Jack Randall Photography Blog

Southern California Charm

jack — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:55:31 +0000

Tucked away in the hills above San Clemente, Talega Golf Course is one of the most beautiful venues in Southern California. With its architectural features, immaculate greens, lake and waterfalls, it is simply gorgeous. The Spanish colonial style of the main buildings provide a classic backdrop that every bride will appreciate. I love photographing couples within the arches opening into the courtyard. The grounds also provide a wide variety of scenic backdrops to choose from and the light is fantastic. We can easily move from the courtyard setting, to intimate garden getaways and on to the sweeping arch of the “tunnel of love” for a more modern look. We’ve worked with Michael Voorhees, director of food & beverage at Talega for many years and for many, many weddings. Each one takes on it’s own personal character as the bride and groom’s personality shine through and all of them have been picture perfect. Talega is definitely one of my favorite venues in terms of both photographic beauty and charm and hospitality.

Laguna Beach Paradise

jack — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:59:08 +0000

One of the most amazing venues in South Orange County is the Aliso Creek Golf Course and Inn. It’s located on Pacific Coast Highway in South Laguna just north of Aliso Beach County Park. Every time I return here I’m surprised by its tranquil beauty as I travel through the Aliso Canyon to the pristine fairways. It is truly a journey to a world apart. The Aliso Creek Inn opened in the then quiet seaside village of Laguna Beach in 1950 and continues to offer the most serene, natural setting, a very peaceful respite from the bustling beach community that is literally a stone’s throw from where we stand. The site has been transformed and as our bride arrives on the wedding lawn, we can’t help but be taken aback by the beauty of this incredibly romantic setting. The session is incredible. Our bride is beautiful. Her laughter contagious. Our groom is stunning, the perfect gentlemen. The light is golden. We’re delighted with the results.

A Special Thank You to:

Model/Bride – Lindee Bell

Model/Groom – Taylor Salisbury

Make up – Lisa O’ Connor

Flowers – Jana Weir, Reher’s Florist

Hair – Dana Ricketts

Tux – Friar Tux, Lake Forest

Gown – Carino Bridal Boutique

The Colors of India

jack — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:41:51 +0000

Every engagement and wedding is unique — each couple has a special relationship; every individual, a distinct personality providing challenges that I find exciting as an artist and photographer. It’s the reason why I love working with couples who are getting married — especially those that have a different cultural heritage than I do. We recently had the opportunity to celebrate with Vishal and Natasha during their engagement party. Photographing this event was a visual pleasure filled with vibrant colors, traditional Hindu ceremonies, family and friends. The party took place in a private home in Ritz Cove with balconies overlooking the ocean. There was so much to take in from the colorful, intricate saris to the fantastic views! Our challenge was to focus on the sweet relationship between Vishal and Natasha in the midst of it the excitement. In this public engagement, we set out to document the private, emotional moments that this handsome groom and his gorgeous bride will treasure forever. I love how he looks at her and her smile back at him. I love the emotion when they come together. I also love the excitement shared by friends, the proud parents, the importance of tradition and culture and the strength of the family. Above that, I love that we were privileged to share this day with Vishal and Natasha and to capture it all in the beautiful colors of India.

Newport Beach Classic Sophistication

jack — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:27:49 +0000

I was thrilled when asked recently to photograph the Newport Dunes Beach Resort for their marketing pieces. My childhood memories are full of trips to Newport Dunes and the excitement of climbing the whale for a ride through the bay. Just being on the property took me back to to memories of carefree California beach days; playing in the sand, collecting seashells, splashing each other silly, paddle boats and of course, the never-to-be-forgotten thrill of riding the whale. Today the Newport Dunes Beach Resort serves as the perfect venue for private beach weddings. An air of timeless sophistication surrounds the wedding gazebo and takes me back again to simpler days. The light is gorgeous and like children on the beach, we can’t resist the call to play. We are rewarded with a beautiful California sunset and then it’s time to pack our gear and call it a day. As we leave I glance over to the children’s playground to see the whale I remember basking in the dusk of the evening. “When they launch him this summer, I’ll be back,” I promise myself. And it’s a promise I intend to keep.

Just for Flower Girls!

jack — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:21:09 +0000

Congratulations! You’re going to be a flower girl! Being a flower girl is very special. You have a big job to do but you get to have fun too! Here are some tips just for you:

Before the wedding

Play pretend with mom or dad so you can get some practice
Ask a lot of questions so you know exactly what you need to do
Try on your dress and shoes to see how you look
Twirl in front of a mirror just because
Take a nap because you might need to stay up late

During the wedding

Be extra careful walking so you don’t trip
Be nice to the ringbearer!
Smile a lot, especially for the photographer
Try to stand still, be quiet and not to yawn
Try to stay clean and don’t ruin your tights

After the wedding

Give the bride a kiss
Shake the groom’s hand till it almost falls off
Show off your dancing skills
Stay awake and you might get cake!

If you have a flower girl or a ring bearer in your family, please contact us to find out about our on-location sessions designed to capture your child at this very special moment in their life.

Santa Hits the Beach

jack — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:33:40 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner and we’re busier than ever. But as busy as we are, we know there is someone whose schedule is even more jam packed. He’s got toys to make, lists to check, reindeer to feed and elves to supervise! Still, he managed to make time to visit families here in Southern California and we were there to capture these precious moments when he did. A very special thank you goes out to Santa (who by now is back at the North Pole deep in Christmas preparations) and to all the beautiful families and children who joined us in Laguna Beach for our very first ever Santa on the Beach event. We raised money to support JDRF, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and collected toys for the Illumination Foundation. And we had a wonderful time! Please make plans to join us next year for this annual event. Merry Christmas!

Santa Sighted in Southern California

jack — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 21:46:26 +0000

The Bride Wore Boots

jack — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:33:39 +0000

While every bride wants to live “happily every after,” they don’t all want to be storybook princesses. Take Gina for example, a natural beauty, who passed up the glass slippers and opted instead for pair of knee high, button front boots for her wedding day. The bridesmaids followed suit while the groomsmen wore Converse Chucks. We love her for individuality and enjoyed the opportunity to capture her day as she made it her own. Gina married her prince charming in her father’s vineyard and her personal touch was evident in all the details of the day. From the hand painted signs to her unique bouquet, it was certainly a day to remember. The images below were captured by John, my son and lead photographer. They are contemporary and fresh, well composed and completely lovely.

Beauty and Elegance

jack — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:22:57 +0000

Nestled in the hills of Fallbrook is a place so lovely, so unique in its beauty, it will render you speechless. It takes a while to take it all in, the elegant mansion, the heart-shaped lake with its graceful swans, the proud horse and stately carriage, and the gardens! The gardens are phenomenal! Hidden in an otherwise unremarkable area, is The Grand Tradition Estate, one of Southern California’s premier wedding venues. As a preferred vendor, I have been here many times and it never fails to inspire me. From my perspective as a wedding photographer, it offers endless opportunities for stunning images. Last week, we were privileged to share in the joy of David & Tara’s wedding day at this gorgeous venue. The estate and the grounds were surpassed in beauty only by the bride herself. We think you’ll agree. Congratulations David & Tara! And thank you for sharing these moments with us.

Castle by the Sea

jack — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:17:27 +0000

When I was invited to photograph Villa Rockledge in Laguna Beach, I jumped at the chance. I first toured the property sometime last month. It was love at first sight. Now open as a special event venue, Villa Rockledge is a six villa complex featuring a main house and private beach. Built by Frank A. Miller and Arthur Benton, developer and architect of Southern California’s famous resort hotel the Mission Inn in Riverside, the estate was created as a gift to Miller’s wife, Marion and was completed in 1922. Popular among Hollywood royalty, Bette Davis met her future husband here. Today, almost 90 years later, the place still seethes with romance. This castle by the sea offers open terraces with ocean vistas in all directions. The interior glows as the sun shines in through casement windows and ironwork balconies. The light here is beautiful. Photographing this venue, is a photographer’s dream. What a beautiful place for an intimate wedding ceremony! (Special thanks to our models Stephanie Rodriguez and Michael Jakovich)