This session was so much fun! I loved that they wanted a pretty nature-y location with trees, followed up by some sun-kissed photos by the water. Looking ridiculously good like these two in front of the camera can work up quite an appetite, so we grabbed sushi afterwards and I got to chat with Desiree & Mark more. I was so excited/humbled when Desiree told me she had actually stumbled upon my work years ago, when I first got started shooting weddings! It made me feel like we were old friends, and so appreciative of her support & reaching out to me for her own wedding :)

Can’t wait for their wedding next month!

I refer to Natalie as my “ice skating friend.” From something like ages 6-13, we spent almost every Saturday morning driving up to the rink in Palos Verdes and taking lessons together. We practiced for performances and little competitions, and forged a friendship based not just on salchows and loop jumps, but on playing ridiculous amounts of video games, making our own stationery & then trying to sell it, coming up with dance routines, taking pictures of our cats & creating calendars out of them – you know, the usual childhood shennanigans :)

We lost touch a bit over the years, but I was so so overjoyed when she contacted me recently with the news that she was engaged! Equally exciting was that we both happen to now be living in Long Beach and are practically neighbors. I was so happy when she chose her amazing little Long Beach neighborhood for the photos, these kind of relaxed cozy lifestyle-y sessions are always some of my favorites. Natalie has always been one of the most kind-hearted & beautiful people I know, and I’m so so excited for her and Jeff, they are such the perfect match! I hope you get a sense of their sweet relationship through these photos :)