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)

Maple & Neal - Romantic Engagement Session in Pasadena City Hall

Maple & Neal - Romantic Engagement Session in Pasadena City Hall

I always love doing engagement sessions at the Pasadena City Hall but these two took it to a whole another level.

Maple and Neal were an absolute dream to photograph and I was so excited to photograph their engagement. They are completely head over heels in love, have the sweetest chemistry together and killer style. What more can you ask for? Their joy and smiles throughout their engagement session was absolutely contagious! Whimsical, soft and romantic - this session has stolen my heart. Get ready for some serious romance - I can hardly wait for their wedding at the Greystone Mansion next fall! 

(Engagement session at the Pasadena City Hall; Los Angeles based wedding, engagement and boudoir fine art photographer)

Family / engagement session in Malibu Creek State Park, CA

Family / engagement session in Malibu Creek State Park, CA

This might possibly be my favorite family/engagement session ever. Samantha and Bryan will be getting married next year, and they wanted to include their son, Isaac, in the shoot. I don't think I've ever met a kid who enjoyed being in front of the camera this much! 

We had a pretty hard time with finding a date for their shoot because of the rain, and had already rescheduled once before. It was pouring again outside the night of the shoot, but we decided to just go for it. By the time we met at Malibu Creek State Park, the golden light started to peek out from the clouds without a wet surface in sight. Absolutely perfect weather for our session!

I couldn’t wait to share this shoot while editing, and I am so exited that it’s finally ready! This family session was too much fun – effortless and absolutely dreamy!

PS: Can this family be any better looking? *heart-shaped eyes*

 

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

Michelle & Azer - Gorgeous wedding at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, CA

Michelle & Azer - Gorgeous wedding at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, CA

There is nothing about this wedding that I don't absolutely love. The couple, the venue, the style - all totally swoon worthy! 

The first time I met with Michelle and Azer, I knew it was a perfect match. Not only were they super friendly, outgoing and completely smitten with one another, they also fell in love with one of my favorite venues - the Hummingbird Nest Ranch, and traveled from San Francisco to have their wedding there.

These two also know how to throw an incredible party! They truly celebrated both of their cultural backgrounds, and had the best time doing it. Hands down, one of my favorite weddings of the year!

(Wedding at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch, CA; Los Angeles based wedding, engagement and boudoir photographer)

Mariela & Javier - Romantic Engagement Session at Malibu Creek State Park

Mariela & Javier - Romantic Engagement Session at Malibu Creek State Park

There is something so wildly romantic about shooting at dusk time, especially when you have a beautiful couple like Mariela and Javier, and a gorgeous scenery to go along with it. Mariela and Javier's engagement session at the Malibu Creek State Park was an absolute dream. The sun was already going behind the Malibu mountains and there wasn't a person in sight. Mariela and Javier were a full of giggles as they danced through the park together under the beautiful sycamore, willow and oak trees.  

During the engagement session, I found out a little bit more about their beautiful story and I cannot wait to document their wedding day as they continue their journey together. 

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