Gavin and Nancy asked for a bit of a photojournalistic flare for some of their wedding images. The image above is one that I think most photojournalists would throw on their advertising to show their expertise in capturing those romantic moments. I learned something from listening to a couple Photojournalist speakers at a trade convention. "You have to sometimes create the environment." "Oh!" I thought "He means pose the photographs!"
What these guys won't have the guts to tell you and I will come right out and tell you is that these images are posed, not "created moment" but posed. I've said it for years, "A posed photograph isn't a crime, a posed looking photograph is a crime!"
The couple we are admiring are Gavin and Nancy. Their story is one that is touching and romantic. They are high school sweethearts. Now I suppose your wondering how a guy can catch a jewel like Nancy. Well, let me tell you, you have to be fast, I mean really fast. Nancy ran the 800 meter in division one track in the year 2000 in two minutes and five seconds! That makes her the 14th fastest 800 meter woman runner in the US last year!
Gavin is the happy go lucky type of guy who be entering Med School soon. Smart, handsome, and having a beautiful wife, that sounds like the ingredients to happiness to me. Instantly likeable with an infectious smile he is the perfect companion for Nancy.
Where the hell is Somis, CA?
Very good question, it's between Moorpark and Oxnard. The wedding was held in (of all places) a nursery. Now, if someone told you that a great place to be married was in a nursery off a two lane highway to Oxnard you would laugh, right? This place was like heaven on earth! It's called
HARTLEY'S BOTANICAL SUN AND SHADE NURSERY 4465 BALCOM CANYON RD. SOMIS, CA 805-532-1997. My only regret is that this place is almost two hours from my studio and thus I don't know if I will get a chance to make repeat performance at this location.
The bride spends hours worrying about choice of flowers and wedding dress styles and for most of the photo's they are simply props. That's why I try to get the shot (on the right) whenever possible.
It wasn't a dry reception.
This photograph may not look as clear on screen as it does in person. You can clearly see each face. This was in impromptu photographic idea.
Captured moments throughout the day. There are tons more like these.
Gavin's sister is a running partner and close friend of Nancy, as you can tell the idea of being family made her very happy.