Le Rêve
Le Rêve, or The Dream from French, seemed appropriate for this magical, dreamy afternoon. Clearly from the ring-on-finger, this was a post engagement shot where everyone could take a deep breath and relax a bit before getting excited all over again as to what exactly happened just a few moments ago. We brought this exquisite Cali Sparkling Wine which we had been saving for a truly special occasion – what could be more special?
Le Rêve, is a luxury Blanc de Blancs cuvee originally inspired by Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne. Blanc de Blancs means “white of whites” or white wine made from white grapes.
Eileen Crane and Claude Taittinger believe that the finest sparkling wine in the world is Blanc de Blancs made from Chardonnay grapes. These wines have greater finesse and ageability and Le Rêve is no exception. The Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs is generally 100% Chardonnay (with a small percent of Pinot Blanc in some years). Aged a full 6 years prior to release, Le Rêve drinks beautifully upon release and continues to develop for years in the cellar.
Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs has repeatedly been rated “The Best Sparkling Wine in America.”
Trash the Dress : A Surprise Engagement
Little does she know!
We love to shoot Trash the Dress sessions, especially on the beach! Trash the dress, also known as fearless bridal or rock the frock, is a style of wedding photography that contrasts elegant clothing with an environment in which it is out-of-place.
It is generally shot in the style of fashion and glamour photography. “Trash the dress” is the art of destruction or deconstruction of a brides wedding dress to create a new artwork that the bride would be proud to display on their wall.
This session, in San Clemente came with a bit of a twist – it was a surprise Engagement!
Mark had been planning something for quite a long time but was stumped as to the actual execution. He had purchased the ring and was writing countless speeches, composing songs and generally getting somewhat anxious.
From Here to Eternity
Kathleen mentioned to Jessie that we were entering a Photo Contest and needed some Beach shots with her old wedding dress! Hair, makeup and the works followed and Jessie followed our script (Mark kept his cool) until around 30 minutes into the shoot.
Shut Up! 😉
When Mark posed the question (not that we could hear due to the incredible surf), she gave a “Shut Up!” look when she realized that this was just not another Photo Shoot! Priceless!
A Funeral and a Wedding
This was shot in the back courtyard garden at the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, in San Diego, California. An interesting fact: this mission is often called “The Plymouth Rock of the West”. The first seeds of agriculture were planted at this mission which laid the foundation for the great agricultural state that California is today.
Now about the white calla lily! Like most flowers, the calla lily has a symbolic meaning. White calla lilies are a symbol of magnificent beauty and innocence. The white calla lily has also a significant religious meaning. It is believed that the white calla lily is a symbol of Jesus’ Resurrection, as the shape of the blooms bear a resemblance of trumpets, and the trumpets stand for victory; often the white calla lily was seen as the flower of the Archangel Gabriel.
It is also, ironically, associated with both weddings and funerals. The calla lily is symbolic of marriage and purity because of its white color and its trumpet-like shape, similar to a woman’s shape. It is also the symbol of rebirth and resurrection; therefore, it is widely used in funeral arrangements and planted in cemeteries.
Here we have caught both meanings – special! www.kerstenbeck.com
“I’m Sorry, Honey” Trash the Dress
I didnt mean it that way!
This is another shot from our Old Poway Park “Trash The Dress” series.
Trash the Dress, also known as Fearless Bridal or Rock the Frock, is a style of wedding photography that contrasts elegant clothing with an environment in which it is out of place. It is generally shot in the style of fasion and glamor photography. Usually brides decide to have pictures taken on a beach, but other locations include city streets, rooftops, garbage dumps, fields, and abandoned buildings.
Here we had our model Jessie on the wet grass, with Mark looming in the background. It was just starting to rain adding to the drama of the image
…we do have many Non-Fierce pictures of our stunning model Jessie in case you were wondering!
Image of the Day: Wedding in Little Italy, San Diego
During the ceremony I was able to get some shots from the balcony at the very back of the Church. I was pleasantly surprised by the reach of the 100mm on the lovely couple.
More images at http://www.kerstenbeck.com
Little Italy, San Diego
Image of the Day: Church in Little Italy, San Diego, CA
After a wedding shoot in this church, we were allowed to stick around and truly discover the wonders on the walls and ceilings. Who knew that there was such a spectacular Church in Little Italy?
Little Italy San Diego
Image of the Day: Wedding Rings
This is a nifty trick to make heart shadows from wedding rings. Just set the ring on a book and shine a MagLite through it until the heart appears. It was an awesome wedding shoot in a really nice church in Little Italy, San Diego. 
More images at http://www.kerstenbeck.com
Image of the Day- Family
Tonight we went to Sunset Cliffs to take some Family photos for a friend. One of my favorite shots is one of the Mom, Dad & the toddler’s feet- I just love the contrast between all of them. Check it out!
Image of the Day : Fernandez Wedding Photos
Fernandez Wedding Photos at Laguna Beach were stunning! We had never been to Laguna Beach to shoot and found several “jewels” in the images when reviewing them. Some of the favorites are captured here.
And has the image says “Dream Came True”
Kerstenbeck Photographic Art 
