Wedding season is starting off with a bang!

As I posted the other day, I shot a really fun wedding with Kim Fox this weekend in Newport Beach. There were many interesting things about this wedding.

First and foremost, Laura and Mike were so sweet and welcoming. When second shooting, I don’t have the opportunity to get to know the couple before the wedding like I do with my own clients. I feel that it is so important to establish a trusting relationship with my clients in the months leading up to the wedding day so that on the day they feel totally comfortable with me, and vice versa. Though we didn’t have the opportunity to meet beforehand, Laura and Mike made me feel as though we already knew each other. They were so welcoming and fun to be around and I think that really showed through in the images I captured.

Second, Mike and Laura are both HUGE USC fans. Laura is actually an alum (as am I) and currently works in fundraising for school. During the reception, there was a big surprise for all the USC fans at the party. So much fun! (See photos below.)

Another interesting thing about this wedding was that Mike Colon was a guest! Perhaps only you wedding photographer types out there can appreciate how interesting this actually is, but Mike Colon is one of the top dogs in wedding photography around the nation, and certainly here in Southern California! It turns out that Laura was a camp counselor to Julie Colon, Mike’s wife, for many years. You can imagine how nervous I was right before the ceremony knowing that such a great, well-respected photographer was sitting in the audience! Thank goodness he was gracious enough to not bring along his camera… now that would have been really intimidating! I took a moment to talk to Mike and Julie during the reception and we ended up comiserating about how all of us became super sick after the whirlwind experience of WPPI. What great, nice people! Here’s a shot I grabbed of them.

Okay, enough storytelling. On to the photos!

I spent some time hanging out with Mike and his 11 groomsmen (Yes! 11! And I learned each of their names!) before the ceremony…

A great, simple portrait of the groom.

Here’s a shot I grabbed of Laura right before the ceremony as her veil was blowing in the wind.

A lovely detail of Laura’s bouquet with her Grandmother’s handkerchief. Florals by Red Orchid Design.

A dreamy shot of the flower girl making her way up the aisle.

One of the best things about photographing Laura was her great ability to express her emotions through her laugh and her smile. Here is one of those moments from the ceremony.

Another great moment during the ceremony.

After the ceremony, while Kim was taking family group photos, I took some time out with the kids. I absolutely love photographing children, especially at weddings. They bring a joy to the wedding day that is so fun to capture in photographs. Here’s the beautiful flower girl down by the harbor.

I love this shot.

Here’s a series of one of the most expressive little girls I have ever met. Her name is Amber and was such a delight the whole day. What a cutie.

Some more great details, all by Red Orchid Design.

The First Dance.

An emotional and touching dance. Because Laura’s father has passed, Laura instead danced with her brother while a great slideshow of photos of their father played in the background. Needless to say there were very few dry eyes in the room.

Right after that emotional moment, a surprise entered the tent! Laura, with the help of the ladies of Red Orchid Design, arranged for the USC Marching Band to play at the reception! It was a total surprise to most everyone in the room, including the Groom!! As a USC alum, this was especially fun to photograph!

The band was AWESOME! They were so entertaining to watch.

All the Trojan alumni were pretty excited… and there were many in attendance! The band even played the favorite “UCLA Sucks!” especially for Laura’s brother-in-law who used to play for the Bruins. He was a really good sport. Trojan Pride!

Congratulations, Laura and Mike! All the best!