David Nicholson Photography

Matt & Hillary's Wedding

2011-10-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

It just doesn't get much better than this! Perfect weather in a perfect setting (Sainte Genevieve, Missouri at Chaumette Vineyards).
Hillary has been officially inducted into the US Marine Corps family. Matt, we thank you and your fellow Marines for your service to our country.

Steve & Melissa

2011-04-18T15:01:00.001-07:00

Out of the blue, the weather changed & created a perfect day for Steve & Melissa. They met in the bar where Steve works. It was love at the first shot....(just kidding). A bagpiper played them into the marriage ceremony in true Scottish fashion.

Maureen- USC Graduate 2011

2011-04-13T13:28:00.000-07:00

As Maureen is into old movies and the Film Noir era it made sense to use an art deco theater during her shoot. Thanks again to Lee for kindly letting us use the Warner Grand in San Pedro.

Barbie- High School Senior

2011-01-03T10:39:00.001-08:00

Barbie's mom brought a beautiful traditional Korean dress for the shoot all the way from Korea. We are lucky to have the Korean bell here in San Pedro.

Elliott DeCrumpe II

2010-12-22T11:16:00.000-08:00

We had a fun session with Elliott and to help inspire him with posing, his good friend Raymond came along.

Steve & Melissa

2010-12-20T19:50:00.000-08:00

Steve is a (superb)) bartender and met Melissa at his place of work. So, what better location to start their engagement session! They had requested that we end up at the Santa Monica pier and it was a perfect evening at the beach.

One World at Alva's

2010-11-26T14:11:00.000-08:00

Frank Unzueta's band One World performed at Alva's dance studio to a packed house. The concert was kind of a reunion as past members are now back in the band and sounding as great as ever.

"Miss California Teen USA- Most Photogenic"..Alexis Orozco

2010-11-21T22:13:00.000-08:00

Here she is!!! Alexis Orozco has won the title "Most Photogenic" with the Donald Trump Pageant "Miss California Teen USA". We photographed her for her High School Senior portraits and she was just outstanding. Alexis was out at sea on her senior trip when her images were needed by the Trump Pageant guys, so we got a frantic phone call. We had 12 minutes to get 2 pictures to them and I was out! A couple of phone calls from Madonna to me and we made the deadline. It paid off! Congratulations to Alexis Orozco!!! We are so proud of you!

Frasier- High School senior

2010-10-31T13:13:00.000-07:00

Glenn, Frasier Glenn (as in Bond). Frasier likes the sophisticated dressy look and also owns a kilt (not shown). He loves to show off his Corvette and demonstrated some athletic talent by jumping over a Mustang.

Conner- High School senior

2010-10-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Conner lives within walking distance to the beach so that's where we ended up having started at his house in Manhattan Beach.

Darby- High School senior

2010-10-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Darby had some great ideas for her session such as "trash the dress". So, we had her lie down on the beach and waited for some nice big waves!

Ryan- High School senior

2010-10-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

Ryan had some unique numbers associated with his session. It was on October 10th at 10am. Therefore the date was 10/10/10 at 10am.

Max Tufeld - High School senior

2010-10-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

Max is into movies, and classic ones at that. In keeping with his theme, we found a great film strip metal sculpture in Culver City.

Joe Waybright- High School senior

2010-10-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

Joe & horses go hand in hoof. Joe also scored a touchdown recently for his school. So we have "Cowboy Joe" & "Varsity Joe".

Jessica and Jon and a bump called Noah

2010-10-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

We headed to the beach on a rare sunny day in Southern California! Little Olivia joined us for some shots before her proud grandparents opted for some baby sitting. Noah is due very soon and Jon & Jess can't wait. Photography by Madonna.

Sheena's maternity shoot

2010-10-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

Sheena and Paul are now the proud parents of Savannah. Here are some moments from the expectant parents' session. Cole Michael makes an appearance with mom; he loves having a little sister. Photography by Madonna.

Jasmine-High School senior

2010-09-27T17:51:00.001-07:00

Finally summer arrives in LA as Jasmine dances at sunset.

TJ Shepard - High School Senior

2010-09-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

To say that TJ was keen on baseball would be putting it mildly. Watch out for him in the majors in the not too distant future! (He's been playing baseball since he was four).

Other moments with TJ

2010-09-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Rachel

2010-09-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Flexibility, poise and sheer talent- that's what we saw when we photographed Rachel in two entirely different environments yesterday.

Adam Rice -High School senior

2010-09-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

Our first session with Adam started at his house and ended at the beach. Thanks for braving the "cool" weather Adam!
Next up, our 2nd session will be at The Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro.

Kyle Salzman - High School senior

2010-09-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

We took Kyle out on Saturday looking for a bit of Oregon in California for his car shots (nice LandRover). Madonna spotted the perfect place so she is now officially the location manager!

Landon Leff- High School senior

2010-09-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Summer took another leave of absence yesterday, but Landon was a great sport as we spent some of the shoot on the beach. As he pointed out, dig your toes into the sand and it gets warmer!

Some more of Landon

2010-09-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hunter Watts - High School Senior portrait session

2010-08-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

When your seniors can get a job tomorrow in a GQ magazine photo shoot, it makes life so easy. Hunter was a pleasure to work with and had some great ideas (& a nice car to boot!).

Justin & Nancy's wedding

2010-08-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

Friday at Wayfarer's Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, Nancy & Justin were married. They had agreed to a first look before the ceremony. Nancy walked up the path and tapped Justin on the shoulder in front of the chapel. It was a beautiful private moment that Madonna & I were privileged to capture. Congratulations to you both!

Justin and Nancy

2010-08-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Justin and Nancy

2010-08-28T18:09:00.001-07:00

Justin and Nancy

2010-08-28T18:07:00.001-07:00

Jamie & Zac

2010-06-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

On a beautiful sunny day at The Botanical Gardens in the PV Peninsula, Jamie & Zac exchanged wedding vows. When the best man was asked for the rings, some interesting things were produced from his pocket..but he did have the rings.

A few more from Jamie & Zac

2010-06-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more sneak peeks from Jamie & Zac's wedding.

Emma & Guy got married!

2009-09-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

I just returned from England where I attended my niece's wedding in one of the most picturesque parts of the West Country. Emma married Guy at Pitminster Church, Somerset, with the reception held in a huge tent in a meadow close by (OK, it's a big field) . The bride arrived at the church in style, in a London cab! The setting would have been a movie director's dream and to top it off the weather was perfect! I was not the official photographer so I got to eat, drink & be (very) merry.

Marissa Graduates!

2009-09-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

Marissa Gravett, who happens to be my God Daughter, graduated from Aliso Niguel High School this summer. She is now at college in Santa Barbara so she has not seen the results from her photo shoot. She was completely adept at posing (for several hours!) and we all had lots of fun as we ended up at the beach on one of the warmest evenings of the year.

Oregon Poet

2009-09-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

During a recent trip to Oregon, we had the pleasure of photographing our friend, Dr. Malcolm MacGregor, for his new book. We gave him the challenge of putting his portrait experience into poetry. The following is entitled "The Picture Man".

There I sat like clay
To be molded and fit his plan
Ne'er turn nor sway
Conjuring up smile or deadpan

Giving up liberty to become his pawn
Unforeseen trust to muster up
Dry not green this lawn
Tasteless soup to sup

Assistants hover around me
Holding mirrors that bend the light
I cannot turn to see
Helpless is my plight

See or avoid that lens eye
Please make up your mind
Heartless tyrant to decry
For humanity he is blind

Finally I saw his picture goal
Where are all my flaws?
A miracle he did extol
Easy at last to join his cause

Like all men of noble intent
Misjudged, scored, and doubted
Buoyed by what he does invent
In the end, a hero, to be touted

Morgan graduates!

2009-09-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

We never seem to travel without our photo gear. We packed Madonna's new long lens and a reflector. Our friend Susan happens to live on a 37 acre farm near Portland which gave us the perfect setting to photograph her daughter Morgan.

Courtney & Jason tie the knot!

2009-04-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

On a beautiful day in March, two young people who met on a tour in Europe, joined together in front of family & friends at Palos Verdes Country Club and became man & wife. Our groom, Jason, managed to bring most people to tears (happy ones) during the ceremony. His heart felt words were delivered to his beautiful bride, Courtney. We wish them all the luck in the world. Congratulations!!

Press Release

2009-02-12T13:52:00.000-08:00

David Nicholson of San Pedro, CA, co-owner of David Nicholson Photography, was awarded the title of "Photographer of the Year 2009" in Portraits; Senior High School category in San Diego at the Professional Photographers of California annual print competition on February 3rd, 2009. The competition is designed to recognize outstanding photographers in the state.

"Last To Audition", a portrait of Tristan Nieto MacDonald, a Rolling Hills Prep Senior that David photographed at the Warner Grand Theater won him the award. David also entered 5 other portraits in various categories, receiving merits on each entry.

The Award Ceremony will take place at the 56th Annual PROPHOTO EXPO in Pasadena on Sunday, March 22nd. The Western States Conference and Trade Show will have all the top-scoring images from the 2009 PPC State Print Competition on exhibit from Friday through Monday, March 20-23, at the Pasadena Convention Center (which will be open to the public).

2009-02-12T13:40:00.000-08:00

Here are the other five images that merited at the State Print competition (Professional Photographers of California.
The image above is titled: "Leap into the Light". Gina Su, the subject, is a Senior at Rolling Hills Prep.

2009-02-12T12:51:00.000-08:00

This portrait is called: "Simply Lindsey". Lindsey Gaudenti is preparing to graduate from Rolling Hills Prep School in San Pedro.

2009-02-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

This image is titled: "Steppin' Out". Paul Pourzia graduates this June from Rolling Hills Prep School.

2009-02-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

"Les & James" (note the Les Paul guitar) is how James Mischel would like to be remembered at this time of his life. He found music during his time at RHP.

2009-02-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken in the basement of a house under construction and Wolfie Trausch (RHP Senior) is leaning against a pile of drywall. The title is: "The Dark World of Wolfie".

Paul & Sheena got married!!

2007-11-28T21:41:00.000-08:00

On November 17th we witnessed and photographed the union of Sheena Negrinelli & Paul Wilkins. The weather was perfect and the stars were aligned for a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Ascension Lutheron Church and after at the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach. We would like to wish the happy couple a lifetime of laughter and love.

Competition Winners!

2007-10-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

We have been stepping outside "the box" with our RHP High School Seniors this year and it's paid off at competition level. We entered two 16 x 20 prints at The Professional Photographers of Los Angeles County print competition in October. Our dancer, Milena, won Best of Show and Victoria (with the hair!) was runner up in the Portrait class.