WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE CAN I EXPECT ON MY WEDDING DAY WITH YOU?

“IT’S MORE THAN JUST PHOTOGRAPHY;IT’S AN EXPERIENCE. THE WHOLE DAY REVOLVES AROUND CAPTURING YOU TWO ON REAL 35MM FILM, MAKING YOU LOOK YOUR ABSOLUTE BEST IN THE MOST ORGANIC, NATURAL, BEAUTIFUL WAY POSSIBLE. NO STIFF POSING, JUST REAL MOMENTS WHILE YOU’RE COMPLETELY YOURSELVES. CAPTURED ON OLD CAMERAS AND BEAUTIFUL FILM.”

WHY DO YOU SHOOT FILM INSTEAD OF JUST DIGITAL?

“FILM FEELS LIKE THE DAY ACTUALLY FELT. I SHOOT 35MM ON OLD VINTAGE CAMERAS AND VINTAGE LENSES—THERE’S THIS BEAUTIFUL SIMPLICITY: NO SCREENS, NO CHIMPING, NO MASSIVE LENSES. JUST ME AND A LIGHT METER LOCKED IN ON YOU TWO OR MOMENTS HAPPENING. I HAVE TO NAIL EVERYTHING IN-CAMERA, AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT FUN. I HAVE TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER. WITH FILM THE COLORS ARE RICHER, THE CONTRAST IS CLEAN OR SOMETIMES NOT, THE OLD GLASS GIVES THAT WARM GLOW, GENTLE FLARE, AND PERFECT LITTLE IMPERFECTIONS THAT MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK ALIVE AND REAL. STEVEN SPIELBERG PUTS IT’S PERFECTLY.” (DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IS A SCIENCE AND FILM PHOTOGRAPHY IS A CHEMICAL MIRACLE.)

DO YOU STILL SHOOT DIGITAL?

“YEAH, HYBRID. 90–95% IS 35MM FILM WHILE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TAKEN WITH A DIGITAL SENSOR.”

IS FILM BETTER THAN DIGITAL?

“DIGITAL LOOKS PERFECT. FILM LOOKS TRUE TO THE MOMENT. THOSE OLD LENSES AND REAL FILM GIVE WARMTH AND COLORS THAT FEEL LIKE A MEMORY WITH GREAT DETAIL AND FINE GRAIN, AND THE LITTLE HAPPY IMPERFECTIONS THAT MAKE THE PHOTOS FEEL HUMAN. DIGITAL IS CLEAN AND NEEDS TO BE EDITED TO HAVE THE LOOK OF FILM. WHICH MEANS LONGER POST PRODUCTION EDITING TIMES. IN THE END, BOTH MEDIUMS HAVE THE PROS AND CONS EACH HAS A REASON TO BE USED. I STILL CHOOSE FILM AS MY PRIMARY OPTION FIRST.”

DO CLIENTS GET PRINTS?

“ALWAYS. EVERY PACKAGE INCLUDES A BOX OF REAL LAB PRINTS—ILFORD BLACK-AND-WHITES IF WE SHOT ANY, PLUS 4X6S FROM THE COLOR ROLLS. PRINTED SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY HOLD YOUR MEMORIES AND THEY BECOME HEIRLOOMS, NOT JUST FILES ON A HARD DRIVE.”

HOW MANY PHOTOS DO YOU DELIVER?

“QUALITY OVER QUANTITY EVERY TIME. YOU WON’T GET 800–1000 YOU’LL GET 500+ CAPTURES (SOMETIMES MORE) ALL PHOTOGRAPHED ON FILM, EDITED WITH CARE, AND WORTH PRINTING. I’D RATHER GIVE YOU 500 PHOTOS YOU WOULD FRAME THAN 900 YOU SCROLL PAST.”

WHAT IS THE TURNAROUND TIME?

“SNEAK PEEK OF 15–25 SCANS IN 10-12 DAYS DEPENDING ON HOW BUSY THE LOCAL LAB IS. THE FULL GALLERY IN 6–10 WEEKS. PRINTS ARE 12 WEEKS. REAL FILM TAKES REAL LAB TIME, BUT IT’S WORTH THE WAIT.”

WHERE DO YOU TRAVEL?

“ANYWHERE THE WORK IS! LAKE ARROWHEAD LOCAL, ALL SoCAL (BIG BEAR, LA, OC,) ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD? YES.”

DO YOU HAVE A SECOND SHOOTER?

“YES IF NEEDED I PRIMARILY SHOOT ALONE WITH A ASSISTANT. BUT FOR 8+ HOUR WEDDINGS OR MASSIVE WEDDINGS I WILL HAVE ONE AND THEY SHOOT THE SAME FILM OR SHOOT DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS.”

SUPER 8 OR 16MM SHORT FILMS?

“I CAN DO BOTH.”

HOW LONG HAVE BEEN DOING PHOTOGRAPHY?

“CAMERA IN MY HANDS MY WHOLE LIFE. SHOOTING WEDDINGS PROFESSIONALLY THE SIX YEARS.”

WHY ARE YOUR PRICES HIGHER THAN MOST?

A HUGE PART IS THE ACTUAL COST OF FILM, PLUS LAB FEES. I REFUSE TO TAKE THE CHEAPER ROUTE BECAUSE I WANT REAL FILM TO STAY ALIVE. YOU’RE HELPING KEEP LABS OPEN AND FILM ALIVE.

HOW MANY WEDDINGS DO YOU TAKE A YEAR?

“15 OR SO.”