In the late ’80s, during my junior year of high school, Arn Campero and Gary Forbes were seniors—two of my closest friends—and legends. The three of us were enrolled in the theater program at Hollywood High. Arn and Gary were inseparable. They chain-smoked, obsessed over music, movies, and comic books, and ran with a crew of fellow seniors who held court at the school’s unofficial smoking section. (Yes, teachers looked the other way when you smoked back then.)
I looked up to them. And, somehow—although just a junior—they took me into their fold, and I was hanging out with the cool kids.
Gary (left), Arn (right), circa 1987.
Mischief was the daily mission. I had just turned 17 and bought my first car with money I made acting in bit parts and commercials. It was a banana-yellow Ford Capri Coupe that I paid $99 to have spray-painted jet black. Arn, Gary, and I would speed around Hollywood listening to Rodney on the Roq, Ramones, Buzzcocks, Suicidal Tendencies, Soft Cell, and The Cure. “I Can’t Stand Losing You” by The Police was on heavy rotation, and I had a full-blown, probably clinically unhealthy obsession with The Smiths.
That year, we spent our evenings breaking into abandoned mansions in the Hollywood Hills to drink and party with friends. We broke into the Hollywood Bowl to joyride in stolen golf carts. We jimmied the lock of our school auditorium in order to climb like monkeys into the rafters high above the stage. I even bought myself a pack of cigarettes and tried my best to be a smoker, but sadly (or, luckily) they only made me nauseous.
I’d moved from Hollywood to Seattle at 18 and lost touch with nearly everyone. I battled addiction, and in the process of getting clean, I started this blog—Americanvirus—as a kind of art therapy. I began exploring photography as a form of expression, replacing chemicals and substance abuse as my form of escape.
Through social media, old high school friends started reappearing—at first in comments and likes, then in messages. Gary saw some photos I posted to Facebook of my first couple of weddings. After years apart, he invited me down to LA to photograph his backyard wedding party.
Gary’s wedding to Joli is among the handful of the first weddings I ever photographed. It ended up being featured on Rock N’ Roll Bride, which led to more inquiries from out of state and helped kickstart my career as a destination wedding photographer. It was also at that wedding that I briefly got to reconnect with Arn and meet his two amazing kids, Rowan and Griffin.
Now, 14 years later, Arn has found the love of his life—Julie—and reached out to ask if I’d photograph their wedding. I was over the moon. And, after meeting Julie over FaceTime and hearing more about her plans to make the day special, I was even more thrilled.
She told me how she was going to have a table secretly set up with silver sharpies and 45’s of some of Arn’s favorite music. Friends and family would be invited to sign the records as a guestbook. Also, two “boozy” burrows were hired to serve drinks, and—of course—Gary would be the officiant for the day!
Julie is truly a shining star, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see Arn end up with such a beautiful human.
Every wedding I shoot is personal. The meaning that photography has given my life continually grows deeper with every year. That said, when you get to photograph the weddings of the people you grew up with and love, it’s a whole other ball game playing out in your heart.
I get choked up behind the camera more than I care to admit, but there were so many tears welling in my eyes at this one. I feel beyond grateful to have now documented the weddings of two of the friends I was closest with in high school. I’m even more excited to finally share some of the photos we made together with all of you.
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Soundtrack: Ceremony by Chromatics (Spotify)
Julie & Arn. Los Alamos, CA.
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Photographer: Jonas Seaman & Mary Williamson
Coordinator: Michele Springs of Mia Bella Weddings And Events
Venue & Catering: The Maker’s Son
Julie’s Dress: Allure Bridals
Julie’s Jewelry: Kate Spade
Arn’s Suit: Men’s Wearhouse
Hair & Makeup: Fairytale Hair And Makeup
Videography: Coltan & Jessa of Fox Jump Cinematics
The Burros Serving Drinks: Boozy Burros
DJ: Jack Ross of Epic Entertainment
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