Tag Archive for "California" - San Francisco's Best Wedding Photographer 2011

Posts Tagged ‘California’

Masha and Francisco Madly in Love at Cavallo Point

Masha, Francisco & I were friends before they were “Masha & Francisco”. We were all part of a transformational community focused on creating great romantic relationships and having an epic sex life called Erwan Davon Teachings. Masha liked Francisco in a shy uncertain way and I was able to witness as they slowly got close and discovered their own epic romance. There is nothing shy or uncertain today when you are with these two – play, delight, devotion, commitment, beauty and clarity are all brilliantly present. You can see for yourself in these gorgeous Madly in Love portraits from Cavallo Point. Masha and Francisco, I’m honored to know you and have the fortune of capturing your beauty and LOVE.

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in Love,

Spotlight on The City Club of San Francisco

Spending a day and evening at The City Club of San Francisco is like taking a mini-vacation from the sleek, exciting and fast-paced textures of modern San Francisco living and discovering yourself in the softly paced and exquisitely considered beauty of Art-deco opulent San Francisco. From the epic chrome ballisters ascending to the 11th floor to the sweeping Diego Rivera mural (his first in the US) to the dramatic tin pounded ceilings, there is not a detail that leaves us short of “WOW!”

As a recommended vendor at The City Club, We have had the priviledge and pleasure of capturing several monumentally fun, elegant and joyful events at The City Club and are always impressed with how effortlessly the event team led by Michelle Huie Kimmins run the whole event with total grace and ease.

Michelle has successfully supported countless happy couples in having the Best Possible Wedding Day Experience so we thought she would be the perfect person to get a special tip from here is what she told us ‘ Your wedding day will go by so quickly, take time to step back and embrace the celebration sometime throughout the day, remember what brought you together in the first place and ENJOY it.’

Now it is your turn to ENJOY two gorgeous City Club Weddings. ENJOY!

Want to see another? Click below to watch Morgan and John’s September 2010 City Club Wedding!

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in Love,

David and Valerie Madly in Love and a little Hafiz

Hafiz somehow knew how to strike a perfect cord of truth, beauty and love all at once. It is no coincidence that I posted the following Hafiz quote on my personal facebook page the same week that I captured David and Valerie Madly in Love.

One regret, dear world,
That I am determined
not to have

When I am
lying on my deathbed

Is that
I did not
kiss you enough.

When we first met to talk about their wedding in October, it took everything I had to stay on track and not get swept up into their palpable love and excitement. However, it was not until our Madly in Love portrait session in Golden Gate Park last weekend that I got to witness their awesome physical chemistry. One regret, dear world that these two lovers will not have on their death bed is that they did not kiss enough. Enjoy!!

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in Love,

Moniece and Alex at The Bentley Reserve

Here at Wendy K Yalom Photography we practice the work hard, play hard ethos. January through November we work hard and December, we play hard. So the first wedding of the year in early January is exciting, we have just gotten back into the groove; equipment fresh, energy reserves full and ready for fun.

Starting the year with Moniece and Alex’s wedding was like starting a year long dessert bar with… well, dessert. Each time Moniece looked at me and smiled joy erupted through me. I said ” I can’t help but smile every time you smile at me.” She said, “I can’t help but smile every time YOU look at me!” Double JOYBOMB and the perfect recipe for authentically beautiful portraits. Moniece’s ability to fully feel and respond to my joy and excitement for her, for her day, for her love and commitment to Alex is no surprise, Moniece is self aware and authentically tuned into her feeling.

In the moments before the ceremony, before Moniece had seen Alex, Moniece said she was feeling something unlike anything she had felt before, when I asked her to tell me more because I’m always fascinated about people’s unique experiences particularly when they are about to embark on a major life event, she said “it was impossible to describe, a combination of excitement and fear and love.” It gives me goosebumps to think about it. I hope these photos bring you a feeling of excitement and love and maybe a few goosebumps. ENJOY!

Makeup: BellaMina
Catering: Carrie Dove Catering

Getting Ready Accommodations: Hyatt Regency Embarcadero

Reception Venue: Bentley Reserve
Ceremony Venue: First Unitarian Universalist Church

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in Love,

Moniece and Alex Madly in Love

“Alex, will you go grab something to feed these birds?” Moniece is amazingly kind and Alex is unbelievably chivalrous. Two minutes later and he is back with a croissant – Lucky Birds. Working with these two to create their Madly in Love portraits was a total JOY! One of those oh my, these are the people I get to work with? pinch me days. We had wrapped the shoot at Grove Cafe on Chestnut with them madly in love and sharing what they appreciate about each other when on the way back to my car I see a sign reading – i love you – posted to the bus stop. It asked myself – do I let them enjoy their sweet meal and continue on my way AND always wonder what if, how great would those shots have been, why didn’t I OR do I go back and grab them for one final shot? See for yourself. Enjoy!

Curious about a Madly in Love Portrait Session for yourself or want to chat about anything else? Contact us here!

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Love,

Great Tip for anyone planning a wedding!

In September, I had the honor and delight of working with Clare Robinson and Matt Heaphy to have captured their classically, originally elegant Headlands Center for the Arts Wedding. Recently, I asked Clare if she would write a bit about what had inspired her and Matt in planning their wedding , her answer is too inspiring not to share with anyone planning a wedding, here it is -

We were inspired by each other. Prior to his proposal, Matt and I had never talked about what we each envisioned for our wedding, so after he proposed (and after we’d spent a few months just floating in our state of engagement), we wrote letters to each other, putting on paper our dreams, inclinations and hopes for the day. These letters served a saving grace throughout the planning process. Whenever we were overwhelmed or uncertain about a decision, we’d find inspiration and answers by going back to what we’d put in writing oh so many months prior.

Wherever you are in the planning process, I invite you to invest some time and attention, following Clare and Matt’s lead in putting on paper your dreams, inclinations and hopes for the day. Use it as a valuable touchstone throughout your wedding planning. This can be one of the most cherished experiences of your wedding planning!

Click here to see the result of Clare and Matt’s efforts.

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Have questions? We LOVE supporting you in having the Best Possible Wedding Day Experience, email us, we may have answers,

Talk about Joy!! Brigid and Dave’s Outdoor Art Club and Old St. Hillary’s Wedding

Meeting a couple giddy in love is standard in my business and trust me – it never gets old, just more fun. AND still every once in awhile I meet a couple like Brigid and Dave. When Brigid smiles it is electric and downright impossible to not feel joy infused head to toe. (If you are lucky enough to know Brigid, you know what I’m talking about, right?) And now, let’s talk a bit about Dave, who during his first year residency, found time to mold and craft their wedding bands, scout the perfect romantic ceremony location – Old St. Hillary’s, design and print the programs All with an attitude of gratitude and joy. Totally un-stopable these two, and honored beyond beyond to have captured their wedding and to have experienced their joy.

Ceremony – Old St. Hillary’s
Reception – Outdoor Art Club
Officiant – Rev. Paedar Dalton
Flowers – Mill Valley Flowers, Mill Valley
Catering – All Seasons Catering, Mill Valley
DJ – Vinnie Esparza, Oakland/San Francisco
Brigid’s Dress – Nicole Miller
Dave’s Tux/Tie – Calvin Klein & Ted Baker
Cupcakes – Forget Me Not Cakes
Invitations – VO Handmade (Vanessa Ottenbreit), Seattle
Hair – Elaine at Milvali Salon, Mill Valley

Jen and Mike’s Sentimental and Sexy San Francisco Wedding

It is always fun for me to capture the wedding of friends, Jen and Mike are a particularly sweet one. In addition to being a wedding and portrait photographer, I also teach yoga. Jen and Mike were regulars at my Wednesday class at International Orange a few years back. At the time, they were in a fun and happy relationship and knew then if they ever were to tie the knot, they would work with me to capture it and I’m so grateful they did! Mike and Jen wanted to capture great styled portraits; of them, of their “best posse” and of their pup, Martin. We captured portraits at the Redwood Room in The Clift and in the Alley in front of Bix. The results are AH-MAZING. Look on and ENJOY!!

in love,

Portraits - Clift Hotel

Ceremony – Private Residence

Reception – Bubble Lounge

Bride’s Dress – BCBG

Make-up & Hair – Visage Artistry by Crisna Khuon

Groom’s suit – Emporio Armani / Thomas Pink

Rings – Tracy Matthews

Cake - Jennifer Bratko of Beyond Buttercream

Invitations - Wedding Paper Divas

Clare and Matt at The Headland Center for The Arts – September 17, 2011

There are countless reasons why we loved capturing Clare and Matt’s wedding at The Headland Center for the Arts. Clare and Matt are stylish (note – Clare’s green satin Kate Spade shoes), smart (they met working together at the Hague), down-to-earth (effortlessly organized a 5-star event from their home across the country in NY) and knew that quality photography was a priority (they hired us). That coupled with the epically original and fantastically quirky Headlands Center for the Arts and Katie Powers out of this world catering, we were on cloud nine along with Clare, Matt and their guests all day long. We’ll let the pictures take it from here, ENJOY!!