Picture perfect, for more than 30 years!

Chapter 3: My History and Philosophy

Historically, during the last 30 years, I've photographed thousands of Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Special Events, Private Parties, Debutante Balls and Quinceaneras in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Coto de Caza and Mission Viejo.

I have personally photographed more than 4,000 Special Events.

I can do everything for you or you can save some money and easily do some of this for yourselves.

You can establish your own budget, at any level, and I will meet it. You can have me shoot as much or as little as you wish, for as long as you desire.

You'll receive ALL of your medium format, high-definition, Fuji Film, used at your event.

You'll receive all of your 7mb, 300dpi, sRGB, 8 bit, 4"x5" TIFF files, post-produced for EVERY SINGLE picture taken at your event.

If shot digitally, with my Phase One, P25, 22 million pixel digital system on my Hasselblad H1 cameras, you'll receive all of your RAW files plus your TIFF and JPEG files.

You'll receive beautiful, sharp, 4"x5" Fuji Crystal Archive Photographic Proof Prints for EVERY SINGLE picture taken at your event.

You'll be able to work with the best photographic lab in Southern California, PCI, getting all of your pictures printed at WHOLESALE prices. The same professional quality but costing you a lot less money.

You can buy any album, any size, any shape, any color, from anywhere in the world.

You'll own EVERYTHING.

You can receive $500.00 to $1,200.00 worth of FREE stuff, just for booking my services.

Chapter 3

My History and Philosophy Contents

Gallery

FREE Services Referral

Helicopter Engagements & Bridal Delivery Services

My Photographic Philosophy

My Photographic History

I am a "Small Event" Specialist.

Historically, I've photographed thousands of Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Special Events, Private Parties, Debutante Balls and Quinceaneras in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Coto de Caza and Mission Viejo.

Are you looking for pictures from an event that you attended? All of their pictures will be displayed here. I will NOT be able to sell pictures, from these events, to you. I don't have the source negatives or the Copyrights to their materials. You will need to contact the families involved if you would like to request copies of their pictures.

Go to the Photo Galleries

Do you want to check out my prices?

($150.00/hour plus $1.56 per picture taken)

Go to the Price Structure page.

Want to quickly move to any page on my web?

Just "single left click" on the navigation boxes (on the Top/Right side and at the BOTTOM of every page) to get to the pages, pictures, prices and general information you need.

FREE services and materials

Want to fly around the Los Angeles and Santa Monica basin... in a sexy Robinson R44 Raven Helicopter?

Want a FREE Limo ride, in a beautiful, 1930's, white Princess, from Classic Manner ? They can take you anywhere in Southern California.

How would you like a complete Personal or Couples Engagement Photo session? I can work with you anywhere in Southern California, especially in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Coto de Caza and Mission Viejo.

Would FREE services interest you?

I am proud to offer a lot of FREE "Purchase Incentives" that vary with the amount of time that you purchase.

These are worth from $500.00 to $1,200.00

Take her breath away!

Forget about getting down on a bended knee!

How would you like to propose to your sweetheart, as you fly high over Los Angeles and Santa Monica, in a sleek, sexy, helicopter?

Adagio Photography would like to invite you aboard LA Helicopters fleet of beautiful, private, helicopters. Sip champagne and then hold on tight as you see Southern California from a whole new perspective. Watch the sun set, from 500 to 5,000 feet in the sky.

I can shoot every moment of this spectacular event. You'll fly in the very comfortable back seat of a New Robinson R44 Raven helicopter, while I shoot you from the front seat. My Hasselblad camera, fantastic lenses and high-definition film or 22-million pixel digital system will produce wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime pictures of this very special occasion, just for you.

"Love is in the air..."

Want to arrive in style at your wedding? Take the helicopter and the limo.

Classic Manner can pick you up, (from anywhere in and around Southern California, such as Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Coto de Caza and Mission Viejo, in one of their beautiful, comfortable, vintage automobiles. You'll be driven to the airport in classic style. Walk over The Red Carpet, receive a cold glass of wonderful champagne and be seated in a beautiful, black, Robinson R44 Raven helicopter, from LA Helicopters.

No one else offers this service.

You'll be flown high over the clogged freeways and dropped off, on the front lawn, at your venue. Certain venues will allow such a Grand Entrance. Others may require a landing at a local airport and a short limo ride to your destination.

You'll make an unforgettable impression on your friends and family.

As part of your selected range of services, I will be able to capture every moment of your adventure with my Hasselblads.

My Photographic Philosophy

For me, photography is a deeply personal, highly emotional, somewhat risky but totally satisfying profession. Historically, I have worked all around Southern California, especially Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Coto de Caza and Mission Viejo.

No two photographers are alike. Every photographer has his or her own reasons for doing what they do. Personalities, attitudes, ethics, skills, artistic sense, equipment selections, business practices and life experiences all impact on the quality of the final photographic product.

Photography, by itself, is an art form.

Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, Special Event, Private Party, Debutante Ball and Quinceanera Photography involves continual practice. It requires an immense financial investment in state-of-the-art equipment. It demands a deep understanding of the tools and processes that are used to make the best possible pictures. Professional photography requires a deep personal commitment and complete dedication.

It is not easy and it is not simple. This is not a game. For me, however, it is always a pleasure.

Photography is like playing a fine musical instrument. It is one thing to just play an instrument. It is quite another to be able to "make beautiful music". That's a gift.

Real music comes from the soul of the musician. It is inside the body and it can be felt. Often, the great musicians will just close their eyes and play. They know their instruments so well that they simply move with their emotions and the music just flows out of them. "They put their hearts into it."

If you listen carefully, you'll be able to feel their emotions. Although they may spend a lifetime "practicing", their music comes naturally.

Photography is my gift.

This is not just my business...

it's my life.

While the tools may have gotten easier to use, the basic ability to communicate, visually, I feel, is innate. I feel that this ability must already be "part of" the person when they are born. Certainly, some graphical techniques can be taught. However, I feel that the actual visual expressions must come from the inner soul of the person behind the camera. I am not sure how much of that can be "taught".

A lifetime of piano lessons would not make me a concert pianist, regardless of which piano I used.

"Cameras don't make great pictures. People do."

This is not just my "hobby" or a second "job". I'm not just doing this just to make a little extra money on the weekends. I am not just doing this until something better comes along. It is hard to explain but I have to do this. I have no choice.

This is what I am.

The art of my photography draws from the very core of my personality. It employs careful compositions and purposeful contrasts. It is emotion, drama and story.

This is theater.

It uses the latest in technology and the oldest of psychology. It thrives on thoughtful intentions, subtle methods and a level of pre-visualization that is very much determined by my heart.

And I must accomplish all of this under extreme pressure, as quickly as possible, within a tight budget, with an absolute deadline, with no noise or commotion, with no hope for a second chance, with the utmost of dignity and with a deep affection for the very people being photographed.

I have worked this way for 30 years, shooting thousands of Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Special Events, Private Parties, Debutante Balls and Quinceaneras all over Southern California, including Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Coto de Caza and Mission Viejo.