My favorite wedding sites have been wedding photographers' blogs. The blogs showcase a more personal side of the photographer, helping me get to know their style and aesthetic through the photos. I love the stories they write about the couple, the details they capture, and the love in each shot. Once we set our date, booking our photographer was my top priority, not the ceremony or reception locations like most level minded people.
I would spend hours and hours online browsing through every post on a photographer's blog and portfolio. Then I would forward my favorites to the mister. He liked what I liked and was open to my favorites, which helps a lot :) We also budgeted a little more, knowing this would be an investment to the special memories of our day.
We were looking for a photojournalist with a soft eye, distinct style, and modern yet timeless appeal. The eye candy and locations and dresses helped me fall in love with a handful of photographers right away. We considered the tone of the photographs and how we wanted our wedding portrayed. While I kept discovering talent (and still do), I kept returning to my favorites. That's how I narrowed down my list of dream photographers.
I first fell in love the sharpness and vibrant colors in Ed Pingol's photos. Everything is so bold and vivid, yet personal. I really enjoy the drama that comes through in his shots.
From Ed's site I somehow found Greg Bumatay. Vibrant yet soft, fun and sexy, Greg's shots were such eye candy. I love how he captures couples so intimately. He teaches wedding photography classes and has had guest photographers, like Jasmine Star, lecture the class.
While browsing a site I stumbled upon a really cute couple's wedding photographs. Their happiness came alive in their photos and photographer was Jasmine Star. So I checked out her site and blog and fell in love (again). The genuine honesty in Jasmine's posts translates so effortlessly through her photos. They look really clean and light and modern and chic.
Jasmine Star photographed Mary Jane's wedding and that's how I found her. Mary Jane is a local Santa Barbara photographer. Her photos are simple and beautiful, clean and warm. I also love that she's from the area and would know the local haunts for e-session location purposes. This point also brought me to consider the array of very talented SB photographers.
Halberg Photographers is also from SB. Tim and Cheryl make up this husband/wife team that shoot a fun and artistic documentary style. I love the softness in their shots, they're clean and bright without being too sharp. They also have a great location index which contains photos of plenty of SB venues and venues throughout CA.
A wedding photographer list is not complete without Jose Villa. He's from SB and basically every wedding site I see and wedding blog I read talk about how much they love him. And I agree. I love his style, the beauty of everything, and it's timeless appeal. It's like you can look at any one of his photos and say, "oh that's Jose Villa."
And while I was researching Jose Villa, I stumbled upon an ever so lovely wedding he shot. The wedding of Sarah & Jeff. Sarah of Sarah K. Chen Photography! With beautiful taste and point of view, images so carefree and pretty, a modern and timeless appeal. She was the one! So I contacted her over the summer, signed the contract (a full year in advance), and am very happy to have her as part of my wedding. I love her personality and genuine helpfulness. We laughed a little because her wedding photographer is from SB and traveled to OC to shoot her wedding. And now as my wedding photographer, she is from OC and traveling to SB to shoot my wedding.
I love how our photographer search was sort of a journey, everything kinda connected one way or the other, and helped us in our decision.
There is just so much talent out there that, as brides, we are all very fortunate to have so many choices. The mister and I are so happy with our choice and can't wait to get crackin' on our engagement session. Next question is where to shoot: LA, OC, SB?
How did you decide on your photographer? Are they a local or will they travel to your location?
Blog title is from lyrics by Weezer
2 comments:
It sounds like you spent alot of time picking out the right one for you. Gorgeous! I love browsing wedding photo blogs as well. So much pretty stuff out there.
These pictures are awesome - I really love that first one!!
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