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It was such a blast traveling around Downtown Chicago, Illinois for Ann and Song’s engagement session! Something I have always loved about Chicago, Illinois is how centrally located so many beautiful places are. We were able to walk from The Art Institute of Chicago next to Millennium Park over to the incredible Lurie Garden filled with colorful tulips. We ended the session outside the Adler Planetarium, with the Chicago skyline in the background.
Read MoreLa Casa del Camino in Laguna Beach, California is the perfect setting for two beach lovers like these, and it definitely did not disappoint with it’s sprawling ocean views. But what no one could have predicted was a sweet couple walking our way on the beach.
”Okay guys, now let's look as cute as these two do!", I shouted, above the crashing waves. The couple stopped, and looked at Trisha and Matthias on their wedding day, and said, "Do you know why we look this cute? Because it is our 45th year anniversary. It must be a lucky day."
Sometimes you just get that perfect moment, of two people walking hand in hand 45 years later, and two people walking hand in hand; on the first day of the start of the rest of their lives.
I absolutely love working with Megan and Jonathan, and when they wanted to shoot at El Capitan State Beach in Santa Barbara, California I knew it was going to be special. El Capitan State Beach is off the beaten path, but ends up being a perfect little private beach for an engagement session, or just to take some updated couple pictures.
Read MoreStephanie and Eddie had an absolutely incredible Southern California wedding day. Starting at the Westlake Village Inn in Westlake Village, Ca for their first look, they moved to the Oak Room at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, Ca for their ceremony and reception. The extra special part of the day though was driving down to El Matador Beach in Malibu, Ca for their portraits. El Matador Beach is not only where Eddie proposed, but where they took their engagement portraits before the wedding day. We were blessed with blue Southern California skies on their wedding day, so it was quite the beautiful experience to get to photograph them in their wedding attire with the ocean behind.
Read MoreWhen Samantha and Michael told me they wanted to shoot their engagement session at the Denver Union Station in Denver, Co I was so excited! When they told me that they were also dressing up in 20’s vintage attire to match their Gatsby themed wedding, well words don’t even describe what I was. Historic Denver Union Station provides the perfect backdrop for such an engagement session, having been built in 1914 in the current Beaux Arts Classicism and Italian Romanesque style. Luckily for us, the “no kissing” rule established in 1902 by the Denver Union Station depot police is no longer relevant; and Samantha and Michael were able to kiss to their hearts content.
Read MoreWhether your destination wedding is big or small, 2400 On The River in Ranger, Georgia provides the perfect backdrop for a couple in love! For this blush and gold summer wedding next to the Coosawattee River, these two prioritized elaborate floral design for their gazebo ceremony and outdoor reception. Utilizing the unique architecture throughout the venue, the hints of gold in their decor balanced the epic natural backdrop of northwest Georgia!
Read MoreBrenna and Justice traveled from Oklahoma all the way to Los Angeles, California to elope. They knew they wanted a location that would show the beauty that is Southern California, so they chose Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, Ca. Griffith Observatory is an incredible location to take some elopement pictures, especially when you arrive at sunrise!
Read MoreApril showers bring May flowers, and luckily for Jeremy and Allison, it also brings beautiful light in Chicago, IL. It really does not matter where you are when it starts to rain, but the rain in Chicago truly lights up everything it touches! Including Buckingham Fountain, the Lakefront trail, and all the way over to Olive Park. It was just a matter of Chicago spring luck that the day Allison & Jeremy's 4 year anniversary shoot was planned that it called for torrential downpour. This in no way hindered our plans, and encouraged the tourists to stay inside; allowing us free reign of several popular destinations that would otherwise be quite crowded.
Read MoreJayna and Daniel planned their destination wedding in California from Washington, DC, flying out to Los Angeles on the regular to meet with vendors and make sure all of the details were perfect. After viewing Santa Margarita Ranch, they knew they had found the right place. “The greenery and florals in the garden coupled with the stone walls in the barn created such a romantic and unique ambiance - we knew we found a gem.” What they definitely didn’t know was how beautifully green their venue would be, after what some are calling the wettest winter in Southern California in decades. This fact didn’t fail to disappoint, when it started to sprinkle on their wedding day.
”When we saw each other for the first time it was truly "love at first sight". He introduced himself and handed me a bottle of wine he brought as a dinner party gift. We ended up opening the bottle of wine and sitting by the fireplace talking all night - and the rest is history.” - Jayna
Photographing Jennie and James around Pacific Palisades, Ca was anything but boring! We started at the Temescal Canyon Park in Pacific Palisades and ended for sunset at Will Rogers State Beach, and the entire session was a ball of laughs. I honestly would not have expected anything less from a couple that got engaged at Disneyland on the Fourth of July. Between running from the ocean, and skipping through the fields, Jennie and James make a perfect pair that are always finding joy in each other’s company.
Read MoreCarpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve Family Session in Carpinteria, Ca is the perfect location for not only engagement photos, but family photos as well! Dan and Andy, known to their friends as “Dandy” traveled down from Oregon to see some family, and get some updated family photos. These two were married in Malibu several years earlier, and it was so much fun to see their family grow by two beautiful twin babies.
Eugenie and Justin chose the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, Ca for their engagement photos, and it is such a stunning place to get to visit. Besides its sprawling views of the Los Angeles skyline, this historical building also boasts incredible architectural. Opened in the early 1900’s, it was the first institution in the United States dedicated to public science. The Griffith Observatory is always free to visit, and makes for a beautiful location to capture an engagement session. Eugenie and Justin chose to do their engagement session at sunset, and we were able to watch the sun descend over the Los Angeles basin.
Read MoreWhen fellow photographer Bree reached out for an engagement session before tying the knot at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, I was excited to say the least. It is always such an honor to photograph a fellow creative, and when they chose Lizards Mouth Rock in Santa Barbara, Ca for their engagement location; I knew we were going to create something magical. When I’ve gone up to Lizards Mouth Rock in the past, sometimes the wind is just too much- so I am always so happy when the Santa Barbara weather conditions line up perfectly to take some pictures.
Read MoreI absolutely loved photographing the wedding of Julie and Jon, partly for their beautiful locations, but mostly for their beautiful personalities! Their first date was on 12/13/14, and that’s a pretty incredible start to any relationship if you ask me. I had the pleasure of meeting these two before their wedding for their Lincoln Park, Chicago, Il engagement session, and I’m so glad I did. Nothing is better than arriving to a wedding and already knowing the couple, before getting to see them tie the knot.
We started their wedding at the St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church in Sugar Grove, Il, and their ceremony was tear-worthy- at least that’s what the guests and Jon thought. With their love story, I wouldn’t have expected anything less, “Jon says it was truly love at first sight,” the bride Julie says.
Intimate weddings come in all shapes and sizes, and for Takesha and Vincent’s they chose one with a small group of their friends and family in Chicago, IL. Held at the First Baptist Congregational Church (otherwise known as the Union Park Congregational Church) in Chicago, IL, these two had a short religious ceremony before a quick first dance and dinner. Before parting ways with their small group, they went and around the room and each attendee gave the couple their well wishes!
Read MoreJayna and Daniel have the sweetest love story, and when we had a change to do an engagement session in Venice, Ca before their wedding day I was stoked! Traveling from Washington DC, they planned a destination wedding in Santa Margarita, Ca from across the country; we were not entirely sure that our schedules would match up for an engagement session in California! I am so glad that they did, because everything about this sunset session was magical. We started at the Flowerboy Project, a local coffee shop in Venice that these two used to frequent; and ended up at that Venice Pier, in Venice, Ca to wrap up their engagement session.
Read MoreSo when the Stahl’s told me that they wanted to shoot near Menlo Park Fire Station to use a fire truck, I didn’t know that me meant he planned on borrowing one and driving it to Holbrook Palmer Park in Atherton, Ca. Michael is a firefighter, and if every shoot I ever photograph in the future has a fire truck, a dog, and two cute kids; I would be in heaven. Not to mention that it was such a pleasure getting to finally meet baby Kylan, who I photographed a year earlier when Marlee was pregnant with him!
The fire truck on the other hand, I have never had the pleasure of meeting. Old Tom was built in 1935, serving the town of Sausalito for over twenty years. In 1999, the Firefighters Association decided to give Old Tom a renovation, making him a gorgeous staple to the Menlo Park area.
Today is my birthday, and not just any birthday, that weird phenomenon of birthdays where I am 28 on February 28! So I thought it was only fitting to do a quick blog post about some of my favorite things. I know there’s a nice little professional synopsis on the actual about page, so I wanted to shamelessly slam this page with pictures of my favorite places, and some random facts. I try to share a little bit more real life on my Instagram page, so if you follow along on there you probably already know some of this!
Read MoreI originally met this glowing mama to be at our Senior Prom, so when I had the chance to photograph Jessicca when she was pregnant with her third little one; I absolutely jumped at the chance! Roberts Christmas Tree Farm in Pollock Pines, Ca provides the perfect holiday backdrop for not only maternity photos but family photos. Their little girls played with leaves, looked for fairies, and climbed tree stumps in this beautiful woodsy area. It was hard to not fall madly in love with this family, and baby fever is a real thing when you get to hang out with two kids as sweet as these.
Read MoreI had the chance to photograph Dasha and James for their engagement session at the Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu, California, and we had probably one of the prettiest Southern California sunsets ever. Combine that with Dasha’s stunning red dress, some birds who were not minding their own business and this engagement session was definitely memorable.
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