Hot Hot Heat

Well, I did it. I successfully neglected my blog for the entire month of August. *high five*

For some reason, most of the weddings I've photographed this summer ended up being on the hottest days of the week. I like cooler weather. So, needless to say, it's a challenge for me to throw on a suit and stand out there with a camera when it's 104 degrees outside.

I'm not entirely sure why I'm telling you all of this. Just absorb the information and we'll move on...

Ms. Chelsea Tavis was kind enough to revamp lancasterphoto.net last week. The layout is similar, but much fancier and much more well-presented. Not to mention it's also more social-media-friendly. Check it out!

Now for some photos. August took me to Napa, Livermore, St. Helena, Moraga, and Marshall.  Here is some of what you may have missed lately:

Sheila & Trevor at Hacienda de las Flores in Moraga, CA

Kathleen & Nate at V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, CA

Nick & Barbie at the Corinthean Ballroom (and park) in San Jose, CA

Jessica and Kody at Garre Winery (Martinelli Center) in Livermore, CA

Tanya & Ryan at Walker Creek Ranch in Marshall, CA

And super-assistant George (with a newly healed and functional foot) scaling the rafters of a barn last night during the reception. The groomsmen hoisted him up onto the first tier, and George climbed his way to the ceiling for some photos.

Got lots of editing to catch up on now! Thankfully September is a low-key month this year.

Mare Island Wedding - Andrew & Emily

I'm just going to pretend that you asked about it...

In the days of Yore (before I was a photographer for a living), I used to be a manager for a very large and well-known retail chain.

The company had created a new position, and I was assigned to get it off the ground... and I needed a team to help me do it. So thrown into the mix was this guy Andrew, whom with I had semi been acquainted as he already worked in a different area of our store. We quickly hit it off with similar interests (went to the same University even), and Andrew quickly became one of my best friends as well as one of my best employees. When I got more serious about photography Andrew's band was one of the local groups that would help me hone my craft, and he was always supportive of me hopefully taking photos for a living.

Andrew & me in a previous life.

As Andrew was still working on finishing his Bachelor's degree, he needed to take a leave of absence from my team at work when classes started up again. In his place, I took this girl named Emily that Andrew had recently begun dating.

Over the years, Andrew and Emily continued to date (eventually moving in together, and after that moved to Las Vegas). I eventually left my job to do photography full-time, and we've maintained contact ever since. I even went to Las Vegas and spent some time with them there.

Last Saturday (May 12th) Andrew and Emily got married at Mare Island in Vallejo, CA. They are also expecting a baby boy. Not only did I have the privilege of being one of Andrew's groomsmen, but I was also the photographer.

Yes, it can be done.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Smith. Congratulations on the new family. And congratulations on being the only Indian guy I know named Smith.

Here are some photos.

lacing shoes is hard for Andrew

Groomsmen. That's me, 2nd from left.

...and here I am sitting on a rocket. Yes, that's a rocket.

Andrew & Clay, present day

baby Silus is in there somewhere!

being supportive

Meghan, Matt and the Ainsley House Wedding

This particular wedding was a special one for me, as I had the honor of shooting the wedding of my beautiful friends Matt Fazzi and Meghan Criswell in San Jose and Campbell, CA.

It wasn't too long ago that I was introduced to Matt at Shoreline Amphitheatre after his set with his then-band Taking Back Sunday (on the Blink 182 & Weezer tour). He was on crutches from his recent leg injury, yet he still hobbled up to our seats with my buddy Isaac to meet us and say hi.

After pumping my work on the TBS Myspace page, he and Isaac commissioned me to do promo work for their side project (at the time), Happy Body Slow Brain.

Fast-forward a couple of years and we had all invested hours of our time and energy getting HBSB off the ground. I've since done multiple rounds of promo photos for them, as well as a "making the record" documentary for Happy Body Slow Brain's debut "Dreams of Water", and a series of live in-studio performance videos. I am very proud to be a part of the the HBSB family.

However, I was even more proud to be a part of Matt & Meghan's family when they asked me to photograph their wedding. Not only do I love them to death, but many of our wonderful and talented friends were also in attendance.

The ceremony had a sort of vintage circus theme to it, with a reception at the historic Ainsley House in Campbell, CA. This was the first time I ever saw the groom be his own wedding band, as Matt performed with "The Zack Attack" (a cover band he formed with a bunch of old friends). The next day, the party continued at the Blank Club in San Jose as Happy Body Slow Brain performed with Lex Land and Gavin Castleton for a crowd of friends, family, and fans. The whole weekend was a blast.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the day. Congrats to the newlyweds! You both looked outstanding, and I can't think of a more pleasant couple to be involved with.

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

Jason Holthouser, Ian Fazzi, Matt Fazzi and Isaac Bolivar perform as "The Zack Attack"

Mark & Michelle - Auburn, CA Wedding

No, not the candy. Although that might be interesting.

I'm referring to the lovely Northern California couple Mark & Michelle, who recently wed in the quaint town of Auburn, CA.  It was a somewhat traditional ceremony in an ornate church that was constructed in 1858, followed by a not-so-traditional reception in a small restaurant which goes by the name Monkey Cat (not kidding). The owner closed the restaurant down for the afternoon so the bride and groom could sip on drinks and mingle with their guests in a room that seemed almost entirely made of dark wood.

This was the first time I had photographed a wedding without meeting the couple in person before the big day. With about a 2 hour drive between us, it seemed easier for both parties to rely on email and phone calls... but I'd never have guessed it, as within minutes it felt like we had already met numerous times.

Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Course Wedding - Seaside,CA

"It happened in Monterey..."

Ok, I know Sinatra was singing about a different Monterey, but for the sake of this post we'll pretend it was Monterey, CA.

January 2nd I shook off my New Years' party and headed two hours down the coast to take part in Jordan & Serena's wedding at the Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Course in Seaside, CA.

Most brides stress and fuss about the planning of a wedding... well how about the wedding, plus a week in Hawaii, then moving across the country 2 days later? Jordan serves our country in the US Air Force, and has been transferred far from Serena's home in Monterey. That's quite a schedule, and it amazed me how calm and upbeat they were the whole time. Not to mention the bride had to do all of the planning while the groom was away with the military.

A break in the rainy weather proved useful that day, and here's what we ended up with!

Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Course in Seaside, CA

Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Course in Seaside, CA

Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Course in Seaside, CA

Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Course in Seaside, CA

Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Course in Seaside, CA

My personal amusement was attributed to:

a) being one of THREE Claytons in attendance, and 

b) the guest list:

"Booyakasha!"