ack before cell phones sat hidden in pockets of denim pants, if someone needed a number or information, he called 411. Oh, yes, those three numbers transformed instant communication and connectivity. If you lived in Southern California and dialed 411, there's a chance you spoke to Stu. He sat at his desk, chatted with strangers, and connected them to the requested seven-digit phone number.
One day a cute, quiet, and charming girl walked into the office and sat behind an empty phone. Joanne--411's newest operator--immediately caught Stu's attention and soon found herself in his company after work one night. In a large group of friends, Stu made his way to Joanne. He invited her to a concert (he knew she was perfect when she admitted to listening to Korn) and that night sparked years together.
They're planning to wed this April surrounded by friends and family who've watched their love grow from three simple numbers: 411. For years they connected others and now it's their turn to become connected to each other. Forever.
I had a blast meeting Joanne and Stu for the first time in Los Angeles! They booked me online and though we've extensively corresponded via email, it was great to hang out in person. Their love is fun, carefree, and light-hearted...all the things that makes me excited for their upcoming wedding!
Joanne and Stu have a soft spot for LACMA Museum in Los Angeles, so revisiting a place where their love has grown made the day extra special. It also provided a perfect background for engagement photos.
One thing I adore about Stu is his ability to make Joanne laugh at the drop of a hat...
LACMA has beautiful lampposts in front of the museum that light up at dusk, so we made sure to time things so their engagement photos ended with them as a background...
To see more of Joanne and Stu's LACMA engagement session, feel free to CLICK HERE for a slideshow!
San Juan Capistrano Engagement : Lindsey+Jonathan
02.05.13
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hey met at work. Lindsey was a cute blond from California who transferred to Texas to make a difference in the lives of children by partnering with an amazing organization. She worked there for a year, returned home to California...but something drew her back to Texas. A year into living in Longview, she met Jonathan. He worked with the kids five days a week, 24 hours a day. Yes, he played a direct role in their lives and Lindsey watched his interaction, character, and comportment from a distance. They chatted briefly, remained amicable, and slowly became friends
Five months after meeting each other, Jonathan saw her in a new light. This vivacious blond lit up the room with her smile, laugh, and passion for music. Slowly they began to talk and spend more time together...which, months later, proved to deepen their relationship and make them fall in love with the deepest parts of their hearts.
Months later, in a gazebo overlooking the water on a beach in Dana Point, a violinist played while Jonathan's heart rapidly beat in his chest. He got on a knee and surprised Lindsey with a beautiful engagement ring and the promise to live their lives together. Forever.
I'm incredibly excited to photograph Jonathan and Lindsey's wedding next month, especially after having the opportunity to meet them in person at their engagement session. They booked me online after a recommendation from Lindsey's sister (thanks, Marisa, for reading my blog!) and corresponded via email up until their shoot. However, after meeting Jonathan and Lindsey in person, we've already arranged plans for eating Tex Mex together and I may or may not have braided Lindsey a friendship bracelet. She's that awesome.
We started the engagement session at the San Juan Capistrano Mission and roamed the gorgeous property for photos...
The morning of the engagement shoot, it was pouring rain. We're talking like buckets of water falling from the sky. I suggested finding a new, indoor location for the shoot and they politely declined saying they'd make the best of any situation...umbrellas and all. Love them! Lucky for us, the sky parted just minutes before we started shooting and the day was beautiful...
We strolled around San Juan Capistrano for more engagement pictures and the sun even made a brief appearance!
Jonathan and Lindsey collect vintage polaroid cameras. They scour eBay for old film and take amazing photos of their adventures together. They brought one of the cameras to the shoot and documented their love.
Lindsey can really work a camera! ;)
Lindsey and Jonathan not only documented each other, but they turned their camera on me and JD...I can't wait to frame the photos!
Much to Jonathan's surprise, Lindsey gets saucy when she's dolled up with a bright, red lips! ;)
To see more of Lindsey and Jonathan's San Juan Capistrano Mission engagement photos, feel free to click HERE for a slideshow or watch below with Aaron and Andrew music provided by The Music Bed...
Seattle Engagement Shoot : Keaton + Maddie
01.31.13
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hree weeks ago I stood in the RESTART studio and nervously paced the cement floor. Shooting always makes me nervous, but shooting in front of a studio audience and photographers watching online made me downright scurrrrred. I was seconds away from breathing into a brown paper bag for support.
For those who aren't familiar with RESTART, it's a three-month photography business makeover. I'm meeting once a month for three months for this free online show, so if you'd like to join us on February 13, 2013 as we chat about Developing a Web Presence...Pricing...and Defining Your Brand, feel free to register here.
During Episode One, we focused on the Shooting Experience and using three words to help direct how we photograph our clients in ways that'll help attract more of what we want to shoot. It was an absolute honor working with a beautiful, real-life couple, Keaton and Maddie...and many thanks to the team who pulled together to make this Seattle engagement session come together...
I'm especially excited because the uber fab Jen Campbell of Green Wedding Shoes will be sharing more images from this shoot later today as well!
Keaton and Maddie met in college and through the years they've developed a love that's seen in small, quiet moments. It's seen in the way Keaton places his hand on the small of Maddie's back, and it the way she intertwines her arms around his when they sit next to each other. And it's beautiful.
While in college, Keaton saw Maddie hanging out with a group of friends along the Washington shore. With his bare chest showing and his shirt wrapped around his head, he approached Maddie and somehow won her over with his unrelenting charm. Maddie embraces her silly side as well...something Keaton appreciates on a daily basis.
Maddie loves the details in life. Yes, details like decor and colors and accessories, but real details too. Keaton recounted a story when Maddie walked in while he was meeting with a client and reminded him of the sandwich she packed for his lunch. Yes, those details.
The theme of the engagement session was A Cozy Day In...here's a bit of the inspiration origin from Jenn Blake's perspective...
"I really wanted to vibe of the shoot to reflect all of those feelings that come while being home : blissful, lazy, relaxed, comfortable, casual and safe - home is that place where you are just yourself. I wanted the shoot to be reflective of the ease that comes from spending time with the one you love in the comforts of your own space just the two of you."
One of the reasons I like the photo on the left is because Maddie admits to being a touchy-feely type of girl and it's common for her to be seen casually rubbing Keaton's back or leg. Just to let him know she's there. And in love.
To those who participated in person and watched online...THANK YOU. The shoot was a success in part of your support and encouragement. If you'd like to see more of this shoot, feel free to check out Green Wedding Shoes today!
Engagement Photographs in Review : 2012
12.06.12
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ne of my favorite aspects of shooting weddings is the ability to photograph engagement sessions, too! Not only is this a perfect opportunity for each couple to have photos with each other outside of wedding attire, but also provides a great time for me to connect with my clients and understand their love. Knowing who they are and how they work, together, better enables me to document their wedding day in a way that's truly unique to them.
The end of the year allows me to reflect on the amazing people I've met and I can honestly say I'm better because of the impact they've had on my life.
Happy Thursday!
Laguna Beach Engagement : Shala + Omar
09.14.12
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t sat in her junk box. When she didn't hear from him, she wondered if he didn't like the way she looked. After all, it wasn't like he had anything else to gauge the totality of who she was. Just a few photos and an email address. But Shala hadn't heard from Omar in the weeks since a mutual friend introduced them by way of email, so she put him out of her mind. But, it sat in her junk box. Omar hadn't heard from Shala since he emailed so he thought she must've been uninterested from the start.
Weeks later, she happened to come across his email and it sparked a tidal wave of communication. In a single swoop on non-junk mail luck, they agreed to meet in Laguna Beach, where the spent their first date talking, dining, and roaming the streets until it became dark enough for the stars to act as their guides. A year and a half later, they returned to the restaurant where they met and spent the day reminiscing about the moment when an email in a junk box changed their lives.
I'm incredibly honored to be working with Shala and Omar and I'm excited for their wedding later this year...should be a day filled with the awesomeness of who they are. I had a blast shooting their engagement session and here are a few of my favorites...
One of my favorite things about Omar is his ability to make Shala smile...
See what I mean about the smiling?!
Oh, Shala....GO ON!!!!!!!
After a quick outfit change, we walked to Laguna Beach for a few more engagement photos...and a good time.
The light was simply spectacular and made for a perfect day on the beach...
