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Friday, January 1, 2016

The Year That Was And The Year Ahead

On this first day of 2016, and the first entry of Friday Photography Blog for this year, I would like to remember all the love from 2015... All the loving unions and wonderful couples.

I look forward to document more weddings this year and speaking of which, if you are looking for a photographer, we do have some great promotions going on, please either contact us at kerem@keremhanciphotography.com or call us at 323.807.5984 for more information.



Here are some of our favorite shots from last year's blogs.

This was at Westlake Village Inn for Brittany and Graydon's wedding.
The Bridal Suite at Westlake Village Inn has a wonderful fire place and when I saw the reflection from the mirror across the room, I had to put the wedding gown and the shoes there.

The Bridal Suite at Westlake Village Inn has a wonderful fire place and when I saw the reflection from the mirror across the room, I had to put the wedding gown and the shoes there.
The Dress & Shoes In The Mirror

It is always extremely rewarding to work with a bunch of fun people who are game to act silly on their wedding day.  Brittany and Graydon were in for the fun along with their wedding party in the board room of Westlake Village Inn.

It is always extremely rewarding to work with a bunch of fun people who are game to act silly on their wedding day.  Brittany and Graydon were in for the fun along with their wedding party in the board room of Westlake Village Inn.
Wedding Party in the Westlake Village Inn Board Room

Once they were ready, the couple and the wedding party headed out to the family ranch where they had a wonderful reception. As you can see, they couldn't really take their eyes from each other. For Brittany and Graydon's Wedding blog entry, you can click here.

Once they were ready, the couple and the wedding party headed out to the family ranch where they had a wonderful reception. As you can see, they couldn't really take their eyes from each other.
The First Dance at The Family Ranch

Cherie and Todd's wedding was more intimate and low key.  She got ready at their apartment by the beach and Todd was at his hotel room across the street.

Here is Cherie, washed in the bright light coming in from the window where she posed for this lucky
photographer.


Here is Cherie, washed in the bright light coming in from the window where she posed for this lucky photographer.
Beautiful Bride In Bright Day Light

One of the most wonderful moments I was able to photograph was this amazing butterfly release during their ceremony. Totally magical.

One of the most wonderful moments I was able to photograph was this amazing butterfly release during their ceremony. Totally magical.
The Butterfly Release during the Wedding Ceremony

Here is the couple taking a breather before their reception at the American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291.  Here are some more photographs from this lovely day!

Here is the couple taking a breather before their reception at the American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291.
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

One of my favorite shots of a groom was taken by my wife Jennifer. Here is Ben, excited, maybe a bit nervous, waiting for the arrival of the car that would take him to the church for the ceremony that will wed him to Maria.

One of my favorite shots of a groom was taken by my wife Jennifer. Here is Ben, excited, maybe a bit nervous, waiting for the arrival of the car that would take him to the church for the ceremony.
Anticipation of The Moment To Arrive

 Happy faces of Maria and Ben's loving friends following a wonderful ceremony.  Here is the blog entry for Maria & Ben's Wedding.

Happy faces of Maria and Ben's loving friends following a wonderful ceremony
The Wedding Party Following The Ceremony

Wedding details are also important to document!
Wedding details are also important to document!
A Ring and A Pair of Shoes

Laura & Jon, being Starbucks managers, had no problem organizing their wedding in the morning. The ceremony was at 9am and the brunch was served after that!

California Center for the Arts in Escondido was a wonderful location to shoot a wedding at. Here is an artful kiss of the bride by the groom.

California Center for the Arts in Escondido was a wonderful location to shoot a wedding at.
An Artful Kiss

A rack focus in filmmaking and television production is the practice of changing the focus of the lens during a shot. The term can refer to small or large changes of focus. If the focus is shallow, then the technique becomes more noticeable. I love to use a shallow depth of field and apply this to still photography. Here are two examples...

Rack focus is a cinematography term and I love to do it in still photography. Here is a couple of samples.
The Bouquet And The Ring

The groom does not need a jacket.
Chic with a Smart Watch
As I have mentioned, these two are Starbucks managers.  Down the street from the California Center for the Arts, there is a Starbucks where my wife and I stopped to get coffee in the morning. I talked to the supervisor and asked if it would be possible to shoot in there after the wedding.  The store partners were game and when I mentioned this to Laura and Jon, they were super excited. So, following the ceremony and the brunch, I stole the couple from their dancing for a few minutes and we walked down to that Starbucks store where they actually made some drinks for customers.  It was very cute.  You can see more here.

Two Starbucks managers making coffee after the ceremony.

Depending on our clients' needs and desires, we offer coverage with one, two or three photographers and videographers.  The following photographs are from the intimate wedding of Misty and Lucas that Jennifer shot solo.

Here is Misty sitting on a gorgeous chair by the window.
Misty sitting on a gorgeous chair by the window.
A Beautifully Back-lit Portrait of the Beautiful Bride

A classic wedding photograph with the bride by the french door.
The Moment Before She Walks the Aisle
Misty and Lucas stepping out for some cool air during the reception
The Couple on a Lovely Southern Cali Night

We come across many beautiful wedding rings, some modern, some antiques but all unique.  And when we do, we like to get creative and give the clients a diversity of shots.  Here is my favorite from Misty and Lucas' wedding.  Click here to see more photos.


We love to get creative for all the unique wedding rings we come across.
Wedding Rings on a Reflective Surface
One of my favorite engagement shoots happened in Palos Verdes with Alyse and Jeffrey. I love to shoot contre-jour and get creative with the concept when the couple is willing to participate.  I told them to bring some props, and they pretended they were going picnicking on the beach and the results were absolutely breath-taking.

Contre-Jour is a photographic technique and it means against daylight.  The photographer can choose between an over exposure allowing the subject to be visible or expose for the background leaving the subject as a silhouette.
A Contre-Jour Shot of a Couple on The Beach
As if I was not there... I love this shot!

This is one of my favorite shots... The couple is so immersed into each other, I am confident that in this very moment I snapped this shot, they have momentarily forgotten I was there.
Completely Lost in Eachother's Soul
People ask me if I love my job sometimes.  Look at the happiness in their eyes.  Capturing the love makes me happy. You can check out more photos from Alyse and Jeffrey's engagement session while waiting for their wedding blog due next year.

Photographing people in love makes me happy!
A Lovely Happy Couple
I shot a few weddings at Villa Del Sol D'Oro in Sierra Madre.  It is a wonderful venue, one-quarter replica of Villa Collazzi located on the outskirts of Florence, Italy.  I love this venue, the coordinator is absolutely fantastic and it is a breeze to shoot in there.  Enter Nicole and Jeff. I had the pleasure to shoot this couple's engagement session and Nicole's family portraits.  So, when I was shooting the wedding, I knew most of the family and it was a delight to be among them again.

Jeff is ready for the ceremony at The Villa Del Sol D'Oro in Sierra Madre
The Groom's Portrait
I thought this set of jewelry and the rings look good on the plinth of this column, what do you think?

Here is another unique set of jewelry we got creative with.
Antique Jewelry with the Wedding Rings
The following two pictures were taken in the library of the Villa and I could spend a full day shooting in there.

Villa Del Sol D'Oro's library is very photogenic! So photographing the beautiful bride in there was a blast.
The Bride in The Villa's Library

Villa Del Sol D'Oro's library at night, with candle lights.
The Couple's Portrait in the Villa's Library
The bride and her bridesmaids dancing at the reception.

The Villa's unique setting has an indoor dance floor.
The Bride and Her Bridesmaids on the Dance Floor
Every wedding is different and every couple has different needs and wishes.  Some, like Nicole and Jeff, ask for an exit shot. If you would like to see more pictures from Nicole and Jeff's wedding, please click here.
Nicole and Jeff walking to the limo after their wedding reception under a rose petal shower.
Exit Shot Under A Rose Petal Shower
I didn't pay attention to the fact that I had blogs about 3 grooms named Jeffrey last year.  Here is the third one... Shiney and Jeffrey.

Shiney and her bridesmaids before getting in their dresses.
Ladies in Red and Pink
And here is the third Jeff this year, with his (as this picture was taken still) fiancée Shiney.

Jeffrey could be a secret agent and Shiney's smile is the proof of her love for her husband-to-be.
Secret Agent Man and His Wife
This colorful wedding was at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Redondo Beach and So Smitten Special Events' Marni and Megan were a delight to work with!

Some details of the colorful setup.
A Colorful Wedding At Crown Plaza Hotel, Redondo Beach
The Grand Entrance is very common in today's weddings, although there are couples opting out of it.  Basically the DJ/MC would announce the wedding party and the couple... Here is Shiney and Jeffrey making their grand entrance. Here are more photos from this wedding.

Grand Entrance is a tradition in today's weddings.
Grand Entrance of The Newly Wed Couple

It is not uncommon for the couples to choose a specific location other than the ceremony and/or reception venues for formal portraits.  Karla & Sergio chose Glendale Brand Library for theirs.

Some couples choose a specific location just for the formal portraits.
The Wedding Party At Brand Library in Glendale, CA
I love it when the wedding involves unusual or out of the ordinary "props".  Here's Karla & Segio in front of the old convertible Mercedes-Benz that was rented.

Interesting and Out of The Ordinary "Props" Would Rock Any Wedding Shoot
Interesting and Out of The Ordinary "Props" Would Rock Any Wedding Shoot
Here are two very different approaches to shooting very similar wedding bands.

A tightly composed shot of the wedding rings.
A Tightly Composed Shot of the Wedding Bands on Reflective Surface

Here is another approach to wedding ring shots: extreme close up with a very narrow depth of field.
Extreme Close-Up of the Wedding Bands with a Macro Lens
As a wedding photographer, one has to deal with small spaces, many reflective areas where you or your flash might show, guests who might be already in the venue, preventing you from taking the liberty to move things around etc.  None of it can be an excuse.  As the professional you are there to create solutions.

No excuses, a professional wedding photographer has to get the shot.
The Wedding Gown and The Shoes
One of my favorite shots of Zoisa.

And here is the wedding party on the famous stairs of Verandas Beach House. For more pictures of Zoisa and Chad's wedding, please click here.

Zoisa and Chad with their wedding party.
Bridal Party on The Stairway of the Verandas Beach House
Tracey called me and told me that she was very disappointed in the services she got from someone else for her engagement photographs.  She explained why she wasn't happy with the results and I explained her the way I work and we clicked over the phone. When I met her and her fiancĂ© Dustin, I immediately got excited to shoot their wedding.  They are such down-to-earth, awesome and fun people and you can see more photos from their engagement and their wedding by clicking here.
Tracey and Dustin's Engagement Session
On Tracey's directions, I hung out with Dustin and the groomsmen and we had such a great  time together revisiting the highschool baseball field where Dustin and his brother played.  I told Dustin to stand by the rubber and asked him to go back to a game in his mind where he was pitching.  He was great following the direction!
Here is the groom contemplating at the rubber.
Dustin at The Rubber
Than we headed out to Downtown Fullerton and had beer and Jameson shots at Branagan's Irish Pub. It would be more than enough for us to be grateful to the owners' generosity to let us shoot in the bar, but they also offered the Jameson shots on the house.

The Boys Quenching Their Thirst
And the first kiss happened Tracey & Dustin style!

Dustin slightly dipping his bride Tracey for the "First Kiss".
The Kiss with a Dip
And a few portraits before the reception.

I love to leave the couple alone and just shoot around them candidly.
A Moment in Time

A classic wedding portrait at KHP
Love Sunny Side Up
The Portofino Hotel & Marina in Redondo Beach...  I absolutely love the lobby of this hotel.  And when I have a good looking couple like Jennifer and Puya, I was like a kid in a candy store.

Jennifer in front of the huge windows in the lobby of The Portofino Hotel & Marina
Sun Shines on Jennifer
Here is a back-lit photo of Jennifer beautiful wedding gown.

Another backlit photo, this time of the dress.
The Wedding Dress in The Lobby
And the couple.... Here are some more photos from this wedding.


You can see more photographs from Vanna and John's wedding by clicking here.
Some weddings are asking guests not to bring kids, I absolutely love the energy of weddings with kids though. Here is a very young flower girl getting some help from mommy.

When the flower girl is too young, mommy comes to help!
Young Flower Girl Gets Help From Mommy
While I make sure the couple gets a more traditional shot of themselves in front of this popular portrait spot of Glen Ivy Golf Club, I do indulge myself with what I love to do as well.

A popular portrait spot in the venue, and a different approach
Another Version of Shooting Contre-Jour
There is only love in this picture.

Love is palpable in this picture of the newlyweds' first dance.
First Dance

The Kiss Following The Cake Cutting

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