Cecilia & Victor
Backyard weddings have become a norm for many couples in 2020 and early 2021. And there are many pluses. Couples save money by not having to rent a venue. Specifc catering companies that work with the venues are not needed and the couple has a choice to bring in any food they’d like. As you know alcohol bill(especially for an open bar) can be quite large.Number of guests is limited to pretty much closest family members. So if you don’t feel like inviting someone, there’s a great excuse not to do so now. In general there’s a lot of complexities and timnig when you have a large wedding in a specific venue. There are minuses as well for backyard wedding - preparation is done by you or someone close to you. You have to worry about cleaning up. There are friends you’d really like to invite and see but unable to do so.
At the end Cecilia & Victor decided not to wait for uncertancy of 2021 and got married in January. Their friend performed the duties of the officiant and did a nice job for the first time in his life. I could tell he was nervous and he rushed through some of the parts quickly, but none the less we got the first kiss, wine ceremony and a lot of laughs.
It was a lovely, quiet ceremony and reception at the couple’s house - mostly backyard as they tried to make sure everything happens outdoors.
Before the ceremony we met at Sharon Park in Menlo Park to take some pre-wedding photos. I took advantage of the sun being high up for some of the backlit shots as well as allowing for a lot of light to come through and lit up my couple. While it’s easy to simply hide in the shade and use flash for some of the photos, I really like to take advantage of the natural light even if it’s midday. My goal was to create real, more candid photos even if they were posed and guided and i wanted to focus on their relationship with their kids since both have kids from their previous marriage. And of course we timeboxed this wedding placing it in the middle of the pandemic with a matching mask - Queen and King.
Betty
Whenever i travel i always bring my camera with me. I guess that’s a given being a photographer. While i love shooting at the beach the key for me is not be repetative. But it’s also improtant to work with someone who’s willing to be playful, have fun and just try different things. I met Betty while at the Riviera Maya where i went to celebrate New Years Even with my family.
We chatted a bit but when we truly connected is when taking photos. We were both filled with energy and enthusiasm, ready to do whatever is needed to get some of the fun shots. I also wanted to capture Betty (who’s about to turn 17) in this very innocent way of the girl who’s whole life is ahead of her - all the choices, big decisions, new experiences are all waiting and are not that far off.
Here are some of my favorite images from our shoot
