Weddings

Amy & John: Wonder Valley wedding

November 30, 2011 by Craig

Amy and John’s wedding was my first at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort in Sanger and my last for this year. We had a few ominous clouds and cool weather move in but for the most part this outdoor wedding was a really pretty one. I actually like a few clouds which make for some interesting pictures. The lake and gazebo made for nice backdrops. There was quite a bit of flower color in the background as well – very impressive for November. I liked that everybody really loosened up and had a great time. I even got thanked in the groom’s speech! – another first. I posed a few favorites in a slideshow posted below.

Click to see the slideshow

Wedding: Jane & Kevin at Engelmann Cellars

November 12, 2011 by Craig

Some favorites from Jane and Kevin’s wedding at Engelmann Cellars west of Fresno. I shot their engagement session only a week before their wedding but it was nice to hang out with them both times. And both times we had some amazing skies to work with.

Engelmann is a great place for wedding photography because there are so many background options in such a small area. The patio outside the winery makes for a great spot for dancing pictures too. I also liked doing their engagement and pre-ceremony photos in and around their Harlan Ranch neighborhood in Clovis. Again, so many choices!

Of course you can’t go wrong just about anywhere in October. My favorite time of the year – weather-wise.

Click to see a slideshow of images

Alik & Garin’s wedding photography gallery

October 21, 2011 by Craig

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Guests get seated in the church pews as the wedding service begins at Holy Trinity
The wedding guests watch as the ceremony begins
Groom smiles as the ceremony begins and he sees the bride
Bride and her father begin the march down the aisle at church
Everybody watches as the bride walks down the aisle with her father at church
A kiss from the father of the bride after pulling veil away
Picture showing couple at the altar from the aisle
Bride stands at the altar during the ceremony
Couple bows their heads together with best man holding cross
Traditional Armenian ceremony with cross at the church
Prayers and the cross for the couple at the church
Detail look up at the chandelier at the church
Overhead look at the recessional at the church
Bride and groom portrait in the doorway at the church
bride and groom portrait on the stairs at the church
Bride walking down the steps at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church
Walking between parked cars on Fulton in Fresno Warnors in background
First dance is a special one at The Grand in Fresno
Cheers to us
toasting the newlyweds
A kiss for the bride at the head table
First dance for newlyweds Garin and Alik
Armenian Dancing
Alik and Garin traditional Armenian dancing at their wedding
Overhead view of the ground floor at The Grand 1401 Fresno
Garin has some fun with traditional Armenian Dancing
The Grand 1401

Alik and Garin’s wedding at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in downtown Fresno and their wedding reception on the ground floor ballroom of The Grand 1401 Fulton in downtown Fresno. It was fun to watch and photograph all the Armenian traditions that went along with Alik and Garin’s wedding. The fun started at her parents’ house where she did some dancing in the living room after putting her dress on. Then we went on to Fresno’s Courthouse Park where the couple had their first look. The ceremony was held at Holy Trinity, one of Fresno’s most beautiful churches. Then it was off to The Grand 1401 where traditional Armenian food was served and Armenian dancing went long into the night. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Bonnie B Ranch Weddings

October 19, 2011 by Craig

Carolina and Luis’s wedding reception at the Bonnie B Ranch in North Fork was one of my favorites. The place is so beautiful and perfect for a fun party outdoors on a warm autumn evening. Of course the setting is perfect for lots of great pictures with lots of great backdrops.

For Carolina and Luis’ wedding, they had a live band that played on into the night and then the wedding party and guests spent the night camping on site. The honored couple spent their wedding night in the little house with the paddle wheel on the pond. For the rustic, fun-loving outdoor type of couple who doesn’t want to deal with the crowds or restrictions of Yosemite, this is a perfect alternative.

Apparently I’m not the only visual guy who enjoyed the vistas around the ranch. Directors have long used the site for movies and television because of the “non-glare” sunlight time, allows them to work long hours in optimum light. “Mouse Hunt” was one of the movies that made use of the ranch.

My original post from Carolina and Luis’ wedding is here on my old blog. Check out Bonnie B’s Facebook wedding page too.

Jane and Kevin preview

October 16, 2011 by Craig

Here’s one quick preview from Jane and Kevin’s wedding at Engelmann Cellars in Fresno. We got a ton of sunset photos but here is one I wanted to post real quick because I know they’re going to be heading out on their honeymoon soon. Congratulations guys!

Alik & Garin wedding preview

October 16, 2011 by Craig

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Alik and Garin needed some images from her wedding day photography the annual Armenian wedding directory which I sent to her. Then I thought I’d go ahead and post a gallery of them on my new blog site here show everybody else. The complete wedding day story will be posted here soon.

Jon and Jamie’s wedding at Sierra Meadows

October 15, 2011 by Craig

A sunset photo from Jon and Jamie’s wedding at Sierra Meadows Country Club in Oakhurst.

Wedding photography: Tenaya Lodge

October 14, 2011 by Craig

I am changing the look of my main portfolio site. In fact it is going to be a portfolio and a blog. A blog-site, I guess. So check back soon to see the new changes. And let me know what you think!