michael+lydia {engagements}

It's been a very busy spring full of engagement shoots as we get closer to full-blown wedding season this summer, and I was so happy to include an old friend of mine from high school into that mix a few weeks ago. I went to high school with Michael 10 years ago (Seriously, time? A decade since I was rocking Fountain Valley Barons pride? Unacceptable.), and it was so much fun to meet his fiance, Lydia, and spend the afternoon with them in beautiful San Juan Capistrano at Los Rios Historic District, one of my very favorite locations to photograph. I'm very happy for these two and can't wait for their wedding!

bobby+christy {wedding sneak peek}

I am absolutely loving these first few images I've been working on from a wedding two weeks ago at the amazing Butterfly Creek Winery in Mariposa, Calif., so I had to share. I can't wait to showcase all of Bobby and Christy's equally uhh-mazing day!

the martini family {portraitures}

Family sessions that include cute babies have got to be one of the best perks of my job, and this day was no exception! I love this family - their energy, humor and love for one another is so evident in their interactions with each other and everyone else, and it was a blast to spend part of the day at Condor Nest Ranch photographing these new parents and their adorable baby girl. Check out this cutie! Can't wait to see how much cuter she gets as the months go on! :)

Association of Bridal Consultants April meeting {event photography}

Last week I had the honor of photographing the Association of Bridal Consultants' April event at the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity in Costa Mesa. I met a ton of great people and had an amazing time! They were kind enough to share my photos on their blog. Check that out here if you're interested (or click the photo below), and if you wanted to learn more about ABC, or all the great vendors who took part in the night, visit their site, as well!

katie+brian {engagements}

 

This engagement session holds a very special place in my heart! Katie is one of my very best friends, and I'm so happy her and Brian will be tying the knot. Best of all - this is the first time I also get to the pull the "I'm the one who introduced them" card. ;) I've known for ages Brian was "the One" for Katie, and I'm so excited to take part in all the adventures throughout the next year as a bridesmaid. In the meantime, we took a day trip to Condor Nest Ranch in Pala to shoot their engagement photos, and it couldn't have been a more beautiful, unique backdrop. From barns to gorgeous hills to llamas (!!!), there was an endless amount of photo opps, and I had a lot of fun spending the day taking pictures of some of my favorite people! I treasure these times with my friends more than anything, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for them. Here's just a few of my favorites from the day.

 

{this photo is the highlight of my career. it probably won't ever get better than this photobombing lllama.}

 

 

yosemite {landscape photography}

At least once a year, I will take a wedding gig that is far, far out of town because I love the excuse to travel; it's always fun to snap photos that can look so different than what you might get from local surroundings; and I think if you don't want to see some amazing natural masterpiece that is barely a day's drive away, then there is something wrong with you. I had the chance to drive through Yosemite last weekend after a gorgeous, fun wedding at a winery in Mariposa (more on that to come soon), and though I was warned I would be blown away by the park's beauty, WOW was I blown away by its beauty.

True fact: This suburbia born-and-raised Orange County girl had never seen a real, life waterfall before -- let alone one that seems to reach up to the sky forever and forever. Walking up to the base of Bridalveil Falls, getting to stand there and let the wind spray mist in your face after hiking through a national forest has got to be one of the cooler things I've ever experienced. When I rounded the corner on Highway 41 and first caught a glimpse of the waterfall itself, I actually teared up (I am a loser).

I am not an expert at landscape photography, and definitely didn't have all the necessary equipment to master such shots, but I had to share a few I took from that afternoon. It could not have been a more perfect way to kick off wedding season for me, and if you even have one weekend to spare this summer, you should spend it in Yosemite.

a little life inspiration (from my favorite person ever)

As I head into wedding season, I've been looking to cut any negative vibes from my life and truly love every work (and otherwise) day for what it is: a grand adventure that will have its up and downs; its mundane moments and its overwhelming stresses; but overall, its unrivaled blessings. Perhaps it's the inner hippie child in me whom I always thought I'd be if I were born a generation earlier, but I've been lighting aromatherapy candles, going to yoga more, and praying for peace to get myself in the right mindset to make this summer another great one. So when I came upon this quote, I couldn't help but fall in love with it (duh, look who it's from!) and wanted to share it, embody it, (make a fun picture out of it in Photoshop) and remember it moving forward. Enjoy. :)