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Juliana + Johannes | Curacao wedding

Brett — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:56:47 +0000

Juliana and I were brought together by the tragic death of her originally-scheduled photographer, yet like so many things in life, it just felt meant to be from the very beginning. The Dutch island of Curacao has what most photographers love; color, beaches, a passionate culture and an edginess that inspires most of us to leave the comfort and monotony of our homes to travel. Juliana and Johannes’ families have roots on this Caribbean Island, but they planned their wedding from South Korea, where they currently live. The wedding ceremony and reception were at the Landhuis Jan Thiel, a former plantation about a mile from the ocean. The day after the wedding our portrait session ended on the famed yacht called Zenji, a wonderful way to end the weekend.

Tiffany + Mousa | La Jolla Engagement portraits

Brett — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:04:17 +0000

When Tiff and Mousa flew out to San Diego from New York to plan their La Jolla summer wedding, the last thing we expected for their engagement shoot was tropical storm-like conditions. I have never before drenched my camera equipment in so much water. Their wedding will be at Scripps Seaside Forum in La Jolla, an amazing wedding venue right on the beach. With heavy rain forcing us to duck in and out of La Jolla’s Grande Colonial Hotel, La Valencia Hotel and a parking garage, we managed to create some fun and atmospheric portraits. Thanks to Jamie Lawler for assisting me under such difficult conditions with such a happy spirit.

Carlos Y Gretel | Oaxaca, Mexico Wedding

Brett — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:02:27 +0000

Oaxaca is a legendary town made famous by many photographers and artists capturing its magic. For years I’ve enjoyed looking at National Geographic and Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey’s work from here. But I never dreamed that I’d get to shoot pictures of a colorful wedding in the heart of Oaxaca’s Zocalo on my first trip to the region. Gretel is a Mexican painter whose work can be found at galleries and auctions worldwide. Her style of decorating her wedding in as much color as possible was amazing to photograph. During the ceremony, at the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, most of us couldn’t help being distracted by the details of this spectacular building, which was completed in 1666. After the Catholic Mass, all of us marched 16 blocks through town to the Oaxaca Cultural Institute for a reception that lasted until dawn. It was fun to reunite with my videographer friends from San Miguel De Allende, who call themselves Cinelab SMA. The well-known and talented photographer Rafa Ibanez flew in from Monterey and helped me photograph the wedding. His gentle approach and eye for light was a huge asset for an unforgettable weekend in one of Mexico’s most beautiful colonial cities.

Wedding Photography Internship

Brett — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:22:10 +0000

This paid position is available immediately for an individual looking to improve their photography skills in 2012. Applicants must have their own photography equipment, live in the San Diego area, have a strong portfolio that shows artistic vision and be willing to travel and have fun. Please contact me at brett[at]brettbutterstein.com for more information. Deadline to apply is March 31st.

Robert + Vivian | La Jolla wedding

Brett — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:10:27 +0000

Shooting Robert and Vivian’s wedding at Cuvier Park in La Jolla was a perfect beginning to my year of photographing weddings. When the weather is perfect, which it was, this is one of my favorite places to watch the ocean in San Diego. After their intimate ceremony with just their immediate families, we took portraits on the beach and at the U.S. Grant in downtown San Diego.

Remembering Tracy Turpen

Brett — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:22:11 +0000

Last summer I experienced an enthralling engagement shoot with two photographers I had never met before. Meeting at a cheap hotel in Alamogordo, N.M., we loaded two plastic sleds in the back of my car and headed for the sand dunes they found searching the internet from their home in North Carolina. The pictures we took on this day are the best engagement portraits I’ve ever taken. Tracy and Tyler deserve all the credit. Their ideas, excitement and enchanting love for one another took these portraits to a whole new level. Both of them just laughed and smiled and moved effortlessly in front of the camera. They were charming and sweet to me and it was obvious that they had been thinking about this moment for a long time.
Earlier Tyler had told me on the phone that they had finally found a perfect place for their wedding in the Appalachian Mountains and were excited for me to see it. I was eager to be their wedding photographer but secretly frightened that I would not be able to create the same level of pictures that I did with their engagement photos. More recently, I received an inquiry from a couple who said Tracy had recommended me to them. I wanted to write Tracy an email to thank her and also congratulate her for all of her photos that placed in the Junebug Weddings Best of the Best photo contest. Before I sent this message, I found out that Tracy had passed away. I am devastated for the wedding photography community, her family and friends, the lover that she brought to the sand dunes on that hot summer day and most of all for her little boy, Evander. Tracy, I will never forget the magic that happened at white sands, the passion I witnessed and the happiness that you spread.

Best of the Best 2011 Award

Brett — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:52:16 +0000

Junebug Weddings has published their annual gallery of the year’s best wedding photos and I am thrilled to be included. The gallery of 50 photos was chosen from almost 5,000 entries and includes some of the top names in the industry. While I am excited to receive this top award, I am also reminded how talented my friends and colleagues are. This honor is a great way to begin a new and exciting year with lots of new possibilites ahead. Congratulations to Kerri Peto for being beautiful inside and out and for her recent news of starting a family.

Thalia + Ricardo | San Miguel De Allende Wedding

Brett — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:06:52 +0000

Mexicans sure know how to celebrate and one of the reasons I love shooting in this country is that I never really know what’s going to happen next. Thalia and Ricardo and their friends partied hard for three nights in a row and photographer Jason Seagle and I did a pretty good job of keeping up. On their wedding night, we closed the Mint Club Privado in San Miguel at 7 a.m. The woman singing in the blue dress towards the end of this blog post was a wedding guest and is a former Miss Universe. Many of the wedding events took place at the Rosewood Hotel in San Miguel and the ceremony and reception were held at a private estate. Guadalupe and her team with Penzi Weddings and Events blew my mind with how they handled such a large affair.

Kenny + Mei Zee | Austin, Texas Wedding

Brett — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:25:37 +0000

When I met this couple at their wedding venue, the Barr Mansion, in the winter while in Austin to teach a photography workshop, it was gray and cold and the reception hall was being rebuilt after a devastating fire. But by the time the wedding day came, this place surrounding this old Victorian house was transformed and I was excited to shoot there. Just as Mei Zee was about to put her wedding dress on, a guy in a white tank top was pulled over by police in front of the house, given a drunk driving test and subsequently arrested as we all watched from the second floor windows. During the ceremony, noises from the tow truck made people laugh as a worker prepared to take the guys car away. Photos by Brett Butterstein and Christopher Capozziello.

Holland + Justin | Durango, Colorado Wedding

Brett — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:39:38 +0000

This was a special wedding for me not only because Holly and Justin are friends of mine, but also since Holly’s family is so close with my wife’s family. Holly continues to be my number one fan and I love her for it. The Blue Lake Ranch wedding was planned and designed by Aspen event planner Elizabeth Slossberg with EKS Events. Celebrated violinist Bobby Yang played unique, beautiful and sometimes surprisingly upbeat music. Jan Schill and Christopher Capozziello assisted with the photography.