Luke Snyder Studio

bye bye blogspot

2009-03-05T07:49:00.000-08:00

The new blog is at....

http://www.lukesnyderstudio.com/blog . I will no longer be using this address for my blogging and do invite you to visit my new journal of personal and professional photographic experiences.

and I thought yesterday was great....

2009-02-26T15:53:00.000-08:00

I've had two spectacular things happen today.

1. I was accepted into the Wedding Photojournalist Association ( http://www.wpja.com ), a somewhat selective organization who work hard to keep the definition of photojournalism true. I understand not 5 percent of wedding photographers are accepted. Wahoo! Do click the link below to learn more.

2. Just as I was wrapping up my membership details, the second blessing showed itself in a phone call from one of the industry leaders in wedding photography. Yes, Neil Cowley called me! While our conversation was just a quick one, it was a wonderfully warm gesture on his part, and it made a connection that felt great. While it may be hard to believe, I feel like a kid who's just been pulled out of the stands, and asked to play with the dream team.

The best part....the day is not even over yet!

UPDATE: (2 hours later)

3. I just had a client call and book me for her wedding. It was a REALLY good day.

tell the story, don't be in it.

2009-02-25T19:18:00.000-08:00

We all love new toys, and I'm certainly no exception. I'm blessed to have recently got one that doubles as my number one business and creative tool. Here I am, whimsically introducing the 5d mark 2, ruthlessly powerful and featuring some awesome video capabilities. These are the results of what I've done with it in the first 24 hours I've owned it. If you've enjoyed the final version, I highly recommend watching the original, uncut version after that.

tell the story, don't be in it. from Luke Snyder on Vimeo.

and the uncut version....

uncut version of "tell the story..." from Luke Snyder on Vimeo.

Elvis and Luke have left the building!

2009-02-20T20:38:00.000-08:00

I must have walked past a million slots while I was there, not once gambling. I'm proud of that. I only left the building twice. I'm not proud of that. I met most of the world's top ten wedding photographers, studied in small groups with those who work for National Geographic and win Pulitzer prizes, wrapping my head around photography for more than 12 hours each day. I'm proud of that.

From meeting idols to watching the competitions, spending valentines with my wife to the many workshops I attended, the list of highlights is literally 8 days long. In the end, I've returned deeply motivated, and very glad to be breathing natural air.

While the conference was about photography, I did very little there. Nevertheless, here are a few of my favorites. The first was fired from my waist as I posed for approximately 40 cameras at once. It was my turn in the "off camera lighting" workshop, and I wanted to record how intense it was to be Paparazzied. Whew!

The last three were from a quick session in the late evening, when my beautiful model posed for me in her wedding dress in the middle of the casino walkway. Note the direction from which the light comes from in those shots, and keep your eye out for more!

WPPI Photography Conference

2009-02-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

I'm spending some time in Vegas for the annual WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) conference. If you know how much I love my wedding photography, this is a dreamy experience. The conference really hasn't even started yet, but I've begun early with Greg Gibson (two time Pullitzer prize winning photojournalist), in a workshop entitled "the Art of Visual Storytelling" from 8 to 6 daily. Intense!!! I've had little time to shoot, but did get a chance to step out on the balcony for this one.

Plenty more to come...

Self Portrait Two

2009-02-08T07:35:00.001-08:00

While it is a bit weird, I am SO thankful that I've got a good excuse for being caught exploring wedding dresses in the local second hand store. I'm sure you can imagine the faces of all the elderly volunteers as I explained the "trash the dress" potential of the dress I was buying. If only I would have captured Lucille and Eleanor's expressions with my story.

Yes...this is the face of the guy who gets giddy when he finds a wedding dresses from the 80's, imagining them destroyed with mud, ketchup, and kindergartners with scissors.

Congrats to Nimia and Josh!

2009-02-06T17:55:00.000-08:00

Nimia and Josh were one of my first ever couples that I booked.

Here are just a few of the many sweet photos I've captured of them.

Caribbean Queen

2009-02-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

There is a first time for everything, and my wife offered to trash this (please note it is not "the") wedding dress on our vacation for her first "real" photoshoot with me. We had a fun time in the warm waters of the Caribbean as the cruise shippers gawked and the islander's wondered what we were up to. A fun day for sure.

2009-02-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

I never would have though I'd be ready to come home after 8 days of vacation and a second honeymoon to Roatan, Honduras. Living on the edge, I chose to put down my modern devices, and just absorbed the tides of island time. Highlights included long walks on the beach everyday, plenty of crazy creatures, harvesting and celebrating tropical fruit, incredible water, delicious seafood, diving, snorkeling and renting our own ride to adventure where few go. Because I spent much time holding my sweetheart's hand, I didn't take too many photos. However, I did snap some moments I couldn't miss. Here are a few of my favorites!

The path to the sea from our little hut

My sweetheart along one of those long walks

I'm a big fan of creatures, and loved feeding this sea of iguanas

This one is called an anole, and I've always wanted this shot.

These flying rainbows are not meant for cages, but unfortunately are sighted only rarely in the wild here.

This was island life away from the tourism

A little kid fished these from the rocky shore of our resort.

dare me to jump?

we also got a little goofy at times. I wish I could have photographed our karaoke night!

an engagement session in the January sun...

2009-01-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

Earthy Elegance

2009-01-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

The wedding of Joy and Lye was celebrated in earthy elegance.

Located at the totally unique Headlands Center for the Arts in way west Marin, these two created the perfect party with inclusion of family and friends from most of the continents, a beautiful biodiesel bus to ferry them from and back to San Francisco, the historical site, fun vows, an incredible organic feast, and some splendid live jazz. From the roots up, this wedding was sustainable to the core, including a striking bouquet made from winter kale, and live succulent centerpieces that the guests took home. Wow!

Invitations for Impact

2009-01-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

When Amy from ABCD Designs sends me cards, they make me feel like a little kid again. You can tell form the envelope that is is going to be decadent and unique. You'll turn off the TV and find a quiet spot, all while fixated and exploring it with with your hands. You naturally sit down or stop whatever you're doing, think or say...."this is going to be good" . You might even let it sit out, like a gift, and wait for company to experience the opening of it with you. Like it is meant to do, it is all about impact.

Do explore her work, as she is blessed artist full of flavor and personally designed tangible productions.

K, G, and the one who makes them three

2009-01-03T22:55:00.000-08:00

Kirsten and Gerald, longtime friends of my wife (and now I), have a little lady named Lila who already knows how to strike a pose. Here are a few from her first photoshoot with me.

One of my favorite shots of all time

2009-01-03T13:01:00.001-08:00

....for reasons that are hard to explain.

Lisa and Paul....engaged.

2008-12-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

I'm having a difficult time choosing my favorites from the engagement session of this gorgeous couple. We took a short walk this blessed winter day and spent the afternoon bathed in sun and love. This is Lisa and this is Paul, very much connected and entranced with each other as they celebrate their one year engagement. I'm blessed to be their wedding photographer, and very much looking forward to the day they invite nature, music, and plenty of guests to gather and celebrate together.

Be Graceful

2008-12-28T18:13:00.001-08:00

Jennifer and Ryan invited me to shoot their picture perfect wedding at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral, and when I learned the oldest member of their wedding party hadn't lived a decade, I accepted. Their wedding swirled with youth, emotion, and life. Like it should, beauty and elegance interwove with toasts and tears, for two days, making a moment in time an absolute epic. Here are just a few of their wedding moments mingling with those of their shorter guests.

10 years since the last pet...

2008-12-22T22:12:00.000-08:00

To scratch the itch of wanting a pet, and a little company as I work long days often by myself, I purchased this little guy yesterday. Sol sits here at my desk with me, and provides me with a little company as I work. He's also the first stunt beta I've ever owned, and will surely provide me with some great photos in the near future.

Abby and Jeremey tie the knot!

2008-12-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

Abby and Jeremey created a wonderful party around their recent wedding. They were blessed with lucky rain, and even better, took to plan B very well. Their Trocadero House setting in the Stern Grove of San Francisco provided a great space to celebrate, and their guests brought plenty of good intentions for them and their dance floor. Here are a few!

Ring me up!

2008-12-01T16:17:00.000-08:00

While so many parts of a wedding are predictable, I love trying to capture the essence of the day with a ring shot that pushes the artistic edge and absorbs the environment around. This post is a gentle persuasion for all my future couples to know that I'm keen to do something cool with one of their most symbolic tangibles in their marriage.

So....I'll ask before, and if you say yes, I'll ask again during your day to "borrow" your rings to make something like these. Do know that these shots are only the tip of the iceberg, and just one of them was taken on a non-wedding day...the last one, with the rings of my wife and I.

Simple. Elegant. To the point. I turned around and repositioned them here:

These two had some cute kids...love the dirty fingernails

This one has earned a place in my top ten of all time...

Acknowledging the candlelight.

This one was one of my first....

A helpful reminder of an anniversary?

"Dang Buzzy! Get out of the way of that shot"

self portrait one

2008-11-25T08:44:00.000-08:00

Next time, I'll blow the leaves out of the gutters before the rainy season.

Leaf the dress a mess

2008-11-24T21:58:00.000-08:00

As I view Cliff and Nora through the lens, I see a passionate couple that stare, connect, and balance each other so sweetly, the images almost make themselves.

The year 2008 pushes a recent fad in the wedding photography industry for "trash the dress" photo sessions. It is a wonderful idea, meant to get another relaxed photoshoot in for the couple, and allowing a release of all the "gotta-be-perfect" energy that much of our culture encourages us to be on this day. Because of that release, these types of photoshoots radiate with me, and I'd love to do more.

Blessings to you two and your passionate relationship. Let me know if you care to have another "mess the dress" shoot with kindergartners and finger paint, changing oil under an old truck with your vail on, or simply gettin' crazy with too much ketchup and mustard.

An E-session with Luke

2008-11-12T20:58:00.000-08:00

In my prior career, I learned that for teachers, clear Objectives were the best way to share a lesson. As a full time photographer nowadays, I'm finding that they are also the best way to lead an engagement session (and a wedding for that matter). As of recent and when I begin mine, I'm intent on sharing my three objectives. The first....to document a precious moment in times. The second, to familiarize we three in preparation for the upcoming wedding. The third, to make some amazing images. They're fairly simple and straight-forward, but if you think about them...they help.

I asked Michelle and Tom to describe themselves, and to come to the shoot ready to be the adjectives they shared with me. Playful and Entranced with each other, this session was a gem. With a bit of champagne, an incredible park, a perfect fall day, and a moment frozen in time, this is an example of just how good life can be.

Believe it or not, this romantic chose to propose by building a coffee table with a SECRET drawer, and having her accidentally discover the ring inside on a quiet night. Their story is nothing short of epic, and it is just beginning. I'm honored to capture it.

Enjoy these photos. In some, you'll see I'm experimenting with off camera flash. As I progress down a path of painting with light, you're sure to see more of this kind of work.

Wide Angled Wonderful

2008-11-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

If I was a painter, I'd definitely have my favorite brush.
If I was a chef, I'd definitely have a favorite knife.
I'm a photographer, and.the lens that captured this below is not my favorite, but it is still nothing short of awesome.
Soon enough, you'll know which piece of glass I own is my favorite.
However, can I share with you why I dig it? Read on.

Like a fish eye lens without the fisheye, this 14mm lens makes me get my feet out of the frame often. A bit rare in the wedding photography world, I like it because it gets me out of the box, and thinking REAL BIG often. I use it when I'm in the mood to share everything in the whole scene, if I am in a tight space, or if I'm wanting to get a bit artistic in the shot. Compared to a 35mm standard that many of us see when we had one lens for the rest of my life, this one just might be it because of the "I can see more" factor.

.......enough of the gear head talk. Let's see some cool shots!
Beneath, I'm photographing a really handsome model who's finishing his honey harvesting process, filling up hundreds of jars. I'm just inches away from him. He says he's related to Brad Pitt. Hmmm? Enjoy, and bee well.

Michelle and Jason tie the knot!

2008-11-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

These two were as wonderful as it gets. The night before, pouring rain threatened their outdoor wedding, but as their day opened up, so did the blue sky. While watching the best man race for the rings left at home was fun, and exploring a beautiful cake this bride designed herself was awesome, the best moment of the day was simply following these two with a long lens as they took an undisturbed walk in the woods during their first moment as husband and wife.

Focus

2008-11-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

Here are a few favorite shots from the recent wedding of Janice and John, of which grabbed the essence of union, and I'd like to share these examples of what I love to see as a photographer.

Let me break them down.

This first one was taken from a distance as she was preparing for her day. Calm, collected, and undistracted by the wave of emotion about to come forth, this shot captures her quietly internalizing that the day has come, and she is focusing on saying "I do"

This shot, while kinda complex and hard to explain, gains my number one favorite for the day. When I first look at it, I want to look at the interaction between these two at the alter. At first, my eye is not comfortable looking at the blurry, and seeks the focused part of the photo. There. There's the focus, in the foreground. With my eyes wanting more, I'm drawn back to the couple, who share a stare as they relax momentarily out of "the spotlight" (because guests should be paying attention to the words of Dad). Dang! I love this shot!

And finally, because I can't leave them with you out of focus...

Reflect Peace.

2008-11-05T17:39:00.000-08:00

This morning's news brought up just as much celebration as last night did while I was sipping my coffee and I heard Charlie Gibson refer to President Bush as "The Old President". Sometimes things trigger us, and I let out a visceral cheer that I had no control of. Gosh that felt good to hear. While I've been keeping my beliefs mostly to myself, the last 24 hours has been yanking on my viscera, opening up those moans and groans that are connected to the cord that lets the good tears flow, and I just can't keep it in any more. WAHOOO!

I found this piece of artwork a few hours ago, as it was being explored by numerous neighbors and passers by. It felt good to see their eyes glimmer too, knowing that many of us can be moved to tears by the sight of a beautiful bus. I wonder if it was the bus that made us cry.

My favorite shot is this first, one reflecting peace on another.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

On her way to work, I snapped these shots of my wife this morning. I told her she looks cute, but when she peered up at me with fake freckles and that oversized hat flopping over her eyes, she became twice as cute. While I'm thankful for her every day, it is days like these, when she shares the energy of excited 9-year-olds across the planet, when I realize just how thankful I am for her.

As the grapes go golden

2008-10-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

Sundays are made to rest, but life is too good to sleep all day.

My sweet Natalie and I are falling into the understanding that the essence of my business wraps around the weekends, and when I don't have a Sunday scheduled, we're off to do something fun.

As fall makes the grapes go golden around here, a journey up the gorgeous Napa Valley is well worth the exploration. This is what we did yesterday, without a plan, which is sometimes the best plan.

This Sunday, her plan was to see the valley as it graduated into the Alexander Valley, and my plan was to photograph it. Our plans were skewed as we were driving up valley by a surprise winery , as I asked her to turn around to park near the delicious rolling vines in the setting sun. While I watched the light butter up the rows of vines, she read the "Castella" sign and suggested that this might be the driveway to the Castle people were talking about. At this moment, our unplan changed. Until this point, I dismissed "the Castle" I'd been hearing about near Calistoga as a large stone building a few miles down the highway 29 road to be a wanna-be castle, but as we decided to explore what was up the driveway before I photographed, we crested this inconspicuous road, and my jaw dropped. Yep. While the dominating presence of Greystone along the road may kinda look like one, there is no mistaking the hidden Castella Di Amoroso for anything but a castle, with a moat, drawbridge, and an atmosphere that makes me want to carry around a turkey drumstick while wearing some chainmail.

A photographer's dream, fully authentic and with a simple background everywhere, this place just opened up in 2007 after 13 years of building, and is ripe for an AWESOME shoot in the near future. Here are just a few shots of mine, without much effort, doodling without subjects, with some of the fun lines within. While this place has more of a disneyland "WOW" factor in the building rather their wine, it gains my do not miss recommendation for you tourists in planning.

And finally, a teaser of what our grapes around here can look like when the big heater makes them go golden.

First comes love, then comes marriage...

2008-10-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

the comes the baby in the little tin- bucket-thingy-ma-bob.
Enjoy !

Janelle and Katharine tie the knot!!!

2008-10-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

Katharine and Janelle tied the knot a few weeks ago, and were bubbling with wonderful energy throughout their day. These two ladies were toasted all evening by friends and family, and in the oak laden hills of Sonoma, some of the laughter and celebration is still ringing. Congrats! These photos below are examples of some of my favorites of their day, selected because they're also my favorite moments to photograph. The first shot of their rings is something I wish I could do all day. The next is a prime example of the anticipation that is so fun to witness with my camera. When nervous and giddy come together, they make for great shots. That kiss is what I like to call "the real one," when couples walk down that aisle to find a safe spot to smooch... off stage and unprompted. These portraits, always relaxed, make for wonderful photos, and give the couple a moment to digest their fresh union.

The last shot is a prime example of the best posed shots... just seconds before or after the "say cheese" moment.

Take me out to the ballpark!!!

2008-10-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

Karena and David have scored a home run with each other, and invited me for a session in McAfee Coliseum. I hope it is apparent just how much fun we had!

be Present (preview)

2008-10-20T08:11:00.001-07:00

Nora and Cliff were a perfect match, incredibly present to each other and their guests, invited only those who were keen to celebrate their union, and then brought all together at a fantastic location to see, hear, feel, eat, and party late into the night. With all these components, this wedding left me floating for days. I'm now finishing the edit, and floating again. Keep an eye out on my site for more pics soon, including the result of what happens with that cake photo.

Be Connected

2008-10-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

Having nearly 30 weddings as a photographer (and dozens more as a deejay) under my belt, I've seen PLENTY of marriages happen. As some get caught up in the stigma of how it is "supposed" to be, I've been blessed to witness a few and growing number who do it differently, with cutting a cake or tossing a garter not even in the equation. Chris and Tony chose to take the road less traveled, uniting their lives with just two witnesses (the officiant and me) and very few of the traditions our parents followed. With a fun warmup walk around the incredible property of the Post Ranch Inn, these two adventured, in their full attire with me on a walk of their favorite spots nearby. As the afternoon changed to evening, and the officiant arrived at their awning, Chris and Tony took plenty (and I mean plenty) of time to say their vows while the sun slipped into the ocean smashing below them. Nearly as perfect as it could get, they eloped and shared a moment (in both mine and theirs) that goes down as ABSOLUTELY TIMELESS wedding history. Silence and the sweet savoring of moments prevailed as these two tied the knot in one of the most depthful ceremonies I've ever seen. A big thanks to these two for keeping it deep, slow, and real! Do check my "freshly squeezed shots" tab and "be Connected" to see 50 more photos that can almost describe their passion and day of union.

be Connected (preview)

2008-10-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

It is incredibly tough to use just one word to describe a photo, and even harder to describe an entire photoshoot If I had two, I could come up with paragraphs about Chris and Tony, two newlyweds currently living in Texas, it would be... connected. These photos, taken a few days after their union may conjure up fun and light experiences. However, their wedding was one of the most depthful I've been to, where connections to each other, spirit, and the motion of marriage were very deep.

Balloons Above the Valley

2008-10-09T07:01:00.000-07:00

My wonderful wife Natalie surprised me with a pair of tickets to fly in a hot air balloon above our home here in Napa. Having never gone ballooning before, and wondering if the wicker baskets were for real, we climbed aboard during sunrise a few weekends ago. On a one hour, mostly quiet cruise just a few thousand feet above the vines, my extra wide lens chowed down on the views. Wow. This was a spectacular adventure that I have been dreaming of my entire life and the best part, as you can imagine (and what made this flight an adventure), was landing. I thought you'd like to enjoy a few photos, of which the last one is where we landed.

Rebecca and Josh

2008-10-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Rebecca and Josh found me in February, and our epic engagement session under an orange sky was wonderfully vivid and absolute eye candy. Their wedding was every bit as beautiful and memorable, hosted amongst the Oakland hills in a wonderful park called Joaquin Miller. With just a few dozen family and friends, tables of vegan food, acoustic guitar serenades and plenty of dancing,. While I see many happy people at weddings, for some reason, this party seemed to be full of people full of life, laughing, and shaking....all night long. Congratulations to these two and their close ones!

Congrats to Claire and Daniel!

2008-09-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

Here are a few highlights of the wonderful wedding Claire and Daniel hosted at Auberge Du Soleil here in Napa. Such a sweet couple at such a gorgeous site made this my shutter snap several thousand times that day. Like I do in any wedding, I shoot liberally, putting the most work in the selection and editing afterward. I have to choose the best 500 out of 2000 here. With these two, it is going to be difficult, for there are lots of great shots.

Jubilant Judith and Ben

2008-09-24T13:13:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to these shining faces. These two recently put on a dreamy wedding in the hills above Oakland. The best moment of the night for me came when he used just his voice to sing to her a sweet a cappella tune with the entire wedding's attention. Moment's later, I snapped this shot as the entire room began to shake with dancers. I can't stop smiling about this shot with just her feet, dress, and a bunch-o-guys lifting her chair. What fun!

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart !!!

2008-09-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

One year ago today, that beauty was getting married...to ME!

Here are a few of the photos from our wedding that inspire me. Full of sweetness and plenty of light, Our day last September 23 was everything we hoped it to be. Thanks Erica Berger for these great photos..

Happy Equinox

2008-09-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

Enjoy this day of perfect balance in night and day!

We returned to the shade of the old oak tree we first met under, and married under one year ago. OceanSong is a wonderful place. Natalie and I enjoyed the annual equinox celebration, reuniting with dear friends, new rope swings, kissing under the sunflowers, grand views, sounds from the ocean, bubbles floating as live music played and a potluck that will be remembered for quite some time. What a wonderful thing to do on an anniversary!

I am Luke

2008-09-18T18:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome! My name is Luke, and I'm a professional wedding photographer from Napa, California. While my images speak for themselves, I believe in using a gentle and aware personality to make images that tell stories, share descriptive details, present stunning portraits, and capture the moments that can make the good tears roll.

This is my blog, with a mission to share the trail that I'm walking with you, personally and professionally merged, with experiences and thoughts in life and photography. In it, I aim to share just how passionate, caring, and talented I am, hopefully gaining your trust and appreciation for a different kind of photography that celebrates love and tugs at emotion.

The beauty in one of these shots below is my bride and best friend Natalie.

Celebrating our anniversary and my decision to go professional this weekend, the next post will be dedicated to her. For now, enjoy a few odd shots of me in the last year.