine fabric held over the couple's heads by happily married female relatives and two sugar cones "Kalleh Ghand" made out of hardened sugar which are grinded together over the bride and groom's head (over the shawl held above their heads) throughout the ceremony to shower them in sugar, symbolizing sweetness and happiness.  A cup of honey to sweeten life is set on the sofreh and immediately after the couple is married they each dip a pinky finger in the honey and feed it to one another.

 

Payvand and Jeremy, let us start by saying you make an absolutely stunning couple.  It was truly our pleasure to not only be your wedding photographers but to take part in such a magnificent event.  Thank you for the opportunity!!  Hope you enjoy the photos ... there are sooo many more where these came from :-)!!!

 

Payvand's dress was Exquisite!!

On the Tuesday following Terry and Glenn's wedding, we photographed their day-after shoot in Sedona.  Terry and Glenn both love the outdoors and wanted some beautiful photographs of them against the beautiful red rocks of Sedona.

 

Thank you both so much!!  It was quite hot and you were both so amazing!!  Again it was a pleasure and we loved working with you!

Terry and Glenn were married at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale on April 19th under very sunny - and rather warm - skies.  They had a Jewish ceremony at sunset with their daughters, Jamie (Terry's daughter) and Lyndsey (Glenn's daughter), at their sides and it was absolutely beautiful!  Their Huppah was gorgeous as was their Ketubah (wedding contract.)  Their Rabbi requested that we not take photographs during the ceremony but we were able to capture some lovely images at the beginning and end, including the breaking of the wedding glass.

 

The details of this wedding were spectacular including a seperate wedding cake at each table.  They opted for the hotel to provide custom lighting for the reception and chose the colors to match that of sunset.

 

Terry and Glenn, we enjoyed working with you both so much!!  Thank you for choosing us as your wedding photographers and we hope you enjoy the sneak peak :-)!!

 

 

  

Ginny and Buddy got married on April 18th under beautiful blue skies at the Pioneer Living History Museum in North Phoenix.  This was the coolest wedding - modern chic meets wild west ... how fun!!!

 

This was seriously a fun wedding and quite inspirational from a photographer's perspective.  Visually it was eye candy ... rustic, old buildings, historic little church (which by the way, we have always looked at from the I-17 and thought how cool it would be to photograph), horse-drawn carriage, dusty stampede from a mock round-up, stunning vintage style wedding dress, Stetson hat, and shoes, shoes, shoes from the super-chic to electric blue glitter to cowboy (or in this case, girl) boots ... man this was a fun wedding!!!

 

A few highlights - Buddy was so sweet when he shed tears over the first sight of his bride; Ginny's dad bought a really cool pair of shoes to match her really cool pair of shoes; Ginny's cousin, Lisa, is a chef and made the cake herself - AMAZING; this wedding marked the retirement of the carriage driver and his horse, Zeus, was set to retire along with him after one more gig.

 

Ginny and Buddy, thank you soooo much for having us as your wedding photographers and for trusting us to make some very fun images!!  We truly enjoyed your wedding and getting to know you both ... best wishes in life, you are an amazing couple :-)!

Linda and Bret eloped on April 14th at Schnebly Hill.  It was a beautiful ceremony with beautiful weather and really cool clouds :-).  Their ceremony and all details were handled by our friend Maria Grace of Two Hearts One Life Weddings (www.twoheartsonelifeweddings.com) and she did a wonderful job as usual!

 

Linda and Bret, it was a pleasure meeting you both and we hope you both enjoy the images!

Two weeks ago Melissa and Greg were married at the Sedona Golf Resort in Sedona.  As weather goes, it was not typical April Sedona weather.  It was extremely rainy and quite cold.  We actually thought things might let up enough right before the ceremony to hold it outside, and for a few short moments it seemed to be within reach, but at the last minute the rain began again and we had to move everyone back inside.  It was still a beautiful wedding with a lovely couple and besides, rain on your wedding day traditionally means good luck, so they can look forward to a very bright future together :-).

 

Melissa and Greg, thank you for having me as your wedding photographer.  You were both a pleasure to work with and I hope you enjoy the sneak peak!

It has become a bit of a tradition among the Jarvis sisters to have their rehearsal and reception as one event the day before the wedding and far be it for Brittany to break with tradition :-).  After the rehearsal we all headed over to the Longwood Community Center, which is a beautiful old Victorian, to enjoy great food and celebrate!!

 

The reception was decorated and catered in a southwest theme.  It was a wonderful evening and Brittany and Stephen were just glowing with happiness!

This past week we were back in Florida for Brittany and Stephen's wedding.  My good friend Aubrey is one of the "Fab 4" Jarvis sisters and my goal is to photograph all of them on their wedding days.  Well, Ashley was first, then Aubrey and now Brittany (all since 2006) ... the only one left is Chelsea.

 

We had four days of shooting scheduled for this wedding, starting with Bee's bridal shoot.  We headed from Orlando up to historic St. Augustine, hitting the beaches as we went.  Accompanying us was Bee's close friend from Maryland, Nesha.  Nesha had never seen the ocean before so it was a lot of fun watching her explore it and dip her toes into the Atlantic for the first time.  She was also a great "Bird Rangler" assistant ... thanks Nesha :-).

 

The weather was rather foul but we didn't let that stop us from getting some absolutely stunning shots ... hard to go wrong though when you are working with one of the Jarvis sisters (they are all sickningly beautiful, thin and tall!)  In actuality, I enjoy working in stormy weather.  It adds an element to the images and a quality of light that just can't be achieved otherwise.  It was a great day full of fun and exploration!

 

We made an unscheduled stop to catch this storm sweeping in.  Turned out to be one of my favorites from the entire day!!

Well, I am finally home from my visit to the East Coast, but only temporarily ... we leave again tomorrow for another week in sunny Florida for another destination wedding!  I actually made the trek back to Arizona to photograph Stephanie and David's wedding this past Saturday.

 

The ceremony was held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix and the reception was held at the Tempe Mission Palms.  This was a first for me.  It was the first one-hundred percent photojournalistic wedding I have ever covered ... that's right, not one posed photo in the bunch.  The couple was very clear on this point.  They simply wanted their wonderful day captured as it unfolded with no interference!  And by the way, the "napkin hats" everyone is wearing during the reception ... there is definitely a story and a reason behind it all, though it was not necessarily planned :-).

 

Stephanie and David were wonderful to work with and it was a pleasure serving as their wedding photographer.  Thank you both so much and I hope you enjoy Savannah (one of my favorite Southern destinations!)

 

I am so excited to say that I placed in two categories of the Wedding Photojournalist Association's (WPJA) Quarter 4 Contest.  Again the competition was very stiff with talented photographers from all corners of the globe participating, so to place at all is a real honor.

 

Even more exciting was taking second place in the "Cake Cutting" category.  The image was taken at Tishya and Greg's wedding this past October and was without a doubt one of those "once in a lifetime images" that could never possibly be planned or repeated.  It has quickly become one of my all-time favorite images and a big hit with everyone that sees it.

 

The other image took tenth place in the "Ring Details" category.  It was taken at Armanda and Jon's wedding in Monument Valley and has also become a favorite.  Thank you to Tishya and Greg and Armanda and Jon for giving me the opportunity to make these wonderful photographs!!

This posting is a little long in coming.  I went out of town right after this wedding and have been gone ever since - more postings to come on that.

Erin and Erich got married at the end of February in Phoenix and we are so glad to have been chosen as their wedding photographers.  Their ceremony was held at the All Saints Catholic Newman Center at ASU.  I loved the architecture of the church.  The reception was held at one of our favorite venues - the Desert Botanical Gardens.  This place is so beautiful at any time but it is exceptionally lovely right now.  They are featuring a spectacular display that covers the entire gardens called, Chihuly: The Nature of Glass.  The Glass Sculptures that adorn the gardens are nothing short of inspirational - plus they made for wonderful photographic backdrops :-).

Erin and Erich, you looked AMAZING and the wedding was wonderful ... love the pink and green umbrellas you supplied to your guests by the way - what fun props :-).  We have really enjoyed working with you both and hope you enjoy the sneak peak!

Side note:  We had one of our digital cameras converted over to infrared ... we have always loved the unique look of infrared ... and got to use it for the first time at this wedding.  We LOVED it!!  You can recognize the unique look of infrared by the white foliage and black skies.  We can either shoot these photos in color or black & white.  Also, a special thank you to Joyce for assisting at this wedding - as usual she did a fantastic job!!

Jodie and Ben have fast become two of our favorite clients ... and friends :-).  To say they have treated us well is a gross understatement.  They are beyond thoughtful and a pure joy to know!!  You may remember them from their amazing wedding back in November at the Wyndham in downtown Phoenix.  Well, we finally got around to their day-after shoot and it was such a blast!

 

They decided they wanted to have it in Sedona as this was initially where Ben wanted to have their wedding ... this way they get the best of both worlds :-).  Their great friend, Sam came along too.  She did Jodie's make-up (as she did on the wedding day) and did an amazing job ... a real talent - she also made a pretty darn good photography assistant too :-).  We started at Red Rock Crossing and ended at Merry-Go-Round Rock.  Jodie and Ben love the theater and we really love these photos because they seem to do a good job of reflecting their personalities.  We hope you both agree!

 

It was so wonderful seeing the two of you again!  Thank you for dinner and Jodie, if you really want to have some Trash-the-Dress photos in the creek we would be happy to do those for you when it gets warmer (you would have frozen to death this time round) - no more checks though, this one would be on us :-).  Enjoy!!

 

Let me provide you with some background on this one.  Shannon contacted us this past year inquiring about photography for her upcoming wedding.  She and her husband, Adam are already leagally married, but they finally wanted to have a formal event.  She was planning their wedding in Payson for this past December in hopes that she would have a "winter wonderland" setting - something she has always wanted.  Then life took over and long story short ... their wedding is on hold.  So for now, since Shannon already has her beautiful dress, we decided to offer them a "Day-After" shoot sometime when we knew a good snow storm was coming.  This past Sunday that storm arrived and we headed to Payson to meet up with them.

 

We have always wanted to do a shoot like this ... in a winter storm while the snow is still falling.  We have also always wanted to use colorful umbrellas to off-set an otherwise monochomatic landscape.  It was such a joy working with a couple who actually shared the same visions.  We also had fun making snowmen for various props :-).

 

All-in-all it was a really fun day.  Shannon, you did an amazing job!!  Truth-be-told, Shannon and Adam live in Phoenix and were both extremely cold, but they really wanted these wedding photos and definitely went the extra mile to get them.  You were both a joy to work with and we can't wait to one day photograph the formal event!  Enjoy ... and by the way, thanks for going along with some of our quirkier ideas :-)!!

 

The same day we participated in the Sedona "Group Shoot", we also had an elopement at Red Rock Crossing.  It worked out perfectly however, as we arrived with the group at Red Rock Crossing about an hour before we had to begin the elopement.  We photographed one more model, broke away and photographed our wedding and then re-joined the group at the tail end of the shoot.

 

The Elopement was that of Rebecca and Greg.  We met them the day of, as this was set up through their officiant - and our good friend - Maria Grace, of Two Hearts One Life Weddings, www.twoheartsonelifeweddings.com .  They were a wonderful couple and such a joy to photograph.  They even had a little visitor in the form of a curious puppy who had gotten off its leash and very much wanted to become a part of the festivities ... everyone enjoyed a good laugh :-).  The couple currently resides in Tucson, but will be moving in April to Greg's home country of Switzerland.  There they will have a large wedding with family and friends, but they first wanted to have a private and magical ceremony among the beauty of Sedona's red rocks.  It was a little windy and chilly, but aside from that it was picture perfect in every way! 

Last Saturday we photographed Ginny and Buddy for their engagement shoot.  Their wedding will be held in April in Phoenix.  We met in Sedona and headed to Red Rock Crossing and Merry-Go-Round Rock.  These two were so much fun!!  They have a great sense of humor and really like edgy, off-the-wall photos, so we had a great time.

 

Hope you enjoy these and we can't wait for the wedding ... we are going to have a blast :-)!

 

 

I know Sarah and Partick have been waiting for this post - sorry for the delay guys :-).  Two weeks ago we photographed Sarah and Patrick's engagement shoot.  Though they used to live in Flagstaff, they are now living in Washington so this was our first time actually meeting face-to-face.  Just from talking with Sarah by email, I could tell she was someone I would instantly take to and sure enough I did.  Both Sarah and Patrick love dogs (they are both going into veterinary medicine) and of course, so do we ... plus, from her first email to me, Sarah said how adorable she thought Yoshi (our Old-English Sheepdog) was so obviously she ranked tops in my book real quick :-).

 

We began the shoot in downtown Flagstaff in a rather heavy snowstorm.  Does it look cold in the photos? ... heck yes it looks cold ... it was really freakin cold!  I have to give kudos to Sarah though.  She walked around downtown for over an hour with nearly bare feet (see photo illustration below) and never once complained.  Now that's dedication!  And let us not forget Patrick.  I must sing his praises as well.  In all our email correspondence, Sarah had warned me that Patrick harbors about as much enthusiasm for having his picture taken as he would for being hit by a Mac truck.  Look at these photos though ... he did an amazing job and was actually very relaxed ... great job Patrick!  You made us so proud!

 

For the second part of the shoot we made our way down the canyon into Sedona where snow changed over to a cold rain and still not one peep of discontent from either one of these two.  Sarah and Patrick, you were great to work with and it was fun getting to know you both!  Can't wait for the wedding at Snowbowl this summer ... we will keep our fingers crossed for a nice mix of weather conditions :-).

Check our Sarah's shoes ... we were surprised she didn't get frostbite.

Gotta love the pink gargoyles with icicles hanging from their heads :-).

 

 

It has been a busy few weeks around here with meetings, editing ... always editing :-), making albums and preparing for the Bridal Expo that was held last Saturday and Sunday and the Phoenix Convention Center.

 

We have been doing this show for the past couple of years (It is held twice yearly) but this time we decided to do a little upgrading.  We moved from a 10-foot booth to a corner 15-foot booth, which was really nice and roomy, and we had six photographic canvas wraps made (two as large as 32x48) to place on exibit.  We love these canvas wraps by the way and we are now offering them to our clients ... they are absolutely stunning!

 

By far this was the most exciting and electrically charged show we have done.  It had a really positive energy and was just a ton of fun.  Upgrading the booth was definitely worth it!

 

The day after the wedding, events were scheduled throughout the morning for the guests to enjoy including a Pow Wow featuring Jakey Skye and his family.  They were incredible and apparently world-famous, having been featured in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.  They hand-make each and every one of their elaborate and beautiful costumes.

 

After the Pow Wow, we met with Armanda and Jon for their Day-After shoot.  With all the events of the wedding day, there was hardly time to do any formals, so we saved the fun stuff for Sunday.  We had a great time and love the results.  This photography shoot wraps up the big Monument Valley wedding event and again, we feel so privileged to have been a part of it!

Armanda's sisters dressed back up and participated in the first part of the photo shoot.

Armanda totally looks like a super model!

 

 

With Armanda and Jon's wedding, Sierra Blanco Photography wraps up it's 2008 year - and what a year it was.  With almost 50 weddings, it was the best year yet!  With that amount of weddings though comes a lot of hard work and stress, and it didn't help to have to plan my own wedding in the midst of it all.  We also had to deal with a client's death shortly after his wedding in one of Arizona's most publicized stories ... never thought we would have to deal with that and I have to say, it was extremely difficult.  Despite everything though, I feel so blessed to do this for a living.  I absolutely love what I do and I love all the wonderful people it brings me in contact with.  It is always such a pleasure to be given the opportunity to document one of the most important days in a couple's lives ... thank you to everyone who entrusted Sierra Blanco to that!  And with that, Sierra Blanco gears up for a great 2009.  You will be seeing a lot of destination weddings this year with seven out-of-state / out-of-country events scheduled already along with our normal locations of Phoenix, Sedona and Flagstaff, so stay tuned!

 

On to Armanda and Jon's wedding.  We really went out with a bang on this one and we have been eagerly awaiting it!  This three day wedding extravaganza was held in Monument Valley at the View Hotel and was a wedding photographer's dream, especially ours.  We love stunning scenic locations and cultural events and this event had it all.  With Armanda's ancestry being Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo-American and much on Jon's family hailing from Boston, there was no shortage of culture.  They did an amazing job of tying together varying aspects of those cultures including Armanda wearing traditional moccasins and beautiful turquoise earrings and the couple being led on the Grand March during the reception culminating in a spectacular fireworks show outside.

 

Yvonne Chavez of Northern Arizona Wedding Planner - www.northernarizonaweddingplanner.com - did an amazing job pulling the whole event together.  Many products from her Touch of Tradition line - www.touchoftradition.com - including her Navajo wedding baskets, flower baskets, ring pillow, guest signing book and album were used in the wedding and helped to tie the theme together beautifully.  A special thank you goes out to Yvonne too for recommending Sierra Blanco Photography for this job ... thanks Yvonne, we love you :-)!

 

The weather cleared out and though it was a bit chilly, the ceremony took place outside.  A very nice touch was the Native American flute player, whose music was both inspiring and moving.  The reception absolutely rocked with the music of the Tobias Rene Band from Albuquerque, New Mexico!

 

Needless to say, this posting is a bit longer than usual, but with a three day event like this one it was just too hard to narrow down any further than this and really get the feel for the grandness of it all.  Armanda and Jon, thank you for choosing Sierra Blanco as your wedding photographer.  It was such a blast and a very memorable event!!!  Enjoy!

Love the moccasins!

Armanda's mother helping her put her veil on.

 

You have to admire the bride who makes time for a short workout before her wedding ceremony :-).

The adorable flower girls and their baskets from Yvonne Chavez's Touch of Tradition line. 

Armanda's father, Art, walking his daughter up the aisle.

Could the view be any more picture perfect for a wedding?

 

In his speach, Art referred to Armanda as not only his daughter, but his business partner and best friend.

This is one of my favorite photos from the day ... it just seems to share the same magical quality as the setting holds.

 

 

The Grand March ended with this spectacular fireworks display.

  

The day after Christmas, we headed up to Monument Valley for Armanda and Jon's wedding (more on the wedding in the next posting.)  It was held at a brand new hotel that has been built inside the park called The View Hotel - www.monumentvalleyview.com/hotel.html .  The grand opening for the hotel will be held next month, so we had the pleasure of being among it's first patrons.  The hotel was built and is owned and operated by Armanda's family and is absolutely stunning!!  Every room has a view of the famous Mittens ... thus the name, The View Hotel.

 

The first day was quite stormy with intermittent snow showers and bitterly cold temperatures.  There was some concern about whether the wedding would be able to take place outside or not.  After the rehearsal, Armanda had a bachelorette party with all of her bridesmaids and I attended to get some photographs of it ... they had a very good time as you will notice :-).

This was the view from our hotel room ... can't beat it.

All the guests arriving for the big weekend.

Armanda and her girls having a LOT of fun :-)! 

I am proud to again say that I placed in another of the WPJA's prestigious competitions.  I won thirteenth place in the "Lit Portrait" category of their Quarter 3 contest.  Thanks to Kelly for being such a wonderful model ... and bride :-)!

 

This past Friday I photographed Julie and Dan's wedding at Boojum Tree in Phoenix.  Let me start by saying that this has quickly become one of my favorite venues.  It is eye candy for any photographer, with more brilliant colors, weathered walls and lush landscaping than can possibly be utilized in a single day of photography.  It was extremely difficult to decide what to use, there was just so much.  Did I mention that I love this venue :-)...

 

Anyhow, moving on.  Julie and Dan were a referral from a past couple (shout out to Jessica and Steven - thanks you two) and they were great to work with!  Julie is really, really, really petite but her smile is big enough to light up any room.  At their first meeting, which we did before the ceremony due to timing (thanks for trusting me on that one guys), Julie gave Dan a beautiful watch ... it was sooo sweet.

 

The reception was amazing also and it was clear that the kids ruled the dancefloor at this wedding, though the adults weren't half bad themselves.  Julie and Dan, thank you so much for choosing me as your wedding photographer.  I had an amazing time and it was great getting to know you both.  Enjoy!

 

 

Courtney and Tyler had their engagement shoot a couple of weeks ago at South Mountain in Phoenix.  This is a fun place to conduct a photo shoot, but beware ... apparently you are not allowed to pull off at undesignated sights, as we quickly found out when the park patrol pulled over and politely asked us to move on.  They were kind enough to let us get in a few more shots before leaving though :-) ... and it was such good light too ... oh well ...

 

Thank you both so much for spending hours being dragged from one location to another ... hopefully you will think it was worth it :-).  You were both great to work with and we hope to work with you more at your wedding  in Colorado this summer!

 

The final wedding in the wedding weekend trio was Kristen and Nghi's.  Their wedding took place on November 9th.  The ceremony was held at the Secret Garden and the reception was held at the Chinese Cultural Center.

 

Weather did play a part in this wedding.  The day started off beautiful and sunny, but by the ceremony time, dark clouds began rolling in and the wind started blowing - rather strongly I might add.  We even joked that wind seems to be a factor every time we shoot together (during their engagement shoot in Sedona the winds were howling.)  Aside from a slight spattering of raindrops, that was the worst of the weather thankfully.

 

The Secret Garden is a quaint and beautiful venue and I have to say that Kristen made a stunning bride.  The Chinese Cultural Center offered tons of opportunities for beautiful wedding photography.  The architecture was amazing and I personally loved all the beautiful Koi swimming in the large pond surrounding the back side of the Golden Buddha Restaurant.  Nghi is Vietnamese and Kristen changed into the traditional Vietnamese wedding dress during the reception ... she was striking!

 

Thank you Kristen and Nghi.  You have been so nice and thoughtful (thank you for the card for our wedding and the thank you card you sent after your wedding) and it has been a pleasure not only being your photographers, but simply knowing you!

 

Next up in the wedding weekend trio is Jodie and Ben.  Their wedding took place on November 8th at the Wyndham in downtown Phoenix.  This was such a cool venue and a bit of a welcomed departure for us.  We typically shoot in beautiful outdoor settings and this was a chance to have fun taking wedding photographs in a contemporary, urban setting.

 

This was our first traditional Jewish wedding.  It was beautiful to experience and I was particularly moved by the ceremony which was read in both English and Hebrew.  The Ketubah (the Jewish Marriage Contract) was simply amazing and equally interesting to learn about.

 

No detail in this wedding was overlooked.  The flowers were amazing, as was the reception set up, and hands down, best cake goes to this couple!  Jodie and Ben originally met at the Herberger Theater Center and for anyone present at the reception it was quite obvious that many of their friends probably have roots in the theater as well.  It actually took me on a trip down memory lane when I used to perform in the theater ... a long, long time ago ... ahhh, good times :-).  Back to the present though ... what do you get when you mix a fantastic live band by the name of TIC (The Instant Classics), live karaoke, theatrical people, and a little alcohol - a hell of a good time!  Man did these people know how to party.  Photographing this meant getting right into the mix and it was a total trip.

 

At the end of the night we decided to carry things over and do an extra shoot downtown.  We held up until close to 2:00AM at which point I think everyone was good and tired.  Jodie and Ben, we can't thank you enough for everything.  You have been so wonderful (thank you for the amazing testimonial and for the delicious brownies - though I don't know how much I really need those extra calories)!!  It has been a true pleasure getting to know you both!  

Look at that cake ... how cool!

This guy was singing - and playing - Billy Joel's "Piano Man" ... he was outstanding!!!

Check out Ben, cutting up the dance floor :-).