Here’s a sneak peek from Daisy and Brett’s destination wedding at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort this past Saturday.

It was a beautiful wedding with so many intimate, heartfelt moments. The first look was absolutely perfect. It was such a pleasure to be their photographer and capture their wedding day. Daisy and Brett, I can’t wait to share the rest of the photos with you. You two couldn’t look any happier!

We are excited to share photos from our latest editorial shoot for the cover of Beautiful Bride Magazine and Las Vegas Bride Magazine!

Several months ago we were contacted by the publisher of Beautiful Bride Magazine and Las Vegas Bride Magazine to photograph this month’s cover image. It was an honor to be asked to photograph the cover and to work with the wonderful team of professionals who helped bring  everything together.

You may recognize the cover model, Stefanie Jay, a news anchor for FOX5 Las Vegas. Stefanie was an absolute pleasure to photograph, and from a photographer’s perspective, a perfect model. Not only is she a natural at posing in front of the camera, but also an utmost professional and loads of fun to work with.

A big thanks to Jennifer Florendo, editor of Beautiful Bride Magazine, Stefanie’s mother who came along to assist in the shoot, Melinda of Hairz Melinda, Bella Bridesmaid, Flora Couture, T-Bird Jewels, and Shelly Sampson of Canyon Gate Country Club for providing us with a beautiful venue.

Even with such an incredible team of pros, there were a few challenges. Namely, changing lighting conditions and getting through ten to fifteen  different outfits in a limited amount of time. Stefanie and the stylists were extremely efficient in quick touch-ups and outfit changes. Meanwhile, our own photo crew was busy preparing for different sets and lighting situations. Here in the desert, the light changes quickly and can be very harsh, so it was important for us to choose locations where the model wouldn’t be overwhelmed by harsh, direct sunlight. In order to balance out the brightness of the sun, we used a few powerful strobes and a reflector to enhance the images.

The photos were also published in an earlier article where Stefanie shared her experiences as a bridesmaid. Having been a bridesmaid in her fair share of weddings, she gave tips and advice for planning brides and discussed what brides can do to make the most of their big day.

Be sure to pick up a copy at your local newsstand or visit www.beautifulbridemagazine.com.

Laura and Brian had a beautiful destination wedding at the now Westin Resort & Spa in Lake Las Vegas. Formerly Loews Lake Las Vegas, the property is situated in a stunning Moroccan-style setting surrounded by beautiful palm trees, a gorgeous lake, and a private white-sand beach. I always enjoy shooting at the Westin and working with the wonderful staff who help to make the ceremony feel warm and private.

I wanted to capture the warmth and intimacy of the wedding ceremony while remaining unobtrusive. It’s just as important to me to preserve the overall mood of a vow exchange in person as it is to preserve it on film. The trick is a long lens, a balance of natural and professional lighting, and the ability to anticipate significant moments.

When I shoot, I’m always watching for those unique and telling moments between a bride and groom. At the same time, I’m also creating – although I have shot many weddings at the Westin Resort, I always try to create something new and different for each of my clients. For me, photography is as much about telling a story as it is about capturing a moment, something I like to call modern storytelling.

I was very happy to hear that Laura and Brian were ecstatic about their photos. It’s a great feeling whenever a client tells us they chose us for our creative style and that we surpassed their expectations! I’m very appreciative of the fact that they value our work. Laura and Brian, I’m glad you are enjoying your images. Your album is on the way and it looks amazing! Thank you once again for sharing your wedding day with me! -John

I’m a huge outdoor enthusiast and I love the fact that some of the most beautiful places in the world have been preserved as national parks. It’s amazing to be able to visit places that are untainted by development and get a sense for what the world would have looked like hundreds of years ago. It’s even better when I’m able to share some of these awesome places with others.

That’s why I’m excited to spread the word about National Park Week. This April 21-29, 2012 there are no entrance fees at over 100 national parks. It’s a great excuse to get out there and experience the beauty of nature.

The photo above is Death Valley, located in the Southern California Desert. A portion of Death Valley extends into Nevada. The park is the lowest point in North America – nearly 300 feet below sea level – and one of the hottest places in the world. I’ve been out there a few times in the summer when temperatures were in the upper 120′s. You can step out of your car and not drop a bead of sweat because it evaporates so quickly. As soon as you get back into the air-conditioned car, you’re suddenly drenched in sweat. It’s an odd feeling but also very cool at the same time.

For more info on National Park Week, visit the National Park Service website. Pass it on, then get out there and enjoy our National Parks!

What an amazing couple Caitlin and Jeff make. These lovebirds were such a blast to work with – I really can’t wait to shoot their wedding this October! Stay tuned…

With spring approaching, we thought it would only be appropriate to post one of our favorite spring-themed weddings. Who doesn’t love it when flowers start blooming and the weather warms up?

Nicole and Dave were married at the lovely Siena Golf Club. Their ceremony was held on the stunning waterfront lawn. The day couldn’t have been more perfect with just a sprinkle of rain for good luck. We loved how the soft yellow and ivory color scheme, daisies, and paper poms were reminiscent of springtime and so perfectly suited to the newlywed’s vibrant personalities.

You may recall the photos from their engagement session last year – what an awesome couple! Not only do they make smashing pair, they both have a great sense of humor and were a blast to work with! The wedding day was romantic, fun, and filled with laughter. I truly enjoyed getting to know these two and feel blessed to have shared in their wedding day.

I mentioned in the last post that Dave is an incredibly talented musician. It’s always an an honor and a great experience working with other artists. Be sure to head on over to Dave Ritz Music and check out one of his upcoming shows.

After getting engaged over a year ago, Miriam and Markus knew they wanted to do something different and fun for their wedding. So, they flew over 5,000 from Germany to get hitched in Las Vegas. Ok, maybe not so different for those of us who call ourselves locals, but it was still tons of fun.

Photography was extremely important to them as they wanted amazing images to share with their family and friends back home. Finding a destination wedding photographer can be a stressful task, especially since the bride and groom often do not have the opportunity to meet with various photographers in person before selecting one. Luckily for us, Miriam and Markus spent a good amount of time researching wedding photographers in Las Vegas before falling in love with our work. They were looking for someone who could capture the real, candid moments as well as create beautiful and artistic portraits. Most of all, they wanted their images to look natural.

We had an wonderful time creating these stunning images on the Las Vegas Strip and getting to know our new friends. We enjoyed talking about the city, our upcoming travel plans to Europe, and all the amazing places in the world. Miriam and Markus, thanks for such a fun time. Congratulations again – we hope you enjoy your travels!

I’ll admit, I’m a huge fan of Lost. So, on day 1 of our recent adventure in Hawaii, we ventured out to the North Shore of Oahu in search of Lost Beach. When we finally arrived after an hour-long journey, what we found was a beautiful, rugged beach that was surprisingly secluded. Finding a quiet beach on the busy island of Oahu seemed unlikely, so I didn’t expect to find much seclusion there. However, it was a nice surprise and it was fun exploring the various “sets” used in the show. Definitely worth the trip…

The venue is amazing, the weather was beautiful, and the couple was perfect. It couldn’t have been a better wedding day for Kelle and Jon, who were an absolute dream to work with. As a wedding photographer, I can see a lot through the lens, and it was obvious that these two were madly in love. They were married at Siena Golf Club.

We first met Kelle at a Las Vegas bridal show many months ago. She was doing most of the wedding planning on her own, so searching for a wedding photographer among other things was a huge task. We tell many of our brides that when it comes to choosing a photographer, it’s important that you feel comfortable working with that person. More importantly, you should be attracted to his or her style and feel a connection to their work.

Most good photographers have a unique style, and while some may attempt to do so, it isn’t easy to imitate a style other than their own. We tend to describe our style as clean, modern and natural. We love happy faces, natural expressions, and real moments. Capturing the raw emotions that make every wedding so special is part of the reason we find photography rewarding. An intimate moment captured between the bride and groom tells a story, and we are always looking to tell a story through our photographs.

We were thrilled to hear that Kelle and Jon loved our natural style and were excited about working with us. We got to know them better during the engagement session and as a result, they both felt more comfortable and relaxed throughout the wedding day.

On the day of the wedding, Kelle was excited, anxious, and emotional. The wedding was beautiful and reminded me of just how important each and every wedding is. It was an honor to be able to share in such a special time in their lives. One of my favorite shots was during the first dance. Kelle and Jon were completely in their own world and having so much fun dancing and being married.

All of their hard work paid off as every detail looked flawless. The venue was gorgeous. We loved the deep purple color scheme, the beautiful centerpieces, and the phenomenal cake. We would like to give a shout out to the following vendors for helping  to bring everything together nicely:

Venue: Siena Golf Club
Florist: Rose Shack Florist
Paper: 1st Impressions Invitations
DJ: DJ Harry “O”
Cake: Las Vegas Custom Cakes
Photographer: John Morris Photography

You may recall the photos from Yan and Cheng’s Las Vegas engagement session several posts ago. Having just shot their engagement photos a few short weeks before the wedding,  it felt natural documenting their special day. It was great getting to know them before the wedding and it helped to put them both at ease on the big day.

They had a lovely ceremony and reception at Canyon Gate Country Club, incorporating their Chinese heritage to make the wedding unique. As a wedding photographer in Las Vegas, I feel honored to be a part of many culturally diverse celebrations. The distinctive red and pink color scheme is traditional for Chinese weddings and makes for vibrant photographs.

It was wonderful that they trusted me to be creative. Not only were we able to capture all the memories they hoped for, but we also made a few stunning art pieces that captured the beauty of their special day. In order to create these artistic images, the bride and groom planned some extra time just after the reception began to step away and make these beautiful photographs.

Yan had three dresses and changed into a stunning red gown for the reception. The bright color combined with a beautiful setting and professional lighting truly makes these photographs pop.

Yan and Cheng, congratulations and a big thank you for sharing your day with me. Also, thanks to the following vendors for helping to make the day look, sound, and taste amazing:

Florist: Floral 2000
Cake: Las Vegas Custom Cakes
DJ: The Music Solution
Music: Classical Entertainment
Video: PostMedia
Minister: Phil York
Photographer: John Morris Photography