This past week I had the privilege of photographing the wedding of Cody and Chantel. This was one of those extra special events for me because I have known the bride since she was just a toddler. And now, here she is a beautiful young woman on her wedding day!

Besides being one of those off-the-pages-of-a-fashion-magazine kind of couples, they have a truly romantic love story as well.  Having dated in high school, they lost contact with one another for several years.  Each had their own challenging, but maturing, life experiences during those years apart and then, when the time was just right, they found each other again.  The love between them is obvious.

Cody and Chantel opted for a “Split-Shift” Wedding with the ceremony held on Friday at the historic Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana and the reception on Sunday at the beautiful Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club. I must say, I personally appreciated the extra time and lower stress (at least for me ) of the event being held over two days rather than one.  Wedding photography is hard work! 8+ hours of bending and moving on your feet while holding approximately 6 and a half pounds of equipment by your thumb and three fingers can be taxing physically, not to mention the mental workout of  adapting to constantly changing lighting conditions and the emotional stress of making sure you “get the shot.”   Yes, weddings are not easy, but the rewards are so worth it!

I have to give my amazing second-shooter, Bianca, a big thank you for doing such a wonderful job and capturing so many stunning images from that second angle, as well as assisting with reflectors and such.  Bianca is truly an artist in her own right.

Bianca’s Perspective

Congratulations!  Cody and Chantel!