Timeless style icons: Audrey Hepburn

Another one of these stars who – to the current generation of brides – is largely forgotten.

Born in 1929, she’d be nearly a hundred years old now… so why is she still relevant?

For starters, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen legend from the Classical Hollywood cinema and, as a fashion and style icon, was inducted into the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame List.

She was an accomplished classical ballet dancer and a stellar talent as an actress.

She was also incredibly beautiful, and for all her beauty, a rulebreaker. She played up her androgynous side at a time when that was not yet fashionable. She wore TROUSERS!! (Scandalous in her time – and an inspiration to a whole generation of rebellious young women). When frills and big dresses were considered the epitome of chic, she went understated.

Inspired for YOUR LBD?

And are you even inspired to wear a hat?! So chic, so feminine!

For her wedding dress, Audrey chose a timeless design playing up her dancer’s figure and fragile elegance – here at her dress fitting.

I am sure that her style still resonates with many brides today – even if they might not have been aware of Audrey the fashion tastemaker.

Here is a classic updo that would be flattering on any bride – with little variation…

… and a simple, elegant, perfectly proportioned dress – that will look stunning even 50 years from now.

Fashion is fleeting – but STYLE is timeless. What is YOUR style?

NorCal special: my favorite wedding venues

The famed Fairmont San Francisco

Where even to begin?

Iconic landmark. Prestigious historic mansion. Refuge of American presidents and foreign dignitaries. Even: movie set (for “The Rock” with Sean Connery!). The Fairmont San Francisco is all of this – and more. Walk its corridors, and see a whole gallery of the history of the City by the Bay – narrated through visits of the rich and famous, cultural icons and politicians to this incredible hotel.

Photo credit: Kevin Chin
Photo credit: Evonne and Darren

What better place for an elegant, sophisticated wedding celebration? Especially for an authentic San Francisco flavor, AND for true million-dollar views.

Photo credit: Kevin Chin

Whether you are just enjoying an intimate elopement dinner in your room in the Fairmont Tower…

Photo credit: Gavin Farrington

… or have your big ceremony and dinner and dancing here, it will be an unforgettable celebration!

The Rooftop Garden is a perfect spot for outdoor ceremonies…

Photo credit: Kevin Chin

… while the adjacent Pavilion Room with its incredible Art Deco chandelier lends itself to indoor ceremonies.

Photo credit: Evonne and Darren
Photo credit: Evonne and Darren

Photo opportunities in the hotel include the majestic main staircase…

Photo credit: Myrtle Photography

… the lavishly appointed lobby …

Photo credit: Evonne and Darren

… the Rooftop Garden …

Photo credit: Myrtle Photography

… and, of course, the double-height Penthouse Suite where all American presidents stay when they visit San Francisco.

Photo credit: Evonne and Darren
Photo credit: Evonne and Darren
Photo credit: Allexa Crosson

You can, of course, have your whole wedding in this Penthouse Suite – it can accommodate up to 100 guests for a ceremony on the patio, cocktails in the living room, dinner in the dining room and, if you wish, dancing, too! And the best thing? Once your guests have left, you can simply stay and spend the night in one of the most luxurious bedrooms you’ve ever seen!

But we are getting ahead of ourselves… for a bigger wedding party, there are several glamorous ballrooms to choose from for dinner and dancing:

Photo credit: Kevin Chin
Photo credit: Myrtle Photography

… always with elegant tabletop items like silver chargers and cutlery included.

Photo credit: Gavin Farrington

And once the party is over, just look out over the City, together as a married couple. Nothing beats this romantic moment!

Photo credit: Evonne and Darren

So … now you know why the Fairmont is high up on my personal “Favorites” list! And the best thing: I’ll be back in a few months to create more wedding magic there… can’t wait!

Contact me at [email protected] for your free consultation.

A Day Like No Other – wedding coordination and design

“When only the best will do…”

Expert interview: Photographer Gavin Farrington

How to select your perfect wedding photographer

Here is another one of my favorite photographers. Gavin and I go back more than a decade, have collaborated many times on weddings and styled photoshoots, and I admire him tremendously – both his work and the person he is. He lives and breathes photography, and wedding photography in particular… so here is what HE has to say about it all.

“How did you get into photography and, in particular, into WEDDING photography? What is it that fascinates you about it?

My parents gave me a camera when I was little.  A  Kodak Instamatic. I loved playing with it, but even as a kid I could tell my pictures didn’t look like the photos I saw in magazines.  It wasn’t until high school, where I discovered we had an old defunct darkroom and worked to rebuild it, that I would start to learn photography.  But it wouldn’t be until years after college that I would consider photography professionally.

I honestly didn’t expect to love wedding photography.  I guess I had a bit of an art-school-snob attitude about it. Only when I worked at a wedding as an assistant photographer that I realized how much I loved observing people, and being part of an intimate day in people’s lives.

http://gavinfarrington.com | IG @gavinfarringtonphotography

“What is your specific style and why?”

The industry jargon is “wedding photojournalist.”  Many couples express this by using phrases like ‘authentic, natural, candid, organic, unintrusive, capturing the moment, real, un-posed’, and the like.  What matters to me for the finished product is that it connects you to memories that were in the moment, not memories of your photographer posing you, or telling you to do something again.

http://gavinfarrington.com | IG @gavinfarringtonphotography

“How have you evolved as a photographer?”

I started out working with very talented photographers who are brilliant at posing and staging breathtaking shots.  It was fun, and I learned a lot about lighting, technicals, etc., but for me it rang hollow when thinking about how a couple might relate to those images 20 or 30 years from now.  I often imagine, “if this couple has kids, and in 30 years those kids are home for Thanksgiving and pull out Mom and Dad’s album, are they going to look at those photos and see the people they know and love?  Or are they going to see expertly staged photographs?

http://gavinfarrington.com | IG @gavinfarringtonphotography
http://gavinfarrington.com | IG @gavinfarringtonphotography

“How do you connect with couples?”

One way I connect is through stories.  Like the time a grandmother hobbled slowly up the walk to stand before her granddaughter – the bride – and say, “I practiced walking with a cane so I could be here.”  I cried behind my camera.  I like to think that the photos of that moment are an important part of that bride’s memories of her.

“What is the difference between an experienced professional photographer and laypeople shooting with their cellphone cameras?”

Connection, curation, and situational experience.

‘Connection’ in that I am able to operate my camera fully manually without giving it a thought.  That gives me the space to pay attention to people, not camera settings.  I’m connecting with you from behind my camera.

‘Curation’ because not every single frame is going to be good, and not every single frame should be part of the finished product.  You want all the important moments, you don’t want every frame.

‘Situational experience’ is more technical in nature.  Weddings are not photo studios.  The majority of settings have no shortage of lighting challenges and unexpected moments.  Ideal lighting rarely happens.  How are you going to get a professional quality image without inserting yourself in the action and being a director all day?  After all, it’s your day – not mine.

http://gavinfarrington.com | IG @gavinfarringtonphotography
http://gavinfarrington.com | IG @gavinfarringtonphotography

“Why is wedding photography expensive?”

There are many factors playing into this.  I’ll touch on two.  First is that the hours spent at the wedding are only a small fraction of the total hours that go into producing your finished product.  We need to amortize the hourly cost on your invoice over the total hours it takes to deliver your finished product.  Another factor is the cost for all the years spent learning.  A photographer who makes it look easy only makes it look easy as a function of their experience.  It probably took 6 years before I was making minimum wage after averaging everything over the total hours spent building and running my business.

Thank you, Jutta!

Warmly,

Gavin
Owner & Lead Photographer, Gavin Farrington

NorCal special: my favorite wedding venues

Allied Arts Guild – my choice for smaller weddings

Allied Arts Guild is one of those hidden gems – you just have to see it to believe it! Tucked away behind high walls and hedges in the heart of Silicon Valley, Allied Arts Guild is a serene historic garden oasis, offering peace and beauty in our fast-paced world. Only minutes away from Stanford University and Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, it truly feels a world away. Built in 1929 as a workplace for artists in authentic Spanish style and adorned with authentic tiles and objects of art from Spain, Tunis and Morocco…

Photo credit: Vicens Forns
Photo credit: Vicens Forns
Photo credit: Juan Pinnel

… this unique compound of art studios and a restaurant (Café Wisteria) serves to raise funds for critically ill children at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Resident artists today range from jewelry designers to fashion designers to interior designers and everything in between, and the onsite Artisan Shop is noted for its exquisite handmade art pieces and lovely vintage items.

Photo credit: Augie Chang
Photo credit: Juan Pinnel

The whole complex is available to rent for intimate weddings up to 140 guests, with indoor/outdoor options both for ceremony …

Photo credit: Vicens Forns
Photo credit: Vicens Forns

… and reception.

Photo credit: Vicens Forns
Photo credit: Juan Pinnel
Photo credit: Vicens Forns
Photo credit: Vicens Forns
Photo credit: Vicens Forns

Now you know why I love Allied Arts Guild so much!

Intrigued? Contact Events DirectorTiana Wong for a tour or call 650-325-2450 and let us at A Day Like No Other help you to make your vision become reality!

NorCal special: my favorite wedding venues!

Today: Villa Montalvo, Saratoga

Photo credit: Danny Dong

Where even to begin?! One of the most beautiful historic mansions in the San Francisco Bay Area, it was built in 2011 for then-San Francisco mayor James Duval Phelan; the surrounding 160 acres of meadow and forest were transformed into a manicured park in the Italianate style by John McLaren (who also designed Golden Gate Park). The name “Villa Montalvo” is a reference to popular 16th-century Spanish writer Garci Ordóñez de Montalvo, who first coined the name “California.” At his death, Senator Phelan was explicit in his bequest of Villa Montalvo. “I would like Villa Montalvo, to be maintained as a public park and for the development of the arts.” And that is exactly what happened! Today, the villa welcomes elegant weddings for up to 250 guests with indoor/outdoor options – so you are literally covered even in case of inclement weather.

Photo credit: Danny Dong
Photo credit: Danny Dong

One of the property’s most popular ceremony sites is the Love Temple, set inside the Italianate Garden at the bottom of the Great Lawn. A wide, rose-lined brick path flanked by antique marble statues leads to this open-air, white-columned pavilion, and couples wed in view of the surrounding garden with the Villa and woods in the background.

Photo credit: Todd Rafalovich

Directly behind the Villa, the Oval Garden offers a lush, intimate setting complete with classical statuary and wisteria-covered pergolas. A brick pathway serves as the center aisle, and a columned arcade makes a stately backdrop for exchanging vows. A third ceremony option is the new West Lawn Garden, which can accommodate 300+ guests.

Photo credit: Todd Rafalovich

While the newlyweds are photographed on the picturesque grounds, family and friends enjoy cocktails either in the West Lawn Garden or the scenic Spanish Courtyard.

Photo credit: Danny Dong

Receptions follow on the Villa’s broad veranda, where everyone is treated to splendid garden vistas and the occasional visiting deer (and which can even be enclosed, should the weather not cooperate!)

Photo credit: Todd Rafalovich

The Villa’s interior is equally impressive. All of the first floor’s adjoining rooms open onto the veranda, creating a wonderful flow to your event. The huge Main Hall at the center of the house boasts a high, beamed ceiling, gilded chandeliers and an enormous fireplace. The Hall is often used for dancing, its many French doors left open so that the music carries out to guests relaxing in the adjacent courtyard and on the veranda.

Photo credit: Wanderlust Photography

Other unique gathering spots include the handsome Library, paneled with rare New Zealand walnut, and the Dining Room, a cozy salon with a century-old fireplace and richly paneled walls.

Perhaps the Villa’s most charming space is the Solarium, the perfect niche to showcase the wedding cake.

Photo credit: Danny Dong

And that’s not all: The entire upstairs is reserved for the wedding party and their immediate family. The three spacious suites include a lavish dressing room, with its own balcony overlooking the Great Lawn.

In short: Villa Montalvo is the PERFECT wedding venue – offering privacy, elegance, historic ambiance and innumerable beautiful spots, year round. No wonder I love it so much for my couples…

Photo credit: Danny Dong

Intrigued? Contact venue manager Bri Banners at [email protected], and for all your wedding planning needs, contact me at [email protected] for your free consultation.

A Day Like No Other – wedding coordination and design

“When only the best will do…”

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Expert florist interview: Nancy Liu Chin

Nancy and I are going back more than a decade… and I have come to highly appreciate her very elegant approach to wedding flowers. For example, she is not using any “fillers” – and that, of course, makes her arrangements more beautiful (but also more expensive). It’s true – she is a luxury wedding florist! Just admire the stunning floral decor she creates… and learn from her insights!

Behind the Blooms: A Florist’s Approach to Luxury Wedding Flowers

🌿✨ Ever wonder what goes into creating breathtaking wedding florals? Here’s a little insight into my world as a florist!


What is your specific strength as a florist?


What sets me apart is that I don’t just design as a floral designer—I design as an event designer. My work isn’t just about making arrangements look beautiful; it’s about crafting a full guest experience. Every floral element is placed with intention—how it looks, feels, photographs, and enhances the atmosphere for both the couple and their guests.

I’m also too practical to design just for a trend. Trends come and go, but a well-designed event is timeless. Our design philosophy is rooted in my instantly recognizable belief that florals should complement, not compete with the space, the setting, and the guest experience. I approach every event with this mindset, ensuring that the floral design elevates the event in a way that feels intentional and seamlessly integrated.

What does it take to deliver stunning wedding flowers?


Beyond beautiful blooms, it takes:
✔ Designing with Purpose – Every arrangement is curated for its aesthetic, functionality, and impact on the event flow.
✔ Expert Curation – Sourcing the freshest, most stunning blooms to create the perfect palette and texture.
✔ Seamless Collaboration – Working closely with planners, venues, and other vendors to ensure every detail aligns.
✔ Flexibility & Quick Thinking – No event goes 100% as planned, so adapting without sacrificing design integrity is key.

💡 Real-Life Solution:
One of the most complex installations I ever tackled was designing an orchid chandelier where the rigging point was on the 2nd floor, but guests were entering from the Mezzanine. The strands had to hang 27 feet down, so I had to engineer a way to suspend a grid from the 2nd floor opening that extended all the way to the Mezzanine.

On top of that, each strand had to be prepped in advance to avoid tangling—one wrong move, and we’d have a massive floral mess before the event even started! It took careful planning, precision rigging, and an eye for both aesthetics and logistics.

That’s the level of detail we go to—designing florals that not only look breathtaking but are also executed flawlessly.


Why are wedding flowers so expensive?


Great question! The cost isn’t just about the flowers—it’s about everything that goes into creating a flawless execution:

💐 Premium Blooms – Many wedding flowers are imported, seasonal, or require careful handling.
👩‍🎨 Expert Design & Labor – Designing, processing, arranging, and installing florals takes skilled professionals and hours of work.
🚛 Logistics & Setup – Transporting fragile blooms, setting up installations, and ensuring everything looks perfect under a tight timeline.
📆 Event-Day Execution – Unlike home flowers, wedding florals must be flawless for one day only, requiring meticulous planning.

A wedding is a one-shot production—and florals are a critical part of that visual storytelling.

Evoto

What’s the Difference Between Low-Quality and High-Quality Floral Décor?

It all starts with the artisan’s mission, execution, and service.

💐 Low-quality florals feel like an afterthought—generic, uninspired, and poorly executed. They lack careful sourcing, handling, and attention to detail, often arriving wilted, misplaced, or unfinished.

🌿 High-quality florals aren’t just about expensive blooms—it’s about how even a simple carnation is cared for, how a bunch of sweet peas is watched for days, and how upon delivery, wilting flowers are replaced, glass is wiped, and centerpieces are placed perfectly.

Luxury floral design is about craftsmanship and precision—but also having enough skilled hands on site to ensure everything is installed on time, adjusted, and perfected. It’s about going beyond expectations, so the final product feels effortless, polished, and truly extraordinary.

“What else do you want to add?”


Great floral design is about more than just aesthetics—it’s about how it makes people feel. It’s about creating an atmosphere, a memory, an experience. When done right, florals don’t just decorate a space—they transform it.

Our design is intended to reflect my instantly recognizable belief that wedding florals should be more than just pretty arrangements—they should be part of the guest experience, an extension of the event design, and a defining element of the celebration.

For me, florals are never just about flowers. They’re about elevating the event, enhancing the guest experience, and making a moment unforgettable💫

Expert florist interview: Marie Krick of Laurel&Vine

I have worked with Marie many, many times over the years, and we have really become friends. We know we can fully rely on each other – and so I have never before asked her how she even approaches and does her work (it always came out fantastic… so why ask?). But with so much experience she has to share, I now did ask her – also for you, my readers!

Photo credit: Regina Popova

“What is your specific strength as a florist?” 

I am good at ‘thinking on my feet.’ There are so many unforeseen circumstances that come up on wedding days, and I have been able to accommodate my couples’ “wedding day emergencies” with some quick ‘flower thinking.’

“What is your style? Your approach to your work?”

My signature style is ‘garden with a touch of wild whimsy.’ My approach is to stay very organized on the back-end. I plan exactly how many stems of each variety will be going into each design months before the wedding. This allows for efficient, elegant, and confident designing.

Photo credit: Brooke Battle Photography

“What does it take to deliver stunning wedding flowers?”

Understanding each variety and its unique needs is key. Some roses need just one day outside of the cooler to open to perfection. Others need four. Some varieties shouldn’t be in the cooler at all. Knowing how to time the care and handling of each flower makes for stunning wedding flowers.

“What is the difference between low-quality and high-quality floral decor?”

Low quality florals aren’t given “love.” They aren’t trimmed, misted with water, or kept at the correct temperature and therefore may not hold up on a wedding day. They’re also poorly designed by someone who was most likely rushing or simply didn’t have the knowledge of basic design principles that would enable them to give the “wow factor.”

Photo credit: Kreate Photography

“Why are wedding flowers so expensive?”

Flowers in general are considered a luxury. But most couples want more than just “everyday” flowers. They want special varieties such as garden roses, Icelandic poppies, and butterfly ranunculus. These more “special” varieties usually cost more than flowers you find in a typical grocery store. 

Most couples are also looking for well-designed flowers. This means that they’re hiring a florist for their time and expertise beyond just the physical blooms. And if the wedding day includes a lot of large flower installations, the florist needs to bring a team to help them set it up. That labor gets expensive, especially if your florist (hopefully) is paying a fair wage to their employees.

Photo credit: Marie Krick

“What else do you want to add?”

If couples are wanting to get the most “bang for their buck,” I recommend focusing on putting larger and more impressive floral designs where guests will be looking and spending time the most. Think: altar design, bar flowers, sweetheart table, etc. Put the bulk of your budget in these places, and then you can cut back in other areas if needed.

Timeless style icons: Marilyn Monroe

Why am I presenting an actress who would have turned 100 years old next year?

Because she was a style icon, a strong woman and had an amazing intellect on top of that. Her style is really timeless (and very sexy!) – which is why lots of young women try to emulate her, now, in 2025.

Photo credit: Frank Podolny, 1953

Do you see the beauty mark that supermodel Cindy Crawford made famous again?! Here are a few facts about amazing Marilyn Monroe: born Norma Jeane Baker, in 1926; died under suspicious circumstances in 1962. Rumor has it that her “suicide” was actually staged … in the context of her affair with then-US President J. F. Kennedy.

Aside from reigning the movie screen, she inspired a whole generation with her effortlessly elegant, unashamedly sexy and luxurious style:

She was a muse to the leading artists of her time – her portrait, done by Andy Warhol, is iconic.

Digital print template available on etsy

To the present day, she is the model for chic women worldwide, including – styled photo shoots.

And she keeps inspiring – case in point: the cover of March 2025 Vogue magazine! Who else but Marilyn was the inspiration?!

Marilyn was a ravishing beauty, for sure! But what hardly anyone knows is that Marilyn was an avid reader of literature, poetry, theater, philosophy, kept a library of more than 1,000 books and had insatiable curiosity and hunger for knowledge. She also had a crush on Albert Einstein, the greatest genius of her time. Marilyn is said to have told Einstein, with charming frankness, “You and I could have a child: I would come out with my beauty and your intelligence.”
To which the father of relativity and the atomic bomb replied: “Maybe it will come out with my beauty and your intelligence.”
It was not yet known (the tests were done later), that Marilyn Monroe’s IQ was 165, (five points above the “greatest genius of all time”)!! So there goes the myth of the “dumb blonde…”
And how did she feel about her role in life? In her own words:
“One of the best things that has happened to me is that I am a woman. That’s the way all women should feel.”
“I want to age without facelifts. I want to have the courage to be true to the face I’ve made.”
” If I had followed all the rules, I would never have gotten anywhere.”

Expert interview: Florist Karen Baba of Plandecor

How to choose your perfect wedding florist

What is your specific strength as a florist?

Attention to detail and the importance of understanding my clients’ vision.

“What is your style? Your approach to your work?”

My style varies depending on the client and venue.  But personally I prefer a romantic, unique “garden-y” look…but I also love working with contemporary designs.

“What does it take to deliver stunning wedding flowers?”

Determination and attention to detail

“What is the difference between low-quality and high-quality floral decor?”

Basically the types of flowers you choose, attention to detail, containers, specialized unique decorative items – and the desire to be the best!

“Why are wedding flowers so expensive?”

A lot of labor goes into creating an event, and the cost of the flowers themselves, the containers, mechanics etc.

“What else do you want to add?”

There’s nothing better than hearing from your client that you exceeded all their expectations and that their guests raved.  That is what makes what we do worthwhile.  And working with great vendors like you Jutta….thank you xx

Karen Baba 

Plan Decor  

650 766-0980 

www.plandecor.com 

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Expert interviews: photographer Todd Rafalovich

On how to choose your perfect wedding photographer

“How did I get into photography? And why am I fascinated by weddings?

I believe both my twin brother and I got the artistic genes from my mother. She was an art major in college. Definitely not from my dad; he had an engineering mind.  Though I didn’t draw, I picked up a camera (film of course) when I was a child. And I fooled around with photography through high school. Taking pictures of friends and family. Then, after graduating college, wanting to travel and not sit behind a desk, I started modeling. This gave me freedom to travel (which is a big part of my photography journey now) and I met and worked with some of the best photographers around the world. In a way, modeling was my photography school. I learned “in front of the camera” (as a model) how to direct my subjects from behind the camera (as a photographer). After traveling extensively during my 20’s, I felt it was time to settle down, and photography was a very natural progression as I had been involved in image creating for many years already. Since I was very comfortable around people (traveling and working on so many fashion sets), I felt I had more than enough experience in directing people to create “fashionable portraits.” Combining this with the non-stop photojournalistic photography that I did while traveling, I felt I was groomed for wedding photography (the culmination of both portraiture and photojournalism, set in a high pace environment). It didn’t take long before I was booking jobs in the Bay Area, Southern California, Texas, and a number of other cities around the US.

So what brought me to weddings was my previous experience, what kept me immersed in the wedding industry was: 1) The incredible satisfaction of capturing once in a lifetime moments to preserve forever, and the connection and appreciation from my clients. 2) The wonderful network of vendors that I worked with regularly at these events. From wedding coordinators, to caterers, to florists, and the venue operators. I was working two, or three events every weekend so we got to know each there very well. They were my extended family. 

What is my specific style, and why?

Photography, is a visual representation on how I view the world. This is what makes each artist different. I love the spontaneity and unpredictability  of life. It fascinates me. Having the vision and skill to capture these fleeting moments in a way that expresses the feeling and emotions of that instance is inspiring. This is the photojournalist in me. Along with that, composing and directing “set shots” that bring out the best in whoever I work with, is another rewarding aspect of wedding photography. This is the fashion side of me. So, fashion-photojournalism is the best description of my style. 

How have I evolved as a photographer?

With any art, or job for that matter, you bring all of your experiences to the table when you go to work. Everything! So, year after year I expand my portfolio of knowledge. To date, I have a portfolio extending over 30 years. This experience includes something like a thousand weddings, countless portrait sessions, hundreds of corporate events,  many wonderful family shoots, and traveling and photographing people and cultures in 6 continents (about 50 counties). I evolve everyday I shoot. I come to each session with an incredible amount of previous experience, but, I approach each situation with a “new set of eyes,” as each person, and situation will present new opportunities to create unique images. That is what keeps me inspired and engaged in every shoot I take on. Photography, like life, is a never ending process of learning and experiencing. To really accel in any business, it is critical to always be curious and want to expand on your previous experience. 

How do I connect with couples?

I have always had a very calm demeanor. I believe this sense of peace resonates with my clients. Then, because I have so much experience, and have seen so much over 30+ years of photography, my confidence is evident. The combination of a calm demeanor and visible confidence, polite but purposeful direction,  puts my couples at ease.  They know they are in good hands. 

What is the difference  between a professional and part time photographer with a cell phone?

As mentioned before, weddings are a culmination of different types of photography. First, there are the “set”, or posed photos. These take a creative vision, and the skills to direct the subjects to get the desired result. Not necessarily an easy task unless the photographer is very accomplished, and has the full trust and attention of the subjects to make the posing go quickly and seamlessly. I am very good att this. Second, the photojournalistic aspect of weddings takes: anticipation, then instantaneous decision on angle, lens use, camera settings, etc. in order to fully portray the moment in a meaningful way. Both aspects involve experience and creativity. That doesn’t mean that a “non-pro” can’t take a good image. But, it takes someone with extensive experience and creativity to create powerful images on a consistent basis. 

Why is wedding photography expensive?

People are paying for years and years of experience. There is no substitute for time. Also, the artists unite, one of a kind, creativity. Their vision cannot be replicated or copied. 

Yes, a ’non-pro” photographer can shoot a wedding and probably be much less expensive. But there is no doubt that the quality of the imagery, and the experience working with that photographer will be very different from an accomplished professional. Also, a wedding is a “one shot” deal. There are no “re-do’s” in wedding photography. Everything has to be done right, at that very moment. 

Beyond the “day of performance”, there is the post production work (editing) of the imagery. Most weddings are typically a one day event, but the post production can take many days. It’s not unusual to spend 40 or 50 hours in post production to create the final product.

To sum up my thoughts on wedding photography and booking the one that will work for you, I would consider a few things-

  1. Look carefully at how the photographer takes both candid and posed images. Does the style resonate with you? Also try to look at a lot of images, especially ones that are relevant to your event (Indoor? Outdoor? Formal? Casual?)
  2. The photographer is with you throughout the day. ALL DAY. How comfortable you are in their presence will affect you on the day, and the images that are created.
  3. Trust. Having trust is critical on the day of (no second guessing) as well as knowing that the person will deliver a product you are happy with in a timely manner.

Todd Rafalovich     [email protected].   650.619.0915

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