Matthias Photography » San Francisco Wedding Photography by Matthias Giezendanner

Nov . 5 . 2010

Gillian & Fabrizio’s Tilden Park Engagement, Berkeley CA

Among an array of others, there are two things I was reminded of this weekend about why I love my job. First, I get to make new friends and get to know great couples like Gillian and Fabrizio. Second, more often than not, these couples are amazingly creative and I get to be invited into their creative process. Gillian likes pretty things and it was obvious to me from our first meeting that our aesthetic pretty much lined up perfectly. As she described her wedding, I knew that it was going to be beautiful in just the kind of way I enjoy. In fact their wedding is going to be a perfect way to spend my birthday next August. But if anyone says guys don’t have an eye for detail or aren’t concerned with beauty they’ve never been around guys who love cars. And Fabrizio’s car is gorgeous. Given to him as a gift from his Dad, his 1967 Alfa Romeo Sprint GT, gave us the perfect base upon which to design their engagement session. We chose to shoot in Tilden Park because we felt like the colors in the fall and the rustic feel of the afternoon outdoors would provide a perfect setting. It really couldn’t have been more perfect. Most importantly when you get to beautiful people together who love each other like these two, there really is something magical that happens in their pictures. Observe.

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Nov . 1 . 2010

Devyne & Taji’s Wedding, The Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA

I had the pleasure of photographing Taji and Devyne’s engagement session a few months ago and we had a blast traipsing around San Francisco. On their wedding day the weather was classic Monterey sunshine. People came from far and wide, for what turned into a huge fun party (at one point I think we had 20 people in Devyne’s hotel room as she was getting ready). No-one wanted to miss anything, and when Devyne put on her dress it took everything the bridesmaids had to hold back their tears. The did, which happily kept everyone’s make-up in tact.  I’m excited to share with you the beauty and joy of the day. Enjoy!

Once Devyne was decked out in her dress we stepped outside her hotel in downtown Monterey and took some portraits. Beautiful dress, beautiful bride.
I love these two in black and white. So simple and full of grace.
The guys on the other hand, couldn’t stop laughing, and this carried right into picture time.
Those tears were bound to come out sometime…
For their formal pictures and reception we moved to went to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.
Maybe be favorite shot of the day below, Taji’s contented smile is priceless.
They had one of the more magnificent cakes I’ve ever seen.
One of my other favorite images of the day, Devyne and Taji weren’t the only one that wanted this first slice of cake…
All of a sudden this kid started pulling cartwheels in the middle of the dance floor. Yes!
Devyne definitely gets extra style points for the parasol. Thank you both for allowing me to be a part of such a beautiful day.

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Oct . 17 . 2010

Kristin & Marc’s Avio Vineyards Wedding, Sutter Creek CA

I’m excited to share this wedding with you today. I love shooting vineyard weddings, and I had never been out to Sutter Creek before Kristin and Marc’s wedding. When I arrived at the vineyard I immediately knew two things, 1) that this was going to be a gorgeous wedding with every detail having been thought out, 2) that Kristin & Marc’s friends and family were people that know how to have a good time and were here to celebrate!  Laughter filled the air from the get-go and didn’t stop through the ceremony, toasts, and dancing. I think one of the most significant choices in planning a wedding is choosing the location. It sets the tone for the wedding. In Kristin’s case, she had found Avio Vineyards while her brother was planning his wedding a while back, and secretly hoped that he would choose a different location, so one day she could get married here. Her wish came true, and I just love the subtle and refined old-time ranch feel the of the place.  I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed shooting them.

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Marie

I’m such a traditionalist. But this last one may just be an all time favorite… I love the way the light shines down on her dress, they look like they could be in an old movie.

Oct . 13 . 2010

Stephanie & Derrick, Sonoma Destination Wedding

People come from around the world to get married in my proverbial backyard. And I love it. From Baltimore, Stephanie and Derrick thought about either celebrating their intimate wedding either in Barbados or wine country. I, for one, am excited that they chose Sonoma and the fabulous Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant as the perfect place for their destination wedding. Nestled in the Russian River Valley, the Farmhouse staff have mastered the art of designing an intimate wedding. I have had the opportunity to shoot at the Michelin star rated Farmhouse regularly over the course of the last several months, and I have yet to meet a venue staff that does a better job. They take care of every detail a bride can think of, and then several more that she hasn’t, which leaves her beaming throughout her day, and makes my job a wine country breeze. The photographs I took for Stephanie and Derrick are full of laughter, and I easily could have made every picture in this post one of them laughing. But I also wanted to show the intimacy and quiet joy that they carry in each others presence, and of course I love their details. A harp playing while you’re being married under a blue sky surrounded by vineyards in full harvest? Yes please! Enjoy.

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Brenda Rouse

Beautiful!