John C. Lewis Photography

Southern California Wedding Photographer
By appointment only
Contact: John Lewis or Laura Gavilan Lewis
Phone: 805/498-2711
www.JohnLewisWeddings.com
Email or request a proposal for your event from John C. Lewis Photography

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John C. Lewis Photography

Service Area: Based in Southern California; will travel throughout state, nationally and worldwide

About This Company

John’s work is in the permanent collections of major museums and institutions. His client list is a who’s who of discerning publications, corporations and individuals. An award-winning fine art photographer with undergraduate and graduate degrees in Professional Photography, he is at the top of his game—and he has a soft spot for weddings.

Supported in his business by wife, Laura, an art educator at a major museum and a painter who acts as the company’s client liaison and coordinator, John is an expert in catching those impossible-to-re-create moments. He continually astonishes everyone with his ability to document so much while being so unobtrusive. One former client marvels, “John was so invisible that we couldn’t understand how he got some of the shots he did. We were ecstatic!”

John is enthusiastic when he talks about the artistic fulfillment that comes with documenting one of the most solemn yet joyful moments of a couple’s life. While he finds the work immensely rewarding, he also recognizes the tremendous responsibility that accompanies a project with no opportunity for reshoots. That’s why he leaves little to chance. “John really scopes out the sites where he’s shooting to get the best lighting and the best use of the venue,” notes a makeup artist. Another colleague goes a step further, claiming, “He is the most prepared photographer I have ever worked with!”

Professionals who are so technically and artistically gifted often have “ego issues,” but not John. His warmth and lack of pretense are immediately apparent. Get to know him a little better, and his sense of humor is evident, as well. A fellow photographer describes John as amazing with people: “He really has fun with his subjects and it shows in the smiles on their faces.” As one bride recalls, “Laura and John were with my family for the entire weekend, and many people mentioned to me how kind and unassuming they were.” They also appreciated that no matter how many photos John took, he remained relaxed and at ease. And it’s not just family members and guests who enjoy themselves when John is shooting—John and Laura extend their rare blend of professional courtesy and easy amiability to everyone on the wedding team.

John encourages potential clients to talk to other photographers before deciding to work with him, to ensure a match in style on every level. His work, for example, is sophisticated and classic, a refined blend of vintage and modern technique: photojournalism, museum-quality panoramas, film and silver gelatin wet processes as well as digital and inkjet pigment printing are among the varied methods he employs to express his vision and yours. He tailors the deliverables to the client, also offering engagement photo sessions, which give him an opportunity to dispel any anxiety the bride and groom may have about being professionally photographed. “I learn about the couple and their dynamic,” he says. “All the barriers fall away.”

Final images are provided in a wide range of presentation styles from disc to artisan-style albums that are works of art in themselves. “Photographs should reflect the essence of your celebration and be a comprehensive reportage of the day,” declares John. “My goal when you look back on your photographs is for you to remember not only how you looked, but how you felt.”

Background

Veteran fine-art and commercial photographer John Lewis and his art-educator wife, Laura Gavilan Lewis offer wedding photography services as a team. John received a bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Brooks Institute. In addition to commercial work for many prominent clients, Lewis’ award-winning fine-art photography has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the United States and Mexico. Laura has been an art educator at the Getty Museum for the last 10 years. She uses her trained eye and fine-tuned people skills to be the “art director” for each wedding John photographs.

Services

In preparation for a wedding, John and Laura will spend time with each couple at the site of their wedding celebration. John will take engagement pictures of the couple and Laura will scout out the best photographic opportunities of the location. Many of their clients told us this was their favorite pre-wedding activity. On the day of a wedding, John and Laura bring a photography assistant, so they are completely prepared to capture everything. One of John’s specialties is his panoramic images, offering a wide perspective of the event. John brings many types of cameras and films to each wedding and utilizes different processing techniques to provide high quality and timeless, fine- art images to each of his clients.

Packages are customized for each client. John and Laura are available for day-of services or for multi-event, weekend long wedding festivities. Each album is laid out by Laura to tell the story of the celebration. Clients can be involved in the lay-out of the album or leave the decisions to the artists. All clients get to keep their proofs.

In Business Since 1982


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