As I was on my way to Whole Foods this weekend to pick up some fresh veggies and a  ciabatta for dinner, I passed our local Smith & Hawken store.  On the side of the building was one of those “everything must go” signs offering 20-30% off.  At first I just thought it was for one of the framing stores, or electronic retailers in the shopping center, so I thought nothing of it.

Then, this morning as I was scanning my RSS feeds, I read this post on Garden Rant, which is written by  a team of 4 “highly opinionated gardeners” across the country.

Now, I’ve only shopped at this gardening store a handful of times.  In reality I’ve only made one purchase, a pineapple garden hose thingy that you stick in the ground to prevent your hose from dragging across your flower beds.

But I have many memories of the fancy garden retailer, starting about 15 years ago in Los Gatos, CA.  Back then, I was only dating my wife.  I wanted to spend as much time with her as possible, of course, and so I’d drive her up to get her hair done.  Of course I’d never hang around the salon – that’s private time prime, for ladies gossip.  Besides the hair color solutions used to give me headaches.

So to kill an hour, I’d walk up and down Santa Cruz Ave, and poke my head into the various stores.  Smith & Hawken was one of those stores.  I was lured in by the sounds of fountains, and  the smells of fresh gardenias.  Of course I lived in a 1-room apartment at the time and had zero room for gardening.  The apartment was even too small for container gardening.  Not that I could afford anything if I did have room.  I was putting myself through school working on my undergrad degree.

But the retailer did such a great job of establishing that feeling – the one that reminded me of my grandmother’s succulent garden on Pine Street.  It made me think that if I bought all this stuff, I too could re-capture those memories, or at least build a place to start my own.

Alas, now I have a budding garden of my own – within another year or so, I’ll be able to just walk out my back door to regain some of those feelings.

You can read the entire press release announcing the closing of Smith & Hawken.  Of course I always get my plants from the local garden stores in Austin – places like Red Barn Garden Center up off 183, but sometimes it’s hard to find some items – stuff like Japanese Garden tools. Oh, well, I guess there’s always Amazon…

Smith & Hawken to shut down because of weak economy

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She had a small shot list – just some of her family and a few close friends, but mostly left me free to “do my thing” and photograph her wedding the way I saw it.

So here you go, some sneak peak shots of the wedding. This post is pretty heavy on the detail shots, I just love how you decorated your pool for the wedding. A little birdy told me that I should have stayed until the wee hours because the wedding may have turned into a pool party…

How to decorate a pool for your wedding Orange Daisy's floating.

Frosted Cookies with the couple's monogram tied with matching orange and green bows made for tasty favors

The white frosted 3-tiered round wedding cake was made by a friend.

The obligatory ring shot - (I know how to take pictures of your wedding rings)

More swimming pool decorations - votives surrounded by orange daisys

Even orange flower petals lined the aisle

A quick glimpse of the bride as she prepared. With that beautiful fragrant white gardenia in her hair I could smell her coming (in a good way of course)

At first she didn't like me, and barked as I came into the house. But I wasn't afraid, and by the end of the wedding, we were best friends.

The ceremony was short, touching, and performed by a close friend

Weddings at your house

As the sun went down, the dancing began.

You can see the complete wedding on my gallery page – Thanks for a great time!

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I’m giving away at least 7 new iPhones, to the next 5 couples that book me for their upcoming wedding in either 2009 or 2010.

Specifically you will receive one Apple gift card redeemable for a brand new iPhone 3GS (16 GB model.  Cell phone service not included) – the value of the gift card is $199.00.  If you book a film wedding package you will receive 2 iPhone gift cards.

To get your free iPhone all you have to do is sign a contract for wedding photography for one of my 3 regular packages.

Just to refresh your memory, I base my pricing on your wedding size, not hourly coverage.  Every wedding gets:

• at least 2 experienced wedding photographers
• a DVD with the full-resolution digital negatives
• an engagement session
• a bridal session
• prints to display at your wedding
• and a 3-month on-line gallery to share with your friends and family

That’s right, every package comes with unlimited, complete coverage, it doesn’t matter if you are having a small, intimate 45 person wedding at your parent’s house, or a huge 300+ person blow out at Barr Mansion.  You will get the same all-day coverage so you don’t need to feel rushed on your wedding day.  The difference in my packages is that I charge by wedding size.  Bigger weddings require I do more work, bring more assistant photographers, and edit more images.

There are some rules, so please contact me for more details.

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So, as today is the 4th, and I don’t have any patriotic weddings today, I headed out my front door  at about 20 minutes to nine to see what’s what.  As I wandered down the parade route, I got to meet a bunch of my new neighbors (all very friendly of course).

Was I surprised!  When I got to the community center and saw all those decorated bikes, wagons, and dogs?  You bet I was.  What was even more shocking were the people lining the curb with their lawn chairs and American Flags.  It was just like the parades I knew as a kid, growing up in Salinas.

What was even more surprising was to learn that my house is on the actual parade route (Community Center, up Alhambra, Left onto Santa Cruz, and then another left down Balcones Woods Drive).  Thanks to all the police officers who closed the streets, and kept the route safe for all the kids.  It’s really appreciated.  Next year, our house will be the one with the biggest party

Anyway, here are some of my favorite shots.  The rest can be found in the complete BW 4th of July gallery.  The password is BW (all caps).  Feel free to download a free copy for yourself (If you use it on the web, please just link back to my site.)  If you want a print, I have to charge a bit more for my time. I hope you understand. If I had known this was such a big deal, I would have brought more equipment, and taken more shots!  Happy 4th of July!

Fireworks are one of the best parts of the 4th of July

Pictures of the 4th of July parade in Balcones Woods

This may be the safest 4th of july parade in the world.

Wagons were decorated with flags...

Bicycles had all kinds of decorations for the 4th, too

Even the cars at the end of the parade had decorations...

The rest of the photos can be found in the complete BW 4th of July gallery. The password is BW (all caps).

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All the wedding photos I’m blogging about today were photographed at Laguna Gloria, just off the west side of 35th and Mopac, right down by the water.  I used a combination of both film and Digital cameras, because the bride and her mother just wanted me to do my thing.

So to help me out, I brought along JP, and together we used a combination of Nikon Digital Cameras, Leica 35mm, Hasselblads, and even my little Holga to photograph this event.  All these pictures are from real film at the wedding – a combination of Fuji Film, (160, 400, and even 800 pulled 1-stop), and some Kodak 400 VC and NC.  Some of these shots are mine, and some are JP’s.  I just love the vibrant, soft color, the sharpness of the details, and the mood and feeling that real film captures at your wedding.

When you are searching for your photographer, look carefully!  In the next few days I’ll tell as story I heard last night from a bride I met at a recent show who was now regretting her decision in choosing a wedding photographer.  There are so many different things to look for, and so very often, I overhear brides talking about what they “get” for “how much money”.  I understand wedding photography is expensive, but there is also a lot of variability out there.  Keep looking if you don’t find what you want – you can even contact me and ask if I know of anyone else who has a certain wedding style – I’ll give you an honest answer.  Of course, if you think my style will match your wedding, please don’t hesitate to ask if I’m available on your date, even if it isn’t in Central Texas.  I am the traveling wedding photographer, you know.

Anyway, enjoy these few teaser wedding photos – more will come in a later post.

A guitar player from the TRES Latin Guitar Trio greeted the guests with some classical music (see my favorite vendors and Links page for their website).

Usually June weddings in Austin are a bit cooler, but this year, we had a string of 100° days - and today was no exception.

The couple had a signature cocktail - Sangria!

The fountain at Laguna Gloria was decorated with tons of flowers, especially roses

Before the wedding, the minister spoke with the bride and groom (separately).

It was a small wedding - only around 45 guests. They all were seated inside the main building at Laguna Gloria.

Votive candles were lit on each table....

This uberBride had so many unique details - including something blue! Instead of a traditional full length white wedding gown, she wore a short knee-length blue gown.

I know my fingers and toes swell in the heat - apparently the groom's hand's did, too. Getting the ring on was a challenge.

And once the bride finally was able to squeeze the ring on his finger, her look was priceless.

Weddings were meant for picture taking. I always tell my clients, that if I drop my camera I'm going to grab one of the guests cameras to finish the job.

This wedding photo was taken with a Leica film camera. You just can't get this real film look with any photoshop trickery...

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Whenever I walk into a room the first thing I see is the light.  You probably too, but don’t pay as much attention to it as I do.  But it really influences our mood, perception, and attitude.  Think about the difference between a club, with it’s darkness, lasers, disco balls, and other flashing lights.  Contrast that with the relaxed lighting at your favorite day spa.

Wedding lights are the easiest way to step up your event to the next level. More than just simple christmas lights, custom wedding lighing can have several components:  pin spots, color washes, or those fancy gobos that project your initials or floral pattern onto the dance floor.  There are also tent lights, projections and color changing LED lights.  Even the most simple wedding light techniques can make your cake, flowers, tablescapes and decorations look 100% better.  This is much more than putting a couple of votives on a mirror in the center of the table, but for just a little more than what you would spend on votives, you can rent the equipment you need for 1 night.

Red and blue lights are by far the most common used at weddings because they are the most flattering for skin tones.  You don’t want your guests to look like sick green monsters (although with enough trips to the bar…)

Of course once you have your room perfect,  the next step is to make sure the pictures of your reception match.  Photographing wedding lighting can be tricky  - especially during the fast pace of a wedding reception.  It’s more than just having professional equipment – it’s knowing how to use it when someone else is in charge of the lights.  Too little flash, and you can’s see the details, too much and all that hard work lighting the room is washed out.

Here are some photos from some recent events where custom lighting was used in Austin if you have any comments or questions, be sure to let me know at the bottom of this post.

Custom blue tent lights at this private residence with white spots on the center of each round table

This ballroom at the Four Seasons is lit with red up-lights flooding each wall, then custom pin lights on the tables, accented with electric votives hanging from the table centerpieces

This dance floor is lit with two custom gobos - the first is a red light filtered through a floral pattern, creating shadows on the floor, and then the second is the couple's initials in white light over the top.

Custom Lighting at Laguna Gloria projected onto the side of the villa.

This wedding ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel was also lit with custom red up-lights washing each of the walls.

Blue floods were used to wash the entire UT alumni center. In addition, each table had a custom centerpiece with LED's glowsticks, and pin lights.

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As my regular readers know, I usually mix wedding photos with stuff from my real life (growing plants in my Austin garden, taking pictures of food, stuff I find on the internet, and home repair bloggy topics).  But today, I’m going to give you a bit of photographer’s insight to a real wedding I shot a few months ago at the Vista on Seward Hill.

The Vista, as the locals call it is located just off 360 and Bee Caves – about a 15 minute drive from downtown, and has tons of great parking.  But the day started way before the guests began to arrive – the Bride and her five bridesmaids began their afternoon at Thomas Saverio Salon and Spa around  1:15 or so.  They brought in sandwiches and champagne, and enjoyed a relaxing series of treatments, before sitting down to get their hair and makeup done.  These girls knew what they were doing, and scheduled plenty of time for relaxation and pampering before the limo came and whisked them off to the venue.  Instead of rushing around trying to make sure everything was at the venue when the arrived, they dropped everything off before they started their spa – so when they arrived it would all be ready and waiting.

The vendors began to arrive around to the venue around 3:00.  This place has lots of room to load and unload all the tables, chairs, food, and 100’s of other wedding things that are dreamed up.   Sterling Affairs began to set-up for the catering, Merreville Floral brought all flowers for the altar, bouquet, buttoners, and table decorations, the liquor – courtesy of Grapevine Market, and the team of  coordinators and interns began to tie the pink bows on the backs of each chair.

The rentals from Marquee had been dropped off earlier in the day, and the tables and chars were already in place.  Soon they were draped with the pink linens, and napkins, and place-settings – and magically the room was transformed from an empty space into an elegant dining hall.

A Polaroid station was set-up at the entrance gazebo, so as guests would enter, a wedding coordinator would take their snapshot (don’t leave this job to your guests or family) and I’d jump in every now and then to help them find the good light and make sure the photos were coming out OK.  The pics were immediately entered into the guestbook by the hired and dedicated guest photographer so everyone could see, and write their well-wishes for the couple and comments next to their image.

All this time, I’m running back and forth, grabbing shots of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready, and quickly photo-ing on all the details that the couple has spent so much time preparing over the previous 8 months.  Im taking pictures of the Candy station, favors from Tiff’s Treats, the cake, flower arrangements, shoes, bouquets, rings – It never seems like there is enough time to capture everything, but somehow I always manage.  Of course I have an experienced 2nd photographer with me, and he is dedicated to photographing the groom and other guests as they arrive.

At 5:00 Mike the Officiant arrives, and has a quick conversation with the relaxed groom and then the bride separately (this couple opted to not see each other before the ceremony), and puts everyone around at ease.

By 5:30 the ceremony musicians are in place, making sure the mood is set, and providing great ambiance for arriving guests.  At 6:00 on the button, the ceremony starts.  This is how most weddings I attend go down.  We all work as a team, ensuring a perfect day for the couples, family, and guests.  No drama, no issues, nothing but a fantastic, fun experience.

Here’s how I see it as a photographer – I want people to relax, smile, and act naturally when they see me coming.  I don’t dress all in black or have a shirt with my logo (goodness NO!).  Instead I wear a nice suit, tuxedo, or other appropriate attire (I’m not wearing a tux to your beach wedding), so that I blend in and look like one of the more fashionable guests.  By the end of the night, people just think that I was another one of the guests.  I’m not a fly on the wall kind of photographer, or a bossy guy shouting out instructions to make sure everybody is standing just so.  Instead, I go with the flow.   I’ve shot enough weddings to know what works and what doesn’t in every situation.  There are a lot of different personalities at weddings, and sometimes a lot of family politics, on both sides.  I work with everyone to make sure there is a great candid shot of them that they (and you) will love.

After the 20 minute ceremony ended, I let everyone congratulate the bride and groom, and when the time was right, we began the fast formals – Everyone expects formals to happen after the ceremony, so everyone was in place.  Simultaneously, my assistant is getting shots of the guests at the cocktail hour, food pictures of the  appetizers, and more detail shots.  Once all the family shots are done (I know the perfect spot at the Vista on Seward Hill for formals), I steal the couple for 7 mintues to do their wedding portraits.

When the buffet opens at 7:00 the formals are done, and I get to take my first break of the day as the guests dine.  I’ve been going non-stop since meeting the bride at the salon, and take a moment to rehydrate, straighten my hair, and clean my glasses.  I don’t usually take photos while people are eating – its not very respectful, and the shots never look right – have you ever actually watched people eating?  Do you want photos of that?  Really?

When the wedding meal is over, people stand up and begin to wander over to the dance hall and lounge area.  The DJ is playing the perfect wedding music.  Let me just say how important it is to hire a great DJ or band for your wedding.  Everybody thinks that it’s a great idea to pre-program an iPod with your favorite songs – but a great wedding DJ knows how to read the crowd, and puts on music that everyone loves, and can groove to.  I’m not saying that you can’t design the perfect playlist, just that how many songs can you think of that both you, and your parents will dance to?  Your DJ can think of 100, and blends them in the perfect order to make sure everyone stays on the dance floor.

The toasts and speeches came early, around 8:30, with photos of the couple as kids, teenagers, playing on a big screen in the background.  Mixed in were some of their engagement shots that I had taken a few months earlier. At one point when the father of the groom spoke there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. This was followed by the cake cutting and bouquet toss.  By getting these things done early, there was lots of time to dance.  Sure some of the older folks left right after, but why trap them at your reception?  Cut them loose, and that gives you more time to PARTY!

Many hours later, once everybody was sweaty, and sore from getting their groove on, the rose petal toss showered the couple as they were ushered to their waiting Town-car.

Pictures of the Bride getting her hair and makeup done at the salon

Pink Cherry Blossom flowers as table displys

Pink and white wedding bouquet with roses, carnations and a bunch of other flowers I can't identify

3-tiered square wedding cake with ribbon and white frosting

Photos of a candy bar - pink and grey candies in jars with scoops

More candy bar pictures - pink hard candy on a stick

The bride wrote her own vows -

Sometimes it's weird to have a photographer with you as you get dressed - duh! So what I do is stand just outside the door until you give me the word, and then I come i...

The bride getting ready - usually I take photos from the front, but every now and then it's more interesting to see what's happening behind you.

After you are dressed in your wedding gown - take a moment for yourself. You won't ever have this chance again...

Pictures of Liz Rene wedding shoes

UT garter - A real Austin wedding tradition

Final Make-up touchups before the wedding starts

Just a few minutes before the ceremony, everybody is ushered into place.

The pink rose is used for the grooms flower

Knowing where to take the best formals makes all the difference. There is a great spot at the Vista on Seward hill for portraits - but I'm not telling where it is....

During the ceremony, I first take the standard shots that everyone expects, then do some creative, artsy wedding pictures that I'm so well known for.

Here's a shot my assistant took - giving a different angle and perspective from the usual traditional wedding photographs

Here's the shot I got just a few seconds before the last one

You have to make the formals fun, right?

And sometimes I get something really strange and cool at weddings

And as I'm doing the formals, my assistant is getting great reception shots

Night pictures at the Vista on Seward Hill

When it got dark, everybody moved inside the dance hall area for the toasts

As Dad was talking, there wasn't a dry eye in the place

This bride even had a pink signature cocktail to go with the rest of her decorations

The bouquet toss is always exciting.

And then, at the end of the night, the couple was showered with rose petals.

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