I still can’t believe this is my job. Imagine spending an afternoon with a really lovely, photogenic couple that is up for any thing in a location as gorgeous as Ojai. To make things even better, Bruce and Cherie love that we employ so many old cameras so we really got to play around with lots of different formats.

Bruce brought us to the barn where he and his band, Shades of Day rehearse. Larry and I were literally tripping over all kinds of cool props. We were like two kids in a photographic candy store!

We’ll be photographing Bruce and Cherie’s wedding next May in Coral Gables. We can’t wait!

By the way, be sure to check out Bruce’s very cool website at www.shadesofday.net.

The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena is one of our favorite venues. When you add a great location and a really adorable couple, there is bound to be some magic.

Stephanie and Vadim are truly an adorable couple and they are as lovely on the inside too!

We were treated to an Egyptian Orthodox ceremony, which is hauntingly beautiful and reverent and the reception was an elegant affair in pink. Carolyn Chen of The Special Day, made sure every thing went off without a hitch and Luna Gardens perfumed the air with stunning floral arrangements. All in all, it was a really wonderful day.

We are really lucky to have several mature camellia trees in our garden. They really liven up the place in the middle of winter when the rest of the flowers and trees are taking a rest. While pruning the other day, I was utterly amazed to see one lone camellia flower still in bloom. I couldn’t help but preserve this persistent beauty in a tintype.

Please check out my lifestyle photography website here: Isabel Gomes Lifestyle Photography to see more of my garden, food and travel images.

Janet and Nishad were married at the historic Castle Green in Pasadena. Their intimate wedding was attended by friends and family from all over the globe. By blending a little from Nishad’s Indian culture and adding a dash of Janet’s Iranian heritage they were able to treat their guests to an elegant, colorful evening. And I don’t mind telling you that dinner was pretty amazing!

We try to keep the ‘self horn-tooting’ to a minimum but when we received this glowing endorsement from Janet and Nishad, we couldn’t help but want to share it.

“Our search for a photographer ended the minute we saw Isabel and Larry’s work. We knew that we wanted to hire photographers who were artists and whom we could trust completely. Choosing the right photographer was a key component in our wedding planning, as this was the first time our entire families, from across the world, were going to be together. We wanted those memories represented in film so that we could share them with family members that could not make it, and future generations. What we appreciated most about their work was its authenticity—through their photographs they capture genuine emotion and fleeting moments that mean so much. We saw a timeless emotional quality that was free of the artificiality we found in other wedding photography.

Meeting and working with Isabel and Larry was a true pleasure and we were fortunate to have them as part of our wedding. They are genuine and caring people who are passionate and exceptionally gifted at their work. We trusted them completely and are thrilled with the result. Every time we look at our photographs, we realize we have a piece of art that reflects the joy and excitement of our families coming together.”

~ Janet & Nishad

I love hearing about our clients’ love stories. Gil and Andrea have a great one. Like many great love affairs theirs happened completely by chance. Gil, on a whim, thought he would look up an old friend named Andrea on Facebook. He never found his friend but instead became completely captivated when he saw a photo of another Andrea. A few months later, they were engaged to be married.

It’s been such a treat getting to know them. Gil and Andrea are a really creative, interesting couple. Larry and I can’t believe that they actually seem to enjoy hanging out with a couple of squares like us.

By the way, if you know of any one wanting really great entertainment at a kid’s party, check out Gil’s website: www.goofygil.com

We are so proud of our association with Kodak. A couple of years ago we photographed an international ad campaign for Kodak Portra Film. Since then, they have generously included us in several promotional endeavors. Check out Kodak.com to see our latest collaboration.

Isabel Gomes and Lawrence Gund of Isabel Lawrence Photographers each have a tintype photo featured in the Texas Photographic Society’s alternative process competition. Their photos appear in the catalogue of accepted entries.

Isabel’s photo can be seen here and Lawrence’s photo can be seen here. For more on the Texas Photographic Society visit www.texasphoto.org