Archive for August, 2009

{ Nina + Erick | Downtown LA Engagement Photography }

There are a million and one reasons why I so love and endorse engagement sessions, but the top 4 must go something like this: (1) you get to show the world who you are, (2) in your favorite personalized locations, (3) in your unique “you” clothes, (4) with your best friend and most favorite person in the world (usually your fiance, but I don’t mind if you give me that title too :). And what Nina and Erick showed, lovingly and wholeheartedly, is that they’re Laughers. They laughed from the second I pulled out my camera, as we were chatting in between shots, whenever they caught one another making a silly face – and I would be telling a bold-faced lie if I didn’t say that I LOVED every minute of it (and that it was horribly infectious).

I really adore all the kinds of expressions that seem to come up in a shoot – the serene shots, the sweet smiles, even a more serious moment or two, but my favorites are always the ones with the big, honest laughs. The kinds that remind you of why you’re doing this whole marriage thing in the first place… because who doesn’t want to spend the rest of their life with the one who makes you giggle until your sides hurt & milk comes out of your nose? (The latter didn’t happen on the shoot, but it’s totally happened to me umpteen times, usually with painful things like juice and maybe soup.)

We met up with Nina & Erick in downtown LA, starting off at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, making a detour through the tall fountains of the music center, and ending by MOCA. Thank you Nina & Erick for an afternoon filled with laughter and love!

I love this sculpture in front of MOCA. Totally reminds me of something out of a Studio Ghibli movie.

{ Joy + Richard | Box Eight Wedding Photography }

When I first met with Joy & Richard over a year ago, in just the baby stages of their wedding plans, they excitedly described to me their vision for their wedding. A hip and stylish urban venue. Lush and modern details. Joy explained that she wanted her wedding to be completely unique, a sensory delight for the guests, and laden with personal touches. When she explained that she was looking for a photographer who shared an equal love for details and would be able to capture every last bit, I nodded knowingly, even though I secretly wanted to throw my hand up in the air, wave it wildy, and shriek “me! me!! ooh! pick me!!” :) I was of course, more than a bit excited when they booked us, and loved having the opportunity to get to know this amazing couple and see their visions come to fruition!

They ultimately chose Box Eight as the backdrop for their special day, a downtown LA loft which was transformed into a metropolitan paradise. Lush florals were draped in the most unique and inspired ways, courtesy of Le Petit Gardenia’s creative genius. All of the above was coordinated by Amanda of Fresh Events Company, who brought Joy and Richard’s ideas to life and put on one of the most smooth-sailing and artistic weddings I’ve seen to date.

Joy & Richard -thank you so much for the chance to be a part of your amazing wedding!  You both radiated so much love and happiness the entire time and it was such an honor to capture the moments that filled your day!

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

box eight wedding photos

box eight wedding photos

box eight wedding photos

box eight wedding

box eight wedding photos

box eight wedding photos

After a sweet first look, we headed to Cal Tech for some portraits!

box eight wedding

cal tech wedding

caltech wedding

caltech wedding

caltech wedding

caltech wedding photos

caltech wedding

caltech wedding photos

caltech wedding

caltech wedding

In case you couldn’t guess, I was absolutely infatuated with Joy’s dress. I’m a sucker for dresses with loads of soft airy layers!

box eight wedding photos

And then it was on to Box Eight. It has a feel similar to the Marvimon House and is definitely one of the most hip and modern venues we’ve shot at to date. Alison of Le Petit Gardenia did a beyond amazing job creating floral art pieces that fit perfectly with the vibe of the venue.

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

box eight wedding photos

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

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A couple more portraits just after the ceremony…

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box eight wedding

And now.. *deep breath*… the details! Not a corner was left undone! I was especially giddy about the birdcage coupled with this beautiful arrangement…

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box eight wedding photos

The tables were named after various wines and a beautiful and mod seating chart was created to guide the guests to their seats:

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box eight wedding

box eight wedding photos

The girls taking a quick breather right before the grand entrance…

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box eight wedding

box eight wedding

As a special surprise for the guests, Joy & Richard had a taco truck arrive at the end of the night! Coolest (and yummiest) idea ever!

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

box eight wedding

** please contact us prior to reposting the images elsewhere on the web… thanks! :) **

{ Heather + Joe | Laguna Beach Engagement Photography }

Valentine’s Day – a wonderful opportunity to consume massive amounts of chocolate, but more importantly, a time to celebrate finding your better half and a chance spend the day with the one you love. And for Heather and Joe, the very start of a special relationship – a date that turned into a fantastic love, that morphed into an engagement, and will soon be a marriage. They will be getting married on Valentine’s Day of next year and I could not be more excited for their wedding!

We met in Laguna Beach for their engagement session and ran around the shops and the shoreline until the sun began to set. I had done a session in Laguna a few weeks prior, and I loved the challenge of finding new nooks and corners and watching the session unfold as a reflection of their relationship. I am a firm believer that even if the backdrop is similar, a session is made unique by each couple and this one definitely has Heather & Joe written all over it! :)

Isn’t Heather stunning? Her make-up and hair were done by Beauty and the Beach.