I don’t see very many cake toppers any more, but how can you resist something as fun as this?! I have a feeling that these little figurines are very telling of the story Toni and Kevin share, and what a beautiful couple these two are. It was after meeting up with Toni and Kevin about a week before their wedding that I really felt there was something special connecting them to one another. They are such a great team and I got the sense that above all else, they have a true friendship brimming with laughter and happy moments. Here are a few of my favorite images from their wedding:
Multiple reflections add drama to a getting ready photo.
This is probably the most serious expression I was able to capture from Toni all night long. After this she was all smiles and laughter.
There are a couple reasons why I love this photo. The sun is setting behind the hill and I wanted use that backdrop for the image. I asked Toni’s sister (who was holding her train because the ground was pretty soggy) to crouch behind her. This sent Toni into a fit of giggles and the only real expressions I got were of her laughing. In this particular photo I like how you can see her sister in the background, laughing as well, making the crouching a much more difficult task.
The second reason why I love this photo is because of where it was taken. Toni and Kevin were married at the Unity Center in Novato, which is where I used to live. Though it took a long time for that town to grow on me, the last couple years we lived there, it really felt like home. So, when I look at this photo and see the sun setting behind this little bit of open space I am transported back to all the happy memories I have of Novato. I will most likely never live in Novato again but it is nice to have images like this that remind me of how the sun used to stream through the trees and glow behind the hills.
Toni’s laughter is contagious. I am sure I was smiling right along with her while we took this photo.
I never really include family photos in my Blog posts, but wanted to point something out in the next image. It really is amazing how telling a photo can be. It’s easy enough to compose a nice portrait with a family of four, but when I can draw out their personalities and capture some real emotion, that’s when I get excited. I must have said something funny, or else they were sharing a joke between themselves, but you can see how dynamic the photo appears with everyone reacting to what was said. Even more interesting, is you can see how both brothers (Kevin standing next to Mom) react to a different degree but also very closely mimic their Mom and Dad. Kevin and his Dad have the same countenance, while Mom and Brother laugh the same way. I think it’s pretty cool to document that kind of family dynamic.
It always makes me happy to make an image like this for my clients. Smiling Toni looking down the aisle, while Dad watches her.
I love that they are really seeing at each other.
Another fun moment at this wedding was when, asked for the rings, Toni’s sister had to declare to everyone that she had forgotten them. Luckily, Kevin’s mom knew right where they were in the bridal room and quickly made sure they made it to the ceremony. At least there was laughter instead of mortified looks.
This was taken right after the first kiss. I just love the penetrating look Kevin is giving a very beaming Toni.
Toni and Kevin are just so happy together.
Winter weddings have definitely posed a challenge for me. I was getting spoiled with the California sunshine and now that I have had to conduct portraits after the sun has gone down, it has certainly forced me to work and be creative under completely different conditions. But like my previous posts, I can’t say enough about the backdrops I purchased late last year. They are a simple, but chic, way to accomplish these type of photos once the sun has set. Not too mention, I tend to get a lot more goofy photos like this one, which I just love.
These next images are a few of my favorites of Toni and Kevin.
Like I mentioned in my previous post, it is sometimes the dancing images I capture after the first dance that turn out the best.
Always love a truly candid moment.
Kevin was getting a bit crazy at this point!
A few of the guests had some fun with the Backdrop and Lights.
It’s always exciting to get this type of moody silhouette.
Congratulations Toni & Kevin!
