Jay Pleet and his Fitted 2014 WRX
Jay Pleet has been in the process of getting this car to where he wants it for quite some time, and he came to us to shoot a short video of it for our Bird City series where we film a quick excerpt on a local driver and their car. The resulting video is at the bottom after all of the photos.
I would like to point out that his car is static, and it's also his daily. There's no hard parking this in a garage to keep it pristine while he drives something else around. Yet, every time I've seen this car it has looked mint. The amount of time that Jay puts into the upkeep of this beauty is unimaginable.
This car is truly one of the most important things in his life (after his long-time girlfriend Sarah, of course). I would be willing to bet that you would agree with me that it shows too.
The vibe for this video is a little bit different than normal; however, I am certainly a fan! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
A Vaninetti Wedding Weekend
Over the weekend we had the wonderful pleasure of being part of my older brother's wedding weekend. On Friday night we had a rehearsal dinner at Rustler's Rooste, and on Saturday we enjoyed the most beautiful wedding.
I had never heard of Rustler's Rooste before. It was quite the atmosphere. It was definitely an interesting place, but the view wasn't bad at all. It was actually really pretty, and a very nice night out. After the sun went down, we enjoyed hanging out on the balcony. Most of the people attending were on my new sister-in-law's side from out of town. So we really didn't know anyone there. We banded together with my little brother, and enjoyed each other's company for the most part.
The week leading up to all the fun was hectic, but well worth it for the result. Friday night was nice, but Saturday was one of the best moments in time that I could think to be part of. I love weddings as it is, and when it's a wedding in the family it is that much more special. I love that my brother hung out with us at the house beforehand. I thought it was cute that he wanted to be around us all day leading to the big "I Do." We were all preparing for the wedding, talking about the anticipation and excitement and how it all came so fast. Mostly we smiled and laughed and spent genuine time as a family before such a big moment in my brother's life, and that's really special.
It came time to head over to the venue to finish getting ready. As we arrived I thought about how it felt like just yesterday that we were shooting their engagement photos in that same location, and what a privilege that was. You can see the pure joy on each of their faces just being around one another, which is one of my favorite things about doing all of this.
We arrived mid-afternoon and my mom and I went to the Bridal suite. Savannah was getting her hair and makeup done, and she already looked so beautiful. I had the honor of being one of her bridesmaids, so I got to be part of the whole process. Getting into her dress was a process because of all the eyelets, but once she had it on it fit so perfect. There was a moment where she walked over to the mirror, and the train of the dress was laying nicely behind her where I just couldn't help myself from tearing up a little. Savannah looked so stunning, and it hit me that my brother was marrying this beautiful woman, and she would be my new sister.
Then the wedding planner came in and it was time to line up for the ceremony. I was really excited, and it became so real in that moment. I was able to walk down with my younger brother, and we were the first bridesmaid/groomsmen duo to walk. We had the opportunity to see my older brother, and look up at his nervous yet incredibly excited smile first. It was such pure joy. Savannah walking down the aisle brought tears to everyone's eyes, because she was absolutely stunning, and the smile on my brother's face couldn't have been bigger. That moment in any wedding cannot be described. It has to be seen and felt, because there is so much love. The ceremony was short, sweet, and incredibly meaningful for the two of them sharing their love for each other and God.
The reception was so much fun! Our favorite part was probably the photo booth. Photo booths at receptions always sounded like a fun idea, but it is honestly the best idea ever. All of the guests were having a blast with all the props, and there were little print-outs immediately after.
We aren't much for dancing, but we did get a couple in there. There was one fun song, then we ended the night with a slow dance. That balanced it out. We were satisfied with just the two. The food was amazing, the cupcakes were just as tasty, and everything came together beautifully. We sent them off at the end of the night with sparklers and cheers. Altogether an incredible day, and an absolutely beautiful wedding.
Easter Drift at Wildhorse Pass
I was looking forward to this all week. I don't get out to the track as often as I would like, but I had heard that GoFast Entertainment was going to be hosting a strictly drift night at Wildhorse Pass Motorsports Park. Since I've been working on a new reel, I thought that I should get out there to try and capture a little bit of footage.
The only downside was that I didn't have media credentials this time. That meant that I would be on the opposite side of the fence from where all of the action was happening. However, I don't think I've ever been as close to the action as I was that night. The spectator locations were right behind the barriers.
I didn't stay an incredibly long time. I was only filming until the pastel sunset subsided, but it was still a great night.
Here's a little bonus video clip that I shot that night!
Chad's Rocket Bunny FRS
Here are a few shots from an evening with Chad Lampano, his Corgi named Lumpy, and his freshly painted Rocket Bunny FRS. A winning combination! This church is right in the historic area of Glendale off of the main strip. Initially we had gone out to get some footage of his car as it was just re-painted. I also wanted to try to jump a little further into merging photos and painting out reflections which I believe was successful. In the end, it was a relaxing time catching up with some friends and doing what I love most: taking photos.
