GAVIN WADE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Cyber Moving Day... Come Check Out the New Blog!

2009-12-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

We're no strangers to moving.

In fact, I've (Gavin) moved over 15 times in my life. Even stranger still, all of those moves have taken place within a 25 mile radius! looong story...

This move, however, required no boxes, no packing tape, and no Rent-a-Wreck moving vans! SCORE!

After months and months of design, re-design, bug fixin's and thanks to Ross and his team over at Flosites, Erin and I are SUPER excited about the release of our brand new blog!!

Never in a million years would we have thought we'd be moving blogs so soon. But we've been so humbled at what this past year has brought, and feel that this new medium for displaying our amazing couples will better allow us to provide an experience that is uniquely us and all about them!

Of the thousands upon thousands of people who have visited our blog this past year we cannot thank you enough for your comments, support, and encouragement! We invite you now to join us in a new chapter as we blast into 2010!

All of our work (and play) can now be seen at www.gavinwadephotoblog.com

See you in a click.

Blessings,
Gavin and Erin Wade

Disneyland Hotel Wedding: Sara and Noam's Fairytale Wedding!

2009-11-29T12:35:00.001-08:00

What can we say about Sara and Noam except that their entire story has been a fairytale! And there would be no other more perfect place to get married than at Disneyland!

They met online...talked incessantly until they were able to meet, and have been inseparable since! *hmm....where have I heard that story before? Haha...oh yeah...right here!*

To be with these two for any amount of time is to know that love can find you when you least expect it, and when you find the right person....you just know! It hits you, and you wonder how you've lived your life for so long without that person at your side. Noam was in Florida...Sara was in California, and yet they found each other. Never letting the thousands of miles that separated them phase them, they closed the gap within months when Noam moved out to California! *This guy knew he'd found his wife!*

It wasn't long before Disneyland became their favorite place in the world to spend time together! And Noam, being the stud that he is, knew there was only ONE place where he could propose to Sara....under the castle....during the fireworks! It involved crowds parting...them alone on the bridge....and a HUGE crowd watching and cheering as Noam got down on one knee and asked Sara to be his wife :)

Their gorgeous ceremony and reception took place at the famous Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim California, and little did they know, but a couple big-eared surprise guests crashed the wedding...but I don't think they minded ;)

I have to say, narrowing down the images we wanted to share was agonizing...but we finally picked them!

Sara and Noam, thank you so much for trusting us, honoring us, and allowing us to capture what was undeniably a marriage that was destined to be; may this be the start of happily ever after for you both!!

THE WEDDING CRASHERS!! :)

The last dance...the last kiss...love it!

Orange County Engagement: Rochelle and Norman

2009-11-23T17:15:00.000-08:00

"I LOVE how he looks at her!" Erin said as we were going through Rochelle and Norman's photos, "he's so happy with her, it's like he has everything he's ever wanted!"

Guys, you can relate with me on this one. When you've found the love of your life it's like you are king of the world. It's amazing what even a word from our significant other can do for us...it's like we could wrestle a grizzly bear...and win...because she makes a comment about how strong you are because you opened that pickle jar. Or how they laugh at your lame jokes and make you feel like Dane Cook has got nothing on you. It's the feeling of having someone on your "team" always...and you're the hunky quarterback.

It's been said that behind every great man is a great woman, and visa versa. For every puzzle there always remains a last piece that must be put into place before it is complete. We all can attest to the power of having the unconditional support of the one we love; we are just wired to be that way!

Ladies, be your boyfriend's... fiancé's...husband's biggest cheerleader no matter what; whether we admit it or not, it makes us fee like we can fly. And fellas be your significant other's BIGGEST fan in all things, you are a team! :)

I felt like all we needed were pom poms during Rochelle and Norman's engagement session; we can't wait for these two to become an unstoppable team as they get married this weekend. We are going to be cheering from the peanut gallery :)

We started off at The Lab in Costa Mesa and then headed down to the Newport Beach pier for the sunset...can you feel the love?!

We're Back!!! We're Married!! Did you Miss Us?? :)

2009-11-18T15:44:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

Wow, I can't believe it's been a month already! But...it's official! Gavin Wade Photographers is now a husband and wife team! How incredible is that?!

First of all, Erin and I need to thank SO many people for their thoughts, prayers, and support as we have such an amazing community of family and friends who have made the whole wedding process stress-free and brought us all together to have what was an unforgettable weekend!

For all of you new to our photography and to who Erin and I are, here is the Reader's Digest version of our story!

Erin and I met on E Harmony two years ago at the behest of our small group leaders at church. Both of us joined it as more of joke mainly just to get them to stop bothering us!

Lo and behold, after just a few weeks, Erin and I were "matched" and our communication began :)

**Cool Sidenote: When Erin signed up, she restricted her matches to a radius of 20 miles. I however...was 90 miles away. Freaky...**

So about 4 months into our relationship Erin and I reached a crossroads in our careers. We were both entrepreneurs with our own businesses but were finding that our hearts were not in it. So it was then we each asked one another "If you could do it allll over again....what would you do?!"

Our answers, were both PHOTOGRAPHY!! And it has been such an incredible journey since. And well before we started our business, we knew that we were the one we wanted to spend our lives with...so we figured...why wait? Let's start now!

And now that we are back from our honeymoon, the gifts have been put away, and the "thank you" cards have been mailed, Erin and I are loving married life and cannot wait for what the coming months and years have in store! 2010 hasn't even began and already we cannot wait!!

We wanted to share a few wedding photos with you! More to come as we sift through the 20,000 images we got from the weekend! We were blessed beyond measure to have David and Luke Edmonson as our photographers. Not only are they our dear friends and inspiration to us as photographers, they are true artists of their craft and we could not have been more in awe of the images they captured! Thank you David and Luke!

We have lots of blogging to catch up on so stay tuned this week as we have LOTS to roll out before Thanksgiving :)

But until then, here are a few photos from the day I married my best friend! (all photos © David and Luke Edmonson)

Lost Canyons Country Golf Club: Laurie and Robbie are Married!

2009-10-12T23:25:00.000-07:00

Here we are just 5 days away from OUR wedding! We couldn't be more thankful for the outpouring of love and support from our family and friends =)

ALSO...after months of design and bug fixes, we will be pleased to share with you our new blog upon our return! But more on that later!

Now, on to Laurie and Robbie's fantastic wedding at the picturesque Lost Canyons Golf Club! It was a day filled with wonderful touches of both their personalities. Robbie, being the musician and artist that he is, infused his love for music throughout the day. First with a group of break-dancers for their entrance, a surprise serenade for his new wife (a song he wrote and performed himself), and to top it all off he had a groom's cake made in the likeness of a drum! Love it!

Laurie could not have been more radiant and her dress was stunning. We were fortunate enough to sneak away with these two after the ceremony (one of our favorite times of the day) and got some great shots! Here are some from our day!

Erin got me in my prima ballerina photo skills! Okay, so I posed for this...but still..haha.

Marina Del Rey Wedding: Geoff and Tara!

2009-10-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

Geoff and Tara immediately made us their biggest fans from the first millisecond we met them! (We were introduced through our good friend and fellow wedding photographer Henry Chen, thanks Henry!)

Geoff is an event coordinator for Fantasea Yachts and it was such a pleasure working with his team in Marina Del Rey!

What to say about these two....First, Tara and Jeff are each others best friend, it's undeniable, you can just see it. And coming from a guy who is in the midst of writing his wedding vows, it's a "Must Have" if you're going to make it together in this world!

You can tell that they've already surpassed the little idiosyncrasies (thank you, spell check) that make all of us imperfect/human, and know without a doubt that they are each other's person.

And it's a love so simple and so perfect that you can't but notice when you meet them and see them in one another's arms. They love to laugh, they love to live, and they live to be with one another!

Here are a few of our favorites with Geoff and Tara.

Portrait Party in Seal Beach!

2009-10-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Erin and I are so excited to announce our first annual Family Portrait Party! This is a chance for our friends and past clients to get some great photos for the holidays or just some updated photos for around the house!

Normally our family portrait sittings are $350, but for this one Saturday only we are going to be doing them for only $45! Spaces are limited as we want to give each family the same amount of time, so give us a call ASAP and reserve the time slot that works best for you! We are starting at 11am under the Seal Beach Pier and having our last sitting at 6:00pm. We will be having appointments available every half hour (11am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm etc...) Everyone who takes advantage of this time will also receive free online proofing of all their photos as well as a great 20% discount on already incredibly reduced prints! From 4x6 photos all the way to 20x30 canvas prints.

If you've gotten this link from a friend, and aren't familiar with who we are, or our work, we'd love to invite you to check out our website www.gavinwadephoto.com and learn more about us!

Please see the attached PDF file for complete details and for the phone number to call and register!

Some slots have already been filled so call today and some great photos of your family!

If you have any questions please feel free to call Gavin Wade at 949-637-1577 or email us at info@gavinwadephoto.com

Thanks so much and see you soon!

Blessings,
Gavin and Erin

Jamie and Drew's Engagement!

2009-09-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

I already know what you're thinking...two blog posts in two days? Albeit sheer madness or awesomeness...I'll let you be the judge.

Although if you've already cheated and looked at this amazing couple, I think the scales may just be ridiculously tipped to the AWESOME side of things.

Jamie and I go way back...to the good ol' days at University High School in Irvine. We were both involved in the Christian Club there and she continued on to lead in a great way! Also, my sister and her shared even more good times as I graduated and went on to do college (to earn a degree I am doing absolutely nothing with...can you say happy parents? haha).

Well my jaw just about dropped to China when I heard that Jamie was engaged! Not only engaged to the man of her dreams...but she was also a photographer to top it all off! I know...AWESOME, right?

We took these two love-birds to a new location (or so we thought) we found driving around Irvine and all we could say was, WOW. We loved this place. I kept recognizing it for some reason and then it finally dawned on me...this was the location where Jasmine Star has her famous workshop portfolio shoots! Small world here in the OC.

Jamie and Drew shared an instant connection through their love for music. They met actually when she was auditioning for Drew's band! He plays the banjo....AWESOME...I know! The rest, as they say, is a long story fit for a Blue Grass ballad. We cannot wait to shoot their wedding at the always beautiful Strawberry Farms in Irvine. You probably remember Julie and Jon's wedding there! Once Jaime saw our blog photos from there, it convinced her that was where she needed to marry Drew. Well strike up the banjos...because we want to be nowhere else this November!

These two could not be more in love...the pictures just took themselves with these two...we hope you enjoy!

Engagement at The Montage in Laguna Beach: Shiri and Andrew!

2009-09-22T17:25:00.000-07:00

While her wedding day will soon be upon us, Shiri is by far the most relaxed bride I've ever come across; it's amazing! Combined with how fun Andrew is, they are just a non-stop good time! We met up with these two at the Montage in Laguna Beach and while the clouds rolled in, we rolled out a rocking engagement session with these two! P.S. I think it was the ONLY cloudy day Orange County has experienced the entire summer! made from some great images! We can't wait for these two to tie the knot this December in Laguna Beach! Without a doubt, it is going to be a great time!

Here are a few of our favorites...and you'll see what I'm talking about :) Enjoy!

Mt. Woodson Castle, San Diego: Shooting with Becker!

2009-09-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of shooting with the one and only [b]ecker! Founder of the [b] School, Poker Guru, and king of all that is Diet Coke! Seriously, I love this guy...and that was before I even shot with him! The fabulous wedding venue at the Mt. Woodson Castle in San Diego, California, was a hidden treasure I'd NEVER heard about having lived in Southern California all these years. It was a little trek to get there, but a drive well worth it if you are looking for a gorgeous vintage location. Laurie Davies from 5 Star Weddings met us at the door and kept the entire day running smoothly from start to finish despite it being unbearably hot! Jackie Wonders, an awesome SD photographer and HILARIOUS gal joined us as well...it was just a party all day, so much fun!

Codie and John Michael were quite the couple! Their love for one another and their excitement to start their lives together was so infectious.

Throughout the entire day, I learned first hand what [b]ecker says is the key to his success. "Our goal today is not to get amazing pictures, our goal is to make sure everyone loves us!" And to say that everyone loved [b]ecker would be an understatement. I lost track of how many times I heard people comment on how great he was during the day despite the blazing hot conditions. And it wasn't the quantity of pictures or amount of time he spent glued to the couple that made the day such a success, it was the QUALITY of the time he did spend with them that left them raving about him to their families and friends. Don't get me wrong, we got some smokin' awesome images of these guys...I don't think they could take a bad picture even if they tried!

A huge "Thank you" to [b] for inviting me to join him, I had a great time! Also, if you're a photographer and haven't checked out the [b] School, you should click on it and go see what it's all about. I haven't seen a tighter knit community that is more committed to helping one another grow and better themselves at what they love to do!

Here are a few images of the awesome wedding!

**Technical note: A majority of these photos were taken with the buttery Nikon 200mm f2.0 lens! Shooting wide open! Look at those backgrounds blurred out like crazy...you can't help but have your eyes jump right to the couple!**

** Becker likes to brag on Twitter how his brides are always the hottest brides...jealous anyone? haha**

Our Bridal Shower!

2009-09-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

So as most of you know Erin and I are getting married SOON! October 18th to be exact, and as our countdown gets smaller and smaller we both can't help but get more and more excited for what is to come!

One of the first "Oh my gosh the wedding is soon" moments was when we had our Couples Bridal Shower thrown by my wonderful parents at our house in San Juan. This was shower #1 of 4 for my soon-to-be-bride but my one and only chance to partake in the gifting and accessorizing of our new place! Granted I get to enjoy all of the gifts until Erin moves in after the wedding, but she get's to open them?? No fair!

I digress...

So pretty much for us you just have to walk into a Bed Bath and Beyond or Crate and Barrel store....close your eyes...and point to something and you can be we need it! Haha, we really don't have anything. Which makes our excitement over silverware seem cheesy, but it's really not! We couldn't be more stoked about a fork and knife :)

Since this is my one and only wedding shower, I decided to grab my camera and get a few details and moments from the night! It was such a great time with family and friends. We are so thankful for all of your love, support, and generosity! I'm sure by now you've all received you 'Thank You' notes (which Erin did all the next day...annoying how on top of it she is...is she even human?), but I once again wanted to say "Thank you and we love you!"

Here are a few photos from the night. Thank you to Jenni for getting the pictures of us with everyone! :)

Erin's Mom and Dad, Dan and Sheryl...the new In Laws!

Some of the awesome appetizers we had! Stuffed Mushrooms, yumm.

Torrey could smell the mushrooms and wanted some handouts.

Dad and I...can you see the family resemblance?

The bar menu for the evening. My uncle Jim tended the bar and mixes a wicked Bellini!

Our premarital counseling couple and mentors Ed and Angie...they're pretty much awesome :)

No....Erin is not giving the bird...she's holding our newest addition to our kitchen!

Insert awesome caption here...

Max and Christina!

Us and Cheyne...one of my groomsman

La Venta Inn Wedding: Theresa and Justin are Married!

2009-09-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

Erin and I cannot stop talking about Theresa and Justin's wedding! We loved everything about it, and we loved everyone in it! Theresa had spent months and months planning out every detail of her wedding! She undoubtedly wanted it to be the day of her dreams! From bringing a huge monitor for us to run our slideshow on, to having a pizza flown in from Michigan for her dinner, this wedding had Theresa and Justin's personalities in every detail! To all of your who regularly ready our blog Theresa and Justin were the smokin' couple we took out to Joshua Tree for their engagement/fashion shoot!

Theresa had looked at hundreds (literally) of photographers when deciding who she wanted to photograph her wedding. And I must say, since day one Erin and I have felt honored, and have loved every minute of preparing for her and Justin's big day! It was a day filled with laughter, wonderful family, great friends, and with the gorgeous view at La Venta Inn it was all set against the beauty and glow of the night sky!

Here are just a handful of some of the moments and details from their incredible wedding. Theresa and Justin, you both are as awesome as they come! We had the BEST time with you both! You are a wedding photographer's dream client! Your wedding was fantastic and we could not feel more blessed to have been a part of it!

We hope you had the time of your lives in Hawaii! Can't wait to hear all about it :)

Strawberry Farms Wedding, Irvine CA: Julie and Jon's Country Wedding!

2009-08-26T12:01:00.000-07:00

I can't believe August is almost over, what a whirlwind of amazing weddings and even more amazing people! This past weekend Erin and I had another wedding "double-header" and started it off with Julie and Jon's wedding at the gorgeous grounds of Strawberry Farms in Irvine, CA. If you recall their engagement session, you'll remember that Julie is a rising country star and Jon is the kind-hearted, polite, country gentleman that won her heart! Their wedding was such a fun, touching, and of course country themed event! Complete with a game of corn hole out in front and cowboy boots on each bridesmaid and groomsman; it was a glorious escape in the heart of Orange County! To know these two is to know that there is never a dull moment, and that their love for their family and friends knows no bounds. Julie and Jon, our hope for you both is that the well of your love for one another will be bottomless and that the fun times and joy ahead would be endless. Have a great time in paradise on your honeymoon!! You two are the best ;)

Here are a few from their wedding this past Saturday!

University Bible Church Wedding: Matthew and Allyson are Married!

2009-08-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

Lately, more times than I'd like to count. I've had these moments. No, not "senior moments" where I forget what I'm doing or leave my keys in the door...but rather moments where I just sit there and thing "Yikes life is really just flying by!"

It's that time in life when a large number of our friends are getting married. We love it because a large portion of them are gifting us with the honor of shooting their wedding! But on the same token, it drives home that realization that we are indeed moving forward in life and those things we used to talk about as being SO FAR OFF...are suddenly right upon us and happening right before our very eyes!

Matt and Allyson's wedding was such a moment for my lovely fiancée! Erin's known Matt for the past 6 years, and she's known Allyson for the past 3 years! They've grown in the same church family and have been in the same large circle of friends; showing up to shoot the bride and bridesmaids was like hanging with the girls for Erin :)

She knew ALL of the bridesmaids not to mention over half the guests! The whole wedding was a true testament to love and support such a community like that can have! We had so much fun being with old friends and meeting new ones! It was such a touching moment seeing Matt and Allyson see one another for the first time. Matt couldn't keep still he was so excited. When he finally turned around to see his bride, tears filled his eyes as he looked at the woman he would spend his life loving more and more each day; "Woww...." was all he could say.

Matt and Allyson, our hope is that "Wow" factor will only get stronger as the days, months, and years, come and go in the journey of your marriage. You both hold a special place in our hearts and we could not be happier for you!

P.S. Click here to see their engagement slideshow and click here to see the blog post from their engagement!

Perfect 5-star Rating on Project Wedding!

2009-08-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

For Erin and I, it can't just be about taking pictures when it comes to wedding photography. This is a day a woman has been dreaming about her ENTIRE life, there has to be a fun, trusting relationship to go along with those amazing photos. We pride ourselves on being the least of a brides worries when she thinks about her day. Come the big day, she knows us, she trusts us, and without a shadow of a doubt knows we will have images she will treasure forever :)

Thank you thank you thank you to our brides and to this bride in particular who took the time to let us know her experience with us; we put our heart into everything we do!

See more reviews of Gavin Wade Photographers on Project Wedding.

Soka University Wedding: Patrick and Lauren's Wedding!!

2009-08-13T01:41:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking..."this is the shortest blog post I've ever seen, where are all the words at??" As promised, here is a little different twist for you! Well my friends, stop squinting to read all those tiny little words, and just sit back and relax to hear all about Lauren and Patrick's wedding....click PLAY!

Gavin Wade Photographers Video Blog (Lauren and Patrick) from Gavin Wade on Vimeo.

I know this is out of focus...(a blogging "No No") but I REALLY liked this picture of the guys walking!

Soka University Wedding: Patrick and Lauren's Sneak Peak!

2009-08-12T01:48:00.000-07:00

Here is an image from Patrick and Lauren's wedding from our double-header weekend of craziness! They were married at perhaps one of the most gorgeous school campuses I think I've ever been to; Soka University in Aliso Viejo. Erin and I literally are going to have to arm wrestle over which images to blog next, but for now here is one we both just say "awwwww, that's so them!"

Enjoy! More to come!!

P.S. This is our 100th blog post! Crazy! I can't believe I'd ever have this much creative writing in me! I'm excited for what's to come for post #101, a little twist perhaps?

Jeff and Steph's Wedding at the Hilton Waterfront

2009-08-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

I love weddings.

Now I know what you're thinking. "Okay...you're a wedding photographer, no news flash there buckaroo"

I should clarify. My love for weddings reached a new height after we left Jeff and Steph's wedding at the Hilton Waterfront in Huntington Beach! You never know how someone's wedding is going to affect them! You can plan, prepare, and do everything possible to get ready for the big day; but when a groom sees his bride for the first time, or the bride steps onto the dance floor with her father....no amount of planning can prepare anyone for that moment. It's a moment when their reactions act like windows to their hearts.

I loved watching Jeff and Steph's reactions throughout their day. Such people so genuinely in love can't help but let the reservoir of their hearts just overflow with happiness when you're saying "I Do" to the man or woman of your dreams! It's such a blessing for us each and every weekend to view such a love through our lens. I got choked up on MULTIPLE occasions at this wedding; I couldn't help it!

In the interest of not posting a hundred images from this wedding, we agonized over which images to show from their day. We hope you will enjoy! Jeff and Steph, you both are treasures, may your reservoirs always overflow with the love you have for one another! God bless you both!

Jeff and Steph's Sneak Preview!

2009-08-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

While sifting through all of our images from this past Saturday's wedding, I had to share with you this one of Jeff and Steph! More to come soon!

Dana Point, Heritage Park Wedding: Danielle and David are Married!

2009-08-01T00:34:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! It's Erin :)

Where to begin! Danielle and David were so much fun! Their wedding wast themed "Infinity and Beyond" and all I can say is that this hot couple was BEYOND awesome. The whole time they had me cracking up with just the zest and adventure they brought to their wedding day. I mean, how many brides would go and do cartwheels and back-bends during their portraits?! It was this spontaneity that had me just clicking that shutter allll day long; I didn't want to stop! The ceremony took place overlooking the water at Heritage Park in Dana Point. You could see the marina and the beautiful distant peak of Catalina poking through the haze in the distance. It was so gorgeous!

I was joined by my good friend (and soon-to-be-neighbor) Jenni, who was so much fun to run around with all day. Thanks for all of your help Jenni! :)

After the ceremony we headed to the community center where Danielle and David proved they knew how to have fun on the dance floor! They had all the moves and everyone couldn't help but join in on the party!

Here are some images from the day! Welcome home Danielle and David!

Oh! And if you missed it, click here to see Danielle and David's Engagement slideshow :)

Snazzy New Cards!

2009-07-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

WOW! We just received our B-E-A-utiful new business cards! If you haven't checked out our new logo, these cards were designed to accompany the new look of Gavin Wade Photographers!

We've rebranded after less than a year and can't wait for this logo and our new card to be the carrier-pigeon for our business into the foreseeable future! You'll have to see it for yourself, but man alive are we proud to hand these guys out to our brides! Even our banker that we met with over the weekend emailed us, saying that he's had it on his keyboard for the past two days and people have been asking about it left and right!

We have to give a huge thank you to Zida over at Studio-Z Mendocino for these gorgeous letter-pressed cards! It was a total custom job, and Zida was so fantastic at working with us every step of the way. Even the boxes she delivered them to us in were amazing! I'd highly recommend her to anyone who wants to have their cards stand out amongst all others :)

Also, we need to give some love to Ross and everyone over at Flosites for their creative design of our logo and business card layout! They make sure you're completely satisfied with your design, and that meant the world to us!

Now without further adieu...

Laurie and Robbie: Engagement in Newport Beach!

2009-07-26T23:04:00.000-07:00

"It's like they were meant to be together."

I can't possibly tell you how many times Erin and I have heard this phrase! And whether you believe in soul mates or not, there undoubtedly are times when you see a couple love birds and say "dang they are just two peas in a pod, those two.."

Well...Laurie and Robbie were matched with one another before even THEY knew about it! While they were still in baby teeth, Laurie and Robbie's parents were plotting, scheming, and for the most part just kidding around about how their son and daughter should get married when they're older. And for all you rebellious children, NO they aren't getting married just to spite their parents! haha.

They actually lost touch through the years and didn't reunite and see one another again until much later! And guys, Robbie will tell you, there's no better pick up line than "didn't we used to share juice-boxes?" Gets em' every time ;)

We had a such a great time with Laurie and Robbie! And thanks to a state park ranger who made doubly sure I wasn't a mass murderer rather than a photographer...we made it a multi-location engagement shoot! Robbie is quite the musician, so he brought his guitar and added a soundtrack for our afternoon!

So turn on your iTunes, or better yet, visit his Facebook fan page....and enjoy :)

Wayfarers Chapel Wedding: Lindsay and Joshua

2009-07-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

"Time is too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice,
But for those who love,
time is eternity."
~Henry VanDyke

Lindsay and Josh were married at the breath-taking Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes. With the ocean breeze fluttering in, and their closest of family and friends in attendance, these two affirmed their faithfulness to one another! It was our pleasure and honor to be there; both families were so fantastic and truly came together to create an amazing day!

Lindsay and Josh, even in times of waiting, fear, and sadness, may the time you have with one another always be treated as a treasure and may you both look to one another for strength and encouragement! Erin and I are so blessed to know you and certainly treasured the privilege of capturing your beautiful day!

Here are a few moments in time we wanted to share with you; enjoy!

Blackmail Thursday: Happy Birthday Chelsea!

2009-07-16T00:17:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since we've had some blackmail material here on the GWP blog, and what better day to remedy that than our very own Blackmail ThursdayI Now, I don't mean to be "one of those guys" who points out annoying technicalities, but technically....there were never any specific rules or guidelines laid down as to whom was even eligible for such aforementioned blackmail.

Well ladies and germs, I am here to set the record straight and have here an official ruling...vis-à-vis..the following:

THERE ARE NO RULES!

As evidenced by this photo of my sister from her belated birthday party! Haha, I just crack up when I see these; it's so Chelsea. I miss her already! She's away at Gordon College in MA so wish her well!!

Love ya Chuggles!! :)

Lake Tahoe Wedding at Gatekeeper's Museum: Laura and Randy!

2009-07-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

"OOOooo.....AhhHhhhHhh...."

That pretty much sums up every 4th of July I've ever had during the better part of these 2 decades. The whole family would be gathered on the deck of my Grandparents' house atop Sonoma Mountain in Napa Valley, overlooking several counties and their subsequent firework displays. We'd all be wrapped up in blankets, and for 45 minutes we'd watch and listen as each city celebrated our nation's Independence Day.

THIS year, however, Erin and I were in Lake Tahoe to photograph Laura and Randy's wedding! And what a gorgeous wedding it was! Laura and Randy were one of the first couples to book Erin and I when we started shooting; and over the past year we've swapped countless emails getting excited together for this day! Laura is perhaps one of the kindest and sweetest human beings on the planet and we could no wait to drive up and finally see her and Randy!

Laura and I go way back to college days at Wheaton too, which just means she's that much cooler! ** Sidenote: Okay, so I don't know how long you have to wait until you can use the phrase "go way back to college days," but since we graduated a few years ago :) **

Erin and I felt more like wedding guests than vendors! The hospitality of the Ordway and Brown families were endless, and we felt so fortunate to have been trusted by them to capture such an intimate day. Laura and Randy were married at the Gatekeepers Museum, surrounded by their loved ones, and were so happy to FINALLY be married! We loved getting these two by the lake and drinking in the beautiful wildflowers along the shores! Laura and Randy, THANK YOU so much for including us on something that is only about 947282 times more amazing than fireworks. Your love is a treasure, and there's' nothing like having an anniversary on the 4th of July to always remind you to keep that spark alive! Although, based on these pictures, our guess is that fireworks will be calling YOU! ;)

P.S. The last image is one of my favorites! Erin nailed it! Great shot fiancée ;)

Laguna Beach: Danielle and David's Engagement!

2009-07-11T00:10:00.000-07:00

Now THESE two are our kind of people! Walking up to Danielle and David in downtown Laguna Beach, we could spot them from a mile away. The weather was a bit overcast, but that didn't stop them from showing their true colors; yellow that is. And not just a Grey Poupon type of yellow, we're talking bright yellow! Erin and I both got huge smiles on our faces when we saw these two; we knew it was going to be a fun time!

Our expectations were not only met, but far exceeded when we found ourselves basking in the awesomeness that is Danielle and David! They were fun, quirky, all over each other, and so in love that they just couldn't contain it! Like I said...our kind of people!

We started out our time on the sand and then moved it to a more city-like type of scene. We found ourselves wedged in a staircase and got some smokin' pictures of these love-birds, then moseyed down the street where David serenaded Danielle with his classical guitar (very smooth).

We'll let the images of this soon-to-be-married couple do the rest of the talking for us, but you will come away feeling the same exact way we did after our shoot was over..."they were so much fun! Can we hang out again?!"

I hope you have the kind of weeekend....that you wanna have :)

I love these two above pictures! Throughout the course of their relationship both Danielle AND David got down on their knee and gave the other a ring. These were the exact places where they did their respective proposals...I think they both said 'yes' ;)

Rancho Sol del Pacifico Wedding: Lissa and Craig

2009-07-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! This is Erin :)

I wanted to share with you an amazing wedding I shot in Malibu! I was invited to join my good friend and talented photographer; the newly married Rosanna Herd. We had such a great time with Lissa and Craig!
From the moment I walked into the salon, Lissa and I had a blast! She's a ball of joy and so full of life, I loved her! I've never laughed so hard behind the camera in my life! Both she and Craig were all over the place when Rossana and I were shooting them, haha. They would wrestle with each other, do push ups on the grass, tickle each other, you name it! It was like they had just started dating, they were so cute! Lisa absolutely loved having the camera on her...she felt like a star :)

Craig is an amazing chef, the head chef actually, at the world reknown Montage Resort in Laguna Beach! So needless to say, the food at their wedding was I-N-S-A-N-E. His team paid attention to every detail and made a cake the likes of which I have never seen! Before the ceremony, Craig himself was hand-placing each and every flower and jewel; this man knows food! And if you know me, you know how important that is ;)

When taking solo shots with the groom, I like to get some serious/pensive images, but with Craig he couldn't hold a serious face. "I can't!" he said, "I'm just so happy today!!"....SO CUTE!

My heart melted with excitement for Lissa and Craig. I felt so honored to be there and just be caught in the after-glow of their happiness :)

A huge thank you again to Rosanna, she is such a joy to work with!

"IIIIIIKEA...this is comfortable" -Chandler Bing

2009-07-07T16:48:00.001-07:00

Wow, I cannot believe that our wedding is just 14 short weeks away! It still hasn't set in yet that we're going to be married!! We are so excited! Although, this past weekend we did make one small investment into our business as well as our future!

Yes...we went to Costco to get toothpaste and soap...and ended up leaving with a couch!

One of the wicked awesome (and undoubtedly cool) things that Erin and I love to do together is go to Costco and just sit on their couches. We fill up on all the tasty samples, get our little paper cup of Zip Fizz, and go spread out on their display couches. We talk about life, business, our future, and gawk at the "unique" characters that tend to roam the concrete halls that are in front of us. Lol. We've done this I think as long as we've been together, and we love it (even if that makes us like an old married couple). :)

WELL, this past weekend our derrières experienced something like no other, and we couldn't resist but bring a little bit of Costco home with us! Granted, we aren't renting an apartment home/studio for another couple months, but they only had ONE MORE LEFT! So we had to jump on it. Our good friends Jenni and Kris were so awesome and drove down with their truck to help us haul the three MASSIVE boxes to my parents house for storage; thanks you guys!!

I couldn't help but briefly document the occasion on my new iPhone 3GS and figured all of you soon to be brides, close friends, and family would like to get a sneak peak of what you too will soon be relaxing on at our humble abode :)

Untitled from Gavin Wade on Vimeo.

Harveston Lake House Wedding: Cara and Kellen

2009-07-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

So far Erin and I have been immensely fortunate to be a part of many wedding days these short 9 months! Caterers have come and gone, bouquets have been thrown and caught, cakes have been cut and consumed, and ultimately at the end of the day, every wedding is packed up and little evidence is left of what occurred. So what is remembered after such a big day? As artists and visual storytellers, how easy is it to just get enveloped in the details? While those are super important, what do people truly come away from? For someone like me, I love the details. I could spend 20 minutes just photographing a place setting if I wanted to; Erin however is so amazing at capturing emotion. And it's along that line of thought where we find the true surviving aspects of all wedding days; the love, emotion, and impressions from the day! It's these emotions that we strive to freeze in time, so that once all the gifts have been opened and all the "repeaters" have been exchanged, all it could take is one image and *BAM* you're right back on the dance floor of your wedding and reliving the moment!

Cara and Kellen's wedding was gorgeous as it adorned the grounds of the Harveston Lake House. It was set up on a beautiful patch of green with a beautiful lake as their background. It was hot, as Temecula in summer always is, but their guests were shaded beneath umbrellas all anxiously awaiting the marriage of their dear friends. Joined by a couple we've photographed in the past, (Carissa and Jackie) everyone at this wedding were just a blast to be around! With beautiful place settings and yummy food, it truly was a time where everyone could enjoy the day with Cara and Kellen; who made absolutely sure to spend time with their guests (they were such good hosts!).

You probably remember how great this couple was from their engagement session down at the Balboa Fun Zone, but both were styling last weekend and we couldn't have had a better time sharing in their day with them and their families!

We hope these few photos have that *BAM* effect, and that you are transported back to this unforgettable wedding. Congratulations to Cara and Kellen, you both are so wonderful!

San Juan Capistrano: Julie and Jon's Engagement!

2009-06-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

"Hi, I'm Julie!, what's your name?"

"Whoa, what the heck? Who is this girl?" I thought to myself.

This was my first encounter with Julie at the Freshman Luau at Saddleback Community Church. If you can imagine it, I was an even bigger dork then; quiet, shy, skinny, pimply, and frankly just plain scared of girls. And then all of a sudden this random girl comes up to me and talks to me?! This was an unprecedented event, and I didn't quite know what to make of it.

But, if you know Julie, then you know this is anything but out of the ordinary! Julie's personality and pizazz for life is infectious, and her smile has undoubtedly gotten her out of some trouble, haha. She's a firecracker, and I knew it would take an amazing man to captivate her heart and win her undying love.

Julie herself is an artist, dabbling in photography, but her real calling and passion is as a songwriter! She's traveled from Orange Country, to Nashville, and then back again as she pursues her dreams! I have no doubt she's feeling as if one of her biggest dreams has already come true; she's found the cowboy that will ride off with her into the sunset, with the sky as their limits. I can tell Jon is her rock, her anchor here on earth that keeps her from flying all over the place ;)

We had so much fun with Julie and Jon in downtown San Juan Capistrano. I love how they both play off of one another and just seem to be the perfect compliment to the others quirks! I love it! Isn't that how it's supposed to be? Perfect like that?

You'll see right off the bat, these two are more fun than a bag-full of marbles at a dance recital; no one could stop laughing. We loved our time together and can't wait to shoot their wedding next month at Strawberry Farms in Irvine!

You rock Julie and Jon!

Downtown Disneyland: Sara and Noam's Engagement!

2009-06-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

I kissed Dumbo's butt.

It all started with my first trip to Disneyland...I was 5 years old, I had my Mickey Mouse ears on, and my Mom, Aunt, and Uncle all in tow. I was the first child in the entire family, and this trip was apparently a HUGE deal. A story from that momentous occasion still haunts me to this day. For whatever reason, my late-night sense of self-inflicted humiliation is just ready to roll.

So I was young, and those big Disney characters were scary! I was shy, and while all the other kids were giving Dumbo a hug, I was hidden behind my mom. Slowly, I inched my way towards the elephant I had adored my entire life. I kept looking back at my Mom for reassurance that it was okay to approach this monstrous animal. "Go ahead!" she said, "Go give Dumbo a kiss!" Sheepishly I kept inching my way towards him and right before I was going to kiss my portly pachyderm friend, I looked back at mom (my lips puckered) for that last word of approval. "Kiss Dumbo, sweetheart!" And so with my resolve emboldened, I did just that. Only Dumbo had turned around, and in doing so gave my family a story they will never let me forget.

I had to chuckle when we found out that Sara and Noam wanted to have their engagement shoot in Downtown Disney.

These two LOVE Disneyland! They have season passes and drive down from Simi Valley all the time to have wonderfully romantic dates under the glow of fireworks. However, on one particular night, Noam had different plans, and proposed to Sara in front of the castle and hundreds of people watching. It had so happened that they were all alone, and it was perfect! Amidst cheers from the crown, Sara said "YES!" and wasted no time at all getting the ring onto her finger!

It seems only fitting that Sara and Noam's season of engagement both start and end at the happiest place on earth. We had so much fun with them last weekend, and can't wait to shoot their wedding at the Disneyland Hotel later this Fall!

Joshua Tree National Park: Theresa and Justin's Engagement Session! Part 2

2009-06-22T23:30:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is the second installment of the sizzling Theresa and Justin who we shot out in Joshua Tree! As you can see, the "props" that they brought were beyond amazing, and totally sexy! We can't wait to shoot their wedding at La Venta Inn in Palos Verdes in August :)

In the last shot, you'll see our debut of off-camera lighting! What do you think? For all you photogs out there, we used pocket wizards with two SB-800s and two shoot-through umbrellas. We used all manual flash settings. Oh, and our second flash conked out on us so the image you see here was taken with one off camera strobe :)

Joshua Tree National Park: Theresa and Justin's Engagement Session!

2009-06-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

A little over a week ago, Erin and I set out on one of our most exciting E-sessions yet! Erin will tell you that I was so excited about this shoot, that I could barely sleep the night before! (Yes, I know I'm a huge photo nerd)

We love Theresa and Justin and their desire to go outside the box when it comes to their photography! We wanted to do a unique location, with almost zero romantic poses (since they already have a million of those types!). Rather, we were going for a more fashion-inspired, chic, and elegant shoot. Our quest led us to the beautiful Joshua Tree National Park a few hours outside of Orange County. The huge rocks and desolate landscape were just completely opposite of where many engagement sessions take place, and that made it perfect. It was something new for everyone involved and our excitement just couldn't be contained throughout the day!

Also, we love it when our couples bring a prop of sorts to add some character to their session. We've had guitars, cell phones, beach cruisers...but once again, Theresa and Justin were 100% unique, and we loved every second of it!

We've broken this session up into two blog posts, so you'll have to stay glued to your seats for images of what they brought! If you know them, then you can probably guess immediately what they brought! If not, I'll give you a hint....combined it weights about 600 pounds! :)

Erin and I had just an amazing day with these two; Theresa and Justin were immediately comfortable and just dove right into what we had in mind for their day; they sizzled under the desert sun.

Have a bucket of water and some SPF 60 nearby....check these out!

Okay, we got the smiles out of the way, now it's down to the hotness!

We're dropping round 2 of Theresa and Justin tomorrow....make it an awesome day.

Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship Wedding: Lori and Matthew = AWESOME

2009-06-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

What can we say about Lori and Matthew? They are pretty much just the BEST people around! You might be trying to remember if you saw their engagement session posted in the past, but we actually didn't even meet Lori and Matthew until their wedding day! We know of many photographers who meet their couples just on their wedding day, but for us it's something we try and avoid if at all possible. It makes our job of capturing the true love between our bride and groom more challenging because they are just getting used to two strange people with cameras clicking away constantly :)

Granted, Erin is still a little strange....but I'm totally normal, I swear :)

So you remember everything I just said above...about it being hard to meet a couple AND shoot their wedding all on the same day? Yea...disregard ALL of that when you are thinking about Lori and Matthew, haha. From the moment we met them, it was instant comfort; like old friends! (it all goes back to them being pretty much the BEST people around)

Lori and Matt chose to see one another before the ceremony (which we love), so we got to take about 75 million pictures with them in a handful of great locations around Temecula! We had so much fun throughout the entire day. We laughed through the unexpected moments, and choked back tears (the ceremony was SO touching) during the joyful moments. We simply wouldn't want to change one millisecond of our day with these two. Their love is pure, and comes down to the fact that they just can't live one more day without the other right there beside them... through the happy, sad, good, or bad :)

Lori and Matthew, you both come alive in one another's presence. We are SO happy for you both and cannot tell you how honored we are to have been there to watch you begin "forever" with the love of your life!

Lori and Matthew Frost! Teaser!!

2009-06-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a crazy and fun weekend it's been! But before we head out to the desert to do an awesome engagement shoot, we wanted to leave you with a sneak preview of our next blog post of Matthew and Lori!

We had the honor of shooting their wedding last weekend and I've been itching to at least show you all SOMETHING! So while we sift through the piles of our favorite images, here are two that we've been dying to show you! More are coming in the next day!

Dove Canyon Country Club Wedding, Hilary and Brian

2009-06-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

I must say, being in the heart of wedding planning myself, I can truly identify with what every single one of our brides goes through just to get to the part where we even show up to take pictures! So much goes into every detail; it really makes us want to work even harder to forever capture what has undoubtedly taken months to set up! :)

Hilary and Brian were married at Dove Canyon Country Club in front of an intimate group of core family and friends. I love that! Just you, the love of your life, and the ones who love you most. Whether you have 50 or 500 people at your wedding, at the end of the day you'll be married :)

(You may have remembered our E-session with Hilary and Brian a couple months ago at The Montage in Laguna Beach)

We had so much fun with Hilary, Brian, and their whole family as they declared their love and committed their lives to one another. The day was an overcast one, but it was devoid of rain and provided beautiful even light!

I know that we will be seeing Hilary and Brain soon! You guys are awesome! May your love, dedication, patience, and devotion span wider and deeper each and every day :) God Bless you both!

(to see their engagement slideshow, click HERE)

Linda and Tommy's Wedding!

2009-06-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday everyone :)

I wanted to share a wedding I shot a while back with all of you. In order for you to get the perfect picture of how awesome Linda is, think of Eva Longoria and Kim Kardashian all rolled into one.

I was invited along to shot with a friend and great photographer Jeremy Lucero. We had a great time, and the lighting was gorgeous from start to finish.

I know this post is short today, because we are cookin' up some good stuff here at Gavin Wade Photographers for all of you! We are days away from releasing several things that we hope you'll love!

For now, I'll leave you with a quote that I thought summed up why we love what we do, and why we take our jobs so seriously :)

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile." -Franklin P. Jones

Here are some images...we hope you enjoy the ride!

Balboa Fun Zone: Cara and Kellen's Engagement!!

2009-06-08T23:56:00.000-07:00

Cara and Kellen are getting married in just a few short weeks out in Temecula, California. And while everything in Cali can be reached in around an hour or so, it was a great opportunity to meet them by the water and give them a legit excuse for a date night! :)

We met them around the Balboa Fun Zone and had just a great time! It still blows my mind how with very little words, and a plethora of high-pitched noises, women can INSTANTLY bond over a wedding! So needless to say, Cara and Erin connected over weddings, and Kellen and I bonded over the idea of how we were so glad our women love taking care of wedding stuff :) haha.

The weather held out! (thank heaven) We had great even light and not a hint of rain! There's always a period during the beginning of the shoot where it just takes getting used to be photographed; Cara and Kellen took about 30 seconds, and from then on out we couldn't stop clicking our shutter! Every look, every spot we just loved!

We feel so blessed to be joining them soon for their wedding! We can't wait to see them again! Great job Cara and Kellen, we had such a rough time narrowing down to just a few of our favorites :) Enjoy!

P.S. A HUGE "Thank you" to our friend and fellow photog Maria Longhi for introducing us to such a great couple!

Pelican Hill Resort: Mike Colon's Workshop Part Two

2009-06-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

Here are more images of our second couple that we shot at the beautiful Pelican Hill Resort

If you recognize the model, that means you watch Deal or No Deal! She's case #7 on the hit game show :)

Both models were so much fun to shoot with. I can't wait to see how Pelican Hill will use our images! They certainly will have their fair share of images to choose from! Have a great weekend!

^ I know that this shot is overexposed a bit, but I liked their expressions and just quickly pointed and fired away :)

Pelican Hill Resort: Mike Colon's Workshop Part One

2009-06-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

It is truly a blessing to be in Southern California; what many may call the "Mecca of Wedding Photography!" With a rock star photographer around every corner, it really raises the bar for everyone else around. And I mean that in a very good way!

I'm in the process of getting my "honeymoon body," as I call it. I'm working out every day during the week for the next 5 months to accomplish one goal, and that is to give Daniel Craig a run for his money when I put on that tux on our wedding day! (and as a sidenote, to give Brad Pitt (in Troy) a run for his money after that tux has been returned...HA!)

Wait, why was I on that tangent?

Oh yea! In my days at the gym this past week, I have worked harder, lifted heavier, and given more effort when the guy next to me is stronger than I am (pretty easy to do)! In seeing the weight he is lifting, I am driven to give it that much more! 110%!

That's how I feel about Southern California. I'm got Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk) around every corner when it comes to wedding photography, and I could not love a better challenge to be the very best at what I (we) do!

And speaking of the best, I had a chance to be stretched even more when I visited Mike Colon's 4 day Intensive a couple weeks ago! It was held at the absolutely breath-taking Pelican Hill Resort overlooking the ocean in Newport Beach. With the help of Ray Santana, everyone had a great time! If you haven't read about our experience at Mike's workshop that he held in Maui this past December go check it out!

I firmly believe that Mike's workshop was the launching point for Erin and I. It's when we both looked at one another and said, "We can do this, let's go all out!" Mike's wisdom and insight were invaluable to us! Not to mention, the guy cannot take a bad picture! And who else would you want to be learning from right? :)

Being in this industry is a daily challenge and it is one that we feel blessed to face head on! Being surrounded by the best causes us to give nothing short of our everything, to every bride! We love what we do! And as the ghetto-fabulous Jasmine Star say's all the time, "I'd rather fail at something I love, than succeed in something I hate!"

Here are some of the images from my experience at Mike's Workshop! It was great to meet new people and reconnect with old friends!

Emma and Brandon: Wedding in Palm Desert

2009-05-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

The other weekend both Erin and I were honored when our good friend (and awesome photographer) Henry Chen invited us to join him for a hot wedding out in Palm Desert! Our wedding took place at the exclusive and gorgeous Ironwood Country Club. And when I say hot, I mean HOTTT, 105 degrees to be exact! Emma and Brandon we so great. I love it when LOVE overcomes obstacles that so many would use as an excuse to not be with someone! While Emma is latina, and Brandon is...well...the anti-latina! But what I thing is just absolutely beyond-awesome is that such a hurdle was never even given a second thought. The ceremony and toasts were conducted in English and Spanish so that all the guests in attendance could be a part of Emma and Brandon joining their lives and families together! Brandon and his mother gave speeches in broken Spanish to his new wives' parents, Emma's parents gave speeches in broken English to Brandon's family, and to top off what was a beautiful celebration...Brandon and Emma performed a Salsa dance they had been practicing for months ahead of time! It was such a great day, surrounded by great people!

We love our job! We get to be at a celebration every weekend amongst some of the greatest people :)

**Just to clarify, Erin was not drinking and slacking on the job, but was merely assisting during the family formals! She was the coat rack/drink holder while the family was taking pictures! I just thought she was adorable, even in blistering heat ;) **

Dan and Genuine's Wedding in Chicago with Kenny Kim

2009-05-28T00:56:00.000-07:00

"hey, just wondering if you were going to put up any of the blogs tonight... we're pretty behind and i think i have 2 ready to go for you :) "

This was the email I received from my fiancé (so awesome to finally say that!), and it is only reason # 938294 why I love her. She keeps me in line in the most loving way possible. Yes, my dear friends, we have multiple blog posts that are awaiting launch for your viewing pleasure, so great ready for the...HURRICANE! :)

My first day out in Chicago a couple weeks ago, I had the privilege and honor to shoot with the one and only Kenny Kim! Kenny and I have known one another way before I had even picked up a camera. Rather, I was in front of the lens modeling for one of Mike Colón's first workshops when Kenny was first starting out! Since then, as life would have it, our interests and paths have crossed and it was so much fun (and a little nerve-racking) to shoot with him on his home court (aka Illinois)! However, despite the rainy weather and soaked cameras, teamed up with Steve Goldhaber, the three of us had a great day with an awesome couple, Dan and Genuine!

Have you ever been to a wedding where you just sit there and say to yourself, "Now THAT'S what marriage and a wedding is supposed to look like!" Now before you draw all kinds of conclusions from that last sentence, what I mean by that is both Dan and Genuine (what an awesome name) were like Oak trees on their wedding day. I was there from start to finish during the whole day and was constantly just blown away by their quiet strength, unwavering dedication, and the unflappable resolve they had towards everything. Not to mention, their whole day went perfectly! I'm man enough to admit I got a little choked up during the ceremony as I was clicking away. The moment that hit me the most was when they each went to their parents and bowed humbly before them as their first act as man and wife. Watching the tears roll down their eyes as they bowed low before the people who raised them, I was ensnared by the symbolism of such an act and just couldn't get that lump in my throat to go away! Thankfully, I had my big ol' 70-200mm lens on my camera so it manned things up a bit for me and kept me from being reduced to a puddle in the corner, haha. ;)

While these photos have been long in coming, I hope that you will enjoy these moments I was fortunate enough to capture from their day. And to Dan and Genuine, may God bless you and may your humility know no bounds as you move forward with one another onto a new life!

Kenny! Those flowers are perfect, they really bring out the red in your camera strap! ;)

Kenny really loves his clients :)

Blackmail Thursday: D.I.C.S. Day

2009-05-22T03:05:00.001-07:00

In college my dorm was all about Braveheart. And sometimes fellas, and I know most of you can back me up on this, we just have the urge to bash, smash, shoot, blow up, or otherwise just wail on something! haha. Well back at Wheaton College we embraced these carnal urges and set aside a specific day for such a cause. We called it D.I.C.S. Day, or rather Day of International Class Skipping. It was glorious. Weeks of planning and preparation went into this every year and it was nothing short of epic. We marched around campus, yelled at the establishments that caged our free spirits (aka, the science building) ate with our bare hands (at the cafeteria) and fought legen...wait for it...dary battles to the death on the school's front lawn. Our swords and shields may have been made of cardboard and duct tape, but our hearts were made of cast-iron and our motives were pure. On D.I.C.S. Day we did what we wanted, we freed our spirits from the Grading Curves that enslaved us all....and nothing else mattered. Here I am pictured with my buddy DJ moments before our glorious battle. I was the candy-cane of death.

Ahh!!! We Are Engaged!!!!

2009-05-19T00:46:00.000-07:00

If Cloud 9 had a penthouse, I would be the happiest woman in the room!!!

Oh my gosh! Where do I begin? :)
It all started last August when Gavin and I knew we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. We decided in September to start our photography business together and when Gavin told his Dad the news about our new direction he said “Son, you can’t go asking Erin to start a business with her with no future plans. And Gavin’s quick response to his father was, “Dad, I can’t imagine my life with anyone else!”

And so months go by and we start talking about it more and more. And I started being a typical girl and hoping it would be any day we spent together. And because I am a big time analyzer... Gav had to pull a big surprise and try to catch me off guard.

In February, we went to go look at rings to just see what was out there...and I picked the ring i wanted within 10 minutes... nothing else compared to it. Any other ring the lady showed me I went straight back to the one my heart was set on. And so I got really anxious about the proposal from that point. I wanted that ring on my finger right after we picked it! ;)
Months go by, and still no ring.... I wasn’t doing to well, Lol. I know a lot of girls can relate to me with this one. I just kept on saying to myself, “What is taking this boy so long? We know we want to get married at the end of this year and the days are going by.”

Well, Gavin at this point had been planning this proposal for a couple months and he wanted it to be amazing (which it was), so that means he had to do a few things,... He started thinking that I might catch onto his plan, so he wanted to make sure I had no idea. He knew that to get me to a place where that ring seemed months away he would need to get a bit devious. Gavin’s harsh (but totally necessary) idea was to make me so mad at him that it would throw me off guard. (Unbeknownst to him, I cried for several days leading up to his proposal). He started saying crazy things like “We don’t really have a lot of money right now, I just have a lot on my mind, and there is a lot of pressure surrounding this.” And I was so confused and frustrated with him (which was his plan ;) ). But then he realized that he needed to start making things better if he wanted to propose to me in the next couple of days (his plan worked a little too well, haha). So he pulled out all the stops; bought me flowers, apologized that his seemingly un-committal remarks were so blunt, and basically was kissing my butt at the start of this weekend; which I quietly allowed him to do. :)

So I slowly started to forgive him and woke up on Sunday and said to myself “Today is going to be a good day.” We had breakfast together and than went to church. Afterwards, we went to the mall and I was shopping for a dress that I found on a woman from a wedding we shot the night before. I found out where she got it and tried it on and fell in love with it. And Gavin casually said , “I want to buy you that dress.” And I thought that was so nice of him, but still didn’t think anything of it because I thought he was still trying to make up for all that he did the past week. And he asked me to put it on, because we were going to shot a engagement session later that afternoon (which was another lie) and he wanted me to wear it during the shoot. So than I told him i wanted to treat him to something since he was so thoughtful, so we found a nice 7 Diamond button-up shirt (Ironic, I know!) for him to wear for our shoot as well! Needless to say, both of us left the mall in style. :)

He then took me to one of my favorite Japanese sushi restaurants; I was in heaven! After stopping by and looking at a gorgeous apartment/studio, our next destination was Yogertland... and if you know me... you know that I make Gavin go there at least twice a week. This already was turning into one of the best days we’ve had together in a long while! All that was left was our engagement session, so we headed down to Salt Creek Beach and prepared to have a great time with our couple. However, Gavin got a phone call from our bride (it was really his dad) and supposedly she had to cancel the e-session because they were stuck in traffic. Needless to say, I was bummed we weren’t going to shoot! Yet still cool as a cucumber, Gavin said, “since we’re here why don’t we take advantage of it and walk along the beach? But first, I want to take you somewhere.” So he walked me into The Ritz Carlton and we made our way out onto this gorgeous balcony decorated with comfy couches overlooking a breath-taking view of the ocean. Champagne in hand, Gavin and I toasted to a wonderful day and gave thanks for everything in our lives! Later I came to find out that Gavin was a nervous wreck! He constantly had his hand on the ring in his pocket, while trying his best not to shake too visibly as to spill his champagne!

So after our drinks, we made our way down to the ocean and walked along the beach. After a minute or two, Gav stopped me on the lawn where we had our first date 15 months ago! (Little did i know Mike Colon was hiding in a tree a hundred feet away and Ray Santana was in between a couple sitting in lounge chairs further up the hill!). We relaxed on the hill at first, laying down for a few minutes to enjoy the scenery....then he oddly just asked me to stand up as if we were preparing to leave. But first, he took me into his arms, looked deep into my eyes and began to say all these amazing things about me; telling me how much he loved me and how he never wanted to go another day without knowing I won’t be there. Having secretly taken the ring already out of his pocket, he looked into my eyes, and slowly dropped down onto one knee....“Erin Michelle Kline...will you marry me?”

In such utter shock and elation, I instantly fell down on my knees, my eyes filling with tears...I started crying....and as he put the ring on my finger I said yes!!!!!! The ring is amazing!! Gavin majorly upgraded the ring I originally fell in love with, having it custom made with over 23 diamonds...so beautiful!! Gavin couldn’t stop smiling and telling me how much he loved me as he brushed away my tears of joy. I’ve never been so happy and no moment has ever been so perfect as this :)

At this point, our camouflaged photogs emerged from their hiding places, documenting every second of my realization that we had pictures of everything that just happened!!! (Something I had ALWAYS wanted from day one) I look up and see Ray standing up, a huge smile on his face as he’s firing away, I couldn’t believe it! THEN, Gavin pointed me to another direction and I could not believe it, Mike Colon was there too!! He came out from behind the trees, grinning from ear to ear; I couldn’t believe they were there and got everything! I was so overwhelmed and indescribably overjoyed :)

But we weren’t done yet! Mike and Ray were kind enough to give more of their time so we went down to the sand and did an hour long post-engagement session!!! Talk about having a dream team of photographers; a girl couldn't ask for a better E-session!!!

After having a the most amazingly-awesome engagement session ever, all four of us walked back up the hill to our cars and headed to Gavin’s house, where I thought both his and my parents were waiting for us to have dinner. But Gavin wasn’t done yet people! The moment we pulled in, he and I rushed into the family room where our parents were sitting and announced we were engaged!! We hugged, we laughed, and I probably talked a million miles an hour! But before I could tell the whole story, Gavin’s dad said we needed to properly celebrate with more champagne and we all walked around the corner into the family room.... and standing there were a ton of my and Gavin’s closest friends and family!! Gavin surprised me with a party!!!

“CONGRATULATIONS!!!!” everyone yelled!!

I could not believe it!! I squealed and cheered as my eyes wandered around the room of 35 people to see the faces of those who I love most in this world; some of whom came from as far as Arizona just to be there! (No wonder none of my friends answered their phones when I called them on our way home from the beach....they were standing in the family room waiting for me to get home!!!!) Gavin had secretly been planning this for weeks and made sure it was a surprise until the very end!

We went and hugged everyone around the room and proceeded to have an amazing night with some of our dearest friends! It was a night filled with eloquent toasts, tearful blessings, heart-felt prayers, and even a little California earthquake shook things up too!

I couldn’t have asked for more! These are memories that Gavin and I will hold on to forever! Having him get down on one knee and asking me to spend the rest my life with him was indescribable, nothing like I could ever imagine. I love him so much and God has blessed me with an amazing man! :)
Thank you to everyone who was able to make it there on our special day! It meant more to us than you will every know!

Now on to the pictures!! Again, an enormous “Thank you” to our dear friends and mentors Mike Colon and Ray Santana for being there to help us capture moments we will never want to forget. We love you guys!!

Lauren and Patrick are Engaged!

2009-05-14T23:24:00.000-07:00

Before jetting out of town to go visit the windy city, I combined two of my most favorite things in this world; good friends and rockin' photography!

Patrick and I go wayyyyyyyy back to Kindergarden; almost 20 years! Wow, I feel so old just typing that, but it's true! Patrick and I went to Mariners Christian School from Mrs. Nielson's Kindergarden class all the way to Mr. Bahadoor's eighth grade homeroom and have kept in touch ever since. I can't tell you how weirdly awesome it was to photograph my good friend and his soon to be wife! While going through these pictures, I stopped on more than several occasions just marveling at life and how surreal this all was (shooting a friend's wedding) and felt an overwhelming sense of honor to even be involved with Patrick and Lauren's day! As I'm sure you'll be able to see in about 2 milliseconds, Patrick and Lauren love live, love another, and LOVE to laugh! Undoubtedly those have the been the cornerstones of their long distance relationship this past year, and I have no doubt it's what will enrich the rest of their lives together :)

Here are a handful of some our favorites! Enjoy! And to Patrick and Lauren....you guys are AWESOME! We cannot wait to shoot your wedding!

**I know that it's out of order, but I wanted to end with one of my favorite shots of the day! Isn't this how every woman wants to be? Swept off her feet, going off into the sunset with the love of her life? :) **

AND IN KEEPING WITH BLACKMAIL THURSDAY TRADITION, HERE IS A PICTURE OF PATRICK AND I IN GRADESCHOOL! (I remember my mom getting mad at me for not tucking in my shirt! haha, weird huh?)

Can you spot me? Can you spot Patrick? :)

Jeff and Steph's Engagement in Seal Beach!

2009-05-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

To start off this post today, I need to give some major love to MY love! This month has been incredibly busy with engagement shoots, weddings, second shooting, and a week-long trip to Chicago. Okay, that last one was my bad, haha. But, while I was stuck inside brick buildings with no cell reception or internet connection, Erin was working tirelessly for our brides! And while with a few key strokes I may have the ability to praise her for all that she has been doing, it would still be merely just a drop in the pool of my thankfulness for all that she does! If you are a past or current bride you know the loyalty and devotion Erin has to each and every one of you, so I need not prattle on :)

BUT, you will have a hard time shutting me up about how much fun we had the other weekend shooting Jeff and Steph's engagement session up in Seal Beach! We'd never shot here before and both Jeff and Steph were so great as we kept moving them from place to place, practically drooling all over our cameras as each spot was more gorgeous than the next!! I loved the prop they brought with them because it's so representative of their relationship; relaxed, beautiful, and worshipful. Afterwards, we took them out to dinner like we do with all of our couples, and just had the best time talking all about life, marriage, and just fellowshipping over a burger and fries. As you can see, they absolutely melted the lens and we are so blessed to shoot their wedding in August!

[Hollister Ad anyone? :)]

Emily and Mike's Wedding- Simi Valley: Part II

2009-05-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

I know exactly what you're thinking, "Gavin hasn't posted in a while because he wants those blackmail pictures of Erin to stay up front and center as LONG as possible."

You, my friend, are partly correct! While I do enjoy those studly pictures of my woman adorning the first blog post, I'm also on a bit of a semi-vacation out in Chicago! I had the privilege of shooting a wedding with my friend and photo networking guru Kenny Kim this past Saturday, and have since then just been relaxing and visiting one of my best friends Paul who is in medschool at Midwestern.

More on my wedding with Kenny soon!

But first, I wanted to give you all just a few more photos from Emily and Mike's wedding which we shot out in Simi Valley a couple weeks ago! (P.S. Emily and Mike, your images are done! Be looking for them in the mail soon ;) )
The black and white one of Emily against Mike's chest is one of my favorites! Enjoy!

Erin doing her best impression of a bridesmaid while I tested out the lighting in the church :) **And NO, you can't see my impression**

This little guy was in the middle of the dance floor and I couldn't resist getting a picture of those big baby blues!! So cute! He reminded me A LOT of my brother Camden when he was a little tank :)

The reception ended at 2:30pm, I'll let you take it from there to interpret! Haha

Blackmail Thursday

2009-05-07T01:47:00.000-07:00

A couple blog posts ago we were so happy to share with you Allyson and Matt's engagement session at the King Gillette Ranch! HOWEVER, what we failed to mention was that the entire ranch is the location where NBC's The Biggest Loser is filmed! Once Erin and I found out about this little reality show rendezvous, we semi-freaked out!
(roughly translated...Erin majorly freaked out... and I stayed calm)

ANYhoo, we couldn't leave without snapping a few pictures in front of the infamous Biggest Loser training facility :)

Here are a few of Erin in this installment of Blackmail Thursday. Erin, please don't kill me for posting these. 0:)

**Reality show fun fact: The Biggest Loser Training Facility is completely redesigned and gutted every single season. All of the equipment and gear is donated and everything is rebuilt for every new group of contestants. When we were there it was stripped down to the insulation!**

Emily and Mike's Wedding- Simi Valley: Part I

2009-05-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

"Wow, what an awesome wedding." I can remember just thinking that as Erin and I drove home last Saturday night. When I think back and recall the poignant moments of Emily and Mike's wedding, I could without a doubt write volumes about their love for one another. And I LOVE weddings that are all about the love!! (if that makes sense)

"Love never fails," as one of my favorites passages reads. And while we may not always be the perfect example on earth of what love is, I'd like to think that whoever we marry is the embodiment of our own idea of perfect love :)

Emily and Mike, thank you for choosing and trusting Erin and I to capture the devotion, love and trust you have between one another. We are blessed to call you friends and know that we will be seeing one another very soon! (Perhaps at a Lost party soon?) *Emily would always send me texts every week inviting Erin and I...because she's awesome like that*

Welcome home you two! We hope you enjoy :)

The Montage Resort in Laguna Beach: Hilary and Brian's Engagement

2009-05-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to give a big cyber hug and high five to Hilary and Brian, for being so patient! It is 1:15AM and we told them that it would be up by 1:00AM at the latest :) Even though we only shot their engagement session last week, we know that they have been DYING to see some photos! (Wouldn't you?! Of course!) A week is like an eternity. Just like when you were a kid and that prize you'd been saving up for by eating 74 boxes of Fruity Pebbles was bound to show up any day now :)

Well Hilary and Brian, I will dispense with prolonging any longer! We are adding a couple more later tonight, cuz we just HAD to give you a few more because you guys are so awesome! But here are a few for you to enjoy! (We are mailing ALL of them out to you first thing Monday morning) While it may not be a secret decoder ring, X-ray glasses, or a beach ball with Tucan Sam on it; we do hope you will enjoy them just as much :)

P.S. Erin and I are so excited to shoot your wedding! If these are any indication, I think we are going to have a rockin' good time. Enjoy!

**EDIT** Here are a few more pictures for you guys!! These are so precious, we love them all! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend :)

King Gillette Ranch: Allyson and Matt's Engagement

2009-04-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear when I heard how Matt proposed to Allyson. There was one part in particular, however, that has still left me grinning and cramping my cheeks. Moments before Matt popped the question, he was hugging his sweetheart and holding her close. In his mind, and how he tells it, he was freaking out! He was worried she felt the square box in his pocket, worried she would figure out what was happening, worried that SOMETHING might go wrong!

Allyson, however, had a much different point of view :) Seeing as she is almost 12 inches shorter than Matt, her story is told from a lower standpoint. Moments before Matt proposed, he was holding his true love close just listening to the silence. With her head pressed tightly against his chest, she could hear Matt's heart beating. Rather, it was RACING with anticipation!! While they had walked up a little bit of hill, she couldn't figure out what had gotten Matt so worked up! haha. Thankfully, her curiosity was replaced with elation as just seconds later Matt presented her with a little blue box from Tiffany's and asked her to be his wife :)

We had such a great time with these two as we hiked all around the King Gillette Ranch, soaking in the sights, the beauty, and capturing Matt and Allyson's love. We can't wait to shoot their wedding in August!

Matt and Allyson, you guys are so great! Thank you so much for giving us the privilege of documenting your wedding. May you continually have an ear turned towards one another's hearts, both now and always.

Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego: Renee and Kevin Part II

2009-04-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

Finally! We are able to bring you Round 2 of our Gala in the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego! (And my Gala I mean Renee and Kevin's wedding...obviously!) This is up just in time to welcome these two love birds back from their honeymoon in St. Lucia! Congratulations again Kev and Renee, you guys are so awesome! Please enjoy, and you stay classy down there in San Diego :)

A big thank you again to the wonderful, the stylish, and the pensive (see photo) Maria Longhi for inviting Erin and I along to shoot with her! You'll see model Maria makes a guest appearance in the photos in this post. There was this red painting in the lobby that we loved and I had to snap a shot to put in my "Blackmail" folder!

Make it a great end of the week; you are loved!

Downtown Anaheim: Janee and Omar's Engagment!

2009-04-23T17:46:00.001-07:00

For those of you living in Southern California, you are very well aware of the July-esque type weather we've been having this past week. As temperatures soared past triple digits this weekend, many people flocked to the beaches, pools, and local air conditioning vents. We however, ventured out into the blistering heat of the afternoon (97 degrees at 4pm) and had a great time!

Janee and Omar were such good sports. Despite the fact that you could boil an egg on the sidewalk, this awesome duo was even more sizzling hot! Erin and I can't wait to shoot their wedding in a couple months :)

In the meantime, here are a few of our favorites from the afternoon!

Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego: Renee and Kevin

2009-04-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a whopping 12 days or so since our last post, and for that there is no excuse! (except the following, which are totally legit) Gavin Wade Photographers has been busy busy busy. Between juggling 4 other jobs between the two of us....yes I said four...we've been going at a million miles an hour. We've loved every minute of it! Although if I go too long without blogging, I start getting hate mail, evil looks, and even worse than that....the puppy-dog look! But enough about Erin! ( <3 you babe) .But you guys out there know what I mean. THE LOOK. I can't help but not rush to my laptop :)

However, we simply cannot wait to share with you Renee and Kevin's wedding from this past weekend down in San Diego! The ever-fabulous Maria Longhi invited both Erin and I to join her for the day; Erin was with Renee and the ladies while I was with Kevin and the boys! (our SOP for all of our own weddings as well!). As always, we came away having connected so much with our bride and groom; they were so much fun and just good people! Kevin works for Taylor Made and designs those awesome huge-normous drivers you see on the PGA. And Kev, you gotta call me when you make a driver that can get me 300 yards off the tee and cure my wicked slice!! (I believe in miracles)

Both Renee and Kevin got ready at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter hotel before hopping on the "party bus" and heading over to the church; a beautiful Catholic church which was downtown! We have so many images we want to share that we've decided to split this up into two posts so as not to overload everyone during the middle of the week! And since those puppy-dog eyes still have me intoxicated I can't help but brag about my girl and show you some of the great shots she took! I'll get mine up before the week is out. No worries, we'll get some ceremony and reception shots up soon!

So without further adieu, enjoy! Make it a great end of the week! Love life, love what you do, and have a blast :)

Marina Village in San Diego: Carissa and Jackie

2009-04-12T22:10:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone and Happy Monday!

It is I...Gavin. I've hence returned from my brief blogging sabbatical after a wonderfully relaxing Easter weekend with Erin and my family. Earlier today, Erin and I were sitting in the same stadium we once sat a year ago, then brand new in our relationship with only the sky to limit our possibilities and adventures. Never in our wildest dreams would we have imagined to be here today doing what we love and working with such amazing couples; couples who never cease to inspire and further intensify our passion for photography!

It sometimes takes landmark moments in life to truly make you pause and take stock of all that has happened doesn't it? Have you ever gotten that feeling before? It's like going back and visiting your old middle school as an adult. You find yourself standing in the same place you once stood decades before and within seconds, all of the time and living you've experienced since then, just flashes in front of you. We can't help but stand there (in a stupor, sometimes) and evaluate how life has been since then.

Today was such a day for Erin and I. Only this time once the flashback had finished, we were left with nothing but smiles on our faces and a prayer of thanksgiving on our lips. Thankful for this day and what it means in the lives of Christians around the world, and thankful for the place that we are in with one another and what we've chosen to do with our lives.

I couldn't help but be reminded of this last weekend. While Erin was shooting at the Ponte Family Winery last Saturday, I was on the coast in beautiful San Diego for Carissa and Jackie's wedding! And wow, what a couple they were. Their story is truly inspiring as they had overcome so much to just arrive and what was such a gorgeous and Spirit-filled day. I was hanging with Jackie (i.e. Jack Jr) and the guys most of the day and we connected right away. Jackie is such an awesome and laid back guy; we connected right away and bonded over the fact that his and Carissa's son was named Gavin also! We had such a great time and come the end of the night, I was so bummed to leave!

I had the pleasure of shooting with Maria Longhi, a wonderful and outgoing photographer who I met at WPPI this year through Mike and Julie Colon. She was kind enough to invite me to join her on this day and gave me full creative liberties to follow the guys around, get some details, and capture the day. She was truly a joy to work with and Erin and I look forward to shooting with her this upcoming weekend!

Carissa and Jackie both got ready at the Dana Inn in Mission Bay and were married and danced the night away at the Marina Village just across the street! It was so hard to narrow down what images I wanted to post tonight, but I hope that you will enjoy! May God bless you Carissa, Jackie, and Gavster :)

Ponte Family Estate and Winery: Megan and Jason

2009-04-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

Helllloooo Everyone!! Ms. Erin here :)

Normally blogging is Gavin's thing because he loves it so much. But tonight I had to rip the keyboard out of his hands, give him the TV remote, and tell you all about the wedding I shot this weekend with Jeremy Lucero out at the Ponte Family Estate & Winery in Temecula.

It was such a great time! You see, Erin likes wine, and Erin likes shooting weddings. So this day was just too good to be true!

I loved the bride, Megan. She was so cute and such a goof ball; we definitely clicked and had a great time! Jason, with his super cool hair-do, was such a sweetheart. I was blown away by how calm and collected he was the entire day. You could tell there was no shred of doubt in his mind; he KNEW that Megan was it!

Before I go, I thought it was a cool little fun fact about Meg and Jason...their first date was on 04/04/06, he proposed on 04/04/08, and they were married on 04/04/09! How crazy is that?!

They met in college actually. Welllll, to be more specific they met in the college parking lot! It was raining and she offered him her umbrella...and the rest they say, is history! I was blessed to have the opportunity to capture their historic day on what was a gorgeous afternoon.

I'll let Gavin get off the couch now and return him to normal blogging duties....for now ;)

The Kyoto Grand Hotel: Sarah and Hanan Part 2

2009-04-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!

As promised, here is part two of Sarah and Hanan's wedding in downtown Los Angeles at the Kyoto Grand Hotel. As you can see from these next few pictures, it truly was just a gorgeous day to be married. :)

To save you some time from scrolling down to the last post, here are all the fabulous vendors who helped make this day so special. And let's be honest, we've all been to weddings that have just been utter chaos. Then, and only then, can you recognize in a heartbeat the HUGE difference it makes by having an awesome team like these people!

Once again, I gotta give some major blog love to Henry Chen for the invite to this killer wedding!

Wedding coordinator: Type A Planning

Make-up artist: Beauty By Solana

Hair stylist: True Beauty Pro

MC/DJ: Skye Michaels Orchestras

Florist: FlorUnique

Assistant: Jen Berry Photography

The Kyoto Grand Hotel: Sarah and Hanan...Part One

2009-04-02T00:24:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I had the distinct pleasure of shooting with my friend and colleague, the one and only, Henry Chen! Close by his side and being totally awesome throughout the day was Jen Berry. Thank you Jen for all your help!

Our day started off in rainy downtown Los Angeles at the Kyoto Grand Hotel. Henry had been doing his rain dance all morning in the hopes that the ceremony would not be driven inside due to the weather! Either way though, Betty from Type A Planning had it figured out with a Plan "B' all ready to spring into action should mother nature get nasty. However, Henry's dancing must have paid off because the skies parted and we were blessed with an absolutely gorgeous afternoon with blue skies and not even a drop of rain!

The day could not have gone more smoothly. Both Sarah and Hanan were so much fun!! I had a blast hanging with the guys all morning and come ceremony time, we were ready to rock and roll!

As an observer watching their story unfold, I was in awe of the constant support, love, and energy Sarah and Hanan had around them throughout the entire day! Rain could have poured, flowers could have wilted, cakes could have fallen and yet something tells me that nothing would have been different about this day for anyone involved. This wasn't a party, this was a blessed union between two people who simply couldn't wait to commit their lives to one another, NO MATTER WHAT! From the moment he saw her, Hanan committed himself to never being without Sarah; I knew this day would be no different :)

I'll always remember this day for the culture, the celebration, the love, and last but not least...the dancing! Thank you to Henry for the invite!

I hope you enjoy! And as always, blog love is awesome, it keeps me postin' more!!

Wedding coordinator: Type A Planning

Make-up artist: Beauty By Solana

Hair stylist: True Beauty Pro

MC/DJ: Skye Michaels Orchestras

Florist: FlorUnique

Assistant: Jen Berry Photography

More to come soon!

Baby Portrait: Payton James

2009-03-31T21:42:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! It’s Erin :)

Last week I had my first opportunity to do a baby shoot, located in Moorpark. Four weeks ago my good friend Daniele Sustin had a beautiful baby boy, and was dying to have some pictures taken. I was thrilled to have this experience, and just couldn’t wait to get started. The shoot took a couple hours to do, because of the baby’s schedule, but Daniele was a great help by keeping him awake by bouncing him and singing to him. I really enjoyed spending time with Daniele and her new baby boy and catching up with her.
Here are some shots I got while Payton was awake. I even got one picture when he was yawning, getting ready to go back to sleep. :) Enjoy! :)

Anaheim Hills Golf Course: Chau and Mohammed

2009-03-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone!

Last weekend I had the privilege of shooting with Jeremy Lucero and together we captured Chau and Mohammed's wedding out in the hills of Anaheim at the Anaheim Hills Golf Course (which quickly reminded me of how much I "love" the 91 freeway...I digress).

You don't need to be the head cashier at Walmart to believe me when I tell you that these two come from drastically different cultures; both steeped in tradition that goes back for thousands of years! (I shop at Walmart...nothing but love for the blue light special!)

The ceremony earlier in the day was a Chinese tea ceremony, and the actual wedding ceremony was a traditional Muslim ritual, with most of it being read in Farsi and translated into English by the officiant. I must say, it was one of the most culturally enriched ceremonies I've ever been to! Each sentence, each gesture, and each item on the wedding table had a purpose and a meaning! It was such a pleasure to capture each of these meaningful moments of a couple that loves one another more deeply than even the most decadent of ceremonies could every convey. :)

Here are a few of the faves from the day! Make it a great week!

The one up on the left is probably one of my favorite images that I've ever taken! This one has Chau written all over it :)

On Your Mark....Get Set.....

2009-03-26T00:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!!

So I hope that you're ready. Because this is the beginning of a massive blogging spree by us here at GWP (Gavin Wade Photographers, keep up peeps!), so make sure to add us to your RSS feed because we are going to be serving about 20 different kinds of awesome coming up here as we embark upon "WEDDING SEASON 09'." Or as we like to call it...."HOLY MOTHER HERE IT COMES!!!...09' "

With cameras in our hands pretty much every weekend between now and September, you can bet-your-sweet-bippy that there will be things on here that we'd love for you to check out and leave you thoughts on (both good and bad should you feel it warranted, we can take it).

But before the bombardment of our meager attempts at photography, I wanted to warm you up a little and get you in the mood for that which is to come! Our friend and fellow photographer, Aaron Dieppa, is on a mission. And that mission is to post a video blog every day for one year. I visit his blog every day, and loving each video and interview more than the previous; you've gotta check him out!

If you were to go visit his blog, you'd see a video he posted from a shoot we all did back in Vegas during WPPI with Victor Sizemore. It's such a fun and well made behind the scenes look at a "for real" shoot. Erin and I are in it (Oscar Buzz?), but mainly we just love the video and want you to love it too :)

Enjoy! And if you aren't already, you can stay in on the action of GWP by following us on Twitter and Facebook. You can stalk us, and no one will know. I promise.

P.S. To see our images from this shoot CLICK HERE
P.P.S. This blog was brought to you by Jelly Belly, the unofficial sponsor of high energy late night blogging!

[b]ecker: Party of 5

2009-03-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Erin and I attended [b]ecker's Party of 5 Workshop in beautiful Mission Viejo. The day was a whirlwind of information as Becker covered everything from client meetings and workflow, to branding and image. There were only 5 of us (hence the name) so everyone was able to pick Becker's brain and get 1 on 1 advice specifically for their own business. We had such a great time meeting new friends and talking shop over huge plates of food that night at Claim Jumper! Towards the end of the day before dinner, we headed out for a little shoot in the park! The models were a couple of crazy kids in love, just having a fun time with friends :) Here are a few shots of them, I hope you enjoy! To see more images of a really hot girl and some dude click here to go to Becker's blog!

Shooting with Scarlett in Vegas! :)

2009-02-28T18:54:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! It's Erin!
While Gavin and I were in Vegas, I had the privilege of shooting with one of my friends Scarlett Lillian (who I met at Mike Colon's workshop in Hawaii) . She led a workshop on lighting and I had a blast getting to know other photographers and hanging out with Scarlett again.

Check out her amazing website! She's so talented! :)

Here are some of the shots from our night shoot at the MGM! :)

WPPI 2009': Vegas Baby!

2009-02-24T20:50:00.000-08:00

Call me a wimp...call me a sissy...call me whatever you want...but I am just NOW finally recovered from our WPPI trip! We got back exactly a week ago and finally I can feel my "sleep-o-meter" no longer on "E" but now closer to "FULL."

Before our trip began, we purchased a Flip MinoHD. It is a super compact HD video recorder that plugs directly into your computer's USB port. It already has the software built into the camera so all you have to do is plug it in and within minutes your videos can be up on YouTube, Vimeo, or anywhere else you want!

We took our customized Flip on the road with us to this years WPPI convention and recorded just a few of our favorite moments. I'm still trying to get the hang of it when it comes to getting some decent shots to splice together into a movie, but hopefully this will give you all an idea of why exactly it's taken a week for us to get back to normal (Erin's edit aimed in my direction: "As normal as can be hoped for at least")

....thank you for clearing that up, Erin.

So without further adieu, our first video blog! Much more to come for your viewing pleasure :)

Gavin Wade Photographers: WPPI 2009 from Gavin Wade on Vimeo.

The Desert Rose: Las Vegas

2009-02-23T00:42:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

Yes, we are in fact still alive after our long trip out to Las Vegas for the 2009 WPPI Convention. We had SO much fun hanging out with old friends, making wonderful new friends, and hitting up some of the best parties we've ever been to on the strip! To give you an idea, we were up from around 9am until 4am each and every day, going non-stop from one thing to the next! It's taken us all of this past week to even begin to catch up on the toll Vegas has taken (and we love it by the way, haha).

Being surrounded by over 10,000 photographers this past week, it definitely got our itchy trigger fingers looking for opportunities to shoot with some of the amazing talent represented at the convention. While walking the trade room floor Erin and I met up with Victor Sizemore, an amazing local OC photographer (who just so happens to attend the church we do). Anyways, we ran into him and he mentioned a shoot he was organizing about 45 minutes outside of Vegas and was kind enough to invite us along! We couldn't wait!

After a car ride we will not soon forget with Ted, Kortnee Kate, Aaron Dieppa, and Barb, we arrived at our location in the middle of NOWHERE. Already our creative juices were practically coming out of our ears and despite the bitter wind and cold, we jumped out and put those trigger fingers to work!

Liz, our gorgeous model (and former Miss Kentucky) was such a good sport posing for all of us and not even complaining once that it was 40 degrees; she could barely feel her fingers! Thanks Liz!

More to come (including our first video blog) on our adventures in Vegas. But for now we hope you'll enjoy our latest!

My Erin, My Life, My Rock

2009-02-13T02:03:00.000-08:00

So if you haven't figured it out yet, I (Gavin) am a "late night blogger." I'm the one who has something waiting for you when you check your RSS reader first thing in the morning. Most people start reaching for their Starbucks to kick start their creative juices, I on the other hand am hitting the snooze button!

On the eve of what is going to be a landmark wedding season, I wanted to throw out some blog love...to MY love!

I'll be the first to admit it, I would not be doing photography if it wasn't for Erin. I remember sitting down together, praying together, and deciding to follow our passion...together. I feel so honored to show up to each and every shoot with her, knowing that we've got each other's back and knowing that she will deliver what she always does....amazing photography! She is truly the life-blood behind our day-to-day, and I thank God every morning for the amazing woman He has placed in my life.

It may be my name that we chose to put on the website, but this is a partnership...and I have the world's best partner! (true story)

We are in this together, and we wouldn't have it any other way :)

This weekend Erin and I are heading out to Las Vegas for our first WPPI Convention and look forward to meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones. I'm so honored to have Erin as we step out boldly into this season of our lives, anxious to see what is on the horizon and beyond.

Erin has no clue that I'm posting this, and she'll probably kill me for posting a few of the following pictures. But I think she's beyond gorgeous and I search for any opportunity to show off my love!

Thanks to our good friend and amazing photographer Henry Chen of Henry Chen Photography for this fun shot!

This picture is from our very first date! It lasted about 13 hours and consisted of a broken down car, a sunset at the beach, and movie by a warm fire! A day I won't soon forget!

**UPDATE**
For our fellow photography friends, we can't wait to see you over the next few days! I hope that you'll follow us on Twitter so we can stay in touch and meet up!

For all of our past and future brides, know that your photographers are making conscious and daily efforts to surround ourselves with others that push us to be the best at what we do! So if we are a couple days behind in answering emails, please know that we will get in touch with you ASAP!

Blake: A Rising Star

2009-02-03T00:37:00.000-08:00

Today I had a great time at the tracks with Blake; a model and aspiring actor who needed some rockin' headshots for his portfolio. We wanted to be a little edgy and outside the norm for headshots, but still wanted capture who Blake was as a person! Thanks again Blake for making my job so easy, you can definitely tell you've been in front of the camera before! Also, thank you to my friend Alondra for introducing us; you're awesome!

Here are just a handful of images from our shoot today. Best of luck Blake!

Schintee’s family portraits in Thousand Oaks

2009-02-01T00:24:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day in the last day of January to capture the emotions and love of the Schintee family. Gina Marie (one of the daughters) is one of my closest friends. Her mother has never had the experience of good family portraits done, so Gina Marie thought of me and I was so excited to get the privilege of spending the whole day with them. The girls had a great time laughing and dancing in front of the camera. I could also see in their parent’s eyes their pure joy and love for each other. After the shoot they were so nice to take me to dinner. This was definitely a memorable day!

Here’s some of the moments I captured. :)

Gavin was out of town this weekend for a bachelor party and he brought his camera with him! Stay tuned for his Vegas pictures with the boys. It’s going to be great! :)