Polka Photoblog - Los Angeles Wedding Photographer

A Perfect Match

2008-10-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

Palos Verdes, California

Rob and Michelle were married on the anniversary of their first date, which fell on a weekday. The following Saturday they held their wedding reception at the beautiful Palos Verdes Country Club. I love all the red.

Every corner of the room had an interesting detail, including Michelle's parents' certificate of marriage from Vietnam.

The place cards gracefully adorned three sets of vases holding branches.

Michelle's signature purse, she has several in different colors.

After everyone was seated, the couple played a slideshow of photos from their wedding ceremony.

As a surprise to all the guests, Michelle and Rob changed into traditional Vietnamese wedding attire, also called Áo dài.

Some of Michelle's family traveled from overseas for their wedding and they were very excited to see the happy couple.

After greeting every table, the newlyweds changed back to their formal attire for their first dance.

Their guests loved the photo booth. Even the bride got in on the action making silly faces into the camera.

These two boys were so adorable!

All that dancing makes for hungry guests. No worries, there were two delicious cakes to satisfy every appetite.

Thank you again to the sweetest Michelle and Rob!

Closing Time

2008-09-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

San Jose, California

I love the night. It's quiet. Peaceful. All the doors close, the lights go out, and everyone sleeps, except for those few nocturnal souls like mine.

Cities truly shine at night. Here the lights never go out completely. The doors at Original Joe's stay open past midnight. Which was good for us since that's about the time we finally got to eat.

After the doors are locked and everyone leaves with full bellies, a lone worker remains.

Fresh crisp tablecloths adorn each table, perfectly in line with the next.

For those far from home, a bed and pillow await here.

Time to go. Back to L.A.

Walk Like an Egyptian

2008-09-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

San Jose, California

We met the lovely Dianne and Dominik for The Day After portrait session at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. I fell in love with the museum last year, and was happy to photograph here again.

We started at the house by the pond in the peace garden.

Dianne is simply gorgeous. I couldn't help but think of Cleopatra as we walked around the grounds which were adorned with Egyptian symbols like the ankh below.

All of the windows and doorways made for endless photo possibilities.

I can't decide which doorway photo I like the best.

I shot this one facing the sun which made an unusual lens flare.

Dominik has a strong, handsome profile.

I love this moment!

Leaving the garden...

Dianne's only photo request was that we take photos in the water. San Jose is far from the ocean, so we went to this fountain instead.

Dominik on the other hand, had absolutely no desire to go in the water.

But he ended up surprising his wife and going in anyway.

And we ended up with my favorite photo from the day.

It Is Her Love that Gives Me Strength

My sister's love is on the far side.
The river is between our bodies;
The waters are mighty at flood-time,
A crocodile waits in the shallows.
I enter the water and brave the waves,
My heart is strong on the deep;
The crocodile seems like a mouse to me,
The flood as land to my feet.
It is her love that gives me strength,
It makes a water-spell for me;
I gaze at my heart's desire,
As she stands facing me!
My sister has come, my heart exults,
My arms spread out to embrace her;
My heart bounds in its place,
Like the red fish in its pond.
O night, be mine forever,
Now that my queen has come!

~ from love poems found inscribed on The Cairo Vase,

a vase from the New Kingdom Period excavated at Deir el-Medina

Do You Know the Way To San Jose?

2008-09-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

San Jose, California

We met Katrina and Jeremy for an engagement portrait session.

The couple first met at The Cheesecake Factory, where they both worked.

Katrina and Jeremy are super cute together.

They weren't sure of how to pose but once we started shooting they were naturals!

I love Katrina's ring!

We found this cool old door...

and a funky spiky tree!

Thank you Katrina & Jeremy for a fun shoot!

So Long San Fran!

2008-09-12T00:41:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, California

It's time to bid this city farewell. Perhaps Walter Cronkite said it best, "Leaving San Francisco is like saying goodbye to an old sweetheart. You want to linger as long as possible."

The Little Fishing Village

2008-09-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

Sausalito, California

My favorite cookies used to be Sausalito by Pepperidge Farms. Now I just look at one cookie and go up a dress size. Our calorie-free indulgence for the day was a quick trip across the Bay to Sausalito.

The streets were overflowing with tourists and lacking in parking. Even the seagull parking was full.

We made another quick stop at the Gates Cooperative house boat community.

The old bohemian neighborhood is characterized by its bright houses, many decorated with artwork from calaveras to what looked like nursery rhyme characters.

What all the houses had in common was that they were wearing down.

This boat and smokestack reminds me of Popeye.

I didn't want to intrude for too long. The residents seem tired of tourists coming by - and I don't blame them. It was time to get out of Dodge. But not before I took a photo of the coolest muscle car. Time to drive back.

Meet Me at the Golden Gate

2008-09-11T17:07:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, California

One of the challenges to photographing an icon like the Golden Gate Bridge is finding a different way to see it.

We took a drive across the bridge...

It was covered in a blanket of fog.

Neither rain nor snow nor fog will stop this photographer!

The sun started to come out...

....right at the end of the road.

We continued on to Sausalito, which was about 20 degrees warmer than San Francisco. By the time we drove back, the bridge was almost clear.

I'm so lucky Michael drove across and back so I could take these photos!

We continued on to Baker Beach for another great view of the Golden Gate.

Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.
- Pooh's Little Instruction Book

There's No Escape

2008-09-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

Alcatraz Island, California

The Rock looks foreboding as we get closer and closer.

Just in case you feel drawn toward the island, this sign makes it clear you should stay away.

Alcatraz is only 1.5 miles away from San Francisco but escaping meant braving the cold waters.

Birds have taken over this island. It is home to many species, including seagulls, herons, egrets, and cormorants.

Walking into Alcatraz Penitentiary is like walking into a black and white photo. The deep blue waters of the bay and the bright green of the grass are all outside. Inside is gray.

Each inmate had his own 5' x 9' cell.

A list of regulations governed all the details of the prisoners' lives.

Regulation #30 CELLHOUSE RULES

At the wake-up bell in the morning you must get out of bed and put on your clothes. Make up your bed properly (as shown in the diagram on Page #8) with your pillow at the end near the bars, blankets tucked neatly under the mattress, and extra blankets folded neatly at the foot of the bed. Sweep your cell and place the trash in the trash basket.

Alcatraz was reserved for the worst criminals.

Among the baddest of them all, was the Polka of Alcatraz. Her quick shooting skills landed her in the joint for life.

Polka's partner in crime was Mike "Shifty Eyes."

There is no escape from the bars. Even the shadows mock you.

Regulation #42 YARD PRIVILEGES
Exercise yard rules: All inmates in good standing are allowed the yard privilege on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, if the weather permits.

I wonder how many only saw the outside world through these dusty dining room windows.

Regulation #33 DINING ROOM RULES
Meals are served three times a day in the dining room. Do not exceed the ration. Do not waste food. Do not carry food from the dining room.

The glass case surrounding a guard's uniform reflects some tourists.

Looking into the offices it seems as if time froze.

Regulation # 21 WORK

You are required to work at whatever you are told to do.

There's even a date stamp. I'm guessing it's from 1952, but I'm not sure of the significance. Anyone know?

Inmates who did not follow the regulations were sent here.

The prison hospital is the creepiest of all. I feel like I'm in a horror movie.

Regulation #36 MEDICAL ATTENTION

Medical attention is available to all inmates.

This looks like a torture chamber!

That hospital gave me the chills. I could not get out of there fast enough!

I believe that's the guard quarters, with San Francisco gleaming in the distance.

We finished the tour listening to some more prison stories.

The island no longer belongs to the Birdman of Alcatraz.

Regulation #3 STATUTORY GOOD TIME, MERITORIOUS GOOD TIME AND INDUSTRIAL GOOD TIME are types of reduction in sentence which can be earned only by inmates who establish and keep a good conduct record and a good work record.

Thank you to the National Park Service for all of their hard work in preserving history. I highly recommend the Alcatraz Tour for anyone visiting the Bay area. Quick tip: Be sure to reserve your tickets early as they sell out fast. We bought ours a month ahead of time and the night tour the day before ours was sold out.

It's Chinatown

2008-09-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, California

I love exploring new neighborhoods, especially old neighborhoods that are just new to me. Maybe it's just the mood I was in, but San Francisco's Chinatown had a mystical, ancient feeling to it, like the dragon guarding the gate. Is he a good luck dragon? Or will he lash out with flaming breath? Maybe he just needs an Altoid.

This is Chinatown: bright-colored signs competing for your attention, each building like a ribboned soldier standing in formation, sunlit lanterns bouncing in the wind peacefully ignoring the bustle below.

The dragon is in the details...

Have I told you I love photographing signs?

Michael's mission was to find Sam Wo's, a hole-in-the-wall cheap Chinese restaurant that's been around for over 100 years.

I love studying languages. One of my favorite B.U. classes was an archaeology course on languages and decipherment (taught by the incredible Prof. Paul Zimansky). I'm especially fascinated with the languages that use characters. Did you know that to be fluent in writing Chinese you need to know over 3,000 characters?!?! I wonder how many different characters a newspaper typically uses?

In the middle of Chinatown is Old St. Mary's, rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake and fire.

Below the clock is this bible quote: Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.

We didn't fly away, but we did take the cable car.

Apparently so did Humphrey Bogart. You can barely make out the scrawl in the front: H. Bogart rode on this car - circa 1946 - 47 (Dark Passage) I'm intrigued. I'll have to add that to my must-watch movies list.

It's not the end of the line for us!

Bad Motor Scooter

2008-09-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, California

Our adventures continue. We love this city. We were happy my mom and sister, Alicja, joined us for a few days.

We had brunch at a place we discovered last year, Liverpool Lil's. My favorite is their Monte Cristo but it's only available as a special and they didn't have it this time. So I had their delicious waffles instead.

All four of us thought we'd try a scooter tour of the city. It was fun - except for the times I had to get out and push the scooter uphill.

Alicja and Michael put their best face forward, with me in the middle, reflected in my mom's helmet.

We're always scouting new photo shoot locations like the one below.

And the sun goes down on the city...

Cafe Maritime boasts it has the best crab cakes in San Francisco. They're absolutely right.

It's the end of another day, as Michael and I kick up our heels.

And the Sun Shines on the Bay

2008-09-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, California

We met the adorable Melissa & Ryan for an engagement session at the Presidio.

We started out at the Palace of Fine Arts. I love these doors on the Exploratorium building.

The Palace of Fine Arts is undergoing construction but that didn't stop us from finding a few great locations.

The sun came out...

We headed over to Baker Beach for some more photos. Melissa and Ryan love hiking and spend many of their weekends either surrounded by trees or on the beach. This place has both.

Ryan is a firefighter and he effortlessly put Melissa over his shoulder.

I wanted to give this photo the look of an old postcard.

That is one sexy couple!

I love all the different looks and backgrounds we were able to capture in one session.

Thank you Melissa and Ryan for a fun shoot! We can't wait for your wedding next June!

Wear White After Labor Day

2008-09-01T02:39:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles, California
Just because it's Labor Day doesn't mean it's time to put your white clothes away. In fact, we dare you to take out your wedding gown and wear it again.

Polka Photos would like to offer 3 adventurous brides a complimentary portrait session.

Want to play in the ocean? Ride your Harley? Go hiking? Skydive? Not sure what you want? We can come up with some fun locations.

To qualify:
1. You must like having fun.
2. You must wear a wedding gown. If you don't want to get your expensive gown dirty, we can recommend places to buy inexpensive gowns.
3. You must come to the LA area for the session. But if you insist on flying us out to Hawaii then we won't refuse.

So go ahead, defy a cardinal fashion rule. And get the photos to prove it. We dare you!

Email us.

Playing Dress Up

2008-09-01T01:03:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, California
We met some brides in San Francisco who wanted to wreck their dress. We started out underneath one of the city's landmarks: the Golden Gate Bridge.

Tonie is a super cool bride who was up for anything... and up she went on this pedestal.

Fort Point has some interesting alcoves and windows. I wonder if a bride has ever graced its hallways before?

I was trying out a different lens for many of these photos. It has an interesting focal effect. Although the bride isn't sharp in the photo below - I still like it. It looks like it was taken through a fogged up window.

Our second stop was Baker Beach - one of my favorite places in San Francisco. The sun came out as we headed into the water.

While I was in the ocean with Tonie, Michael took this photo with the waves breaking behind her.

One of the perils of shooting on Baker Beach is that it is a nudist beach.

I was happy Tonie remembered a change of clothes. Of course I didn't follow my own advice.

After saying our goodbyes to the intrepid Tonie, we headed out to meet our other dress wrecker. Tricia loves exploring all the neighborhoods of the city. And she looks stylish doing it on her pink Vespa!

When Tricia told us about her cute doggie Anjou we just had to take him with us! Look at that face - isn't he adorable?

This is one of my favorite photos. I love how the fog is covering the Golden Gate while there's a spotlight of sunshine on Tricia and Anjou.

The gorgeous bride strikes a pose.

Tricia is a modern day Venus emerging from the water.

Thank you to both Tonie and Tricia - the most adventurous brides in San Francisco! You were so much fun to photograph!

Stay tuned for photos from a cute couple in San Jose.

A Walk in the Park

2008-08-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Yosemite National Park, California
On our last day here we hiked around the Mariposa Grove which is the largest grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite. Many of these trees are more than a thousand years old. Some of these trees were here before the Greek Parthenon was built!

Here is the Bachelor and the Three Graces. These are not the oldest trees but they are tall - slender ballerinas dancing around their Raphael.

As we walked some more we saw something moving in the tall grass.

I have never been so still in my life. The deer looked me over and continued eating.

This is the view from inside the aptly named Telescope Tree.

I think this is lichen. It was dangling from some of the tree branches. Any experts out there want to chime in?

Here are my favorite two trees. Their bases have fused as one, thus their name - Faithful Couple.

Kilroy was here!

I couldn't pass up this shot with the late afternoon sun shining on Half Dome. Next visit we're hiking that! Kim told us she spoke to a minister who performs wedding ceremonies at the summit. Maybe that'll be our next Yosemite wedding.

The Day After Portrait Session

2008-08-27T03:09:00.000-07:00

Yosemite, California
Kim knew she wanted some photos in Yosemite National Park, but there was no time between the ceremony and reception. She thought about taking photos before hand, but was concerned about getting her dress dirty. The Day After portrait session was the perfect solution!

The pears were an accent throughout the wedding - so we brought them along.

Kim wanted some photos of their rings, so I thought we could try a few different angles.

This is my favorite ring shot - I especially love the left side of the veil that caught the wind just right. The rings represent their marriage and the pears symbolize the newlywed's last name.

One of the reasons I love these sessions is that no one is rushed. This gives me the chance to try new things. I really loved the light in the park and used available light in a few different ways.

We made our way to the Chapel for more photos.

I wanted to this photo to look like an old daguerreotype so I used a new lens for this effect and then toned the image in sepia. Kim's veil really gives the photo a vintage feel. That and their pose. If you look at the photo above this it almost doesn't look like the same couple!

I love getting muddy if it means photos like these!

I couldn't resist this shot - Anyone know where the inspiration came from?

Many thanks to Kim and Ryan! Michael and I had an awesome time at your wedding and we loved the photo time with you afterwards. Special thanks to Ryan for this shoot. Kim told me he doesn't like posing for photos - but he sure is a natural isn't he?

And they lived Happily Ever After!

S'More Yosemite Photos

2008-08-27T01:09:00.000-07:00

Yosemite, California
You may have noticed a lot of pears in Kim and Ryan's wedding. The couple does make a great pair, but the fruit is actually a reference to their last name. (I won't divulge the name for privacy reasons, which is why I only use first names in the blog.)

Kim and Ryan started out with their romantic first dance.

I loved their reactions to the toasts.

Kim tears up at her dad's toast...

... and later both of them burst out laughing.

The newlyweds incorporated the tradition of the German Wedding Cup. If neither spill a drop, they will have a marriage full of love, faithfulness and good luck.

There is a second part to this tradition. Whoever finishes the drink first is declared the ruler of the nest. Guess who won?

Now it was time for more dancing.

I don't think Kim ever left the dance floor.

I love the chicken dance!

It's time for some serious fun when the shoes come off!

It's getting dark. The bride and groom have a special treat for their guests....

S'mores!

Kim and Ryan sneak away from the fire to enjoy a few more dances.

Congratulations Kim & Ryan!

2008-08-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

Yosemite, California
Kim and Ryan live in the Monterey area, but their family and friends live all around the Bay area. So they decided to have a destination wedding at the beautiful Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite. Their wedding was absolutely breathtaking!

They put a lot of effort into their wedding details, even building the wedding arch themselves. Kim's cousin Sara did an awesome job designing all of the stationery from the invites to the programs to the table numbers. The bride's bouquet was wrapped in her grandmother's handkerchief.

A backdrop of pine trees listen as Kim and Ryan say their vows.

Kim's face is so expressive. There were a couple of times when she looked as if she was trying not to cry.

I love the maid of honor's face in this photo - she looks so happy for the couple!

My favorite first kisses last for lots of photos!

Although I loved the colors, I could see this wedding toned all in sepia tone.

The happy couple!

Kim's mom (on the left) jubilantly throws rose petals at the newlyweds.

And here's Kim and her mom right after the ceremony.

While the newlyweds and bridal party hung out in this meeting room I stayed in the background. I love it when everyone forgets I'm there - my favorite photos are the ones with real emotion.

I caught this shot in the mirror.

The girls are ready to party!

Vintage Bride

2008-08-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

Yosemite, California
As I was retouching photos from Kim and Ryan's wedding I kept thinking of all the photos taken in Yosemite. Most people probably think of Ansel Adams and his spectacular black and white photos of the mountains. I kept thinking about old sepia photos of early explorers of Yosemite Valley and gold prospectors with long white beards and families in buggies posing in front of the tunnel tree. Not surprisingly, I thought many of Kim and Ryan's photos worked better in black and white.

Here's some of the couple getting ready for their big day. Michael photographed Ryan and the groomsmen.

Kim surprised Ryan with photo cufflinks. They were a special touch honoring the memory of his mother and brother.

Meanwhile I was taking photos of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready. Kim was super organized and prepared - just look at her make-up table!

Kim added many vintage touches to her wedding, including her gorgeous lace veil. I'm not sure if it's actually a classic piece but it has that look.

Kim's ring is an antique while Ryan went with a more contemporary style.

I love Kim's pearls which were originally her grandmother's.

Kim's mom and bridesmaids help with the veil.

The bride was a picture of calm. Except for this one moment, when she looked back at her mom...

Love Can Move Mountains

2008-08-16T00:44:00.001-07:00

Yosemite Park, California

I'm putting the finishing touches on Kim and Ryan's wedding photos and thought I'd share a quick teaser pic from their day-after portrait session.

I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

by William Butler Yeats

On the Road Again...

2008-08-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, California
Phew! We just got back from the Bay area: 7 days, 6 shoots, 5 brides, 3 grooms and 1 interior designer. Big thank you to all of them - hope you had as much fun as Mike & I did! I'll post photos in a few weeks. In the meantime, here's one I liked. First person to guess where this was taken wins a sweet prize.

Congratulations Tiffany & Jill!

2008-08-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

Burbank, California
Here's a quick photo from Tiffany and Jill's wedding. I love the lens flare and the quality of the light as they're walking down the aisle. I'll be posting more photos from their day soon. But now I gotta run - we have some crazy shoots this week on the road that I'll tell you about next week. And there's more super weddings coming soon, too.

Polka Photos Wins Accolade of Excellence!

2008-07-16T21:24:00.001-07:00

Santa Monica, California

I decided to enter some prints in the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) 8 X 10 Competition. This was my first time entering and I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Today I received an email that one of my prints won the Accolade of Excellence!

From the accompanying press release:

"Aleks Bienkowska of Playa Del Rey, CA, has received special honors in the WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL (WPPI) 2008 WPPI 8 x 10 1st Half Print Competition. Designed to recognize outstanding photographers, the judging was held in Santa Monica, CA on June, 2008.

"Sea of Love" received an Accolade of Excellence in the Engagement category.

Bienkowska competed against an international field of photographers to win such honors.

The 2008 competition included 932 prints in 18 different categories submitted by photographers from all over the world. "

And here's the winning photo of Selina and Steve:

Beach Wedding

2008-07-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Hermosa Beach, California

Last weekend I had the pleasure of second shooting for the awesome Mark Harrelson. His clients Rob & Michelle are a super cool couple. I had so much fun photographing their romantic beach wedding held on the fourth anniversary of their first date.

I usually photograph the bride getting ready so it was fun to switch it around and start at the groom's place. It was hot inside and Rob stayed cool surfing in front of the fan.

I followed the guys to Hermosa Beach. As Michelle finishes getting ready, Rob anxiously waits.

Their ceremony was on the beach right in front of the gorgeous Beach House hotel. Guests were given cute beach towels personalized with the couple's names, wedding location and date.

Michelle touches up her make-up.

Jim, the father of the bride, walks her down the aisle. And yes, both are wearing sandals.

I love the way Rob and Michelle look at each other.

Michelle sliding the ring on Rob's finger.

The priest blesses the newlyweds as the sun starts to set on the water.

The new Mrs. gets a big hug from her father-in-law.

The newlyweds walk back to the strand and start walking towards the pier...

... passing by popular Hermosa Beach hangouts.

Rob and Michelle's first date was at Club Sushi, where they chose to have their first dinner as a married couple.

This is one of my favorite moments of the night. Michelle steals a kiss from Rob without noticing I'm there.

Congratulations Rob and Michelle! Many thanks to Mark for letting me second-shoot.

Ghosts of Hollywood Past

2008-07-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

Hollywood, California

Our friends Kim and Denise were visiting so we decided to see a movie at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Guess which movie? Click on comments at the bottom of this post and add your guess. First three correct answers win a prize. Bonus prize if you also identify the director.

Sea-worthy Wedding

2008-07-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

Dana Point, California

Leah and Oscar love the ocean. I took their engagement photos on a sailboat so it wasn't surprising they carried the tropical theme throughout their reception at The Beach House. The tables, decorated with seashells and sand dollars, were named after islands and the placecards were colorful cocktail umbrellas arranged in sand boxes. To top it off, a pair of glass seahorses crowned their wedding cake.

The newlyweds are serenaded by a mariachi band as they make their entrance.

The bridesmaids are ready to dance the night away.

The cake feeding got a little messy...

Their first dance

It's not a party until the conga line is formed.

This was a dancing crowd. The floor was packed as the DJ spun his best.

Bouquet toss....

Garter toss...

Looking at the world through heart-shaped glasses.

Let's twist again...