Two Sparrows Wedding & Portrait Photo Blog

Mystery wedding!

2010-06-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

Last weekend the Sparrows photographed a wonderful wedding South of Los Angeles. The weather was perfect, the location was stunning, and the bride and groom were absolutely beautiful. One of them also happens to be a celebrity, and because of that it was important that their day remain private. The bride did suggest that I might use a couple of images where you can't see who they are, and possibly some detail shots. With that in mind I'm including just a few photographs from that wonderful day.

A Really Big Weekend for the Sparrows!

2010-05-31T21:52:00.000-07:00

We photographed two incredibly wonderful, and incredibly different weddings this weekend! I'm so excited about the photos I just had to post at least one sneak peek from each.

Wedding No. 1, and all I'm saying is that there were two wedding dresses, and two incredibly cool ladies. More on that in the coming weeks...

Wedding No. 2, yes, those are Mexican wrestling masks and their were 212 of them. How awesome is that!?

More to come, so come back and see us. And remember, we love meeting people so much, if you come in to speak with us about your event we'll do a completely free, no strings (we promise), on the spot mini photo shoot, and you'll get free prints in the mail. What more can you ask for? We'll look at some photographs and albums, have a cold drink, and you'll get a great portrait just for stopping by.

Our hours are flexible - nights and weekends are totally cool, unless of course we're shooting another fantastic couple, or baby, or what have you. Hope to see you soon.

Ben and Molly

This is what it's all about- and a free shoot for you!

2010-05-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

At Two Sparrows, taking stunning photos, creating a one of a kind perfect wedding album for the bride and groom, and being easy to work with is objective number one. That said, making Mom and Dad happy is pretty darn important too.

Dear Ben,

I had to write to tell you how STUNNING my daughter's wedding album is...everything: the design,
the flow, the choice of images...it all comes together to really capture
the magic and feeling of that wedding. I congratulate you and applaud you
unreservedly. Thank you.

Best,
Judith

Mission accomplished.

Summer's coming people. Remember, we offer a free mini portrait shoot for simply coming in and having a little sit down. We'll nosh, have a beverage, speak about your wedding, NOT hard sell you, and in about a week, you'll receive an 8x10 in the mail. All on us, just for coming by. See ya soon.

Spring is here and we'd like to photograph you for free! Really.

2010-04-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody,

Spring is here, and wedding season is just beginning. We have some wonderful events starting later this month, and in a variety of zip codes! Yes, wherever you are, Two Sparrows will come to you. From Santa Barbara to San Diego, and Colorado to New York, we're on the road this year. Of course, we'll be shooting right here in Los Angeles as well. We have a fabulous new studio in Downtown Los Angeles, and it's receiving rave reviews from our clients.

Even if you're just thinking about the big day, why not give us a call, and come in for a visit? We love to meet new people, and with such a big studio to play in, we're offering a mini shoot to anyone who stops by. We'll even throw in a free 8x10. No strings attached. Promise.

Hope to see ya soon.

We've just received an award!

2010-01-13T21:31:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a little bit since my last post. Post wedding season means that I'm obsessively working on our clients wedding albums and prints! Some really stunning books are coming out of the Two Sparrows workshop this winter.

Our big news is that we just received notice that Two Sparrows Photography has become a www.onewed.com Best of 2009 Wedding Vendor! We are very proud to be recognized by this wonderful site, and a big thank you goes out to our clients for helping spread the word about Two Sparrows. To read more about the award please visit:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/onewed/bestof2009/prweb3437854.htm

Check back soon for some examples of what we've been working on lately. See you soon!

Something very sweet

2009-11-14T22:09:00.000-08:00

No wedding today so the Sparrows had to make something sweet!

Does the church really want photographers in the "house"?

2009-10-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

Ok. So here's the thing; Not all places of worship are really that keen on the idea of having your ceremony documented with these new fangled things we call cameras. And though you'd think this would be a non-issue, it's something you have to talk to your officiant, or site contact about. We recently photographed a wedding where it was made clear to us that the pastor didn't really want photographers to be there. We were asked to stay well to the back, and in fact during the ceremony the church coordinator actually asked me if I could stop moving. As in, don't move at all. Take into mind the other photographer and myself were being extremely quiet, staying well back, and overall totally respecting the church's wishes. Then, just two weeks later, at another church we ran into a similar situation. Luckily they had a new, more progressive pastor who was cool with us shooting as long as we didn't come to the very front, and didn't use flash, which was fine. The couple was a little panicked about the idea of not getting the photos they wanted, but they didn't have any of this information until two weeks before their wedding. We got the shots, and they'll be delighted, but it could have gone either way.

What you can expect in the form of photographer and videographer access at your ceremony location is really important information. I think that most people just assume that we'll be able to go where ever we want, being mindful of course, and it'll all be cool. This just isn't the case. Please please ask lots of questions, and if they have strict rules see if there are workarounds. If you're at all unsure, talk to your photographer before making a deposit on your ceremony location. If you have certain shots in mind you might need to tie the knot somewhere a little more open minded.

Ben

Tristan and Colten pictures - finally!

2009-10-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

No time to say hello goodbye - finally some pictures from the t and c extravaganza - Upstate New York - Beautiful!! If you're on a little bit of a budget do what this wonderful couple did - asked their friends to participate. Everyone was in a little groups, ie. a flower dept, decorations, cupcakes, etc. Many of the guests pitched in and made a wonderful day. What an awesome idea. Like the hens who baked the bread.

Stefanie & Javier - The wedding - Our bottle of pop!

2009-08-11T22:46:00.000-07:00

So many weddings and so little time oh my! It's been a very busy summer at Two Sparrows including three weddings last week. That's a lot of love and a ton of pictures! Stefanie and Javier are one of the fantastic couples we photographed, and their table favors rocked. If you look closely at the first image you'll see a green bottle of Jones Soda, but not just any bottle....wait for it....it's emblazoned with a genuine Two Sparrows engagement photo we took a few months back. Pretty cool!

Ori and Dave

2009-08-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

A quick note - On a plane (posting from 35000 feet - how cool!) to NY to shoot a wedding tomorrow - and my computer is just about out of juice. Just shot the wedding of Ori and Dave - a little shoot - just a few hours but what a great morning. Dave is Dave Naz - world famous erotic photographer and Ori is a wonderful professional model. Add 'em up and I've got two people who like to really play - From 60's style black and white to the look of Dallas (the TV show). Since Dave and I are portrait people I thought I share, well, their portraits. I'll let the pix do the talking. By the way - total shoot time for all of these different looks - about 20 minutes.

Stefanie & Javier Engagement Shoot

2009-07-19T11:15:00.001-07:00

Dave (Two Sparrows epic second shooter - more to come!) and I love getting to know our clients, personally, and particularly through the lens, before the big day. Plus it's a great chance for people to feel what's it's like to be in front of the camera so much. Stefanie and Javier had no idea what to expect for their engagement shoot, but as their wedding is very organic they definitely wanted something urban for our first time working together. Meeting them at wonderful loft/outdoor location in Downtown Los Angeles, this wonderful couple was a little stiff to start but by the end of our session they were posing like pro models! We all had an awesome time working together, and are very much looking forward to seeing them again for their wedding.

Daisy and Jeff get married in serious style

2009-07-14T01:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! That's all I can say. Daisy and Jeff got married this weekend in amazing style. An absolutely stunning wedding put on by Charley and co @ http://www.goodgraciousevents.com/ and we brought our A Game. Starting out at the W in Westwood Daisy and I went on a bridal fashion rampage through the hotel. It was awesome! At the event Two Sparrows was six strong with two photographers, Darby our do everything assistant and 3rd shooter, Molly, our production manager (and my beautiful wife) and two people working the "Photo Booth" - Set-up inside, people were invited to pose with friends and family in costumes of all kinds. It was a blast! Daisy and Jeff - You rock!

Calliope in her red dress

2009-07-14T00:55:00.000-07:00

I always say it....Photographing children is truly wonderful and it goes a little like this: Five minutes undivided attention, five minutes playful but present, and the rest is laugh, chase, and play. Calliope is an incredible four year old who along with her father was a joy to photograph.

Hollie and George

2009-07-14T00:20:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh!!! We've been working so much I haven't updated lately. I'll see if I can't catch up a bit. First up is Hollie and George at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. A rainy week turned into a perfect Sunday, rings were exchanged, and pictures were taken. Check 'em out....

Photography - A monster palette with endless opportunities

2009-05-29T17:13:00.001-07:00

Two Sparrows works on all kinds of shoots, not just weddings. Today we did publicity photos for the writer Tristan Taormino and this is the final photo from the shoot. Working on a variety of projects keeps our wedding photography fresh. New angles, lighting, technology and techniques mean our clients are always getting the very best. Photography is a wonderful medium with a monster palette. Using all of the colors available is what makes this work so wonderful, and the opportunities for art so endless.

Tracy & Jeff get Married

2009-05-29T13:47:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday Two Sparrows had the pleasure of photographing Tracy and Jeff's wedding at the Wilshire Ebell, http://www.ebellla.com/operating/index.html, in Los Angeles. The Ebell has been open since 1927, and as you can see from the photos makes for a gorgeous wedding location. With Tracy's vintage style dress, and Jeff looking a little like James Bond, I decided to shoot a mix of nouveau traditional and modern photography. Our congratulations to Tracy and Jeff, and thanks for having us be part of your big day!

Ariadna & Jesse and another great location!

2009-05-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

Just married - Ariadna & Jesse - Rockabilly love! Brand Park in Glendale http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/parks/brand_park.asp was the location for nuptials, and what a find! You can rent out an entire section of the park which includes; Gazebo, vintage home, rolling lawns, and a Japanese teahouse and garden with beautiful foliage, stream, and a koi pond. The entire park is simply stunning, and definitely worth a visit. Rental prices are very reasonable.

Our very best to Ariadna and Jesse. Thank you for including us on your big day, and for picking such a great place to tie the knot!

Engagement session with Holly and George

2009-05-15T22:47:00.000-07:00

There are all kinds of great places to take photographs in Los Angeles. Holly and George LOVE movies, so we thought Hollywood Blvd would be a great place for them to play. We had a blast! Folks going to theaters, tourists, bad superheros in front of Manns Chinese, and in the middle of it all a wonderful couple in love. We finished the shoot at another fantastic location; the antique light installation in front of LACMA on Wilshire. Our thanks to Holly and George for a great afternoon - we can't wait for your wedding!

Where are you getting married? What about a museum?

2009-03-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Getting married at a museum is awesome! If you're trying to decide on a great venue for your nuptials, and want something a little different, check with your local museums and galleries. The Long Beach Museum of Latin American Art, www.molaa.com, was the spot for one of our recent shoots and it was incredible. The delightful Juliana and Adam were married outside in the sculpture garden, with the following reception taking place in one of the large gallery rooms. The museum staff was wonderful, the setting gorgeous, and for a little while, after the ceremony, guests were invited to see the art inside the museum. A truly wonderful way to host your event.

Last year I photographed an event at the Pasadena Pacific Asia Museum, http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org. A beautiful outdoor courtyard, stunning private waiting rooms, and beautiful art exhibits make this another wonderful location for hosting your wedding.

There are many private, or smaller museums and galleries throughout Los Angeles. If you look around I think you'll find these to be great location alternatives.

Is time on your side?

2008-09-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

Timing and photography will be inextricably entwined on your
wedding day. Let me explain.

Ultimately a location where you can dress and otherwise prepare for your big day, have the ceremony and your reception would be the very best scenario, but often that isn’t the case. If you’re utilizing different locations how far away are they from one another? Let’s say you have your photographer(s) for a set amount of hours and you’d like to have individual photos of you both getting ready, coverage of guests arriving at the wedding site, and of course the ceremony and reception. Remember that photographers need time to carry and set-up their equipment and enough time to get the photographs you expect and the ones you don’t. On top of that you have to plan for travel time, and particularly in Los Angeles, possible traffic congestion. Additionally, your bridesmaids will be in their special dresses and shoes, not to mention you in a wedding gown with your hair and make-up done to perfection. Trust me, you’re going to be moving a lot slower than you would be running on an average day!

The solution is to keep the locations as close together as possible. Instead of getting ready at home, splurge a little bit by booking two hotel rooms close to the wedding location, or if possible, get ready at the actual wedding site. If you have a choice between two reception locations, choose the one that’s closest to your wedding site.

Wedding day timing is like a home improvement project. Always give yourself much more time than you think things should take. This way you can relax and truly enjoy your big day!

Table settings and flowers

2008-06-12T23:17:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Today I'm going to talk about table settings, and more importantly, flowers on tables. Larger and larger table arrangements are something that I'm seeing a bit of a trend in so I thought I'd address a few points.

Having a beautiful flower arrangement on each of the dinner tables is a wonderful compliment to any reception, but don't get to carried away. I recently photographed a wedding where the table arrangements were almost three feet tall! The flowers and vases were gorgeous, the problem was that none of the guests could see each other across the table. They were limited to trying to duck under the flowers, or speak only to the people on each side of them. In addition, trying to capture candid moments with the guests was almost impossible, with flowers either blocking them, or the impression that flowers were growing out of their heads.

Instead of tall, you might think about something broad and lower, where people can easily converse, and everyone is available to be photographed together.

Happy planning, and we look forward to hearing from you here at Two Sparrows.

Ben

Ceremony Seating

2008-03-30T22:52:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Have you thought about where you'd like people to sit during the ceremony? Small weddings are usually made up of family and close friends, often with everyone mixing together, and large weddings may have the grooms family on one side and the brides on the other, but what about which chairs those people are actually sitting in? What most people don't take into account are all of the photos which will be taken with the couple and wedding party going up and down the aisle.

Here's the thing, big weddings often mean there are going to be people in attendance that you don't know that well, which is fine, but you'll be much happier with your ceremony pictures if the background is filled with people you know and love. For larger weddings think seating charts and ushers, or, simply tell close friends and family to stay near the aisle when choosing their seats.

Just another way to make sure that your wedding day is picture perfect.

Ben talks about ceremony timing

2008-03-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody,

With the launch of Two Sparrows new website I thought I'd start giving some tips about planning the photography on your wedding day.

Something I've found is that many people like the idea of a sunset ceremony. This is a beautiful time to get married, but you have to consider that the remainder of your event will be at night. If you've gone to the trouble to book a beautiful outdoor, or outdoor/in-door location, you won't be able to see as much of it in the photos, because of course, it's dark. Night photography definitely has a beautiful distinctive look, but there aren't as many visual options. This really comes into play regarding your formals, as most brides don't want their betrothed to see them before the ceremony.

If you want light airy photos, then consider having your wedding earlier in the day. This way you'll get more variety in the look of the photography. One option is a
late afternoon wedding with the reception extending into the evening, giving you the best of both worlds.

There are of course many alternatives, which is why it's always best to decide on your photographer, and speak with him or her before you've made other wedding arrangements. This way you're sure to get exactly the photos you had in mind.

-Ben