Who says you can't do a year in review in February? Our year here at MMP is like one of those wacky "fiscal years" anyway...weddings start in March and don't end until the following January...so, I guess I'm even a little early! :) 
 
Ang and I tabbed 2012 as our "year of growth" and our proclamation could not have been more accurate. MMP continues to grow in it's geographical reach as well as the number of weddings we shoot each year. Last year we photographed weddings from San Francisco to St Lucia and everywhere in between. We topped over 40 weddings for the year and even then had to turn many away because we simply could not handle any more!  
 
As for feather's in our caps, 2012 also saw us published in Destination Weddings & Honeymoons magazine as well as becoming a member of Style Me Pretty's little black book. Which is quite the feat since we did not reach out to either to initiate the process!  
 
Personally, 2012 did not disappoint either. In April we purchased our first home as a complete family! After years of apartments and rental houses, we now get to call the place where we live, our home. We get to raise our three girls in one place where they will grow up with fond memories of the house they grew up in complete with growth charts, crayon-ed walls and a superior knowledge of best places to hide when playing hie-and-seek. 
 
I am blessed beyond measure with three beautiful, healthy girls and a beautiful wife who inspires me to be more than just a body filing up space here on earth. Just watching her grow and mature as a loving mother and a devoted God-fearing wife who still works a day job is nothing short of amazing. Many times as I ponder these things in my heart, I just have no explanation, no words to describe how good God has been to me. I deserve so much less, but therein lies the great truth about life and God...if we all got what we deserved, we simply would not be here. There would be no hope for tomorrow. 
 
Warm fuzzies aside, 2012 was a great year and I am eager to see what 2013 has in store! I"m so thankful for all the wonderful clients of ours who invited us into their lives and for all the totally amazing wedding vendors out there that I get to meet and those that refer us to their clients...thank you! 
 
May yours be blessed! 
 
Michael

Merry Christmas everyone! This is definitely my favorite time of year. Unfortunately, it just goes by way too fast! The months of anticipation lead up to a whirlwind of a Christmas day with an early morning, reading of the Christmas story, a flurry of unwrapping gifts (then assembling all of them if you have kids), preparing a memorable turkey dinner and then by the time you clean up and catch your breath it's time for bed! 
 
Christmas day is almost like a wedding in some ways. You spend forever in anticipation of getting married and then the wedding day is gone like that! Sadly, I can only remember a few moments of my own wedding, the rest is like a blur. This is the reason you want to hire professional artists to capture your day, so that you can re-live your wedding every day by looking at beautiful photos that tell your story in a creative and all-encompasing way. 
 
Anyway, enough of my blabbering...here is Michelle and Brendan's gorgeous wedding in San Francisco. Michelle and Brendan were a fabulous couple and I could photograph them over and over again! They put in such a great effort to personalize and stylize their day and it paid off for them. Their wedding was also published on Style Me Pretty.  
 
Thanks for following us, God bless! 
 
Reception venue: Julia Morgan Ballroom http://www.juliamorganballroom.com 
DJ: Ray Cartwright http://www.djsugarray.com 
Bridal Gown: Kenneth Pool http://kennethpool.com 
Cake: The Cakemaker http://www.cakemaker.net 
Catering: Joshua Charles Catering http://www.joshuacharles.net 
Custom Printing: Betsy White http://www.betsywhite.com 
Floral: Sharla Flock Designs http://sharlaflockdesigns.com 
Lighting Design: Hartman Studios http://www.hartmannstudios.com 
Make-Up and Hair: The Make-Up Dolls http://themakeupdolls.com

Here's a engagement session from an awesome couple whose wedding I am so excited to shoot this very weekend! Yes, I know...gives you an idea about how far I'm behind on blogging. 
 
Leah and Gabe, you guys are my go-to models if I ever need any. Congrats...looking forward to your wedding! 
 

Casey & Jeff are one the most dynamic couples I have ever worked with! Jeff is a suave, cool, laid back italian and Casey...well, Casey is fun, crazy, bubbly and full of life!  
 
It truly has been a treat working with them both and I cannot wait to share Casey's bridal session and their wedding that we photographed just a couple weeks ago. 
 
Thanks for following us...God bless!