John W. Farrand Photography Blog

We are so excited to be shooting Anna and Andrew’s wedding coming up in just a couple months!  We wanted to do a little “warm-up” session with them, so they can get used to how it feels in front of our camera.  I think they’re doing just fine.

See for yourself.

BTW, the lettering on the thumbnail for this post came directly from their wedding invitation designer Cassie Poe.  Thanks Cassie for letting me use your amazing hand-drawn typography!

Announcing Daniel and Serena Hinojosa!  We couldn’t be more excited to share this day with this amazing couple.  From our first meeting in Starbucks, we knew we were on to something good with these two!  We had so much fun with them during their engagement session in Disneyland earlier this year, and knew that their wedding was going to be a blast.  We couldn’t wait!  This sweet couple is full of love for each other, and those around them.  In case you couldn’t tell from these pictures, they’re also some of the happiest people you could ever hope to meet.

Daniel and Serena are also fellow Disneyland lovers, so they have a special place in our hearts.  If that weren’t enough, Serena had a hidden Mickey sewn into her dress!!  Check out the last picture of this set.  I couldn’t help but giggle like a little boy (or probably more like a little girl) when she showed me.  I hope you enjoy these pictures!  This day was so much fun!

Thank you Daniel and Serena for letting us be a part of your day.

Wedding coordinated by the incomparable Tracey Buys of Attention To Detail.  This is the 2nd chance we’ve had to work with Tracey, she’s amazing!  Seriously!

What an experience this was!  At work last week, Tivon pulled Melissa aside and said, “I’ve been dying to tell SOMEONE!”

He pulled out the ring box, opened it and said, “I’m going to propose to Brandi this weekend!  Is there ANY way you guys can make it down?”

Well, lets see… Disneyland, engage…. of forget the reasons!  Of course we’ll be there!!  “We’ll find a way!”  Melissa told him excitedly, after catching her breath.

So here we have it, two amazing people who have chosen to spend their lives together… AND they’re planning an amazing wedding in a special place, but I won’t share that here just yet.  We’ll probably do an official engagement session soon with these two, but wow!  What an emotionally exciting day this was!!

Tivon told us as we were getting on the Carousel that he was going to do it, Melissa and I both experienced small heart stoppages.  We were excited and nervous for him, and didn’t want to spoil it with our excitement.  We tested our best poker faces.  Apparently it worked, because Brandi had no idea!  If you look at the third picture down, you’ll notice Tivon pulling the box out of his Chewbacca backpack, then “counting down” with his fingers behind his back (I only got “two” sadly).  After he opens the ring box to Brandi, she didn’t notice at first.

I love the last picture.. I was walking behind them, and Tivon just raised his arm winningly.

Thank you Tivon and Brandi for letting us be apart of this special moment in your lives, it was definitely special to us.  We are honored.

Melissa and I have loved our recent photo sessions in Disneyland.  I always get a little nervous before an engagement session though.  As a photographer, the engagement session is your first opportunity to actually *work* together with your clients after your first interactions and meeting.  It’s kind of like a second date.. and when the first [date] goes so well.. the bar is set high!  Especially when that second date is Disneyland!

Well, only 5 minutes into us meeting in California Adventure, I knew I had nothing to worry about with these two.  What fun they were to shoot!  We hit it off immediately and we hit the ground running, literally!  We were running against the sun, as it didn’t want to hang around long.  Eventually a bank of clouds rolled in right before sunset, but we did find some great locations to take advantage of the sun as it peeked through.

These two had so much fun, and Daniel really knows how to bring out the joy in Serena, as you can see in this set.  We were all laughing and having a blast together.  Thank you Daniel and Serena for the fun time, and we are ecstatic about your Bakersfield wedding in October!

Melissa and I are blessed to work for an organization in town that actually lives up to it’s motto(s).  There are several mottos and titles actually, but probably the most important, all-inclusive title for Covenant Community Services is “HQ of Hope.”  We get to see this come true everyday with the former foster youth who walk through the doors, who have little hope to succeed in life, but with the help of the “Transitional Housing Program,” they are able to find real help, guidance and hope for their lives.

Without saying more about the program I wanted to share a truly special day that Melissa and I were lucky to be a part of.  One of the success stories from Covenant, David Anderson and his [now wife] Veronica were able to have a small wedding on 12-12-12 at the Mill Creek Linear Park in Downtown Bakersfield, CA.  They still plan on having their big wedding next year, but how cool to have that date as your anniversary?

Early in the afternoon, I said to David, “So, this is a big day for you?” (Profound, I know.)

“Yeah, I never thought I’d be getting married…”  David responded with a gentle smile.  “It’s a good day.”

The overcast skies didn’t even matter to anyone in attendance.

Here are a few pictures from the day and at the bottom, I’ve posted David’s story that I edited a few months ago.  Considering his story, I’d agree with him…

12-12-12 was a good day.

These two beautiful people, along with their families, made us feel so welcome during their special day.

We had an absolute blast shooting this wedding.  From the R2D2 groom cake, to Michelle’s response speech to her Maid of Honor toast (“First of all… “), I found and continue to find myself amused by these bright lights we get to now call our friends.  We found perfect Disneylanders too!  You can see that here.  :)

Thank you Jeremy and Michelle.  We can’t wait to see where life takes you guys, and let us know about babies!

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This wedding was so beautiful.  We noticed spectacular planning by the amazing Tracey Buys of Attention to Detail.  Looking back, Melissa and I wish we could have used Tracey for our wedding.  She is dynamite.  If you’re getting married, look her up!

Emceeing the evening was Kyle Brown of Good Time Entertainment, who was exceptionally helpful to us.

What can be said about the Bell Tower Club?  Amy and the entire staff were a delight to work with.  I just remember thinking, “This is a classy joint!”

And, as always I want to thank our awesome 2nd shooter Laura Tavarez!

Here is a sampling from the day:

I always like to set up the photo booth right off of the dance floor.  People love to get crazy when they’re dancing, and get their picture taken!!  Even at the Bell Tower Club!  I’ll post more from this blast of a wedding soon!  For now though, enjoy the craziness!   Jeremy and Michelle, we LOVED your wedding!  Thanks again.

Head to the ordering gallery to see more photos!

The day came and went, but this beautiful day won’t soon be forgotten.

What a sweet day this was!  Taryn and Andrew were married at the Cesar Chavez Center in Keene, CA.  I was amazed at how pretty the facility and grounds were.

Take a look at their day.. my pictures can’t come close to how special the day was.

Special thanks and shout out to Laura Tavarez Photography for helping me on this HOT day!

Melissa and I LOVE doing PHOTOBOOTHS!  We have so much fun with the guests!  For our weddings we always offer a Photobooth as a popular add-on.  The images that come from our photobooths are always high quality and super fun!  You can see why these are so popular to include at a wedding.  In and around Bakersfield, you may see us at a wedding or company party, and sometimes even a house party!

Misty and Greg [Higgins] asked us to be a part of their beautiful wedding day.. and after the sun set, the dance music triggered the start of the photobooth!  Take a look at these fun pics!  Misty and Greg.. Your wedding was so fun!

The Gardens at Mill Creek are a great place to host a wedding!  A really beautiful venue.. Check it out!

You may remember Jeremy and Michelle from their sweet Disneyland Engagement Session.  Well, before we made it into the park we got to hang out at Starbucks for a little while before we braved the huge crowds in the park.  So this is a little Engagement Session inside of another Engagement Session!  Disneyland with these two was so much fun… our time at Starbucks was amazing… these people are basically amazingly fun people.

We can’t wait until your wedding at the Bell Tower Club in November, Jeremy and Michelle!