Maryelyn + Hector | LA Arboretum Engagement

April 1st, 2016:

Los, Angeles, Arboretum, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Wedding, Pasadena, California

When I first consult with my new clients I always say how great it is when we can get away from the crowds during an engagement session and the benefits of trying to do a session during the week so there will be less gawkers around as we create your images. Marylyn and Hector took this to heart and scheduled an after hours session at the Los Angeles Arboretum, complete with a golf cart and Shaun (a retired firefighter and current Arboretum docent) to get us around the huge grounds. It was epic springtime weather, and we chatted about honeymoon planning (I still strongly say Thailand is the best choice!) and their upcoming wedding plans for the summer.

Thanks for enjoying the beautiful spring day with me and I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Los, Angeles, Arboretum, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Wedding, Pasadena, California

Natalie + Andrew | Laguna Beach Engagement

March 13th, 2016

Treasure, Island, Park, Laguna, Beach, Engagement, Photographer, Orange, County, Photography

A few years back Natalie was the maid of honor at her best friend Amanda’s wedding to Tyson; now that her and Andrew are getting married, they called me up to take part in their celebration as well! They’ll be getting married next month at Castle Green in Pasadena, but before we get to that we all headed down to Laguna Beach to photograph an engagement at the new Treasure Island park on the cliffs along Pacific Coast Highway. The sun was out and the weather was cool, creating one of those perfect Southern California “winter” days and an excellent setting to get to know Andrew and Natalie. Thanks for the great afternoon at the beach and I’ll see you both very soon!

Treasure, Island, Park, Laguna, Beach, Engagement, Photographer, Orange, County, Photography treasureislandengagement028

A Week in Taiwan

March 10th, 2016:

Taiwan, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Asia

I spent the month of February in Asia with Felicia – we had about 12 days in Singapore for the Lunar New Year (another blog post about that will be forthcoming) and another week in Taiwan. We ate our way through the capital city of Taipei – visiting both the Liaoning and Raohe night markets, eating some amazing grocery store sashimi and indulging in every street bao that called my name. After Taipei, we took the train down to Taitung, rented a car and drove the eastern coast for a few days, finally wrapping up at the Taroko Gorge before heading back to Taipei.

It was a bit of a whirlwind trip through this island nation, but since neither of us had been here before, it was a fantastic first visit to a country we would both happily return to.
Taiwan, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Asia

Mark + Monica | Biltmore Wedding Photography

January 28th, 2016:

Egyptian, Wedding, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, California, Biltmore, Hotel, Coptic

One of the things I love about what I do is that I get to learn and take part in so many different cultures as my clients let me be part of one of their lives most important days. Whether it is heading to Germany, France or Colombia to photograph a wedding, or staying in Los Angeles and to be part of one of the many traditions that are present in this city.

For my first wedding of 2016, Mark and Monica kicked off the year right with their fantastic Egyptian wedding celebration at the St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral followed by a reception at the classic Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The day was filled with joy for these two and they were surrounded by family and friends.

Congrats again to you both and thank you for letting me in to your lives!

Egyptian, Wedding, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, California, Biltmore, Hotel, Coptic

Cartagena, Colombia

January 16, 2016:

cartagena, colombia, travel, street, photography, photographer, south, america

Last month, en route to Simon + Tracy’s wedding, I had the chance to spend a few days in Cartagena to relax, check out the old town, do a bit of wandering and photograph. It was abysmally hot during the middle part of the days I was there and I quickly understood the value of a siesta, as well as multiple showers a day (seeing as everytime I went out I came back to my room drenched in sweat). Fortunately there was plenty of cold beer and delicious seafood to make up for my constant perspiration. Anyhow, here are some of my favorite images from the 4 days I spent there.

cartagena, colombia, travel, street, photography, photographer, south, america

Nicole + Jon | Malibu Creek Engagement Photography

January 14th, 2016:

Malibu, creek, engagement, photography, state, park, photographer, Los, Angeles,

I first met Nicole when we photographed her brother Sean’s wedding back in 2011, now almost 5 years later I get to celebrate again with this wonderful family by taking part in Nicole + Jon’s wedding day.

Before they get hitched next October, we headed out to Malibu Creek State Park to shoot an engagement session for these two. Nicole has hiked and rock climbed around this area (so it’s close to her heart) plus they really wanted that wild California oak tree look and this location defiantly brings that. We even got the added benefit of being able to work with an overcast sky which created some beautiful soft light to photograph by.

Thanks for the fantastic afternoon you two and I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Malibu, creek, engagement, photography, state, park, photographer, Los, Angeles,

Simon + Tracy | Colombia Wedding Photography

December 30th, 2015:

El, Matuy, Wedding, Boda, destination, photography, photographer, cartagena, colombia, travel

Simon + Tracy – these two are absolutely fantastic! After flying me down to Colombia to photograph their wedding on the Caribbean, I had the pleasure of spending 4 days on a secluded eco-resort (lit only by candle light), getting to know 60 of their closets family and friends. This shoe-less wedding was a killer weekend full of celebration, tropical sweat, booze and the ocean. To top it all off, late into the reception, the clouds parted and we had a clear view of the stars and we’re even able to photograph a mini Astrophotography session!

Congratulations again to you both, and I am thrilled to call you my friends!

El, Matuy, Wedding, Boda, destination, photography, photographer, cartagena, colombia, travel, tropical, beach elmatuywedding013 elmatuywedding034 elmatuywedding035 elmatuywedding036 elmatuywedding037 elmatuywedding038 elmatuywedding039 elmatuywedding040 elmatuywedding041 elmatuywedding042 El, Matuy, Wedding, Boda, destination, photography, photographer, cartagena, colombia, travel, tropical, beach

Hannah + Will | Colombia Engagement Session

December 23rd, 2015:

Colombia, Palomino, El, Matuy, Engagement, Wedding, Photography, Photographer, Destination

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I have spent the last couple of weeks in Colombia, wandering around Cartagena and photographing Simon + Tracy’s wedding in Palomino (separate blog posts about both of those will come in the next couple of weeks). After spending 5 nights in Cartagena, I needed to get out to Palomino to shoot the wedding, so I joined Tracy with her friends/family on a hired shuttle bus, settled in for the 5 hour drive and that’s where I met Will + Hannah just a few hours before we did this session.

Newly engaged, we got to talking and they asked if they could hire me for an engagement over the next few days on the beach. Wedding events took up the following few afternoons, and then they flew back to Idaho, so we just figured “How about today?” A few hours later we were wandering the beach at sunset and I was getting to know these two. I love when things just work out for everyone!

Colombia, Palomino, El, Matuy, Engagement, Wedding, Photography, Photographer, Destination

Bowman Family Photography | Caspers Wilderness Park

December 8th, 2015:

Family, Photography, Orange, County, Caspers, Wilderness, Park, Photographer, San, Juan, Capistrano

Katie + Clay made a person! Last weekend little Colton brought his parents and his grandfather, Ken, out to Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano for some early Sunday morning family pictures. As always, this family brought with them joy and charm – they even had their photogenic dog Beaucephus along just like they did at their engagement session in 2012.

Thanks for the wonderful time and I can’t wait to see what other people you produce in the future!

Family, Photography, Orange, County, Caspers, Wilderness, Park, Photographer, San, Juan, Capistrano

Andrew + Kate | Laguna Beach Engagement

December 1st, 2015:

laguna, beach, orange, county, engagement, photography, photographer, sunset, pch

Andrew + Kate are getting married in Detroit next year, but before heading home for the celebration they wanted to have their engagement photographs taken around their newly adopted home town of Laguna Beach. These two we’re both troopers in what was a rather chilly December day, and I have to give a special shout out to Kate for being exceptionally nimble, climbing around the tidal rocks in high heels and never once complaining or missing a step!

Thanks for the great afternoon Kate + Andrew!

laguna, beach, orange, county, engagement, photography, photographer, sunset, pch