Cotton Club Party

Around Christmas time as a child, I’d sit near the brightly lit tree and squint my eyes slightly as to make it all a little out of focus so the lights would glimmer just a little bit more. I’d imagine I was swimming amongst these twinkling lights.

Recently, I shot a birthday party with a fun theme … imagine Harlem’s Cotton Club of the 1920’s and 30’s. In piecing the opening sequence to this video together I was trying to come up with a way to help squint your eyes so you can imagine being elsewhere. Although, I don’t typically grunge up footage the way I did with this video, I thought I’d have a little fun and help transport you to a different time.

Also, I’d love to take you into the party a little bit more but once you see who threw the party maybe you’ll understand why I have to keep it on the DL … fo shizzle.  ;)

Coordination: Andrinique Events
Sweets: Candee by Sandee
Location: The Kress Hotel
Invitations: Richie Letterpress & Design
Dessert: Christopher Garren's Let Them Eat Cake

J + A | Trailer

Texans J + A chose Southern California for their destination wedding and they nailed it. They must have called ahead for perfect weather because the day couldn’t have been any nicer. From their ceremony site at Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes you could clearly see Catalina Island. From the reception site at La Venta, you could see all the way up to Malibu on the west and downtown L.A. to the east. It served as quite a backdrop for their first dance … and the surprise flash mob.

Of course you say flash mob and you don’t exactly think shy and reserved. Quite the contrary … this wedding had fun written all over it … and I hope this trailer reflects that.

J + A: Congratulations. If your first day as a married couple is just a fraction of what you’ll have in the future, I say you’re gonna have a good ol’ time.

Cast of characters:

Coordination - Resha Zazueta, Something To Celebrate

Ceremony Location - Wayfarers Chapel

Reception Location - La Venta

Photography - Craig Davis, Studio 563

DJ - Tribe DJ

Hair/Makeup - Design Visage 

Clark's Dad & Tons of Smiling

I recently edited a wedding video. There is nothing unique in that since I edit often and for many hours …

                      but there was something that struck me on this edit. It was a moment that under most circumstances may have gone unnoticed.

Attention was on the action - the bride and groom being hoisted up into the air during their hora. They clumsily reached out for each other's hand as one chair was being going up and the other was going down. Lovely, lovely moment. Off to the side, however, there was another camera rolling. What it captured, in my eyes, was beautiful and sweet. The father of the groom … a man not strong enough to dance around the dance floor is in the foreground, slowly waving his arm at his son who was a good 20-25 feet away on the dance floor. Whether it was to get his son's attention or simply to celebrate and join in his son's joy, it doesn't matter. It was a sweet, simple moment.

And the rest of this party sequence is an exercise in smiling. Everyone is smiling and, I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but smile myself. It’s like a virus. That’s the kinda virus I can get behind.

l + michael | trailer

Oh the tears! The spectacle! The drama! … and that was just me! Ok, no drama ... but I teared up before the ceremony even started.

When L (yes, L) and Michael had their first look, I could feel the love. I got all mushy and teary-eyed. I’ve really got to learn to control that … can’t focus the camera if I have tears in my eyes. And the spectacle came by way of a beautiful day with the loveliest of sunsets.

Enjoy a tease of one of the most intimate ceremonies I’ve shot this year … only 8 guests.

CAST OF CHARACTERS ...
Bride: The Lovely L (for Laura)

Groom: The Dapper Michael

Ringbearer: Adonis the Dog

Photographer: Vanessa Preziose

Officiant: Archbishop David Cooper

Floral Design: Jenny Barker of Magical Blooms

Couture Bridal: Julie Jones of Encore Bridal

Hair: Ahn Tran

Makeup: Melissa Walsh

Cello: Hope Easton

Wedding Hostess: Alicia Kling

Yummy Eats: Personal Touch Gourmet

and me ... le video chick.

srivitta + steve | highlights

So, I’ve decided I want a Thai water blessing for my wedding. I’d also like a Hora and I’d like my Irish uncle to give us a nice blessing. Oh yeah, while I’m at I think the groom and groomsmen should wear kilts. Hot.

Seriously … does it really matter that I’m not Thai … or Jewish or Scottish or have an Irish uncle? Ok, fine … I’m not getting married either but come on! I’ve seen so many wonderful traditions over the course my career that I’d love to incorporate them all.

Srivitta and Steve didn’t quite do all that I listed above but they did have a Thai water blessing. Lovely.

Congratulations Srivitta & Steve! And thank you … every time I watch you feeding each other cake, I can’t help but smile. Srivitta, you are the loveliest of goofballs.

Coordination: Ida Gardner Events

DJ: Vox DJ's

Location: Shutters on the Beach

Flowers: Lily Pad Floral Design

Photography: Yoshi Ohara

Make-Up: Joyce Luck Style

The OC Fair | Lo-Fi Style

August. Event Filmmaking. Weddings.

Put all three together and that doesn't leave time for much. Shooting and editing is what I do in the summer (and spring, autumn and winter) months but that is my life and I love it. But sometimes, to keep those creative juices flowing, you just have to CTRL+ALT+DEL ... and that's what I did earlier this month. I packed up my retro-footage producing Harinezumi camera and headed off to the Orange County Fair. Of course, I wanted to see how my toy camera would fare at the ... uhm, err ... fair. And, I don't know about you, but when I think of a carnival or fair my mind switches to lo-fi mode. So what a perfect place to play with my toy camera.

The OC Fair | Lo-Fi Style from Isabel Gonzalez on Vimeo.

Maybe I'll head off to the OC Fair one last time before it ends this weekend. I hear deep-fried Oreos calling my name.

AVIA | A Rooftop Soiree

When I wasn't nibbling at the candy table at a fab little soiree on the rooftop of Long Beach's AVIA Hotel, you could find me shooting. Now, I was trying to be sneaky about dipping into the the candy jars. Of course, I'm sure I could have been sneakier ... Note to self: When eating a blueberry candy stick, your tongue and lips will turn blue. Well, so much for sneaky.

By the way ... the AVIA is a sexy little hotel. If you're ever in the area, check it out. For the time being, check out the video.

Congrats to Andrinique and Melissa Selmanson for a beautifully executed event.

Coordination | Andrinique Special Events and Melissa Selmanson from AVIA

Photography | Llanes Weddings (check out their beautiful images of the event)

Candy | Candee by Sandee

Cake | Let Them Eat Cake