ZumaPhoto » Albums & Books

Emily & Chris’s Big Fat Greek Wedding Album

Mitch — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:57:32 +0000

“Ooooooooooooooooo!”

That, or some variation thereof, is what nearly everybody who took a gander at this album for the few days it was in or studio said when they saw it. I’m particularly stoked by it because I pushed hard for this combination of new leathers in the cover and it turned out even better than I had imagined it would. The cover is a filigree-stamped split-grain leather with a quilted leather spine. Nom, nom nom!

This album was a long time in the making – the wedding was over 2 years ago and in fact was one of the very first that Logan and I shot together. But it just goes to show that its never too late to have us put the images from your wedding into the best possible setting. Congratulations Emily & Chris!

Wedding: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Reception: Little America Hotel
Album: 100-sides, 11×14, 100% fabulous.

What follows are a few layouts and some personal favorites from the album.

People manifest anxiety in different ways. Sometimes its pretty subtle.

I know just how he feels some days.

So the first dance started off typically enough.

But there is evidently a Greek tradition of showering the happy couple with cash during their first dance.
The children rushed in to gather it up so the intimacy of the moment was rather shattered.
Made me laugh though and that’s really whats important, right?

Sundance Winter Wedding Album | McCall & Ryan

Mitch — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:10:38 +0000

Well since we’re stuck here in winter for a few more weeks we might as well celebrate it. I can’t think of a better way than to share this gorgeous album from McCall & Ryan’s December sealing the Salt Lake Temple that culminated in a stunning winter reception at Sundance Resort!

McCall had a lot of images to pare it down from: we did an engagement session, a bridal AND groomal session, the temple sealing and the reception. The only thing to do was go BIG! So here we have a 12×16 inch, 100-side beauty dolled up in McCall’s own inspired combination of gold ostrich and copper metallic leathers. As beautiful as it looks here, this album really needs to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Its positively decadent!

A close-up of the quality of these hand-made albums. A perfect seam.

So what follows are a few favorite images and some layouts from my time with this great couple!
(Hint: the layouts are the short and wide ones)

Cool. Sophisticated.

World-weary and jaded, no?

Yeah – don’t buy it. Deep down, they’re silly.

Here are a few from the engagement session in the Fall.

Dress from Alta Moda Bridal

The 12×16 aspect ratio allowed us to put together some tremendous full-spread panoramics!

Ryan dressed down a bit for his arrival at Sundance.

McCall’s bridesmaids gifted with a scrapbook of their years together.

Hugs and tears all around.

One of my favorite panoramic spreads from the album.

Flowers & Decor by Scenemakers.

I really loved this touch – they gave out little evergreen seedlings in these cute tubes as favors
and asked everyone to plant it in their honor. Pretty cool.

BIG Texas connection in this family. Accordingly, both bridesmaids….

…and flower girl were appropriately attired.

Their first dance was accompanied by either a bubble machine that malfunctioned
OR
a foam machine that was set to extra chunky.

I never really did get an answer about which it was but intended or not,
it was really cool, and it sure made for some cool photos!

Beautifully quilted cake by Carries Cakes.

At the end of the evening McCall & Ryan bundled up in many layers, to stay warm…

…and also to provide some protection from the celebratory pelting that they underwent on the way to their ride…

…a handsome cab pulled by this beautiful Fresian…or perhaps a Percheron?
[ I don't really know but I know for certain that I have at least one helpful friend who will make a point of
correcting me...publically...if I get it wrong. You know who you are. ]

So how do you say thank you to parents who spring for such an amazing event for you?

Why with a replica album just for them, of course. Scaled down to 8×10 of course.

Thank you McCall & Ryan!

We hope that you’re enjoying your albums as much as we enjoyed creating them.

La Caille Wedding Album | Maggie & Ben | ZumaPhoto

Mitch — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:28:28 +0000

Its been a while since we shared an album, but you can expect many more coming up because we produced more albums in this past year than we ever have before! Today’s star is this gorgeous 100-side, copper metallic leather and pink suede jaw-dropper that we produced for Maggie & Ben.

Maggie & Ben were married one beautiful sunny June day at the world famous La Caille, and we took a little extra time in designing the album to make sure that it really captured the love and emotion that were palpable to everyone there.

Please to enjoy!

Custom 100-side 14×11 inch copper metallic leather with pink suede accent and cover debossing

The suede in this album is the highest quality material we’ve ever seen, which is why it works with such a BRILLIANT color!

Seam matching is perfect!

Just like justice, this debossing is blind.
(‘Blind’ simply means that it has no ink or stain in the lettering, just the natural texture of the leather).

Bride’s names go first – its sort of a law.

Some of the finest binding work available anywhere in the world.

Maggie is a mesmerisingly beautiful redhead. I mean its downright distracting. She’s a real problem.
She was rockin‘ this vintage-inspired bird cage veil.

Flowers by Sean Oviatt of Sax-Romney.
I think that Sean may actually speak flowerese! Elegant, sophisticated….stunning. As always.

Here are a few favorite spreads shown in layout.

OK, so Maggie had a little surprise for Ben.
Right after the ceremony she ran upstairs to change into a brand new gown – this one decidedly more contemporary in design!
And she made them both – completely different takes – look A-M-A-Z-I-N-G….a testament to her staggering beauty.

I don’t remember the details, but the dress was from Alta Moda Bridal.
Perhaps Hillary or Jamie could fill in the details…?

Ben both represented AND kept it real.

Carrie of Carrie’s Cakes designed the cake. It was both beautiful and delicious.

BUT, what really blew everyone away was the groom’s cake…

Yes, this ice-filled cooler full of Cutthroat’s is a cake!
The ice is formed sugar crystals.
The cooler and bottle caps are rolled fondant.

The bottles are hand-rolled out of dyed transparent sugar sheets!!

It was such a convincing illusion that it may go down in history as the most touched wedding cake as nearly every guest came up
as some point to feel the bottles and convince themselves that they weren’t in fact the real thing!

The skill that Carrie’s Cakes displayed here left me doing the same thing that I saw nearly every wedding guest doing…

….shaking our heads in wonder.

Thank you Maggie & Ben, and to the many talented vendors who made their event such a thrill to document!

Utah Quinceañera | Heather & Friends | ZumaPhoto

Mitch — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:54:33 +0000

For those of you unfamiliar with what a quinceañera is, it is the traditional coming-of-age celebration for girls of Latin American heritage. Held on a girl’s 15th birthday, it combines much of the significance found in Jewish bat mitzvahs (transition into adulthood), Catholic confirmation ceremonies (re-affirmation of the bond with God), sweet sixteen parties (an excuse to have a GIANT party), and a debutante ball (introduction to society and a kick-butt dress!).

They’re a really big deal in the western U.S. where there are large Latino communities, but despite my hopping between California and Utah, this was the first quinceañera I’ve ever shot. It totally rocked!

We started by doing a casual session with Heather hanging out with her two BFFs.
I was TOTALLY nervous.
I mean, I’ve shot hundreds of brides, some of them really pretty stressed out, and it doesn’t phase me in the slightest. But three 15-year old girls?

I remembered myself as a 15-year old….and I was afraid…because I would probably strangle 15-year old me.

And I would enjoy it.

Turns out I had nothing to worry about – they were awsome!
They jumped between goofy and cool without much effort and generally were far more sophisticated that I was at their age.

OK, so maybe more sophisticated than I am now.

Anyway it was fun, is my main thesis.

‘phistocated. And then they totally broke up laughing.

One of Heather’s favorites.

~/~

A few days later, I met up with Heather in her dress to do some more formal portraits.

Heather’s party was going to have a Carnival theme, so she brought along her mask and we did a few with that.

Putting that mask on brought out a whole ‘nuther level of her personality!

~/~

With so many great shots to use, Heather decided to have us put together one of our custom guestbooks.

Here’s a few shots of what it looked like after Heather’s friends got ahold of it.

Heather, you are a beautiful, intelligent, and confident young woman. Big things lie ahead!

Thank you so much for making me a part of your special day.

Some shots of Heather’s over-the-top party in a few days!

Album Delivery Day – Alicia & Jay | ZumaPhoto

Mitch — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:00:53 +0000

To some, a wedding album is simply a collection of photos. For us and our clients, however, the album represents the culmination of an ardent vision. Months to years of planning and sweating of details on the part of our clients; one compressed and emotionally charged day; countless hours shooting, editing, retouching, interpreting and designing our images of that day – all come together into the ultimate presentation of the memories that all that effort forged – the album.

At ZumaPhoto, the delivery of an album is the one time where all work stops and we take a moment to gather together in appreciation of the results of our efforts.

Today we’d like to share just a peek of our latest creation with you – the album of Alicia & Jay.

Over the years we’ve used many MANY different album binderies, and each has had its charms. But our current bindery not only produces the highest quality albums that I’ve ever seen, but also offers the widest selection of cover styles. We designed a cover for Alicia and Jay that maintains a perfect balance balance between classical elegance and forward thinking fashion (just like Zuma!)

Its just plain GORGEOUS!

Our albums are delivered wrapped in this beautiful presentation made from all recycled materials.

Here she is…

The cover material is this amazing gold metallic osterich leather with coppery eyelets.

The inset image of their first dance – one of their favorites – was toned to compliment the tones of the leather.
Now, it helps that Alicia is a Greek beauty and that Jay is a professional soccer player (GOOOOOOOAAAAAL!!!!)

Fit and finish quality of these albums is absolute perfection – astounding for a hand-mand product.

As one option, an absolute lay-flat binding may be specified.

On to a couple of our favorite spreads…

Jay is just a stud. That’s all there is to it. In his tux he looked like a young Clark Gable.
All of this would be really annoying if he didn’t have such an easy (and a little goofy) sense of humor. ;)

I was very touched (and a little sheepish) that Alicia & Jay insisted on including an image of me in their album.
I am honored and humbled when a client tells me that they consider me an intergral part of their wedding memories. Thanks guys!

OK, that’s all you guys get to see – the rest is for Alicia and Jay!