I grew up in Sonoma County and spent ten years as a photojournalist in Russia where I met my wife Inna, a painter from St. Petersburg. Working with great writers, my photos have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Los Angeles Times and many other publications.
When my brother asked me to photograph his wedding in California, I used my documentary approach to capture the drama that unfolded on that day and realized what a rich subject weddings are for my style of photography.
Instead of following a shot list, I looked to capture moments that were part of their unique story. Within a month, people who had seen these non-traditional pictures started asking me to photograph their wedding.
I approach each event with the same goal of seeking out the spontaneous, unplanned moments that happen in a split second and are gone forever.
Love runs in the family.
I witnessed something beautiful at a very small wedding at Griffith Woods in Sonoma County. The brothers and sisters of the wedding couple read aloud love letters from their great grandparents penned during World War II when their great grandfather was fighting with US and British troops in Europe.
I understood at that moment the true meaning of a wedding ceremony. It is a ritual that passes on love as the most essential theme of any family over the generations.
With all the sorrow and disasters happening in the world, love is what keeps us alive and hopeful. Weddings are a celebration of this truth and I am always humbled to be entrusted to capture this special day.
Portrait of the photographer who never takes selfies by my wife Inna Talantova at Limantour Beach in Inverness, California.
It took me ten years living on the other side of the globe to fully appreciate the beauty of this region of Northern California. Bicycling from our cabin in Monte Rio to San Francisco never ceases to amaze me with the stunning scenery along that route.
I would love to hear about your wedding, family reunion or creative project.
This website is Paul’s wedding and portrait portfolio. If you are interested in commercial and aerial photography, please visit his website Westwind Images.