I met up with Holly and Jeremy in downtown Laguna Beach for their engagement portrait session.  They both claim to be un-photogenic, and I think you’ll agree that statement is far from the truth!  This cute couple met at a leadership conference, and Holly wasn’t shy about letting Jeremy know she was interested.  Now here they are- getting married in a few months at Woodbury Community Association!  Congrats to the soon to be Mr. & Mrs. Lewis!

I was SO excited when my fellow photographer friend Julie asked me to take her maternity portraits.  We have been working together at weddings since the beginning of her pregnancy, and let me tell you- she’s powered through every wedding like a champ!  We started Julie and Brad’s maternity portrait session with some intimate shots (indoors), then drove down to Crystal Cove in Laguna Beach for some natural, outdoor images.  I really like splitting the session up between indoors with studio lighting and outdoors with natural lighting.  Though if you’re down for getting half naked in public, that’s more than fine with me!  Thank you Julie and Brad for being my FABULOUS models, and a special thank you to Brad who endured the 2 hours of being photographed!  The wine was definitely a great idea, and I will continue to suggest it to my camera-shy male clients.  I can’t wait to meet your little girl!

The perfect baby bump.  Check out the cute t-shirt too.

I love this shot- so romantic.

Freakin’ adorable baby shoes!

Can you say “Hot Mamma!!”  I better look this hot when I get preggy some day.

We took advantage of the perfect sunset for yet another “sexy mamma” shot.

Cindy and Fred held their intimate ceremony and reception at Ponte Winery in Temecula’s beautiful wine country.  You would never know by looking at the clear, blue sky in these images that this wedding took place in the middle of winter.  Ponte Family Estate Winery offers multiple locations for wedding ceremonies and receptions, including the Vineyard Garden, which is where Cindy and Fred exchanged vows.  Since they didn’t have a huge amount of guests, they chose the ultra-romantic barrel room for their reception.  Talk about the perfect winery ambiance!  If you’re considering a Temecula winery wedding, Ponte Winery is a must see…

Becky and Brad tied the knot at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club this past Saturday in a beautiful outdoor ceremony.  I got home that night at 9:30, and finally forced myself into bed around midnight, after browsing through their images for hours. There are so many factors involved in creating beautiful wedding images, and this couple (and their wedding in general) were a photographer’s DREAM come true! The interactions were sincere, the location- perfect, the decor and flowers- tastefully elegant, the bride and groom- ridiculously attractive. Needless to say, I had way too much fun documenting Becky and Brad’s wedding day, and I thank God once again that I am fortunate enough to have a job that I love this much. PS- I have to give a shout out to my sort-of-step-cousin (long story) for referring this gorgeous couple to me; thank you so much Tyson! Also, a big thank you to the Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club wedding coordinator, Tracy, for your impeccable skill to keep a wedding running smoothly.

Videographer – Lisa Shih

Florist – Elegant by Design

Hair & Makeup – Julia Papworth

Cake – Black Forest Bakery

DJ & Lighting – Tasos Tsirtsis of Atmosphere Entertainment

Woah Brad, watch where you put that hand, haha!

The definition of a radiant bride – Becky.  Julia did a flawless job on the hair & makeup.

Bridal shoes to die for!

Brad & Becky opted to see each other before the ceremony to take photos together, which many of my brides & grooms do.  Everyone has fresh hair & makeup, & you get a lot more photos.

Brad seeing his future wife for the first time on their wedding day.  I love how special & emotional this private moment is for the bride & groom.

As I often do, I was shedding a few tears behind my camera as I watched Becky & her daddy walk down the aisle.

Mr. & Mrs. Evans, woohoo!!

Becky & Brad’s posse…

I love the fusion of elegant and modern elements in their wedding decor.  Very unique.

This new year’s eve, Jennifer and Pat had something very special to celebrate – their new lives together as husband and wife!  The very intimate ceremony was held on a secluded part of the golf course at the classy Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena.  The ceremony site was so private in fact, that each pair of guests was equipped with their very own golf cart to access the site.  On a clear day, you can see all the way to Catalina Island while standing in this area.

Small weddings definitely give off a different vibe; the bride and groom are usually more relaxed, and seem to really soak in all the emotions the day brings.  Jennifer and Pat were no exception.  These two are so crazy in love with each other, and I’m sure you’ll agree when you see the images.  I loved that they held nothing back in front of the camera, which is 90% of what creates an image that is truly “you” and “natural.”  The photographer can only do so much.  Brides and grooms-to-be: take note from Jennifer and Pat!  Relax, enjoy the day, be yourself, and you’ll have beautiful wedding photos.

Bride’s Gown – Mary Pham (Jennifer’s friend).  mphamdesign@gmail.com

Florist – Ixora

Between holiday traffic & helping his sons get ready, Pat accidently ended up with blue socks! 

Jennifer’s AWESOME gown was hand made by her friend.  So feminine, soft, and pretty! 

Guests were given soft blankets as favors.

Look at that VIEW!

Thought I should start sharing some examples of wedding album pages on the blog, so here’s the first one- Nikki and Steve’s wedding!  These are just a few of the pages from their Leather Craftsmen flush mount album.  Their wedding took place at the gorgeous Four Seasons Westlake Village in the summer of 2009.  Enjoy!

Lorissa and Brian were lucky enough to have 2 wedding celebrations- the legal ceremony in Oregon, and a reception celebration at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo.  For couples whose families live in different geographical areas, this is one way they can structure their wedding festivities.  Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club boasts beautiful grounds, and was the perfect setting for an summertime evening reception.  The night began with an outdoor cocktail hour, then guests were invited indoors for a delicious dinner, and the rest of the celebration took place in the candle lit outdoor lounge area.  Since the “real” wedding was already over and done with, Lorissa and Brian were totally relaxed and stress-free, which definitely made for some great photos.

Tricia was kind enough to set up the bouquets so perfectly for this photo!

Having a 2nd photographer at a wedding is key for capturing moments like this that are gone in a split second.  As Lorissa adjusts her hairpiece, her maid of honor ties the bow on her gown.

Yet another example of why the 2nd photographer is so important- while I’m capturing the shot directly below…

The 2nd shooter stood on the table and snapped this sweet pic.  The different lens and angle give this image a whole new perspective.

Looking for an inexpensive DIY wedding decoration?  Check out Lorissa’s monogrammed candles!

The rings and fruit just belonged in a photo together.

Bride’s Gown – “Florida” by La Sposa (I was obsessed!  Feminine lace with the perfect amount of sparkle)

Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Nordstrom Rack

Florist – Designs by Tricia (seriously dedicated to making brides’ visions a reality)

DJ – Generations Entertainment

Cake – It’s All About the Cake

Anyone out there remember the swimsuit company Raisins?  I think my first 2 piece bathing suit was Raisins, and I was far too obsessed with it.  Anyways, as a teenager, Monique modeled for Raisins, and several other companies.  Looks like her son could be following in her footsteps.  For Monique and Garet, we shot an engagement portrait / family portrait session.  These days, many engaged people have children already, so it’s just natural that they’re included in these photos.  Garet and Monique’s love for each other is so obvious, and what’s better is that Garet shares a very special bond with Monique’s son.  Hopefully these images reflect the love this family has for one another.  I’m looking forward to Monique and Garet’s Laguna Beach wedding in the summer of 2010!

Portraits should be about the people, not the background. Simple backdrops help keep the focus on the subjects, & not be distracted by a busy background.

The Fun Zone on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach has lots of fun, colorful walls to use as backgrounds.

The great thing about the Fun Zone as a portrait location is that the beach & pier are right across the street. You can have both an urban and nature look.

This spot by the Balboa Pier has a perfect view of the sunset, though not a great view of the coastline like many Laguna Beach locations offer.

The Balboa pier makes a cool background, and it’s fun to shoot pics underneath it too.

I met Doreen about a year ago when I took her corporate headshot. At the time, her daughter, Crystal, was pregnant with her first child so we got on the subject of maternity portraits and family portraits. Doreen was sure excited at her soon-to-be grandma status! While the family was together for Thanksgiving, we planned a photo session at the Fun Zone on the Balboa Peninsula. This spot is great for childrens’ portraits and family portraits because of the vibrant, fun backgrounds. The beach and Balboa Pier are right across the street from the Fun Zone, so there’s the opportunity for beach portraits as well. If you’re looking for a unique location to have your family or child photographed, call me up and we’ll meet at the Fun Zone!

It’s that time of year again, time to have family portraits taken for holiday cards!  Though there are several great family portrait locations in Orange County, you can’t go wrong with a beach family photo.  Lyn picked up my business card at Dr. Hill’s office (our vet).  It had been way too long since they had their family portrait taken, and Lyn wanted to get it done before her eldest child leaves for college this summer.  Once the kids start moving out of the house, it’s really difficult to get everyone together for something like a family portrait.  I’m glad I could provide these memories to Lyn and her family.  I thought they pulled off the “happy family walking on the beach” photo really well!