The wedding itself took place at the San Benito County Fair Grounds just south of Hollister, CA. This rustic setting came complete with gigantic barnyard reception hall, well-used but empty horse stalls, and beautiful green hills serving as a lush backdrop. It was a photographer’s dream! Oh and not to mention, Matthew’s father had an EPIC restored Ford that they used for their grand entrance!

On three different occasions in the reception, Lizbeth put her incredible vocal skills on display. The third and final one was the best – a serenade for her new husband…There wasn’t a dry eye in the place, even behind the cameras!

Lizbeth and Matthew,
What a joy it was for us to celebrate your wedding! It is a great thing that the Lord has done by uniting the two of you together. We couldn’t be more happy for you and your families! We hope these pictures serve to memorialize that wonderful day and that they’ll be a blessing for generations to come. May the Lord grant you a long and blessed life together!
With love,
Kristin and Dustin

Vendors of the Day

Photography: Smetona Photo
Getting Ready Venue: Ridgemark Golf and Country Club
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Bolado Park – San Benito County Fairgrounds
Wedding Coordinator: Lauren Ostheimer
Bridal Gown: Bay Area Bridal
Makeup and Hair: Ruth May
Men’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse
Florist: Flowers by Bria
Bakery: Sweet Tooth Confections
DJ: DJ Swift

Miramonte Resort in Indian Wells, CA was a great place to get to photograph their first-look and formal portraits. So stunning! We then moved on to Woodhaven Country Club in Palm Desert for the ceremony and reception. It had been super warm but miraculously just in time for the ceremony some clouds rolled in and a cool breeze started to blow. In honor of Jon (himself a trumpet player) a brass quintet serenaded Kristina as she walked down the aisle. Perfection!

There are few things we love more than a groom who truly adores his bride and it just beams all over his face. Jon was captivated by his lovely wife all day long. Frankly, we don’t blame him! Kristina looked absolutely amazing!  Thanks to Heather and her amazing ladies from LVL Events, the day was without a hiccup. You gals are awesome!

Kristina and Jon,
We hope you are having an amazing time on your honeymoon!!! Thank you for blessing us with the job of capturing all the special moments from your wedding day. It was great to get to serve you on such a beautiful and memorable day! May every day of your marriage be richly blessed!
Love,
Kristin and Dustin

Vendors of the Day

Photography: Smetona Photo
Wedding Coordination: LVL Events
Getting Ready Venue: Miramonte Resort & Spa
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Woodhaven Country Club
Bridesmaid Dresses: JCrew
Men’s Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse
Florals: My Little Flower Shop
Brass Quintet: Pacific Coast Brass
DJ: DJ Bob Scratch

Before I (Dustin) dispense with my thoughts regarding 1 full year working with my wife, let me give a brief recap of Smetona Photo’s history thus far:

-Kristin began her business, Kristin Joy Photography, over 7 years ago in Kansas City
-In 2008 she enrolled at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA where I also enrolled and we became friends
-Eventually we began dating and then started shooting together
-Graduation happened for both of us in May 2010 and marriage followed in August of that year
-In September 2010 we renamed Kristin’s business to Smetona Photo, and began shooting as a husband/wife team while I continued to work my day job
-Then, in April 2012, I left my employment to join Kristin as co-owner of Smetona Photo

So after a year of being a full-time photographer with my wife, here are a few reflections, in no particular order, that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Working with your spouse is awesome.

I love working with my wife. The simple reason is that we are best friends and we get to do everything together: client consultations, working on our computers, going to shoots, as well as all the normal day-in, day-out tasks married folks do together. This is a unique privilege considering that most couples spend 40+ hours apart every week during work.

Oh, and also, I pretty much get to grab her butt all day, which is also awesome…

Traveling is a huge perk.

We were blessed to travel and photograph in many, wonderful locations this past year including New Orleans, Michigan, and Big Sur. However, the crowning jewel of our travel weddings was the Emerald Isle – Ireland. Not only was our two weeks there filled with beautiful views, delicious food and drink, and the incredible hospitality of the Irish; but the couple whose wedding we photographed, along with their families, treated us like family. And much to our joy, they’ll be having us back in August of this year to photograph the wedding of the groom’s sister!

I’ve learned that I have a lot to learn.

Before I began working with Kristin full-time, I knew that she worked hard. But I honestly did not realize how much information, across a range of topics, she commands. This includes things like marketing, legal issues, camera equipment and maintenance, photo editing, and graphic design – just to name a few. It’s been daunting to realize how much catching up I have to do. At the same time, I’ve learned a ton as she has patiently instructed me. There’s still a long way to go, but that does not diminish how far I’ve come.

A tip for those who work with their spouse.

The biggest temptation is to build your lives around your business. Don’t do it. The signs that this is happening include frequent arguments, a settled feeling of frustration toward your spouse, and, especially, lack of boundaries regarding when you work and when you don’t. To be real for a moment, that last one has been a huge problem for us. Disorganization with our tasks and our time has caused unnecessary discord in our marriage. With God’s assistance and grace we are improving, but it’s been a huge learning curve and we still have a ways to go.

The bottom line is that our marriage (and yours) is more important than our business. The benefit of running your own business is that you can make a living working less than the average person if you run it right. So do it! And use the extra time you have to enjoy your life together with your spouse (and kids if you have them). You can make a living many different ways. The only way you can have a healthy marriage and a strong family is by spending quality time together.

–

My final note is one of gratitude. I’d like to offer special thanks to God for providing me with an incredibly gifted and loving wife, as well as a fun and challenging line of work. I can’t express enough what a comfort it is to regularly observe God’s kind hand at work in my marriage and in our business. He has faithfully guided us to the place we are now, and He will guide us until we reach our destination.

‘Twas Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home

“It’s kind of funny, I’m actually not sure when we exactly “met”. I just knew Abbas as my friend’s brother, and our families knew each other since we’re part of the same community. When he proposed, I wasn’t sure of what to say. As time went on, I couldn’t be happier that he did, because he’s made me the luckiest woman alive. And that’s not a hyperbole; I honestly feel so, so blessed to call him my (soon-to-be!) husband. I don’t think words can do justice to how I feel towards him; just know that I love you wholly, from the core of my being, Abbas. And as we figure out the decor for the wedding, and design the invitation cards, and do pretty much anything together– my love for you only grows.”

Huma and Abbas,
It has been a joy getting to know you both over the past year or so that we have worked with you! It has been quite the journey. Never forget how blessed you are to have one another in your life! We wish you all the best in this next chapter of your life together!
Love,
Kristin and Dustin