For me a vendor photo shoot is like playing dress up. Except I don’t have to dress up. I get to play with my friends, meld the two worlds of fashion and wedding photography and experiment with new ideas and techniques.

Astor Classics Event Center is filled with vintage-y relics, from old phones to radios to cars. If you are an eclectic bride looking for a different place to get married, this venue is for you!

A few months ago, I did two shoots here. One was a fashion-esque shoot and one was a shoot to feature what a wedding ceremony might look like if you got married there. You can see the ceremony pictures in this POST.

The fashion-esque shoot was just featured in the Rock ‘N Roll Bride Blog. Click HERE to see the pictures.

Photographers: Michelle Cunningham & Me
Venue: Astor Classics Events Center
Dresses: Dolly Couture
Make up: Kacee Geoffroy Makeup Designs
Table Setting: Mary Lallande of Jay’s Catering
Flowers: French Buckets
Models: Trena,  Becka & Chelsea

Here are a few of my favorites:

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Nine years ago, I planned my wedding. I had a year or so to do it and the toughest part was trying to please everyone. Looking back, I cringe at the hairstyle I chose, the flowers I picked, the dress I wore…you get the idea. One day I’ll post a really long post with pictures from my wedding day. (My pictures were awesome though, cause I splurged and got a good photographer –and I’m not just saying that…seriously).

February’s SoCal Photog Shootout had been months in the making, but we only had about 3 weeks to plan. 3 weeks to plan a wedding (even if it’s a “faux” wedding) is ridiculous and I do not recommend it –even with an amazing event planner on your side. It was one of our biggest events yet. Tickets sold out in 2 minutes.

So many vendors helped us with this event and instead of listing them, I’m going to tell you if I had to plan my own wedding again, why I would use these people. So, brides, hope this is a helpful resource. And as always, organizing these shootouts leaves me no time to really shoot, so these were the few pictures I was able to get as an “11th shooter.” (Everyone was in groups of ten)

Event Coordinator: Amanda Auer, In the Now Weddings

It was Sunday, two and a half weeks before the event and I was panicking since the wedding planner I thought we had lined up was unable to help us. Monday, Amanda posted on her facebook that she wanted to do some styling for photo shoots. I contacted her. Tuesday, she said yes and I forwarded her the very few details I had. By Wednesday, she had emailed me a complete timeline and had 90% of the vendors lined up.

By the end of the following week, I hadn’t heard from her and started feeling my ulcer kicking in, when my intern emailed me and said, Amanda is sewing tutus for the flower girl. Can I get their sizes? All the little details you are about to see in the following pictures is the handiwork of the amazing Amanda.

If you don’t have an event coordinator for you wedding day, you should save yourself some stress and get one!

The Venue: “The Romanesque Room,”

The venue was completely appropriate for our “Romeo and Juliet” themed wedding. The high arched ceilings are unique and really beautiful. Thanks to Ron for allowing us to use your venue.

The Hair, Make-up and Stylist Team: Kacee Geoffroy, Alisha Baijournas and Michelle Cunningham

I walk in the bride’s room and it is a flurry of activity. Michelle (yes, she is a photographer, but she is great at styling models) had strips of fabric and she is tying lots of them around the minuscule waists of our “Bridesmaids.” Kacee is doing makeup for a model and also getting herself ready as she is pulling double duty and modeling as well. Alisha not only is doing the models’ hair, she stops and per my request, makes my hair “bigger.” And they laughed and had fun and there was no stress or high maintenance egos in that room.

The Videographer: Nick of Crafthouse Productions

We needed a videographer two days before the event and sent out a desperate plea on Twitter for anyone. Nick responded and one look at his work I knew we HAD TO have him. Not only does he do amazing work but h was so positive and easy to work with. I love vendors like that. He was happy and excited to be there and we were soooo excited to have him. The video will be posted on this blog as soon as it’s ready and I KNOW it’s gonna be awesome!

The Engagement Rotation: Special thanks to models, Sarah and Derek, who are actually photographers. They just happen to look hot, so I recruited them! And thanks to the Lead Photographers: Gavin and Erin Wade

The Details Rotation: Special thanks to Brian Khang for being the Lead Photographer.

The Linens and Furniture Rentals: Town and Country Rentals & Wildflower Linens & Classic Party Rentals

I never think much about decor and so when I saw the entire venue transformed into my vision but BETTER, using fabric and furniture, I was floored. There was a PINK chaise lounge (which should be a requirement for all weddings, in my opinion) and gold chairs and table. Fabric strips of lace, pinks and purples accented everything.

The Paper Details : Alli Wells Studios. An Amazingly talented girl. She even tea dyed these faux programs for the “ceremony.”

The Getting Ready Rotation: With our fabulous model Ashley and makeup artist Becca, lead by Matthew Saville. Dresses from Mariposa Bridal Boutique in Anaheim

The Bridal Portraits Rotation: Thanks to Jenn King, a model and a photographer and Wai Reyes for leading this group.

The Florist: Honey & Poppies

There was confusion and one of the models who was suppose to have a wrap took a bouquet instead, so we were short one bouquet. Megan of Honey and Poppies, said, “Oh no problem, I’ll just make another from the scraps of flowers and created an incredible bouquet.

The Ceremony: Thanks to models – Kacee, Erik,Joanna, Shane, Mike, Tim, Sam and Mackenzie. Lead Photographer: Garrett Davis

Thanks to Justin Element for the next shot which I LOVE:

The Romantics: Models: Ashley and Sean, Lead Photographer: Cean One

Ashley and Sean never had wedding photos, now they have hundreds!

The Reception:

The Caterer: Not only is their food deliciously yummy, but Jay’s Catering has reasonable prices and a venue concierge service that places events in the perfect venues. Thanks to Mary Lallande, for finding the perfect venue for us.

The Cake: Fancy That! Cupcakes (909)524-1864 are so good that for the second time I found myself snatching the last half of one out of Garrett Davis’ hand –for the second shootout in a row!

The DJ: First Choice Entertainment

I hurriedly told DJ Marcel what I wanted, kind of. I really just told him “First dance, father daughter dance, cake cutting, bouquet toss and dancing –take care of it.” And he did. He took over hosting the show while I led my discussion and he even made me cry for the father daughter dance–as I always do.

After dinner, we had lighting workshops surrounding the traditional wedding reception events–first dance, cake cutting, etc. and also Round Table Discussions about branding and posing and even a critiquing station where photographers receieved feedback on their images of the day. (I led the branding discussion so I had to borrow a few images from people who were there. Thanks: Adrienne Fox, Steve Chua, Michael Boardman).

Thanks to my intern Kristin and her boyfriend for modeling.

From the Advanced Lighting Workshop led by Stephen Knuth

To see images from our attendees, go to our page: www.photogshootout.com/socal

It’s been 10 WHOLE months since our first Photog Shootout and wow, in retrospect, as I look at the old photographs, I  never imagined what the shootout has become. I’m humbled and awed at the response that we have gotten from the entire photographic community.

Our mission remains the same as the very first shootout in January – learn, network, build our portfolios and each other. We started with 10 and as of today, we have over 500 members in the SoCal Photog Shootout group on Facebook. Our last three events have sold out in a matter of hours. If you have no idea what I am talking about, head over HERE to check us out! Also, go check out the new national website: www.photogshootout.com

We meet every EVEN numbered month and October’s event was so epic, I felt like I planned an entire wedding! Except with 6 wedding dresses, 6 brides, 2 grooms,  80 dinner guests and a limited budget. Wait till you see what we think up next!

Of course, I could not have pulled this off without the help of:

~ Jay’s Catering and Mary Lallande: Mary found us the venue and got permission for us to use it. She knows all the great wedding and event venues in SoCal. Jay’s was just voted #1 Caterer for the OC and provided the fabulous dinner.

~ Bella Collina: This venue is remodeling their grounds and building an ampitheater for weddings and events. They  generously allowed us the use of their grounds and ballroom.

~ Kacee Geoffroy Makeup Designs: Kacee is no stranger to our shootouts because she is AMAZING and she makes our models’ hair and make-up look fabulous. She also helped style the event.

~Kim Bragalone: Kim helped us with makeup and was awesome.

~ Bows-n-Berries Hairbands: The gorgeous hairpieces that the models are wearing are custom designed by Heather, She is branching out her business to include couture hairclips and headbands for women and brides. They were so cute, I’m NOT GIVING THEM BACK AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ME.

~ Florist: Jay Jensen Floral Design: At the last minute, Jay came through and provided the exquisite bouquets our girl’s are carrying

~ Avery J Productions: wait till you see the fantastic shootout video Shannon is making for us this time. It will be posted here soon.

~ The Models: Lindsey Addie, Stevie, Joe, Tiffany, Micah, Chelsea, Shannon, and Megan

It’s bittersweet to plan a large event, as you get to be the one in charge and not really get to shoot, but as I was running around, I made sure I ran around to each group and fired off a few shots. Not my best work, but if you want to see some awesomeness, go over to the Facebook Photo Album and see what the other 79 photogs got!

This is just one of the 6 groups:

Before we destroyed over $6,000 worth of dresses and clothing, I figured we should photograph them in all their glory.

The weather was amazing- no rain and beautiful clouds!

Let the trashing begin:
Cake, anyone?

Water.

The pond water was green and it was 65 degrees by the way. Chelsea was a great sport.

Don’t be offended. It wasn’t my idea. You can thank Chris Diset for his morbid-ness.

Dirrrrrrty.

Painting:

Special Thanks to Joe Photo for speaking to us (pictured here with rockstars Sara France and DotMan):

P.S. You should trash your wedding dress too. Come on, are you gonna wear it again? Contact me for details!