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.
“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!”
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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