DeFalco Photography Blog

The Girls, and Getting Ready at the W Hotel.

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:09:09 +0000

I’ve written a little bit on this blog before about how much I enjoy the ‘getting ready’ part of the wedding day. It really is an honor to be part of so many moments that are generally reserved for the closest friends and family; when a woman transforms from her usual self, into a Bride, just for one day. As much as I love photographing portraits, it’s always a fun challenge to find interesting ways to photograph details, like the flowers, or my favorite, the shoes. It’s the part of the day where everyone is in a great mood, and there are always little a bit of nerves just sort of tingling in the air. For me, the ‘getting ready’ part of the day is it’s own little story within a story. It’s about families growing, close friends marking a new chapter in their story together, and countless hours of planning coming to fruition right in front of the camera.

When it came time to go to the W Hotel to see Brooke and her girls getting ready, I already knew the day had amazing potential for beautiful images. She and Dominic chose to have their ceremony at USD Immaculata, and their reception at the Ultimate Skybox at Diamondview Towers, which are two of my favorite wedding venues in San Diego. The W Hotel was familiar to me, but Brooke added a bonus by managing to move into the “WOW” suite on the top floor, which is spectacular. The day got off to a great start and we made the best of being at W before the girls boarded their trolly bus headed for USD. I’ll be ready to share the whole wedding day pretty soon, but for now, I just wanted to share a little bit of what is often, my favorite part of the wedding day. Plus, I’ve never had a bride volunteer to jump on the bed right after getting her dress on, so enjoy!

Brooke chose Katie, from “a dab will do you” in La Jolla, to be her MUA…..make up artist, that is.

The dress is almost ready to go. That must mean it’s time to….

…JUMP ON THE BED!

Down by the pool room, with a retro-twist

It’s hard to go wrong with six beautiful women in one photograph.

Sailing into the Sunset with Dawn and Michael

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:20:57 +0000

A little over a week ago, I had the pleasure of sailing with Dawn, Michael, their family and friends, aboard the Harbor Excursion yacht ‘Quiet Heart.’ I’ve photographed quite a few weddings on the bay , but none quite this intimate. It wasn’t long before I knew the names of just about everyone on board. Most everybody, including Dawn and Michael, came out from Arizona to have a destination wedding here in San Diego, so you can imagine what a treat it was for everyone to enjoy an evening on the bay with a beautiful ceremony and well-catered reception dinner.

I first met up with Dawn at the downtown hotel where she was getting ready, along with her parents.

I popped into the cafe near the boarding dock a little ahead of schedule, only to find Dawn’s father, Tom, going over his notes for his toast.

The upper deck of the Quiet Heart

It started out with a bunch of birds, and then things pretty much just got crazier from there!

A first dance on the bow…

…and fireworks off the stern.

Amanda and David by the Bay in Coronado

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:41:50 +0000

I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Amanda and David in Coronado in June. Amanda got ready with her girls and her family at Loews Coronado, which I’d been to a few times before, but what was new for me was shooting on the grounds of the Coronado Community Center. It’s a really amazing spot right on Glorietta Bay, and the ceremony was set up to face the water, so it made for a fantastic location.

You might remember seeing some engagement images of Amanda and David on my blog from Balboa Park earlier. Amanda and David both looked amazing together then, and they looked even more amazing together dressed for their wedding. I’m going to share more than a handful of images here.

Amanda’s Mom watched as her girls buttoned her into her dress.

As if on cue, the sun finally started to break through the clouds of June as the ceremony reached the big kiss.

I have to admit, I love it when there’s a candy bar for favors. I meant to get some Sour Patch Kids, but I got too busy shooting!

La Dolce Vita al Cafe’ Sole Luna

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:39:35 +0000

As a kid, I knew how lucky I was to enjoy home cooked lasagna and spaghetti when we used to visit my dear grandmother Mary DeFalco. I used to look forward to holidays when I knew Grandma had bolognese sauce on the stove, usually starting at least one or two days in advance. I really miss my Grandmother and her cooking, but ever since I moved to the El Cortez last year, whenever I crave amazing Italian cuisine, all I have to do now is walk downstairs to the Sole Luna Cafe’. Sole Luna has become like an extension of my home, with the amazing food and all the regular patrons from the neighborhood I’ve come to know, so I was thrilled when they asked me to photograph some of their fare for an upcoming web site update.

I’ll share a few examples here, of some of my favorite dishes that I enjoy probably way more often that I should…but I can’t help it! In case you’re not familiar with the location, it’s an easy one to find. Just look for the building on Ash St. that’s been an iconic symbol on the San Diego skyline since 1927.

I’ll start with one of the all time favorites: Lasagna Bolognese! It’s one of their staples and popular reason for return visits!

Sometimes when I’m in the mood for vegetarian, which is often, I love their Veggie Lasanga too. One of my other favorites is the Ravioli Genovesi. It’s a four cheese ravioli, but with an amazingly rich basil pesto sauce that is out of this world.

Maybe it’s because Alessandro and Gigio brought a lot of their recipes with them from Italy, but even something as simple as penne pasta with a bolognese sauce is uniquely Sole Luna.

The Mare Salad has a combination of smoked salmon, shrimp, hearts of palm, cucumber and a lemon olive oil dressing. Yum!

Another ‘comfort food’ for me, the Ravioli Boscaioli – mushroom ravioli with their signature creamy bolognese and mushroom sauce.

Let’s not forget desserts! ( and an espresso martini!) I have a daily coffee habit thanks to living above Sole Luna Cafe…their espresso grind is authentically Italian and makes me feel like I’m back in Europe everytime I have a cappucino.

Lani & David Set Sail

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:47:12 +0000

In May, I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of David and Lani aboard the Hornblower Emerald. We started out quite conveniently right across the street from the boat dock at the hotel where Lani was getting ready. As you can see, it was another perfect San Diego day for a wedding on the bay!

David had a few minutes to calm his nerves and chat with his Mom and Dad just before we left the dock and the ceremony began.

Flowers were done beautifully by Janay at Kenner and Sons.

We took some time after the cruise to take a walk through downtown, just one-on-one with Lani and David. The cruise was a big success, and having some time together was a nice reward for them both!

Marko & Ashley : First the Proposal, Now the Engagement!

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:35:32 +0000

I had the distinct pleasure of photographing the proposal that led to the engagement of Marko and Ashley, as you may have read in an earlier post. It was the first (and so far, only) time I’ve ever been there to watch an actual proposal and catpure it in pictures. I met up with Marko and Ashley again recently for new pictures in Old Poway Park, and this time I didn’t have to hide in the bushes like paparazzi! ….so that was a plus. Wedding planning is well under way and it’s looking like they’ll be tying the knot by next January, so I’m very much looking forward to seeing the story of Marko and Ashley come full circle.

Amanda & David : A Walk in the Park!

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:23:25 +0000

A little over a week ago I headed up to Balboa Park to photograph Amanda and David. I’m looking forward to photographing their wedding and reception later this year in Coronado. We had a perfect spring day to work with as we walked around the park, choosing spots to shoot. David is a Navy man, and it looks like both Amanda and David may be headed for Annapolis next year for David’s next assignment, so I’m glad we were able to capture a handful of golden, California images for them to remember San Diego with. I can already tell that photographing their wedding is going to be a lot of fun, and that Amanda will soon make a stunning bride!

After our session was over, and I was walking out of Balboa Park to head down to the El Cortez, I stopped to check out the moonrise. I loved the way it looked as I was passing this tree near the dog park, so I snapped this image. For some reason I really like it, so I’m sharing it here.

Higher Than High: Front Row for METRIC and IndieFest

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:54:42 +0000

To be honest, my love of music is what led to my love of photography, so it was really an amazingly great day for me when I went to photograph parts of the annual music festival in North Park known as IndieFest. I’ve never endeavored to be a great musician myself (I ‘noodle’ on my Gibson guitar all the time though) but I realized way back when I lived in Athens, GA that sometimes knowing how to use a camera opened doors in the music world for me that I wouldn’t have access to otherwise. When I was first teaching myself how to use a camera, going to shows at the 40 Watt and experimenting with my camera was my favorite thing to do. Recently I resolved to not only make the effort to get out and see more live music again, but to shoot as much of it as I can, so when the opportunity to participate in IndieFest came up, I was thrilled. Actually, I was ecstatic! One of my favorite bands, Metric, was announced as the headliner! Metric’s latest album “Fantasies” has been in constant rotation in my iTunes and in the cd player in my car. I listen to Metric, both old and new, all the time while I’m editing and color correcting, so it’s been an immense pleasure for me to crank up the Metric at my desk whilst editing pictures of….METRIC!

I’d like to share a handful of favorite images here, rather than make this a review of the show itself. Suffice it to say, their set was amazingly tight, and they sound so much bigger than any four piece band should. Metric is one of those rare bands that manage to sound better on stage than recorded. Emily Haines was spot-on vocally, even while playing keyboards and guitar, and working every corner of the stage – much to the delight of the crowd…and myself!

James Shaw and Joshua Winstead

Emily Haines singing ”Help, I’m Alive!”……”Can you feel my heart…..”

…..beating like a hammmmmeeeerrrrr!”

For the song ‘Gold, Guns and Girls’ Emily broke out her Fender Mustang.

James Shaw and Joules Scott Key

Metric Jimmy Jules

Metric closed their set with an old one and a new one : ‘Dead Disco’ and ‘Stadium Love.’ Emily was all over the stage (often in the air!) and the crowd loved every second of it.

I am working on another handful of images for the blog, inlcuding perennial IndieFest favorites, Danielle LoPresti and the Masses, as well as the bands Far and Audible Mainframe. Look for more IndieFest images coming soon!

Paparazzi : Popping the Question at Ponte Winery

admin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:43:21 +0000

I often marvel at how many wonderful, intimate moments that I am fortunate enough to witness as a photographer. Sometimes a camera is a tool, and other times it’s like having a passport into people’s lives. There are always moments during weddings when I become acutely aware that I am witnessing the beginning of a new life, a new family, and a new future. In a way, sometimes I feel more like a cultural anthropologist than a photographer. Witnessing life through a viewfinder is always fascinating to me.

Usually, the first time I talk to a couple, we are talking about wedding dates and engagement sessions. When Marko called me and described the elaborate set-up he was masterminding in order to propose to his girlfriend (and now Fiancé’!!!!!) Ashley, I was super excited. I always meet people after the proposal, so this was something very new and intriguing for me. There was also an elevated sense of excitement because there could always be a tiny, tiny chance that maybe she might not say yes, and so I instantly became a member of Team Marko – totally pulling for Marko and rooting for his cause. Of course, anyone who knows them as a couple could have told me he was a shoe-in, but still….

So last Saturday morning, I made my way to the Ponte Winery in Temecula. I got there a bit early so I could talk to Ty Tyler, Marko’s partner in crime at the Winery. Ty had safely tucked away a couple of very special bottles for Marko that you’ll see below. He very kindly showed me around the winery and described the game plan to me, so when Marko and Ashely arrived at the counter, it was ‘game on.’

When Marko and Ashley came to the tasting counter, Rene gently guided them down to the sunny end of the counter. My job was to pretend to shoot wine bottles, but really I was just sneaking shots of Marko and Ashley when she wasn’t looking!

As Rene was helping Marko and Ashley, Ty Tyler casually came by and offered them a more private tasting in the barrel room. As Ty guided them to a corner of the barrel room to taste a couple of wines, I was out in the garden, pretending to shoot the scenery…

This is where the story gets even better. During their staged tasting, Ashley enjoyed one particular vintage of red wine, so Tyler promptly offered to sell them a rare bottle…only a few existed in the whole winery! Marko and Ashely took a little stroll outside while Ty went to grab this special bottle. Marko and Ashley walked past the garden to the foot of the aisle, where later that day a wedding would be held. The symbolism was perfect!

Here comes Ty with “THE” bottle…

So here it is…the big moment. Ashley realizes this is no ordinary bottle of wine, as Marko goes down on one knee with a ring box in hand…

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The proposal wasn’t the only surprise for Ashely. About 30 friends and family members were waiting in a reserve room at the winery, ready to celebrate with the happy couple.

In this picture, Marko’s father is watching him speak…he looks very proud and happy for his son.

Ashley’s father proposes a toast!

Congratulations to Marko and Ashley!

Bayside Bliss: Sara & Phil in Point Loma

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:10:36 +0000

I’d like to share some images from the wedding ceremony of Sara and Phil. Sara and Phil planned their day much further in advance than most couples I’ve met. Between the two of them, it seems like either one or both of them are always on a Navy ship in a far-flung part of the world, so advance planning was truly a must. I remember the first time I talked to Sara early in 2008, when November of 2009 seemed reeeaaalllly far away! It’s hard for me to believe that their day came and went, and that it’s already time to blog the images!

The day itself was perfect. The sky was blue, the sun was warm, and everybody was in a great mood. The day flowed just the way it was supposed to and it all came together for their sunset ceremony on the lawn at the Bayside in Point Loma. One of my favorite photographers, Kristina Chartier, was kind enough to lend her talent to the event and shoot with me that day, so I send her my thanks!

Without further ado, here are some of their images:

I have to confess: I was sent home with four of these cupcakes, and I ate them ALL before all of their images were uplaoded to my Mac!

Sara is a Nurse and this is part of her medical crew!

They act like Bad Girls, but they’re just clever stickers that say “Sara & Phil”