Arizona Wedding Photographer | Scottsdale Wedding Photographer | Phoenix Wedding Photographer
It has been a busy year already and we are REDOING EVERYTHING for 2010. NEW packages, NEW products, NEW albums, NEW branding materials, NEW website, and a NEW blog. We have been very busy and we appreciate all the support and all of the referrals from our happy couples, friends, and family.
Wishing you the best in 2010.
-Mike Maez
I had the honor of shooting one of the more scenic ceremonies AZ has to offer this last month amongst the gorgeous red rocks of Sedona, AZ. Greg and Becky decided to tie the knot in the very heart of Sedona – within the Red Rock State Park and in fact not far from the world famous Red Rock Crossing. We were able to shoot in fantastic light with great color and clouds – and lets not forget the love in the air! Congrats once again Greg & Becky!!
Mario & Patricia – Engagement Session – 5D Mark II from Mike Maez on Vimeo.
As my transition back to Canon has finally been completed, it was time to really put the 5D II through its paces and work video slowly into the workflow. One of the best ways to hit the ground running with this was to shoot an e-session first, rather than a full-on wedding. Mario and Patricia gracefully agreed to shoot some video sequences in addition to their statics, and I think we are all happy with the results. Shortly following the shoot I picked up a fluid ballhead and tripod setup and am working on some steadicam setups as well. I should be fully geared up for my next wedding, which is just weeks away in beautiful Sedona, AZ.
One of the things you have to love about Arizona is the fabulous desert landscape and scenery that the state has to offer. When Christina and Tom decided that they would allow me to capture their special day with the backdrop of the Saguaro National Forest in mind, I simply couldn’t refuse!
I had a few extra tools at my disposal for this particular setting, most notably the use of both a Canon 5D II AND a Nikon D700. In having shot the past 8 months with the Nikon body and lens lineup, I frequently defaulted to the superior focusing system and sharpness that the D700 had to offer.
Capturing the ever popular jumping shot proved to be a bit tricky as the sun went down. Exposing for the white dress while not blowing out the sky proved to be a test of quick wits and the ability to effectively meter exposure under pressure. Christina, Erin, and the rest of the bridesmaids were fantastic in working with me for this shot, and I am very happy with how it turned out!
I love giving things a dramatic angle every once in a while, but try not to overdo it to the point where it becomes a bit cliche. The setting sun and clean blue sky that grace Arizona’s horizon 350+ days out of the year never disappoint.
No wedding with the backdrop of the Saguaro National Forest would be complete without a shot like this. I loved the over the shoulder pose and would like to thank Blair and Colin for braving the prickly cactus for holding lights so we could properly expose this shot. 
As the night went on the dance floor was illuminated beautifully with reds, blues, and everything in between as Tom and Christina danced the night away. What an experience! Congratulations again to both of you!!
After 6 months in Nikon camp I’ve decided I will be switching back to Canon, based almost entirely on the video capabilities of the 5D Mark II, as seeen here:
Canon 5D Mark II Video – Depth of Field Demo from Mike Maez on Vimeo.
It will be hard to lose the incredible AF performance and the amazing 24-70 f/2.8 with the wonderful Nano Crystal Coat, but alas I will be gaining an additional 10 megapixels and full HD video capabilities. I’d love to actually have BOTH systems but unless I book a ton of weddings in the next two months alone this is highly unlikely. Maybe by next year I could be offering fusion wedding packages and could be well on my way towards motion picture stardom…we’ll have to wait and see!
Sorry for the lack of updates here folks – it was a nice long winter break! Anyhow, eager to get the year started, I am looking to do some across the board updates to my photo gear! I made the big jump from Canon to Nikon in 2008 to upgrade to the top of the market in terms of focusing speed and ISO performance. However, the new 5D Mark II from Canon has closed the gap between the big two, and I’m having a heck of a time deciding on what to do!!! Nevertheless, I wanted to start off by doing some testing of the new Nikon 50 1.4G, courtesy of Blair Bunting.
Here are some sample images with the new 50 1.4G on my d700 body. Sunset colors and landscapes courtesy of mother nature and the beautiful Arizona sky:
Next up we’ll have some samples from the 5d Mark II including a short video montage inspired by the likes of Vincent Laforet himself. Thanks for reading!
The bay area is one of my favorite places to visit, so when a friend asked me if I would be interested in going with her to visit for the weekend I gladly accepted. Since I figured there would be some opportunities for awesome photos along the way, I decided to lug my d700 around, but even I didn’t expect what mother nature had in store for us:
Wait – we are still in California right? It seemed more like a winter wonderland than anything you’d normally see here!
For some reason I felt bad for the cows!!!!
Anyhow, after Thao faithfully guided us towards the bay we were able to hit up Napa for some wine tasting.
This would be my first visit to Norcal where I didn’t have access to a stunning automotive selection to brag about, but this time I did have the company of three beautiful women:
Sweeeeeeeeet!!! Ahhh how I love Norcal….
One of the most amazing things about being a photographer is the ability to travel to new and exciting places. That being said, I like to reiterate that it is both an honor and a privilege to be given the opportunity to make beautiful images that will forever capture one of the most important days in most people’s lives!
My most recent destination wedding was in Shenzhen, China – and one of the more unique things many people may not realize is the lack of traditional housing. In the US – when we think of a home, we tend to think about a suburban layout with plenty of space, a nice yard, and maybe even a white picket fence. In China, most people call these high rise apartment style buildings home…think of it as urban living x 1.3 billion:
Getting beyond the living arrangments, I couldn’t wait to sample the food – which was remarkably similar to what is commonly available in many socal locations! Nevertheless – how can you resist authentic dim sum:
Before I knew it the big day was already upon us and one of my favorite images of Anna getting ready was the traditional mirror shot, but with some added angle and selective coloring for a unique final product:
Here are some additional images from throughout the day:
As the end of the reception neared I was honored to receive an authentic sampling of moonpies, which I ate within a day or two back in Hong Kong:
Lastly before I left back to the states I managed to snap this image of Hong Kong Island from atop Victoria Peak. Certainly one of the most breathtaking urban skylines in the world:
by Mike Maez
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