Pickerill Creative: February 2010

I arrived at the Ron John surf shop in Carpenteria, CA where the bridal party would be getting into their official gear then heading down to Carpenteria State Beach for a really intimate family wedding. I though this might turn into an adventure... and I wasn't wrong.

I met up with the boys first. They had just come from setting up the ceremony site a few blocks down the street and everyone was in good spirits.

Jenna did not want Mike to see her before the wedding so we got the call that the girls were getting close and the boys quickly scurried out.

By the time the girls actually arrived the Sun was beginning to set and the mad dash began. They needed to get dressed and get to the ceremony site as the day was quickly turning into night. I had all these great ideas of shots I wanted to get… I mean how many brides get ready in a surf shop. However, as the time ran out, my shot list got shorter and eventually we had to scrap it all together. Straight photojournalism here, no time to set anything up.

We made it to the ceremony with just enough light to say some vows, slip on the rings, give a smooch and boom, it was dark. And yes, I did just throw a boom in. I did the formals almost completely in the dark.

I shot with two cameras all day my 5d MKII and my 5d.

Inside the surf shop I shot a lot with my 50mm f/1.4 and my 24-105 with a 580exII flash on camera.

For the ceremony I had my 5d MKII with my 70-200 f/2.8 IS and on my 5d my 24-105 f/4 with a 580exII flash on camera.

I used my Quantum Flash off camera with an umbrella for the formals and some of the creative shots with Jenna and Mike.