Deanna & Ash!

From my first meeting with Deanna I couldn’t wait for her wedding. One of my goals was to incorporate the unique and historic surroundings of Deanna's wedding into the photography. La Casa is a historic resort-home built in the 1920’s at the La Quinta Hotel. It was the favorite getaway for Movie stars many years ago, in particular Greta Garbo. It features one of a kind backdrops and a great vintage feel.

First a funny story... Okay... While I was posing Deanna with Ash I asked Ash if he had any jokes to make Deanna laugh, but he didn't (I figured everyone with an english acent had jokes) so the funny part was me warning them that I still had more jokes and I wasn't afraid to use them. It may not sound funny now but this is how I got them to laugh while in the street with the mountain in the background. See I knew this was special to Ash because he had been asking me all day for a pic with the mountian in the background and I kept telling him it was too bright (because it was) and secretely I was saving it for later... for a special moment between them... and FYI- I have no jokes!

I took full use of the location by first running off with the wedding dress and shoes to the historic bathroom featuring one of a kind green tile and iron lamps. Next I took a portrait of Deanna by herself in the large empty room of La Casa. In post I converted it to black and white. Across the courtyard I posed Ash in the kitchen leaning on an 80 year old stove with Deanna at his side. I placed the bouquet in a copper sauce pan and gave the image a custom vintage conversion FYI Ash is a chef. In the Cactus Room of La Casa there was a beautiful open window, its frame painted turquoise, this was the first place I photographed Ash. Another one of a kind feature of the cactus room was wallpaper with cacti and desert scenes. I took some fun shots of Ash with his best man leaning against the wall there.

The night shot featuring palms a mountain and the moon was the view that night. Finally the courtyard was lit with string lights and purple/blue LED’s. For style and uniqueness I loved La Quinta’s La Casa. Read more here at La Quinta's site...