Josh Gruetzmacher | Blog | San Francisco Wedding Photographer

Costa Rica

Josh Gruetzmacher — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:27 +0000

The photos are in from our recent trip to Costa Rica. We had a blast! It had been years since the last time I was there, and it was Alexis first time. We started out in Monteverde, to see the cloud forest. We had a great time doing the canopy tour (huge zip lines through the jungle) and doing some jungle walks. Next, we went down to Esterillos Oeste to meet up with our friends, Daniel and Chloe Murdoch. We stayed with them at Casa Exotica from Pura Vida Casas. It was stunning. If you are going to Cost Rica with a group, you should stay there no questions asked! We were inspired and encouraged by the Murdochs and their heart to serve the people in Costa Rica. They are preparing to move down there to do ministry in August. It really renewed our passion to be serving here in San Francisco. It’s really easy to get caught up pursuing the normal things we all want, while neglecting the deep needs in our own back yard. Anyway, we loved getting to spend time with them and their son Malachi. Not only did we get to go to some of their favorite spots, like Villa Caletas Resort, but we also got to help do some work with them fixing up things at an elementary school in Esterillos Oeste. The last time I was in Costa Rica, I was with a group from my church in Santa Barbara, and we helped build the play structure that you see us fixing up at the end of the post. Things rust really fast down there by the beach, so It was good to do some maintenance and get the play structure back to good working order. We also helped repair and paint the desks and chairs for the school with a church group from Colorado. We had the best time in Costa Rica. It’s a beautiful country- filled with great food and nice people and stunning beaches. If you get a chance to go, I’d recommend going.

A huge thank you to Kelly Oshiro for featuring some of these photos on her beautiful blog, SB Chic. It’s quickly become my favorite Santa Barbara wedding and lifestyle blog- you should check it out. Also, if you know anyone who is looking for a Costa Rica wedding photographer, Chloe Murdoch is amazing and they will be living down there by the end of the summer. If you notice a slightly different look to these photos, it’s because they were shot on Fuji Pro 400H film with my Canon 1V and processed at Richard Photo Lab.

Cable Car Engagement Photos

Josh Gruetzmacher — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:54:53 +0000

San Francisco is a small city. You always bump into people you know when you’re out and about. Chris and Katie work in buildings across the street from each other in the financial district. Did they meet at a food truck in-between their buildings? No. They met through friends, and only later found out that they worked so close to each other. I thought that was fun :)

Chris suggested that we take their engagement photos via his daily commute. I am a huge fan of everyday life, so I thought it was a good idea… Turns out his commute is on the iconic San Francisco cable cars. How cool is that? And here I thought tourists were the only people who rode those things ;) We had a blast taking their engagement photos on the cable car, and I got a small taste of what their everyday life is like. Not bad, right?

As the cable car is about to go down from the top of Nob Hill and into the Financial District, you have this great view of the bay, framed by buildings, and the bay bridge. San Francisco is an amazing city. I can’t believe that I live here. Thank you Katie and Chris for the reminder :)

SB Historical Museum Wedding

Josh Gruetzmacher — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:55:45 +0000

I am pleased to be finally sharing Riley and Antonella’s amazing wedding at the SB Historical Museum with you all. The old adobe buildings, Manzanita branches, blue decor, a beautiful sunny day… It was Santa Barbara wedding perfection.

Ice Cream Bar Engagement Shoot

Josh Gruetzmacher — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:24:44 +0000

Even on a cold, rainy day in San Francisco, ice cream is one of the best things on Earth. It’s just partially why Jenn and Daniel wanted to have their engagement photos at The Ice Cream Bar in Cole Valley. The main reason is because it’s a really really cute spot! Styled like an old fashioned soda fountain and ice cream shop, it feels like it’s from another era. I expected the kids from Sandlot (remember that movie?) to come running in for a cone :) Jenn and Daniel are not only super fun but they are also really creative. Like how their outfits happen to match the color scheme for their wedding, or how Daniel drew their wedding invites (which are amazing). Jenn film my brother and sister-in law’s wedding. I guess I’m saying this because I love getting to work with couples like Jenn and Daniel, and I am stoked to be photographing their wedding in June!

A Small Taste of Costa Rica

Josh Gruetzmacher — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:19:31 +0000

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Dogpatch Engagement Photos

Josh Gruetzmacher — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:16:50 +0000

I love shooting in beautiful nature-y spots, but living in San Francisco provides a lot of really cool urban backgrounds. I enjoy the juxtaposition between a really gritty scene, and something a little softer- like people in love. We shot Cristina and Jeffrey’s engagement photos in the Dogpatch neighborhood in San Francisco. It’s industrial, dirty, and feels like a spot that drug deals happen at… but I think really beautiful at the same time. They even let me preview the Lindy Hop dance that they were practicing to do at their wedding reception while we were out there. Good times.Also, I’m stoked to say that a few of these shots were taken with my Canon 1V film camera. Can you tell which ones?

One Kiss

Josh Gruetzmacher — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:55:39 +0000

A simple moment from Talar and Joshua’s wedding in Santa Barbara. You can see more of their wedding photographs here.

Polaroids in the Desert

Josh Gruetzmacher — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:41:45 +0000

Two weeks ago, I drove out to Las Vegas for WPPI (an annual wedding photography convention and tradeshow) with some wedding photographer friends from Santa Barbara. It was a blast getting to chat about weddings, business, and why we do what we do on the long drive. I love being around other artists who are passionate about what they do! At WPPI, I was able to meet many of my favorite photographers including Jose Villa, Tec Petaja, and Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser. I heard super inspiring presentations from Elizabeth Messina and Justin and Mary. I also sourced a few new wedding album products at the trade show, and got to play with all of the new cameras that are coming out this year. It was a super productive week in Vegas, and I didn’t have any “Hangover” moments… *whhheeeew. On the way home, we stopped in the desert and took photos with my polaroid camera. If you didn’t already know, I am addicted to polaroids lately. It was super fun taking these photos, and I even got to be in a few as well! Models/photographeras below: Josh Newton, Montana Dennis, Christianne Taylor, Jessica Fairchild Conrad, Phillip Van Nostrand, and me. These polaroids were taken with Fuji FP 100c and FP 3000b on a Super Colorpack from the 1960s :)
The above photo is my buddy and WPPI roomie- Matthias and I outside of the Hard Rock hotel (which was a really awesome place to stay btw).
If you want to be inspired by awesome wedding photography, check out some of these AMAZING people that I met at WPPI: Erich McVey, Bryce Covey, Rico and Rachel Castillero, Bryan and Mae, Joel Flory, Lily and Benson Lew, Vero Suh, Kevin Chin, Emily Scott, James Moes, Hugh Forte, Lisa Lefkowitz, Tanja Lippert, Augie Chang, Cameron and Mindy Braun, Jonathan and Joanne Encarnation, Lydia Yeung, Sarah B, Matt Roberts, Manus Chau, Jeramie Shoda, Nick Radford, Tami Keehn, Lia Cecaci, Nima Salimi, and more…

Cornerstone Sonoma Wedding

Josh Gruetzmacher — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:04:23 +0000

I got to shoot Alice and Arvi’s insanely beautiful wedding at Cornerstone Sonoma with my friend Matthias. It was such a fun day! Alice and Arvi are graphic designers, and having gone to school for graphic design, I totally geeked out over all of the letterpress printed invites, and other cool stuff they made for their wedding. I also really love all of the bright floral designs by Katherina Stuart. This was the perfect Sonoma wedding.

Check out Matthias post from this wedding here. The ceremony and reception were at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma, Wedding Coordinator: Vera Devera, Va de Vie Events, Catering: Alex’s Catering, DJ: Manny Perez, Flowers: Katherina Stuart, Hair: Sylvie Simon, Make-Up Julie Dy, Party Rentals: Wine Country Pary Rentals, Photobooth:Green Cheeze, Videography: Seaglass Cinema

Little Black Book

Josh Gruetzmacher — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:18:25 +0000

I was thrilled to receive an invitation to join Style Me Pretty’s exclusive list of preferred wedding vendors, otherwise known as the Little Black Book. It is an honor to be listed among some of the best wedding photographers and other vendors on one of my favorite wedding sites. Here is a little more information about the members from their site:

Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book is a highly edited collection of wedding service providers – from mom and pop boutiques to A-Listers. Bottom line, these vendors are the best of the best. For more information about the Little Black Book, including a detailed description of how vendors are selected and get listed, see our Little Black Book FAQ.

You can click here to see my listing in the Little Black Book for San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographers. Also, check out Style Me Pretty for tons of beautiful wedding inspiration. Cheers!