California Wedding Photographer, Photography Worldwide – Victor Sizemore’s Blog

On day 2 we photographed two different couples with two very different styles. The first session we did a mock getting ready and first meeting and shot close to the hotel and around Champs-Elysees. Then with the second session we had a nice walking route with the couple that included the Louvre.  Enjoy!

Here’s a shot of our group!

I wonder if that guy had a good view?

Back in September Jay Reilly and I did a two day workshop together in Paris. I’ve been meaning to post these but life and other business just got in the way. We moved to LA and the holiday season came flooding like the rain last week. So I’m finally starting to get catch up on blogging. Look for several more wedding posts from the end of last year. The photos below were from our mock engagement session on ‘Day One’. The next post will be ‘Day Two’ from our two bridal couples.

Crazy, no one was at the Eiffel Tower that day, yeah right!

Had to mix in a couple of Jay! He’s was stand in model while I was talking about lighting situations.

A little off-camera lighting demo. Not bad…

Dragging the shutter with a little pan action.

Backlight and lens flare.

Last weekend I drove to San Francisco with my good friend Fenton and his fiance Katie to shoot their engagement session. It rained all week in California so we didn’t know what type of weather to expect in the city as usual. However, we had an awesome day with bits of rain and clouds here and there which added to the mood.

I’ve known Fenton for 10 years now. We played baseball together in Kentucky at Brea College. We also did two road trips in college, one of which was 8229.6 miles door to door from my house in Kentucky. We drove a loop around the country going I-40 straight to Las Vegas then Death Valley, Sequoias, Yosemite, San Francisco, down the coast, LA, San Diego, Mexico, Yuma for the Super Bowl, White Sands, San Antonio, New Orleans, Nashville and home again. Gone 30 days on the road! We stayed with everyone we knew in the areas, sleeping on floors and couches. We also camped and even slept in the car several times.

Here are some photos of me, Fenton and Lucian from the road trip. Then some from the engagement session in Frisco.

Sequoia National Park

I just had to post this one of Lucian brown bagging the Anchor Steam and talking to the street guy.

Me on the tracks up the coast. A head shot of my brother-in-law Michael Hedden outside his college apartment.

My beautiful wife, Rachael and Elijah at 6 months at Hotel Del Coronado.

Us with Hector before heading down to Mexicali for the night.

We started at the Palace of Fine Art where it was still raining on and off. I saw a couple bride and grooms too.

We had an awesome day after the rain. Here we are down at Chrissy Field by Persido.

Of course Baker Beach is always good…

I had to mix in a “Shot” at my favorite liquor store.

Before leaving town we hit up Buena Vista by Ghirardelli Square for the original American Irish Coffee. It was strong but amazing!

In September I went to New York City for not one, not two but three engagement sessions. Normally I like to take an extra day for myself to enjoy the city but this was a jam-packed two and a half day business trip!

Day 1 – Staten Island – Heather and Chris

I arrived in Newark around 4pm where Chris picked me up and we went back to Staten Island. I know Chris through my buddy Vinny who was one of my college roommates in California. I was in Vin and Devin’s wedding last year and now they are expecting TWINS!

Heather and Chris decided to shoot at a park at the base of the Verazano Bridge then head over to the old fort. We had a clear and amazing view of the city that afternoon. That night we all had an amazing dinner a Da Noi. They start you with an olive topanuad, we order mussels in white sauce as an appetizer and I had veal with shitake and sage over pasta. They are getting married next July in Staten Island. Might be a good family trip for the Sizemore clan to rip up the Big Apple.

Day 2 – Jessica and Michael – Central Park

I met Jessica and Mike at the famous Plaza Hotel at the southeast corner of Central Park to start our shoot. We photographed some very iconic and picturesque spots in Central Park. We wrapped the shoot with some drinks on the Westside and then Michael and I went to the Rangers preseason hockey game. He had seats on the ice third row. You can really feel the hitting that close! My first hockey game, loved it!

Day 3 – Alison and Erik – Central Park and Meat Packing

We also started in Central Park but met on the westside just above Columbus Circle. We hit a one spot in Central Park I had never been. It was a lawn near the great divide. Then we went to The Standard hotel over the High-line, it’s pretty sweet! Then ended the shoot in Meat Packing. After all the work we went to dinner at a small Italian place called Frankie’s. I had the wild boar ragu.

Here are a few shots of us on day one from Jay Reilly and I’s workshop in Paris. I swear I was teaching too but Jay shot video of me for the promo. More images to come of Day 2 and some of our finished photos of the couples.

You’re invited to join Jay Reilly and Victor Sizemore for an unforgettable photography workshop.  Experience the life, love and culture of Paris, France while enjoying a hands-on-shooting, intensive 2-day wedding photography workshop.  Only $500!!!  A casual atmosphere will combine Paris assignments, shooting demos, and in-class presentations covering a wide variety of topics most relevant to success in weddings.  This workshop is ideal for anyone interested in or beginning their wedding photography business or the already accomplished photographer looking to revamp their creativity, skills and approach.

Jay Reilly and Victor Sizemore are the perfect combination for providing diverse professional insight on wedding photography.  Both thrive in the progressive Southern California wedding market and look forward to sharing with you in Paris, France!

Download the registration form and sign up today!  ****Date change**** Now the 22nd and 23rd of September!  See you there!

Ok, its true, Victor Sizemore (myself) and Jay Reilly, both lovers of Paris have decided to team up and spend time shooting one of the most beautiful backdrops for the aspiring and inspired photographer alike. We are so excited about the potential of a late September Paris get-together that we want to see who else is interested!? Would you like to come along and experience what we believe to be a unique and creative approach to the wedding photography workshop. A two and a half day, casual affair that will among other things, get creative juices flowing and flat out challenge your photography skills to live and breathe the passion in your art. Time spent includes cocktail hours, a day of city shooting assignments and challenges, a day of wedding photography in class and around some of the sites of Paris and a possible third day of wedding fashion shooting throughout Paris.

Sound fun? Of coarse it does! Just say Oui and join us in Paris. Date to be decided for late September. Limited seats, reserve your spot. In order to express interest, please email either Jay Reilly or Victor Sizemore. vcs@vcsphoto.com

For more information on Jay’s awesome photography, please visit: http://www.jayreillyweddings.com or http://www.mycameraisbiggerthanyours.com

I made a decision on Thursday for my trip and I’m actually writing this post in the Seattle airport while waiting on my connection to Spokane, WA. Thank you for all wonderful suggestions and comments last month. Definitely a lot of places on there I still want to visit.

Below were the three major factors in my decision from the suggests:

1) Places I have already traveled. This ruled out: Ireland, Prague, Oregon/Pacific NW, Cape Code, Venice, Hong Kong, and a few more…

2) Places Rachael wants to go. This ruled out: Italy, Spain, and Australia (First big family vacation, hopefully in a few years)

3) Places I could get to from Coeur d’ Alene, ID on American Airlines. This ruled out a ton of good spots, argh!

So Hilarye of My Fotographa in Atlanta, GA ultimately influenced my decision to go to Calgary, Alberta. Hilarye suggested Vancouver, British Columbia and my original trip got shorted from 5 days to now only 3. My idea was to fly into Vancouver and ride the train across to Calgary while takes two days alone.  So now I opted to fly straight to Calgary. My itinerary is a very packed for the 3 days. Activities include: shoot at least one sunrise and sunset in Banff National Park, photograph the local flair at Stampede, play golf and hang with my friends Tayhlor and Amiee.

So congratulations to Hilarye, I hope I get some good stuff! Thanks again for all the travel ideas, I am definitely keep the list and resources on file.

A few weeks ago I flew to Denver to photograph a wedding two hours east in Beaver Creek, Colorado. It’s some of the most amazing scenery! Along the drive I passed bison grazing pastures and Buffalo Bill’s grave as massive snow capped mountains tower in the distance. It was a pleasure for me to photograph Joann and Aaron’s very intimate wedding. There were only six people including me. The couple met in Dental school at the University of Louisville and have been together for nine years.

Joann grew up in Manchester and was a senior in high school when I was a freshman. She was between my sisters and I in school. It was my first time meeting Aaron and he’s a great dude despite being a Razorback. We almost have him converted to being a Wildcat fan! We were like old pals after our short two day adventure. We drank sake, shot pool, and played golf in the rain.

We were totally blessed with the weather… It had stormed and rained both days. Then just before the ceremony it cleared and ended up being a gorgeous afternoon which provided excellent light and dramatic scenery for the photographs. The ceremony was held on a small bridge over a mountain stream. No one heard the vows for the rushing water except the couple. They actually preferred it that way making them less nervous in front of the large crowd of four witnessing the act. After the photos were finished we sat down to a very nice dinner at the Osprey Lodge where everyone was staying. The chef prepared an awesome five course meal ending with his spin on Tres Leches which was to die for!

Check out some of my favorite photos, enjoy!

Aaron trying his hand at modeling – ‘Blue Steel’

This week I was fortunate enough to travel to Cabos San Lucas, Mexico to shoot an amazing wedding at the One and Only Palmilla Resort. Big thanks to Mark Brooke for heading down to Mexico with me and kicking back some Tequila as well. Michel and Jay had a couple events leading up to the wedding. I photographed the welcome dinner on Sunday night and the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Monday evening. They actually surprised everyone at rehearsal by performing their legal US wedding ceremony at the end. The best-man Rich is ordained in the state of California. It was one of Rich’s New Year’s resolutions along with wearing more Prada! Those were way better than mine… (Play more golf and work less.) Enjoy the photos and stay tuned for more!