Nature Photography in my Garden, Manuel Antonio Costa Rica

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Over my years here in Costa Rica, I have hiked into the rainforest countless times, but to tell you the truth I see so much wildlife right here at home. Don’t get me wrong, I love being out in the undergrowth, listening for rustles in the foliage, armed with my trusty camera. But there s something spectacular about being able put down my coffee and get photos like these, from the comfort of my balcony, and being able to share the experience with my family.
This is a collection of photographs I have taken over the last 2 weeks from my home in Manuel Antonio.
Two toes Sloth – Mother and baby travelling between mango trees
Squirrel Monkeys (Mono Titi) – with babies, eating mangoes and relaxing
White-Face Monkey (Capuchin)  – Mother and Baby on the move
Orchid Pollinator Bees – Only there for an hour on one day.
Golden Naped Woodpecker – looks like a pair are building a nest in a dead palm tree.
Chestnut Mandibled Toucan – Back for the rainy season
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl – Been round for a few weeks
Scarlet Macaws – permanent residents, thanks to the local rehabilitation and release program
**Please note that all photographs were taken with a telephoto lens (apart from bee photos), so not to disturb the wildlife.
Enjoy and Pura Vida!
John

Honeymoon Photography – Manuel Antonio Costa Rica 2019

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This sweet couple came all the way to Costa Rica from France for their honeymoon, so really wanted some immortalise their honeymoon in Costa Rica. One of the stops on their honeymoon trip was Manuel Antonio, my home town, I met them late afternoon on Playa Espadilla. There are lots of great areas for photographs, with the ocean, rocks, rivers and vegetation, I particularly like the photos with the trees and reflections, what do you think?

Engagement Photography – Manuel Antonio Costa Rica – December 2018

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This lovely couple got just got engaged here in Costa Rica, and of course; they wanted to get some amazing tropical photos to celebrate their love. Manuel Antonio is full of beautiful areas,  and we chose Playa Espadilla, Manuel Antonio’s famous beach for our photo session. We danced at sunset, climbed rocks and got wet; it was a fun shoot!

 

Rainforest and Beach Elopement – Costa Rica December 2017

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This amazing couple love beaches, waterfalls and the rainforest, so they came to Costa Rica for an amazing adventure and a unique elopement..

I met the bride and groom at their hotel in Manuel Antonio, Hotel Costa Verde; as the bride was just finishing her makeup. We started the afternoon at Rainmaker and got some wonderful photos in the lush green rainforest. We then headed to Playa Palo Seco, a beautiful long desert beach just north of Manuel Antonio, as we arrived the sun was just setting. We were blessed with an incredible sunset, and took advantage of the light for some sunset portraits. As the sun went down, my wife, Katharine; conducted the ceremony under a super full moon, with the waves lapping at their feet…sheer beauty!
Best of luck Angela and Byron, you were amazing to photograph, thanks for letting us to be part of your epic day!

Locations: Rainmaker and Playa Palo Seco
Hair and Makeup – Mademoiselle Salon

To see more of my rainforest and waterfall weddings take a look at my website gallery  at www.weddingphotoscostarica.com/rainforest-wedding-costa-rica

Waterfall and Beach Engagement Photography in Costa Rica – August 2017

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This adventurous couple; on a surfing vacation in Costa Rica; wanted to get some memorable engagement and save the date photos. I met them up at their hotel in Dominical and we drove to a beautiful little rainforest waterfall I know nearby. Approximately 30% of Costa Rica’s land is protected in nature reserves. There are many hidden gems close to where I live…perfect to get some amazing jungle and waterfall portraits. We then headed back to Dominical  for some gorgeous beach photos. We even did a sand the date in the sand for their wedding next year. Best of luck amigos!

Congratulations to you both…and who knows might see you back in Costa Rica for your wedding!

John

https://www.weddingphotoscostarica.com/rainforest-wedding-costa-rica

May the 4th Elopement – Makanda Manuel Antonio Costa Rica 2017

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I just love this couple! When they asked me if I was available on the 4th of May, I did wonder if they were Star Wars fans and they were! (Yes, I know it’s August! Just been too busy to blog :)
They stayed at the beautiful Hotel Makanda in the heart of Manuel Antonio, I met them at the hotel and we did some artistic photos on the grounds of the hotel. Makanda has recently been completely remodeled into a fabulous boutique hotel, it’s just exquisite. I think the bride and groom in black looks great against the stone wall background.
We headed down to the north end of Playa Espadilla for the wedding ceremony on the beach.

It was a  perfect intimate ceremony….and I just love the photos!

 

Wedding – Punto de Vista – Manuel Antonio October 2016

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One of my first weddings of the 2016-17 season here in Costa Rica, it’s great to be back!

This wedding was at one of Manuel Antonio’s premier vacation rental villas, Punto de Vista. It spectacular villa for a wedding with views of the Pacific ocean from all of its 5 floors.
The bride and groom were both from Southern California, and a lot of fun! I met the bride in her room, where she was getting her final touches to her make and hair by our local, wonderful make up artist, Monica. The bride’s Mom and her friends helped her getting in her get into her dress. I love the photos of the bride’s mother helping with her shoes.  The groom came into the Bride’s room to do the “first look” on the balcony, a moving moment!
The wedding ceremony took place on top-level of the villa which has an epic view of the Pacific looking towards the Manuel Antonio National Park.  The team at Weddings Costa Rica created a beautiful altar for the wedding, with floating candles and lilies. The reception dinner was held on the top-level, the tables looked magical, with gold candlesticks sparkling in the candle light. After dinner the party moved downstairs to the ballroom for dancing and more celebrations. Another stunning wedding arranged by Weddings Costa Rica!


Wedding Planning – Weddings Costa Rica
Location – Casa Punto de Vista, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Hair and Make Up – Hair by Monica

That’s all for now, as we hunker down and wait for Hurricane Otto, the first hurricane in Costa Rica in over 100 years.

Beach and Villa Wedding – Manuel Antonio Costa Rica February 2016

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This fun-loving bride and groom came to Costa Rica for a tropical beach wedding. I had met the bride and groom at the end of last year when they came to Manuel Antonio on a planning visit with their wedding coordinator, Laura from Liquid Weddings. It’s fantastic for me to actually meet and get to know the bride and groom before the wedding – with destination weddings, it’s not always possible! I often Skype with brides and grooms before the wedding, it’s a great way to find out what people are like and what they want from their wedding photographs. Plus they can get to know me and be more comfortable for the big day.
Back to the wedding! …the wedding party were staying at the beautiful Montemar Estates in Manuel Antonio, 3 villas nestled on a mountain top over looking the jungle and Pacific Ocean.  I first went to Montemar to meet with the Bride and then Groom to capture some of that nervous fun and excitement before the wedding.
Then wedding ceremony took place at Playitas Beach about 10 minutes from the house, at the north end of the famous Manuel Antonio beach. After the ceremony we took some fun photos on the beach, and then some great light hit for some romantic couples portraits.
The wedding party then returned to Montemar Estates for cocktails, the reception dinner and then a DJ and dancing. I think the night-time party shots are great!

Wedding Planning – Liquid Weddings
Villa and Reception Loacation- Montemar Estate – Manuel Antonio
Ceremony Location – Playitas Beach – Manuel Antonio
Hair and Makeup – Monica – Hair by Monica

 

Honeymoon Photo Shoot – Manuel Antonio Costa Rica 2016

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This couple came to Costa Rica for their honeymoon, they had opted for a small civil ceremony back at home, so really wanted some fantastic photographs to celebrate their wedding. One of the stops on their honeymoon trip was Manuel Antonio, my home town, I met them late afternoon on Playa Espadilla. There are lots of great areas for photographs, with the ocean, rocks, rivers and vegetation, I particularly like the photos with all the roots, what do you think?

Sunset Wedding at Discovery Beach House – Manuel Antonio Costa Rica Dec 2015

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Playa Espadilla in Manuel Antonio is a gorgeous beach for a wedding, a beautiful bay with the majestic backdrop of the Manuel Antonio National Park. This bride and groom choose the Discovery Beach House which is located just steps away from the beach. Randy Gritz from Celebrations Costa Rica created an elegant yet casual event which fitted the wedding couple perfectly. I met the bride at the beach house, surrounded by their children in a happy state of excitement over the wedding. We walked through the garden to the beach where the ceremony took place on the sand strewn with rose petals. After a moving ceremony we watched the sun dip in to the Pacific Ocean, and then the guests returned to the house for a wonderful dinner prepared by Desiree‘s Catering.  This family’s happiness and love flowed through the day, I hope I have captured some of that sparkle in these photos.

Location: Discovery Beach House. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Wedding Planning: Randy from Celebrations Costa Rica
Catering by Desiree
Hair and Make up by Monica from Costa Rica Hair

Elopement at Hotel Parador – Manuel Antonio Costa Rica – Dec 2015

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This couple decided to leave the winter and have their elopement wedding in the sunshine in Costa Rica! The bride and groom were staying at the beautiful Hotel Parador in Manuel Antonio. I met the couple in their room at the hotel as they were finishing getting ready, they then traveled by golf cart to the secluded ceremony site. The ceremony took place under an arch decorated with colorful tropical flowers. After the ceremony we went to the close by Playa Espadilla beach to watch the sunset and get some romantic couples portraits. This intimate elopement was organized by Alfonso, El Parador’s Wedding and Events Planner.

Wedding at Costa Verde – Manuel Antonio – Costa Rica – October 2015

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A stunning wedding over looking the Pacific Ocean in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. The wedding and celebrations were held at the Hotel Costa Verde, which is nestled on a jungle-covered hill close to Manuel Antonio National Park. Their slogan is “still more monkeys than people”,  and as you can imagine they are well known for natural beauty and wildlife! The Costa Verde is an ideal location for destination weddings planned by their excellent in-house wedding coordinator, Isabel Vargas.
I met the bride at her hotel room in Costa Verde; surrounded by her friends and family helping her to get ready for her big day. We got a lovely sequence of wedding dress photos and I love the toast photos on the balcony- particularly the one with her sisters and her little niece the floor girl peering through the champagne flutes.
I then did a quick stop at the groom’s room for a few photos before the ceremony was due to begin. The ceremony took place in the garden’s of the hotel, overlooking the ocean. October is at the end of the rainy season so there was  the chance of an afternoon shower, but we had a wonderful day. After the ceremony and group photographs the wedding party headed to El Avion (The Airplane); one of Costa Verde’s restaurants for the wedding reception. A beautiful day…enjoy the photos!