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I am getting kinda choked up... as this will be the last update of this blog. I started blogging almost 2 years ago, and I never knew how much blogging would become a part of my life. It started as a fun little hobby... that turned into a great marketing tool and a way to inspire and educate other photographers, and it has evolved into a part of my daily routine. I could not have imagined how much I enjoy doing it, and the feedback I receive has been amazing (especially this last week at the wedding photographer's convention).

563 entries later, with over 3000 images posted and over a couple thousand comments, not to mention almost 375,000 views (averaging over 10,000 per week these days)... it's time to mix it up a bit.

I am proud to announce my NEW BLOG at:

WWW.BECKERSBLOG.COM

Of course this blog will stay up as an archive, but all future posts will be on the new blog, so be sure to update your bookmarks and rss feed. I'd also really appreciate if you wanted to post a link to the beckersblog.com on your blog or website and of course tell your friends about it.

Thanks to all who have visited, commented, linked to, shared with a friend or have simply enjoyed this blog. I hope to see you on the new one soon! I still have a lot on my mind and I plan on sharing often.

My friend Dane Sanders, founder of SimplePhoto.tv has a new toy to play with and the Simple Photo Booth was the hit of the convention. Watch this movie of a few of my favorite shots from the booth while it was at Jessica's Shootsac booth and my party.





You can pick up a copy of "Ca Plane Pour Moi" on iTunes.

A couple more stills from the booth:












A link to the rest of the images will be on my new blog sometime next week. Check back tomorrow for MY FINAL POST on this blog and a link to the new blog.

[ b ] sure to check out my new and improved blog

I know I was supposed to post the Simple Photo Booth photos today, but there are so many to go through, and I am super tired and there are still things going on in Vegas so they are going to have to wait until this weekend.

If you want more info now on the booth, email dane@simplephotobooth.com or check out simplephotobooth.com.

In the mean time, here are so hilarious photos of Mike Colon giving the Shootsac some love:




[ b ] sure to visit my new blog

Attention photographers:

Some of you may have met my friend Gary at my party the other night. Sadly I didn't get a shot of him so here is an old "file photo" of him and his wife Jana:




Today is Gary's birthday so my gift to him is to tell everyone that his website just launched and you should check it out. www.yourelevation.com





If any of you purchase my branding materials, they well all done by Elevation. But they also do much much more than that. They are a brand experience agency and you should really read the about section on their website to fully understand what they are capable of.

Anyway, happy birthday my friend!

also, check out my new blog

Oh my! I am literally speechless. Well technically I am voiceless and I can barely ever whisper right now. I am exhausted. After three days of burning the candle at both ends, I am plum tuckered out. I am back in the hotel room, relaxing and napping trying to save up energy for the DWF poker tournament that will take place later tonight.

I am also reflecting on the party I hosted last night. It was a blast and by far the best one to date. The things that make my parties so cool are the people who come. After all, if no one came, it would just be me in a huge hotel suite with a bunch of beer. And as most of you know, I don't even drink... except for my crazy Diet Coke addiction. I am not a big party animal... but I am a huge people person and I love connecting with others. I have been hosting a party during the convention for the last 7 years. It's fun for me to get to know other photographers on a social level. I find it so awesome that the people who I looked up to (and still do) when I was starting out, come to my parties. I also invited a bunch of new people and love that I have made some new friends. I feel bad when I have to turn people down... I wish I could let everyone in but the room just isn't big enough (and trust me, it was roasting hot in there last night with all those bodies).

Anyway, I want to thank everyone who stopped by and played with us. Here are a few snaps:


I was so stoked my sister April & bro-in-law Matt flew out just for the night (and thanks for helping with the clean up):




Jessica was a lovely co-host this year and will have more images on her blog soon:




I was floored when Jerry Ghionis and his entourage showed up in their [ b ] XSiGTed shirts:





(I'll be posting a link to the more of the Simple Photo Booth Photos tomorrow to coincide with the launch of their new website. And by the way, thanks to Dane, Carl and Peter for donating, delivering, setting up and taking down the SPB... it was the hit of the party for sure!)

Old friends Jim & Stephanie Kennedy looking good as per usual:




Brook Todd (who finally just started a blog) showing off the [ b ] school cups with Jessica:




Three of my favorite people ever... Tim Holmes, Jessica and Joe 'Flippin" Photo:




Brian Kramer with the Bianchi twins:




Matt Blum, Jules, Joy and Becker:




Two of the most talented photographers I know... true artists in every sense of the word, Jesh De Rox and Jose Villa:




The usual suspects... Robert Evans, Josh & Jay:




Mr. Six Peeps himself Mark Cafiero & his girlfriend Jenny:




Neil Cowley & his lovely wife Liesl:




The gorgeous and talented Jasmine Star:




The party was still going strong well after 1am:




Again, more photos from the Simple Photo Booth will be posted tomorrow and more images from Vegas will be posted on my new blog sometime next week!



becker's blog

Highlights from Monday: (I'll add captions and links tomorrow as well as images from the 7th Annual [ b ] Party!)













The Blu Shin Dig:



























check out my new blog

I just wanted to post a quick recap of our first day at the wedding photographers convention. It was long an exhausting, but so much fun too. It's always great talking to other people who share the same passion. I was also so proud of Jessica and her amazing team that helped out with Shootsac. She got a bunch of orders today and the booth was so crowded all day long. It was very well received and she got tons of positive feedback.

Jess & I sporting our brand spankin' new [ b ] school t-shirts as we arrived at the hotel:




By the way... we gave our most of the shirts today, especially the women's shirts... but there are still a few left, so just stop by the Shootsac booth near the WPPI registration area to pick one up on Monday. We mostly have smalls and mediums for the ladies, and large for the gents (with a few XL shirts). Don't worry, we did keep a few back in the OC and those will be for sale on our website shortly after we return.

500 inflatable pink flamingos sure did cause quite a buzz around the convention floor today:






The fabric swatches were also well received:






Of course we had to give a little plug to the [ b ] school. The back of these postcards let people know that all who pre-register will get financial aid (in the form of discounts) once we launch later this spring:




Yervant and Jerry Ghionis stopped by to show some love (I made Jerry and his crew their very own [ b ] XSiGHTed shirts):




Who knows what Joe Buissink was doing the the Simple Photo Booth with Jess & Marisa:




Jeff & Julia Woods with Parker Pfister:




(There will be many more from the Simple Photo Booth tomorrow)

Here is Tony trying to keep his energy up with some Red Bull. Tony is the guy you give your credit card # to when you buy a Shootsac. He has worked so hard to help Jess and Keats with the entire project. We like Tony!:




It was so awesome to watch Jessica shine today! So many people came by to check it out and give her some support and thankfully a lot of people placed orders. I am so proud of her!

Here are a bunch of people that came by to say "hi". 8 people in a point and shoot self portrait (my record is 9... and yes, the composition isn't perfect but I want to point out that it was taken left handed):





After 10 straight hours at the booth, most sane people would go home and relax. But we are in Vegas so we needed to burn the candle at both ends and headed out to the "Swanky, Sexy, Soirée" at the Bellagio. Here's Jess and I leaving THEhotel:





Becker sandwich with two of the hosts Lauren Hillary and Sara France:




Two of my favorite guys, Joe Photo and Blake Schwendimann (Why so sad Blake... don't know know who you are hanging out with?):




Blake has a new Livebooks website that is worth checking out!

It's only day one and I have pretty much lost my voice.

Check back tomorrow afternoon for images from the actual Simple Photo Booth as well as the Blu Domain ShinDig!

becker's blog

I just wanted to let all my clients know that I will be out of the office for the coming week. Kathleen & Gina will be working part time this week make sure at least some work gets done! I'll be on an official "business trip" attending the WPPI/DWF Convention in Las Vegas and I promise I'll be working hard!





I'll be back in the office April 2nd. Keep checking the blog every day to see what we are up to.

southern california's best wedding photographer

Sometime I get a little nervous when people hire me without meeting me. It happens often when I book destination weddings, and lately it is happening more and more for the local weddings. These days, most people have busy schedules and don't always have time to come over and meet me in person before they hire me. They see enough of my work on my website, and they get a sense of who I am via the blog, so they obviously feel comfortable enough to book me... but until we actually meet face to face, you never really know if you are going to hit it off, or be on the same page, or whatever.

Thankfully I had a great time with my couple yesterday and I am really looking forward to their wedding in September. These two were referred to me from a couple whose wedding I shot in Kauai a couple years ago (thanks Leigh & Aaron!) and we met for the first time just a few minutes before we were going to shoot. I always try to explain to my clients that I like to show up at a wedding, "as if I were an old friend with a fancy camera". I know that sounds like a hokey sales pitch, but I truly believe it in my heart.

We had a blast running around the beach, getting wet and capturing some of my signature "relaxed portraits", and I have no doubt we will have a fabulous time at the wedding!

Last night I hosted a little Pre Vegas poker party to get into the habit of staying up late and gambling, so I invited a few friends over to help break in my new table:




Sadly, I did not play very well, but a good time was had by all. My trophy and "I'm kind of a big deal" shirt did not intimidate anyone!




Tim & Jessica weren't impressed with my suited AQ:




The crew:




My friend Tony ended up being the big winner... watch out for him at the DWF tourney on Weds night:




orange county wedding photographer

Two photos this month.

This one reminds me of Texas:




This one doesn't:



becker

Ok, First of all, I am not trying to make any political statements with this post so please save the nasty comments or hate email... I have no opinion of the content of this ad, but I find it fascinating that the internet will play a major role in the next Presidential election. When this was emailed to me yesterday morning, the friend who sent it to me said, check out the remixed Apple ad:





When I first saw it, there were 290K views. As I post it, there are almost 378K views less than 24 hours later. I just think it's very interesting that the internet will be flooded with all kinds of political ads and discussions over the next couple of forevers!


Here's the original Apple ad that was played during the Superbowl when they introduced the Macintosh back in 1984:



becker photographer

...is still a couple of weeks away. :( (THE NEW BLOG IS HERE NOW)

I just wanted to tease it now, to give you all something to look forward to! I hire the same programmer as Jessica Claire and those crazy kids at "the blog is found". If you want to get on his waiting list, check out Infinet Design (but don't bug him until my blog is done!)

Write this down somewhere: beckersblog.com launches on April 1st (if you go there before it's time, you'll just end up right back here!)

During the first week of my new blog, I will feature an awesome wedding that I am shooting in Beverly Hills, a recap slideshow from Vegas, pics from opening night of the Angel game, some birthday love for my mom and a super secret surprise announcement!


Pay no attention to my friend Brian:

I am getting super excited! It's just one more week until the wedding photographer's convention in Las Vegas. It's just about my favorite week of the year!

Of course it's a "business trip" and we are there to learn, be inspired and check out all the new products and services at the trade show... but I always manage to have a little fun too. (CHECK OUT THE SLIDESHOW FROM LAST YEAR)

I thought I'd post my tentative schedule so you'll know where to find me in case you want to say hi or score a [ b ] school t-shirt!

Jess & I arrive Sunday and will be spending most of the afternoon at her Shootsac booth near the registration area at WPPI. We'll be giving out [ b ] school shirts to the first 50 people who buy a Shootsac. Plus I'll be giving a few out to people who promise to wear them around the trade show over the next few days.

Sunday night, I'll be stopping by the OSP party, then the France/Hillary/Costas soiree at the Bellagio (Followed by blackjack and poker until the wee hours of the morning--- that'll be happening every night)

Monday, I'll be at the trade show all day, doing some one on one consulting in the late afternoon, then it's the Blu ShinDig slash bowling competition at the Palms Monday night.





Tuesday, I am having lunch with one of the auction winners, then preparing to host a little get together for a few close friends Tuesday night.

Wednesday, I am having lunch with the other auction winner, then either heading back to the trade show or checking out the DWF shoot and BBQ. Wednesday night is the DWF poker tournament at Caesars. (All photographers who are playing in the poker tourney please click here to be intimidated)

Thursday is still up in the air but I am sure some spa time, hangin' by the pool time and sleeping in will certainly be in order.

******

NOTE TO SHY PHOTOGRAPHERS: Without fail, every year when I get home from the convention, I get quite a few emails from people who saw me walking around, but were afraid to come up and introduce themselves. Please don't let that happen... I love meeting new people and I'd be happy to chat with you for a few minutes or answer a question or two. I promise I am not as big of a prima-donna as I pretend to be! ;) Don't be shy, come up say howdy!

http://www.beckersblog.com/index.cfm

Wedding season is here again! Marisa and I shot a wonderful wedding to kick off the season in style. It was at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda and it was a beautiful St. Patrick's Day wedding. 75 degrees, nice breeze, cool people, great vendors to work with... oh, and another beautiful bride. Peter Merry was the DJ and the catering was provided by one of the groomsmen Mark, who owns Creme De La Creme.

I knew it was going to be a great day for photos when I found out Square Root was taking care of the florals and decor. They always do an awesome job and today was no exception:








All the girls were fun and easy to shoot:




And the bride certainly knew how to work the camera:




The guys cleaned up alright too:






I love these moments, especial how excited the bride is:










Talk about relaxed portraits:




This one will be a featured image on my website:




The reception was in a replica of the East Room at the White House:






The first dance:




The couple rented one of those old school photo booths for the guests to take photos and make a scrapbook for the couple, as well as take home a souvenir. The bride and groom also had to get in on the action:




Marisa and I also had to join in the fun:




You can check out a few more shots on Marisa's blog. Becker specializes in destination weddings.