Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer: Kelsey Crews

Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer: Liz + Jesse: Engagement Session at the Beach, Doubletree, and El Presidio.

I love this engagement session!  We started at Leadbetter Beach, continued to the Fess Parker Doubletree resort, and finished at the historic El Presidio.  Their clothing choices couldn’t have been more perfect for each location.  I love the pop of color in the second location.  This engagement session has the best combination of fun, romance and sophistication.  I just love it.

Thanks, Liz and Jesse, for having me capture this important time in your lives!  Congratulations!!

Ashley and Josh’s Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding

Ashley and Josh got married at the picturesque Courthouse in Santa Barbara, California.  The Courthouse is such a striking background for a wedding.  We had a blast walking the grounds.  I was like a kid in a candy store, photographing them amongst the many scenic sights.   

Ashley and Josh were a gorgeous bride and groom…they made the scenery that much more fascinating.  Not to mention, their attitude infused the entire experience with joy, and that enthusiasm rubbed off on me.  I left the wedding so excited that I could barely download the images fast enough.  I’m sure you can see why…these photographs show a couple blissfully in love.            

Congratulations, Ashley and Josh, on a beautiful marriage!  Here’s to a lifetime of love and happiness :)

Toni and Matt’s Palm Springs Wedding

I had the privilege of being Toni and Matt’s wedding photographer, and it was such a wonderful experience!  The bride and groom both got ready at the Marriott Desert Springs hotel, and Toni had her hair and makeup done at the Patrick Marchesson Salon.  After portraits on the hotel grounds, we headed over to the Jackalope Ranch for the ceremony and dinner.  

The wedding was so charming.  It really couldn’t have been more perfect.  Oh, did I mention that Toni is my sister? :)  We were all delighted to see Toni and Matt so happy.  It’s funny, I can’t even imagine our family without Matt now…seems like he’s always been there.  I love how he gets my sister like no one else has before.  They both have this ability to make you laugh at anything, and being around them is always a good time.

As Toni’s younger sister, I always looked up to her, so it was amazing to do something meaningful and lasting on her special day.  

Cheers to the newlyweds!!

Whitney & Chris’ Goleta Beach Engagement Session

I love this couple.  Whitney did her research, and came with a printout of her favorite poses.  They both brought their infectious smiles and their ready-for-anything attitudes. I love it when couples come prepared!

Sometimes, I’m the one making it comfortable, but they took care of that for me.  They were so comfortable with each other that I didn’t even think about it.  Their love was obvious, and they left me with such a warm feeling.

Congratulations on your beautiful engagement, Whitney and Chris! 

Melody and Joe’s Santa Barbara Engagement Photography

Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody!  

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m posting this beautiful Santa Barbara engagement photography session.  This is Melody and Joe’s first Valentine’s Day as a married couple. Their engagement session was so much fun!  We started early in the morning, so Leadbetter Beach was much more secluded than normal.  We ended the session at the picturesque Santa Barbara City College.  After the session was over, I knew I had just witnessed that charming, natural rapport that happens to couples in love.  I will never get sick of that :)

Rose and Joe’s Santa Barbara Wedding - Second Photographer for Meg Perotti

Towards the end of last year, I got another opportunity to second shoot for photographer Meg Perotti.  I jumped at the chance.  I arrived at the Four Seasons lobby, and awaited Meg’s arrival.  Through email, I had a hunch that I might actually be the third shooter.  When I saw Meg walk in with Jasmine Star, I knew my hunch was right. 

I felt so lucky…I was getting the chance to work alongside not only one, but two accomplished female photographers.  It was fun and educational.  I recommend that all wedding photographers experience second shooting for another photographer.  Not only do you gain experience, but you also get to see how other people work.  I’m a firm believer that you should never stop learning, and much discovery can come from being exposed to another person’s perspective. 

I want to thank Meg for giving me such a wonderful opportunity.  I enjoy working with her for so many reasons.  First of all, I really admire her work.  Secondly, she has the loveliest attitude, and that makes working for her a complete joy.  Wedding photography can be stressful at times, but nobody should ever see that.  Meg Perotti is a true professional.  This is obvious when I see how grateful her couples are to have her photograph their wedding. 

Rose and Joe are such a beautiful bride and groom.  I am blessed to have been a part of their “big” day.

Santa Barbara Photographer Goes to Europe (2010)
Part 10: The Finale in Barcelona
~A Photo Story~

We had just arrived at the Madrid airport from Amsterdam, and decided to buy a ticket to Barcelona. We walked all over the airport trying to find the cheapest flight.  When we got to Barcelona, we were very hungry and in need of a well-balanced meal, so that took priority.  It was late, but we were happy to find a place that would still take us. After our meal, it didn’t take long for us to realize we were in a bad situation. 

No hotels had any vacancies!  At one point, we accidentally drove completely out of the city through a toll, and you couldn’t just turn around and go back through the toll.  We had to take a little country road back into Barcelona…it was nighttime, and it was eerie.  At one point, we had to slow the car down because a wild boar was slowly crossing the road. We finally found a hotel around 4am. 

We had hoped to stay in the same place for two nights since we had been doing so much moving around, but they told us we could only stay the first night.  The next day, however, they miraculously told us we could stay in our room another night.  That left more time for my main goal, which was to see Gaudi.  That might be obvious because 7 out of the 10 pictures are of Gaudi’s architecture. 

The first picture is Casa Milá.  The second picture is La Sagrada de Familia.  The third picture is of a Coke can.   If you know me, you know I love Coke. The next picture after that is Park Guell, a completely amazing Gaudi experience.  I actually got dizzy from taking so many pictures.  Underneath the big open area, there are a bunch of columns and extremely detailed mosaic ceilings. Nearby, those cute little buildings look like gingerbread houses.  The park is incredible, with unique paths going every which way.  This is something incredible to photograph, but even better to see in person.

The last couple pictures are night photography shots taken on the last night.  After that, we went back to our hotel and prepared to drive back to Madrid the next day.  In Madrid, we had one last hoorah with Dan by sharing a bottle of wine we got in France. It was one of the best bottles of wine ever, but those Spanish tinto riojas were pretty incredible as well.  The next morning, we had the last of our fresh-squeezed juices and cortados. I hurried to grab one last jamón sandwich (did you know they even have little individual-sized olive oils and balsamic for dipping?).

We ended up visiting seven different metropolitan areas in thirteen days.  All I can say is, our next vacation will be in one place!  I wouldn’t change this experience for the world though.