We know how lucky we are to live in San Diego.  While parts of the country are stuck under multiple inches of snow, we can go out in the middle of December in shorts and t-shirts.  Or in this case, we can go to Windansea Beach and photograph a wedding that looks like it’s taking place in the middle of summer.

Windansea Beach was the site of Kathryn and Trey’s wedding, and this couple was a joy to be around.  They were up for anything, including braving the cold winter water to get a few shots in the surf.  We couldn’t have asked for more gorgeous weather, either.  We hope you enjoy this small preview, and may the warmth of the San Diego sunshine reach you wherever you are!  Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Weddings | 6 Comments »

When we got the call from Shirley about photographing her wedding, we were just beyond excited to accept the opportunity.  Their ceremony was set for the Miró Lawn at the gorgeous Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, CA, with its gorgeous ocean views.  Mother Nature, however, had other plans and moved a storm in during their wedding week.  Despite the venue change from outdoor to indoor, the wedding went off smoothly, with the Santa Ynez Room at the resort transformed into a winter weddingland.

Joni of Hearts Bloom in Santa Barbara did a wonderful job of turning the indoor space into a sophisticated yet relaxed space for the ceremony and later, the after-dinner dancing.  The resort, known as a hotspot for celebrities, was super elegant and just lovely.  All the staff members we came in contact with at the resort were nothing short of excellent.

And Mr. & Mrs. Smith–well, they didn’t let the rain get in the way of their fun.  They were fun to photograph and just plain fun to be around.  The obvious love and affection between them made the whole day so joyful.  This is just a short preview of their photos, and after the holidays we look forward to sharing many more images from their wonderful day.  Until then, please enjoy this sneak peek.

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Bacara Resort, Santa Barbara, CA

Event Coordinator for Bacara Resort: Jennifer Lindblom

Floral & Day-of Coordination: Hearts Bloom, Santa Barbara, CA

DJ: Music by Bonnie, Santa Barbara, CA

The Bride and Groom’s “first look” was a wonderful moment to capture.  First the anticipation and then the joy and excitement.

Time for a pre-wedding Spatini at the awesome Bacara Bar!

You can’t get much more radiant than this bride!

Congratulations again, Mr. & Mrs. Smith!  It was a privilege to be part of your special day.  More images to come!

Posted in Weddings | No Comments »

Even though 2009 is drawing to a close, it really is just the beginning for us at Mai Tai Photography.  The last couple of months have been a whirlwind getting the site and blog going, not to mention the sessions we scheduled to close out the year.  All this activity has definitely been a blessing!  Not only have we been able to expand our portfolio, we’ve been able to do so by photographing awesome friends and their families.

Among them are the Zanco family, whom we had the pleasure of photographing last year, when their newest addition was still cooking in the mommy oven.  My, how they’ve grown!  Here are the three kids, who are all naturals in front of the camera, even the baby:

As if that weren’t enough, Mom and Dad are photogenic too. Check these lovebirds out:

Their shoot took place at the Oceanside Pier, where we got to watch a little of the surf action in between shots.  The long pier is a great place to have photos taken, plus the kids got to play in the sand afterward.  The atmosphere was very laid back, and we hope to do more sessions there in the near future!

I’ll end with this little outtake from the session.  The little guy was great all morning, but I guess he’d had enough by this point.

Thank you, Steve, Shawn & kids for a great morning! Same time, same place next year?If you want to see more of the fun, click here.

Posted in Families | 2 Comments »