Mark Hopkins in Action! My start as a professional photographer began in 1990 while still attending San Diego State University. I worked as a second assistant for Carl VanderSchuit, a highly accomplished and respected west coast commercial photographer. This is where I learned all about lighting, setting up commercial photo shoots and more. It was fun and I learned a great deal being on the set of some amazing photo shoots. I assisted Carl and other commercial photographers until about 1994. From 1992 to 1998 I was a freelance photgrapher shooting everything from fashion and swimwear to sportswear and products. I studied the photography of many great photographers and some of those who inspired me are: Herb Ritts, Matthew Rolston, Bruce Weber, Annie Leibowitz and Sante DeOrazio. I've been shooting weddings exclusively since 1998. I have photographed approximately 300 weddings in the last 10 years. I am a photographer with roots in film photography, which means I've been a photographer before there were digital cameras. Before digital, wedding photography wasn't very popular–photographers really had to have the confidence in their skills, because knowing if you "got the shot" wasn't as easy as looking at the monitor on your camera. You never knew whether you got the shot until the film came back from the lab. Therefore you really had to know your stuff if you wanted to be a wedding photographer– there are no reshoots in wedding photography. I know it is important for you to find the perfect photographer for your wedding. There are many good photographers out there, but I feel my ability to capture real emotions and moments is unique in the sense that I have the ability to capture those types of moments over and over. I don't get lucky and capture just a few here and there. This is what I do and it takes a special type of bride to appreciate this kind of photography. Contact me if you're ready to make great wedding pictures together...760-431-2856 Creative Floral Design: BelleFleur Company Personal Fitness Training: Dojo Americana     Some of my first photographs taken with a Polaroid camera... Left: My maternal grandfather, tata Fausto, with my father; Middle: My older brother, younger brother, and cousin; Right: Frankie Comaduran, the neighborhood leader, showing us some skateboard tricks.