Everything you need for a California wedding

Nathan Nguyen2 said:I checked out the sites for Smith, Fox, and I think Teklica, but honestly, everything looks way better on a screen than when you see the actual prints. Like, the photos aren't bad, but they aren't quite as "wow" as they seem online. To me, Studio in still seems a few notches above them.
Who shot Pinguink?

I'm not sure which photographer did the penguin shot... I just know their shop is right on Broadway in San Francisco...

Nathan Nguyen2 said:I checked out the sites for Smith, Fox, and I think Teklica, but honestly, everything looks way better on a screen than when you see the actual prints. Like, the photos aren't bad, but they aren't quite as "wow" as they seem online. To me, Studio in still seems a few notches above them.
Who shot Pinguink?

photo color👍

Big thanks to everyone for the info🙏

Nathan Nguyen2 said:I checked out the sites for Smith, Fox, and I think Teklica, but honestly, everything looks way better on a screen than when you see the actual prints. Like, the photos aren't bad, but they aren't quite as "wow" as they seem online. To me, Studio in still seems a few notches above them.
Who shot Pinguink?

A quick thought: I’ve looked at Fox's website before, too... but honestly, that wasn't what made me decide to hire him. It wasn't until I saw his work in person that I knew I had to book him, no matter what...
Anyway, my advice is simple: don't just stop at one guy. Go see everyone you actually like... once you see the work face-to-face, the decision becomes obvious.
I noticed you asked about BB, too... those guys are great. I've been to a few parties where they played, and the vibe was fantastic... I'm really hoping for that kind of atmosphere at my own thing...
I'm not sure if their rates changed, since almost everyone bumped up their prices back in January... if you need any specifics on Fox or BB, just let me know.😍

Raymond Brooks7 said:Hey. I can only really vouch for one person, mostly because my wedding isn't until October...
I went with lisjak (the shots were incredible, his approach was spot on, honestly everything I saw blew me away...)
He came highly recommended by the son from Photo plus...he works the exact same way, so I’d suggest him too...
If you're looking at that level of quality—though expect to pay a bit more—you should look into Ivica Matić...I haven't seen his portfolio personally, though...
photo California is also great. I checked them out before I finally settled on lisjak... just a heads up: everyone warns you to make sure you pick the specific team that will be shooting and filming you (I can't help much there since I don't know any individuals)
And of course, there's STUDIO IN from San Jose. The girls on this forum praise them constantly; plenty of people have gone with them...

I have to address the flawed conclusion above... look, Ivica Matić isn't even in the same league as the esteemed Mr. Fox and Sin; he's actually two tiers above them... his high price is completely justified because at that level, you are paying for NOTHING BUT PURE QUALITY...

Jerry Thompson7 said:I have to address the flawed conclusion above... look, Ivica Matić isn't even in the same league as the esteemed Mr. Fox and Sin; he's actually two tiers above them... his high price is completely justified because at that level, you are paying for NOTHING BUT PURE QUALITY...

Just check the photos.

Jerry Thompson7 said:I have to address the flawed conclusion above... look, Ivica Matić isn't even in the same league as the esteemed Mr. Fox and Sin; he's actually two tiers above them... his high price is completely justified because at that level, you are paying for NOTHING BUT PURE QUALITY...

In the meantime, I've taken a look at Smith's work myself...
Listen, taste is subjective... and "quality" is a slippery term. Are we talking about the weight of the paper? The binding of an album? Or the actual visual impact of the shot itself?😕 I won't get bogged down in that; this thread isn't the place for such debates...
But I am sticking to my guns: the quality of work from this respected trio is identical...

p.s. check out the images on their websites:
www.ivicamatic.com
www.ivicalisjak.com

Jerry Thompson7 said:I have to address the flawed conclusion above... look, Ivica Matić isn't even in the same league as the esteemed Mr. Fox and Sin; he's actually two tiers above them... his high price is completely justified because at that level, you are paying for NOTHING BUT PURE QUALITY...

Our photographer was Ivica Matić, and honestly, it was an incredible experience. We felt so relaxed in front of the lens because he didn't just show up for the wedding—we did trial shoots and grabbed coffee together first, all just to make sure the actual photos felt natural and spontaneous.
By the end of the wedding, nobody even noticed we were being photographed. The shots turned out INCREDIBLE, the albums are stunning, and the photos follow a chronological flow—it’s one big, beautiful story. People genuinely can't believe albums like this are still made today; even our relatives visiting from the US and Australia were shocked, and we thought that kind of quality was the standard over there. As for the prices? I won't go there—everyone knows what they can afford, and that’s not the point here.
All I know is that we won't always remember the food, or the cars, or the champagne and other nonsense, but the photos will be right there forever to remind us of that day.

You can tell a lot about a person the moment you meet them—first impressions matter—and Ivica proved to be more than just a pro; he's a true gentleman and basically a therapist. He explained so much to us, helped us track things down, and even assisted with writing the event protocol... I mean, when you're dealing with someone who works 60 days a year on weddings, you get what you pay for. 🤣
And all of that gives us every right to say— A TOTAL HOME RUN!

👍

Raymond Brown7 said:Our photographer was Ivica Matić, and honestly, it was an incredible experience. We felt so relaxed in front of the lens because he didn't just show up for the wedding—we did trial shoots and grabbed coffee together first, all just to make sure the actual photos felt natural and spontaneous.
By the end of the wedding, nobody even noticed we were being photographed. The shots turned out INCREDIBLE, the albums are stunning, and the photos follow a chronological flow—it’s one big, beautiful story. People genuinely can't believe albums like this are still made today; even our relatives visiting from the US and Australia were shocked, and we thought that kind of quality was the standard over there. As for the prices? I won't go there—everyone knows what they can afford, and that’s not the point here.
All I know is that we won't always remember the food, or the cars, or the champagne and other nonsense, but the photos will be right there forever to remind us of that day.

You can tell a lot about a person the moment you meet them—first impressions matter—and Ivica proved to be more than just a pro; he's a true gentleman and basically a therapist. He explained so much to us, helped us track things down, and even assisted with writing the event protocol... I mean, when you're dealing with someone who works 60 days a year on weddings, you get what you pay for. 🤣
And all of that gives us every right to say— A TOTAL HOME RUN!

👍

Can I see some of your photos? And I'm also curious about the ballpark price (can PM me if easier), just so I know if it's even worth checking out his work.

Hey everyone! Does anyone happen to know of any good DJs performing out on Maui lately?

Hello,
Does anyone have any insight on the band trio Rico?
Did anyone happen to attend their concert?

I was wondering what the vibe is like at the Castello hall over in the coastal area (it’s a bit smaller, under 2,000 sq ft).
Do you think they have enough staff to keep up with the food service and everything?
Has anyone actually been to a party there lately?

I’m honestly torn between that spot and Bellevue in Savannah. I could really use some advice here.

Brandon Castillo2 said:I was wondering what the vibe is like at the Castello hall over in the coastal area (it’s a bit smaller, under 2,000 sq ft).
Do you think they have enough staff to keep up with the food service and everything?
Has anyone actually been to a party there lately?

I’m honestly torn between that spot and Bellevue in Savannah. I could really use some advice here.

I can't really help you out with Castello since I haven't been there... but man, I can't recommend the Bellevue hall in Savannah enough! 👍

silentpuma28 said:Just wanted to breathe some life back into this thread...
Ružica Commerce isn't at the 3rd Street location anymore where they used to be...
They moved somewhere over to Mejas—and apparently, they'll be closed for about 8 months while they get settled in. 😉

🙂Wishing all the ladies a great day. I'm finally back home. silentpuma28, congrats to you and Romi29... I hope everything went perfectly for you both... Rom, let me know how the music turned out... we actually booked the exact same band. I need a little time to dig through everything, then we'll talk... thanks everyone for the help... I managed to get most things sorted... just a few small details left, but I have plenty of time before October 10, 2009. Cheers.😍

Justin Booth88 said:🙂Wishing all the ladies a great day. I'm finally back home. silentpuma28, congrats to you and Romi29... I hope everything went perfectly for you both... Rom, let me know how the music turned out... we actually booked the exact same band. I need a little time to dig through everything, then we'll talk... thanks everyone for the help... I managed to get most things sorted... just a few small details left, but I have plenty of time before October 10, 2009. Cheers.😍

Man, you are an absolute legend... saying "just a few details" when there's still over a year to go? I'm such a procrastinator that I usually have nothing left to do way ahead of schedule, haha! Just kidding, of course!🤣
Ladies, if any of you know a DJ who can really bring the vibes and play great music, please let me know!

😲
Ladies, listen up!!!!!!

Ugh, just so you know—the price for Orange next year is hitting $1,200!!!!😲I mean, seriously.

Honestly, instead of sitting around drinking coffee and "chatting" all day, we should just start our own band—then none of us would ever have to work again!🤣

Here is a summary of my day, and I suppose I should begin by offering my thanks...

Flowers: T.N.T. Florist on Broadway; Edith worked wonders with the lavender...
Cakes: Mall of America; it was difficult to decide which one was superior...
Krispy Kreme: Bob's Grocery... truly incredible work from St. Jude...
Venue Music: Guitar and Mandolin played by the Split Dance Troupe; they performed their duties excellently...
Church Music: Iskon Vocal Group... I believe no commentary is required... they are geniuses...
The Orgules and Casan Sister sang as well...
Church: St. Jude...
Hall: Pirate... the food was excellent, though the servers could use a bit of encouragement...
Photo and Video: California Photography... they were wonderful; Photographer Miro kept us so relaxed that we barely felt we were in a Photoshoot... I highly recommend them... the photos aren't ready yet, but I will post them once they are...
Restaurant Music: Nora & the Band... they created such an atmosphere; Nora even joined the guests during the singing, and they surprised us with a Saxophonist... it was madness when he began to play... I do not regret a single dollar spent on them...
Balloon explosion and decor: Nebula-Simba Balloon... everything was simply explosive... :-)))
Wedding Venue and Suit: Purchased in Germany...
Makeup: Antonia Guc... the makeup lasted the entire night...
Hairstyle: K.A.M. Mrs. Jela worked wonders with my hair, and everything held perfectly...

I wish to thank everyone... and my compliments to those who helped me so much, as I know I wasn't always easy... I am writing to the women on this forum for information, and to my family for an unforgettable bachelorette party... ladies, they even brought a stripper...

Michael Lee19 said:😲
Ladies, listen up!!!!!!

Ugh, just so you know—the price for Orange next year is hitting $1,200!!!!😲I mean, seriously.

Honestly, instead of sitting around drinking coffee and "chatting" all day, we should just start our own band—then none of us would ever have to work again!🤣

Did they mention if travel expenses are covered?😍

Clearly, I didn't mention that Orange Ma figure to you earlier.😁

rapidmason10 said:Did they mention if travel expenses are covered?😍

Clearly, I didn't mention that Orange Ma figure to you earlier.😁

Look, I am aware you wrote down $11,000 for next year—we can deal with that eventually—but please, let's be reasonable here! Since I mentioned I was coming from California, they might have factored in the travel costs as well.$333

And honestly, if you were to book two or three sessions, the price per unit would likely remain the same—after all, they end up with more work when there are fewer people available to take it!

Michael Lee19 said:Look, I am aware you wrote down $11,000 for next year—we can deal with that eventually—but please, let's be reasonable here! Since I mentioned I was coming from California, they might have factored in the travel costs as well.$333

And honestly, if you were to book two or three sessions, the price per unit would likely remain the same—after all, they end up with more work when there are fewer people available to take it!

When I gave them a ring, they quoted me around $11,000, or $4000 said they weren't totally sure yet... and that doesn't even include gas or travel...

And hey, I'm out in Savannah too, so they didn't charge me for travel... Tip-top is actually solid... and then there's that Taco Bell band from Charleston that goes for about $1,000... it's just the four of them... they bring their own drums, keys, and one guy handles both guitar and vocals plus a singer...