Hi! My name is Diane Askew and I am a wedding photographer in Sonoma, CA. I have owned and opertated Caswell & Askew Studio for over nine years now - during which time I have photographed over 300 wine country weddings.
In addition to showcasing my work on this blog, I also hope to educate couples as they organize their wedding photography coverage, often from thousands of miles away. I hope to help shed light on some often-confusing aspects of wedding photography, helping couples to make some important decisions armed with the most helpful information possible. I know what works and what doesn't. I have gained invaluable knowledge over the years, having encountered just about every possible "situation"! I truly believe that there is no substitute for experience when it comes to wedding photography. We have to be able to handle the pressure - along with the time-constraints, changes, etc. - that often accompany weddings, with the greatest of ease and confidence. There is no situation that I can't handle, which means that every wedding I photograph ends up flowing beautfully, no matter what arises.
Since I spend time behind the camera whenever possible, in addition to my work you can expect to see photographs from my birding trips, volunteer work at a local animal shelter, fine art, my son and two dogs, etc.
Please check back frequently as this blog evolves into an informative, entertaining, and useful resource for engaged couple around the world.
Three blogs have accepted one of my recent weddings for publication. The first is here:
Wedding Venue: Gundlach Bundschu ~ Amazing Photography Options
I know I haven’t posted anything for a while, but I am in the midst of a fully-booked year I am just trying to keep my head above the water! As time permits, I will be posting some stunning recent weddings from the following venues:
Paradise Ridge, Kunde Family Estates, Westebeke Ranch, The White Barn (two weddings), two private residences, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Domain Chandon & MacArthur Place.
Please bear with me. My priority, right now, is to deliver wedding images to my clients as soon as possible. Thanks!!
I am featured in the Sonoma Sun this week! A two page spread and cover photo! Check this out:
Love is in the air, every weekend through October, and it’s going to keep photographer Diane Askew very busy.
The English native studied Fine Arts at Berkeley, but found her creative expression through the camera. She now specializes in shooting weddings.
Askew was named by Wedding Wire, one of the go-to online resources for wedding planning, with a Brides Choice 2011 award. It’s helped keep her busy, from simple affairs at the park to lavish bashes at hilltop estates where part of the job is not taking pictures of the VIPs.
Just as dress and tuxedo fashions are always changing, the style of wedding photography has evolved.
The high fashion, magazine cover look is giving way to a simpler, photojournalism style. Shots aren’t choreographed; she records events as they happen. “It’s capturing the emotions of the day without any staging. I’m just a fly on the wall.”
Askew said she has encountered very few Bridezillas. “I hear the horror stories, but I’ve been really lucky.” If she and the bride hit it off during the initial interview, things usually work out well. “Part of the job is to calm her fears.”
After years of hearing the wedding march, Askew admits to still getting swept up in the moment. She gets excited during the preparation, emotional when the bride appears at the ceremony and teary when the vows are exchanged. Dad’s speech at the reception? She chokes up there, too.
“You’d think I’d be immune by now,” she said.
For Askew, it’s that intimacy, the sense of real engagement in the moment, that result in the truest, best photographs. “It’s almost like I’m part of the family.”
Photos by Diane Askew
We are thrilled to announce that we have been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for wedding photography. Our business stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry.
WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer said “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Diane Askew Photography for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all our clients who took the time to nominate us! Thank you so much!!!
Okay, so I haven’t been spending my time blogging lately, but I have been very busy meeting couples from all over the country, booking weddings like crazy (yeah!), designing custom albums, building my new website and publishing images from my 2010 weddings…which brings me to the purpose of this post. I am happy to announce that my work has been published in the current issue of SONOMA Magazine! This top-notch magazine is available nationwide. Here are the published photos…
It was a nice surprise this morning to see that another of my weddings is featured on the London-based blog Beyond Beyond. Please click here to view the post:
Some Vintage Magic // Stacey & Gabriel.
One of my weddings is featured on a really cool London-based blog. Please click on the link below to view the post.
Firetrucks and love and stuff.
My work is also going to be featured on Bride’s Tea (blog) and With this Ring (blog). I’ll post links as soon as they are available.
by diane askew
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