A little rain, HA! We laugh at it!

Amanda and Zech are quite simply the coolest couple. They didn't care that it was raining. They said p'shah! to rescheduling, and were totally up for wandering around outside around my studio in the Pruneyard. So we did! My studio manager Brooke being the awesome person she is threw down her paperwork and said, "Can I come!?" and offered to hold the big-a** golf umbrella over the gear.

You're looking at a few of my favorites - they've been sooooo patient waiting for me to get a'movin' on post production so I can't do all of 'em - and it's easy to see why I want to keep Amanda and Zech as my little sister and brother. :D

Shot in a parking garage, near an office building, and behind Rock Bottom Brewery in the PruneYard. When you have great light and a couple not afraid to show affection, who needs a park?

Wha-wha-WHA?! I won!

Betsy's dad must hate me.

First, this image placed with WPJA's international competition last year.

Now, I've won 10th place out of thousands of entries for the Bride's
2008 Photo Competition. See more on Brides.com, or at the WPJA's website.

To Betsy's dad...I think I owe you a drink!

Taken at the Corinthian Event Center, San Jose, 7-7-07.

Erin & Massud at Casa Real

Kelvin and Eric really captured the vitality of Erin & Massud - and how crazy they are for each other! Here's a slideshow to share...

When the Islands Meet Each Other...

Carmen is Polynesian. Daniel is from the Brittish Isles. Very different kinds of islands! So what do you do? Show off both of your heritages! Polynesian performers, leis, a bagpiper, celtic wedding rings - even an after-party at an English pub.

I was very jealous of Kelvin and our second shooter Eric covering Carmen & Daniel's wedding. Not only were Carmen and Daniel a true delight to be with, but one of my favorite things about weddings is witnessing a sacred event by different cultures.

Here's the trick about candelight weddings - you still need some light! By having lighting design by Fantasy Sound, they brought the same feeling as candelight into the room without the dimness cameras hate. See the trees on the wall? The spots on the flowers and in very select spots around the room? And check out the circle of light around Krista Strader. She looks like an angel (and I bet she sounded amazing, too - that's Krista for ya!)

Carmen and her brother Luis walked in to the Hawaiian Wedding Song,

Carmen and Daniel then did a smart thing - they made tons of room for the performers and for dancing and put that space smack in the center of the room so that everyone had a good view.

The other thing that they did that I think more couples should consider is a First Glance. It's so easy to do at the Rose Hotel, where they both got ready. The Rose has a HUGE and elegant staircase, with a crystal chandelier - the perfect "making an entrance" for your future husband to see you for the first time.

Getting Ready location: the Rose Hotel
Ceremony and Venue: Casa Real
Harpist: Krista Strader
Bagpipes: Jeff Campbell
Polynesian performers: all members of Carmen's family (talented family!)
Lighting design and DJ: Fantasy Sound

Sometimes, ya gotta put down the camera...

There's gorgeous Holly in her stunner of a dress - and no one quite sure how to lace it up. Ever seen a corset style dress? Intimidating! Lucky for me, my own wedding dress was a corset, so I knew what to do. I handed my cameras to my assistant Mycah and started to lace!

Holly's videographer, Mark Shepherd, dropped of a little snippet of the video off to me today cuz he thought it would be a stitch to show me lacing it up. Yep, that's me with the ponytail!

Yay, thanks Mark!

Videography: Shepherd Video, www.go-svp.com/weddings
Venue: Hotel Valencia, www.hotelvalencia.com

My Uberssance Man-Friend-DJ-Master of Ceremonies

I'm being all Colbert on y'all - Uberssance Man is a combination of Uber (when you've had as many philosophy classes in collage as I did, ya kind of absorb the word Uber into your very core) in the slang way of "extreme example of" and renaissance man, as in "skilled in many things". And my friend Ron is just that.

Oh sure, you go on his website, and he claims to be a DJ. Um, no, he's just reelin' you in. The man is exceptionally good at creating the party. Button monkey he ain't!

But here's the kicker. He also edits video - has a whole studio behind the house. And, get this, is a master of ceremonies in another way. He officates them!

I knew Ron was excellent as a DJ. But when he also acted as officiant for Wendy & Jordan a little while back at Nestldown, I was blown away. He was dramatic without being sappy, added touches of humor just where it needed it, and just like his receptions, drew in the audience so that they didn't feel like they were, well, an audience!

I'm a big believer in finding an officiant whom you can really count on to set the mood of the day. And Ron did just that.

Here are a few examples from the day! And yes, Ron did take a picture of the happy couple in the middle of the ceremony. Brilliant.



Wendy & Jordan at Nestldown
DJ and Officiant: Ron Grandia
Coordinator: Jondel Goldsmith

One of my faves of Wendy. I loved her - I felt like I was her big sister! She's a chef and I can't wait to see where her career takes her - she's considering wedding cake creations! You may be seeing more of Wendy in the future on this blog, only this time in a white chef's hat instead of a veil.

Vie & Tim's Proofbook is here...

I posted a slideshow a little while back of Vie & Tim at the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto and the Four Seasons Palo Alto. We just got their proof book back and it's stunning.

It came out so amazing - my bookbinder is a genius. Sometimes I think his proofbooks look better than some albums I've seen out there!


The dustjacket covers this beautiful Italian green bookcloth, and inside, it's one large image on the right, six smaller ones on the left.

In honor of Holly & Josh's big day...

Today I'm with Holly & Josh at the Hotel Valencia in Santana Row, so in honor of their big day, I thought I'd post two of our faves from our e-session.

Winery e-session - how very romantic!

Kat and Scott know how to be romantic. They chose an intimate little vineyard in Livermore called Concannon, and met me there with blanket, wine and cheese, picnic basket, and a great sense of adventure! We had a fantastic time and I'm so excited already for their wedding next year.

Hey, whatcha workin' on? (2 in a very long series...)

Right now, I should be in bed. No, really! I have to get up at 6 tomorrow so I can get in my walk before Donovan gets up. But no, I'm totally awake having a Christmas-morning moment with Talia & Kevin.

So I keep saying it and I will continue to say it - I'm the luckiest wedding photographer in the world. I have killer couples. It's that simple. And Talia and Kevin are a great example. Fun, a tiny bit goofy, crazy about each other, and it didn't hurt that they're, well, gorgeous.

They did something I love during the ceremony - a very simple but very symbolic "wine meld." Talia picked her favorite wine, Kevin his. Both the bottles were there, but there was just one glass. Talia poured a bit from her bottle into the glass, then Kevin poured a bit from his.

Let's see - vendor reviews - everything was fantastic. The dress was Melissa Sweet from Gabrielle's Bridal in Los Gatos, and was PERFECT for Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley. From what I understand, Holman Ranch recently reopened after some landscaping - and it looks terrific. The wedding planner was one of my very favorites, Amy Byrd, who once again brought that laid back style into her perfectly timed day. I don't know how she does it! The food was very tasty but I need to find out who was the caterer (sorry!).



Okay, I've now seen the Daily Show and the Colbert Report twice - and have you seen the Dmitri Martin standup special called Person? The guy is a genius. Tomorrow my mission is to finish post production for Talia & Kevin, too, because they haven't seen anything yet. Yah, shame on me for sharing with you first...

Gnight!

Seriously, I'm up for best photographer?!

No way! I've been nominated!
Want to vote for rhee bevere photography in BayList Best for Best Wedding Photographer?
Please don't make me beg (hehehe).

Click the following link to cast your vote!
http://baylist.sfgate.com/rhee-bevere-photography/biz/120186

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

Blue skies and blue eyes...

Seriously, the last time I had a post was July? Dang, shame on me! Let me try to catch up...eesh!

Real Wedding time!

First, the gorgeous Kathy and her new hubby Jason.





Kathy looked simply stunning and artist Maria Chang new just how to bring out those baby blues.





What a gorgeous day at the Saratoga Country Club!




Here's a bit more from their big day...





I encourage you to see more - here's the slideshow!


Some of their vendors:
Maria and team from Professional Makeup Artistry (can't get better than this...)
Entertainment was Mike Ewing. Second time I've worked with him and second time I've been impressed.
Saratoga Country Club: great food and the service was terrific.

More weddings, tips and albums soon!