April 22, 2013:
Blog post by Felicia:
During Sarah & Jeff’s engagement session, Jeff seemed really interested in Raul & Zelena’s engagement session under the stars in Joshua Tree, and had an extended discussion with Rob about astro photography.
It so happened that, on their wedding day, we mentioned that we were headed out to Death Valley for Chris & Christina’s engagement shoot, and Sarah & Jeff had the option to make the long trek out to the hottest place on earth as well.
A few days later, I received an email in the affirmative, or, as Sarah puts it, “… more excited than a T-Rex with grabby arms“.
And so it was: at the end of a work day, Jeff & Sarah drove to Death Valley, and met us in the middle of the night dressed in their wedding day finery. We had an AMAZING time with these two, shooting under the star-filled sky until the sun came up and the dunes were besieged by a busload of Asian tourists who decided that Jeff & Sarah made good additions to their vacation snapshots.
Making the long, hot, dusty drive to/from Death Valley was completely worth it when we had an epic weekend of shooting with clients that completely represent why we love what we do.
Thank you, Sarah & Jeff, for being such troopers!
April 18th, 2013:
Blog post by Felicia:
Sarah & Jeff are some of the loveliest, kindest people we’ve ever met. From the very first email we received from them, to our initial consultation, those were just the beginning of all the “awwwww….” moments we would experience with these two. Their engagement session at Balboa Park in San Diego helped us truly appreciate how freakin’ adorable they are. Seriously.
Needless to say, we were very much looking forward to their wedding on the Queen Mary, and guess what? They were AWESOME! Or…. if you’re familiar with the T-Rex meme, Jeff & Sarah were UNSTOPPABLE!!! (Sorry, inside joke)
Congratulations, Sarah & Jeff. We are so happy for you, and are so glad that you found us!
Ringbearer did what he was told: walk to the end of the aisle. But… he also flung the shell containing the rings. Thank goodness for decoy rings….
It was windy.
Jeff & Sarah are both chemists, and when getting ready, she told me that there was a surprise for me. We had talked about chemistry-related wedding ideas during their engagement shoot, and here it was: Elements of the periodic table for table numbers, and test tubes for escort cards!
March 28th, 2013:
In the midst of all the engagement sessions (wedding season “pre-game”, if you may), we shot Todd & Jane’s wedding in Newport Beach, at the Turnip Rose. It was the first wedding to kick off the year, a reminder to us that very soon, full wedding season will be upon us.
It felt awesome to be back in action, especially since Todd & Jane’s friends knew how to party and really rocked the reception. Certainly fitting, since the location, Celebrations by Turnip Rose, apparently used to be a club!
Congrats Todd & Jane!
January 1st, 2013:
2012 is over, we just made it back to Los Angeles and I just spent the last hour looking through last years blog posts. A few images started to really pop out at me so I compiled some of my 2012 favorites to share with you before we really get started into 2013. So in no particular order, here you go:
Above is Raul + Zelena’s Joshua Tree National Park Astro-Engagement Session and below is Josh + Meghan’s July Wedding at Rancho Bernardo Inn.
Jamie + Nick at Victoria Street Beach in Laguna Beach.
Jeneva + Kurt at the San Juan Capistrano Mission
Amy + Alex during deep twilight outside the Santa Barbara Mission.
Lissette during her Maternity Session
James + Anna on the path overlooking Santa Monica Beach.
Marie + Huong wandering around UCLA during their Engagement Session.
Jesse + Jamie during their engagement session in Moorpark.
Paty + Orlando in Downtown Los Angeles.
Kate + David’s Griffith Park Observatory Engagement Session.
My niece, Madalyn, looking positively badass for her 10th birthday in Santa Monica.
Katie + Clay in San Juan Capistrano for their engagement session.
Darren + Simrit in Los Angeles during their Southern California vacation.
Paty and Orlando at their wedding reception – I don’t think I have ever seen a bride and groom dance more.
Christa in the mirror while she gets ready for her and Justin’s ceremony at the Mountain Mermaid in Topanga Canyon.
Angela + Derrick’s Chinatown engagement session.
John + Alisa had an amazing backyard wedding in Temecula.
Pradeep pops the question to Gayatri on the beach in Malibu.
Lucy + Luis’ engagement session inside the French restaurant where they had their first date.
James + Anna’s first dance at the Tuscan Villa Estate in Simi Valley.
Sahar + Ali’s Irvine engagement session.
Amy + Alex on their wedding day in Buena Park.
Nimrita + Travis at Chapman University.
Katie + Jamie at Griffith Park for their engagement session.
Our favorite Aussie yoga teacher, Rose. There is just something about the Australian accent that makes yoga even more relaxing.
Jeffry + Fiona in Santa Monica on their wedding day.
Marie + Huong’s first dance at the Smog Shoppe in Los Angeles.
Ali + Sahar at Coto de Caza for their wedding.
Nimrita getting ready for her wedding day in Diamond Bar.
Ging + Angelo in Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills.
Eileen + Trinidad during their first dance at Serra Plaza in San Juan Capistrano.
The Nixon Library had a perfect twilight moment during Angela + Derricks big day.
Chrissy + John inside the Kyoto Grand just before their ceremony in the gardens.
Ging + Angelo convinced us to spend a month in the Philippines during their wedding day session at the Wilshire Country Club.
Eric + Giuli outside of the Disney Concert Hall on their wedding day.
Katie + Jamie at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, just after their ceremony.
My eight year old niece, Regan, trying to kill me while whale watching in Dana Point.
Kate + David during their elegantly simple wedding day in Monrovia Canyon Park.
Samantha + Josh at Descanso Gardens for their ceremony.
Raul + Zelena’s super intimate wedding in their backyard.
Lucy + Luis on their wedding day at Rio Hondo.
Josh and Rebecca had the epic blues of twilight during their ceremony at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley.
Sarah + Scott at the San Juan Capistrano Mission for their engagement session.
Katie + Steven at the Carondelet House in Los Angeles.
Mildred + Kristian on Santa Monica Beach during their engagement session.
Jamie + Jesse sneaking off to be alone during their reception at Rancho de las Palmas in Moorpark.
Katie + Clay at Condors Nest Ranch in Pala, California.
Karen + Clark dancing at the Maxwell House in Pasadena.
Serena + Chih-Hao on El Matador State Beach.
Becky + Colin in Topanga Canyon State Park.
Whitson + Juna in the Los Angeles twilight.
Eric + Giuli in front of “The World of Color” at Disneyland during their engagement shoot.
This is only a small selection, but we had an amazing year and met some awesome people, many of which have gone on to be our personal friends. We love what we do and can’t wait for 2013 to be even better and more exciting!
November 10th, 2012:
Blog post by Felicia:
After having a blast with Katie & Clay at their engagement session (where we stayed chatting at the restaurant until the cleaning crew rolled in!), we were certainly full of anticipation & excitement for their wedding.
Well, they certainly didn’t disappoint: with Condors Nest Ranch in Temecula as their gorgeous venue, wonderful weather & light, and well, Katie & Clay being their fabulous selves – and we got to hang out with Matt & Amber – by the end of the night, I declared it “possibly the most perfect wedding day ever” that we have photographed.
It was certainly an honor to share in one of the milestones in Katie & Clay’s lives, to be part of all the fun, emotion and love, not just on the day of, but even in the run-up to the wedding. And Clay, you made me cry with those vows. Probably one of the 4 weddings I cried at this year. Oh Clay….
Congratulations, Katie & Clay. Thank you for having us.
And with this, it concludes our posts about weddings for 2012. We’ve been incredibly fortunate this year to have met some very amazing people, people whom we would probably never have met otherwise. People who started off as strangers, signed on as clients, and soon became friends.
Rob and I are acutely aware that we become witnesses of some of the most intimate & significant moments in people’s lives, not just between each other, but between family, between friends. With each passing year, we understand more and more how incredibly important our job is, because we create a historical visual record, and we essentially create images for people who do not even exist yet: for the generations after that we will never meet.
We love what we do and take great pride in it. What we do is not easy by any means. Beyond the technical abilities involved in professional photography, every wedding, every couple, is an emotional investment, where we quite literally put in blood (sometimes), sweat (always) and tears (often). We are grateful for those who have in return given us their trust, respect, and friendship.
Thank you to our clients, past, present and future, for another spectacular year. We’re start our own travel adventure in the next 36 hours, so check back often as we blog about travel again. Also follow us at our Facebook group for on-the-go updates!
Hello Matt & Amber!
November 5th, 2012:
Blog Post by Felicia:
Carrie & Walter got married a couple of weeks ago at the lovely Secluded Garden Estate in Temecula. They unexpectedly faced a possible late October rainstorm in California, which can definitely be stressful, but thankfully the skies held up throughout the day. Besides a tiny passing sprinkle during our photo session, we enjoyed the lovely cool weather and beautiful soft diffused light at this quaint shabby chic venue.
Their wedding was beautiful (love the bouquet, the details, and the white pumpkins for a chic nod to fall!), and the entire day was full of emotion, love, remembrance, good humor and then lots of crazy fun at the reception. That’s quite a successful wedding if you ask me!
Congratulations, Carrie & Walter!
November 2nd, 2012:
Blog post by Felicia(who is still stuck in NYC, but at least is safe & sound and has power!):
Rebecca & Josh’s wedding is certainly one of epic proportions, and I do not say that lightly. It took place at the sprawling Hummingbird Nest Ranch, which, when I say sprawling, I mean 140-acres-sprawling.
No detail was overlooked, and everything from Rebecca’s “Gaga-worthy” Louboutin heels, to their well-coordinated wedding decor, favors, and treats, were indeed a visual feast.
Rebecca & Josh are very stylish Manhattanites who certainly brought their own personalities into the wedding. Case in point: the In-N-Out burger truck at the end of the night! I also particularly enjoyed their exhortation for guests to use their wedding hashtag for anything posted on Twitter/Instagram. Very savvy indeed.
As night fell, the 12-piece band kept the dance floor packed all night, with a repertoire ranging from Sinatra classics to Cee Lo Green and Adele. The sang it all with aplomb, finesse and overall kickassness. Very impressive!
Congratulations, Josh & Rebecca. Have a wonderful life together.
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Rob and I are immensely thankful for the amazing crew of vendors we worked with, who toiled tirelessly to make this beautiful wedding a reality:
Wedding coordinator: Erica Espana & team (Priscilla and Alex)
Videographer: New Classic Films
Band: City Connection Entertainment
Catering: Schaffer’s Genuine
Floral Design: Hannah Koo, Milieu Designs
November 1st, 2012:
Katie and Steven were two of the chillest people we have had the chance to work with. The approached their well planned wedding day at the Carondelet House with ease, grace and plenty of champagne – they knew this day was about them and they made sure to enjoy it! Simply awesome.
Congrats to you both! Thanks for having Felicia and I there as part of your beautiful day!
October 29th, 2012:
Blog post by Felicia:
There are times in life when some serendipitoustwist of fate brings something or someone remarkable to you. And for Rob and I, meeting Raul & Zelena certainly count as one of these standout moments.
You have to give it to them for not even batting an eyelid when we tell them to meet us at the back of a hotel at 3am, and they gamely get into the car with us, dressed to the nines, ready for their epic “starry starry night” engagement shoot in Joshua Tree.
You would think that an “astro engagement” sets the bar pretty high, but their wedding at their beautiful home was no less amazing, starting with a very moving ceremony with only 14 of their closest friends & family, then they picked up the pace with a Pisco-infused reception for friends. There, Raul & Zelena showed off their tango moves, leaving everyone spellbound.
This easily counts as one of the most meaningful, fun and beautiful wedding days I’ve ever been witness to, and we are certainly thrilled for the lovely couple.
Congratulations, Zelena & Raul!
While waiting, Rob asked Raul what face he would make when Zelena comes down the aisle, and this was his answer.
Ok, the reality is much better.
I had no idea that when I snapped this picture, the next thing I would be doing would be…. a shot of Pisco!
October 24, 2012:
After last month’s epic Belmont Shore shoot with Luis and Lucy, I was super excited about their wedding – knowing they would bring their awesome style and winning personalities with them for their big day.
When I met up with Luis, all he kept talking about was how excited he was to see Lucy dressed for the wedding and that he wasn’t worried at all about the rest of the day. When he finally caught a glimpse of her at their first look, their affection for each other was plain to see. And from that moment they kept those stunning smiles on for the rest of the day, which made it really easy for me.
Thanks again Luis + Lucy for having us as part of your day! Enjoy your new lives together!
