Lesley and Tyler round 2! Our first experience together was a little harsh! Oh we got a long great and had a great time, but lets just say that a Santa Monica Shoot on a busy Saturday night in December on a windy day was not the best decision that we had ever made! Shooting with about 1 million people on the pier can make for some fun shots, but intimate, not really! So after their shoot we decided that since it wasn’t the best decision, and all my clients deserve the best, to go to a more intimate location. So we chose the beach. WELL….actually I had mentioned it and it was initially a good idea. But see, I have this issue, I think a location needs to be about the couple…if possible. Pretty places are great, but funny, Lesley (me as well) hates sand. SO when I woke up in the morning I thought….”if she hates sand why and the heck am I dragging them to the beach?” Lesley is a South Orange County girl, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to go to Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano. Such history, and such great backdrops! It turned out just fabulous and I am so glad we did a supplemental shoot for them! I know they will love having the combination of the two! Makes for a great guest sign in book with so much variety! XXOO

Perfect skin, beautiful eyes, gorgeous personality, super fun, and driving slow? Kind of caught you off guard. But perhaps it tells a story about this amazing couple, Rowena and Tarik. I have told you a million times that my couples are amazing, you should already know this. Not only gorgeous but full of substance, beautiful souls, a blessing to know. Rowena has these amazing dark eyes and perfect brows….hmmm wonder why? And Tarik’s dark hair and amazing light eyes, stunning…can’t wait for them to have kids! We met at the San Juan Capistrano Mission and I think it’s super cute but Rowena was nervous about her pics! She made little comments here and there about wanting them to be perfect! Okay, so I felt a little pressure but how could these two take a bad photo? They couldn’t. One of my favorite parts about this engagement session (besides the last 3 super cold water beach photos), was the Rosary that Rowena brought with her. I’m Catholic, probably not the best one out there, but I believe, and the foundation of my life is with God. I have many Rosary’s and so do my children. But what I experienced, and hopefully what you can feel, is the faith that will bind this couple later this year, in marriage. Their belief not only in their love, but the faith that will keep them together under the love of God. Beautiful and an honor to photograph and experience. Thank you both for an amazing night….oh yeah…about driving slow… patience is a characteristic of those at peace, with themselves, their foundation and all that moves them…we need nothing more than love!

I couldn’t think of a better shoot to end what I have considered one of the greatest years as a wedding photographer. Malia and Brandon, amazing couple in so many ways. They are getting married next year at Rancho las Lomas. I CAN NOT WAIT for this day! I met Malia for the first time a few months ago with her soon to be mother in law in my Irvine Studio….it’s one of those times when a client walks in your door and you immediately know any photographer would be honored to shoot this wedding. Nothing better than photographing beautiful people….nothing, especially when they are also incredible people! So I was lucky enough to be selected to take on their day. LUCKY me! Their engagement session was the first time I met Brandon…..how does this happen? How do I get beautiful people and the sweetest couples to photograph? I am super blessed because it truly is an opportunity and not a job. It’s what makes me want to give everything I have to make sure they get the most incredible photos for them. I love that Malia, is so shy….wow, the girl is so stunning it’s crazy how humble and shy she is…not to mention Brandon, I mean amazing as well….handsome, humble and crazy in love with his girl…can’t get better! Oh wait it does! The DOGGY! CYLDE! Engagement sessions, no matter what location, MUST be owned by the couple I’m photographing….the sessions never look the same cause everyone has a twist to make it more personal…and the twist that Malia and Brandon brought was Clyde. Just adorable….just perfect! I loved so many photos, it was hard to choose for blogging without posting over 100 images…..Cheers! Thank You Brandon and Malia for choosing me to be the one to tell your love story…..honored and blessed! Happy New Year! XXOO

Tara and Kevin….Just can’t get any more beautiful can they? I have to say this is the first couple that I have had to reschedule an engagement session in Orange County twice because of weather. So today, third time, was in fact a charm. For Decemeber, it was amazingly warm in the OC, 75 degrees! And the beach was FULL, all of Laguna Beach was popping, traffic on PCH and an amazing night to take photos of this perfect couple! I met Tara this past June, at her friend’s wedding, yet another couple I was lucky to photograph….and soon after, Tara herself was saying “YES”…..I am thrilled to have taken her engagement photos! Such a beautiful couple! We had a great time tonight…got wet, my shoes are soaked….but their images are for sure to die for!!! XXOO…..congrats Tara and Kevin!!

There is a few things I know for sure…Lesley and Tyler know how to kiss and when in doubt, they were kissing during this engagement session! I also know for sure, the wind blows very well in Santa Monica…I also know that crowded is an understatement on the promenade! We had a blast tonight. Pretty much freezing! but what’s a little sacrifice when you’re having engagement photos taken? Nothing really! As hard as it was to get a shot without 8 million strangers….it was amazing some of the photos and moments that we got. I mean who can’t laugh when you see how much fun they were having with cotton candy! AND not only is the skating rink normally a parking lot on Arizona Street, but also this very location, as a parking lot is where Tyler proposed….to you see people, we can make it work, your love story, your engagement photos need to have meaning and I love that these photos do just that! XXOO Can’t wait for your wedding next year at Strawberry Farms!!!! XXOO