Saidah + Ross | Joshua Tree Astrophotography

August 10, 2022:

astrophotography, astro, photography, joshua, tree, national, park, portrait, under, the, stars, night, skies, wedding

It’s been almost a decade since Robert Paetz Photography did its first astro photography shoot, but these sessions (and the resulting photos) continue to amaze my clients and me. No matter how many times I shoot out in the desert in the middle of the night, the beauty of the Milky Way continues to astound me. Immemorializing it through photography is my way of helping my clients create lasting memories.

I love that Saidah and Ross chose to have their photos taken in Joshua Tree National Park. Its iconic terrain, dotted with bristled, resilient Joshua trees, made for a stunning and symbolic backdrop.

astrophotography, astro, photography, joshua, tree, national, park, portrait, under, the, stars, night, skies, wedding

Danielle + Mike | 5th Anniversary Astrophotography

September 14th, 2018

Joshua, Tree, National, Park, Astro, Astrophotography, Engagement, Wedding, Anniversary, Stars, Milky, Way

5 years ago we photographed Danielle + Mike’s wedding day, and since then I had the chance to meet their children and now for their 5th Anniversary we headed out to Joshua Tree National Park for a astrophotography portrait session under the stars. It’s always fantastic to have clients that trust me with their memories year after year, and I loved the chance to catch up with these two and learn about their lives and travel!

Joshua, Tree, National, Park, Astro, Astrophotography, Engagement, Wedding, Anniversary, Stars, Milky, Way

Lauren + Miguel | Star Wars Astrophotography

May 4th, 2017:

star, wars, astro, astrophotography, photography, photographer, death, valley, California, national, park, astroportraits, engagement, session

Happy May the Fourth!

Miguel + Lauren flew in from Texas to meet me in Death Valley for their Astrophotography shoot a couple weeks back. Being huge Star Wars fans, we had discussed earlier if we could incorporate their lightsabers into the shoot and myself never being one to shy away from a challenge said “Sure!”

Now, these sort of astro engagement pictures are already ultra technical and a huge time investment, but by adding another lighting element to an already long exposure is kind of akin to putting oil on the slip-n-slide – you just never know where you might end up. It took 15 minutes of trial and error to figure out the exposure of the lightsabers, but with the help of Miguel and Lauren we got a method down to start creating some amazing images.

I’m really thrilled how these images came out and I am stoked to have them to share on Star Wars Day!

If you are interested in knowing more about my Astrophotography sessions, check out this post or if you would like to get out under the stars, just shoot me an email!

star, wars, astro, astrophotography, photography, photographer, death, valley, California, national, park, astroportraits, engagement, session

Eric + Anna | Death Valley Astrophotography

November 6th, 2016:

astrophotography, astro, photography, photographer, death, valley, national, park

The second of my back to back Death Valley astrophotography sessions was with Eric + Anna who had flown in from New York for a Vegas vacation and to have their engagement session under the night skies. We started off at the Mesquite Flats dunes (where I acquired at least a solid 2lbs of sand in each shoe) before heading over to Zabriskie Point, to catch the Milky Way floating overhead. Fortunately it was much less windy than the day before and I only had my flashes blow down once or twice.

Congrats to you both and hopefully we can make that Iceland shoot happen for you next summer!

astrophotography, astro, photography, photographer, death, valley, national, park

Shelle + Chris | Death Valley Astrophotography

November 3rd, 2016:

astrophotography, astro, photography, photographer, death, valley, national, park

As I’ve said many times here before, getting out under the stars for an Astrophotography shoot is one of the favorite parts of what I do as a photographer. This last week I was able to schedule two back to back session in Death Valley and the first one was for Shelle + Chris who may have just taken part in the second windiest shoot I’ve ever done (the windiest being in Palm Springs earlier this year).

Not to be dissuaded by a little 50mph winds, these two braved the breezy night and I only had my lightstands blown down a couple of times – I think they even found it humorous as I scoured each new location to find rocks large enough to act as weights to hold down my lights and fight the wind.

Anyways, thanks for the amazing night you two and for toughing out the wind! I’ll see you in 9 days for your wedding in Vegas!

astrophotography, astro, photography, photographer, death, valley, national, park

Dietmar + Gemma | Death Valley Astrophotography

June 13th, 2016:

Astrophotography, astro, portraits, Death, Valley, National, Park, Stars, Night, Skies, Wedding, Photography, Photographer

I love being out under the stars in our National Parks, so when Dietmar and Gemma told me they were coming in from England to elope in Vegas and wanted to have their wedding pictures in the stark nothingness of Death Valley and under the vast night skies, I was totally in. We met up just before sunset and headed to Badwater Basin to start the shoot off before hitting a couple other spots and finishing up at Zabriski Point.

Thank you both for your epic patience (creating these type of pictures takes time) and I thoroughly hope you are enjoying your California honeymoon!

Astrophotography, astro, portraits, Death, Valley, National, Park, Stars, Night, Skies, Wedding, Photography, Photographer

Nancy + Chris | Palm Springs Wedding

May 17th, 2016:

Joshua, Tree, National, Park, Wedding, Photography, Astro, Astrophotography

Last weekend I headed out to the desert to spend a couple evenings with Nancy and Chris, photographing their intimate wedding ceremony at the Moorten Botanical Gardens and shooting an astrophotography session for them under the stars of Joshua Tree. For two days these two were all laughs and smiles and even took it in stride when we started shooting under the night skies and we didn’t get those perfect clear skies Joshua Tree is known for (it did eventually clear up and we were able to create some dramatic images).

Congratulations to you both, thank you for trusting me and letting me celebrate with you and your families on your wedding day!

Palm, Springs, Wedding, Photography, Photographer, Moorten, Botanical, Gardens Joshua, Tree, National, Park, Wedding, Photography, Astro, Astrophotography

Jessica + Jeremy | Joshua Tree Astrophotography

July 18th, 2015:

Joshua, Tree, Palm, Los, Angeles, California, National, Park, Springs, Engagement, Photography, Astro, Astrophotography, Astroportraits

One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to head out into the wild (or in this case, Joshua Tree National Park) and create unique images for adventurous couples. Jessica and Jeremy didn’t disappoint, arriving just before sunset ready to clamber thorough the brush and climb all over boulders to take part in creating their engagement photos. Spending the night out under the stars is a magical experience and although creating these astrophotography images takes time and patience, these two just kept joking and having a grand time throughout the night!

Jessica and Jeremy, thanks for being so fun and trusting me! Can’t wait to see you again in November!

Joshua, Tree, Palm, Los, Angeles, California, National, Park, Springs, Engagement, Photography, Astro, Astrophotography, Astroportraits

Samantha + Mike | California Pre Wedding

July 12 2014:

Joshua, Tree, Astro, Photography, Photographer, Engagement, Wedding, National, Park, Astrophotography

Blog post by Felicia

Several months ago, Samantha & Mike came from Singapore to California for their engagement photos.

In case you’re wondering: In Asia, these are commonly dubbed “pre-wedding photos”, where the bride actually puts on a white dress, since, on a hectic wedding day, there is usually little time for bride & groom portraits. It’s interesting to note that the white dresses worn during pre-wedding photos aren’t usually the ones the bride would wear on the actual wedding day. (In Singapore, the dresses are rented, so having 5-7 gowns from engagement photos through wedding day is the norm for a typical wedding.)

Sam & Mike requested a “best-of-California” type shoot with major landmarks, and we managed to fit in a diverse range of settings within a couple of days: from the ragged coastline of 17 Mile Drive in Monterey, to San Francisco’s opulent City Hall, iconic Golden Gate Bride and the Victorian Painted Ladies, to the desert landscape of Joshua Tree National Park.

The lovely couple just got married in Singapore today, and we are so happy for them! Congratulations Sam & Mike!

Joshua, Tree, Engagement, Pre, Wedding, Photography, Photographer, California

Monterey, Carmel, By, the, Sea, Engagement, Pre, Wedding, 17, mile, drive, Photography, Photographer, California

San, Francisco, Engagement, Pre, Wedding, alamo, square, park, Photography, Photographer, California

Joshua, Tree, Astro, Photography, Photographer, Engagement, Wedding, National, Park, Astrophotography

Joshua, Tree, Photography, Photographer, Engagement, Wedding, National, Park, Pre

Melissa + John | Kauai Wedding Photography

April 28th, 2014:

Kiahuna, Plantation, Wedding, Photography, Photographer, Kauai, Destination, Astrophotograhy, Astro

Blog post by Felicia

Earlier this month we headed to the island of Kauai for Melissa & John’s wedding, which spanned multiple events over the week. They opted for a beautiful traditional Hawaiian ceremony at the Kiahuna Plantation in Poipu, and thankfully, despite the inclement weather in the days preceding the main event, it was all sunshine and smiles on their wedding day.

Their guests (and us) were in for a treat, as Melissa & John made arrangements for a special hula show, complete with a fire dancer.

Before we left the island, we also had a day-after astrophotography shoot under the stars. We were certainly surprised at how blustery and cold it got!

Congrats Melissa & John, thank you so much for having us celebrate your special day in Kauai!

Kiahuna, Plantation, Wedding, Photography, Photographer, Kauai, Destination