In the last days of December, I look at my phone
Romanticizing and wishing to fly across the ocean as a photographer to capture a wedding seemed distant and unattainable. If someone had told us that, in the last days of the previous year, we would open Instagram and, first with surprise and then with enthusiasm, see a message asking if we would photograph a wedding in the USA, we would probably have laughed and continued to romanticize this idea. But that’s exactly what happened. With great excitement, we embraced the idea, and until the plane tickets arrived via email, we didn’t really admit to ourselves that we were actually going to the USA. Ana and I have flown to many places, but never across the ocean and never with the world’s largest passenger plane. We eagerly awaited the day marked in the calendar as “Flight to: Los Angeles (LH 456).” We admit that, at times, excitement was accompanied by a slight tension; after all, the concept of “America” is as vast, long, and extensive as… well, “America.” Before the trip, we arranged ESTA, obtained passports, sorted out the payment methods we would use in the USA (Maestro cards were ruled out, and cash was also mostly unnecessary, meaning the limit on the MasterCard had to be high enough not to end up with the homeless under one of the bridges). Soon, we realized we also needed larger suitcases. After a few days of intense logistical preparations, we were ready to go!
Vienna - Los Angeles
Our journey began with a departure to Vienna, where we also stayed overnight, as we had to be at the airport in the early morning hours. From Vienna, we flew to Frankfurt, where we were amazed by the size of the Frankfurt airport and boarded the eagerly awaited flight with the Airbus A380. We probably looked like two small children in front of a toy store. But the journey had not really begun yet. After almost a three-hour delay due to brake issues, we finally left Europe thoroughly occupied! We were coming to the USA. After ten and a half hours of flying, we set foot on the other side of the world. Excited and eager to see what was beyond the airport borders!
Upon entering the USA, you realize that things are done differently than you are used to. For entry into the country and immigration control, everyone must answer a few questions posed by the customs or border patrol officer. Ana and I found that they are particularly interested in whether you intend to find a job (not a business; if you are the owner of a company in Slovenia and are going to a meeting with a business partner, they generally are not concerned about that) in their country, which they particularly dislike. In general, they want to know exactly what you will be doing in their country, when you will be returning, where you will be staying, and with whom you will be meeting. Because Ana and I seemed innocent enough, we quickly passed through the border and customs. We then purchased a SIM card with an unlimited data plan and walked through the doors of the international terminal at Los Angeles Airport! Despite the fact that it was three in the morning in Slovenia, we laughed with each other and enthusiastically observed everything that lay ahead. A vast road, typical American buses, large cars, traffic density in front of the terminal—everything was new. At the airport, we picked up the car that was already waiting for us and headed for a well-deserved rest in the hotel.
In the last days of December, I look at my phone
Romanticizing and wishing to fly across the ocean as a photographer to capture a wedding seemed distant and unattainable. If someone had told us that, in the last days of the previous year, we would open Instagram and, first with surprise and then with enthusiasm, see a message asking if we would photograph a wedding in the USA, we would probably have laughed and continued to romanticize this idea. But that’s exactly what happened. With great excitement, we embraced the idea, and until the plane tickets arrived via email, we didn’t really admit to ourselves that we were actually going to the USA. Ana and I have flown to many places, but never across the ocean and never with the world’s largest passenger plane. We eagerly awaited the day marked in the calendar as “Flight to: Los Angeles (LH 456).” We admit that, at times, excitement was accompanied by a slight tension; after all, the concept of “America” is as vast, long, and extensive as… well, “America.” Before the trip, we arranged ESTA, obtained passports, sorted out the payment methods we would use in the USA (Maestro cards were ruled out, and cash was also mostly unnecessary, meaning the limit on the MasterCard had to be high enough not to end up with the homeless under one of the bridges). Soon, we realized we also needed larger suitcases. After a few days of intense logistical preparations, we were ready to go!
Vienna - Los Angeles
Our journey began with a departure to Vienna, where we also stayed overnight, as we had to be at the airport in the early morning hours. From Vienna, we flew to Frankfurt, where we were amazed by the size of the Frankfurt airport and boarded the eagerly awaited flight with the Airbus A380. We probably looked like two small children in front of a toy store. But the journey had not really begun yet. After almost a three-hour delay due to brake issues, we finally left Europe thoroughly occupied! We were coming to the USA. After ten and a half hours of flying, we set foot on the other side of the world. Excited and eager to see what was beyond the airport borders!
Upon entering the USA, you realize that things are done differently than you are used to. For entry into the country and immigration control, everyone must answer a few questions posed by the customs or border patrol officer. Ana and I found that they are particularly interested in whether you intend to find a job (not a business; if you are the owner of a company in Slovenia and are going to a meeting with a business partner, they generally are not concerned about that) in their country, which they particularly dislike. In general, they want to know exactly what you will be doing in their country, when you will be returning, where you will be staying, and with whom you will be meeting. Because Ana and I seemed innocent enough, we quickly passed through the border and customs. We then purchased a SIM card with an unlimited data plan and walked through the doors of the international terminal at Los Angeles Airport! Despite the fact that it was three in the morning in Slovenia, we laughed with each other and enthusiastically observed everything that lay ahead. A vast road, typical American buses, large cars, traffic density in front of the terminal—everything was new. At the airport, we picked up the car that was already waiting for us and headed for a well-deserved rest in the hotel.
Since we had one more day until the wedding, we went on a quick exploration of Los Angeles. We drove to Beverly Hills and took a stroll down the famous street where celebrities shop – Rodeo Drive. Since Ana didn’t run into Kevin Hart, who would treat us to lunch, we headed to see the Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica Beach.
Check out whole wedding story in USA
Check out whole wedding story in USA
Wedding Day - Temecula
In the afternoon, we headed towards Temecula, about an hour away, located roughly midway between Los Angeles and San Diego. The eagerly anticipated day of our first transoceanic wedding had arrived. It was a smaller, intimate civil ceremony, somewhat similar to a Slovenian wedding in certain aspects but felt more pleasant to us. The officiant didn’t delve into the legal aspects of marriage; instead, the couple expressed their love, akin to the Slovenian church part of a wedding.
Wedding Day - Temecula
In the afternoon, we headed towards Temecula, about an hour away, located roughly midway between Los Angeles and San Diego. The eagerly anticipated day of our first transoceanic wedding had arrived. It was a smaller, intimate civil ceremony, somewhat similar to a Slovenian wedding in certain aspects but felt more pleasant to us. The officiant didn’t delve into the legal aspects of marriage; instead, the couple expressed their love, akin to the Slovenian church part of a wedding.
Next came the family and portrait photo session in the park with a pond. At this point, we noticed how fortunate we Slovenians are to have such a variety of picturesque spots for photography in a relatively small area.
Next came the family and portrait photo session in the park with a pond. At this point, we noticed how fortunate we Slovenians are to have such a variety of picturesque spots for photography in a relatively small area.
After the ceremony, we headed to one of the best wineries in California, Falkner Winery, where, after an exquisite lunch, we captured some portrait photographs.
After the ceremony, we headed to one of the best wineries in California, Falkner Winery, where, after an exquisite lunch, we captured some portrait photographs.
Temecula - San Diego - Highway 1 - San Francisco
The following days were among the best in our lives. If you know the feeling when you don’t want the day to end, but you know that tomorrow will be at least as good, if not better. After the wedding, in the morning, we headed to San Diego Sea World, where we witnessed a variety of beautiful sea creatures. From killer whales, dolphins, sea lions, rays, penguins, Beluga whales, turtles, flamingos, and the list goes on. We also attended several shows in which the main stars were the animals from Sea World. It’s important to note that Sea World is not a zoo where animals are kept in captivity, but rather an organization throughout the U.S. dedicated to rescuing endangered species and animals injured in natural disasters (such as oil spills). Every admission fee goes directly to funds allocated for animal assistance. Each animal in Sea World has a dedicated caretaker who takes care of them. These animals were rescued and couldn’t be released into the wild, so they stay here, well cared for.
Temecula - San Diego - Highway 1 - San Francisco
The following days were among the best in our lives. If you know the feeling when you don’t want the day to end, but you know that tomorrow will be at least as good, if not better. After the wedding, in the morning, we headed to San Diego Sea World, where we witnessed a variety of beautiful sea creatures. From killer whales, dolphins, sea lions, rays, penguins, Beluga whales, turtles, flamingos, and the list goes on. We also attended several shows in which the main stars were the animals from Sea World. It’s important to note that Sea World is not a zoo where animals are kept in captivity, but rather an organization throughout the U.S. dedicated to rescuing endangered species and animals injured in natural disasters (such as oil spills). Every admission fee goes directly to funds allocated for animal assistance. Each animal in Sea World has a dedicated caretaker who takes care of them. These animals were rescued and couldn’t be released into the wild, so they stay here, well cared for.
The next day, we embarked on a journey along one of the most scenic roads in the world. From San Diego to San Francisco, we wanted to take Highway 1. The highlight of the trip should have been Big Sur, but Google Maps had actually planned our route from the beginning to SF along the non-scenic Highway 101. After initial confusion, we realized that we couldn’t reach SF via Highway 1, as a landslide had blocked the road. Luka confidently claimed that they would have already fixed the landslide by the time we arrived, so we manually planned our route along the Pacific Highway. Needless to say, the landslide wasn’t fixed, but we decided to drive on Highway 1 as far as we could. After all, we had reserved an entire day for this. So, we decided to turn back when we reached the landslide (the road had been closed for six months, and they wouldn’t repair it quickly, especially after every heavy rain).
The next day, we embarked on a journey along one of the most scenic roads in the world. From San Diego to San Francisco, we wanted to take Highway 1. The highlight of the trip should have been Big Sur, but Google Maps had actually planned our route from the beginning to SF along the non-scenic Highway 101. After initial confusion, we realized that we couldn’t reach SF via Highway 1, as a landslide had blocked the road. Luka confidently claimed that they would have already fixed the landslide by the time we arrived, so we manually planned our route along the Pacific Highway. Needless to say, the landslide wasn’t fixed, but we decided to drive on Highway 1 as far as we could. After all, we had reserved an entire day for this. So, we decided to turn back when we reached the landslide (the road had been closed for six months, and they wouldn’t repair it quickly, especially after every heavy rain).
Despite the initial overcast and skepticism about whether it made sense to drive along the cloudy Pacific coast, the weather finally took pity on us. Not only the weather, but enchanting views, sunshine, and endless roads unfolded before us. Since Luka is a true ‘car guy,’ wide views and the absence of police were particularly welcome, and he took full advantage of it. Soon, we noticed that the car was running out of gas. The U.S. is not like what we’re used to, and it quickly became clear why some people carry a gas can in their car. The U.S. is vast, with long roads connecting cities that are very distant. Even though there are roads, many of them lack signal reception, and rest areas are nothing more than restrooms and a few snack vending machines. Gas stations are only in cities.
Despite the initial overcast and skepticism about whether it made sense to drive along the cloudy Pacific coast, the weather finally took pity on us. Not only the weather, but enchanting views, sunshine, and endless roads unfolded before us. Since Luka is a true ‘car guy,’ wide views and the absence of police were particularly welcome, and he took full advantage of it. Soon, we noticed that the car was running out of gas. The U.S. is not like what we’re used to, and it quickly became clear why some people carry a gas can in their car. The U.S. is vast, with long roads connecting cities that are very distant. Even though there are roads, many of them lack signal reception, and rest areas are nothing more than restrooms and a few snack vending machines. Gas stations are only in cities.
Gas prices in the U.S. are free-market, meaning gas stations decide on the gasoline price. Prices range from $2.3 to $4.5 per gallon. Only in three cases are prices supposed to reach or exceed $5. As our car needed refueling, we found a village and stopped at a gas station. Being true Gorenjci (residents of the Gorenjska region), we quickly noticed that the gas price was reasonably high, so Luka found another station a few miles ahead, convinced it would be cheaper there. We drive on, lose signal in between, and gas is getting scarcer. Luka nervously looks at the gauge, and behind us, there’s no more gas station; ahead is the landslide (the one where we would turn around)! Is there a gas station before the landslide? If not, we’re in trouble. We arrive at the last stop before the landslide. The navigation indicates there’s a gas station. Nothing looks like it. Finally, we spot a roadside sign saying, ‘We have gas.’ The price per gallon is $5. Without hesitation (in the U.S., you pay first and then pump), we pay for a full tank. Enough of the joke. We return to the car to refuel, but the gas doesn’t flow. We try another nozzle—no flow. We nervously touch the third and last nozzle—finally! We literally burst into laughter. That was fun.
PS: In the right picture (taken with the phone, of course), the gas station is on the far right side of the image.
Gas prices in the U.S. are free-market, meaning gas stations decide on the gasoline price. Prices range from $2.3 to $4.5 per gallon. Only in three cases are prices supposed to reach or exceed $5. As our car needed refueling, we found a village and stopped at a gas station. Being true Gorenjci (residents of the Gorenjska region), we quickly noticed that the gas price was reasonably high, so Luka found another station a few miles ahead, convinced it would be cheaper there. We drive on, lose signal in between, and gas is getting scarcer. Luka nervously looks at the gauge, and behind us, there’s no more gas station; ahead is the landslide (the one where we would turn around)! Is there a gas station before the landslide? If not, we’re in trouble. We arrive at the last stop before the landslide. The navigation indicates there’s a gas station. Nothing looks like it. Finally, we spot a roadside sign saying, ‘We have gas.’ The price per gallon is $5. Without hesitation (in the U.S., you pay first and then pump), we pay for a full tank. Enough of the joke. We return to the car to refuel, but the gas doesn’t flow. We try another nozzle—no flow. We nervously touch the third and last nozzle—finally! We literally burst into laughter. That was fun.
PS: In the right picture (taken with the phone, of course), the gas station is on the far right side of the image.
What awaited us in the next half-hour will be etched in our memories for a lifetime. Such beautiful views! When we reminisce, tears of joy come to our eyes. The decision to drive to the end (or as far as we could) on Highway 1 and then return to Highway 101, spending the night in Santa Cruz, was one of the best! We encountered a huge colony of sea lions and witnessed the birth of a baby sea lion. Female sea lions give birth to pups on the California coast in February. Immediately after giving birth, males fertilize them again, and then, until the next February, they all return to the sea together. During childbirth, males take care of the females.
The Pacific coast offered some of the most breathtaking views. The clouds cleared, and the sun shone through them.
What awaited us in the next half-hour will be etched in our memories for a lifetime. Such beautiful views! When we reminisce, tears of joy come to our eyes. The decision to drive to the end (or as far as we could) on Highway 1 and then return to Highway 101, spending the night in Santa Cruz, was one of the best! We encountered a huge colony of sea lions and witnessed the birth of a baby sea lion. Female sea lions give birth to pups on the California coast in February. Immediately after giving birth, males fertilize them again, and then, until the next February, they all return to the sea together. During childbirth, males take care of the females.
The Pacific coast offered some of the most breathtaking views. The clouds cleared, and the sun shone through them.
We woke up in the cloudy and rainy city of Santa Cruz. Our journey led us to Silicon Valley, 40 minutes away, where we visited the technological giants Google and Apple. In the latter, we found that the price of a new iPhone was much cheaper than in Slovenia. Since Ana was about to buy a new phone, we decided it made sense for her to buy it here, in Silicon Valley. Because it’s only fitting that Luka, as the head of the All-in.si team, which deals with the implementation of web solutions, also stops at Google, we also toured the Googleplex.
We woke up in the cloudy and rainy city of Santa Cruz. Our journey led us to Silicon Valley, 40 minutes away, where we visited the technological giants Google and Apple. In the latter, we found that the price of a new iPhone was much cheaper than in Slovenia. Since Ana was about to buy a new phone, we decided it made sense for her to buy it here, in Silicon Valley. Because it’s only fitting that Luka, as the head of the All-in.si team, which deals with the implementation of web solutions, also stops at Google, we also toured the Googleplex.
San Francisco - Alcatraz
San Francisco - Alcatraz
In the late afternoon, we arrived in San Francisco. San Francisco enchanted us from the moment we entered the city. The city is completely different from Los Angeles. Despite its size, it is charming, intimate, and youthful. The towering skyscrapers of the business district left us speechless, as did the steep hills we’re accustomed to from TV shows and movies. Since we could only stop in SF for less than 24 hours, we had to manage our time wisely. First, we drove to the Golden Gate Bridge. ‘My bridge!’ exclaimed an amazed Ana, and indeed, the Golden Gate Bridge unfolded before us.
In the late afternoon, we arrived in San Francisco. San Francisco enchanted us from the moment we entered the city. The city is completely different from Los Angeles. Despite its size, it is charming, intimate, and youthful. The towering skyscrapers of the business district left us speechless, as did the steep hills we’re accustomed to from TV shows and movies. Since we could only stop in SF for less than 24 hours, we had to manage our time wisely. First, we drove to the Golden Gate Bridge. ‘My bridge!’ exclaimed an amazed Ana, and indeed, the Golden Gate Bridge unfolded before us.
The same day, we also visited the University of Berkeley and took a drive through the evening streets of San Francisco. We treated ourselves to a decent pizza near our Airbnb, and as the Americans would say, ‘We called it a night.’
The next morning, we headed to Alcatraz early in the morning. A boat took us to the island, where, with the help of an audio guide, a short film about Alcatraz, and, of course, very informative park rangers, we learned many interesting things. Definitely an experience worth having. If you visit San Francisco, then a visit to Alcatraz is a must-go.
The same day, we also visited the University of Berkeley and took a drive through the evening streets of San Francisco. We treated ourselves to a decent pizza near our Airbnb, and as the Americans would say, ‘We called it a night.’
The next morning, we headed to Alcatraz early in the morning. A boat took us to the island, where, with the help of an audio guide, a short film about Alcatraz, and, of course, very informative park rangers, we learned many interesting things. Definitely an experience worth having. If you visit San Francisco, then a visit to Alcatraz is a must-go.
San Francisco - Las Vegas
As always, we were in a hurry to get to Las Vegas, where we would meet the couple again the next day, marking the starting point for post-wedding photography. In SF, we changed the car once again. For the next few days, the Jeep Wrangler joined us, and despite initial complaints about fuel efficiency and less comfort compared to the previous car, it certainly saved us during the drive to Vegas. The journey from SF to LV was supposed to take a modest 8 hours. Due to traffic jams from SF (rush hour), we were late by 2 hours. We added an extra two hours with a jam only one hour before LV. The road to Vegas goes through the desert. Dry and cold desert air rises, freezing the air and moisture on the road, creating black ice. As mentioned in the blog, roads in the U.S. are not maintained as well as in our country, and road services are not as responsive. Ana and I took turns driving to Vegas, and just as I was dozing off, I heard Ana exclaim, ‘ice!’ What ice, I thought, we are in the middle of the desert, but the next moment, the car started to slide. I looked at the road, and there was a thick, black layer of ice. The situation escalated from a calm drive to chaos so quickly that we can hardly believe it to this day. Several trucks crashed around us, some cars went off the road, and Ana, behind the wheel, didn’t know where to stop so that we could switch. Suddenly, the car started skidding seriously. Ana was driving an automatic car for the first time, and on top of that, it was a two-ton heavy SUV. Helpless, I watched as my dear wife skillfully and with talent (and knowledge from safe driving in Vransko) straightened the car. A few meters away, the entire road came to a standstill. We switched places with Ana, and as I walked around the car, I slipped and almost landed on my back. The car barely stopped even with the handbrake. Apparently, we were lucky because it turned out that with the help of this Jeep and its low range, we could bypass the entire ice jam and slowly descend to Vegas. Exhausted, we finally reached the hotel room at 3:40. It was worth it. The room was divine, large, comfortable, and spacious. Luxury.
San Francisco - Las Vegas
As always, we were in a hurry to get to Las Vegas, where we would meet the couple again the next day, marking the starting point for post-wedding photography. In SF, we changed the car once again. For the next few days, the Jeep Wrangler joined us, and despite initial complaints about fuel efficiency and less comfort compared to the previous car, it certainly saved us during the drive to Vegas. The journey from SF to LV was supposed to take a modest 8 hours. Due to traffic jams from SF (rush hour), we were late by 2 hours. We added an extra two hours with a jam only one hour before LV. The road to Vegas goes through the desert. Dry and cold desert air rises, freezing the air and moisture on the road, creating black ice. As mentioned in the blog, roads in the U.S. are not maintained as well as in our country, and road services are not as responsive. Ana and I took turns driving to Vegas, and just as I was dozing off, I heard Ana exclaim, ‘ice!’ What ice, I thought, we are in the middle of the desert, but the next moment, the car started to slide. I looked at the road, and there was a thick, black layer of ice. The situation escalated from a calm drive to chaos so quickly that we can hardly believe it to this day. Several trucks crashed around us, some cars went off the road, and Ana, behind the wheel, didn’t know where to stop so that we could switch. Suddenly, the car started skidding seriously. Ana was driving an automatic car for the first time, and on top of that, it was a two-ton heavy SUV. Helpless, I watched as my dear wife skillfully and with talent (and knowledge from safe driving in Vransko) straightened the car. A few meters away, the entire road came to a standstill. We switched places with Ana, and as I walked around the car, I slipped and almost landed on my back. The car barely stopped even with the handbrake. Apparently, we were lucky because it turned out that with the help of this Jeep and its low range, we could bypass the entire ice jam and slowly descend to Vegas. Exhausted, we finally reached the hotel room at 3:40. It was worth it. The room was divine, large, comfortable, and spacious. Luxury.
Las Vegas
Of all the cities, Las Vegas left us with the least memorable impression. Perhaps because we were incredibly tired from the previous chapter, or perhaps because the casinos didn’t truly fascinate us. We visited the most famous hotels, went to their casinos, tried our luck on slot machines (to be honest, just one machine), and the day passed. We met with the couple and went for an excellent dinner together.
Las Vegas
Of all the cities, Las Vegas left us with the least memorable impression. Perhaps because we were incredibly tired from the previous chapter, or perhaps because the casinos didn’t truly fascinate us. We visited the most famous hotels, went to their casinos, tried our luck on slot machines (to be honest, just one machine), and the day passed. We met with the couple and went for an excellent dinner together.
Zion - Bryce Canyon - Lake powell - Horseshoe bend - Grand Canyon
From Las Vegas, the couple and us set off in the morning for post-wedding photography in the national parks. The first destination was Zion National Park. After a few hours of driving, we changed into hiking boots and began our ascent. It’s a rare occurrence for snow to fall in Zion, and truth be told, we wished it hadn’t, but unfortunately, the timeline and weather are beyond our control. Although Ana and I are not avid hikers, the adrenaline was flowing. Part of the path in Zion is very steep, and especially in the snow, you’re practically hanging over a cliff, holding onto chains. Of course, safety is ensured with warnings and information about incidents since 2004 (#sarcasmoff).
Zion - Bryce Canyon - Lake powell - Horseshoe bend - Grand Canyon
From Las Vegas, the couple and us set off in the morning for post-wedding photography in the national parks. The first destination was Zion National Park. After a few hours of driving, we changed into hiking boots and began our ascent. It’s a rare occurrence for snow to fall in Zion, and truth be told, we wished it hadn’t, but unfortunately, the timeline and weather are beyond our control. Although Ana and I are not avid hikers, the adrenaline was flowing. Part of the path in Zion is very steep, and especially in the snow, you’re practically hanging over a cliff, holding onto chains. Of course, safety is ensured with warnings and information about incidents since 2004 (#sarcasmoff).
We spent the night in Bryce Canyon at 2336 meters above sea level and -23 degrees Celsius in a charming frozen village. In the morning, we drove just a few minutes to Bryce Canyon, known for its spire-like formations (similar to small dripstones). Unfortunately, we didn’t see the spires as they were covered in snow, and we quickly set off on our way to Lake Powell and Horseshoe Bend.
After two hours of driving, we arrived at Lake Powell. The sun was dangerously close to the horizon, and since our desire was to capture the most beautiful portraits at Horseshoe Bend, there was no time to explore the lake. Let us mention that the lake spans over 250 square kilometers, and choosing a spot for photography was not a trivial matter. However, looking at the photos, we can say that we chose a good location for a 15-minute photoshoot.
We spent the night in Bryce Canyon at 2336 meters above sea level and -23 degrees Celsius in a charming frozen village. In the morning, we drove just a few minutes to Bryce Canyon, known for its spire-like formations (similar to small dripstones). Unfortunately, we didn’t see the spires as they were covered in snow, and we quickly set off on our way to Lake Powell and Horseshoe Bend.
After two hours of driving, we arrived at Lake Powell. The sun was dangerously close to the horizon, and since our desire was to capture the most beautiful portraits at Horseshoe Bend, there was no time to explore the lake. Let us mention that the lake spans over 250 square kilometers, and choosing a spot for photography was not a trivial matter. However, looking at the photos, we can say that we chose a good location for a 15-minute photoshoot.
Next was a race against time. The sun was approaching the horizon, and we were rushing to Horseshoe Bend, the most anticipated location of our trip. Besides the fact that the parking lot was relocated due to construction, an additional 10 minutes on foot was required from the parking lot to the location, and traffic moved at a snail’s pace. Finally, we reached one of the most beautiful viewpoints we had seen so far, but there was no time to enjoy the sunset. We had to somehow break through the crowd of Chinese tourists who just wouldn’t move from the spot we triumphantly claimed with Ana’s help. The photos were a success, but if you can imagine a group of angry Chinese people pressing on us just a few meters behind the camera, the feeling of victory is even sweeter! After the triumph, we took the time to explore one of the most beautiful corners of our world!
The next day was the return to Upland (an area near LA). Before that, we visited the Grand Canyon, and the day ended with a few portraits in the desert sunset along the road on our way to Upland. The exceptional three days of post-wedding portrait photography came to an end.
Next was a race against time. The sun was approaching the horizon, and we were rushing to Horseshoe Bend, the most anticipated location of our trip. Besides the fact that the parking lot was relocated due to construction, an additional 10 minutes on foot was required from the parking lot to the location, and traffic moved at a snail’s pace. Finally, we reached one of the most beautiful viewpoints we had seen so far, but there was no time to enjoy the sunset. We had to somehow break through the crowd of Chinese tourists who just wouldn’t move from the spot we triumphantly claimed with Ana’s help. The photos were a success, but if you can imagine a group of angry Chinese people pressing on us just a few meters behind the camera, the feeling of victory is even sweeter! After the triumph, we took the time to explore one of the most beautiful corners of our world!
The next day was the return to Upland (an area near LA). Before that, we visited the Grand Canyon, and the day ended with a few portraits in the desert sunset along the road on our way to Upland. The exceptional three days of post-wedding portrait photography came to an end.
Upland - LA - Joshua Tree National Park
The last days of our trip to the USA were dedicated to a visit to Universal Studios, which we recommend to everyone visiting Los Angeles. The next day, we climbed above Hollywood Hills, saw the Hollywood sign, and visited Griffith Observatory. We ended the day by sitting at the Rooftop bar of The Standard hotel and enjoying cocktails. It was a beautiful day. The following day, we went to the Walk of Fame, where we ended up not so famously with a parking ticket on the car windshield, which we settled at the fines office. A true American experience, perhaps in a different way. On the last day before our flight home, we visited Joshua Tree National Park, known for its unique vegetation resulting from the intersection of the Colorado River and the Mojave Desert.
Upland - LA - Joshua Tree National Park
The last days of our trip to the USA were dedicated to a visit to Universal Studios, which we recommend to everyone visiting Los Angeles. The next day, we climbed above Hollywood Hills, saw the Hollywood sign, and visited Griffith Observatory. We ended the day by sitting at the Rooftop bar of The Standard hotel and enjoying cocktails. It was a beautiful day. The following day, we went to the Walk of Fame, where we ended up not so famously with a parking ticket on the car windshield, which we settled at the fines office. A true American experience, perhaps in a different way. On the last day before our flight home, we visited Joshua Tree National Park, known for its unique vegetation resulting from the intersection of the Colorado River and the Mojave Desert.
To conclude
To conclude, let us share a few thoughts. We are incredibly grateful to have written this blog today. Photographing a wedding from such a distance was one of the best experiences we’ve had, not only as wedding photographers but overall. The experience gave us a different perspective on how we perceive the world, culture, and showed us a completely different dimension of time, distance, size, culture, cultural differences, economy, the wedding photography market, and much more. We are happy to have combined photography with exploring the West Coast of the USA, and as I wrote on Instagram – this experience left us hungry, and we are determined to return – for more. We are convinced that with hard work, perseverance, and a clear goal, we can reach where we want to go. Not only in terms of location but in terms of success. In conclusion, one last thought. Fortune favors the brave, and success is on the side of the persistent. We hope you enjoyed reading about our adventures, and we would be delighted if you also share this post with your friends on social media. Until next time, Luka and Ana.
To conclude
To conclude, let us share a few thoughts. We are incredibly grateful to have written this blog today. Photographing a wedding from such a distance was one of the best experiences we’ve had, not only as wedding photographers but overall. The experience gave us a different perspective on how we perceive the world, culture, and showed us a completely different dimension of time, distance, size, culture, cultural differences, economy, the wedding photography market, and much more. We are happy to have combined photography with exploring the West Coast of the USA, and as I wrote on Instagram – this experience left us hungry, and we are determined to return – for more. We are convinced that with hard work, perseverance, and a clear goal, we can reach where we want to go. Not only in terms of location but in terms of success. In conclusion, one last thought. Fortune favors the brave, and success is on the side of the persistent. We hope you enjoyed reading about our adventures, and we would be delighted if you also share this post with your friends on social media. Until next time, Luka and Ana.
