Growing up in Santa Cruz I have always had a love for the Ocean. The smell, the sound of the waves crashing and just the amazing scenery always put a smile on my face and shooting along the coast or at the beach is one of my favorite places to photograph at. It really is amazing to be a photographer in the Bay Area, we have the redwoods within a short drive, San Francisco and some very cool beaches to shoot at. There are lots of beach weddings that I do from Carmel and Monterey up to beaches up north. One place I love to photograph at is the Ritz Carlton Half Moon bay and the Half Moon Bay golf links. The dramatic cliffs they have with the Ritz as a background give you so many places to get creative and as an artist there is inspiration all around that area.

Here is a wedding we shot last year at the Half Moon Bay Golf links:

Half Moon Bay Golf Links wedding from mark stagi on Vimeo.

The SF Gate BayList competition is open for voting and I am honored we have been nominated again for the Best Wedding photographer. Help us win this year by going to their website and voting! You can cast your vote here: Vote for Stagi Imagery, best of the bay wedding photography You do have to register an account on the website but it’s totally free and quick.

Thanks!
Mark

I have to admit I get to work with some pretty awesome couples. After the wedding they are always so stoked on the images and service we provide to them but I always feel like the one that needs to thank them. My clients are so amazing to work with, they give me creative control over one of the most important days of their lives and give me the chance to do what I love to do. It really is an honor to be a part of such a huge day in people’s lives and to really be let into their life. Nich and Catrina were a really, really amazing client I had awhile back who came into the studio to share a little bit about their experience in having us photograph their day. Here are some of their words about working with Mark and of course a few images of their spectacular day!

Nich and Catrina from mark stagi on Vimeo.

Always looking for new and exciting ways to display our work I have been excited about the upcoming iPad. With a beautiful large display this is a perfect way to view and showcase your wedding photos! For any weddings booked from now until the end of March we are going to include a free Apple iPad (you just have to have at least 8 hours of coverage and it will replace the coffee table books we normally offer). Your iPad will come preloaded with your wedding photos and is the perfect way to share your wedding with family and friends!

If we already shot your wedding, don’t worry there is another way to get an iPad on us. Just send over your family and friends. After being in business for 11 years your referrals are the core of what we do. For all referrals that you send us in March and April we will put your name into a drawing for a free iPad. You can email us their info or fill out a contact form online Just enter your name and friends info in the message section.

You can also help spread the word on facebook or twitter by sharing our newsletter with this website address: http://mim.io/6cb82 Just copy and paste this into your status to help spread the word. The more people you send over the more chances to get an iPad.

Our Wednesday Weddings post this week is on Orinda Country Club. A really classic venue the country club was built in 1925 and has a classic california/spanish Mediterranean style to the main building. Here is a little more info about Orinda Country Club

Since opening in 1925, the historic Spanish Mediterranean style clubhouse has always played the consummate host. The hand-carved beam ceilings, ornate mahogany balconies, and contemporary furnishings create an atmosphere of timeless beauty and elegance.

On the club terrace, the sweeping views from the 1st tee out across the San Pablo Valley and Orinda hills provide a magnificent setting for occasions big and small intimate and larger than live.It is an exclusive domain set on 250 very private acres. A natural preserve of alders, bays, and oaks. San Francisco is but 20 minutes away, yet you are sequestered from the disturbances of the modern world.

Arriving at the Orinda Country Club is, in itself, an event. Part movie set, part getaway, it is a secluded retreat with a warm Mediterranean welcome. A place well-equipped to turn any engagement into a unique experience. The Grand Ballroom places the accent on grand with its high ceilings, chandeliers, balcony, and fireplace.
Our gracious Club Rooms lend an elegant mood to smaller gatherings. Whether the invitation is to close companions or an entire corporation, a professionally trained staff is at your command. The dress is black and white, the service is china, and the dining is, or course, very fine. As befits a private club with close ties to the Napa Valley, our cellar boasts some of California’s finest vintages. A full bar awaits in the Fairway Lounge (Insider tip: try a Ginda, the house special, made with gin, tonic, and a sprig of rosemary.)

Check out more info about booking your wedding or event here: Orinda Country Club Events

Here is a recent wedding we photographed out there:

Orinda Country Club wedding from mark stagi on Vimeo.