An Esthetically Enviable Palm Springs Wedding, Shot by James Moes [RF Wedding of the Week]

July 8, 2015

By Laura Brauer

Rarely do weddings go off without a hitch, but photographer James Moes can safely say that this nuptial—between a creative project manager and a musician at a gorgeous venue called The Parker Palm Springs (designed by Jonathan Adler, no less)—was pretty much smooth sailing.

“There weren’t any major challenges,” the Seattle-based shooter says. “Their taste and their joy made my job easy!”

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All photos © James Moes

An adorable couple and a very esthetically pleasing locale were plopped right into his lap; a photographer friend of the bride’s recommended Moes to the couple, who fell in love with his editorial style, met him for a coffee in Vancouver, and, as Moes puts it, “locked things down pretty comfortably.”

When it came time for the big day in Southern Cali, what proceeded was a wedding that he describes as “really relaxed, beautiful, intimate and warm.”

jen-jeff-wedding-111jen-jeff-wedding-036jen-jeff-wedding-064“It’s difficult to choose a favorite part of the day,” Moes says. “It really was the most complete wedding day I’ve shot, in that every chapter had real emotion, interesting light and great spirit. That said, I’m really proud of the portrait time. Plenty of real moments to witness and frame, and a few choice poses for posterity.”

jen-jeff-wedding-124jen-jeff-wedding-125jen-jeff-wedding-131jen-jeff-wedding-153jen-jeff-wedding-177After graduating with an art degree and working at an interactive design firm, Moes found his way to wedding photography and has been shooting full-time since 2008, constantly striving, as he says on his website, to “take images that honestly capture the spirit” of his couples “without cheese. With courageous expression and understated charm.”

jen-jeff-wedding-244jen-jeff-wedding-323jen-jeff-wedding-331jen-jeff-wedding-351jen-jeff-wedding-358jen-jeff-wedding-294 jen-jeff-wedding-286jen-jeff-wedding-390jen-jeff-wedding-429jen-jeff-wedding-403jen-jeff-wedding-435jen-jeff-wedding-450jen-jeff-wedding-462Moes shot alone, with a Canon 5D Mark III and a few lenses: the 24mm f/3.5, 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4 and 135mm f/2. He also whipped out his Canon 600EX-RT when night fell it was time for dancing.

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See more RF Weddings of the Week, and email Jacqueline Tobin or Libby Peterson with submissions.