Lisa and Noah’s Wedding Day in Newport Beach CaliforniaSunday, March 21st, 2010
I had been looking forward to this wedding for about 9 months! So far they have the record for scheduling their wedding – in Utah people will often plan and schedule their wedding with about 2 months of warning. Outside of Utah is another story. And wedding in Spring in California is just perfect. Clear blue skies, the beach near by and a truly fun couple in love.
Lisa found me and my photography through Facebook of all places – and she is a student out in Chicago. Her boy toy, Noah, was living out in California so we were all over the country on this wedding. We photographed their engagements the day before the wedding.
I hope to get out to California more often – it puts Utah to shame 
Lisa and Noah's wedding at the Newport Beach Temple
For most of the portraits I am using my portable softbox with a speedlight to create these photographs. That really helps the photographs look perfect right out of the camera – and little retouching is needed. In fact I can then get the photographs edited and posted on SmugMug for viewing and purchases faster. I also had rented a Canon 5D Mark II while mine is in the shop for repairs. I did use my Nikon cameras a little bit – but I can create some serious magic with that Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens.
Lisa and Noah's wedding at the Newport Beach Temple
We only had about an hour to photograph portraits before heading over to the reception at the Balboa Inn on Newport Beach. So we made good use of our time and we wanted to get a few photographs on the pier as well. I would recommend a much time as possible for the photographs – an hour is minimum! We can create some amazing photographs we a few hours if possible. And if we can avoid photographs at high noon – even better. So if you are getting married let’s talk and find out when the best time of day would be to take your wedding portraits.
Lisa and Noah's wedding reception at the Balboa Inn
Lisa and Noah's wedding at the Newport Beach Temple
Lisa and Noah's Wedding Portraits at the Newport Beach
Abstract wedding photograph
Lisa and Noah's wedding at the Newport Beach Temple
Strike a pose
Candid moments for photography
Heading to the wedding reception at Balboa Inn
And now for some photographs of the wedding reception and some of the wedding details. The cake cutting even had chanting – they really wanted a cake smash and they were not disappointed. Both the bride and the groom were able to score some frosting to the face. And then they had some creative clean up.
Wedding cake
Cutting the cake
Smashing the cake
Cleaning up the cake smash
Cheesecake
And to round out the night was dancing, dancing, dancing! A perfect activity for any wedding reception and much better than the Utah tradition of standing in a line to shake hands for 2 hours. (In my humble opinion)
Dancing the electric slide
break it down
Wedding bouquet
Seastars indicate the assigned tables
And here are a few photographs from earlier in the day as the couple prepared for the day. Always photograph the dress before hand and any details you can. This is fly on the wall photography and ninja photography – stay out of the way and capture some moments of photojournalism.
The wedding dress
Bride's luggage
Earlier that day - the groom gets ready
Earlier that day - the bride gets ready
