For 7 years I studied Shotokan Karate and miss practicing it. I had to stop because continued practice affected my wellness to photograph weddings. Broken bones, sprained limbs and getting all bruised up is part of martial arts. I miss the intense workouts. What I learned from my Sensi and from Karate was discipline and that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.

At 16 years old I was living on my own. My dad helped me get through high school and part of college.

I was an executive chef in NYC and worked almost every station in a classical French kitchen. Started out sweeping floors and worked my way up. I was a butcher, a saucier, a poissonnier, a garde manger and a sous chef.

For a few years I was a cellar master and wine buyer. For a year I worked at a wine bar and did all the purchasing and wrote the menu which earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, before the restaurant even opened.

Heights scare me. Although I’m intrigued and want to do a parachute jump and hand glide. Crazy? For sure! But I used to have dreams that I could fly and would like to test out that theory one day.

Travel fascinates me. I love to travel. Haven’t done enough of it. Some places that I’d really like to visit are: Japan, Shanghai, Bueno Aires and Barcelona to name a few.

Social Networking
You can find me on Twitter @marcweisberg
You can find me on Facebook
facebook.com/orangecountyphotographer
facebook.com/marcweisbergstudio
facebook.com/blueyedawg

My Family: I’m married. My wife’s name is Connie, our children are Emerson and Claire. Its crazy having teenagers. Claire is 13 going on 23 and Emerson is 16 which means you better watch out ‘cause he’ll be driving soon.

What Others Say About Me: Depends who you talk to, but...Most people find me quiet and funny and gregarious. What do you expect I’m a Gemini.

Hobbies: reading biographies, movies, wine, science fiction, scuba diving, working out at the gym, museums, cooking, reading photography blogs and travel, road trips

Photography Awards - The Unofficial Press Release: Marc has won 16 coveted international awards in wedding photography, portrait photography and commercial photography. The break down: 10 Accolades of Excellence WPPI ~ in 2008. 6 Western Regional merits for excellence in wedding photography, portraiture, commercial photography and illustrative photography in 2008. I’ve stopped competing by may compete again in the future.

Published Work – a brief list: You can find Marc’s photography featured in more than a dozen books available on Amazon dot com: The Best of Wedding Photography, The Wedding Photographers Handbook, Master Lighting Guide, The Best of Photographic Lighting, by author Bill Hurter, 500 Poses for Photographing Women,by author Michelle Perkins, and Travels with Adele…to name a few. Magazine features incude: Riviera, Coast, Orange Coast, Angeleno, The Knot, Ceremony, feature article in Rangefinder, WPPI monthly and Los Angeles Confidential.

Charitable Contributions: I get countless requests for charitable donations. I am sorry I cannot fulfill most of them. I have chosen to focus most of this activity within my own community. Chiefly focusing on helping out organizations that support children's well being. Some charities contact us as well to donate photos for auctions and for publication materials. We can do this if there is a 501c designation for tax purposes. You may contact me in this case. Thank you.

Charitable donations include: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County Inland Empire. The Junior League of Orange County, CHOC ~ Children’s Hospital of Orange County, The Princess Foundation, The Glass Slipper and St. Judes School.

Photography Awards: My unique brand of photography has earned 16 coveted international awards in wedding photography, portrait photography and commercial photography. The break down: 10 Accolades of Excellence WPPI. 6 Western Regional merits for excellence in wedding photography, portraiture, commercial photography and illustrative photography. I’ve stopped competing by may compete again in the future.

Appearances and Speaking Engagements
Pictage, Partner Conference, New Orleans~2010
Pictage, Partner Conference, Los Angeles~2009
Smug Mug, San Diego ~2009
A Master Class in Marketing, Wedding & Portrait Photographers International~2008
Previous monthly guest columnist on Chris Mitchell's, ProPhotoResource~2008-2009
Print Judge, Professional Photographers of San Diego~2008 & 2009
Regional speaker & member of Professional Photographers of Orange County~2007
Regional speaker & member of Professional Photographers of California~2006

Sports
Is Frisbee considered a sport yet? I’m athletic but never really played team sports. Okay. I played Lacrosse and Soccer and did track in highchool. But never did super competitive sports. Guess I wasn’t into being tackled and bludgeoned by someone. There was one year that I rode my bike every single day. Sometimes up to 75 miles on the weekends. Would really love to get a Specialized soft tail mountain bike but can't justify the cost just yet. Love to watch: Boxing , The Olympics, MMA & UFC, Skiing, Gymnastics, Tennis and just about any playoff or final series game.

Movies
I love to watch movies. I’m an avid Netflix subscriber. Don’t usually go to the theatre. It’s nice having a 54” 1080p flat screen at the studio. Some of my favorite movies are:
Blade Runner
The Road to Perdition
Full Metal Jacket
Amelie
Cinema Paradisio
The Green Mile
Citizen Kane
Giant
The Professional
The Bowery Boys
5th Element
The Prestige
Sin City
It’s a Wonderful Life
Barton Fink
Gone with the Wind
Reberl Without a Cause
The Diving Bell & The Butterfly {brilliant!}
There Will Be Blood {the Cohen bros. are amazing!}
The Shawshank Redemption {saw it 6x’s and know some of the lines}

Music ~ a pretty eclectic mix
Steely Dan
CSN&Y
Neil Young
Rap
Country
Motown
Alicia Keys
Cold Play
Sigur Ros
Frank Sinatra
The Carpenters
Rolling Stones
Elvis Costello
Bob Dylan
Black Eyed Peas

TV
I don’t follow TV and only turn it on to wind down. That said, I like:
Dexter
Criminal Minds
The Tudors {its like Sex and the City for guys}
Law & Order Criminal Intent
Good Morning America sometimes when I’m getting up
60 Minutes

Food
I’m a huge foodie and will go out of my way to go to that dive bar that servers great burgers or when traveling I’m always on the prowl for the best of in the given city. Ethnic food in general: Thai, Greek, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese. Bright flavors, healthy cuisine sometimes spicy. Huge coffee lover. Used to get my beans delivered from Caffé Trieste in San Francisco: their espresso roast, best beans ever.

Wine
When I was in the wine business I used to taste upwards of 60 wines per week. Pinot Noir is my favorite varietal, layered with notes of strawberry jam and earthy overtones. White and red Burgundies, California chardonnays that are not over oaked, German Rieslings, Oakville reds. And an eclectic mix of sleeper varietals like Gruner Veltliner, Albarano, and Pinot Blanc. I've tasted every first growth Bordeaux except for Chateau Petrus.

Languages
Studied French for a few years and know enough to get buy in Paris.
Can smile and say thank you, hello and good-bye in Korean.

P.S. I'm always on the prowl for a great dive eatery and the prefect limey drink. So if you know where I can find a phenomenal Margarita or the perfect minty Mojito drop me a lime line.

P.P.S. So let's chat, I have an espresso machine in my studio, tea, lunch? 2 of my favorite Japanese restaurants are right around the corner from my Old Town Tustin studio. Email me or an old fashioned phone call will do. Or, to hit me up with your info, tap here.