Miguel & Elda: the Engagement

You know when you just "click" with someone? That is exactly how I felt when I met with Miguel & Elda for the first time. I drove up to Sacramento to meet with them. Elda is mid college career at Sacramento State and while living up there she met Miguel.

They are both from Mexico, like me, and bilingual, also like me. It's funny but every time I meet someone from Mexico I ask "oh what part are you from?". Always hoping they say my random small town- um they never do.

So Miguel says hes from a town in Jalisco ( that's the state Guadalajara is found in - in case you

are geographically challenged - like me). I lived in Guadalajara so we talked a little about that.

Then I ask Elda where she's from. And she answers oh a small town in Guanajuato. I then proceed to ask which town? She answers oh it's small noone has ever heard of it. SO Excited I tell her. I'm from Guanajuato ( um yes - please note this is like telling a Californian from Grass Valley I'm from California and being from San Francisco or LA) so anyways she tells me the name if her town and low & behold: I KNOW WHERE IT IS!!! I then proceed to tell her I'm from the town right by hers and she giggles and says "oh I was born there, in there hospital." EEEK! Seriously and I thought noone knew where my town, Acambaro, was.

After this exchange I knew I had to shoot their wedding. The rest of the wedding details are just a bonus. IT is going to be so amazing with many of my favorite things in life involved. But for that you will have to wait. ;-)

We shot the engagement session in Monterrey, California. It was an awesome time. They were up for ANYTHING!!! We played under the pier in the ocean (although it was kinda stinky),

rolled around in the sand,

then headed over to the BREATH TAKING 17 mile drive.

I would like to thank Elda's sister & brother who came along and ended up helping scout locations (read here check the rocks to see if they were safe to climb and make sure we didn't fall into deeper water than needed- although we were all up to our hips in the water) & provide outfit assistance to the couple.

Miguel & Elda I look forward to your wedding! See you soon....

Miguel & Elda = Tease of a Sneak Peek

A total tease post !




More to come .........

Adam & Salina = The Engagement

They say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. NOT so for this couple. Salina was in Vegas for a girls trip from California. Adam was there on a boys trip from New York!! They met and Salina said they hung out till way late having instantly bonded. Adam knew he couldn't be apart from her and moved across the country to be with her. (awwwwwww!) Adam's family is still back East and will be flying in for this event along with his boys! I look forward to meeting everyone. And when they see how nice the weather is here (please weather act right) they might even move here!!





A few weeks ago I gave you guys a little teaser to this engagement session.. well here is the full session!

It was a very cold day in San Francisco despite it being about 100 degrees in San Jose. The drastic weather change caused for us to truly appreciate all the hard work models put in, especially when they are required to shoot in bikinis in beautiful and crazy locations such as Alaska. Here is an attempt of modeling and not looking cold.


The little one wasn't too happy about the weather (nor the camera). How cute is she??? I know she will make an adorable flower girl and give me a great work out, because I'll have to chase her around!



I love this family portrait of all of them.


Salina & Adam are a super fun couple they joked around throughout the whole session. I'm sure their marriage will be full of love, laughter & fun.





I don't think they expected to get in the cold ocean & get wet but with me you never know what's going to happen!






Salina might kill me (after the wedding) for posting this but I thought it was cute. I had asked Adam to approach and kiss Salina in a very sexy- seductive fashion. UM and this is what happened.



I can't wait until the wedding! It's going to be so much fun! Wait till you see Salina's dress!!! I haven't seen it nor pictures but she's described bits and pieces and I'm soo excited!! And seriously as cute as this couple is they could get married in pajamas!! ;-)



I leave you with one last image. A very typical San Francisco foggy day with the Golden Gate bridge playing Peek A Boo!

Adam & Salina + Golden Gate Bridge + Sneak Peek = Engagment Teaser!

I had an absolute blast with Adam & Salina! They were so much fun!! And up for anything!!

I leave you with this very tame image that shows how beautifully happy they are!



Be sure to check back for more from this awesome couple! Be sure to leave a comment for them below!!

Wayne & Amy: The Engagement. It was a wet one!!

Hi everyone!

This posting will definitely be longer than the usual. So go grab a cup of coffee from your favorite coffee shop ( my personal favorites are Roy's Station, Barefoot Cafe & newly discovered Verve in Santa Cruz or if Starbuck's is more convenient) and enjoy.



Amy was my sister's first friend when we moved to San Jose back in grammar school. Years later, Thanks to Facebook we reconnected. I was so thrilled when Amy & Wayne honored me by asking that I photograph their wedding.

Amy & Wayne were made for each other, and this has been proven. They were even matched up twice. They are also the most laid back couple I have ever met! Rightfully so they live out in Santa Cruz. My second shooter, Micaela & I met them at their cute house by the beach and headed out to go grab Amy a surf board at the surf shop. As soon as we pulled up to Rip Curl I knew it was going to be an awesome session.

The dude at the store was awesome and let us have some fun! OMG! I was in heaven surf boards, flip flops & a great looking couple.









We then headed out to the beach to have some more fun!









We got really lucky the weather in Santa Cruz was in the mid to high 80's!! I especially got lucky! You see I was in shorts (sans wetsuit) and as I waded into the Pacific Ocean amongst kelp and slippery rocks I was very thankful to have the sun beating down on me to keep me from freezing my lower half of my body. I know crazy!! But I definitely think it was well worth it!!



The waves weren't huge -but we still had lots of fun!











And because everyone knows my first love is Black & White photography. I love the mood of these!










Amy & Wayne: Can't wait for your wedding day to come. Everyone stay tuned I promise a GORGEOUS backdrop, some BBQ, Karaoke and even something for the kids! I might even tell you a funny story about Amy's parents and how they met!!

Leave some Love for the couple or for me here!

one final image:

Doug & Grace: The Engagement!

You know when you meet a couple and you can immediately see that they are perfect together. That is totally Doug & Grace! They get along great and joked with each other throughout the session. It was so much fun!


And I haven't even mentioned how romantic the woods are.



I think The most romantic moment is the split second right before the kiss, regardless of location or climate. What is your most romantic kiss scenario? tell me here



We met at Muir Woods, in Mill Valley. I had personally never been there. It was amazing. The trees are huge! There are nice paths to walk on, which I loved. And like I already mentioned it is super romantic. Except for all the tourists running around, which didn't phase this couple.



When asked where they met. Doug simply replied "in jail" ..I thought it was a joke and commented casually about who the troublemaker was. Well....later as we were heading to our cars I was chatting with Grace about school and work. Which led me to ask (again) how exactly they met. Grace replied we were co-workers. A-ha! Causally I asked where, to which Grace replied "at Juvenile hall" WOW!!! They did actually meet in jail. They were both working as teachers. That is so awesome. What really made me love this couple more was hearing Grace tell me a story, about how they both wanted the same full time position. But that when Grace saw how good Doug was with the kids she knew he was the better person for the job, and didn't persue the opportunity. AWWWW.

I love capturing moments like this. When the couple forgets I'm there.





They will be getting married in a few weeks and can't wait for the wedding! I know it's going to be lots of fun.