{ ian + natalie... engaged! }

Ian and Natalie were so fun to work with! I'm in love with how in love they are and how easily they can smile at one another. Within just a few minutes of being with them I could tell they were a perfect fit and I was instantly at ease... and inspired.

They decided they wanted to start shooting near their home at their favorite hang out spots in Culver City... I love how the location shows a little piece of who they are right now... life changes so fast and I hope these photos will always help them remember when they first started their life together :-)

But ok, enough with the cheesiness! Here are the photos:

They are so cute together! Always laughing... and kissing.

Natalie has THE most amazing green eyes...

This might be my favorite of the day...

Quick change of scenery:

{ branden + melissa... engaged! }

Melissa and Branden... I sure do like them.

They're mellow and funny, sweet and laid back... and it's really just easy to hang out with them. Of course it helps that we're friends beyond this whole client/photographer business. In fact Melissa is not only a client and old high school friend, but a colleague with her own awesome photography business (talk about being nervous!).

Branden and Melissa have been through a lot in the last few years... a back injury, a surgery, graduating college, starting a business... and they don't show even the faintest glimmer of it. It's obvious that they would do anything for each other and (sorry for the cheesyness) their love seems so natural and easy... they make a great team.

But enough of me being sappy :-) Here are a few of my favorite photos from their engagement session. Thanks for reading and happy Monday!

They are both serious readers and artists... and love them some Coke...

Melissa is so purty...

They think movies are pretty awesome too...

And they REALLY love museums...

In fact they love this particular museum so much that Branden proposed right here in front of Van Gogh's Mulberry Tree. Beautiful spot, huh?

Ahhhhh, skylights... I love you.

A quick stop back at Van Gogh... I could marry these frames...

And, of course, we had to pay homage to their love for photography :-)

And that's all for now! Check back next month to see pictures from their Big Bear wedding... it's going to be amazing. No really, aaaa-mazing. I've seen all Melissa's wedding projects and they're nothing short of... well... amazing. She's a crafty lady!

{ david + jessica... engaged! }

It's rare that I'm booked to photograph a wedding before even meeting the bride and groom... and even more rare when I don't even speak to them first... but that's how it began with Jessica and David. It was actually Jessica's mom that first emailed and then called me... I'll never forget it because she started the conversation out with a joke about my husband leaving his socks around the house... she had read my 'about me' section. I liked her already :-)

And I'm so happy to say that I like Jessica and David a bunch, too. I was definitely a bit nervous meeting them for the first time at their engagement shoot, but we hit if off just fine. We got to know each other a bit as we walked around San Juan Capistrano shooting and I'm pretty sure their wedding is going to be ridiculously fun... too bad I have to wait until next May!

Anyway, until then, here are a few favorites from the day. Happy 4th of July everyone!

Color + laughing!

I parked in this structure and insisted we shoot in it... I loved the all the vines :-)

They're so awesome together...

I'm falling in love with my zoom lens all over again... such beautiful blurry backgrounds...

Hey handsome...

Hello, gorgeous...

David and Jessica (and Sandy),

Thank you so much for choosing me to be your photographer! I really had a great time with you and seriously wish your wedding wasn't so far away! I'm looking forward to shooting with you again. :-)

{ kevin + vilma are engaged! }

They call it Kevilma Fest... and right then and there I knew I loved them. This couple is one of a kind and I seriously can't wait for their wedding next month... ahem, I mean Kevilma Fest next month. Their engagement session was so much fun I'm sure the big day will be absolutely amazing.

Anyway, we played around in Laguna over the weekend and I got some pretty fun shots... here are just a few of my favorites. Thanks for looking!

Yellow shoes? LOVE!

Laguna has so many cool spots to shoot in...

Sizzle, sizzle...

I love their personalities :-)

The light was amazing!

My gawd the sun loves Vilma! Her skin is absolutely flawless!

Kevin and Vilma,

Thank you so much for choosing me to be your photographer! I think you two are nothing short of amazing and I know your wedding will be epic. Can't wait!

{ featured on The Unbride }

Yay! One of my all time favorite engagement sessions got featured on a wedding blog! My first feature! Hop on over and check it out :-)

www.theunbride.com

{ mary + lorenzo are engaged! }

When I first met Mary and Lorenzo I was immediately struck by what a gorgeous couple they made. Then after chatting for a while I came to love how at ease they were with one another... they have this sort of calm about them that must come from being together for so long. They make a great pair and I can't wait to photograph their wedding in August.

Here are a few of my favorites from their engagement session... Happy Monday!

We started at the beautiful Union Station in Los Angeles...

I loved all the color and lines at the station.

Damn, Mary is gorgeous! Just imagine her on her wedding day!

PS Mary is a jewelry designer... she made her own gorgeous earrings and necklace :-)

Our next stop was Silver Lake...

How amazing is this bar?! I found it on Yelp and as soon as I saw these booths right next to huge windows I had to shoot there...

PS this next one is my favorite of the day!

Hot!!!

After tearing ourselves away from that awesome bar we headed to the Griffith Observatory to catch the sunset.

It was sooooooo cold outside, but Mary was a trooper.

Thanks again Mary and Lorenzo. Can't wait for August!