Blake Williams Photography

Dori +Tommy 



The Homestead,
Oak Glen, CA
06-15-2024Dori and I worked at camp together almost ten years ago as photographers, so sometimes I have asked her for help shooting weddings with me. But for her special day in the mountains, she was in front of the lens, getting married to Tommy. Dori and Tommy met at another wedding that I was shooting, so I got to see some familiar faces throughout the afternoon in Oak Glen. It was a small and intimate group of people that got to see Dori and Tommy’s wedding, and I was lucky to be a part of the team that helped make the day happen. Dori made her own dress, and Tommy was selective about his own outfit. The couple went for a “Western” theme, which, in combination with the venue, made their day especially unique.

I had a second shooter (Dori chose Kassy) who was in charge of taking bridal party photos, but because the men got ready so quickly, I snuck my own photos in to make sure we got comprehensive coverage of the wedding. When the ceremony started, Kassy and I worked in syncopation, staying out of each others shots and grabbing each little moment that happened in the ceremony. And then came group photos, family photos, and groomsmen/bridal party photos, before we ran off to take advantage of the golden-hour lighting a portrait session. I know Dori and Tommy like a bit of adventure, so we hiked and stomped off to a creek, and then took advantage of the mountain backdrop, and walked through some grass. We also recreated some photos I had taken of Dori nine years ago, which added a personal touch to the memories we created through the day.

By the time the sun set, Kassy mentioned that Dori wanted to take advantage of the hanging lights, so I used both flash and the “natural” lighting (the string lights) in the venue, to give the couple a variety of options for their wedding day. They danced the night away, and when their guests left, Tommy and Dori performed their own private dance, before running out at the end of the night.