Johnny Stafford Photography

Our blog has moved!

2009-01-28T08:21:00.001-08:00

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new and improved blog for 2009! Please visit www.johnnystaffordphotography.com/blog for our most current work. Also, be sure to update your bookmarks and readers to the new address. This blog will remain active to retain all of our posts from 2008 and earlier, but will not have any new entries. Thanks!

Happy Holidays from the Staffords

2008-12-18T23:06:00.000-08:00

Thanh-Nha & Kenny's Wedding

2008-11-13T22:03:00.000-08:00

Sandy (Thanh-Nha) and Kenny were married on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at the Gardens at Heather Farm in Walnut Creek. The wedding weekend started with a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony held on Saturday. Sandy's bridesmaids put Kenny and the groomsmen through many tests, including a dance-off, push-ups, a jump-rope contest and drinking Wasabi Tea. After a little negotiation, Kenny earned entry into the home to greet his beautiful bride-to-be. The tea ceremony honoring the couple's families followed and then the celebration moved downstairs to the couple's new home. We were thrilled to be joined on Saturday by photographer Rob Snavely, who was the original photographer for this wedding. Rob has been recovering from a serious illness and it was a pleasure to work with him.

Ceremony & Reception: The Gardens at Heather Farm
Catering: Small Thyme Cafe & Catering
DJ & Emcee: EOne Production

Sunday was a beautiful day for a wedding and the Heather Farm Gardens was a perfect location for Sandy and Kenny's ceremony and reception. Surrounded by a lovely rose garden, the couple exchanged their vows in front of many family and friends. Sandy was full of laughter and big smiles the entire day. It's hard to find a photo of either of them where they weren't laughing or smiling.

Reischea & Alex's Wedding

2008-10-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

Reischea and Alexandros were married on August 30, 2008 in Fresno. The couple traveled from New York to Reischea's hometown to celebrate their union along with guests from as far as Canada and Greece. The wedding day was rich in Greek tradition, following Alex's cultural heritage. Reischea is a woman of many talents and looked stunning and graceful. Sports fans may recognize her as a New York and ESPNews sportscaster, but she is also an incredible dancer and can even deliver a thank you speech in Greek. She, along with her loving family made everyone feel welcome and at home. We can see why this couple fell in love (and why Reischea didn't mind sharing her aisle on return flight from NY with Alex and his friends the night the couple met).

The wedding day started with a hoops game for the guys and bridal preparations for the ladies, followed by a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony. The reception was lovely and held at Fort Washington County Club. The festivities started with a duet of "The Prayer" followed by dinner, toasts and a special video presentation from the couple. Dancing was a highlight of the evening with everyone dancing to all styles of music from salsa to R&B to modern dance music. However, the Greek music was incredible and the couple and families performed many of the traditional Greek wedding dances, which continued late into the night. Oopah!

Ceremony: St. Peter the Apostle Serbian Orthodox Church
Officiant: Jim Pappas, St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Reception: Fort Washington Country Club
Coordinator: Tina Moran, Watermark Events
Hair Stylist: Rod Horton, NY
Makeup: Kathleen Szopa
Floral: Apropos For Flowers
Cake: Eddie's Bakery
DJ & Video: Party DJ Party
Transportation: Limo For You
Vocalists: Bob Bergthold & Debbie Ruud

Stephanie & Tyler's Tenaya Lodge Wedding

2008-09-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Tenaya Lodge
DJ: TNT
Bakery: Sweet Dreams Cakery
Floral: Simply That Flowers
Officiant: Rev. Autry Nassar

Stephanie and Tyler were married on August 23 at the Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, just South of Yosemite. Tyler proposed to Stephanie at Glacier Point and a Yosemite wedding was fitting for this bride who is from nearby Groveland. The natural setting was perfect and we loved the little touches that the couple chose with their decor and color scheme, including table placecards that were postcards of Yosemite landmarks and pine tree seedlings that were given to the guests as favors.

The ceremony took place on the lodge's wedding lawn with a canpoy of pine trees in the background. It was an emotional ceremony with happy tears and and sentimental vows. The whole day was full of laughter and fun with all of Stephanie and Tyler's family and friends. We really enjoyed being part of such a fun and beautiful celebration.

Jillian & Daniel's Bass Lake Wedding

2008-09-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

Jillian and Daniel were married on August 16 at the beautiful Pines Resort at Bass Lake. Jillian is one of our sweetest brides ever and the day was full of lots of love and sentiment from all of the couple's family and friends. The wedding included a heartwarming ceremony with lots of happy tears. Daniel surprised Jillian by singing a ballad he wrote for her during the lakeside reception. We truly know there is a lot of love between these two. The day was also made very special by the homecoming of Daniel's brother who arrived the day of the wedding from serving in Iraq. he arrived just in time to serve as Daniel's Best Man.

Venue: The Pines Resort
Hair & Makeup Stylist: Bellissimo Brides
DJ: Yosemite Entertainment
Bakery: Sweet Dreams Cakery

Melody & Richard's Copper River Wedding

2008-08-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

Reception Copper River Country Club
Ceremony: St. John's Cathedral
DJ: AMS

Melody and Richard were married on July 26 at the historic St. John's Cathedral in downtown Fresno followed by a reception at Copper River Country Club. The ceremony was beautiful and the cathedral's stunning interior provided a classic backdrop for their traditional Catholic ceremony. Both before and after the ceremony, we had a fun time taking portraits at Copper River. Melody and Richard were so enthusiastic about their wedding pictures and we enjoyed capturing a lot of fashion-style portraits with them. The grapevines at Copper River provided a perfect location for romantic shots right before sunset. The reception was full of fun and emotion. Starting with Mariachis and dinner, the fun lasted into the night with DJ and dancing. Melody and Richard's first dance was a surprise for everyone. They started with a slow song and then ended with a sassy choreographed dance to the remix of "A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis. It was awesome!

Kasey and Paul's E-session

2008-08-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

Bass Lake was a beautiful location for Kasey and Paul's engagement session. They will be getting married at The Pines Resort in May, 2009 with a reception in Oakhurst. They are a fun couple and we are looking forward to photographing their wedding next summer.

Emily & Brian's Santa Cruz Wedding

2008-08-12T19:06:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Rehearsal Dinner: Shadowbrook Restaurant
Event Coordination: The Wedding Connection
Floral: Eventscapes
Catering: Five Star
Hair & Makeup Stylists: The Last Resort
DJ: Haro Entertainment

Emily and Brian were married in an oceanside ceremony in Santa Cruz on July 19. Their wedding had an ocean theme which was carried out in everything from their fun and colorful beach-bag and flip-flop wedding party gifts, to starfish place-cards and to their marine lab venue at the UCSC Seymour Marine Discovery Center, where the ceremony was held overlooking the ocean. There were even marine lab volunteers showing guests starfish and other marine exhibits during the cocktail hour and reception.

To top it off, we photographed Emily an Brian's first look and couple portraits in Santa Cruz harbor on the deck of her father's 34-foot Catalina sailboat. Even though the couple resides in Colorado, Santa Cruz was their favorite choice for a destination wedding. Who can resist the Santa Cruz coastal atmosphere?

It was truly a beautiful day and everyone enjoyed seeing the moving ceremony which included the bride's walk down the aisle on a path leading from the ocean and a sand ceremony. Even the officiant, a friend of the bride's family, was teary-eyed. Guests enjoyed the evening full of fun and dancing and we have to say that it's the first time that we've seen a bride ambushed right before the bouquet toss. You'll see a photo below of Emily's Aunt running up behind her to grab the bouquet.

Thanh-Nha & Kenny's E-Session

2008-08-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

We met up with Thanh-Nha and Kenny in San Francisco to shoot their engagement session at some beautiful spots in Golden Gate Park. The bamboo forest in the Botanical Gardens was one special location as well as the De Young Museum. Its copper exterior and modern lines was a favorite for Kenny who is an architect. We ended the session at the Golden Gate Bridge which was just barely peeking through the thick fog. Thanh-Nha and Kenny were full of smiles and laughter the whole day and it was hard to pick our favorite photos.

We are thankful to Thanh-Nha and Kenny, who selected us to be their photographers after their original photographer, Rob Snavely, fell seriously ill earlier in the year with encephilitis. Rob is still recovering and many photographers from around California have assisted with covering Rob's weddings. We look forward to shooting their tea ceremony and wedding in October.

Melanie & Jonathan's Evergreen Lodge Wedding

2008-07-15T16:20:00.001-07:00

Ceremony: Camp Mather
Reception & Catering: Evergreen Lodge
Officiant: Rev. Autrey Nassar
Band: Danjuma
Cake & Desserts: Devon's Delactables

Melanie and Jonathan were married on June 28th near the Hetch Hetchy entrance of Yosemite National Park with a lakeside ceremony at Camp Mather and beautiful reception at The Evergreen Lodge. The Lodge, which was built east of Groveland in the 1920's, is a charming resort of rustic and modern cabins. A large group of friends and family traveled from all over California and beyond to enjoy the week and weekend at this fabulous destination. Despite the wildfire that was burning just a few miles away, everyone enjoyed hiking, swimming, etc. in the area.

We really enjoyed spending time with the couple, who have a strong love for the outdoors and each other. Their ceremony was peaceful and serene and included a beautiful song sung by Jonathan's family. The reception followed with an incredible dinner and awesome music by Danjuma, an Afro-Cuban band from Santa Cruz. The music was so fun that the dance floor was packed the entire night.

Corina and Pedro's Wedding

2008-07-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Corina and Pedro were married on Pedro's family farm in Atwater, CA on June 21, 2008, the summer solstice. Their wedding was full of vibrant colors and family traditions. Pedro's family spent months preparing the farm for the 300-guest celebration. Gorgeous sunflowers were planted around the wedding lawn and lush green corn fields surrounded the property. Corina looked stunning in her dress and veil which were purchased in Mexico and accented with a vivid turquoise necklace and shawl. Pedro wore a traditional outfit for the ceremony, which included his sisters and friend performing a traditional Pre-Columbian drumming and dance ritual, which honored the traditions of Meso-American ancestors. The ritual was followed by Father's Mario's traditional ceremony and rites and readings given in both Spanish and English.

The hot weather and stormy skies did not put a damper on the celebration which included a traditional Mexican dinner and lots of dancing. The dance floor was very lively for the song called "la vivora de la mar" (the snake of the sea tradition). The bride and groom stood on chairs holding Corina's shawl as a bridge, while guests held hands and sprinted through the crowd and under the bridge. At the end, the men lifted Pedro and threw him into the air!

Kate & Tristan's Shaver Lake Wedding

2008-06-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

Ceremony: The Cooper Cabin, Rockhaven
Catering: Love & Garlic
Floral Design and Event Coordination: The Flower Box
DJ: DJ Matt

Kate and Tristan were married in a beautiful ceremony on June 14 at a rustic cabin at Shaver Lake. The wedding location was very sentimental to Kate and her family, who has owned the cabin for generations. Two of Kate's Aunts were married there, including her Aunt Debbie who officiated Kate and Tristan's ceremony. She was married at the meadow at Rockhaven Cove 35 years ago. The wedding was a destination wedding for most and the festivities started off Friday with a day at the lake, rehearsal and BBQ. The night was not complete without a little karaoke with the bride-and-groom-to-be.

The grounds of the cabin were transformed into a wonderful wedding plaza and Mother Nature did it's part with beautiful wildflowers everywhere. Every detail coordinated with the natural setting including the Wish Tree, floral arrangements, paper lanterns, leaf embossed cake and wedding favors (which included a mini flashlight and compass attached to a tag printed with the couple's monogram). We also loved the Rockhaven Cove meadow as a location for the couple's wedding portraits. The lush green meadow was just so beautiful and serene. The reception went late into the night with the incredible music and club mixes by DJ Matt.

Anna & Ed's Glacier Point Wedding

2008-06-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

Ceremony: Glacier Point
Reception & Catering: Yosemite Lodge
Hair & Makeup Stylist: Bellissimo Brides
Floral: Simply That Flowers
Officiant: Rev. John Paris
DJ: Kevin Musso

Anna and Ed were married at 7,200 feet at the stunning Glacier Point Amphitheater overlooking Yosemite Valley on May 31, 2008. With Half Dome and full waterfalls in the background they exchanged their vows in front of their closest family and friends. The couple enjoyed many activities during the week of their destination Yosemite wedding including hiking, a guys bbq and a ladies luncheon at The Ahwahnee. The wedding day could not have been more lovely. The previous week's storm left a light dusting of show on the upper peaks and the waterfalls were bursting at the seams with the Spring runoff. We really enjoyed spending the day with such a nice couple and family.

What are the bride and her father looking at behind them in the photo below? Right when they were about to walk down the aisle, a Mama Bear and her cubs were spotted nearby. If you look carefully in the upper right hand corner of the photo, you can see these furry little wedding crashers off in the distance.

Shashi & Matthew's Elderberry House Wedding

2008-06-08T21:06:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Erna's Elderberry House/Chateau du Sureau
Event Coordination: Star Events
Floral: Apropos For Flowers
Cake: Sweet Dreams Cakery
Musicians: Philharmonia Strings
DJ: Party DJ Party

Shashi and Matthew were married at the exquisite Elderberry House in Oakhurst on May 17, 2008. They had a lovely outdoor wedding at the restaurant's Garden Court followed by a five-course dinner for family and friends. Shashi's dress was accented by a red silk shash that matched her beautiful red shoes. Matthew's family traveled from Minnesota for the wedding and joked how the warm weather was quite a contrast to the snow they had left back home. The evening was topped off with a fun reception where Indian music kept the dance floor packed long into the night.

Shashi & Matthew's E-Session

2008-06-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

We joined Shashi and Matt for their engagement session at Woodward Park in Fresno. It was a beautiful morning at the Japanese Gardens and even the resident peacocks gave us a show with their brilliant feathers. We enjoyed getting to know Shahsi and Matt and know they are a perfect match.

Traci & Michael's Wedding

2008-05-15T09:28:00.001-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: The Piccadilly Hotel
Floral: Simply Flowers

Traci and Michael were married on April 27 in a beautiful morning wedding at The Piccadilly Hotel. Surrounded by many family and friends, they had a wonderful ceremony and luncheon reception. They were full of laughter and smiles the entire day. Following the reception, we went to Fresno State, Traci's alma matter for some lovely portraits at The Smittcamp House and Savemart Center. Traci has always been a Fresno State Bulldog fan, so it was a lot of fun taking photos on campus and in the sports arena. It was just a perfect coincidence that her wedding colors were true "Red Wave" red.

Rebecca and Russ: Yosemite Wedding at The Ahwahnee

2008-04-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: The Ahwahnee Hotel
Hair & Makeup Stylist: Bellissimo Brides
Floral: Simply That Flowers

Rebecca and Russ were married at a beautiful ceremony at The Ahwahnee Hotel's wedding lawn in Yosemite on April 5, 2008. The day was perfect with incredible weather and the waterfalls running near maximum. You couldn't ask for a more gorgeous setting. With guests traveling from as far as France and Latvia and many from the East Coast, the day was truly a first-class destination affair. The celebration went late into the evening with a live band, lots of dancing and the traditional Hora.

We just love Rebecca's expression when she first saw Russ on the wedding day. Since we did portraits before the ceremony, the couple had their "first look" in the forest area near the Ahwahnee bridge.

Traci & Michael's E-session

2008-04-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

Traci and Michael could not have picked a more beautiful day for their engagement session at the lovely Japanese Gardens at Fresno's Woodward Park. The blossoms were in full bloom and were a stunning backdrop. Traci and Michael are so much fun and we are looking forward to their wedding later this month.

Yosemite in Winter

2008-02-16T09:36:00.000-08:00

Yosemite is always breathtaking in the winter and our visit last weekend didn't disappoint. After meeting with Melanie and Jonathon, an incredible couple who are getting married this summer at The Evergreen Lodge, we just had to take some scenic pictures around the park on our drive home. Also, as a bonus, before leaving Johnny surprised me with brunch reservations at The Ahwahnee, where we celebrated Valentine's Day a few days early with a romantic meal in the Dining Room. There was awesome cuisine and beautiful views of the snowy meadow and mountains outside. We worked off the meal with a crisp hike in the snow.

Amanda & Armando's Wedding

2008-02-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

Ceremony and Reception: Visalia Convention Center
Caterer: Marriott Catering Service
Floral: Touch of Roses
Video: Video Image
Band: Grupo Control

Amanda and Armando were married in an unforgettable ceremony in the South Valley on January 19, 2008. With around 1,000 guests in attendance, the Visalia Convention Center Exhibit Hall was transformed into an exquisite and stunning ceremony and reception site including lit olive trees, custom lighting, hanging chandeliers and a sea of elegant candelabras and decor. It was also converted into a full concert venue for the reception.

The ceremony was very romantic with Armando singing "Por Ella" to his bride as she walked down the aisle. The reception followed immediately with the couple circling the hall and greeting the family and guests and then enjoying their first dance.

Entertainment was another highlight of the evening with two bands playing Cumbia up on the stage. Grupo Valasco from Orosi started off the night and was followed by the headlining band, Grupo Control, which was a special treat to the couple and guests. Known as "The New Kings of Norteño Cumbia," Control performed several sets of music and dancing to the delight of their many fans in attendance. The dance floor was packed the entire night. It was so much fun to be part of such a spectacular evening. The couple and guests had such a blast!

Note: Control has several albums out on EMI Latin and can be found on iTunes.

The Perfect Proposal

2008-02-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

The New York Times featured a story recently about marriage proposals. Couples love sharing the story of how the question was popped and our society always loves a creative and romantic proposal story. We especially love the trend of photographed proposals, where a photographer is hired to secretly capture the special moment. Seeing the bride-to-be's emotional reaction and a couple in love is such a moving moment. What better way is there to have a true engagement session?

Here's a link to the article: New York Times

Leave us a comment below and let us know your favorite proposal story. How did your fiance propose? Did one of your friends get engaged at some really cool spot?

Cindy

p.s. Here's our picks of cool places to get engaged around the valley. I'm sure some of you can suggest some even better ones:

1. Yosemite of course. Overlooking Glacier Point, ice-skating at Curry Village, underneath the trees at Mariposa Grove, hiking to Yosemite Falls or dining at The Ahwahnee...the choices are endless.

2. The Tower Theatre- What would be more romantic than dinner at Veni Vidi Vici and then a proposal under the marquee at The Tower Theatre? Having "will you marry me?" on the marquee would top it all off.

3. For the sports buff, Grizzlies Stadium (aka Chukchansi Park) or Bulldog stadium. Proposals on the big-screen scoreboard would be a really big surprise.

4. The Madera wine trail. There are a number of local wineries who could provide an intimate and romantic setting for a proposal. Twice a year there are wine trail events where a limo can take you from winery to winery for wine-tasting and chocolate tasting.

5. Escape to the beach. Just a couple of hours away, the ocean is the perfect spot to pop the question. Pismo, Cambria and Carmel are great options for a romantic seaside proposal.

6. Proposal on the lake. Hire a sailboat, speedboat, party barge or canoe at either Bass Lake, Millerton or Huntington Lake and propose over a picnic on the water. If you are at Bass Lake in the summer, you can top off the evening with lakeside dinner and music at Jazz on the Lake at The Pines Resort.

WPPI Convention 2008

2008-02-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

We are so excited about the upcoming WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) trade show and convention coming up March 13-20th in Las Vegas. We will be attending to look at all the newest photography gear, gadgets and products at the trade show, as well as attending numerous platform speakers and classes taught by a variety of incredible photographers around the world.

Also, we love watching the print and album judging during the convention. Prints and albums from across the globe are judged and critiqued and awarded various honors. It's like the photo world's own little Oscars ceremony, minus the writer's strike, fancy clothes, schwag and red carpet. Below is a funny satirical promo from WPPI for the upcoming awards ceremony. It gave us a little chuckle. For more information on the convention, visit www.wppionline.com

Jenna & Ryan E-session

2007-12-26T20:25:00.000-08:00

We joined Jenna and Ryan at a family ranch for their engagement session. There were lots of fun toys including his Grandpa's restored BSA motorcycle and a Model T for us to use in the images. And we couldn't resist some fun pictures in the beautiful red and yellow leaves! The couple has known each other since childhood and Ryan has recently returned from service in Iraq. They are getting married next week on New Year's Eve at Holland Park West and we are so excited to be part of their special celebration.

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-24T16:22:00.000-08:00

We'd like to wish everyone a wonderful and happy holiday!

Johnny and Cindy (and our 2 little helpers...Jonah and Jadyn)

Congratulations Karly and Jody

2007-12-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

Baby Connor arrived on December 4th as an early Christmas gift for the Mills family. We were able to take some wonderful maternity portraits with Connor's proud parents just a week before he was born. Fortunately, Connor didn't arrive early, or the maternity session would have been a newborn session. We wish the best to Karly and Jody with their new baby boy!

Ashley & Matt's Wedding

2007-11-12T18:03:00.000-08:00

On a beautiful Fall day, Ashley and Matt were married on October 22 at The Pines Resort at Bass Lake. Ashley's dream of rich fall colors came through courtesy of mother nature. The trees were full of gorgeous gold and red hues. Dinner and dancing followed the lakeside ceremony up in the Pines Resort Lakeside Room.

Venue: The Pines Resort
Hair & Makeup: Revive Day Spa
DJ: TNT DJ
Floral: Sweet Pickins Floral

Gina & Brad's Yosemite Wedding

2007-10-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

Gina and Brad flew in to California from Texas with 20 of their closest friends and family for a beautiful destination wedding in Yosemite Valley on September 22. They had a morning ceremony at the historical Yosemite Chapel with a reception later in the evening at the Wawona Hotel. Rain storms rolled into Yosemite the morning of the wedding creating dramatic skies and rain, but did not put a damper on this beautiful day and celebration.

Ceremony: Yosemite Chapel
Reception: The Wawona Hotel
Hair & Makeup Stylist: Bellissimo Brides
Floral: Simply That Flowers
Cake: Sweet Dreams Cakery
DJ: Johnnie Rae
Rehearsal: Erna's Elderberry House

Michelle & Ryan's Presidio Wedding

2007-09-26T14:45:00.002-07:00

Michelle and Ryan were married on September 15 at the beautiful and historic Presidio Chapel in San Francisco. It was a gorgeous location with a view of sailboats and the bay. The reception followed at The Golden Gate Club at The Presidio.

Venue: The Presidio
Reception Lighting: Got Light
Catering: Danish French
Floral: Loop Flowers
Cake: Copenhagen Bakery

While Michelle was getting ready at Hotel Monaco, the guys were game for a photo shoot on the roof of Ryan's apartment.

The Golden Gate Club was illuminated beautifully with custom lighting. We just loved the beautiful floral scroll that was projected on the reception hall's main wall!

One of the wedding guests and friends of the family was Kopi Sotiropolis, a morning news anchor on the couple's hometown FOX affiliate, KMPH. Kopi gathered all the Fresno-natives in attendance to tape a special segment featuring Michelle and Ryan for the morning show.

It's not every wedding where the bride and her father get out on the dance floor to rap and dance to Humpty Hump.

This was officially our earliest "day after" photo session ever (or our latest wedding shoot ever). We captured these gorgeous pictures of Michelle after midnight during the after-party at Hotel Monaco. We couldn't let the night end without photographing the couple on the gorgeous staircase in the lobby.

Stephanie & Tyler Yosemite E-session

2007-09-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

Stephanie and Tyler were recently engaged up at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. For their engagement session, we of course went to Glacier Point and some other locations in Yosemite to capture some special portraits. We are looking forward to their wedding at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp next summer!

Vanessa & Mark's Wedding

2007-08-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

Vanessa & Mark were married on August 2 at The Pines Resort at Bass Lake. Close family and friends travelled from Southern California for a week of fun at Bass Lake for the couple's destination wedding. Their rehearsal dinner was held at a vacation house right on the lake. The wedding day started with the gals at the hair salon and the guys getting pedicures. Vanessa wore her Mom's wedding dress for this special day and walked down the aisle which was covered in a sea of gorgeous flower petals. The reception was held lakeside at The Pines and everyone enjoyed dinner and dancing with a special Elvis performance.

Venue: The Pines Resort
Hair & Makeup: Bellissimo Brides
DJ: Johnnie Rae
Floral: Coarsegold Flower
Cake: Sweet Dreams Cakery

Jared & Rebeca

2007-08-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

We photographed Jared and Rebeca's engagement session a couple of months ago at Woodward Park in Fresno and then their wedding on July 28 at Northeast Assembly. It was a beautiful wedding with candlelight and a church full of the couple's family, friends and congregation.

Ashley & Matt E-Session

2007-08-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

Ashley & Matt's engagement session was taken up at the breathtaking Glacier Point overlooking Yosemite. The couple are geologists so the location was ideal. During the drive, we stopped at Wawona for some scenic portraits in the river. The couple's wedding is in October at Bass Lake and we look forward to being part of their beautiful Fall wedding.

Sara & Brad's Tenaya Lodge Wedding

2007-07-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

Sara and Brad were married on July 14 at the beautiful Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, near Yosemite. Surrounded by many family and friends and majestic pine trees, the day was truly special. Sara, Brad and the wedding party ventured into the forest-area near the resort for some memorable portrait time to capture the natural beauty of the area (and of the bride). They were so awesome and we thank them for getting their shoes a little dirty. Into the evening guests enjoyed a first-class dinner, dancing at the new wedding pavillion, cooking smores over the fire pits and watching the couple's slideshow.

Venue: Tenaya Lodge
Hair & Makeup: Bellissimo Brides
Rehearsal: The Wawona

Katie & John's 7-7-7 Wedding

2007-07-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

The popular 7-7-07 was one of the hottest wedding dates of the year and the Central Valley weather did not disappoint. Katie and John were married at the Pines Resort at Bass Lake with a beautiful ceremony and a lively reception with family and friends from near and far. Katie and her bridesmaids went on to rule the dance floor late into the night!

Venue: The Pines Resort
Hair & Makeup: Bellissimo Brides

Katie and the girls "get down" to "Shout" by the Isley Brothers!

Larissa & Rocky's Bass Lake Wedding

2007-07-02T14:41:00.001-07:00

Larissa and Rocky were married on June 30 at the beautiful Pines Resort at Bass Lake. They had a garden ceremony and incredible lakeside recpetion. We had a lot of fun taking portraits of the bride and bridesmaids out on the boat dock and the guys poolside. This was truly a destination wedding with guests coming from as far away as Kazakhstan. They were a really fun couple and yes, Rocky is really tall (6' 7")!

Venue: The Pines Resort
Hair & Makeup: Revive Day Spa
DJ: Joyful Noise
Floral: Coarsegold Flower
Cake: Sweet Dreams Cakery

100-Year-Old Wedding Dress preserved for Fresno's Meux Home Celebration

2007-07-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

Fresno's Meux Home will be honoring the 100th wedding Anniversary orf Mary Meux and Henry Barbour, who were married in the parlor of the historic Meux Home in downtown Fresno in October of 1907. In honor of the celebration, the stunning ivory and lace wedding dress worn by Miss Meux has been restored and will be on display for the Meux Museum's celebration in October.

The Meux home is a charming historical landmark in downtown Fresno. Johnny's Mom, a retired educator, is a docent there and spends many weekends hosting tour groups and Victorian tea parties for the public. The Meux home is also an incredible location for small weddings, and perfect for couples seeking an intimate and historical venue. In fact, Johnny's parents will be renewing vows there for their 50th wedding anniversary next summer.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660199838,00.html
http://www.meux.mus.ca.us/weddings.html

I survived the Iron Design Challenge

2007-06-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

As a graphic designer for many years, I couldn't resist participating in the Fresno Design Alliance's first ever "Iron Design Challenge," a contest which benefited the Rainbow Ranch Equine Therapuetic Center. The challenge consisted of a group of 50 local designers submitting logo designs for the non-profit organization with just 48 hours to complete the work. Two winning designs were selected (one selected by the client and the other a viewer's choice award chosen by members of the Fresno Advertising Federation).

To see the variety of logos entered as well as the winning designs, visit Iron Design Challenge The logos submitted were awesome and I look forward to participating in future pro-bono projects sponsored by the Fresno Design Alliance.

Cindy

Lisa & Kevin's Wedding

2007-06-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

Lisa and Kevin were married on a gorgeous day at Copper River Country Club on May 20. The day started with golf for the guys and the salon for the girls. The ceremony was beautiful and was followed by an evening reception at Copper River.

Venue: Copper River Country Club
Coordinator: Madeleine's Bridal

New York Times: Trash the Dress

2007-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wedding photography made a splash in the New York Times "Style" section this week with an article about the wedding trend of "trashing the dress" photo sessions. These sessions features brides and grooms with an adventurous spirit who are not afraid to do an after-wedding photo shoot where the dress either gets wet (think of "From Here to Eternity" kissing on the beach) or dirty from climbing to a mountain top to capture a photo in a unique location.

The article can be read here: NY Times article - trashing a Vera Wang dress

More great examples of "trash the dress" sessions from around the country can be found at Trash the Dress

For brides who wish to preserve their wedding dress, a visit to a local vintage or thrift shop can often find a dress suitable for trashing without any worries!

Wedding Photography FAQ Answers Questions for Brides

2007-06-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

We know many brides have a lot of questions while planning their wedding. When it comes to photography, we'd like to recommend a great wedding photography resource. Wedfog.com answers a variety of questions from photographers around the world about how to choose a wedding photographer, how to work with your photographer and what styles (photojournalism vs. traditional) there are to choose from.

If you are planning your wedding, definitely check out Wed Fog

Michelle & Ryan E-session

2007-05-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

We headed up to San Francisco to shoot the engagement session with Michelle and Ryan. After a breezy walk across the Golden Gate bridge, we retreated to the beach below. Later we went to the Palace of Fine Arts for some beautiful shots before sunset. We had a great time and even joined Michelle and Ryan for dinner at Liverpool Lils. We are looking forward to their wedding at The Presidio this September.

Album awarded WPPI 2007 Accolade of Excellence

2007-05-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

We entered the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) album competition this year and were thrilled to receive an Accolade of Excellence for the album we created for Krista and Michael. Albums from around the world were judged at the recent International conference held in Las Vegas in March. Just over 100 were awarded the accolade and were judged in front of a live judging panel at the trade show. We are very honored to be among the incredible albums that were shown this year. WPPI Online

Here are some page spreads from Krista and Michael's album:

Save-the-Date Magnets

2007-02-25T13:11:00.000-08:00

Sara and Brad requested for us to design Save-the-Date magnets featuring images from their e-session. We created a custom design for them and have now added magnets to our a la carte pricelist. We think it's a fun way to let guests know about your wedding!

Sara & Brad's Yosemite E-Session

2007-02-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

Sara and Brad chose a beautiful winter day for their e-session in Yosemite National Park. With snow still on the ground, park was stunning and a little bit chilly. Sara and Brad went for a spin at the Curry Village Ice Rink, a favorite spot of Sara's. They are getting married this summer at Tenaya Lodge, located near the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park.

Wedding Fashion Shoot

2007-01-31T15:26:00.000-08:00

Following a fashion show at the Fresno Premier Bridal Show in January, we had a lot of fun doing a fashion shoot with some of the models from Act 1 Tuxedos, Best Man Tux Shop and Madeleine's Bridal. We offer a big thanks to the models (Leigh, Daniel, Ignacio, Brittney, Alexandria and Erica). The images are being used for advertising and signage for the tux shops.

Sherie & Tezale

2007-01-15T22:39:00.000-08:00

We photographed Sherie & Tezale's engagement session on a beautiful winter day at Woodward Park in Fresno. They were joined by their adorable son, Tamar.

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-15T16:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from the Stafford clan. We took a November trip to Yosemite for a photo session for our holiday cards. The kids were cold and didn't want to take pictures. We bundled them up and had some fun down at the river by The Ahwahnee Hotel. Then we warmed up by the big fireplaces in the hotel's grand lounge and with some soup at the grill.

Urban Portraits: Poetry Jam

2006-12-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

A photo shoot in downtown Fresno was the place to be for portraits of Bryan, Kilroy and Deanna, a group of local poets who are always behind the mic. www.myspace.com/the_innerear, www.myspace.com/thebeatdownslam

Karly & Jody's Wedding

2006-10-30T16:44:00.000-08:00

Karly and Jody were married at New Hope Community Church in Clovis with a reception at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel Ballroom. It was a beautiful ceremony full of happy tears and lots of love. The reception was full of fun with a packed dance floor and pranks from the groomsmen. We thank our 4-year-old son for first introducing us to Karly's family (Karly's Mom is his preschool teacher).

Karly and Jody joined us the morning after the wedding for a beautiful "day-after" photo session. It was a lovely way to do some additional portraits with just the two of them.

Nicole & Patrick's Bass Lake Wedding

2006-10-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

Nicole and Patrick were married at the beautiful Bass Lake Lodge, an incredible log-cabin style estate. They were married on a balcony overlooking the lake followed by a cocktail hour and multi-course "nuevo latino" meal created by chef James Schenk of Destino restaurant in San Francisco. Fun and dancing went well into the night!

Bridal Fair at The Pines Resort, Bass Lake

2006-09-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

We will be exhibiting at Bridal Experience 2006, a bridal show at The Pines Resort in Bass Lake on Sunday, September 10. The Show begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. The show will feature local wedding vendors as well as food and wine tasting, a mock wedding, boat rides on Bass Lake and more. The Pines is a gorgeous venue in the Sierra National Forest with a lake view, world-class food and beautiful lodging. For more information, please visit The Pines Resort website.

Ashley & Brent's Wedding-The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite

2006-09-03T23:01:00.000-07:00

Ashley & Brent were married in one of nature's most stunning settings in Yosemite Valley, one of our favorite places. The ceremony was held at The Ahwahnee Hotel in a meadow under the shadow of Yosemite Falls. It was followed by an elegant dinner reception in The Ahwahnee's Solarium. Ashley & Brent were amazing and the whole wedding was a delight for all of their family and friends who travelled to attend their destination wedding. (One groomsmen travelled from England for this special day.)

On Sunday we did a special "day after" portrait session of the couple in the woods next to The Ahwahnee. It was a beautiful location next to the Merced River where we were able to capture some incredible portraits.

There are more images from Ashley & Brent's wedding on our website in the Wedding section galleries.

Introducing GraphiStudio Wedding Albums from Arba, Italy

2006-09-03T21:59:00.000-07:00

At the WPPI trade show, we were blown away by the beautiful albums created by GraphiStudio in Italy. The albums are hand-crafted books with stunning covers, including leather, metal, silk and transparent options. Graphi albums have been innovators in the coffee-table style wedding albums for over 10 years. Their books are hand bound with a continuous page binding technique and crafted from the finest paper and cover materials. Prices include a custom design of your finest wedding images done at our studio by Cindy, an award-winning graphic designer, not by the album company or with pre-made templates. Please ask to see our studio sample.

GraphiStudio also offers the neatest little 4"x5" companion books. They come in hard and soft cover and are great for family and wedding party gifts. To see our pricelist visit our website and click on the Packages link.

Coffee-Table Wedding Albums by Asukabook

2006-09-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

We are proud to introduce our line of modern coffee-table book albums by Asukabook in Japan. We just love these printed books. They look like the fine art books you can buy at a bookstore. We custom design each album to give our clients a truly unique wedding book. The books come in sizes from 5"x5" to 10"x10." The deluxe line includes a printed book jacket and black or red embossed slipcase. To see more about our album design, visit our website at www.johnnystaffordphotography.com and click on "Albums."

The Kids Album on our website is a 5"x5" mini book and was selected by Asukabook as a display sample at the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International trade show in Las Vegas last April. It was an honor to have our book featured at the Asukabook booth for thousands of photographers around the world to see. Plus, we have to brag that the adorable kids in the sample are ours. There is never a dull day in our home.

For more information on Asukabook, contact us or visit their website at www.asukabook.com

Krista & Michael's Wedding

2006-07-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

Krista & Michael were married on July 1, 2006 at the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Fresno. The ceremony was stunning in the historical church and Krista and Michael's entire day was one of classic elegance.

Brandi & Michael's Wedding

2006-07-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

Brandi & Michael were married on June 25 on a 100 degree-plus day in Clovis, California. Brandi was full of smiles and laughs the whole day, and even a few tears during their beautiful church ceremony. Weddings