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Malibu Engagement : Claire+Steve
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I t hadn't been a few days and her inbox was filled with responses. And winks. Claire wasn't used sure how this online dating thing worked, but when she signed up with match.com, she was pleasantly surprised to see such a warm welcoming via email. As she sifted through pictures and profiles, Claire saw Steve and something was different. A tiny spark of interest was about to ignite the flame of love.
Steve had a successful career and loved what he did, so dating sometimes took backseat to his business ventures. He created a dating profile with the hopes of finding a special person to share life with, and when Claire's picture popped onto his screen, he was smitten. His first thought was, This girl is hot, so he decided to sit and write a letter.
Claire had never received such a sweet, kind, and genuine letter online. Ever. She wrote back and started the correspondence that changed the course of their lives. On their third date, Steve invited Claire to Point Dume in Malibu. They walked to the top of the hill and overlooked the southern most point in Santa Monica Bay. It was the place they returned for their engagement session, a place where they had fallen in love.
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| After spending time with them in Malibu, I can't wait for their wedding in July...their days sounds nothing short of amazing in part to Amanda Auer's hard work...their wedding should be a customized version of their love. |
| Life is crazy is some ways...Claire moved to New York City for college, just a short distance from where Steve lived. They moved to California shortly thereafter but it took the internet to finally hook them up... |
| I'll end this post with this photo of two sweet people madly in love... |
| I'm honored to be a part of this wedding and I can't wait for what's in store this July! |
    
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San Juan Capistrano Engagement : Breanne+Dan
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T hey agreed. In a school with over 10,000 students, there wasn't a single cute guy anywhere. Breanne and her roommate walked the University of Michigan campus their freshman year together and quickly agreed the odds of finding a suitable date was near to impossible. A few months into her studies and Breanne gave up entirely until one afternoon in the dining commons when she noticed the cutest boy she'd laid her eyes on in months. Breanne quickly reported her good fortune to her roommate and hope to see him again soon.
When school began the following semester, Breanne walked into an auditorium filled with hundreds of students. A self-proclaimed over-acheiver, she sat in the front of class and casually turned to look at her peers. And there he was. Ten rows back sat Dan surrounded by a group of friends.
Breanne curled her hair, wore makeup, and sat further back in class with each passing week. She finally developed the nerve to sit directly in front of Dan and when she heard him ask a question to a friend, she turned around, flashed a dazzling smile, and responded as if he was talking to her. The following week Breanne and Dan sat next to each other and have remained by each others' sides years later.
I'm incredibly honored and excited to document their wedding in Michigan this summer and throughly enjoyed our time together in Orange County last week for their engagement session... |
| Shortly after graduating the University of Michigan, Dan took a job in Southern California while Breanne remained on the east coast...she traveled back and forth to visit him and much of their love story is buried in the west coast sand... |
After the wedding, Breanne will be joining Dan in Indiana (where he moved for work) and enjoy waking up every day to her best friend...
...and many thanks to the ever fabulous Melina of Reign of Beauty for an amazing job with hair and makeup...LOVE HER! |
| Dan and Breanne booked me online and their engagement session was a perfect way to get to know them better before the wedding...one thing is for certain: Dan is one of the nicest guys I've met with a great sense of humor...and he's soft on the eyes, too! ;) |
| Breanne and Dan chose to have their engagement photos taken in San Juan Capistrano because fields, open space, and greenery feel like home, but they also made time for a stop at the beach later... |
| I absolutely adore how much fun these two have with each other... |
| I'll end this post with one of my favorite photos from the engagement shoot...Breanne looks happy and content and I couldn't dream of more for such a wonderful person. When she contacted me to shoot her wedding in Michigan, she confessed to reading my blog for a few years and gave me an awesome idea of who she was and how much she loved Dan (she also added a Golden Girls reference for good measure so I liked her even more). Being a part of their day is a huge honor and I'm thrilled to document their love. |
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Cancun Wedding : Adam + Laura
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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I t's usually him who carries the weight of emotional sentiments and deep moments that keep them tethered to each others' sides. Well, at least on the outside. Adam wears his heart on his sleeve whereas Laura is his calm and collected counterpart. They're a perfect balance and nobody protects Adam's sleeve like Laura.
Last Saturday in Cancun, however, Laura's heart was everywhere, on everything she touched. At times overcome with the gravity of her emotions, she perched herself at the edge of the bathroom sink and took deep breaths. I think I just need a minute, she whispered to her bridesmaids. Laura moved through the motions of getting into her wedding dress, but she longed only to be with Adam. To be in his protective arms so she could see straight again.
As Laura walked along a small path at Ocean Coral and Turquesa Resort to see her future husband, she reached out to touch him. In that moment, Laura regained the strength Adam so freely pours in her and their wedding day became complete.
Laura and Adam...gracias por todo!!! Being in Cancun to document your wedding was spectacular and we were honored to be welcomed by your friends and family (big ups to our new Greek friends!!). The day was perfect and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you both! Much Love and Appreciation... j* |
| One of my favorite things about Laura was her ability to mix different parts of her personality into wedding...like a little bit of twine, and a little bit of glam... |
| I love destination weddings because the mood of the day is so much more relaxed. The night before the wedding, Laura told me she's be at the pool in the morning and throw on some makeup before her wedding ceremony...talk about drama-free! |
| And THIS? This right here is why I love when a bride and groom see each other before the wedding ceremony. It's a private moment just for the couple and an opportunity to embrace the memory for what it is...I loved Adam's reaction to seeing his bride! |
| The weather and light in Cancun was absolutely spectacular...I couldn't have dreamt of a better backdrop, but I knew I'd be well taken care of because Adam and Laura are photographers are well, so they know what's up! ;) |
| During wedding photos, we had to sneak inside Ocean Coral and Turquesa for a break from the heat, but they continued to push through like pros... |
| Shortly after the balcony wedding ceremony, we ventured to the beach...this was a moment during the day when I felt incredibly honored to be their destination wedding photographer...and couldn't thank them enough for the privilege... |
| Laura and Adam worked incredibly hard in shipping all the wedding details to Cancun in advance to ensure the reception was everything they wanted and felt like home... |
| The wedding reception was hosted on the balcony of Ocean Coral and Turquesa and offered amazing views of the sunset and ocean... |
| I want to post so many more wedding photos, but I'll end on this note because it captures their love and perfectness together... |
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Laguna Beach Engagement : Becky+Blake
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I t could be chalked up to the luck of the Irish, a four-leaf clover, or Blake's family who threw epic St. Patrick's Day parties. Either way, Becky walked into the party her senior year of high school and expected nothing more than a fun evening with friends, not to meet her future husband. Blake immediately took notice of the leggy brunette made sure introductions were made. Becky politely chatted and later politely evaded his advances after the party when he asked her out.
After a few of Becky's declinations, Blake shifted his focus that summer on training for his upcoming football season at Azusa Pacific University while she prepared for her freshman year at Chapman University. And then--almost out of thin air--Becky decided Blake was someone she wanted to date. And she did. Becky called Blake and invited him to dinner with another couple and from that night forward, they remained best friends and soul mates.
I'm incredibly excited to photograph Becky and Blake's wedding in September and many thanks to Wedding Chicks for sending them my way...I can't wait for what's in store! |
| Blake and Becky have so much fun together...but every so often, he looks at her with the sincerest gaze of adoration...and I can see why...just look at her! |
| I arrived to Laguna Beach to scope new areas to shoot the engagement session and I passed by this wall I loved...except it was super dirty and in an alley that smelled, well, ripe. I vetoed the idea of posing the couple there for fear they'd think I was crazy, but later Becky pointed it out as we walked past and said she liked it. Right then? I knew we were a duo made in photo heaven...MOVE OVER BLAKE! ;) |
| She drives him a teeny bit crazy...and he loves it. |
| Becky and Blake brought their dog, Bo, along for a portion of the shoot and I think he stole the show... |
| We ended the engagement session along the coast of Laguna Beach and they couldn't have been happier together watching the sun disappear and remain in each others' arms... |
| To see more of Becky and Blake's Laguna Beach engagement session, feel free to CLICK HERE for a slideshow with Amy Stroup music provided by The Music Bed. |
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Orange County Engagement : Shannon+Bill
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T hey grew up in the same town, they went to high school together, but the two year age difference kept them acquaintances. Until, that is, four years ago. After high school they went their own ways until mutual friends reconnected them and they began spending their weekends with groups of people, slowly making their way closer to each other. They went running together, they went to Lakers' games together, and somewhere along the line Shannon fell for someone she shouldn't have.
Bill made it clear that though they were dating and having a good time, marriage just wasn't for him. Sort of like a shoe that didn't fit. Shannon knew this, but his charm, humor, and joie de vivre made her gravitate into his orbit, where she circled...and waited. With the desire of being a wife one day, Shannon pulled away from Bill a bit later and began dating other guys.
Perhaps it was her absence or knowing she was out with another guy (or, as Shannon describes it, "coming to his senses and pursuing me"), Bill invited her to his birthday party and they've been together ever since. They're getting married later this year at the Virginia Country Club (with many thanks to Melanie Furata for connecting us!) and dedicating the day to the paths that led them to where they are today. |
| Shannon and Bill say they're each others' best friends and just by the way they interact, it's evidently true... |
| Shannon's only request was to have their engagement session in a field...and we'll get to Bill's request in a bit...oh, and, Shannon? RAWR. |
| There's something about the way Bill talks to Shannon that makes her glow. He softly pokes fun at her, but will shortly thereafter laugh in a way that makes them both come undone. It's so much fun to watch... |
| Shannon and Bill have expanded their family by adding Cash, a lovable dog completely smitten with his owners. The three of them are a unit, so their engagement photos wouldn't have been complete without him... |
| Now let's move to Bill's request for the engagement session...their beloved truck. Because of their passion for old cars, this 1956 Chevy has become one of their favorite purchases together... |
| Just as a the sun set against the hills of Orange County, Shannon and Bill worked it like true professionals... |
| Work it, boo...work it... |
| I'll end this engagement session with, literally, the last frame from the shoot...I pulled my Dog Whisperer moves on Cash and got him to pose. Okay, not really...he saw a squirrel, but it totally works for me. |
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