| Monday, September 08, 2008 |
| Fawni in the recording studio |
Stefanie and Gil were in Los Angeles recording this past week and we've been trying to get together before they go back to Vienna, Austria. I covered Stefanie and Gil's wedding in Capri Italy back in May and that was the last time we all saw each other. They've been so busy but we had to make it happen somehow so when Stefanie said come to the studio, Melissa and I had to go. They are so awesome and it was so great to see them! I can't say enough good things about Stefanie and Gil.
I've never been to a recording studio and I was in heaven with the wall to wall electronics! The mixing board alone was so cool, I was like a kid in a candy store. Anyway, here are a couple pics of Stefanie from my iphone.
  Labels: Capri Italy, Los Angeles recording studio, Santa Barbara Photographer, Santa Barbara Photography, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
posted by Ricky @ 1:11 PM   |
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| Sunday, June 15, 2008 |
| Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer in Rome, Italy |
After an incredible week in Capri, Melissa and I spent a few days in Rome before we flew home. I couldn't wait to see Rome and I had no idea what to expect. Being in Italy alone was culture shock enough but walking around the streets of Rome was absolutely amazing. As you walk around the streets of Rome, you know you're in a city but then all of a sudden, you're standing in front of St. Peters Basilica or the Colosseum! To think that there was a civilization that lived around and built these structures almost 2000 years ago blows my mind! My concept of "The Big Picture" has suddenly been magnified 100 fold.
The first piece of history we came upon was St Peter's Basilica. San Pietro in Vincoli (Saint Peter in Chains) is best known as the home for Michelangelo's statue of Moses. It was surreal to be walking inside of this Basilica that was built in the years 432-440. Where are we now... 2008?
 
Again, as we are walking down the cobblestone streets, we turn the corner and there stands the Colosseum. This was incredible to see. The size, the age, everything about it. I walked up to it and just stood there staring at it with my hand on one of the walls... people must've thought I was nuts!
 
We walked for miles but it didn't matter because of where we were. We were starving and since we've been eating like kings for the past week during the wedding, we wanted something quick and bad for you so we found a McDonald's! How wrong was it to be eating at a McDonald's where the view out of the front door was The Pantheon! Yes, I know that's just wrong :)
  
After the Pantheon, we found ourselves at the Piazza Navona. There were people painting, sculpting, singing, dancing and acting all over the place. One of my favorites was this guy that looked like a business man on the move. He was pretty funny and the crowd around him was huge. He just stood there nice and still, but looked like a guy walking in the wind! He would raise his eyebrows with every tip he got.
  
The Vatican City was pretty amazing to see. You could see it way off in the distance but nothing compared to standing in front of it.
 
One of the last sites we saw was The Trevi Fountain. There were so many people here that I had to wait for the crowds to move just so I could stand in front of the fountain. Again, simply amazing. I read that the fountain collects around 3,000 EUR a day just from people wishing into it! That's awesome! I think we did really well for seeing Rome in a day, but there's so much more to see and I can't wait to come back!
 Labels: Capri Italy, Italy, Rome, Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Photographer, Santa Barbara Event Photography, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
| posted by Ricky @ 1:14 PM |
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| Wednesday, June 04, 2008 |
| Stefanie and Gil: Villa Verde Ristorante, Capri Italy |
Capri is such a beautiful place and so are the people. The weather is perfect, almost as perfect as it is in Santa Barbara! haha. You can walk everywhere you want to go, unless you want to get to the other side of the island and visit Anacapri. I'm sure you could walk, but the thin winding roads and mountainous terrain make it hard so you either take a bus or taxi. We spent alot of time up in Capri Town where most of the restaurants, shops and bars were. it's pretty surreal to walk through the cobblestone streets with shops that make Rodeo Drive look like a strip mall.
On the last night, we all went to the super fun restaurant, Villa Verde. As you walk through the entrance, the walls are collaged with images of friends, families and celebrities! Our whole crew took up most of an outdoor patio and it was probably the most fun I've had at dinner in a long time! Stefanie and Gil knew the owner so we were all treated in the same manner as we were used to all week.. like family. Everyone was laughing, drinking and singing that's amore with Dean Martin. We were the biggest group there and the loudest but everyone in the restaurant loved it and sang along with us.
Stefanie and Gil opened up gifts and of all the wonderful things she received, one very special gift from her sister brought tears to Stefanie's eyes. It was pretty amazing and a complete honor to be included in this incredible life celebration between Stefanie and Gil for their wedding with their closest family and friends.
3D glasses that showed hearts when you look into the light were handed out right before a congratulations cake was brought out. The cake lit up like the 4th of July and everyone had sparklers... incredible. Thank you Stefanie and Gil for treating me like one of the family. My fondest memories of my first trip to Italy include both of you, your families and friends!
Here are some favorites from that night. The first picture is of Ori Kafre, the owner of the JK Capri.
             Labels: Capri Italy, JK Capri, Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Photographer, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
| posted by Ricky @ 5:37 PM |
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| Wednesday, May 28, 2008 |
| Stefani and Gil's wedding week in Capri, Italy |
I'm having an incredible time over here in Capri Italy! We checked into the JK Capri on Monday and it's been non stop ever since. People started to arrive all day Monday and Stefanie and Gil were so excited to see everyone come through the door. The JK Capri is a 5 star Luxury Boutique Hotel here on Capri and there are only 22 rooms. The whole hotel was reserved for a week just for guests! I can't even guess how many bottles of Prosseco Wine have been opened so far.... all I do know is that there were glasses handed to us the moment we arrived and they still haven't stopped coming!
Another amazing detail about this wedding is that they secured the whole kitchen staff to cater to the guests. The head chef, Rennato is the most charming little Italian man that never stops running around. He smiles constantly and is always checking on the guests to make sure everything is ok. Needless to say, the food has been amazing.
When we walked in the door, we were greeted... "buona serra, welcome home" and that's exactly what it feels like to be in this hotel with all the guests. Everyone is amazing and they all, especially Stefanie and Gil have treated Melissa and I like we're part of the family. One thing pretty amazing about everyone here is that they come from all over the world. There are guests here from the U.S.A, Vienna, Germany, Persia, Russia, Israel, Canada and London! And I'll say it one more time, they all treat each other like they're family, so cool! I just wish I knew how to speak Italian, German and Hebrew!
Here are some pictures from Monday.
            
I also wanted to show everyone the amazing view from my balcony in the next 2 pictures. This is where I'm sitting right now as I post this blog! I could really get used to this!
  Labels: Capri Italy, Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Photographer, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
| posted by Ricky @ 5:36 PM |
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