Matt, Inese & Bacon - Goldendoodle Portrait Shoot!

Matt, Inese & Bacon - Goldendoodle Portrait Shoot!

Meet Bacon, the  most adorable four month old goldendoodle. His parents, Latvia-born beauty Inese and California native Matt, met on the east coast and have been married for seven years.

Matt and Inese reached out to me to do a photo shoot with the newest addition to the family. They are both wedding photographers, and getting booked by fellow photographers was such a treat and the ultimate compliment! We did Bacon's portrait session at San Juan Capistrano. The park that the guys picked was the idyllic setting for this family shoot - so much greenery and a vast flower field in bloom that was nearby. Bacon behaved splendidly and the following day he was treated to a well-deserved grooming session, although if I were him I would have requested his namesake treat instead! (But that's just me :)

If you need another Bacon fix follow him on Instagram @bacon.the.doodle where he has over 2000 followers. Congratulations to the picture-perfect family on their new furry addition!

(San Juan Capistrano goldendoodle photography portrait session; Los Angeles based wedding and engagement photographer)

Brittany & Nick - Engagement session at Malibu Creek State Park

Brittany & Nick - Engagement session at Malibu Creek State Park

Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of taking some engagement photos for the most dreamy couple. California natives, Nick and Brittany met in December 2015 through their work, and fell in love soon after. They both love traveling, exploring the great outdoors, and helping people in need; Brittany is a nurse at UCLA and her beau, Nick, is a firefighter and paramedic. 

They plan on tying the knot this October, with an outdoor wedding at the stunning Triunfo Creek Vineyards. Brittany tells me her mother has been a great help with the wedding planning and ironing out the details for her special day. The engagement shoot took place at my favorite Malibu Creek State Park and their outfits were totally on point with these neutral pastels; Brittany did confess to raiding her sisters closet pre-shoot. :) 

In July these lovebirds will be taking a pre-nuptial trip to Iceland, where surfer-loving Nick plans to practice his new hobby, photography. Welcome to the light-chasers club Nick! 

(Engagement session in Malibu Creek State Park; Los Angeles based wedding and engagement fine art photographer)

Erin & Mario - 'Day After' Session in Malibu Creek State Park, CA

Erin & Mario - 'Day After' Session in Malibu Creek State Park, CA

I recently had the pleasure of doing a "day after" session with lovely newlyweds, Erin and Mario. This charming couple said their vows at their local courthouse and met me at Malibu Creek State Park dressed in their finest, to capture some of that post-wedding glow.

Personally, I love day after sessions; the deed is done, the stress is over with, and there is plenty of honeymoon bliss for me to capture. Like many couples in the digital age, Erin and Mario met online. On their first date Mario wooed Erin with a romantic steakhouse dinner. Both newlyweds were born and raised in L.A, they are both self-proclaimed foodies, and they share a deep love for dogs. They even brought their three furry friends to the shoot, which I thought was a sweet and sentimental touch.

Malibu Creek State Park was a perfect backdrop as usual. Erin and Mario matched each other perfectly, they were both elegant, and a joy to capture. I would like to send the happy couple my warmest wishes on their new journey. Congratulations Mario and Erin!

(Day After session in Malibu Creek State Park; wedding and engagement photographer in Los Angeles, CA)

Jia-Wen & John - Engagement session at Malibu Creek State Park

Jia-Wen & John - Engagement session at Malibu Creek State Park

One of my favorite things about being a wedding photographer is being able capture hidden from the rest of the world interactions between two people in love. 

I had the pleasure of doing an engagement shoot with Jia-Wen and John this past weekend; a handsome power couple from the finance world, who are getting married in Calamigos Ranch in Malibu later this year. Jia-Wen and John had warned me that they are slightly uncomfortable in front of the camera, as most couples do. But, as it often happens, mid-way through their engagement session they loosened up and the raw emotion seeped through the lens, resulting in gorgeous photos of the two lovebirds!

Although couple chemistry is a surefire way to beautiful engagement photos, wardrobe plays a huge role too. John and Jia-Wen coordinated their outfits for their session perfectly; outfitted in faded blues and pale maroon, the couple looked amazing against the backdrop of a sunset in Malibu Creek State Park. Wardrobe is a very important factor in making photographs shine, and I am always available to advise my clients on flattering tones and complimenting fabrics.

Can't wait to document their wedding - October, here we come!

(Engagement shoot at Malibu Creek State Park, CA; Los Angeles based wedding and engagement photographer)

Arjun & Nancy - Wedding by the ocean at Hotel Casa del Mar, CA

Arjun & Nancy - Wedding by the ocean at Hotel Casa del Mar, CA

Nancy and Arjun's wedding celebration took place at the Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, which has panoramic ocean views that would make any photographer fall in love with this venue.

In Indian culture, a wedding is a union of two families, not just two people. During the Barat, which is the processional of the groom, Arjun rode in on a horse to the sound of drums and traditional Indian music while everyone joined in clapping and dancing creating unforgettable energy. The introductions or "Milni" followed, as heads of two families shook hands and exchanged garland of flowers. The white draped Mandap at the ceremony was chic and modern, completed with a whimsical flower arch made of blush and white roses which looked like the definition of elegance.

The reception was a complete showstopper. Flavia of Allure Events Atelier styled the reception ballroom of Casa del Mar to absolute perfection. Along with her right hand, Celio's Design, they created an elegant and timeless design with rich colored centerpieces and perfectly put together linens made out of different textures. 

This gorgeous wedding was full of fresh inspirations and Indian wedding ideas, filled with vibrant colors and textures, ancient rituals, henna tattoos, incredible music and dance.  My absolute favorite part though, was capturing Arjun and Nancy's endless love for each other and mutual joy of both families that was so apparent throughout the whole day. These two are perfect for each other! 

(Indian wedding photography at Casa del Mar; Los Angeles based wedding photographer)

Tina & Raymond - Romantic wedding at Friendly Hills Country Club, CA

Tina & Raymond - Romantic wedding at Friendly Hills Country Club, CA

Tina and Raymond’s wedding was an absolute stunner. Despite the unexpected rain (curtesy of Los Angeles’s recent weather tantrum) the loving couple embraced the drizzle and proved that nothing can dampen a magical day, literally.

The preparations began bright and early at the scenic Palms Resort. The couple planned their wedding long distance from San Francisco and many of the guests flew in from out of town. By the start of the ceremony, which took place at the gorgeous Friendly Hills Country Club, the sunshine made a comeback; the colors after the rain were so rich and mesmerizing!

The meticulously planned wedding by Elizabeth of CCL Weddings was full of unique touches - guests gave gift donations to the couple’s favorite animal charity, everyone was allowed to participate in the garter and bouquet toss; for which the winner was awarded a cash prize, and the father-daughter dance hilariously evolved from elegant to rocking. The band had everyone dancing and the speeches had everyone laughing.  What more could you really want? Congrats to the weatherproof couple! Here’s a sneak peak into their wonderful day.

(Wedding at the Friendly Hills Country Club; Los Aneles based wedding, engagement, and boudoir photographer)

Maternity Session with Jessica & Curtis - Malibu Creek State Park

Maternity Session with Jessica & Curtis - Malibu Creek State Park

It is always a pleasure to catch up with my couples, especially while celebrating such an exciting stage in their lives!

We went to one of my favorite spots in Malibu for Curtis and Jessica's maternity session. These two are so easy to work with and are an absolute pleasure to photograph. And of course, Malibu Creek State Park never disappoints; open fields, scenic views, wild nature - what a dream! 

Congratulations again, Jessica and Curtis! It is such a special feeling to be awaiting the arrival of a little one and I am so thankful to be a part of this new chapter in your lives.  This will be one gorgeous girl! 

(Maternity Session in Malibu Creek State Park, CA; Los Angeles based wedding, engagement and boudoir fine art photographer)

Engagement Session in Paris - Yoyo and Chun Chen

Engagement Session in Paris - Yoyo and Chun Chen

Ah Paris... This magical place gets more dreamy every time I visit. And then we did an engagement session with these two... I could hardly handle this much romance! 

This shoot took place during my last visit to Paris of the year in October. I met Yoyo and Chun Chen that day for the first time but felt like I've known them for a while because of our communication in preparation for their session. We wondered around Le Palais Royal, Musee du Louvre, Champs-Élysées and finished their engagement shoot in the historic Trocadero that has a pretty nice view of the Eiffel Tower. ;) Thank you, Yoyo and Chun Chen, for letting me tag along and capture all the heart fluttering beauty during your sweetest Parisian date!

(Engagement session in Paris, France; Wedding, engagement and boudoir fine art photographer based in Los Angeles, Southern California)