RF Wedding of the Week: Tec Petaja Shoots Lifestyle Photographer Justin Chung in Carmel

August 21, 2014

By Laura Brauer

What happens when a prime lifestyle photographer with a huge following [Justin Chung] asks an equally talented and heavy-hitting wedding and lifestyle photographer [Tec Petaja] to shoot his California wedding at Holman Ranch?

A whole lotta good things, I’ll tell you that much.

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All photos © Tec Petaja

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“I felt like Justin knew what looked good in a picture, and so he went with whatever I said—and also worked it a little!” Petaja says. “The couple had great chemistry which always makes my job easy!”

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Also making it easy was the gorgeous Carmel setting, the groomsmen’s suits by GANT Rugger and beautiful bride, Emily, in a dress handmade by her aunt.

002034-R1-005 002009-R1-009 002002-R1-004 002004-R1-009 002009-R1-003 002037-R1-003002042-R1-028 Ok, in all fairness, there was the challenge of direct sunlight during the ceremony, but of course Petaja found a way to make it work: “The groom was standing with his back against the sun, which was great because his face had a shadow but the bride was in direct sunlight with a white dress,” he says. “I metered for the shadow and the sun and then split the difference.”

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As for gear, Petaja’s main camera is a Contax 645 (“Which I love,” he says). A noted film shooter, he also carries a Hasselblad H1 “to shoot all of my black and whites” and then a Canon 1V for 35mm.

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How did Chung feel about being on the other side of the camera?

“After working with Tec, I most admired was his relaxed composure and approach,” says the groom. “Everything felt really natural that day…nothing felt orchestrated or planned out. We were just among family and friends; people we were comfortable with and happy to be around,  and Tec captured those moments beautifully.”

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See more of Petaja’s lush photography on his blog and on Instagram @tecpetaja.

Have a wedding you’d like to submit?  Email Jessica.

Other recent weddings:

Park Ceremony by Brenda Pottinger, Covington, Kentucky

Desert Nuptials by Hiram Trillo

Embracing the Florida Humidity, Still55 Photography