San Juan Capistrano Engagement | Lindsay + Joe

April 1st, 2013:

Beach, Capistrano, Country, Dana, Engagement, Juan, Monarch, Orange, Outdoor, Photographer, Photography, Point, San, Session, Trees, Unique

Blog post by Felicia:

Lindsay & Joe are New Yorkers who are getting married here in Los Angeles, so we were looking forward to finally meeting them in person. I got a sense from our initial phone consultation that they were a pretty fun couple, but their session really kicked things up a notch!

We started in San Juan Capistraño before heading down to blustery Monarch Beach, during which time I also got to practice un petite peu de français with Joe, whom I learned, is actually French, born & bred! Unfortunately for me, it’s been a good 6 years since my last French lesson, so it was pretty embarrassing to be frantically trying to recall whatever is left of my French proficiency (or lack thereof)! YIKES!

Thankfully I’m currently a lot better at taking pictures than speaking French, so I think I still have my job.

Felicitations, Joe & Lindsay!
Beach, Capistrano, Country, Dana, Engagement, Juan, Monarch, Orange, Outdoor, Photographer, Photography, Point, San, Session, Trees, Unique

Gramps hits 95!

March 29, 2013:

Blog post by Felicia:

Our Saturdays are usually hectic work days, but last weekend, we took time off to celebrate Robert Senior’s (aka The RCP) 95th birthday! Age is certainly catching up with him and he now looks somewhat like Bilbo Baggins at his eleventy-first birthday, but The RCP still displayed the sprightliness of his younger namesakes, enjoying a beer (“GOOD STUFF!”), eating an insane amount of chocolate ganache Grand Marnier cake (his favorite from last year) and SEVEN cups of ice cream.

The RCP was cognizant that it was his birthday, and, counting on his fingers, he said to me “5 more to go!”. I said to him, “You already made it 95 years, 5 more is easy right?”; to which he gave me a hearty “YEAH! Easy!”

I sure hope he gets to be a centenarian, because that’s also the goal of RCP2 and RCP3. This bodes well for them both.

We had spent 40 minutes at a nearby Ralphs getting these balloons because we had bought them for The RCP before when we visited, and he apparently enjoyed them so much he played with the balloons for an entire week after that until they were utterly deflated.

Sadly, a strong gust swiftly took the balloons while we ate lunch, and they ended up in a tree… Sorry, Grandpa…

Lots of stories to be told. At one point, I swore he yelled “Where are the Elves?!”

RCP2 and RCP1

All the RCPs!

Turnip Rose Wedding | Todd + Jane

March 28th, 2013:

Turnip, Rose, Wedding, Photography, Newport, Beach, Costa, Mesa, Southern, California, Photographers, Orange, County, Unique, Alternative, Photojournalist

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!

Turnip, Rose, Wedding, Photography, Newport, Beach, Costa, Mesa, Southern, California, Photographers, Orange, County, Unique, Alternative, Photojournalist

Downtown Los Angeles Engagement | Danielle + Mike

March 27th, 2013:

Downtown, Los, Angeles, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Disney, Concert, Hall, Dorothy, Chandler, Night, Skyline, Unique, Alternative

Blog post by Felicia:

Last week we met up with Danielle & Mike for a shoot around downtown Los Angeles, where they showed up dressed to the nines in their wedding colors. Awesome!

Midway through the shoot, Mike and I started discussing in detail a certain National Geographic episode where a filmmaker tirelessly waited to document a rare Papua New Guinean Bird of Paradise performing its annual mating ritual. Later conversations also turned to the March of the Penguins as the sun set and poor Danielle was freezing, so I suggested that they “huddle like penguins”.

Some days, my nerdy weirdness becomes pretty evident and Rob has to gently remind me not to scare the clients. Thankfully, Danielle & Mike didn’t seem to mind, and we had a really fun, light-hearted shoot.

Thanks for such a great time, Mike & Danielle!

Downtown, Los, Angeles, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Disney, Concert, Hall, Dorothy, Chandler, Night, Skyline, Unique, Alternative

M + M | Vasquez Rocks Engagement

March 25th, 2013:

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Blog post by Felicia

We had 5 shoots last week, one of which was M+M’s at Vasquez Rocks, the famed site of the Star Trek movies. We had first visited this location while sightseeing with friends last year, and certainly wanted to take a couple out here. Thankfully, M+M love the outdoors and immediately took the idea when we suggested it to them.

Due to an error on the park’s official website about opening hours, Rob & I arrived to find the parking lot locked, and a very apologetic park ranger. Thankfully M+M were great sports even though we had to make the half-a-mile walk through gravel and scrub to get to the rocks, and because the parking lot was closed, we essentially had the entire place to ourselves!

We had fun clambering around, then ended the night with beers and fish ‘n’ chips at a local British pub. Good times!

Vasquez, Rocks, Santa, Clarita, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Outdoor, State, Park, Session, Unique, Alternative, California, Los, Angeles

L + J | Temecula Engagement Session

March 22nd, 2013

Temecula, San, Diego, Engagement, Photography, Session, Photographers, Unique, Alternative

Blog post by Felicia:

In our line of work, we meet lots of people, get to experience many different things: from being out in the middle of Joshua Tree at 3am, to running around on the basketball court in Staples Center… Just this past Monday, L&J’s recent engagement shoot at his family’s equestrian ranch in Temecula now certainly ranks as one of the most memorable shoots we’ve ever had.

No, I’m not just saying that because I was given chocolate and a pony ride – or more accurately, I got to briefly sit on a very handsome, famous, record-breaking horse. But because L+J are genuine, charming, down-to-earth people that made their shoot feel like we were just hanging out with friends. Seriously, I think Robert and L have a budding bromance going on already. But it’s OK, J and I can hang out over sushi and wine while those two nerd it out.

Thank you, L+J, for a SUPER fun afternoon. You guys are amazing, and we’re sad it’s going to be a while till your wedding!

Temecula, San, Diego, Engagement, Photography, Session, Photographers, Unique, Alternative

Lake Tahoe

March 14th, 2013:

Last week, as part of our whirlwind tour of Northern California (where we visited my brother and had some photos done for ourselves), I met up with my Dad in Lake Tahoe for some epic spring-like boarding, a little afternoon drinking and evening gambling. We spent two days on the slopes together trying to out do each other, even using a iPhone app that tracks our distance traveled, elevation and speed. I topped out at just under 55MPH as I straight lined it down some black diamond runs, and Dad came in at a top speed of 52 MPH, which isn’t too shabby considering he has got a couple decades on me. It was a couple of spectacular days of father/son bonding on the slope.

While sitting on the lift on the second day, I got to thinking how I would love to shoot a snowboarding engagement session and/or wedding – so if any of our clients out there would ever be up for it, I am all game.

The morning Felicia and I had to drive home, the spring-like conditions abandoned us and winter made its return. We had to chain up the Prius and spent the next 2 hours driving through the snow to make our way off the mountain.

More Nieces!

March 13th, 2013

Sacramento, Roseville, California, Family, Photographer, Session, Photography

Blog post by Felicia:

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you would have noticed that we’re pretty close to our two nieces, celebrating birthdays and making time to hang out with them as they grow up all too quickly.

What many people don’t realize is that we actually have FOUR nieces, not just two (+ two step-nephews who are totally awesome too, for the record). However, Rob’s brother Matt and his family live up in Northern California, so we don’t get to play uncle and aunt to these two little ones very often.

Last week we finally were able to go visit and get to know the newest members of the Paetz clan. These girls have two distinct personalities: Ally (age 3) is fearless, rambunctious, opinionated and outspoken – including yelling “Auntie ‘Fenisa’ you’re CRAZY!!!” when I did silly things to make her look at the camera – whereas Lilly, on the opposite end of the spectrum, is possibly the most mellow baby I’ve ever met.

Thanks Matt & Niki for a wonderful weekend. We miss you guys already!

Sacramento, Roseville, California, Family, Photographer, Session, Photography

Jeff + Sarah – San Diego Engagement Photography

February 28th, 2013:

Balboa, Park, Engagement, Photography, Session, Photos, San, Diego, California, Photographers,

On a particularly clear & beautiful day last week, Rob and I took the long drive south to San Diego for Jeff & Sarah’s engagement shoot. We had hit it off really well during our initial meeting a few weeks ago, so we were certainly looking forward to seeing them again. We were not disappointed: the hours flew by as we walked around Balboa Park, dodging the crowds and photographing Jeff & Sarah, while our conversations ranged from bacon to conical flasks and T-Rex arms. Good times.

Thanks for a fun, laidback shoot guys!

Balboa, Park, Engagement, Photography, Session, Photos, San, Diego, California, Photographers,

Amanda + Tyson – Mt. Wilson Engagement

February 26th, 2013:

Mount, Wilson, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Pasadena, Sierra, Madre, Hiking, Trail, Photos

When we first met up with Tyson and Amanda to talk about their wedding day, Felicia and I told them how we were always game for crazy new ideas for engagement sessions and not to hesitate about coming up with anything cool they could think of. A few weeks later we received an email from them asking if we were up to hike the Mt.Wilson trail – a mere 1000 feet of ascent in the first mile and a half, a whole series of switchbacks… But they offered to buy us margaritas after the hike. Bribery with booze and/or food always works.

So of course Felicia and I agreed, put on our hiking boots, and off we went on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon (always less people to contend with on weekdays), and headed into the mountains of Sierra Madre. The trail was steep, but after about an hour we arrived at First Water and started the shoot in this verdant little valley beside a creek. I may have been a little sweaty from the hike, but Amanda and Tyson kept looking beautiful and didn’t even flinch as we had them scrambling over rocks and through the creek.

After a wonderful shoot and the much easier downhill trek, we all settled down in old town Sierra Madre for a few post-hike margaritas. A great end for a great day. Thanks for the margaritas and we’re looking forward to your big day!

Mount, Wilson, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Pasadena, Sierra, Madre, Hiking, Trail, Photos