WOW!! I cannot believe that 2010 is almost over! I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is gearing up for a Happy New Year!!I also wanna say CONGRATS to anyone who got engaged this holiday season!!! Yippee! You're going to have so much fun wedding planning, at least I know I did when I was engaged! ;) And of course, what better thing to do then take engagement pictures when you are newly engaged?! Pictures are the perfect way to commemorate this magical milestone, and I absolutely LOVE photographing engagement sessions! In fact, I truly believe engagement pictures are a must do for all soon-to-be-weds-- check out this article to see why!So now that you've got engagement sessions on you're mind, I thought I'd share some snaps of some of my favorite 2010 engagement sessions!! I had SUCH an amazing time this past year getting to know all my fabulous couples, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the photos we created together! So without further ado, 2010's Engagement Highlights:We kicked off 2010 with Ryan + Kristina's Getty Center Engagement:
I LOVED Christina + Syl's colorful photoshoot at The Lab in Costa Mesa:
Then there was Elena + Memo in Culver City:
Zoe + Nima brought some fun balloons to their vibrant Santa Monica Pier engagement session:
Christine + Tyler's UCSB engagement was soooo meaningful, personal and BEAUTIFUL:
Andrea + Barbara commemorated their time together in Los Angeles with this fun Santa Monica engagement session:
Jeanette + Pete's Malibu engagement session was so playful and romantic! And that light augggggggggh!!!! See?:
Matt + Patricia's Shoreline Village Long Beach engagement session was so fun!!
Mandi + Dan's Santa Monica engagement shoot was everything I LOVE-- it was fabulous, fun, fierce and vibrant! LOVE:
We ended 2010 with Lizbeth + Robert's fun and fresh engagement session at the Griffith Observatory:
Last Sunday I had the pleasure of meeting Liz and Robert and shooting their engagement session at the Griffith Observatory! Liz and Robert are good friends of Dani and Tony, so I knew their session would be FAB and they definitely did not disappoint!Liz and Robert define the term whirlwind romance! They met in April, and they are already engaged and will be married next July! But you know what? When you know, you know. To quote my favorite movie ever When Harry Met Sally, "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." I think that line is SO true and totally speaks to Liz and Robert's relationship.And really, these two are perfect for each other! The entire session they were in their own little world. When they look at each other they just beam and get all smiley and giggly. It's so sweet! I barely had to give them any direction because the way they were with each other was just too darn cute. For realz. Liz and Robert, you make my job easy peasy! Thank you both so much for letting me document your love! I thoroughly enjoyed every single second of it!!! ;)And now onto the photos!
Jeanette and Pete found me through one of my past brides, Erika! I am always THRILLED when I get to work with friends of past clients. Because you see, my clients always end up being my friends! And then when I get to work with their friends, it's like things come full circle! And I feel a part of a little fun group! And I meet more wonderful people! And it's AWESOME! So I was very excited to shoot Jeanette & Pete's engagement session at El Matador beach and get to know them better!Jeanette and Pete are such a fun couple! They are playful with each other. They laugh out loud. They are vibrant. And they have a beautiful family together! These two are just so sweet together and I can see that they are already married in their hearts. But, I am SUPER STOKED to attend their wedding in September, and photograph everything as they make it official! ;)Enjoy the photos from this super fun beach session! As you will see, the light was GORGE (yes I just abbreviated the word gorgeous), and Pete & Jeanette are not afraid of the ocean!! ;)I LOVE this photo! Jeanette you are sooooooo beautiful!
To see more of Jeanette & Pete's lovely Malibu engagement session please watch the SLIDE SHOW below!
Matt & Patricia are one of the sweetness couples ever! They are both so caring and tender. They also balance each other so well. They sort of remind me of how AJ & I are together. Matt is quiet, laid back but he is always watching out for Patricia to make sure she's okay and happy. And Patricia has a huge, bright smile and laugh that just lights up her face as well as the faces of everyone around her. And when she looks at Matt, that's when she smiles the biggest! It was so great to see!AJ & I had so much fun wandering around Shoreline Village in Long Beach with them and documenting their love!I also got to say, Matt & Patricia know the key to my heart, which, by the way, is through my taste buds. They treated me & AJ to the nummiest funnel cake EVER after our shoot! It was deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious! And I am still touched by their generosity! It was oh so unexpected and so very sweet in more ways than one! Thank you both again for that! :)This first shot is one of my all time faves! Love what the light is doing!
I might be weird but I love capturing people laughing! There is something so beautiful about laughter. It makes the whole face light up. And of course it makes people look so joyful. So I made Patricia laugh and hit the shutter button. I love the results! She looks radiant!
And if you want to see even more gorgeous pics from this fun, fresh engagement session please watch the SLIDESHOW below:
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Mandi and Dan are two of my amazing friends. The last few years they have been there for me so much, and I only hope I am as good a friend to them as they are to me. Mandi and Dan have been together over 7 years, which is CRAZY to me. Seven years! That's a long time!!! Yet it makes perfect sense. As she told me once before, Mandi is fire and Dan is water and together they make steam! So true! After all these years, they seem like two college sweethearts in love. Their passion for each other is palpable. And I have know doubt that when they are 87 years old they will still have that steam between them. Another thing I love about Mandi & Dan is that they are both such driven, passionate, and active people! They never sit around and wait for things to come to them, they are always actively pursuing their goals! And its always so inspiring. I always thought I was a go getter, but then I met Mandi & Dan and felt superrrrr lazy! LOLBut seriously, Mandi & Dan are a major inspiration to me. Because they always say yes. Nothing is impossible. And I love that about them! They are constantly challenging me & inspiring me to be more positive, to always try harder, to never quit, and to not get lazy! And that's what friends should so, inspire you to be the best you possible! So thanks you two for all you give me!And also thanks a bundle to Kristin Brancaleone of The Treasured Petal for providing Mandi's awesome headband, and Miss Annie May for providing the beautiful necklace! It really made her look!!! And thanks muchos muchos grande to Elena Galaviz for the *fab* make up, and Liz Cadillo for giving Mandi this super cute hair do!
I love Mandi's look! It's so vintage glam and yet so modern and fresh! Don't you think she is stunning and adorable?
Below is MY FAVORITE SHOT EVER.
Cuties!!!
Can't get enough of Mandi & Dan? I can't either! So let's check out their SLIDESHOW below!
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I instantly knew I liked them. During our initial meeting I remember chatting with them about so many things besides wedding photography, like food, the awesomeness of Culver City, and Santa Barbara... and I remember thinking these people are really cool. They are sooo my kinda people. I like them. LOTS! So when I heard they liked me back and wanted to book me I was thrilled!! I may have even squealed and jumped up and down for a minute. Maybe. I cannot confirm or deny ;)So I have been looking forward to shooting Christine and Tyler's Santa Barbara engagement session for awhile now!! And guess what? It more than surpassed expectations! Christine and Tyler are so fun! They remind me a bit of me and AJ. Tyler is pretty adventurous I'd say. And he is definitely comfy just throwing himself into nature! Camping, bugs, sitting in the grass? No prob ;) Christine is more like me! We can appreciate the beauty but as long as there aren't too many crawly bugs to spoil the fun! Hehe! But just like me and AJ, Christine and Tyler are so sweet with each other. They make each other laugh. They make sure the other is okay. They get lost in their own little world together. They keep each other warm during a very cold and windy session!! It's so sweet! I just love it!It was really cool that Christine and Tyler chose to do their engagement session at UC Santa Barbara. These two met at UCSB while getting their undergrad degrees. As we walked on the campus they shared little memories. And I gotta say I was a teensy bit jealous. I thought meeting AJ in Boston was all romantical...but um...UCSB may just be the most gorgeous and romantical campus I have ever seen! There is natural beauty everywhere! For their first date Tyler took Christine to the bluffs on the campus. AMAZING! What a truly special place to fall in love! I am really glad that I got to capture their relationship back at the beautiful place it all began! It makes the images that much more meaningful! :)So here's a looksy at Christine and Tyler's fabulous engagement session at UC Santa Barbara! Beautiful couple, beautiful backdrop! These are a total must-see!!
Christine + Tyler -- Yay!!! I had SO much fun during our session! And I cannot wait for the big day! I know it will be sooo super fun & awesome!! :) Hope you love the pics! xoxo
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Remember how on this week's Tuesday Top 5 I mentioned that last Saturday I had the pleasure of photographing a REALLY awesome Italian couple's engagement photos at The Santa Monica Pier? Well here they are! Meet Andrea & Barbara, two of the sweetest, funnest, most stylish people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! Andrea has got to be the best fiance ever! Barbara had flown in from Italy to watch him graduate from USC and get his MBA, and while she was here he planned an amazing time for her-- shopping, a trip to Vegas, and then...photos with moi! I am totally flattered that of all the photographers Andrea could have chosen to document the love that he and Barbara share, he chose me! :) But I digress, so Andrea is a total prince charming! Case in point, as our session started Barbara spotted a cute little hat being sold at one of the stands on the pier. By the way, Barbara is 100% a woman after my own heart! She loves to shop and has such a fun, chic sense of style! I love that she can find a treasure of an accessory even at the Pier!! And like a true catch, there Andrea was, as if on cue, holding the mirror up for Barbara so she could see how the hat looked, and when she decided it was perfect (it really was perfect), he whipped out his wallet and bought it for her! My kinda man!! LOL. But it's not about the material things of course. It's about the love. It's about showing love by being a helpful shopping buddy. And by doing all you can to make the person you love extra happy!And that's what I love about Andrea & Barbara. In the short time I spent with these two I could really see that they make each other SO happy. And that they are always looking out for each other. And that they are always giggling and laughing. And that they can get lost in their own little fun world together, even when my camera is 10 inches from their face! That's love!I left this session feeling totally giddy. This is my job. I get to meet awesome, happy, adorable couples. And I get to create art with them and document their love story. And in the process I make amazing friends. Pinch me because this has to be a dream! It's too good!!!! I'm so glad I met Andrea & Barbara and that this last minute sesh worked out! And now I've blabbed enough, so why don't I be quiet and let you look at the pics!!!We started out by checking out all the fun games and rides at the pier! Look at how fierce these two are! Ah, to be Italian!
And when the sun started melting us, we retreated to underneath the boardwalk...just like the song!
I am totally in LOVE with this next pic! Barbara, you are GORGEOUS!!!
See what I mean about how happy these two are? They have so much fun with each other, it's contagious!!!
I'm in love with this photo. AJ took it though, not me! He's got a good eye that husby of mine!!
Cotton candy mustaches always equal photography gold!!!
Aw, this photo is my FAV!!! I didn't pose this at all. Barbara just looked at her ring and genuinely got so excited! It was such a sweet moment. When I look at this picture I can totally feel that "Ahhh!!! We're getting married!!!" excitement! And that's what engagement photos are all about!
For more lovely images from this fun session check out the SLIDESHOW below!!
Andrea and Barbara -- thank you sooo much for trusting me to document your love!! I had a blast with you two, and am glad to now be able to call you friends!! Congratulations again!!! I am so happy for you!!! Best of luck with everything and please keep in touch! :)
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Eeks! I met Zoe + Nima at the Santa Monica Pier weeks ago. And I loved this session so much and had all these great plans to blog it right away...but as you all know life, or the opposite of it, happened. And so this fun & vibrant session sat on the back burner, and workaholic, anal, type-A me was feeling very guilty! But honestly I am glad that I had this session to come back to after everything. Zoe + Nima's Santa Monica Pier session was light, fun, vibrant and happy...just looking at these pics washes away any sadness from my heart and fills it with joy!Zoe & Nima are incredibly sweet together. When I met them, I knew in an instant that I loved them...and I could see how much they loved each other! We talked over coffee for hours at our meeting and when they booked me on the spot I was thrilled!! I knew our session would be fab...but I didn't know just how fab it would be! I love how Zoe picked out two colorful over-sized balloons for our shoot! They bring such a lightness and fun energy to the photos! I also love the location, The Santa Monica Pier! Seriously, that is one of my fave spots to shoot at! Its always a blast! But as it turns out, Zoe & Nima didn't just want to shoot at The Pier because its colorful and makes for a good backdrop in photos...They chose the Pier because it meant something. This was where they had their first date. The Santa Monica Pier is the place that started it all!!I really love when couples choose locations that have meaning to them! And I love that the Pier was where the first love sparks flew between Zoe & Nima. And I love that these pictures show the sweet kind of love Zoe & Nima share! So enjoy these images below!
And to see more pics from this fun Santa Monica Pier Engagement session please check out the SLIDESHOW below! I absolutely love how this one turned out! It's soooo sweet, like a gumdrop! You can really feel the love!
It's kinda funny. Life seemed to be against everything about Christina & Syl's engagement session with me. First, we had to cancel and reschedule the shoot TWICE due to weather. Then as I was preparing to blog the pictures I found about my grandma. UGH. Yeah so needless to say I feel pretty terrible that it has taken sooooo long to get these pictures taken and blogged. But we did it. We conquered fate so to speak. Because I am blogging these pics now and there ain't a-nothin' nobody can do about it. ;)Christina emailed me on my birthday last year inquiring about info for her wedding. After a few emails it was clear to me that she was totally awesome, so when she booked me online without even meeting me I was thrilled! We have become friends online and through facebook. But I actually had never met her or her fiance Syl in person. When we met at the Lab a few Saturdays ago, I was sooo over joyed! She was everything I thought she'd be and more-- cute, funny, bubbly, bright! She has the best laugh and she laughs hard just like me! And Syl is just wonderful too. He reminds me a bit of AJ, very chill and low-key, but totally funny and sweet and so caring. He was so attentive to Christina the whole shoot and so tender with her! I just LOVE it!! I cannot wait for their wedding later this year in San Diego! I know its going to be a BLAST!!!Christina & Syl picked the most awesome spot for our session-- The Lab in Costa Mesa, which is a mall, or technically speaking an “Anti-Mall,” that is home to a bunch of trendy shops. The Lab is very quirky and fun! The perfect backdrop for our shoot & also the perfect place to enjoy a Sunday afternoon! ;) Here's the info if you want to check it out:The Lab2930 Bristol StreetCosta Mesa, CA 92626714-966-6660And now its time to share some pictures!! I hope you enjoy these colorful images!!! I know I loved taking them!! :)
This is probably my favorite picture of the whole day!! So cute!!!
If you follow me on Twitter or are a Fan on Facebook, you may remember that I gave away a mini-Anytime session, to take place in Culver City, to one lucky fan/follower! Well that lucky winner was Elena!! I was so pleased Elena won because she is the sweetest person you could ever hope to meet, and this session gave us the chance to get to know each other better! When I asked her what type of session she wanted to do, she said enthusiastically "an engagement type session!" Except she and her handsome and equally sweet husband have been married for eleven years! Yep Eleven years! And they have three beautiful sons together! But they never had a chance to do an engagement session...so eleven years later it was about time!We met in Downtown Culver City which is one of my favorite places to shoot. It's always low key while still feeling urban, has great backdrops every where you look, and is a pretty unique spot as not everyone shoots here! Yep Culver City is kinda a hidden gem! And I LOVE that about it.The thing I loved most about this session was that Elena & Memo had the passion of a newly engaged couple! They were so giddy, they couldn't take their eyes off each other. Clearly these two are meant for each other and are doing something right! I also love their fierce and fabulous style! They worked the camera so well, it was like they were professional models! And Elena, if you didn't know, is a very talented make up artist so of course her make up for the session was impeccable! She just looked stunning! Culver City has never seen a hotter couple, I am sure!!
I love the way Elena's blue dress just POPS in every single picture! Ladies, this is why I tell you to wear "jewel tones, jewel tones, jewel tones" for our sessions!
I love the way you two look at each other! I really do! Its just...sizzle!
So Engagement season has officially begun!!! :) On Saturday, I got to photograph Ryan & Kristina's engagement pictures at the Getty Center and it was an ABSOLUTE BLAST!! Ryan & Kristina were one of the first couples to book me for 2010-- they actually booked me on the spot at our meeting and I was so thrilled! My awesome 2009 bride Crystal referred them to me, so it was no surprise that we hit it off right away! Ever since the that day we met I have been sooo excited for their wedding, and this engagement session means the wedding really is just around the corner!Ryan & Kristina chose the most beautiful spot for the session, the Los Angeles Getty Center, but they didn't just choose it because its gorgeous. They chose it because it means something. This is the place these two go when they need a break. When life gets stressful. When they need to slow down and just enjoy each other. And as we walked around the grounds of the Getty I could tell these two were totally in their element. The way they gazed at each other, the way they held hands, the way they laughed-- it was like all they could see was each other. Seeing them together, so caught up in each other's eyes was really a beautiful thing!The other great thing about this shoot was that my husband came along and second shot with me for the first time! And guys, my husband has been hiding his talents from me!!! He shot the whole thing in manual and nearly every shot was exposed perfectly! And he captured some great moments! It was really fun having my lovey with me at a place as romantical as the Getty, with a couple as fun as Ryan & Kristina! I can see us all catching some dinner together sometime soon! Perhaps Ryan can make us some stuffed salmon with the herbed goat cheese, eh Ryan? You KNOW you want to ;)
I recently had the pleasure of attending one of the San Diego Photog Shootout's events! This shoot was a 1950's rockabilly/pin-up theme and it was FABULOUS!!!! I really LOVE themed shoots and wish my clients would want to do more of them! There is just something so much fun about starting with an idea and then finding all the right details and making it come together! Just fabulous! Come on 2010 clients, just give it some thought. Themed engagement shoots are really fun! Just look at the images below!Now of course we did have a lot of amazing vendors that came together to make this shoot so extra fabulous! Thank you to Pamela of Pamela’s Parasols who donated the amazing parasols for the event, Sabrina Sloan who was the fashion consultant/stylist and also provided custom made wardrobe, and Lance Durant of Hire Old Cars who provided five absolutely gorgeous classic cars! The make up was beautifully done by Robyn Mason, and Rebecca McLaughlin from Beaucage Salon handled the hair styling! Lastly, the amazing location we shot was the San Dieguito Heritage Museum! Also special thanks to ShootDotEdit for hosting the after party and to Tofurious for being the guest speaker and teaching me a ton!!!
Yes, folks, I said NEED. I don't offer any packages without engagement sessions...because I really believe in them. They are like, vital, ok? So don't even try to talk me out of one... ;)But you probably want to know why. And I don't blame you... so here goes:Most wedding photographers, such as myself, include an engagement session with their wedding packages because engagement sessions play a key role in getting *ultra-fabulous* wedding photos.First, during your engagement sesh you and your photographer get to know each other, and that bond will help you relax in front of the camera. You will also learn how your photographer works, the pace at which they move, and the way they give direction. You will learn how to pose and act natural in front of the camera. Most of clients are surprised at how weird it is at first having a camera shoved in their face, or they get nervous to act lovey-dovey in front of the lens. Can you imagine adding those nerves to wedding day jitters?! Getting comfy in front of the camera, and with your photographer for that matter, is not something you should be dealing with on the biggest day of your life. No way! You should already be super comfy, so you can have fun, enjoy the day, and not stress about the photos. I absolutely love when I feel like I'm good friends with the bride & groom on the wedding day (which wouldn't happen without an e-session) and I definitely can see the difference in the final photos.The second reason you should do an engagement session is more about your photographer. You see, at the engagement session your photographer will also learn things about you-- like if you blink a lot, or how to get you to smile naturally, and what poses and angles flatter you, to name a few. This is really important to me as a photographer to save time at the wedding day. Because of our engagement session, I already have in mind some poses that work well for you, which saves time experimenting and once again is helping to insure some rockin' wedding photos.The third reason, is its just plain fun homies!!! I think its really nice for couples to have some beautiful pictures of themselves that aren't all wedding'd out. It is a great way to document the real you-- who you guys really are as a couple. I love making engagement sessions personal, and always ask my brides & grooms to choose meaningful locations so that the pictures really tell your story! And that's what I do, folks. I tell stories.So here a few pics from one of my favorite engagement sessions ever, just to prove my point.
Now really, can you still sit there and tell me you don't wanna take engagement pics? Really??? Yeah I thought not. ;)
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So...first off I'm back from Texas! It was a great trip and I will post about it soon...but first I gotta get to Rachel & Mark's engagement session! These two shot with me the day before I left and they have been so patient about waiting for their pics. So I didn't want to be cruel and make them wait any longer!!Rachel & Mark are a wonderful couple! When I met with them I just knew I HAD to do their wedding. They are my kind of people! There is just something about them that I really connect with and makes me so giddy to think that I get to capture their memories! Sweet!Rachel is an artist! And a darn talented one!!! Mark teaches at El Camino College in Torrance, which is actually where he & Rachel went to school for awhile. You see, Rachel & Mark were really good friends growing up. They hung out together in high school and were good friends-- but they never dated. Eventually they went their separate ways when Rachel went to college at CSU Long Beach & Mark went up north to Berkeley. But they kept touch. Then not too long ago they reconnected, back here in LA, and the love sparks flew. Soon they were engaged and now here we are! With a love story like theirs its hard not to believe in destiny and soul mates. And when you see how good they are for each other, and how in sync these two are, you just know they will be together forever and ever!Rachel & Mark chose to take their engagement pictures at El Camino College, where Mark teaches and where they spent so much time together as friends! It made for a really personal & unique shoot! I love how the pics turned out and CANNOT WAIT for their wedding (just a month away)!! Enjoy!
Priscilla & Chris are probably the funniest & funnest couple I have ever met. There isn't a dull moment with these two! I learned this during our shoot at the *fabulous* Griffith Observatory. One minute they would be joking and making silly faces, and then the next minute, practically out of nowhere, they would pull out the fiercest Top Model poses! Love it! Just from the few hours I spent with them at Griffith, it is clear to me that Priscilla and Chris know how to have a good time, and know how to inject their lives with joy, laughter, and FUN! And that, my friends, is a recipe for a long, happy life together! So glad these two are engaged and will be married real soon!!!Also, for those who don't know the Griffith Observatory is such a beautiful and fun location! Can't think of a better place to take engagement photos...but it's also just fun to get away and spend the day there. There's a lot to see, do, learn & explore...but it's also nice just soaking in the views! I highly encourage you to check it out!!Griffith Observatory2800 East Observatory RoadLos Angeles, CA 90027Anyways, I digress... I'm sooooo excited for these two's wedding in just a few weeks! I know it will be a blast! Now on with the photos:
Hello Blogosphere! I have returned from my wedding and honeymoon, and proud to say that now I am a MRS. Thanks to all for your patience during the last month of my wedding planning! Things got really stressful for awhile but everything turned out perfect!! Have faith brides, the light at the end of the tunnel is brilliant!A few weeks before my wedding I shot Priscilla & Chris's engagement session at the Griffith Observatory. They have been patiently awaiting the photos...and I am still working on a full blog post...but here's a little teaser to whet their appetite. Enjoy!
Please stay tuned for more pics from their awesome engagement session!
I have been sooooo excited to blog these pictures, since, well the very day I shot them. Trouble is there were too many! I had such a hard time narrowing them down. You see, when Leslie & Cody were asking me about engagement picture locations, I asked them what place was the most meaningful to them. With some hesitation I got the answer, "Catalina Island...but you wouldn't be willing to shoot there would you?" UM, YES!!! I was elated! Catalina Island has always been one of my favorite places!! It's just so magical there. I really could write an essay about how much I love Catalina...but I'll spare you. Basically, to be able to do a photoshoot on the Island is a dream of mine...and getting to spend a lovely, summery day with an amazing and sweet couple made the whole thing just heavenly. And, I took a lot of pictures!Leslie & Cody are just awesome. Cody flies planes, these two scuba dive, they go sailing and boating, they have been to some of the most amazing sounding beach destinations ever! And on top of being totally cool & fascinating, they are just really fun, down to earth, and very caring people. Plus, they clearly have good taste...I mean, they are having a beach wedding (like me), and their wedding colors are pink, orange and lime green (like me), and Leslie's dress is by Pronovias (like me). hehe ;) Anyways, I could go on and on about how much I adore these two, but I won't. Because its 1:00AM and you guys came here for the pictures! So here they are....and there is also a SLIDESHOW! So make sure to watch that too (I told you I couldn't narrow down the pics).
This picture was taken at the dive site on Catalina. A very special place for Cody & Leslie!
And click HERE if you want to see the awesome slideshow!
I was absolutely honored to be asked by Huy & Tran to photograph their engagement ceremony. They are two of the warmest, genuine, and caring people I have ever met. Their families were full of love, and Huy & Tran definitely had that starry-eyed look that newly engaged couples should always have!I have to admit I had never been to, or ever heard of, a Vietnamese Engagement Ceremony prior to being contacted by Huy & Tran. But it was truly one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever witnessed-- full of tradition, family bonds, and symbolism. It was all about the introducing and mingling of two families, and that's such an important part of engagement. I imagine that by the wedding day these two families will be so comfortable with each other, and completely united as one. I love that. Man, I wish I had had an engagement ceremony ;)After the festivities were over, I did a short engagement session with Huy & Tran at the beautiful Pacific Palms Resort. That would be a great wedding location, just as an fyi to future brides! :) Anywho, enough talking...let's get to the pictures!
The groom and family bring gifts to the brides' house!
The gifts are presented to the bride's family.
And the bride's family accepts them! I mean, who wouldn't accept gifts, right? ;)
The representative of the bride's family welcomes everyone to the house.
And the bride's mother uncovers the gifts!
The bride is presented, and the families are introduced to each other.
The engagement ring is presented!!
And then get this, the bride is presented with MORE jewelry!! See, I told you I wish I had an engagement ceremony ;)
Prayers are made to their ancestors.
Afterward, there was time for families to mingle and get to know each other! I just couldn't resist posting pictures of the little ones who were there!
At the closing of the event, the bride's family returns some of the gifts to the groom's family.
And now for some pictures from our session at the Pacific Palms Resort...
This shot really shows the beautiful earrings Tran just received! Jealousy! :)
Thank you again, Huy & Tran for inviting me to share your day with you and capture your engagement. It was truly an honor, and I wish you and your families much love, health and happiness!
I shot Alice & Louis' engagement session at UCLA, which is one of my favorite places to shoot! It's so pretty there and I love to incorporate the beautiful sculptures into my photos. And it doesn't hurt when you have a super sweet, adorable and charming couple to work with! Alice & Louis were a blast and it was so touching to see how in love they were! Sigh... This is why I love my job-- I get to meet so many awesome, in love, interesting people!Alice has been dying to see these so I'm gonna stop writing and let the photos speak for themselves! I hope you enjoy!
I love this shot of her ring! Isn't it pretty?
I have to say, Kristin & Jeremy's engagement session in Santa Monica was one of the most entertaining and fun sessions I have ever done! I mean how can you not have fun with these two? Jeremy is a joker. Every word out of his mouth is hilarious. I think I only caught him making a serious face once, and that was only because I asked him to. :) And Kristin is so carefree and exuberant. She's the kind of girl I wish I was more like-- fearless, unbridled and spirited. They really are a great pair and complement each other perfectly.I didn't ever really pose these two. I spent more time just observing them with each other, and trying to take candid shots. They were always so active and full of energy that I didn't have to give them much direction-- everything just happened organically. I love how the pictures turned out and hope Kristin & Jeremy do too!
Thanks you two! It really was a blast! And now, the photos....
Okay, Kristin just hopped up on the ledge on her own. I'm a scaredy-cat and was totally afraid she'd plummet to her death. She assured me that she was fine and had me shoot away. I'm glad she's so brave because I love this picture. Still, you'll likely never catch me on a ledge like that. :)
