Sunset Engagement Session at Imperial Sand Dunes | Gaby and Josh
Sunset Engagement Session at Imperial Sand Dunes | Gaby and Josh

I can’t love a couple harder than when they want to do something amazing, including driving 8 hours round trip to the middle of nowhere to take their engagement photos at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, sometimes just known as the Glamis sand dunes. Known for being the largest sand dunes in the state, they were formed by windblown sands of ancient Lake Cahuilla. Extending for more than 45 miles, with dunes reaching heights of 300 feet above the desert floor. I have to say the whole experience was out of this world, especially based on the many movies that have graced the area. Including but definitely not limited to the original Stargate, Resident Evil : Extinction, and Star Wars : Return of the Jedi! It was so much fun getting to spend the day with Gaby and Josh, and the pictures tell a story of so much love between these two high school sweethearts. Check out their proposal below, and learn why these two are pretty much the best.

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EngagementJennifer LourieCalifornia, Imperial Sand Dunes
Intimate Wedding on the Grand Belle of Geneva in Lake Geneva, Wi | Alex and Asa
Intimate Wedding on the Grand Belle of Geneva in Lake Geneva, Wi | Alex and Asa

I love Alex and Asa’s boat wedding so much. It was everything that represents these two, and that is unique! They decided to get married at sunset on the Grand Belle of Geneva, on Lake Geneva. While rushing to fight some potential rain on the horizon, we did some fun portraits on the pier than jumped aboard. After getting situated, the Grand Belle took off onto the lake, and then we started their ceremony. Alex and Asa wanted to have a string quartet play during the whole affair, and their goal was to also insert parts of themselves throughout the ceremony. They both said their own vows, basically filled with jokes that had the entire room giggling. I am such a sucker for boats, and the lake; and it was such an adventure to capture this beautiful day for these two! In their words, they wanted “a nautical theme with a classy ambiance (string quartet), but not too serious or stuffy. We'll probably inject some humor into the ceremony,” and I’d say that was the exact definition of the evening.

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WeddingJennifer LourieIntimate, Wisconsin, Lake Geneva, Destination, Midwest
Ojai Olive Oil Family Session in Ojai, Ca | Bekah and Jay
Ojai Olive Oil Family Session in Ojai, Ca | Bekah and Jay

No family session is complete without their canine family members, and The Daily Dog Tag absolutely agreed when they published these beauties!

It was such a blast getting to watch these two roam around Ojai Olive Oil in Ojai California, and by these two I definitely mean Abbie and Tucker, Rebekah and Jason’s pups! I’ve gotten to hang with them two other times for their engagement session, and an anniversary session; and I pretty much love them.

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FamilyJennifer LourieOjai Olive Oil, California, Dog, Ventura
Intimate Manuela at Hauser and Wirth Wedding in Los Angeles, Ca | Elizabeth and Tim
Intimate Manuela at Hauser and Wirth Wedding in Los Angeles, Ca | Elizabeth and Tim

I absolutely love intimate weddings, and Elizabeth and Tim had exactly that. Not only was it a family style dinner hosted by Manuela, serving the best locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients in downtown Los Angeles, Ca, but they also had a very short and emotional mini-mony in the Hauser & Wirth courtyard. Hauser & Wirth is a stunning art gallery installation and communal space in the heart of the Los Angeles Downtown Arts District. Complete with chickens, an underwear installation, and beautifully decorated walls; Hauser & Wirth rotate between local contributions. T

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WeddingJennifer LourieIntimate, Manuela at Hauser & Wirth, California, Los Angeles, Destination
Fall Wedding at SkyPark at Santa's Village in Lake Arrowhead, Ca | Angie and Nick
Fall Wedding at SkyPark at Santa's Village in Lake Arrowhead, Ca | Angie and Nick

Angie and Nick’s wedding at SkyPark at Santa's Village in Lake Arrowhead, Ca was everything they envisioned and so much more. When I talked to Angie about her vision for the big day, she said she wanted it to feel like a “romantic dark forest theme, with a little bit of vintage style as well”. Well I think they absolutely nailed it! SkyPark at Santa's Village is the most beautiful forest venue, paired with an amusement park? Which sounds crazy, but surprisingly works incredibly well. The backdrop for not only the ceremony, but the entire reception is surrounded by a portion of 230 acres of natural forest. The bride and groom even get to adventure into the middle of that forest for their first look, as well as portraits.

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WeddingJennifer LourieCalifornia, SkyPark at Santa's Village, Los Angeles, Destination
Olive Park Winter Engagement in Chicago, IL | Alyssa and Andrew
Olive Park Winter Engagement in Chicago, IL | Alyssa and Andrew

When I told everyone that I wanted to start shooting in Chicago, IL regularly, people thought I was insane. I was told that Chicago has no sunsets, it will never match what I’m used to photographing out in California. I was told it was cold, and at the end of the day, I was going to hate it. Well, they say the grass is always greener, but I have to say I still believe that the Chicago grass is pretty dang awesome.

I had the chance to meet with and photograph Alyssa and Andrew during their short stint in Chicago, before moving to Portland, Oregon. These two were absolutely the best to get to photograph and explore Milton Lee Olive Park, especially since it was the middle of winter and a bit cold outside. Besides walking down to the nearby beach, we also explored the entire boardwalk- while the beautiful Illinois sun was setting! Alyssa and Andrew could absolutely not be cuter, and are the epitome of a couple completely in love, and their wedding rings are just to die for. Not to mention the iconic view in front of the Chicago skyline made the whole evening just complete.

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EngagementJennifer LourieIllinois, Milton Lee Olive Park, Chicago, Destination, Midwest
Lizards Mouth sunset Engagement Session in Santa Barbara, Ca | Rachel and Jon
Lizards Mouth sunset Engagement Session in Santa Barbara, Ca | Rachel and Jon

You could say that I am mildly obsessed with Lizards Mouth Rock trail in Santa Barbara, Ca. It’s hard to not be though, and it is definitely one of my favorite places for an engagement session, or a picnic, or a walk. After showing Rachel and Jon some pictures of this incredible place, it wasn’t hard to convince them that it was the perfect place for us to photograph their engagement. Rachel and Jon are getting married next October at Bella Vista Groves in Fillmore, Ca; so having some grandeur views of Santa Barbara was the absolute perfect juxtaposition for the grandeur views of Santa Clarita we will have then.

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EngagementJennifer LourieLizards Mouth, California, Santa Barbara, Destination
Sunset Engagement Session at Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula, Ca | Lupita and Omar
Sunset Engagement Session at Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula, Ca | Lupita and Omar

Lupita and Omar are going to have a beautiful wedding at Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula, Ca, so we decided to do their engagement session there too. What made this even more special, was the fact that Omar used to work there and knew all the secrets of the property! Limoneira Ranch is 7,300-acres of the county’s largest producer of oranges, avocados, and, lemons. It’s so cool for guests that have their wedding here, as they can take home the oranges as a wedding favor. A super cool fact about Limonerira Ranch is that is was a center of silent film production in the 1920s, and still attracts filmmakers to this day. With such a renowned history, I can’t even imagine how beautiful the venue will be on their actual wedding day in the fall for these two high school sweethearts.

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EngagementJennifer LourieLimoneira Ranch, California, Ventura, Destination
Tradition filled Armenian Wedding in Montebello, Ca | Lalig and Jamil
Tradition filled Armenian Wedding in Montebello, Ca | Lalig and Jamil

Lalig and Jamil had such a fun wedding in Montebello, Ca with a beautiful wine, navy and gold color palette. But what made this day extra special, was all of the fun Armenian traditions throughout the day. While they did not make the day hundred percent traditional, Lalig and Jamil did add in some traditions to represent their beautiful culture. Before the ceremony, Lalig’s brother placed money in her shoe for good luck and with the help of mom, then placed her shoes on her feet. All of her family is also in attendance, and watches on during all of the events. After her shoes are on, Lalig’s veil was circled over her head three times by a happily married woman to bring her marriage luck.

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WeddingJennifer LourieCalifornia, Los Angeles, Destination
Ventura Harbor Village Maternity Session in Ventura, Ca | Aurora and Jeff
Ventura Harbor Village Maternity Session in Ventura, Ca | Aurora and Jeff

When Aurora and Jeff told me they were pregnant, I was over the moon excited for them. These two are the two sweetest people you will ever find, and their wedding back in 2016 at Gerry Ranch in Camarillo, Ca was the definition of hot hot hot; literally, it was 104 degrees that day. What made this so much better was their mutual love of boats. They wore basically the cutest hats for their engagement shoot, and they tied in perfectly with the Ventura Harbor Village for their maternity shoot. From boats to this stunning Juniper tree, this entire session was a piece of sunset heaven. Their soon to be baby girl, Juniper, would definitely agree. Check out their last photo in this blog, to see their equally stunning sense of humor.

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FamilyJennifer LourieMaternity, California, Ventura Harbor, Ventura
Winter Wedding at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, IL | Diana and Darek
Winter Wedding at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, IL | Diana and Darek

Chicago skyline, snow, and a puppy equal basically all of my favorite things. Chi thee Wed agreed and featured all this beauty on their site.

When it snowed in Chicago, IL during one of my brief trips, I knew that I had to photograph someone in all this beautiful winter wonderland. Diana and Darek and their gorgeous dog Dustin was the perfect family to get to explore with. They were married a few months prior, and were unable to bring the third member of their family to the big day.

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WeddingJennifer LourieWinter, Illinois, Adler Planetarium, Trash the Dress, Chicago, Destination, Midwest
Winter Engagement Session in Lake Geneva, Wi | Lisa and Kalleb
Winter Engagement Session in Lake Geneva, Wi | Lisa and Kalleb

There is not much I love more than snow, Disneyland for sure, but snow is so far up there. So when Lake Geneva had a snowstorm, I was so unbelievably happy that I had the chance to photograph Lisa and Kalleb when the snow was fresh. These two held up like absolute champs in the 20 degree weather, and it is just extra special that we will be coming back to this very spot to photograph their wedding at the The Riviera Ballroom. What I absolutely love about Lisa and Kalleb’s proposal, is it almost happened at the exact same place they had their first date; to see the Christmas lights at the Cincinnati zoo. But with Lisa zipping through the evening, “No marriage proposals took place at the zoo that evening — at least not involving me and Kalleb.”

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EngagementJennifer LourieWisconsin, Winter, Lake Geneva, Destination, Midwest
Palm Event Center in the Vineyard summer Wedding in Pleasanton, Ca | Diana and William
Palm Event Center in the Vineyard summer Wedding in Pleasanton, Ca | Diana and William

It’s no surprise that Diana and William had an absolutely gorgeous summer wedding at the Palm Event Center in the Vineyard in Pleasanton, Ca. With the vineyard background at sunset, and their selection of burgundy and other complimentary fall colors; the vibe was extremely welcoming and filled with love. The Palm Event Center in the Vineyard is aptly named for their sprawling palm trees that decorate the driveway, as well as their wine-producing vineyard that is barreled in house.

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WeddingJennifer LourieCalifornia, Palm Event Center in the Vineyard, Destination
Vizcaya Sacramento Wedding | Melissa and Martin
Vizcaya Sacramento Wedding | Melissa and Martin

Melissa and Martin had a beautiful night wedding at the Vizcaya in Sacramento, Ca! Filled with winter touches like an adult hot chocolate bar, and neutral colors, the whole evening also combined Martin's Filipino culture and their love of nature and the outdoors. They wanted to keep things simple and elegant, to compliment their minimalist tastes. Mixing in greenery with their neutral palette, the whole wedding was just perfectly complimented the historical mansion venue of Vizcaya. Built in the 1890’s, the mansion has several locations for ceremonies, and a beautiful reception hall. I have some quotes from Melissa spread throughout the photos, so scroll down to see what she had to say about all the beauty of their wedding!

”Enjoy every moment because the day will fly by and be over before you know it.” - Melissa

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WeddingJennifer LourieCalifornia, Vizcaya Sacramento, Sacramento, Destination
High Hill Ranch Maternity Session in Placerville, Ca | Stahl Family
High Hill Ranch Maternity Session in Placerville, Ca | Stahl Family

It is the year of the Stahl’s; with them getting married earlier March 2017, adopting Mr. Archie a few months before hand, and now 7 months later being pregnant with a gorgeous baby boy. We met back up at High Hill Ranch up in Placerville, Ca for Marlee’s maternity shoot; not just so I could buy an Apple Pie for Thanksgiving, but also because the sunsets you get amidst the apple trees are just gorgeous. It was such a pleasure getting to hang with their family again, and I swear Ava is growing like a weed. Still a dancer, and so many more sentences being said. I love this family, and can’t wait to meet their little boy Kylan whenever he decides to come.

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FamilyJennifer LourieMaternity, High Hill Ranch, California, Placerville
Los Osos Oaks State Reserve Engagement Session in San Luis Obispo, Ca | Diana and William
Los Osos Oaks State Reserve Engagement Session in San Luis Obispo, Ca | Diana and William

It was so much fun getting to photograph Diana and William at the Los Osos Oaks State Reserve in San Luis Obispo, Ca! These two met in SLO, so it only made sense to do their engagement session at some nearby beautiful areas. After photographing in this incredible forest, we went to the Montaña de Oro State Park beach for sunset, and had the chance to play in the waves!

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EngagementJennifer LourieCalifornia, Los Osos Oaks State Reserve, San Luis Obispo, Destination
Destination Bard Mansion Wedding in Port Hueneme, Ca | Audrey and Dwight
Destination Bard Mansion Wedding in Port Hueneme, Ca | Audrey and Dwight

Audrey and Dwight traveled from their home state of Oregon to get married where they grew up in Southern California, and the historic Bard Mansion in Port Hueneme, CA. This stunning historical venue, made for the perfect location for all of their out of town guests to join for their wedding. Besides just wearing her Nana’s beautiful dress for the better part of the day, (scroll down to see a side by side shot of Audrey and one of her Nana from her wedding day!) her friends and family came together to help make the entire day special.

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WeddingJennifer LourieBard Mansion, California, Ventura, Destination
Ranch Engagement Session in California | Gina and Jordan
Ranch Engagement Session in California | Gina and Jordan

Angelina and Jordan have the cutest engagement story I’ve ever heard, and it is probably because their love started before they were 8 years old. Angelina and Jordan knew each other through their families, and played together on the very same ranch that Jordan proposed on 20 years later. What makes all of this even more special, is that Angelina is also a photographer! I absolutely love getting to photograph other photographer’s and it is easy to say that my little photographer heart soured pretty high as we explored their gorgeous property. It was also only fitting that we included their gorgeous puppy Asher in their engagement photos, as he was there for the proposal.

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EngagementJennifer LourieCalifornia, Dog, Destination
Pizza and Puppies Engagement Session in Southern California | Kassidy and Andrew
Pizza and Puppies Engagement Session in Southern California | Kassidy and Andrew

When a couple decides that not only do they want to bring their dog to their engagement session, but they also plan on bringing a pizza- well color me excited. This was Kassidy and Andrew’s dream engagement session, and I have to say that it’s pretty much mine as well. We met at the nearby La Brea Tar Pits park, as it is next door to their favorite pizza place: Apollonia's Pizzeria! The people at Apollonia's Pizzeria were even nice enough to create a pineapple heart, and for all you haters; yes, pineapple does belong on pizza.

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EngagementJennifer LourieDog, California, Los Angeles, Destination