Apertura » Apertura

Krystle + Ben: Newport Coast, CA

Apertura — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:22:59 +0000

Nothing makes us happier than a beaming bride and groom. We feed off our clients’ energy and Krystle + Ben fueled us all day with their happy glow. Krystle looked amazing in her Vera Wang and the family bond is very palpable. We cried (ehm, a little) during the emotional father/daughter dance and danced along with the amazing band. As always, it was great working with Carolyn Chen again and it was truly an all-star team of vendors. Congrats again Krys + Ben!

Ceremony: Event Lawn at Pelican Hill
Reception: Mar Vista at Pelican Hill
Coordinator: Carolyn Chen
Florist: Nisie
Band: Impulse
Videographer: Elysium

Sandra + Bill: Engaged!

Apertura — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:26:21 +0000

We had the pleasure of shooting Sandra + Bill’s Engagement session with their favorite items in the world: their cars! They wanted a more edgy-look so we decided to go to a location in downtown Los Angeles that is a bit rustic and industrial. Here are some of our favorites:

Location: FarmLab, Los Angeles

Eye Candy!

Apertura — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:50:17 +0000

Apertura Signature Album Overload!! Hands-down, the best medium for our storytelling style. Our clients absolutely love theirs!!
Here’s recent lovely mix of wedding, portrait, engagement albums, and parent copies; both in luxurious leather and gorgeous Japanese fabric.

Jennifer + Ismael: The 2ON1 Workshop

Apertura — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:22:44 +0000

Another set from our 3rd 2ON1 Private Workshop live shoot!

The 2ON1 Private Workshop is designed to get the highest amount of learning catered to your needs based on your current photography level. It’s like two workshops in one! Learn from Ray + Erwin, an award-winning team of photographers that shoot with different views but focusing on effective story telling through capturing emotions. It will be a full-throttle 2-day workshop that is designed to get you thinking, not to tell you how to do things. No hype, no BS.

Want in? Please email us at info@aperturaphoto.com with “2ON1″ as the subject.

Nightingale + Johnny: The 2ON1 Workshop!

Apertura — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:09:35 +0000

Nightingale & Johnny drove all the way from Central California to volunteer for our 2nd 2ON1 Workshop. The day was focused on the use of single directional light and using low light situations to create good portraits. Here are some of our favorites:

Apertura in Rangefinder Magazine!

Apertura — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:26:56 +0000

Months ago, we were asked by Rangefinder magazine if we’d like to be featured in their upcoming wedding issue. We’ve been reading Rangefinder since we started this business, so of course we said yes! The issue is now out in conjunction with WPPI in Las Vegas and we couldn’t be more excited and honored to be part of it all. :)

If you’d like to read the article, please find the link here.

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ISPWP Contest

Apertura — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:29:48 +0000

We feel blessed that some of our images made it to the latest ISPWP (International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers) – Winter 2009!

2nd Place – Kids Will Be Kids (Shot by Ray)

2nd Place – Reception (Shot by Erwin)

10th Place – Bride and Groom Portrait (Shot by Ray)

13th Place – The Decisive Moment (Shot by Ray)

15th Place – Reception (Shot by Erwin)

Julie + Roozbeh: Maternity!

Apertura — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:20:05 +0000

We’ve been getting more and more requests for maternity shoots :)
This time, it is our dear friends and previous clients, Julie + Roozbeh! Although it rained pretty much the whole session, we managed to get some awesome shots around Santa Monica Pier areas. Here are some of our favorite images:

Nancy + Ed: Pelican Hill

Apertura — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:33:20 +0000

Nancy + Ed had a truly epic wedding to end our 2009 wedding season! We really felt like we connected like old friends since the meeting all the way through the afterparty. It’s a union between Korean, Mexican, and Chinese culture all in one giant celebration with the bridal party karaoke, hip-hop dance routine, and …..wait for it…… a floating cake! We had the pleasure of working with an all-star team of vendors and it was a great way to finish the year.

Venue: The Resort at Pelican Hill
Coordinator: Carolyn Chen, The Special Day
Floral Designer: Nisie, Enchanted Florist
Videography: Elysium

Published: The Knot

Apertura — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:14:55 +0000

First time featured in the Knot magazine. Congratulations Sara + Mani! :)

Introducing Vanessa!

Apertura — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:53:44 +0000

We are so excited to announce the addition of Vanessa to the Apertura team! She’s is an amazing photographer and even a better person. She’s been shooting weddings, events, portraits, and fashion for the last 5 years and we feel honored to have her join our team as an associate photographer! Oh and she just gave birth to her second daughter a week ago! Please contact us at the email address below for her availability.

Orion

Apertura — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:57:22 +0000

Thank you Amy + Varpas for letting us document your life for several years from the engagement, the wedding, the maternity period and now your beautiful baby boy. It’s an honor!

Help Needed: Production Intern

Apertura — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:46:11 +0000

Happy Monday, Y’all!

We are currently looking for a production intern to join the Apertura team.

This person must be:

- Proficient in photo editing using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, & Bridge.
- In So Cal & have his/her own car to drive to our Corona, CA office.
- Design background is definitely a plus although not required.

Some of the tasks would be:

- RAW color correction
- Retouching
- Album design
- Order fulfillment

This is an unpaid internship position with a possibility of future hire.

If you are qualified and interested, please email us your resume at info (at) aperturaphoto (dot) com. Please put “Intern” as the subject.

Look forward to talking to you!!

Tak + Steven: New York City, NY

Apertura — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:54:34 +0000

Finally, the wedding of Tak + Steven, mostly known as STAK Images – the “NOW” husband-and-wife Wedding Photographers from NY, which we proudly call friends :)

Tak + Steven’s wedding day started with a scare of huge continuous rain (as you can see from their e-session), however we are very grateful that it didn’t even rain at all. We completely lucked out – weather was dry, overcast the whole day. Their day started with the getting ready at the Millenium Hilton Hotel (which is located right next to the ground zero of the World Trade Center (see picture below). Emotions are high, portraits are amazing! We had TONS of fun covering their wedding! Here are “some” of our favorites:

The details:
Dress/Shoes/Veil: David’s Bridal
Makeup Artist: Sissi Chan
Ceremony/Reception: The City Hall Restaurant
Wedding Favors: Summer Favors

Tak is just a wee bit obsessed with piggies!

T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K :)

We love taxis since there are none in LA area…

Tea Ceremonies always bling up the bride.

During one of the many great toast speeches…

Lots of portrait time after the wedding!

Cover Love!

Apertura — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:15:06 +0000

Happy Thursday everyone! We’re happy to share some great news. :)

We are absolutely excited that an image from Judi & Chris’ wedding in Oahu, Hawaii made the cover of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons magazine!!

And one of my all-time favorite image from Leila & Mani’s wedding is used in the editorial piece. :)

And last but not least, Camilla + David’s wedding is featured on the Elizabeth Anne Designs popular blog!

Have a great week, everyone!

Tak + Steven: Coney Island, NY Engagement

Apertura — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:49:37 +0000

It was day 2 of our 3-day stay in New York and it was cold, and raining! Cold and rain do not go together well for sure, especially for us who is not accustomed to having both at the same time… uhm.. yep, that’s us.

However, the talented photographers Tak + Steven were the super trooper of the day as we shoot around for their engagement session (with the wedding to follow the next day). We strolled around in the famous Coney Island and several adjacent places. 4 Umbrellas, 4 wet shoes, 4 pairs of partially wet legs, and 4 wet cameras later, we still had a lot of fun! So here we go:

PS: watch for their wedding images coming up soon!

Krys + Ben: NYC Engagement

Apertura — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:40:16 +0000

While in New York City, we visited Krys’ old neighborhood and had tons of fun running around with them in Central Park and the Grand Central terminal.
Krys + Ben have great chemistry together and they definitely made our job easier. :)

A Couple of Featured Works

Apertura — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:52 +0000

A couple of great news at the Apertura camp!

First, we’re so happy that the amazing Style Me Pretty blog decided to feature Lizet + Edmund’s Palm Spring wedding!
Check out the three-part-feature here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

And second, we just picked up a copy of the latest Destination Weddings & Honeymoons magazine at the newstand and saw Brie-Ann + Rick’s Santa Barbara wedding on print!

Nancy + Ed: Los Angeles, CA Engagement

Apertura — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:16:01 +0000

We met this couple a while back and we connected immediately. Hanging out with them is super fun and more fun shooting them! We also learned the Korean word “Daehji” that means pork during our dinner at a nearby korean tofu house in LA :) Fun and learning. How cool is that? See you guys soon in December!

Here are some of our favorite shots!

By Erwin:

The following 2 shots are by Ray:

Ed is very into his car, so we took some shots with it – shot by Erwin

Nina + Sam

Apertura — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:48:41 +0000

Gorgeous people, gorgeous setting, some tears of joy, and tons of dancing = awesome wedding!

Venue: The Langham, Pasadena
Coordinator: Mint Julep Special Events
Florist & Design: White Lilac
Dress: Monique Lhullier + Lazaro
Shoes: Christian Louboutin + Jimmy Choo
Veil: Lazaro
Tuxedo: Yves Saint Laurent
Makeup: Ashleigh Louer
Video: Elysium Productions

LET THE PICTURES DO THE TALKIN’ :)

Nina’s friends telling Nina to use that hairstyle for the wedding

The ringbearer playing around by himself – life is good when you are young.

Love Nina’s expression on this shot.

2nd getting ready – yes, this happens after a long day :)

Gorgeous Shoes!

The “Tea Lady”

First Dance

Some other dancing :)

The wonderfully beautiful dance performance!

Albums! Albums! Albums!

Apertura — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:31:08 +0000

We designed every single one of these ourselves. They’re our pride and joy and without question, the best medium for our storytelling images.

Handling suggestion: white cotton gloves, dust-free clean room, definitely no chili cheese fries around these babies!

Paul + Shirley’s MASSIVE 78-page, double volume + slipcase, supple rustique black leather cover. Gorgeous!

Leila + Mani 74-page, slipcase, distressed brown leather. Elegant!

Miki + Joel 62-page, cork lining, & Japanese silk fabric. Tres chic!

Wendy + Brandon: The 2ON1 Workshop

Apertura — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:16:57 +0000

About a week ago, we finally got a chance to conduct our inaugural 2-ON-1 Private Workshop in Corona. The intense workshop is a 2-day classroom / field exercise combo, bombarded with a lot of images, knowledge, and head-hurting thoughts / ego-slashing portfolio review (just kidding on the last part :)). It was invigorating to be able to share our experience and knowledge to other photographers. In fact, we like it so much that we decided to open this up to all photographers! Drop us emails and put 2ON1 on the subject line for details.

One of the things that we did was getting real people for our shooting exercise to simulate actual dynamics and what to dos. So here are Wendy + Brandon, our volunteers that we just met during the shoot, an awesome couple, and… our newest rockstars :)

The Biesterfelds: Conceptual Family Portrait

Apertura — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:53:18 +0000

We photographed this wonderful family (our new friends, the owner of The Condor’s Nest Ranch in Pala, CA) a few weeks back and we had so much blast hanging out with them. The idea was somewhat spontaneous, and we absolutely loved doing it. If you have any ideas of Conceptual Family Portraits, let us know and we’ll be glad to shoot it!

Thanks again to Lisa and Bob for being so awesome! We miss you guys and of course, your adorable HUGE dogs! :)

Pearl + Yousef: The Slideshow

Apertura — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:10:00 +0000

It’s been a while since we posted our slideshows but here’s a new one from the amazing wedding of Pearl + Yousef at the Langham Pasadena!

Destination: NEW YORK!

Apertura — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:13:11 +0000

Hello Folks!

Just wanted to let you know we (both Ray and Erwin) will be in New York from October 14th through the 21st. We will be shooting a wedding there in the weekend, but will be mainly open to shoot other things: portraits, E-Sessions, family sessions, headshots, etc. between the 18th – 21st.

Hit us up and let the people that you love know! As usual, first come, first serve! :)

Please utilize the contact form in this blog and indicate if you want to contact Ray, Erwin, or both (for dual shooter event). Looking forward to hearing from you awesome peeps!

Nina + Sam: Engaged!

Apertura — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:56:03 +0000

Things got pretty hot during this engagement session. Nina + Sam has that special something for sure.
Thanks for being such troopers & making our jobs easy, guys. See you soon!

Published: Pacific Weddings + Inland Empire

Apertura — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:54:21 +0000

Oh gosh, we’ve been so busy that I just got the chance to post these. We had the good fortune to get published in two mags this summer! One is the amazing Hawaiian wedding of Miki + Joel, appearing in the Summer issue of Pacific Weddings and the other is the old favorite of Ana + Brent in San Diego. Congrats, guys!

The Foundation Conference

Apertura — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:34:01 +0000

THE EXCITEMENT IS HIGH AND REAL!

We truly believe in the value in learning, and this time, we are going to be sharing some of our knowledge on creating some great portraitures. This is going to be our first debut appearance as speakers, and we are super excited. Not interested to learn about portraitures, no problem! :) The conference has a lineup of very, very accomplished photographers that would be talking about other things pertaining to photography.

Also, the parties are always badass :) Come and learn with us!

For more information, check out:

http://fconference.com

Angela + Angel: Published!

Apertura — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:54:02 +0000

Sweetness! Our favorite peeps, Angela + Angel‘s cool wedding at The SLS Hotel is now showcased on E lizabeth Anne Designs’ blog. Check all the awesome details and photos! Here’s just a screen grab of the first page:

Pearl + Yousef

Apertura — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:33:53 +0000

Another beautiful Persian Wedding, another awesome Apertura couple! They’re a blast! :) Literally, there are so many gorgeous details to shoot that they probably belong in their own blog post!

Uber Wedding Coordinator: Shideh Shahraies
Caterer: Bahador and Langham Hotel
Florist: Bouvardia
Dress: Monique Lhullier

Shoes: Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, Rene Caovilla

Makeup & Hair: Shirin at Chalipa Salon
Tuxedo: Armani

Can’t choose one pair? Get three! :-)

Emotional moment before walking down the aisle

Frances + Andy: Day After Portraits

Apertura — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:21:32 +0000

These two love their sweet ride. Can you blame them? :-)

Shirley + Paul

Apertura — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:54:31 +0000

Shirley + Paul took us in as friends and we had an amazing time in San Francisco shooting their wedding!

Venue: Westin SFO

Dress: Rivini

MUA: Ann Ho

Funny moment during the first dance.

Mother/son dance.

Pang + Scott: The Slideshow

Apertura — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:25:04 +0000

Pearl + Yousef: Engaged!

Apertura — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:56:19 +0000

Pearl + Yousef rocked our world! See you guys in June!

Top Ten Wedding Photographers of 2009

Apertura — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:56:00 +0000

When we found out a few weeks ago that we are going to make the list for this year’s American Photo magazine Top Ten Wedding Photographers of 2009, we thought it was a hoax. Well, our friend and uber-photogapher Ben Chrisman called us this afternoon and told us that the online article just came out and sure enough, Apertura is on it! It feels kinda surreal and we still couldn’t believe it.

Thanks to the kind people who nominated us, thanks to the editor of American Photo magazine who picked us, but most importantly, thank you to all of our wonderful clients for letting us be witnesses to your happiest days. Without you, we’re nothing. Check out the full article HERE!

Pang + Scott

Apertura — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:53:29 +0000

The world is not ready for the awesomeness that is Pang-Scott! Love u guys!

Venue: Summit House, Fullerton

Dress: Casablanca (Mary Me Bridal)

Florist: CM Armstrong Designs

Cake: Sweet Lady Jane

Angela + Angel

Apertura — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

These cool cats have similar names. They are meant for each other, in more ways than one :) Reception: SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills Cake: Michelle’s Florist: Bobbe Vagell Floral Concepts Dress: Mya (Indonesia) Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Apertura Signature Albums

Apertura — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Fresh-baked daily! Available in gorgeous leather and new Japanese fabric covers and in thick black stock and thin(ner) white stock. In the photo: a special pano album (Jessica + Jerry), a rad engagement album (Dian + Stephen), a set of awesome parent albums (Jessica + Wilson), and an elegant wedding album (Brie-Ann + Rick).

Temporary Blog

Apertura — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Hello loyal blog-stalkers! Please don’t be alarmed as we switched to a very basic blog template at this time. This is not an illusion. We are going to debut a brand-spanking shiny new blog soon!

Pang + Scott: Engaged!

Apertura — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Cold day, Cold Frappuccinos, Cool & Fun Couple!

Melissa + Timmie

Apertura — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A very fun wedding in Long Beach, CA. Good people, even better friends.

Nina + Sam

Apertura — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Emotional civil ceremony in windy & cloudy Malibu. See you guys soon!

Rebekah + Anthony: Day 1

Apertura — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Shabbat – Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas Party! – Mi Casa restaurant, downtown Cabo San Lucas

Frances + Andy: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Laura + Ross: The Slideshow

Apertura — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Latest Albums

Apertura — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

We’ve gos lots of new albums delivered!! From the double-volume scrumptiousness of Jess + Wilson, the elegance (and thick!!) Sara + Mani, and our most favorite spreads ever from Haleh + Ramin! Is it wrong to say that we love our albums so much???

Amy + Varpas

Apertura — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Camp Pendleton, CA: Our favorite clients, Amy + Varpas is back! We trekked through the outskirts of Camp Pendleton again, this time with Amy being 7 months pregnant and she looked absolutely radiant! These loving couple made us feel ashamed about our un-fit-ness because they moved ever so swiftly through the terrains :). We’re always excited to be working with our country’s servicemen and their families, as you can tell…

First Apertura Print Ad!

Apertura — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Our first ever full-spread print ad is now on the newsstand! Buy the Winter 2009 edition of our favorite mag, Inside Weddings and flip to page 80-81 to find it. We are very blessed to have amazing clients like Kelly + Andrew and Leila + Mani, whose wedding images now grace the pages of an awesome national bridal mag. Spread the words and tell us what you think! We’d love to hear from all of you. Thanks to all our clients, past and present, for sharing their big days with us. We are honored to be part of your lives.

Laura + Ross

Apertura — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Newport Beach, CA: Laura + Ross got married in a small and intimate civil ceremony in South Africa but decided to come back to Southern California to celebrate with their friends and families (We would’ve loved to shoot their wedding in South Africa too, to be honest :P). Laura is a friend from church way back when and it was fun to meet familiar faces again in a different setting. The wedding has a little touch of South Africa (candies, photos, and their beloved dog, Ruby as their flower girl) and some fun Jewish Ceremony by Rabbi Ian Adler. Congrats again Laura + Ross! Dress: Maggie Sotterro Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo Venue: Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa The mom vs. bride getting ready Ross playing around with Ruby during the getting ready Love this Henna Tats on Laura’s leg! :) A proper Rabbi attire :) The reception tables had very cool pictures of different parts of South Africa Cake Cutting, serenaded by one of Ross’ Groomsman

Baharak + Hamid: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Persian Wedding. Awesome People. Good Food. Dancing. What else do you need? :)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Apertura — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Near where I live, there’s a street with houses all-decked out with lights and ultra-festive lawn decorations every Christmas. The real street name is not important but it is appropriately called “Gingerbread Lane.” So many people want to experience it and created traffic jam almost daily. My wife and I took our girls there again this year just to enjoy the atmosphere and a little exercise (sure, that’s my excuse). This time, I brought the 5D Mk II to shoot a little video of my girls. I always wanted to try this new feature in our new camera and I finally did it. Disclaimer: I am not Francis Ford Coppola and have no idea on how to shoot video. You have been warned! :-) Erwin & I would like to wish you all a MARVELOUS holiday and wishing you all success and good health in 2009!

Melissa + Timmie

Apertura — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Long Beach, CA – Melissa + Timmie are really one of the kindest people we’ve had the pleasure to come across. Their wedding was low-stress, chilled and wild at the same time. They got ready with their fun-loving bridal party at the Renaissance Long Beach hotel before jumping into a tricked-out limo to take them to St.Margaret Mary church. After a solemn Catholic ceremony, we headed out to the Ebell Club of Long Beach where the partying happened. We met so many cool people in this wedding, we felt like shooting a very close friend’s wedding. Congratulations again, Melissa + Timmie! Dress: Priscilla of Boston Vineyard Collection Makeup/hair: Kelly Zhang Tux: Traditional Custom Filipino Barong Tagalog Florist: Floral Elements Cake: Rossmoor Pastries First meeting First dance Very emotional moment during the father/daughter dance DJ Lionel Mabasa from Next Level Entertainment fueled the party!

Frances + Andy

Apertura — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Palos Verdes, CA: This was a marriage of two speed racers! Both own Ferraris and both have speeding tickets – one of them has 39 under his belt, and all of them are from speeding (and proud of it!) :) Frances + Andy was cool and awesome throughout the day (check out their coolness factor from their rings!). A wedding’s first – the world famous Magician Robert Stevens entertained and wowed the wedding guests. Overall, TONS OF FUN! Here we go!

Dress: Vera Wang
Tuxedo: Brioni
Venue: Trump National Golf Club
Wedding Coordinator: Ada from Fresh Events Company
Videographer: Elysium Productions

True F-ing Love…

The ring boy is a bit tired

Tea ceremony

Flowers + Ferraris = Fabulous!

The first dance.

So It Begins…

Apertura — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

As ~~photographers~~ geeks, we’re excited everytime a shiny new ~~camera~~ toy is released. Today, the long-awaited 5D Mk II arrived in our doorstep. Thank you Mr. UPS-man!

Julie + Roozbeh: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s a slideshow of the awesome Julie + Roozbeh :)

Janet + Randy: Blogstalker Unite Winner!

Apertura — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

San Diego, CA – It’s been a long time in the making, but we finally met our “Blogstalker Unite” contest winner Janet + Randy for their epic session in the Gaslamp Quarter San Diego. Janet + Randy have been married for a while but the romance is still going strong. You can read their story here. They are two of the nicest people we’ve met and check this out for an element of surprise: they are both accomplished salsa dancers! True to form, we ended the shoot in a small salsa club, Cafe Sevilla, where they danced as we watched in amazement and occasionally clicked the shutter. What a treat! :-) Then we all grabbed dinner and talked about life, love, and photography until the cows came home. Janet + Randy, it was truly a pleasure to have met and known you both. Thank you for being a loyal Apertura blogstalker! For the rest of you, watch this space for the next “Blogstalker Unite” contest next year!

Melissa + Timmie: Engaged!

Apertura — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Los Angeles, CA: Melissa + Timmie are so cool that they chose the rustic areas of downtown LA as the location of their E-Session. We efficiently moved from site to site with the help of the speed racer Drew (Timmie’s brother) :) Melissa + Timmie, See ya at your wedding in 3 weeks! Woohoo!

Blog Love: Southern Weddings Blog

Apertura — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Wow! How famous is Julie + Roozbeh? They’ve been published on 3 different blogs since their fabulous wedding day. This is a good one from Southern Wedding Blog… Part I Part II

Leila + Mani: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000

You definitely want to check this one out. Amazing couple, lovely wedding, and one hell of a party!

Baharak + Hamid

Apertura — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Calabasas, CA – We had a super fun day photographing this couple – they are so easy going and in love. The wedding was done in their uncle’s private residence and despite the light sprinkles of rain off and on, the party was a blast and did not stop. Of course, if you are in a Persian wedding, and the party stopped, then it’s not a Persian wedding :) Favorite of the day: Baharak hiding in the limo from arriving guests.

Elizabeth Anne Blog

Apertura — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Congrats to Julie + Roozbeh for the feature on the Elizabeth Anne Designs blog!

Susan + Aaron: The Slideshow

Apertura — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s a slideshow of our friends Susan + Aaron! Enjoy!

Published: Inside Weddings Fall 2008!

Apertura — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

We’re beyond excited that Gazelle + Farhad’s amazing Napa wedding made it to the pages of the latest Inside Weddings magazine!!

Kelly+Robert: The Slideshow

Apertura — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

w00t! w00t! Kelly + Robert got married and we have the slideshow to prove it! :)

Julie + Roozbeh

Apertura — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Palos Verdes, CA – Julie+ Roozbeh got married in a cold day in September. Julie and the girls got beautified by our friend Sherry from On Location Beauty at her cousin’s rad house and Roozbeh and the boys played around with wet towels at the Portofino Yacht Club. Ever since we shot their e-session a few months ago, we couldn’t hardly wait shooting the wedding. Julie is shy and a die hard LA Kings fan. Roozbeh is a party animal and a die hard Lakers fan. But together, they are off the charts in the awesomeness meter. The uber-fabulous Sonia Sharma completely transformed the room at Los Verdes Golf Course into a wonderland. It’s our first time working with her and she’s amazing! A Persian band, Samir Music, provided the background music for the rockin party. Thanks for letting us be part of your wedding, guys! Dress: Rivini Florist: Westwood Flower Garden Cake: Torrance Bakery The ring boys being boys. Mom and bridesmaids helping Julie Meanwhile, the boys… First look Roozbeh, strutting his stuff down the aisle First dance Party time!

Haleh + Ramin: The Slideshow

Apertura — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s to our dear friends, Haleh + Ramin whose wedding in Ojai, CA was super fantastic!

Communication Arts: Apertura Booklets!

Apertura — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The Apertura Booklet is now displayed in the latest issue of Communication Arts (Aug 2008)! Congratulations to our awesome designer Yo at Ferro-Concrete (which is the newest powerhouse in design and branding and personal friend) who guided us through the branding process and produced a killer design! Yo was responsible for the ad campaign for Pinkberry, motion graphics in many popular TV series, as well as the closing credit for the movie 300! Anyways, we’re so stoked! and for those who are lucky enough to get our booklets, treasure them! :) If not, why don’t you plan to get married and call us, you’ll get one :) BTW, we’re no. 6 down the article.

Leila + Mani

Apertura — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Los Angeles, CA – We first met Leila + Mani when shooting another wedding last year. After months of anticipation, their day is finally here! Leila + Mani were so perfect for each other and they’re so easy to photograph, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel! From the Viceroy, where Leila & the girls got ready, we moved to a private residence in LA for the traditional Persian ceremony. A truly rockin party followed the ceremony as expected. Leila + Mani, we love you and hopefully we can do a post-wedding session in the near future! :) Dress: Vineyard Collection Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Tux: Dolce & Gabbana A photo we took of her at the other wedding graced Leila’s iPhone. :) Dalbert Dylan, the make-up artist, applying his magic touch Mani, straight from the pages of GQ Emotional ceremony We LOVE this image. How intense is this? The first dance Then the party! The little kiddies are all partied out!

Jessica + Wilson: The Slideshow

Apertura — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Brooke + Braden

Apertura — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

These lovebirds came from Texas for some Apertura-flavored portrait session in So Cal. Brooke is a studio manager of our good friends at the world-famous F8 Studio. So the pressure is ON! Brooke + Braden were awesome to work with and were willing to do anything for a great photo. Our kind of people. :-) Thanks for spending time with us, guys. Hope your stay in California was wonderful!

Susan + Aaron

Apertura — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Topanga, CA: Susan + Aaron got married at The Inn of the Seventh Ray which is a hidden location behind all the business of the PCH. Susan + Aaron were very laid-back and cool, it was a breeze to shoot! At the end of the day, they showed their adventurous spirit and we ended up with a whole set of awesome portraits. Major props for Susan for being super duper trooper by trekking the dry river bed in her high heels! :) The location Moments before walking down the aisle Aaron’s dad was really emotional during the speech..

Kelly + Robert

Apertura — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Newport, CA – Glorious day for a wedding! Kelly + Robert came from the Bay area and tied the knot at the Turnip Rose/Grand Newport Plaza. A rubik’s cube world record was broken & giant chocolate-covered strawberries were injected with tasty adult beverages. Epic! Angel Swanson from Love & Splendor made sure we’re well-fed and taken care of the entire night so we adore her. :-) Dress: Monique Lhullier Shoes: Manolo Blahnik Cake: Heidelberg Bakery Flowers: Flower Allie Robert finished this rubik’s cube challenge in 4 minutes! PWN3D!

Jenn + Chris: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Garden Grove, CA: Jenn + Chris

Haleh + Ramin

Apertura — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Ojai, CA – We do love being honorary Persians! Haleh + Ramin was super upbeat and they are just fueling each other’s positive energy. They are friends of our previous clients and it was awesome meeting everyone again. The gorgeous Casa Elar of Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is the location of the wedding and it was just amazing. Filled with their closest family and friends, the wedding was a blast! Such a blast that security had to come to quiet things down a bit towards the end. Which the party did, only until the security left :) Coordinator: Jaimie Hastings of Churchill House VIP Events Dress: Vera Wang Shoes: Sergio Rossi Flowers/Decor: Krislyn Design DJ/Band: DJ Behseed & The Gypsy Boys Cake: Starr Cakes Hair: Martin – Joseph Martin Salon This adorable little boy got pulled aside during the first dance Awesome pasta station

Jessica + Wilson

Apertura — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Pasadena, CA – Jessica + Wilson were all smiles from the get go. They’re so amazingly happy together that it made us feel warm and fuzzy too. The wedding took place at the Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena but we roamed around town to do their portraits before the beautiful ceremony. An awesome 12-piece band entertained the guests (and us!) during the reception and Ben & Jerry’s were served at the end of the night. Coordinator: Stephanie Anderson Dress: Pronovias Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Flowers: Duran’s Flowers Band: Leonard Neil Orchestra Cake: Rosebud Cake Both of them were crying after seeing each other for the first time Lion dancers! We *heart* the Simpsons groom’s cake Mmmmm….Cherry Garcia….

Brie-Ann + Rick: The Slideshow

Apertura — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Erika + Anthony: The Slideshow

Apertura — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Erika + Anthony’s wedding in Huntington Beach, CA. Enjoy!

Marissa + Cesar: The Slideshow

Apertura — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Julie + Roozbeh: Engaged!

Apertura — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Hanging out with Julie & Roozbeh in Venice Beach was a blast. They are CRAZY fun & we can’t wait to be part of their wedding in September! We got soooo many gigantic-canvas-print-worthy-images from this session. Guys, have lots of wall space prepared for these. Seriously. :-) The world’s feeblest shadow puppet :-) And we close with a nice moment… Photographers: Most of these images were custom-tweaked with TRA2. Get yours here —-> Totally Rad Actions

Jennifer + Chris

Apertura — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Garden Grove, CA: Jennifer is a huge Lakers fan (woohoo!), and Chris is heavily into cycling (Chris went on a 53-mile bicycling trip in the morning of their wedding!). They got married at the La Purisima Church and continuing the reception at the Crowne Plaza resort. Fueled by their passion in sports, the bridal party was introduced just like a basketball game opening introduction, and Chris went in with his mountain bike! Notice that the cake is purple & gold, after the Lakers colors. Congrats guys! Have a smashing honeymoon in Italy. Wish you could’ve taken us with you. :-) The rings on Chris’ bike :)

Published: Brides Southern California

Apertura — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

We’re so excited that Shannon + Patton’s beautiful wedding got published in the latest Brides Southern California. Check out the mag in your nearest newsstand & give us a holler!

More Apertura Albums!

Apertura — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

As artists, we believe in realizing our vision into something tangible. Albums are still hands-down the best vehicle for our style of shooting. Albums tell the story of the wedding as you flip through the pages, they last for generations. They are the ultimate family heirloom. As time goes by, they become … priceless.

Eric + Jenn’s beautiful 9×12 leather engagement album

Julie + Mike’s amazing 11×14 leather wedding album

Erika + Anthony

Apertura — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Huntington Beach, CA – Erika + Anthony got married a while ago, but they never had a proper reception. So they made up for it at Hyatt Huntington Beach with their friends and family. Horse carriage & all! We must admit that riding in the carriage while getting looks from beachgoers were pretty dang fun. :-) The color of the day is pink and white. Marla from Cheers to You Events handled the coordination beautifully. On to the images…

Marissa + Cesar

Apertura — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

07.04.08 – Marissa + Cesar celebrated the 4th of July by getting married! There are no words on how awesome they are. After a Catholic ceremony at the St. Monica church, we brought the party down to the Casa del Mar Santa Monica where sunglasse, feather boas, plastic guitars, and colorful helmets were flying like there’s no tomorrow. Felicidades por su boda! Getting ready at the Viceroy Saw this moment of the flower girl mimicking a bouquet toss as we’re waiting for the ceremony to begin! Too cute! Cesar hiding from Marissa as they both arrived almost at the same time at the church Cesar’s dad after hugging Marissa + Cesar at church. Marissa’s mom & brother-in-law are watching in the background First dance

Published: Pacific Weddings!

Apertura — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to Azar + Ashkan (Ritz-Carlton/Langham Pasadena) and Gazelle + Farhad (Napa) weddings for being published in the latest issue (Summer/Fall 2008) of Pacific Weddings magazine! Leave some love…

Kim + Son: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s a slideshow of Kim + Son’s wedding in Santa Ana, CA on 05.24.08…. Enjoy!

Blog Feature: Southern Weddings Magazine

Apertura — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The awesome details from Brie-Ann & Rick’s wedding is currently featured in the blog of Southern Weddings Magazine. Check it out HERE.

Brie-Ann + Rick

Apertura — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Brie-Ann + Rick got married on a uber-gorgeous day in Santa Barbara. Everything happened at one spot, which makes it a lot easier for us as photographers. Especially if that one spot is the legendary The Four Seasons Biltmore. The day was impeccable thanks to the effort of Rebecca Gigandet, the Santa Barbara event specialist. Later at the reception, the guests were rocking out to a Rolling Stones tribute band, Sticky Fingers. Believe us, they’re awesome! Dress: Monique Lhuillier Tux: Gianluca Isaia Shoes: Manolo Blahnik Flowers: Square Root Designs Mom’s getting emotional

Sara + Mani: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

From the amazing Palm Springs wedding in May. Check it out!

Kelly + Robert: Engaged!

Apertura — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

We met up with Kelly + Robert at the newly renovated Griffith Observatory and took some cool shots as well as super duper fun! To be honest, it was so difficult to get a serious shot :) See ya guys soon!

Kristina + Royce: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s the slideshow for our partylicious couple, Kristina + Royce in St. Regis, Monarch Beach! Enjoy!

Erika + Anthony: Engaged!

Apertura — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Erika + Anthony enjoyed a chocolate covered frozen banana and took a ride on the ferris wheel. They even wore matching striped polos. How cute is that? All part of a days work in the So Cal sunshine. See you guys in July!

Kim + Son

Apertura — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

05.26.08 – Santa Ana, CA The boys got ready with their eyes glued to The Rock on TV while the girls got ready at Kim’s house. They met up at the church for a Catholic ceremony in two languages, English & Vietnamese. Kim was glowing in her Maggie Sotero dress and gorgeous. Son got very emotional at the very first sight of his bride-to-be at the altar. The guests were treated with a delectable multiple-course Chinese banquet with music provided by the awesome jazz quartet Rossi Music. Kim + Son, thanks for trusting your day to us. Have a wonderful honeymoon! Ceremony: Holy Spirit Catholic Church Reception: Doubletree Hotel Cake: Heidelberg Pastry

Published: Hobby Farm Home Magazine?

Apertura — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

That’s right! But wait a minute… What does wedding photography has anything to do with a farming magazine? Plenty, as a matter of fact. The editor of Hobby Farm Home magazine was doing a great article about farms as perfect setting for a wedding. And they saw an awesome wedding of Sarah + Todd that we shot last year in Sarah family’s Christmas tree farm at Twain Harte, CA. It was a perfect fit! On a sidenote, if you’re thinking about doing a wedding in these type of settings or backyard, down-home style, please call us. We LOVE these types of nuptials!

Sara + Mani

Apertura — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Palm Springs, CA – 05.10.08 Sara + Mani’s big day couldn’t have been more perfect! It all happened at the fabulous Parker Palm Springs, one of our most favoritest places in the world. :-) After a strap/no strap mini drama at the getting ready stage, the rest of the day went beautifully. Sara was gorgeous and Mani was in a great mood all day long. Following their Persian ceremony (officiated by Mani’s Dad), we were welcomed into the beautifully decorated Grand Ballroom. Sunny and her team from White Lilac really did a spectacular job. And as usual, the energy level on the dance floor was completely off-the-hook! Thanks for letting us be a part of your amazing day, guys! Sara’s Dad seeing her for the first time (with the super cute granddaughter in hand) Getting touch-up on the booboo This image pretty much sums up the playfulness of this couple DJ Behseed spinning the tunes! We love this moment during the toasts On our way out at 2AM, we found this scene Dress: Barraci Videography: Elysium (awesome peeps) Cake: Exquisite Desserts

Jennifer + Mike: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Slideshow from Jenn + Mike’s wedding in Los Angeles, 04.19.08. Enjoy!

Heather

Apertura — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Jenn + Eric: The Slideshow!

Apertura — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Slideshow from Jenn + Eric’s wedding in Las Vegas, 04.12.08. Enjoy!

Kristina + Royce

Apertura — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Monarch Beach, 04.26.08 – Kristina + Royce has been together for 15 years and finally tied the knot. The place is the awesome St. Regis Resort and the crowd was fun! Jeannie Savage and her crew from Details Details did such a great job planning and coordinating all the details throughout the day. Royce is a HUGE Michael Jordan fan and Kristina is heavily into scrapbooking. The whole wedding has tons of their personal touches, which made it really fun and interesting! Congrats again guys! We love ya! Have fun in Thailand! After shot number 2! Pregame huddle in the tunnel! Very appropriate after 15 years! Then, the party began! Some drinks are not meant to be drunk :) During the garter retrieval process Dress: Jim Hjelm Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Florist: Square Roots Cake: Cake Divas Coordinator: Jeannie Savage from Details Details

Some Love from FlashFlavor!

Apertura — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

We’re excited to be featured by Matt Adcock in his awesome Flash Flavor blog. Thanks to our good buddy Ben Chrisman, for pointing Matt to our blog and one particular shot caught his eye. It was a frame from Jenn + Mike’s recent wedding in LA during the best men’s toast. Check out the full write-up HERE & leave some love!