Amidst all the craziness of traveling and wrapping up an awesome 2010, I finally got the chance to post these images that place in the ISPWP Fall 2010 contest. Thank you for all of our clients who trusted us to do what we need to do to document their wedding and engagement!

Sami + Mike surreal ceremony at the Parker, Palm Springs

Nancy + Ed floating cake at the Pelican Hill, Newport Coast

Eddie Wakes singing at Monika + David reception at the Four Seasons, Las Vegas

Krystle + Ben engagement session in Central Park, New York

Kat getting ready before her elopement to Julian at the City Hall, San Francisco

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas Peeps!!!

Fresh blog post from Indonesia!  Another quarter, another set of images recognized by these two fine establishments: WPJA (Wedding PhotoJournalists Association) and ISPWP (International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers).

Here are some of them that made the cut:

From Samar + Ali’s Tuscany Wedding:
This is one of my favorite images that I took this year, simply because of all the elements in it that came together at the right time.  This is the first look time, and samar is coming down to meet Ali for the first time that day.  I suddenly saw that her families and friends started popping out their heads from the windows and that’s it, captured.

From Jen + Al’s Palo Alto Wedding:
A short moment of prayer right before the ceremony started.

From Melissa + Josh’ 2nd Part Wedding in Claremont, CA:
The Filipino tradition, Veil & Cord ceremony.

From Tina + Albert’s Palo Alto Wedding:
Albert’s dad hugging Tina during the ceremony.

Tina + Albert’s portrait at a local classic theatre.  One of the toughest framing I’ve ever done for a portrait, I think.

I love to see our work in print after working hard with stellar vendors!
Sami + Mike in The Knot Spring/Summer 2011 Issue


Venue: Parker Palm Springs
Coordination: Details Details
Flower Design: White Lilac
Wedding film: Elysium

the knot sami & mike by ray soemarsono

The next afternoon we all went to shoot the day-after session of Samar + Ali in the magnificent city of Firenze/Florence. Despite Ali’s swollen foot, he’s a trooper for walking around on uneven cobblestones all day and we took a short tour savoring the beautiful city. Starting our day in a coffee shop, we realized that the coffee in Italy just tasted so much better than their American counterparts. The Italians take their coffee seriously! Then we walked through Piazza della Signoria, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, and explored the small streets and back alleys before ending the night at Piazzale Michelangelo.


It was a truly memorable experience and we can’t wait to go back to Italy!

Part 2 of the wedding day – When we’re doing the vineyard portraits, Samar + Ali was up for anything. Jumping a fence, dragging that dress and veil across rocks, twigs, and crickets. All for the best possible pictures. We just love them! Typically with Persian wedding receptions the energy is palpable and this one is no different even though it’s less than 35 people! And the food was deeelicious!


Florence day-after session is next!


Venue: Villa Vistarenni, Gaiole in Chianti, Italy

The only group shot we ever posted! :-)