Welcome to Southern California Wedding Photography Blog.
One of my favorite Temecula Winery spots to capture wedding photography is at Ponte Vineyards. What makes this winery especially nice is the easy access to the vineyards for taking photos. As a photographer, it’s especially nice as it cuts down on the amount of time required for photography after the ceremony. For brides and grooms, it’s nice since they don’t have to travel far or up and down hills to access the vineyards for the wedding day photos. (See image for example.)
In addition, Ponte Winery typically positions their ceremony toward the east. As a California Photographer, I have found the Temecula wineries that face their wedding ceremonies toward the east, the photographers fight less against the sunlight as it’s behind them. The only downside is when the wedding party walks down the aisle, the photographer is facing into the sun if the wedding is toward sunset time.
For more images, info and directions to Ponte Winery, visit my photography site.
Some final tips for your winter Weddings in Southern California
Some final tips and advice for your winter wedding to wrap up this 4 part series.
While Southern California may not be subjected to blizzard like conditions or freezing temperatures, keep in mind that it may get cool for your guests. With many locations offering outdoor facilities for your wedding ceremony, here are a few suggestions for keeping warm and safe at your wedding:
- Provide your guests with warm beverages prior to the ceremony such as hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate. It helps them stay warm.
- If your facility offers portable heaters, make sure you know the cost to rent them and if they can be made available for your event should you require them.
- If your wedding and reception are outdoors and you discover it’s suppose to rain (or snow) on your wedding day, make sure you check to see if your facility rents or offers tents. If not, have ready the number of a few event tent suppliers in case you have to make that call early in the day.
- If it has rained the night before or in the morning prior to your wedding and you’ll be walking on grass or a slippery surface, make sure you check it out and walk it a few times to insure you won’t slip and fall.
- For your veil, carry small weights to attach to the end of them in the event of winds, especially the Santa Ana winds. Small weights can be fishing weights. Be sure to daub a little white paint or white nail polish on them so that they blend in with the veil.
In the end, make sure you have an emergency plan for sever winter weather. If you plan right, you will be sure to have a memorable winter wedding.
Capturing engagement photos in Los Angeles is almost like fishing in a well stocked lake, it’s almost effortless. There are so many spots to take engagement photos in the city center and surrounding areas. This weeks engagement photography location of the week takes us to downtown Los Angeles. The main photo in this post was taken atop an apartment complex off of Figeuroa Street in Downtown LA.. Fortunately, the couple lived in the complex and we didn’t ask permission to go on top. The only thing I wished I had was a flash light as I was looking around my photo gadget bag for my lenses. In other words, if you’re going to take photos atop of any building, you should take a long a flashlight. I found many opportunities to capture this couple in and around the building.
Engagement Photography in Los Angeles
In the black and white photo, I used the stairwell in the building to create an “after hours” mood where the couple rendezvoused in the stairwell for a private moment. I like to tell stories when it comes to engagement photography. I think the couples get more out of it, at least more than just a nice photo of them in a park somewhere.
I have a very short list of suggested spots to take your engagement photography. I have provided a link to the sites I could find online. Some of the pages have photos to give you an idea of what the place looks like so you can plan your shoot. In addition, you can get the addresses so you can get driving directions.
L.A. area Engagement Photography Locations:
- The Music Center (link is to the directions page)
- Anywhere in downtwon L.A. where there are building backgrounds
- In front of city hall on Spring Street
- The Central Library on 5th Street(very nice to grab a few images there)
- China Town (my personal favorite)
- Union station (link is to wikipedia and info about Unison Station with some photos)
- Olivera Street (when it’s crowded)
- In front of the Coliseum
- USC (My alma mater – many great spots on the campus – try Mudd Hall of Philosophy)
