Amazae & Claudia Akers Photo Studio Grand Opening

This past Thursday was the grand opening of Crystal and Claudia's beautiful new studio space in San Jose. The dynamic duo pulled a few rabbits out of their hats in lining up some wonderful sponsors and assembling a great group of people to help them celebrate. Super DJ and radio personality "King" Raffi helped immensely in getting some fun and irreverent interviews from the assembled guests. Congratulations to you both, and thanks for including me in the festivities.



Guilty parties responsible for the party are:
Amazae Special Events
Thomas John Events
Enhanced Lighting
Asiel Design
Nicole Ha Floral Design
Naomi's Chocolate Catering
Jen's Cakes
Wildflower Linens
Classic Party Rentals

A wedding we captured just about 2 years ago has recently been featured in a relatively new wedding magazine, Your Wedding Day. This particular wedding had never been mentioned by me, nor had a video been made public because the couple wished to maintain some privacy. I'm guessing the proverbial cat is out of the bag. Kudos to the dynamic duo of Kim and Niki for their beautiful still photos.

A trip to the past

Growing up on the east coast, it was pretty easy to run into historic sites dating back to the founding fathers. I often passed by signposts saying 'George Washington Slept Here' (he got around, apparently). I didn't really appreciate these until coming out to California in 1996. History here almost always begins with the earthquake of 1906. So when I read the history of the Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club I wasn't at all surprised to find that it served as a shelter for those made homeless by the quake. But its history is much more interesting than that tidbit...worth a read and a visit.
My visit was for the purpose of Kelly and Lance's Wedding. I'm a big fan of outdoor weddings, even though they have their own unique challenges (ask Kelly about falling leaves). There is something about the outdoors that puts people at ease. This intimate gathering of friends and family was enhanced by the beautiful Indian-summer weather of Mill Valley. I did my best to capture the fun and energy of this couple while Kim and Niki were there to capture the still shots. Check out there blog for the amazing still photos! So what started as a trip to the past ended up as a glimpse into the future...I see many great years ahead for them. Cheers!

The Outlaws

Okay, so they didn't break any laws..but could you find a more aptly named couple than Jessie & James. Jessie (Jessica) was the maid of honor when I covered her sister's wedding in 2006. Now it was her sister's turn to return the favor. Keep an eye out for the beautiful baby being wheeled up the aisle. The bride is also a new auntie!
The location was beautiful and serene Carmel Valley, the Community Church of Monterey and Rancho Canada. A fork in the road leads you to "Play" by turning left, or "Pray" by turning right. Sweet!
Tunes and MC duties were aptly handled by DJ Steve Prelsnik, of Rock Bottom Mobile DJ's. John, from Laura Frost Photography kept a keen eye on the action and captured the bride and grooms joyous day. It's great working with such an easy-going team.

Jessie/James from Oren on Vimeo.

California Fusion

While we often associate California with 'fusion cuisine', there is another kind of fusion I have been witness to since moving here a dozen years ago. The melding of two (or more) cultures. Just as the Romans did with their expansion from England to Egypt, when they came across a new civilization, they didn't seek to erase it...but to incorporate the best elements into their own.

Likewise, the marriage of Latika and Gianluca is a just such a blending. India and Italy...the Tarrantella and Bangara. Hosted by Nestledown, in the beautifully serene Santa Cruz Mountains..this one was a feast for the senses. Superbly executed by Nicole D'Ambra Wedding Consulting, there was beauty in all the details. Family came from near...and very far to help these two celebrate a wonderful new type of California fusion.

Lucky #2

I'm sure you've heard the saying "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco" Normally, the same can be said of foggy Half-Moon Bay. Having completed my 2nd wedding there this season, I figured that (once again), I should dress in layers, keep a heavy coat handy, and prepare to wipe down my lens often. But nature threw me a wonderful curve ball with Larissa and Matt's wedding at the Ritz

Perhaps it was Taylor Nguyen, a force of nature herself, who ordered up the sunny skies and beautiful weather. After all, Ha Le Events has been known to pull off a miracle or two.

The stills were handled by the super-skilled Todd Rafalovich.

Of course, credit must be given to the radiant smile of Larissa, whose smile would have broken through any clouds daring to intrude on this wonderful union of families.

Larissa & Matt: The Beginning from Oren on Vimeo.

The fire isn't only in the hills

This being California's wildfire season, I was saddened when the mother of the bride for an upcoming wedding told me that the hills behind the Clos La Chance Winery had fallen victim to the Hummingbird Hills fire. This beautiful area, more Napa than South Bay has Oak and Manzanita covered rolling hills and a beautiful spread of manicured grapevines. I read about the winery's struggle to fight back the fire that threatened their beautiful estate. Thankfully, they were successful. When I arrived on-site, I was pleasantly surprised that the hills weren't bare. In fact, the charred section dotted with trees almost looked like a planned clearing.
None of this took away from the fact that Katelyn and Jason were exchanging vows among friends and family in a majestic setting. The black tie affair was as an elegant affair with gourmet food, wonderful wine (of course), and flowers everywhere. The party crowd filled the dance floor at times drowning out the music from DJ Tim. We were there to capture the beauty and emotions of the day.

Katelyn & Jason from Oren on Vimeo.

Can I count on your vote?

This was sent to me by my wonderfully talented illustrator cousin Elite Avni. She likes to play jokes on me, but I thought this one was well done. I might even be including some of these techniques in my next production.

Gayle and Mark- Great Sports

Gayle & Mark: The Trailer

Here is a great couple that I met almost a year ago. Right away, we had a lot in common. They are both avid outdoor enthusiasts who've camped and hiked some of my favorite locations. Gayle, like my wife has rescued cats and they have even decided to honeymoon in one of my favorite destinations, Costa Rica. I listened to their story of how they met over a softball game, and I knew this couple was destined to stay together (they already play together). So I hope to spend more time with them upon their return and perhaps even join together for a camping trip.
Claudia Akers of Claudia Akers Photography deftly handled the stills and got stunning shots (which she kindly shared with me for inclusion in the video). Gayle is a natural in front of the lens and was working her angles like a top model.

Mark had a few butterflies in the stomach, which matched nicely with the theme of butterflies that decorated each table. Even the cake reflected their love of the great outdoors. It was a tribute to their hike up Yosemite falls, where Mark proposed to Gayle.

So while the lucky couple are still zipping through the cloud forests, I'm hard at work here on terra firma.

Carrie and Andy: Dedication from Dad

The Hayes Mansion is one of San Jose's most enchanting wedding locations. This Mediterranean Revival-style mansion with 65 rooms and 41,000 square feet is fit for a modern day king, (or Hollywood celebrity). I often wonder when Angelina and Brad will buy it from under our feet and keep it out of sight from the public. Until then, I'm glad that we don't have to own a Gulfstream IV to be able to stop by (or attend one of the many conferences held there).
Our very own Carrie and Andy were the celebrities du-jour on a warm May 17th as they exchanged their vows on the stately lawn. Andy's Marine-colleague sword detail was on hand to announce the bride and groom as they began their new life together.

Before the evening ended, the parents dedicated the song "I hope you dance" to the newlyweds, and this is where our recap begins.

Reality shows and the bride

It used to be that the quality of production was one of the most important factors in getting distribution and airtime. Thanks to reality shows like "Big Brother", "Survivor" and almost anything aired on MTV, a paradigm shift has taken place in broadcast television and on the internet. When a clip on YouTube can garner more viewership than a nationally broadcast program, you know that the rules have changed. Armed with a typical cell-phone, almost anyone can become a broadcaster. Television programming has busted out of the small screen, and onto the smaller screen.

The reason I cover this is that we are witnessing a revolution (and it will be televised). I've just begun to take advantage of this in small ways (posting a couple's recap online for family to share, transferring their weddings to iPods and other portable media players. There are even resources I can call upon to webcast a wedding...live!

My newest foray into the 'small screen' is a way for couples to preserve moments from their honeymoon on video. Unfortunately, I don't often get to follow a couple to Fiji, Italy, Japan or India...but I do offer a portable camcorder (about the size of an iPod) that they can use to videotape memorable moments. (Of course, I tell them to keep it PG rated).

The mini-camera comes with some quick and simple instructions and tips on getting good clips. It recharges via USB, holds about 1 hour of high quality video and has the all important 'delete' button to erase any clips they don't like. The returned footage will be edited down to a short music video and delivered on DVD or posted online. Since this is the first summer I am offering the service, I don't have any samples to share (yet).

As a videographer, I greatly enjoyed videotaping my honeymoon in Bali. The resulting 10 minute edited video is the highlight of my wedding video. It didn't distract from my enjoyment of the honeymoon any more than a still-camera would...and the sights and sounds are infinitely more enjoyable than a collection of snapshots.

Another year older..but wiser?

Its my birthday, and I haven't written anything in a while. While the calendar says I'm 38, I still feel like the guy who just graduated from college and has a whole lot of living left to do. I'm very glad to be in an industry I love that affords me the opportunity to be creative, travel and meet wonderful people.

I've been a bit busy with the forums and my newest addition to my growing video camera collection, the Canon HV30. Its a small, light handheld camera that would have blown the doors off of any video camera 5 years ago. That isn't to say its the bee's knees (who came up with that expression?). Its a consumer/prosumer camera with cruder controls and tweakability than the pro HDV cameras. I plan on using it as an unmanned camera during 2 camera shoots.

All things considered, the 'big brother' XH-A1 and 'little brother' HV30 are playing nicely together. I even put a rig together to compare them side-by-side at the same location.


Canon XH-A1 vs. Canon HV30 side by side from Oren on Vimeo.

Vampires.

Thats what I like to call the good folks over at Stanford Blood Center. They call me without fail for a blood donation (in for an ounce, in for a pound). My first donation was in high-school...and I’ve probably donated on average once a year since then. When you finally settle down someplace and donate to a place that keeps records (like Stanford), they put you on a ’rewards program’. So this being my 8th donation to SBC, I get the gallon pin (seen here). Obviously, I’m in this for the gifts. I think when I get to the 10 gallon mark, I get a pen...or is it the scarf. But all joking aside, they really are a caring and dedicated bunch of workers and volunteers doing a great service. Just a day before my donation, I read an article about the shelf-life of blood being shortened from 6 weeks to 2 weeks. Needless to say, this would put a huge crimp on current inventory.

My father was always a blood donor, and I consider him a great person, so why not follow in his footsteps?

Thar she blows

I can't believe that I've been living in California since 1996, and the closest I came to a whale was from an overlook at Big Sur. I've always wanted to see one up close (preferably in their natural element). So on a recent trip to Mendocino with friends, we had the opportunity to book an excursion with Noyo Harbor charter boats. The sky was grey and the air misty with saline, but we were all excited to get up close with the migrating grey whales of the Pacific. Sure enough, we weren't disappointed. Much of what we saw was spine and tail, especially as they took a big gulp of air before their deep dives. I left the still photography to our most-capable friends while I handled the video. The swells were enough to put a few unlucky passengers clutching rails, but we had a blast.

Welcome to the madness

Archbishop Mitty puts on quite a show for their March "Monarch Madness" battle of the classes. I've been lucky to be a part of this since 1998, and I've seen many a freshman class lose only to triumph as seniors 3 years later. This is a loud, raucous and energetic exhibition of sports, dance and artistic skills that fills the San Jose Civic center with a crackling energy. The shoot is always challenging, as the events change and the floor is crowded. But with two cameras always rolling, we are guaranteed to get good results. Guess that is why they keep me coming back year after year.

Highlight Videos: The remix.

Every now and then, I like to mix things up and keep it fresh. When Brenda and Todd got married in Seascape (Aptos), they had everything nailed. The weather was beautiful, the guests nervously anxious, the location was scenic, the bride's dress elegant...you get the picture. In talking with them before the wedding, I knew that Brenda wanted a Shania Twain song for her highlights. Being that she is an up and coming country-rock singer, I knew that music was an important element for her. It is also quite inspiring to me, and I'm always on the lookout for fresh music that would help drive my editing. This particular video remix was from a song that I knew would take the visuals in a new direction.

Faster than a speeding bullet

What a weekend! I woke up to beautiful blue California skies (never get tired of that). I shook off the morning sleepies, headed downstairs for a light breakfast in anticipation of an afternoon hike, or trip to the gym. It was 8am, and I had all the time in the world. I didn't plan on doing much more than a short shopping trip for a TV stand. The new Sharp 52" LCD arrived, and was sitting in a box, waiting for our old rear-projection to move out of the way. But I digress. I decided to wake my wife around 9:30, and we spent a few minutes talking about work/life/plans...the usual. The phone rang a short while later, and it was my photographer friend Lisa Leigh . She was upbeat and cheery, but very intent on letting me know that this was going to be a most unusual phone call. I told her that strange requests are a daily routine, and if hers was the oddest, there was a Peet's Coffee gift card waiting for her.

Lisa: "Are you available for a wedding today at 2pm?"
Me: "Well, I guess so, I didn't have anything scheduled"
Lisa:"Great, its in Tahoe, can you leave now?"
Me:"Well, it would be a real stretch, seeing as how I'm 4 hours away"
Lisa:"Can you do it for $1200"
Me:"Ummm....no, I'm sorry. I think the gas alone would cost me that much."(have you seen the prices in the Tahoe area?)
Lisa:"Okay, I'll talk to the parents...let me get right back to you."

So the time is now 10am, and I'm guessing that this won't go through....but just in case, I start assembling my gear and getting dressed. I do a quick Mapquest check and see that their location will take me a shade under 4 hours. Quick math: 10am+4 hours+traffic?+setup time=missed ceremony, angry couple, distressed videographer. I call back Lisa and leave a message saying that I don't think its going to work (no matter the price). Unless the ceremony started at 2:30pm. No answer, minutes go by, I get worried (they are probably expecting me already). So I jet to the car, gear in tow, buckle up for a speedy ride and pray that there are no slowdowns. The handy GPS on the dash gives me an ETA of 2:14pm. Eeek! Still no word from Lisa and more minutes tick by while I cruise up Hwy 680.
Lisa:"They'll delay the ceremony until you arrive".
Me: {gulp}"I'll do my best to get there ASAP

To wrap it up, the gods must have been with me! I made it by 1:45pm, with enough time to tuck in my shirt, park illegally, and setup my gear. ITS ON BABY!

For the sake of my sanity, I surely hope that this isn't going to be a habit.

Many thanks to Stephanie Anderson the wonderful coordinator at PlumpJack for filling me in when I arrived and getting me up to speed. Don't forget to try their wonderful food (I had the Reuben, and it was delicious!)

This just in: the highlights have been completed and uploaded for you viewing pleasure.

I'm back (but then again, I never left)

Has it really been this long between postings? Must be my aversion to blogs. It always seemed to me that I do enough talking in person...why would anyone need to read anything I haven't said aloud? Then I realized that I do most of my talking to myself, my wife, and occasionally the cats (no, I'm not on medication).
I guess there have been some developments of late; most recently its the whole 'changeover to HD' issue that seems to have many of us videographers' knickers in a twist. Sure, it looks great on a High Definition monitor when properly lit, recorded and edited. But I don't hear the kicking and screaming of clients (yet) demanding this format. I jumped in nonetheless (never wanting to be the first or last to embrace technology).
The pro's and con's are best left to another debate; but my feeling is this: once we can solve the delivery-issue, High Definition video will take off. Just as cassette tapes replaced the 8-track, and CD's replaced vinyl (you can argue that with me if you wish), new technology is like a genie in a bottle. Once its let out, you can't stuff it back. Never fear, I predict that there will be a day in the very near future, when someone asks me 'Can you make it look like it was shot in standard definition 4:3? I'll be happy to oblige.

The problem with technology

I'm currently in the process of fixing someone's wedding video. I'm not going to mention any names to protect the innocent (and not so innocent), but I know for a fact that this couple was shown a polished, well shot and edited wedding video and signed on believing that they could expect the same (or similar quality).

So here I am, late at night, fixing the work of 2 amateurs with decent-quality cameras and wishing I could give them a piece of my mind. This isn't the first time I've been asked to clean up someone's 'video mess'. And at least the junk coming out of their cameras is of higher quality (due to camera technology alone).

The best analogy I can come up with is the person who buys the best cookware, but doesn't have the skills to make minute rice properly. Will their food taste better after their purchase? Probably not...but at least it won't start a fire.

If you are a couple considering hiring a videographer, ask to see some raw footage. Editing can often make a silk purse of a sow's ear, but the raw footage speaks volumes about the quality of the person behind the camera.

Why we do the things we do.

If you won the lottery on Monday, would you show up to work on Tuesday? Do you feel like you were born into your profession or was it more like a push, shove and the fear of unemployment that keeps you where you are? I have always strived to do what I loved, as soon as I figured out that I was talented enough to do a good job in what I chose. I don't imagine that I could love a profession or hobby if I had no aptitude in it. I suppose that I might be a good doctor, lawyer or mechanic if I gave it a try...but life is short enough.

Sometimes, we choose our work, and sometimes it chooses us. Maybe that is why, against the urging of my father, and the admonishions of my college professors who told me that 'the money is in advertising and sales', I stayed the course with photography and video.

After 16 years behind a camera, and many adventures, I feel like the luckiest person on earth. If I can still do this at age 80, I might just continue doing so. In the meantime, I look forward to each day and the places I'll go, the people I'll meet and the new things I will learn. Is there a better profession out there for me? Maybe. I still dream of being a National Geographic photographer, but travel gets more difficult each year, especially since 9/11. So I travel in my spare time and dream that I'm on assignment.