a couple weeks ago i had the amazing opportunity of attending jose villa’s workshop in mexico.  i cannot begin to explain how amazing it was.  it also was monumental for me because i shot almost 100% film all week.   when i received my images back from richards photo lab yesterday, i literally was jumping all over my house with excitement.   as my new website and blog launches next month, more talk on my film work will come out!  but for now here is a preview …

the hacienda el carmen 

an engagement session

some wedding sessions

and just a few more …

so sorry for the lack of post the last couple weeks, i have been once again having blog troubles!  hopefully this will all be over soon.  i think i have them straightened out, so here it goes and cross your fingers this stays up:

i had to chance to go up to LA for a beautiful wedding.  bryn + chris were married in the LDS temple in LA and then we drove north to moorpark, ca for their reception.  it was beautiful and was held at a pumpkin patch!!  how perfect for october.  the back of the pumpkin patch had a walnut grove that they turned into a place to hold events.   it was perfect.  bryn had a more earthy vision for her reception and she choose the ideal venue.  the day was gorgeous and the lighting was ideal.   thank you bryn + chris for allowing me to be part of your day.  enjoy!

venue: walnut grove at tierra rejada ranch

caterer: command performance

florist: family friend (the bottom of her bouquet was cinnamon sticks!)

bride’s dress: custom made

groom’s and groomsman’s attire: jcrew

a couple weeks ago i had the honor of being apart of an amazing wedding.   it took place in a little town just north of san francisco in a place called “the peace barn”.  the town of bolinas is a small hippy town and i fell in love with it right away!   the wedding was gorgeous and it was because kiri did most details herself.   her sister-in-law, who is not a flourist, did all the flowers!  kiri + adam lit up the place and they were surrounded by just the people they love the most and you could feel that through out the day!  it was truly perfect.  thank you kiri + adam for allowing me to apart of it all and enjoy your large sneak peak (i could not narrow it down anymore, too many!)

I am headed out to arizona today.  i just got back from san francisco from the most fabulous wedding.  i was truly hoping to get it blogged before i left today, but it is not going to happen.  but watch out next week, because i have so much to blog about my trip!!  for now i will leave you with this teaser and say happy weekend!

last week had the privledge of going to shoot shelby + ryan’s wedding (you might remember them from their engagement session here).   let me tell you something … arizona was hot!!  i lived there most my life and i have gotten out of being able to cope with that AZ heat!   it feels so nice to be back in my san diego home, feeling the ocean breeze (have i told you internet friends how much i love it here!)   i know i have been missing in action but this trip has jumped start my come back and you will start seeing a lot more on the blog in the next coming weeks.

shelby + ryan were married in the lds temple in mesa, arizona.  following their ceremony i met them at a country club where they had their reception.  ryan loves to golf and i loved how they tied that element into their day.   congratulations you two and thank you for letting me be apart of your day!

enjoy!

a few weeks ago i was able to go to AZ to shoot rinda + james wedding.  you might remember them from their rocking engagement session.   their wedding started out at the lds temple in mesa.  we met early to get some fun shots.

and yes they do just look that gorgeous!!

rinda designed a beautiful simple backyard reception.   they used their friends backyard, that had a gorgeous courtyard, as well as a barn.   rinda kept the evening simple but very classy.   she hung paper laterns from the trees and had tea lights in mason jars as you walked up to the main yard.   rinda then made the cutest centerpeices (pictured below) from glass vases, candles, and yes … grapefruit (which match her colors perfectly).   her and james handpicked classic oldies music that echoed throghout the backyard … setting the perfect mood.   

we started the evening by hanging a “vintage type” sheet from a tree for some fun photos.

rinda is a triplet (her sisters pictured on the left) … which made for some fun photos.  they are all so fun and it was so great to be with them all!  

and yes the beautiful girl on the right is her yougest sister.  

here are all the cute sisters pictures together!  you have to love this!

the night ended with james!  he has moves!  he is from philadelphia and learned how to break dance out there.  his phili friends flew out for the wedding and put on quite the show in the gazebo!  

a few weeks ago i had the pleasure of going back to washington dc for a couple weddings.   one of those was the wedding of anna + nate.  the only way i can describe anna is just fabulous, purely fabulous.  she is what my daughter’s barbie dreams of being.   she is gorgeous and truly one of the nicest people i have ever met.   her wedding was a dream, beautiful weather, fabulous friends, wonderful family, and a cute little groom.  what more can a bride ask for?  

thank you anna+nate for allowing me to be part of your day.  please enjoy!

venue: meadowlark gardens in vienna, virginia

florist: ultimate floral design (flora)

music: m&m entertainment

it was 7 months ago when i received an email.  it was from a bride inquiring about photography for her wedding.  emails like these always excite me but when i called gina to talk to her personally i heard the words “maryland vineyard”.   i was trying to hold back my exitement, trying not to sound pathetic or too eager … but i couldn’t.   we scheduled to meet and talk more about details.  I rememember when gina and linton walked into the little coffee shop, i knew immediately i would love them.  i loved their cute, simple style but most of all i loved their pureness and sincerity.   we talked about the details: maryland vineyard, guest arriving on a school bus, ceremony on the hill, reception in the barn!

after 7 months of waiting, i flew back to the washington dc area last week.  i was able to see my cute husband, i did some fun photo sessions, met up with friends, and met gina and linton once again.  

the day went perfect (rain was in the forecast but it ended up being a beautiful, warm, cloudy day).   i was so impressed with how amazing gina and linton were through out the day.  family and friends are so important to them and they expressed that through every detail in their wedding.   on top of being surrounded by those they loved most, they brought in vintage family details.   gina’s vail was worn by her grandmother and her mother.  hung from her bouquet was a picture of her grandmother on her wedding day.   linton’s used two of his grandfather’s rings and had them melted into one to create his ring.   then at the reception they hung pictures of their ancestors from their wedding days.   it was all purely amazing. 

here are some of my favorites from the day … enjoy!

venue: linganore winery 

wedding cordinator: sasha neil with rsvp event planning and management.  {sasha is amazing!!  i cannot wait to work with her again!}

flourist: rene bonde

so on top of gina and linton being so amazing, they were also up for a “first see”.   a “first see” is when a bride and groom opt to see eachother before the ceremony.   this is always great for me because most of the time we have great light and great time for some fun photos.   but as you can see below, it is a quite time with the bride and groom to see eachother for the first time … and i adore capturing this moment!  just look how happy gina and linton look! i just love it!

most of the guests arrived on school bus!  how cute is that?!?  coming out to the vineyard was a hike and most of the guest were staying in the same hotel in fredrik … so gina and linton provided some fun transportation for them to arrive together.

the party:  the reception was held in the upstairs of the barn.  the families were so fun!  mom, dad, grandma, friends … everyone hit the dance floor.  

after the party gina and linton ran through the rain to jump on the school bus with all of their friends and family.  

the details

** i received this email from gina’s dad (who is purely adorable.  i just loved him).  thank you!

Jill,
I am so pleased with the phones of Gina and Linton’s wedding.  You did a masterful job of capturing the prerequisit formal shots, but excelled at the informal shots that really defined the day.  I wept anew (hahaha) at the collection and cannot wait to be able to select print purchases.  Is there a select all?

I wish you the best in your future ventures as you have a true ability to capture the essence of a unique and major family event.

click here to see d+j engagement session

i know joe saw devon for the first time and could not keep his eyes off her beutiful face and amazing style.   devon is unique, seriously one of a kind.  she is sincere, gracious, and 100% who she is.  one thing  i love most about her is that she likes to be her and doesn’t like anyone watching.  she stays in the background and that is where she likes it.  however, she is not shy, she is a party and such a great time, but doesn’t like the attention.   for a bride, i find this so refreshing.   i knew all about her because she is my lil-sis’s best friend.  but until i moved to utah i did not really know joe.  and all i can say is wow!  these two are so perfect for one another and will be so happy.   joe is purely amazing!   he is so fun, so personable, and so extremely giving.   when photographing joe, i just love when he laughs and luckily for me devon can get her man to laugh on the spot.  

devon and joe just wanted to get married and that was enough for them.   devon did not want a reception,  she just wanted joe and the ones she loved around her.   so, the last week of april we met them down in mesa arizona (devon is from az).   they started their weekend at a steakhouse for a intimate dinner for just family.  devon’s brother made the best little wedding video i have ever seen (click here to see cameron trejo’s site - he does wedding videography.)   the next morning i met devon and joe at the lds mesa temple.  we went early to get some pictures of them there and then they went in - just them and their family.   when they came out of the temple all their family was there to greet them (and a few close friends).  it was perfect, just what devon wanted.  

I was so excited to hear that devon and joe wanted to do a fun post - wedding session.   obviously i love their style and their wedding attire was just purely ideal!   one night we were at pei wei talking about what we would do and devon thought of the salt flats (at the great salt lake) - i jumped on it.  i could picture it as soon as she said it.   her colors were just ALL colors - i love it, it was the rainbow.  so, i knew i wanted to incorporate that in the pictures.  we picked up a bouquet of balloons instead of flowers and a colorful kite.   it was so fun because they were so fun and playful.  

thanks joe and devon - i love you both!  enjoy!

many of people have asked about devons perfectly put together wedding attire:

dress: betsy johnson - shoes: lamb - headband: etsy - jewelery: anthropologie

the dinner

the wedding day

devon + sisters

joe + brothers

devon + friends

the post wedding session

{these were taken at the salt flats at the great salt lake}

this last week i went to arizona to photograph the most beautiful wedding for two incredible people.  there is so much more to come, but for now here is a sneak peak … enjoy.