A while back Phil worked in a real estate office. This office had plans of hiring someone and so they had been interviewing people. One day a gorgeous woman walked into the office to interview for the position. Phil caught a glance of her…his heart skipping a beat and time standing still. After the interview ended and the gorgeous woman left, Phil when into his boss’s office. He told his boss (who was also his friend), “You have to hire that woman. She’s the one.” And Phil didn’t mean that she was the one for the job, she was the one for him. He knew it. Phil’s boss kindly obliged and Gabby got the job. And that brings us to their wedding day…

Right now I could talk about my favorite center pieces I have ever seen: vintage, antique items from Gabby & Phil’s own home. I could talk about the most amazing ‘guest book’ I have ever seen: an old door. I could talk about the coolest Best Man: their bulldog Brutus. I could talk about the perfect venues that seemed to have been created for Gabby & Phil…but I won’t. Instead I’m going to focus on the most amazing part of the day. Gabby & Phil’s love. One of Phil’s good friends officiated Gabby and Phil’s wedding. Having someone with such an intimate knowledge and relationship added a level of depth to his words that we have seldom encountered. Just as Gabby and Phil were preparing to say their vows, Ken used a phrase in describing marriage that I think is very a pro po for Phil and Gabby. He referred to marriage as the union of two hearts. As Ian and I stood there and were witnesses to this union I could not help but think, it is not actually a union of two hearts for Phil and Gabby, it is a reunion. Two parts coming back together to once again be whole. When two people are so inextricably bound together, there is an electricity in the air. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and tears pool at the corner of your eyes. We had only spoken with Phil and Gabby once prior to their wedding and yet we sat and filmed them as if they were long time friends. True love is an idea that seems to have only been fashioned for novels and films, but I am here to tell you that it is real, and these two souls have it.

couturemotion.com

[Cameras]
{2} Canon 7Ds
24-70mm EF f2.8 Canon
17-55mm EF-S f2.8 Canon
70-200mm EF f2.8 Canon
50mm f1.4 Sigma EX DG HSM
30mm f1.4 Sigma EX DC HSM

[Audio]
{1} H4N Zoom
{1} Sennheiser G3 Wireless Mic
{1} Backup iPhone Lav with KV Connector
{1} Rode Mic Shotgun

[Stabilization]
Glidecam Pro 2000 w/Arm Brace
Manfrotto 561BHDV Mono-pod
Manfrotto 547 Tripod with 501HDV Head
Custom Built 3.5ft Tripod mounted track

[Editing]
Final Cut
Color
Compressor
Photoshop

This is our second wedding at Santa Margarita Ranch and the first wedding, Jackie & Jamison, set the bar high. Luckily this wedding matched it. It was a gorgeous day and the weather could not have been better for Steph and Gregg. These two have quite a story. They dated while in college for a bit, but kept in touch throughout the years… And reconnected 12 years later!

Knowing that they found their match, it was a quick courtship. These two pair up well with one another. They are both strong and intelligent with a sharp sense of humor. Something that didn’t make it into the interviews (but is absolutely hysterical) is that after years of having a phone/email relationship they decided to see each other in person. Gregg thought it would be funny to tell Stephanie that time had not treated him well and that he was morbidly obese (his words)! When Steph finally saw him she quickly realized that he had only been joking. They are such a good unit and on the day of their wedding we could tell that these two were marrying their best friend. They spent their wedding day laughing with their friends, family, and each other. It was relaxed and charming to see these two share this day with their loved ones. May we all be so lucky…

couturemotion.com

[Cameras]
{2} Canon 7Ds
24-70mm EF f2.8 Canon
17-55mm EF-S f2.8 Canon
70-200mm EF f2.8 Canon
50mm f1.4 Sigma EX DG HSM
30mm f1.4 Sigma EX DC HSM

[Audio]
{1} H4N Zoom
{1} Sennheiser G3 Wireless Mic
{1} Backup iPhone Lav with KV Connector
{1} Rode Mic Shotgun

[Stabilization]
Glidecam Pro 2000 w/Arm Brace
Manfrotto 561BHDV Mono-pod
Manfrotto 547 Tripod with 501HDV Head
Custom Built 3.5ft Tripod mounted track

[Editing]
Final Cut
Color
Compressor
Photoshop

I have so much to say about this wedding. And somehow as I am sitting here typing I cannot find adequate words. Jayme and Mitchell are very special to us. Jayme is my cousin and Mitchell has been a part of our family for so long. To see these two finally tie the knot was amazing. Jayme is such a beautiful woman and has a beautiful heart to match. She is a joy to be around and I gotta say the same goes for Mitchell.

Their wedding day could not have been more perfect. Leslie, Jayme’s mom and aunt extraordinaire, worked tirelessly on the effortless design of the event which was held on the front lawns of a private property. It added a perfect personal touch and that carried on through the entire wedding. Another personal touch? Brad, Jayme’s father, married Jayme and Mitchell. It was so overwhelming to witness what could be considered the ultimate ‘blessing’ that a father could have on his daughter’s marriage. As for Jayme and Mitchell on the day, they could not have looked more gorgeous. I’m not kidding. Just so freakin’ gorgeous. But more than that, it was amazing to see these two as a unit. When Jayme and Mitchell saw each other for the first look, they came alive! They are a perfect example of the sum is greater than the parts. These two sparkle when they are together.

On a personal note, this was the first wedding that Ian and I did both the photography & videography. I photographed the wedding (with help from Hailey Golich) and Ian filmed the wedding (with help from John Williford). We have a lot of experience filming weddings, but much less photographing them. So I must thank Jayme and Mitchell for allowing me to photograph their wedding. They put their trust and faith in me and that means the world to me. Congrats you two! We love you!!!

couturemotion.com

[Cameras]
{2} Canon 7Ds
24-70mm EF f2.8 Canon
17-55mm EF-S f2.8 Canon
70-200mm EF f2.8 Canon
50mm f1.4 Sigma EX DG HSM
30mm f1.4 Sigma EX DC HSM

[Audio]
{1} H4N Zoom
{1} Sennheiser G3 Wireless Mic
{1} Backup iPhone Lav with KV Connector
{1} Rode Mic Shotgun

[Stabilization]
Glidecam Pro 2000 w/Arm Brace
Manfrotto 561BHDV Mono-pod
Manfrotto 547 Tripod with 501HDV Head
Custom Built 3.5ft Tripod mounted track

[Editing]
Final Cut
Color
Compressor
Photoshop

Their Kisses Are Sweet and Their Pirates are Gnarly...

One does not often associate pirates with weddings, unless the pirate is absconding with the bride. At this particular wedding the groom was blood brother's with a pirate captain and that pirate had the groom's back! In fact when a bold guest at the wedding dared to stand during the "speak now of forever hold your peace" section of the ceremony, the Captain shot him dead on site.

couturemotion.com

[Cameras]
{2} Canon 7Ds
24-70mm EF f2.8 Canon
17-55mm EF-S f2.8 Canon
70-200mm EF f2.8 Canon
50mm f1.4 Sigma EX DG HSM
30mm f1.4 Sigma EX DC HSM

[Audio]
{1} H4N Zoom
{1} Sennheiser G3 Wireless Mic
{1} Backup iPhone Lav with KV Connector
{1} Rode Mic Shotgun

[Stabilization]
Glidecam Pro 2000 w/Arm Brace
Manfrotto 561BHDV Mono-pod
Manfrotto 547 Tripod with 501HDV Head
Custom Built 3.5ft Tripod mounted track

[Editing]
Final Cut
Color
Compressor
Photoshop