7 Degrees

Wanna impress your freinds and have an insanely cool wedding at the same time? Check out Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. This art gallery gone wild is the ultimate non-traditional wedding venue.


Heidi relaxes in the bridal chamber moments before walking down the aisle.


The "chapel" at Seven Degrees.


Even the ceiling goes off at Seven Degrees.

Seven Degrees (continued)

Mike takes Heidi for a spin. When it comes to dancing, Seven Degrees is more like a club than a wedding venue. The on-staff lighting designers are constantly sculpting the light to create the perfect atmosphere for the evening.



Groomsmen in full effect! Professional Robot dancing in the house!!!!


Your feet called, the want thier shoes back! You might want to look on the table behind you for the other one. This is why I like to stay late at the reception. The freaks come out at night (I should write a song about that).


Exiting the reception with the classic Seven Degrees sparkler goodbye!

Gift Certificates

Here's something for all you last minute holiday shoppers out there. Contact us for more information.

Orange County Bridal Expo

If you would like to attend the Orange County Bridal Expo this January 5th, I have a few extra passes. The Expo is a great place to meet vendors face to face and get a real sense of what their products and services are like. Let's face it, the internet is nice and all, but why would you spend thousands of dollars on gowns, cakes and everything else before touching and seeing for yourself? If you'd like a pass (good for up to 5 people), send me an e-mail. I only have a few, so first come first served. I'll be there with sample wedding albums and videos, so please stop by and say hi!

Christmas Charity

If you are looking for a great charitable organization to help out this Christmas, please consider my friends at Bethany Children's Center in Kenya. I've known Dr, Bransford, the lead surgeon for over 10 years. His work among the poor in Africa is amazing, this man has literally given his life in the service of others. Check it out: Bethany Kids.

Brotherly Love

When Daniel was born, his older brothers were extremely excited. During Carri's pregnancy we made it a point to prepare Matthew and Jesse for Daniel's arrival by constantly talking with them about how they were getting a new brother, how they would help take care of him and how sweet he was going to be. On the day of his arrival the boys wanted to hold him, so we let them take turns (with mommy's help, of course). This photo of Matthew (age 3) holding Daniel pretty much says it all. Amazing. It's moments like these that make me glad I'm a photographer. I've heard of more and more parents having professional photographers visit the recovery room the day the baby is born. Give me a call, I'm in!

Playing Doggie

My son is crazy.

Pasadena Engagement Session

Kristi and Damon are getting married in downtown Pasadena on New Years Eve. For their engagement session we roamed the streets of Pasadena and found some pretty sweet locations. Most couples I work with look a whole lot better when they're just hangin' out, walking around and lovin' each other, as opposed to sitting in a chair in an indoor photo studio. In my opinion, people just look better when they're being themselves in a natural environment. I shoot in both types of settings (studio and location), but most people prefer outdoor photos. For engagement sessions, I usually meet couples in the late afternoon, when the sun is just right. Can't wait for New Years!!!

More Kristi and Damon

Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute!

How awesome is this? Downtown Khartoum, Sudan. I'm lovin' the robe!

Sudan

Usually when I'm in Sudan it's my mission to capture images that are amazingly horrible; starvation and war. I do this to raise awareness and ultimately bring help to the people. At the same time it's good to know that for many people in Sudan, life is not all about suffering, for many people life is pretty normal. I look forward to a day when peace is the norm everywhere in Sudan and civil wars are a thing of the past. I hope I get to see that day soon.

Love Buggy

Carri and I have been working feverishly putting albums together and editing videos. I the middle of all that, I got to spend 10 days in New Zealand working on a non-wedding related video project. It was a great time, and now it's back to the albums. Here's a layout from Lance and Nina's album, it's going to be a 9.5 x 13 GraphiStudio Flush Mount album. The above proof is a 2 page layout. Lance and Nina were married at the Grand Tradition in Fallbrook. The horse and buggy are part of what makes the Grand Tradition so grand : ) Click on the photo to supersize it.

Brian and Candice

Carri just finished Brian and Candice's album, it's a GraphiStudio flush mount. These layouts are from the album, actual size is 19' wide x 13' high. People often ask if they get to choose the photos that go into their album. With us, the answer is yes. In addition to being in control of the photo selection, our clients review the layout and can make changes before it goes to print. We understand that our clients will be looking at this album for the rest of their lives, so we make every effort to make sure they love it.

South Pacific Wedding

Congratulations to Mark and Caroline Blanes, married on September 8th, 2007. I just had to post a photo of their South Pacific motif, it's so cool! This stairway is on the backside of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Newport Beach, where they were married. I love it, it's not your average wedding party shot.

Aggroman!

If you are a BMXer, check it:
Roman Productions

Coffee Table Albums

We've added Coffee Table style albums to our line of products. Our first sample will arrive at the end of this month, so if you'd like to see one, let me know. I often visit engaged couples in their area at the local Starbucks or a similar location to let them see my albums, videos and other products. If you'd like to arrange a meeting, visit my main website (see link at top of this page) and drop me an e-mail.

Engagement Photos

I believe engagement photos are very important for a number of reasons. Most couples do not have photos of themselves together taken by a professional until the wedding. This is fine, but it sure is nice to be able to look back at photos of yourselves in your "normal" attire, in addition to the wedding dress and tuxedo. I often do engagement sessions at the place the couple met or a place that is very special to them. This adds a whole new dimension to the memory factor in the years to come. The main reason I like to do engagement sessions is because I want to know you better before your wedding, so when I'm photographing you at your wedding, I'm not a stranger. Photos look better when you know the person who is taking your picture. Think about it, who do you look more natural in front of? A friend with a camera or a stranger? After the engagement session you know how I work as well as my personality (lucky you!!!???). Also, I get to learn any special/important facts about you ("don't make me stand in the sun too long", "this is my good side", etc.) that helps me do my job better on wedding day. I recently had a groom who claimed to get nervous and sweat easily. We all had fun on the engagement session, so at the wedding he was not nervous around me. On wedding day I made it a point to keep him in the shade and/or inside with an air conditioner. I didn't need to be reminded, since I already knew that about him. Wedding day is not the time to get to know your photographer, there's too much going on.

So there's alot more to the engagement session than meets the eye. Oh yeah, you get great pictures too : ) You can see sample Engagement photos on my main website, the link is at the top of this page.

Miles Miles Miles!

Why pay wedding vendors with a check when you can earn miles/points on your credit card? We accept Mastercard and Visa for photo/video package purchases, so getting to that dream honeymoon destination might be a little easier than you think.

Bouncie House!

So there we were, finishing up the traditional wedding party photos at a park in Costa Mesa, when out of the corner of my eye I saw the desire of kiddies everywhere.... a bounce house. Being the fun loving photographer that I am, I asked one of the groomsmen to wander over and ask dad if we could borrow it for a few minutes. He agreed, the bride and groom (Paola and Tyler Nguyen) were up for it, and the rest is bouncie history. Not many people have wedding photos like this.

Little girls

My wife loves to paint, so when some friends of ours mentioned that they wanted to paint their daughter's room, Carri volunteered. Next thing you know she created a beach scene in little Hannah's room, complete with real sand in the paint. Carri wanted me to take a picture of her masterpiece, so I decided it was time for a portrait of Hannah in her awesome bedroom. We didn't want her sister Tiffany to feel left out, so I took one of her as well. Two different bedrooms, two different personalities.

Hannah's South Pacific Wonder Room

Tiffany the Pop Star

Wii Party!

How do you spend time with the friends and family that come out for your wedding and are only in town for a few days? Andy and Esther Yang threw a Wii party. It was alot of fun and a great time to catch up with the friends they hadn't seen since college. Andy and Esther liked the photos so much, they decided to include a section in their wedding album. Here's a two page spread from their album (click on it to enlarge):

Metal Albums

Metal album covers are pretty amazing. We are able to produce albums with covers made out of metal, wood or any fabric you supply us with. Who will be the first to use their wedding dress as the fabric on their album cover? Why not???!!!

BMX site coming soon

I get alot of BMXers checking out my site, wondering where the photos of Mat Hoffman are. Well, I've finally gotten my act together and soon aggroman.com will be open to the public. Aggroman.com will feature all kind of BMX craziness from my interesting past. Check back soon for the link.

Me and the president of Sudan (aka My Crazy Life)

Here's me (2nd from right) with the president of Sudan (3rd from left). I can't say I ever thought I'd have a photo like this.

A few years back, I did alot of photography and video production in South Sudan, documenting the famine and atrocities that were taking place, as well as the great things being done by Christian missionaries, doctors and relief workers. I was working with Safe Harbor International Relief, and the Sudanese government knew who we were. They did not like what we were doing, since we were showing the world the bad things that were happening there. To make an exteremly long story short, the government began a PR campaign and started inviting Westerners to North Sudan in an attempt to show their side of the genocide story. Safe Harbor was invited, and off I went. Our team spoke with many government officals, including President Omar Bashir. We discussed ways that Sudan could change for the good of the people. What an experience!!! Pray for Sudan, it's a mess.

Close Call

When Dave Jorris (top photo) slung his new bride Diana's garter, little did he know that he'd be putting my life at risk. Here I am (bottom photo), keeping focused in the danger zone while all heck breaks loose over the coveted garter. It's a tough job, but the free wedding cake makes it all worthwhile.

Aggroman

Back in the day, in the late 80's - early 90's, I produced BMX videos. It was during a time when extreme sports were not on TV and magazines were the only place that riders could see and learn tricks. Since my videos were some of the only BMX videos on the market, and since my videos had guys like Mat Hoffman and Dave Mirra in them, they sold very well. Fast forward, 2007. A few times a month I get e-mails from people asking about the availablility of these old classics. Well, they're back. For a limited time, you can get a dvd with these three videos on it: Aggroman. Ride On. Matt Hoffman: HeadFirst. Be warned, this is some of my earliest work, the production quality is horrible. Aside from that, these videos have become cult classics and they have alot of great riding, even by today's standards. Most of today's top Pro's grew up watching these videos, and guys like Mat Hoffman, Dave Mirra and Dennis McCoy still consider these some of the best BMX videos ever made.

Ordering information: Paypal $27 (shipping included) to eddiersm@hotmail.com. Enter TRILOGY in the notes section. If you don't Paypal, send $25 (yes, it's cheaper with a check) to Roman Productions, 309 Date St. Lake Elsinore, CA 92530.

Daddy's Girl

Here's a photo I took a few years back. I came across it this morning and just had to post it. Why not???!!!

Kory and Carey

Kory and Carey McGranahan were married at the El Adobe restaurant in San Juan Capistrano on May 11th. El Adobe has a sweet little outdoor area that can seat a couple hundred people. Down the street is the San Juan Capistrano Mission, an absolutely beautiful place for photos. The Mission charges $50/hour for you to take pictures on the grounds, and it is totally worth it. If you are getting married anywhere near the Mission, consider taking pictures there before or after your ceremony, it's rad. Can I still use that 80's word? No? Ok, it is very, very wonderful. The McGranahan wedding went very smoothly and a great time was had by all, thanks to the team of wedding coordinators at Events By Jessica.