Livermore, California Fine Art Wedding Photography | Jaime Lauren Photography
A pre-ceremony photo shoot at Sycamore Grove followed by a ceremony and reception at Las Positas Vineyards in Livermore, California.
There were so many things about Hilary + Jeff’s wedding that made photographing it a dream, and all week I’ve been excited to share a few of my favourites with you. But before I get down to the details, let me just say how much I appreciated working with Hilary and Jeff; from Hilary’s vivaciousness and excitement to Jeff’s patience and willingness to go with the flow, each one in their own way enabled me to work with as much creative latitude as I needed. That takes a LOT of trust on the part of the bride and groom and I just wanted to take a moment to express how privileged and honoured that makes me feel. Is it possible to beam with both pride and humility at the same time? Because I think I am.
Okay, now onto the details! We started off the day (photographically speaking) with a pre-ceremony shoot at Sycamore Grove Regional Park. None of us were sure what the weather was going to do that day, but as it turned out that we had a bit of thin cloud cover for about three quarters of our shoot. Considering there isn’t a lot of shade in that part of the park right now, and Livermore afternoons can get hotter than most in the Bay area, we were grateful for the light breeze and the semi-diffused lighting. Actually, the lighting was one of the highlights of the day for me. A lot of brides pray for clear blue skies on their wedding days, (which have their perks, for sure) but don’t realise that a bit of cloud or an overcast day can really work to their advantage. Diffused sunlight is quite flattering on the face and helps to prevent harsh shadows as well as perspiration. If you plan on holding an outdoor wedding ceremony in a location known for bright, cloudless skies, it helps to time the ceremony with the sun’s position. Finding shaded areas for portraits is a must on a wedding day when the sun is high and clouds are nowhere to be seen. Aside from not being too disappointed if the skies are cloudy on your big day, I always suggest talking through the day’s itinerary before it’s set in stone. While a good photographer should be able to work well and produce lovely work under any lighting conditions, consulting the photographer can provide some insight into what to expect when you receive your photo collection.
On that note I should mention that the lighting during the ceremony and ensuing photo shoot was beautiful, with dark skies in the background offering a note of drama and elegance. Once indoors at Las Positas Vineyards, I was quite pleased with the lighting as well. The white walls and ceiling cast no glow of colour back onto everyone’s skin while I was using the flash, but the pink and purple uplighting providing great ambience and warmth when I turned my flash off to get more atmospheric shots. Overall, a great day for lighting indeed!
While the lighting was an overarching ‘favourite’ from the day, other aspects were more isolated. There were some pretty fantastic moments throughout the ceremony for instance, but the one that topped them all for me was when a bug landed on Jeff’s suit and Hilary stopped dead in the middle of her vows to shoo the thing away. The reactions and the laughter that followed were priceless! I also thoroughly enjoyed the special touches that Hilary and her mom used to bring more meaning to various traditions. My personal favourite was the locket Hilary had pinned to her bouquet. It featured her Grandma and Grandpa and was then given to her Grandma to wear throughout the remainder of the wedding. LOVED IT.
Can I have just one more favourite? I’ll make it quick. That DRESS. Oh my word. I mean, it’s gorgeous from where I sit now, staring at the computer screen, but if you got to see Hilary in that dress in person…my goodness the thing just oozed romance. It was a stunning Rivini gown that blended old world romance with vintage stylings in a modern form. My eyes got a wee bit misty when I saw Hilary step out of the car in that dress for the first time…and while I’ll admit that I tear up a bit at every wedding, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a bride suit a dress and a dress suit a bride so perfectly!
All right, that’s it! Oh, except for the part where I kick of the Grand Opening of the new blog by revealing the first giveaway. Scroll through the photos and you’ll find the details below…
All right, your turn! I want to know your favourites…whether you were at the wedding a guest and have a moment you’d like to share or whether you’re seeing these images online for the first time and have spotted one (or five) that just do it for you.
Thanks to Hilary, Jeff and their families, as well as all the amazing vendors who helped celebrate Hilary + Jeff’s wedding at Las Positas Vineyards last Saturday. For local brides or for couples just wanting inspiration, here’s a list of vendors used at Hilary + Jeff’s Wedding. I’m sure none of them would mind hearing from you!
Thank you to the amazing vendors who produced such beautiful work and provided such great services!
Caterers: TR3S Special Events Catering | Ceremony Musicians: Anne Suda String Duo | DJ: Aaron Dalugdug for Amos Productions | Day of Coordinator: Danielle Luce | Dress: Rivini | Florist: Barbara King | Hair + Makeup: Catalina Perez at Victoria’s Salon | Linens, Uplighting and Décor: Pleasanton Rentals | Officiant: Groom’s Father | Photo Booth: Glass Coat Photo Booth | Venue: Las Positas Vineyards | Videographer: Glenn Hickman | Wedding Favours: Bride’s Mother
ah – alas – I won’t be able to qualify for the book… because I’m not a facebook member. (Is that the right descriptor??) at any rate I will tell you that I loved all the photo’s… BUT my 2 favorites were the inside shots.. of the wine goblets… loved the mix of in focus/out of focus and color. I also loved the pic with the candles and the boquet. Great job. No doubt Hillary and Jeff will be thrilled with your work. And I often tell people what a talented and gifted niece I have. have a great day Jaime.