http://blog.thebecker.com/ the becker photography blog en-us http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1048/hearts-apart http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1048/hearts-apart Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:24:00 GMT Hearts Apart organization and they asked me if I'd be interested in donating a session to a couple who would soon be separated due to a military deployment.

Brandon is heading back to Afghanistan next month and Amy is due with their first baby boy just a month later. He'll be gone for a year and I was happy to provide them with some images that they'll be able to enjoy while they are apart.

If you are a photographer who's willing to donate a session or two, please contact them by clicking the link below:

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1047/new-york-london-paris http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1047/new-york-london-paris Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:44:00 GMT
On January 4th, I headed to the east coast to take part in the 7th annual Mystic Seminars hosted my my friend Walter Van Dusen. It was my first time speaking at the conference and it was great. I am hoping to get invited back next year. There were about 300 photographers in attendance, and I was honored to be included in the line up of speakers with some of my favorite photographers in the industry such as Joe Buissink and Jerry Ghionis. It was also nice to catch up with some old friends as well as meeting some [ b ] Schoolers for the first time. A little shout out to Nate, Noa & Pamela especially.

Right after Mystic, I was off to London to take place in the SWPP conference for the second year in a row. The trip started off a little rough as I caught a cold in Connecticut and suffered from some wicked jet lag (which is so unlike me). I actually overslept for my first speaking engagement after I was awake in plenty of time (shouldn't have laid back down). I blame it on the strong English cough medicine! Thankfully they were able to switch me with another speaker and it all worked out. I was plenty early to each of my next 3 speaking engagements!. The people in the UK were so warm and friendly and I got lots of compliments on my talks. My favorites praises included "Bloody brilliant" and "Magic". I could get used to hearing those kinds of compliments.

Mystic with about 300 people in attendance was kind of like a warm up to SWPP and I look at SWPP (about 3,000 attendees) as a warm up to the WPPI convention (15,000 photographers attend) that takes place in Vegas every year... I speak 1 month from today (Sunday the 19th at 3pm - pre board if you haven't already).

Anyway... my year has already included a lot of networking & sharing with my photographer friends and I look forward to continuing that trend for the rest of 2012. Speaking of which... we started a new series in the [ b ] School and we'll have fresh video content in the classroom every Monday this year... so if you haven't signed up... get on board now before you get left behind.

Here are a couple of shots from my last talk in London:

Last year you may recall that Joe Photo & I trekked down to India for a photo safari after SWPP, but this year I took a few personal days in Paris before coming back and starting my year. I'll post more photos from my trip once I return, but for now enjoy this view of the Eiffel Tour taken from Montmartre.

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1046/Merry-Christmas http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1046/Merry-Christmas Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:05:00 GMT
For the 4th edition of my digital Christmas card, here's a look back at my 2011 through Instagram. All 500+ of these images were shot on my iPhone.



You can find me on Instagram @thebecker.

And here is the annual Engelken family photo (my sister's idea):

Here I am with my favorite little people. Caden is 6 1/2and Addison is 3 1/2. Time is flying by!

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1045/one-year-on-the-four-hour-body http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1045/one-year-on-the-four-hour-body Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:34:00 GMT


If you'd like to join our Four Hour Facebook Support Group, CLICK HERE. And if you don't have the book yet, you can get it here.

Also, watch this video that I shot & edited on my iPhone to see how I make my veggies taste delicious and prepare them efficiently.




]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1044/burning-man-2011 http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1044/burning-man-2011 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:36:00 GMT Please login here. ]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1043/pelican-hill-wedding-photography http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1043/pelican-hill-wedding-photography Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:42:00 GMT Pelican Hill Resort. It was one of those picture perfect Southern California days... the weather was gorgeous... as was the bride and the details & decor were simply stunning. Square Root provided the florals and Laurie Davies from Five Star Weddings coordinated the bride's vision flawlessly.

As per usual, I approached this one like every wedding I shoot and simply tried to blend in and document the day as it unfolded. Here are a few of my favorite relaxed portraits, amazing details and real moments: (don't' forget to vote for your favorites)

The bride was a vision:

This kids was awesome. Rocking the white tux... totally Bond-like. You should have seen him dancing at the reception too.

I am so thankful for the clouds... otherwise a bright blue sky is just boring in photos:

The Mar Vista ballroom looked incredible. Square Root does an amazing job with the decor and I am always thankful when they bring in lighting.

This cake was off the hook. It is the tallest one I've ever shot and it looked delicious (but it wasn't cheat day so I'll never know). It was a Sweetly Divine creation.

The red dance floor was also a first for me:

Finally, I just want to thank all of the couples who trusted me to capture their wedding images in 2011. I had another great year filled with awesome clients, amazing adventures and beautiful subjects. Thank you all for letting me & my camera into your lives. I am looking forward to yet another year of incredible wedding in 2012, so don't forget to tell your friends about me!

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1042/laguna-beach-engagement-photos http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1042/laguna-beach-engagement-photos Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:58:00 GMT

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1041/thebig-6-0 http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1041/thebig-6-0 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:16:00 GMT
My parents have always been there to support me without fail. No matter what has happened in my life, they've always had my back. From the first time I told them I wanted to be a photographer, they didn't flip out when I told them I didn't want to go to college... they've supported me 100% from the very beginning. I don't even have the words to express how much I love my parents and how thankful I am for all they have sacrificed for me over the years. To this day, my parents are my biggest supporters and I am so grateful for them. I don't know what I'd do without them.

Growing up, my dad had a rough childhood. His mom died of breast cancer when he was 5. His dad was an alcoholic and abusive. He had every excuse to grow up and not make anything of himself, or to blame others for his problems. But instead, he just became the model of integrity and a shining example of what it means to be a dad. You don't get to choose your parents, but if I could... there's no way I'd pick anyone else. He was a great father growing up, and now over the years, he's just turned into such an incredible friend. I love spending time with him and I am in awe of his love for his family. Nothing else is more important to him. My dad is my hero. He's a loving husband, a wonderful father, and now he's fit quite nicely into his role an papa to Caden & Addison.

I love you Pops... happy [ b ] day!


(FYI... you can usually see my dad rocking his [ b ] School shirt. I don't know how many of them he has, but he seems to wear them every day).

I love that my dad still laughs at all of my jokes!

His new pride & joys:

The kids made him a little [ b ] day sign!

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1040/pumpkin-patch-2011 http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1040/pumpkin-patch-2011 Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:56:00 GMT
I can't believe how fast these kids are growing up. Caden is 6 and Addison is 3 and a half.

These kids are getting so much easier to photograph. They pay attention (for the most part), they smile on command (usually) and they are just so dang cute (no I'm not biased).

We had to get mom & dad into a shot too. This is always the warm up for the Christmas card photo that will be taken soon.

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1039/a-wedding-at-saltwater-farms-vineyard http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1039/a-wedding-at-saltwater-farms-vineyard Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:54:00 GMT Saltwater Farm Vineyard for a beautiful fall wedding. The bride is actually a photographer herself, and I always feel honored when other photographers choose me to document their day. I also feel very grateful when couples go to the extra effort and expense to fly me out to their weddings, so in this case... I was extra excited to make the trip. As always, it's my goal to capture relaxed portraits, amazing details and real moments. Here are a few of my favorite images.

The bride had a back up plan just in case it rained, including her sweet rain boots. Thankfully we didn't need them as it turned out to be a very nice day.

The bride's mom did a few last second alterations:

The flowers were so colorful:

These two were so cute together:

The venue was amazing. It used to be a World War II airplane hanger, and the bride's grandfather was in the service during the war, and her father was a Captain in the Navy.

The colors hadn't quite changed just yet, but it was still gorgeous back there.

These two actually met playing ultimate frisbee, so they tossed the disc around for a few minutes during the cocktail hour:

The groom is a woodworker, and he made all of the save the dates (as well as many other fixtures at the reception):

Y'all know I am a huge fan of cupcakes instead of a cake:

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1037/wedding-at-the-casa-del-mar http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1037/wedding-at-the-casa-del-mar Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:07:00 GMT Casa Del Mar Hotel in Santa Monica, California. The bride was gorgeous... (the groom cleaned up alright too), the people were so fun, the details were amazing and the band rocked and had the guests dancing all night! It was also great to work again with Terri from Bellisimo Events.


The bride wore Vera Wang:

The bride's hair was done by Fiore Beauty, Glitz provided the make up and Trisha from Hidden Garden did the florals.

I could have shot this bride all day long.

Oh wait... I did shoot here all day long!

The bridesmaid on the left is actually a wedding planner from the Bay Area that I've worked with in the past on this spectacular wedding.

I told you the groom cleans up alright!

I love this moment with the groom as his mother-in-law-to-be just moments before the ceremony.

The theme at the reception was a masquerade ball and each of the name cards came with a mask that people wore most of the night.

Again, more amazing details:

I didn't wear a mask because I didn't want to jack up my over gelled hair!

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1036/persian-wedding-in-newport-beach http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1036/persian-wedding-in-newport-beach Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:00:00 GMT Island Hotel in Newport Beach. It was so nice! They families were wonderful. The couple was so relaxed and comfortable... no one seemed nervous at all. It was just one of those weddings that went off so smoothly and their guest just helped them celebrate the start of their lives together as man and wife.

As per usual, I showed up with my comfortable approach to capturing relaxed portraits, amazing details and real moments. Here are a few of my favorites.

The gown was from Vera Wang:

Shoes by Stuart Weitzman :

The bride got ready at the Living Room in Costa Mesa:

The groom picked her up at the salon and brought her her bouquet.

We shot some relaxed portraits before the ceremony on the front lawn at the hotel:

The Sofreh was incredible. I lost shooting for cultures different from my own because they are always so interesting:

We shot a few more portraits after the ceremony. They were so cute together.

A few details from the reception:

They literally danced all night long.

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1035/destination-wedding-in-bermuda http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1035/destination-wedding-in-bermuda Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:18:00 GMT last wedding I shot in Bermuda back in 2006, that ended up getting published in Bermuda Wedding & Honeymoon magazine.

The bride got ready and the reception took place at the Four Ways Inn and the ceremony took place at the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. There were only about 30 guest... it was a very small and intimate ceremony and dinner. The groom is Bermudian and the bride lived in New York, but now lives with him in paradise.

The is the first time I've shot a non white wedding dress in a long time:

She still had some blingy shoes:

We cruised down to the beach for some relaxed portraits at sunset:

As per usual, if you are planning a destination wedding, I'd like to chat with you about your plans.

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1033/Ireland http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1033/Ireland Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:57:00 GMT check out the photos from the wedding here.

So, when the Bishops booked me for their 4th daughter's wedding, we decided to stay for an extra week after the wedding to tour around the Emerald Isle. Here are a few of my favorite photos from our trip.

A couple of days before the wedding, we took a bus tour through Connamera & Cong. This is a road near Lough Nafooey.

We stopped at Kylemore Abbey for lunch.

This is the Friary:

The toolshed at the Victorian gardens at Kylemore abbey:

This is a random forrest near the town of Cong:

After the wedding, we continued our tradition of traveling without making any plans in advance. We found ourselves in the town of Limerick, and the clouds were cooperating with my scenic photos of old churches:

We stopped in a pub in the town of Adare so Keats could get a mid afternoon pick-me-up... some Irish coffee. Not sure exactly what they put in it, but she sure was in a good mood afterwards!

This is on the outskirts the town of Adare:

When our cab driver heard that we were photographers, he wanted to make sure we saw the Adare Manor, so he took us on a little detour on the way to the city at no additional fare (of course that earned him a bigger tip!)

Our last stop before going to Dublin was the town of Kilkenny. We took a midday walking tour, but the lisht was no good, so I headed back to this church at sunset for some more photos:

I opted for the self timer camera on the ground instead of the arms straight out self portrait for this shot of Keats and I in Adare. Our feet aren't really that big... thats just some wide angle distortion.

And finally, here are a few Instagrams from my iPhone 4:

Ireland is a beautiful country with warm, hospitable people and I can't wait to go back, because I still haven't found what I'm looking for (I was hoping to bump into Bono).

]]> http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1034/oc-engagement-photos http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1034/oc-engagement-photos Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:18:00 GMT

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