In exactly two weeks, I’ll be on a plane headed towards Hanoi, Vietnam to photograph the grand opening party for Gucci Hanoi.  I found this out last Friday morning, so for the last 5 days, I’ve been frantically putting together a staff and finding the best flights (as well as shooting a wedding + hanging out with out of town friends).  Amidst all the Kayak.com refreshing, texts, emails, and eating, I can’t help but stop and think just how fortunate I am.  And not just in the, “Look at me and all the cool things I get to do!” but more like, “Wow. I am so incredibly blessed and grateful.”  I saw this quote on my twitter feed the other day and it’s calming, “Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.”

Three years ago when I started, I would’ve never thought Table4 would grow into what it is today.  Obviously, it took a lot of hard work, long long days, incredible clients, and a bit of luck.  But to get HERE?  To photograph weddings all over the world and be paid for it?  That’s an overwhelmingly humbling feeling.   So you may be wondering how I got this job exactly.  Back in April, I photographed Mary Anna and Josh’s wedding at the Houston Hotel Zaza.  Josh’s uncle is a fashion retailer in Vietnam, who helped open Vietnam’s first Gucci store in Saigon and is helping open the 2nd store in Hanoi.  Josh’s brother, Jonathan, who gave one of the best best man speeches I’ve ever heard, is also working for his uncle in Hanoi.  So, really, it’s because of Mary Anna and Josh that I’m going to Vietnam on such short notice.

So, I’ll be going to Hanoi to photograph the grand opening party for Gucci in two weeks. (I can’t believe those words are coming out of my fingers right now!)  And I’ll be staying an extra few days to eat, eat, eat.  But since I’ll have most of my gear there, I’d love to shoot as well!  I know this is a long shot, but if anyone (or anyone you know) is getting married in Hanoi around September 11, 2010 and haven’t found a photographer, I want to be their photographer!  Or if you have a wedding dress and a good looking groom, let’s shoot a portrait session!  And the best part? No travel fees!  Send me an email if you’re interested.

Now….what am I going to wear?

I have to say this has been one of the most difficult blog posts for me to write.  There’s so much to say and so little room for which to say it.  When Celine asked me to photograph her wedding in France back in December of 2008, I almost went crazy from excitement.  We instantly kicked things off with emails regarding football, food, and wedding plans.  6 months later, we meet over coffee in Houston to talk face to face and figure out if we were a good fit for each other.  After that, I knew she and  Justin had an unrehearsed kind of love and believed hopelessly in the romance of their relationship.

I recall Celine describing her wedding to me, all the events, the close family and friends, the French chateau nestled in the wine country of Bordeaux; one word kept coming up: Romance. Not only did she want the wedding to be romantic, but the entire week to be as well.  She dreamed of a week where people from both sides of their lives became friends and congregated to celebrate their wedding with them.  That by the time their wedding ceremony took place, they had not just their approval, but the united support from their families and friends.  They extended that invitation to me and welcomed me into their intimate circle of friends and family, inviting me to join them for an entire week of festivities and a celebration of romance.

So, I’m going start backwards with this post.  At the end of these images is a link to a slideshow summarizing the entire week. (There’s some French music to accompany the images, so if you’re at work, I’d suggest turning off your speakers.) Between you and me, I’d like to post 200 images from their wedding, but I think most people would not appreciate that.  So, it pains me to just show 20 right now, but hopefully the slideshow will help you see the complete story.

Celine and Justin planned a week long of activities starting with a welcome party on Sunday, a winery tour on Monday, a tour of the famous St. Emilion on Tuesday, and a river boat rehearsal dinner on Wednesday, all before their wedding at Chateau Lagorce on Thursday.  We also spent a day in Paris on Friday before they left for their honeymoon.

Celine and Justin, I don’t know how else to say this. Thank you.  Thank you for welcoming me and befriending me. Thank you for getting to know me, sharing your lives with me, and laughing at my jokes. Thank you for taking such good care of me and for being so comfortable with me to share your intimate relationship with me and my camera.  I have no idea how I am so lucky to call you friends.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank my close friends Aric and Casey for coming on this trip and capturing this wedding with me. The trip wouldn’t have been the same without you guys and I’m so thankful I was able to enjoy my first time in Europe with good friends.

Cinque Terre. The most beautiful place I have been to in my life. So far.

P.S. If anyone is at all interested, I’m happy to offer any of these images as affordable, custom fine art matted prints. Please send me an email if you’re interested!

While I sit here in the Cabo San Jose International airport waiting to board my delayed flight back to Dallas, I thought I’d take some lemons (the delay) and make some lemonade (time to edit previews!).  So, here are two previews from my recent weddings. One from Ngan and Michael’s wedding last weekend and then one from Nancy and Guy’s day after session on Lover’s Beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  If you’ve never been to Lover’s Beach in Cabo, it’s a must-see.  The water is clear and blue, the sand is clean, and the beach is charming and quaint.  You can only get there by water taxi so it’s not too packed, but it’s worth taking a trip.  I’d also suggest going during non-peak months or during the week so there are less tourists!

This is the Lake District. Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. Note: there was a model at the Milan train station that briefly gave me smeyes. Be sure to click below to see more photos!

P.S. If anyone is at all interested, I’m happy to offer any of these images as affordable, custom fine art matted prints. Please send me an email if you’re interested!