Kim + Nelson: A Wedding in the Redwoods
In September, we drove up the 1 to Felton (just outside of Santa Cruz) to shoot a beautiful wedding in a redwood “cathedral”. It was a big, cozy wedding that mixed a few Vietnamese and Jewish traditions and had every beautiful detail you could think of. The most unique thing about this shoot was that they requested I shoot the entire wedding on film. I couldn’t do it 100% because of me being the only shooter, but I came damn close, using five different cameras. I worked my 645 so hard it broke in the last hour! My favorite detail was that the bride, Kim, skipped a traditional white dress for a grey floral number, but it didn’t feel that untraditional. The light through the trees was magical (albiet a bit hard to shoot the ceremony in!) and at night, the market lights made everything glow so beautifully. It was the first wedding I’ve shot that the couple didn’t want many photos of them, they just wanted to spend as much time as possible with their guests and have me capture everyone having a lovely, fun time. And that they did.
Thank you to Prestigious Planning for being so awesome to work with. Weddings with planners, so I don’t have to bug the bride all night, are the best.
Photos by Kate Miss, taken with a mixture of digital, Mamiya 645, Canon A-1, and Ikon Ikoflex - with Kodak Portra 160 and 400 film.
December 4th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Ugh I cannot even deal with how lovely this wedding is and how beautiful your photos are
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 10:00 am
<3 <3 <3
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December 4th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
all film! only shooter!! oh gosh, so much pressure!! but look at all the amazing you captured!
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 10:01 am
I just realized I should have hired you to help me!!!!
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December 4th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
OMG I absolutely adore that dress, any chance I can get the details? where its from? In addition what a breathtaking affair!
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 10:00 am
I wrote the bride to ask, will report back when I hear!
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December 4th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
this is so so beautiful! I can’t stop looking at your photos!
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December 4th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Amazing! Lovely location, theme, photos… and I especially love the bride’s outfit.
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December 4th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
DREAM WEDDING! the location, the dress, the crown, the dog in a bowtie!
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December 4th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Wow is all I can say. Wonderful Job and I just love that dog in bowtie!
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December 4th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
These are really stunning photos, Kate! What a cool wedding. Seriously love that dog photo, so good!
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Coolest dog everrrrr.
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December 4th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
yes! where is that dress from? all of this is just stunning!
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 9:59 am
I emailed the bride to ask, she’s in Japan with super limited email but I will let y’all know as soon as I do.
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December 4th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
All of these pictures are so lovely!
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 9:59 am
thank you!
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December 4th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
These are breathtaking, Kate! You sure you don’t want to shoot weddings like, forever and ever?
Even those little reflective lights in the second to last image (a phenomenon that drives me bonkers in my own work) looks serendipitous and magical, like a little constellation overlayed on the photo itself.
Gah. So beautiful!
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 9:59 am
That means so much coming from you, Kim! I think I may lose my mind shooting more than a few weddings a year. I have neither the patience or endurance, ha!
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Kim Reply:
December 8th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Hah! I hear ya. I max out at 10 a year — not exactly full time by most standards, either. I don’t know how people do 20, 30, 40(!!!) a year?! I would lose my marbles.
In any case, I hope you continue to shoot the occasional wedding. Your interpretation of the day is such a joy and inspiration to look through and your clients are always so sweet and adorable!
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December 4th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Thanks for these. I had a really crummy day and looking at your photos of this wedding made me feel a little better.
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 9:58 am
Aw:)
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December 4th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
I just moved across the country from Santa Cruz. This makes me homesick in the best way. :)
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 9:58 am
I wish I’d had time to explore Santa Cruz, but it seemed really beautiful from what I saw. I’d love to be that close to those trees. Sigh.
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December 4th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
Absolutely beautiful! Great job!
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 9:57 am
Thank you, Angela!
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December 5th, 2012 at 7:59 am
Skillz that kill. Love the lighting over the table with all the glistening dishware. Why don’t more people have weddings like this?
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 9:57 am
The light was so crazy beautiful that day!
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December 5th, 2012 at 8:55 am
That dress! So gorgeous. These photos are beautiful, kudos to shooting only on film!
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 9:57 am
Thank you! It’s not only film, but largely.
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December 5th, 2012 at 11:47 am
can’t believe you shot this whole wedding on film, the photos are incredible!
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Kate Reply:
December 5th, 2012 at 11:52 am
I didn’t! Just a large amount:)
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December 5th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
That dog is SO FREAKIN CUTE.
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December 6th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Oh, my. You completely captured the beauty of that place. My husband and I met in Felton teaching outdoor science and the redwoods were our classroom. We’re going back next week. We can’t wait!
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December 7th, 2012 at 6:44 am
The dog! The dress! The light! All so wonderful. You captured it all beautifully. You are so good at what you do, Kate!
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December 7th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
What beautiful photos, amazing job Kate! I really admire the choice of the bride and groom to make photographing their guests a big priority. What fun! I don’t think I’m going to wear a white dress, either. I am looking for a grey one, and the bride’s dress is the best!
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December 7th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
So perfect! Those table settings are jaw-dropping good and the shot of the lighted trees should be a mural in some room, some where.
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December 7th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
[...] a dreamy wedding in the Redwoods on For Me, For You. Can you guess my favorite [...]
December 10th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
these are really lovely! i normally don’t get excited about wedding photography but wow!
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January 9th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
What a beautiful wedding! Did the bride ever get back to you about where her dress was from? The invitations are so gorgeous too!
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Kate Reply:
January 9th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Her mom made it! Isn’t that amazing?
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