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MacArthur Place Wedding

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Sonoma Wine Country Weddings:

Ten Tips for Enhancing Your Image

In Front of a Camera

1. Remember that prime time for photographing outdoors is one hour before sunset. The light is softer and warmer which gives you beautiful, rich, saturated colors. Try to avoid a photo shoot in the middle of the day. The bright sunlight creates dark shadows under the eye sockets and under the chins.Pay attention to body language.

2. Put all of weight on your back foot. Bend your front leg at the knee to create the classic pose called the “S curve”. This position gives the body a nice look. Women should allow a slight space between the upper arms and the torso. When the upper arms are against the body, the width of the torso appears larger.

3. Be aware of the proper placements of your hands. Men look great with their hands in their pockets or with their arms folded. For women, you should show all of your hand or none at all. Raise the wrist slightly to give a curve line where the hand joins the wrist. Putting your hands on the waist creates a triangular base. Such a composition visually attracts the eyes towards the face and minimizes the flat or flabby arm look.

4. Get a leaner look by wearing dark or medium shades with no patterns. Cool colors recede and warm colors advance. Wear long sleeves which will give you a more flattering look. Neutral colors emphasize faces and makes them appear warmer.

5. In a large group shot, encourage the group to form a “U” curve instead of being in a straight line so that the individuals on the end are in focus. If you have positioned your group into different rows, make the first row wider than the top row to ensure a better composition.

6. For those with gray hair or a bald head, make sure to have a background that provides contrast to the color of your hair or skin on top. Beware of a pale overcast sky which will fade out the top of your head.

7. To avoid any reflections on your eye glasses, either remove your glasses from your face or tilt them down slightly on your nose.

8. Photographer Bill Hurter advises turning your shoulders at an angle to the camera. When the shoulders face the camera directly, people look larger than they really are. With women, the head is often at a slightly different and opposing angle toward the shoulder nearest the camera. With men, the head is more often turned the same direction as the shoulders. Tilt the head slightly to make the pose more dynamic. Do not sit against the back of the chair because it thickens the torso. Posing with your body at an angle to the camera is more flattering for older women. Also crossing your legs at the calf level will make your legs look thinner.

9. For women, make sure to use a foundation make-up with a matte finish to prevent a shiny face. During a midday shoot, use a little shimmer (not frosted) eye shadow as a highlight above your eyes to open them up to avoid having your eyes look like two darks holes in the image..

10. Flash photography used in low light will wash your face out. Makeup specialist Robert Jones recommends that the best solution for maintaining color and more dimensions in your face is to sculpt your face using highlighting and contouring techniques. First apply regular foundation to your entire face. Then you use a foundation one shade lighter that highlights your forehead, the center of your nose, the middle of your chin and the area right under your eyes. With a foundation one shade darker than what you use regularly, contour the sides of you face, the sides of your nose and the area below your eye brows down to the tops of your eyelids. Powder afterwards because it is the most important step in eliminating shines and helps the skins appear smooth and matte.

Sonoma Photographer: The Feast of the Olive

The Feast of the Olive 2012 will be on Saturday January 26th at Ramekins. It is one of my favorite events of all those that I shoot during the year. It is a very intimate celebration where the local wineries, olive oil purveyors and the best chefs of the Sonoma Valley come together to enjoy multi-course dinner around our treasured "other fruit", the olive. Narsai David usually delights the guests with his appearance.

Sonoma Photographer: Make up for the camera

I recently read an article in the April 5th edition of New York Times called Skin Deep which highlights a new trend in the world of photography. With the posting of un-retouched photos to social media willy-nilly, some women are taking pre-emptive measures to ensure their complexions look smooth on the internet. To reduce the shines for photography, one woman layers on Bobbi Brown's face base and Smashbox HD Healthy FX foundation before contouring her cheekbones with bronzer.

With the advent of HD cameras that detect every flaw, cosmetic companies are scrambling to create makeup to address this issue. They discovered that foundations need to look thinner, yet still have coverage.

Smashbox bought by Estee Lauder in 2010 also offers products such as Photo Op eye shadow trio, Be Discovered cream and Photo Finishing hydrating foundation primer.....the latest creation being Camera Ready BB Cream. The founder of Smashbox is Davis Factor, a photographer whose great grandfather was Max Factor. Smashbox's competitor, Revlon has come out with a new product line called Photoready and their cream blushes will arrive in drugstores this month.

Sonoma Photographer: The Feast of the Olive

The Feast of the Olives was held on January 28th at Ramekins Culinary School in Sonoma. This is one of the greatest events of the year featuring many of the best chefs in the area. You get to also mingle with local wine makers and olive purveyors. As a photographer who does many events, I feel that this is the one special occasion where you get to meet the real players in Sonoma. Well worth the ticket!

A portrait of Dana Jaffe, Executive Chef, Saddles

I have photographed several events at Saddles. The lobby decorated with cowboy paraphernalia and a stately horse set the stage for the charm of this place. So it seemed only appropriate that I should photograph Dana Jaffe in this special spot.

MacArthur Place Executive Chef Dana Jaffe began her culinary career with a 3-year apprenticeship through the AFC (American Culinary Federation), working for such companies Cunard and Stein Eriksons. She graduated at the top of her class in 1986, and was granted CWC certification in 1988. She has lived in Sonoma County for the past twenty two years and worked at Restaurant Matisse, Tre Scalini, John Ash & Co. Korbel and Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa prior to joining MacArthur Place in 2001 where she has served as Executive Chef for the last 10 years.

Saddles is Sonoma’s premier steakhouse specializing in steaks, chops and fresh seafood. Set in a magnificently restored 100-year old barn on the historic estate of MacArthur Place Inn & Spa, Saddles provides a truly unique setting for a memorable dining experience.

Sonoma Photographer: Manuel Azevedo

 

A portrait of  Maneul Azevedo

Manuel Azevedo will be one of the featured chefs at the Feast of the Olives in Sonoma on January 28, 2012. One of features that stands out in his restaurant are the lovely copper pots hanging above the bar. Manuel is very personable and I so enjoyed our photo session.

Azorean-born chef Manuel Azevedo has been the owner, manager, and head chef of Sonoma Valley’s acclaimed LaSalette Restaurant since 1998. Named after Chef Azevedo’s mother, LaSalette celebrates the historically vast and varied flavors found in traditional Portuguese cuisine while delivering a modern interpretation of Portuguese food and cooking. This unique blend of traditional Portuguese flavors presented with a contemporary edge is the basis of Chef Azevedo’s signature Cozinha Nova Portuguesa – new Portuguese cuisine. At the heart of the philosophy of Cozinha Nova Portuguesa is the belief that using local, fresh, seasonal ingredients will not only result in healthier and more sustainable food consumption practices, but it will also create appreciably tastier dishes. To this end, LaSalette draws upon the finest local Californian ingredients to create its distinctively Portuguese dishes.

La Salette Restaurant offers fresh, Inventive Mediterranean and Iberian Cuisine in the heart of the Sonoma Valley Wine Country. Seafood and Portuguese Cuisine are our specialties. Many of these dishes come steaming hot out of the wood-burning oven and fill the dining room with the exotic aromas of true Mediterranean cuisine. The menu reflects the commitment of Chef and Owner Manuel Azevedo to creating the unique culinary delights of his native Portugal and its neighbors.

Sonoma Photographer: Michelin's-star chef, Andrew Cain

Andrew Cain, Chef de Cuisine

I had the chance to meet Andrew Cain when I photographed him for the Feast of the Olives event on January 28, 2001.  Andrew, the Chef de Cuisine of Santé at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn is a graduate of the New York’s prestigious Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Cain’s background includes stints at some of the country’s finest including La Folie, San Francisco, Chef de Partie positions at Michele Richard’s Citronelle, the unparalleled French Laundry and Michael Mina’s named San Francisco establishment. Santé Restaurant is the Inn's premier dining room and has earned a national reputation for its outstanding food. Condé Nast Traveler said "it's worth a special trip just to eat here" and Gourmet Magazine calls the food "the best of the new Wine Country style."

Santé, the fine dining room at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, has been graced with a coveted Michelin star and lauded Zagat accolades. The handsome restaurant has earned a national reputation for outstanding food. Literally meaning “to your health,” the restaurant is a celebration of innovative California cuisine and good taste. Guests enjoy a seasonal menu, in a warm and casual yet stylish setting.

Sonoma Photographer: The Feast of the Olives in January

In November I was commissioned to photograph the fine chefs in Sonoma Valley who will be participating in Olive Feast on January 28,^, 2011 at Ramekins Cooking School. This event is one of the best in the valley where chefs, wine makers, olive purveyors and foodies gather to celebrate the fruits of the land. Over the next month, I plan to feature many of these chefs on my blogs.  These chefs are like super stars in our valley.

One of the top chefs is Carlo Cavallo, owner of   Meritage Martini Oyster Bar & Grille which is the perennial winner of Best Seafood Restaurant in Napa and Sonoma County since 2000.  He has won consecutive Best Overall Martini awards in 2009, 2010 and 2011 at Martini Madness showcasing his mixology skills.  Cavallo is also the winner of 2009 Best Beef in America Chef's Challenge put on by National Cattlemen's Association.   

Cavallo has both an Italian and American heritage. In his portrait I took of him, you will notice an antique cash register given to him by his grandfather which is displayed in the entrance of his restaurant. 

Besides catering for private winery functions, weddings and events, Cavallo currently caters all corporate events for Louis Vuitton boutiques in Beverly Hills and San Francisco.  He was recently the featured as Star Chef for the Sonoma Showcase of Food & Wine.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers and has the title of Culinary Director of the Sonoma Valley Wine Auction.      

                            

Carlo has appeared on many national and international Television programs such as the Food Network “Pick of the day” and “Chef du Jour”, CNN’s On the Menu, NBC “In Wine Country”, PBS and ABC morning news. He has been featured on Japanese and French Television programs. 

 His recipes and restaurants have been featured in the New York times, Los Angeles Times, Gourmet, Wine Spectator,  Wine Enthusiast, La Cucina Italiana, Chef magazine, Conde Naste, Food and Wine, San Francisco Chronicle, Press Democrat, and Marin Independent Journal as well as several other publications.   

           

Sonoma Photographer: Halloween in Sonoma

Witches, princesses and even an M & M descended on my house at Halloween. Because I am in a neighborhood that is safe, flat and well decorated for the occasion, over 400 kids and their families come for treats. As my gift to those celebrating on our street, I set up a quick studio, photographed all my spooky guests and offered to provide each with a free print.

Sonoma Photographer: Adding extra flair to a wedding

As a Sonoma photographer, I recently shot a wedding  where I captured an image of the bridal couple arriving at the reception in grand style on this trolley. A great way to add extra flair to a special occasion!

Sonoma Wine Country Trolley provides a wonderful adventure to explore this area but the opportunity to hang out with one of Sonoma's best loved couples, Ed and Jonnie. What makes this tour they have  so interesting is the choice of wineries: from the elegant and sophisticated sites to the down-home family atmosphere.

Sonoma Wedding Photographer: Dads are special too!

During the wedding, it is a big deal for a dad to escort his daughter down the aisle. The trend today is for the modern bride to break all the traditional rules of the past so she can put her own unique signature on the ceremony. I know many dads who were a little hurt when their daughters decided not to ask them to be their partner as they entered their wedding. I find that sensitivity always wins out over creativity.

Sonoma Wedding Photographer: Putting a special footprint on your wedding day.

Always looking for unique ways to put your personal signature on you wedding celebration? One clever idea I discovered was at a wedding a I recently photographed. Get this....the bride and groom requested a self portrait photo from all of their guests. An artist was hired to draw a cartoon of each guest. These funny images were attached with clothes pins and displayed in the windows. What a big hit this was for everyone at the reception!

Coming for a Sonoma Wedding or Event? Here is a great place to shop!

If you are coming to Sonoma and looking for great places to shop, I recommend that you visit My Girlfriends' Closet. The owner, Fran Meininger, is a Sonoma institution. She grew up here and was the Executive Director of the Sonoma Boys and Girls Club and later the Sonoma Valley Education Fund. Fran has a great wit as well as a great eye for style. Her store features high-end women fashions on consignment. Her store is light and airy as well as inviting. She is located right next to the Red Grape which is one Sonoma's favorite restaurants known for it delicious salads and pizzas. So you have a exciting excursion ahead of you!

Sonoma Valley Weddings: A creative gesture for your wedding ceremony

As a wedding photographer in Sonoma, I have the opportunity to experience a variety of rituals in wedding ceremonies. In the recent wedding of Lisa and Will, the bridal couple wanted to honor their love for nature by planting a live oak tree seedling in a pot during their ceremony.

They figured that trees must be resilient to weather storms and the passage of time...as does a marriage. Trees require nurturing and nourishment, as does a marriage. As the bridal couple will  provide the sun, soil, and water for this tree, they will provide the encouragement, trust, and love needed on a daily basis to consciously nurture and nourish their connection to each other.

Will and Lisa’s parents contributed soil to the pot from their land. The soil from their families represents their experiences that form the foundation of their beings from which they will continue to grow.

It is with these thoughts that Will, Lisa, and their parents planted this tree.

Sonoma Valley Good Works

Sonoma Impact100, a local organization just formed in 2009 has membership of over 150 women  each promising to give $1,000 to form a $100,000 grant to be given to a Valley nonprofit each year. The remaining money raised goes to community grants.

 This year's recipient of the $100,000 grant is Teen Services. Teen Services runs the No Name Café at Sonoma Valley High School, where students train to become baristas and gain an understanding of the food service industry, from making drinks to handling cash. The kids working at the cafe also learn about customer service and good people skills. 

 As a Sonoma photographer and also a member of SonomaImpact100, I have been doing some of the photography for the presentations that the Teen Services will provide to the community.

Sonoma's Red and White Ball August 20th

The proceeds for the Red and White Ball held in the Sonoma Plaza on August 20th went to the Sonoma Education Fund. This fund's  purpose is to help 4600 students in the valley schools find success and inspiration in school so they graduate well prepared for both college ad a career.  The fund support the schools by funding excellent programs aimed at raising students achievement and creating a generation of students who love to learn.

SVEF was founded in 1993 by a group of concerned parents and community leaders. Since that time SVEF has invested over $3.6 million dollars into the school. The organization currently funds programs in Science, Art, School Gardens and Teacher Support.

Sonoma Valley Weddings: Watch out! Here comes the photo brigade!

As a wedding photographer in Sonoma, I have noticed an ever increasing photo brigade that follows me around when I am setting up for shots of the bridal party and the wedding ceremony. This “photo brigade” consists of well-meaning guests with all levels of photography equipment ranging from cell phones to high-end cameras.

Professional photographers have an unspoken code of etiquette that we never interfere with another photographer's shot. But wedding guests...that is another story.

What to do? The issue is this: when there are multiple photographers shooting the same group of people at the same time, it is impossible for the professional photographer to create an image where everyone in the shot is looking in the same direction towards the camera. That direct eye contact from those in the picture can make or break a shot.

Encouraging the photo brigade to shoot first, I tell them to “Just go at it and have a good time!” Then I insist that everyone has to step aside and let me do my work. Everyone enjoys themselves (which is the whole point of a wedding) and......... I get my shots.