Megan + Sean

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Couples like Megan & Sean are any photographers DREAM couple to photograph. They are so completely adorable together that there is little to no posing invoved with these two. I just let them be them ~ and snapped away. They are all smiles together ~ and it's contagious! We are so incredibly grateful they chose us to document their engagement, and their wedding this summer! We are looking forward to it already!!

Julie + Andrew

ANAHEIM OAKS REGIONAL PARK, CA

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Seniors

These girls hold such a special place in my heart.

Before God completely changed the direction of my career with a new found love for photography, I was a middle school teacher.

These girls sat in my 7th grade English class, and in my homeroom Bible class the last year I taught out in Palm Desert. Lot's of talks with them about school, the day to day drama of middle school, boys, and about our Faith.   And they watched me transition into motherhood.

And now they are SENIORS! They are such a special group of girls ~ and I hope a sample of what their generation is all about. They are so ambitious and confident and PURE. Amongst them are future lawyers, nurses, teachers, stylists, and doctors. I am just in awe of who they have become & the goals they have set for themselves!!

I am so grateful they agreed to meet up while I was in the desert and let me capture a few of them all together!! There are a few girls missing (and yes, girls...you were MISSED!!) But nonetheless my heart left that weekend so full and encouraged!!

Girls, I will continue to pray for you as you head off to pursue your dreams!! Love you ALL!

~Mrs. S ;)

Montana

I am still wrapping my mind aroud this.... that I am sitting here writing Montana's senior pictures blog post.

First off ~ she is my little cousin. As in, I remember her being the teeny little sassy 3 year old like it was yesterday. Second ~ just a few short years ago, I was sitting in a classroom with her as her 7th grade English teacher. (Now that seems like it was a different lifetime ago!) It just amazes me how life can change to dramatically in such a short amount of time. I could have never imaged that in the blink of an eye she would be preparing for college, and I would be the photographer behind the lense capturing this season of life for her!

Blessed.

What is no surprise to me, though, is what an incredible young woman she has become. She has always been so mature & wise beyond her years. She is so full of life and just exudes joy! She has an eye for creativity. She is incredibly driven & confident. And she knows no strangers.

I feel SO spoiled to call this girl family!

Ohh....AND she is incredibly beautiful in every sense of the word.

Vanessa

Vanessa is a picture of beauty and strength. At just middle school age she ventured across the world and left home on her own to get an education here in California. And now as a college student, she is incredibly independent, smart, and is pursuing her dreams. I loved getting to know her a bit at our shoot in Long Beach for some portfolio head shots ~ enjoy some favorites!

Gionna and Jake

I absolutely cannot get enough of these two. I admire them so much. Just both beautiful people inside & out ~ and I feel incredibly honored that they chose us to document their engagement & wedding! We love you Jake & Gionna and cannot wait for your beautiful Spring wedding!!!

Jenelle and Jeff

We loved Jenelle from the moment we met her at Starbucks! She has the most contagious smile & joy about her! I love hearing about how people came together ~ and their story is especially adorable. She spilled a drink on him at a bar in Long Beach... and the rest is history. :) They are so incredibly perfect for each other. They have the sweetest family & friends. Even though we hadn't met anyone of their guests before their wedding, we were dancing and chatting the night away with them by the end of the night! And Lisa & I both were shedding tears of joy right along with them throughout the day. So many sweet & tender moments. And the cutest thing ever... after their sparkler exit he surprised her with a limo ride to the bar where they first met to share a drink together. In their wedding attire.

Enjoy a few of our favorites from their beautiful wedding at the Kellogg Mansion in Cal Poly!

Amanda & Cameron

Calamigos Ranch, Malibu CA Wedding

We had been looking forward to Amanda & Cameron's wedding for almost a year... for lots of reasons.

First of all, Amanda is a cousin of Lisa's by marriage!  She and her mom came to meet with us almost a year back to discuss their wedding photography.  They had found their gorgeous venue while just having lunch at the famous Calamigos Ranch Malibu Cafe ~ and decided that one day, this was where Amanda would get married.

And after seeing it in person, we can see why!   This place is one of the most gorgeous venues we have ever seen ~ with a very glamorous country feel to it.   The soft colors, burlap & lace touches Amanda added went so beautifully with the natural decor all around.

She and Cameron are so incredibly sweet together ~ and the smile Amanda has when she is with him is so contagious!  Their wedding was not only stunning, but so tender.  I'm pretty sure Lisa & I were both tearing up often throughout the day!

We had so much fun with them and were SO very honored they chose us to document their day!

Enjoy some of our favorites!!

Venue:   Calamigos Ranch, Malibu, CA

Kevin & Melissa

Kevin & Melissa had their beautiful, country themed wedding at the horse ranch turned wedding venue , Quail Haven Farms in Vista, CA.

This venue is completely adorable ~ with rustic wood archways, and garden-like trails guiding guests from the ceremony site to the reception.

Melissa & Kevin opted to not see each other before the ceremony, which we are seeing more and more of.  And their 'first look' was what every woman wants on her wedding day ~ just awe & joy!  Their sweet ceremony with individually written vows was followed by a swoon worthy backyard style celebration.  There was all kinds of dancing, a cigar lounge area, and even ice cream bars passed out for dessert!

We were incredibly honored to have been the ones to capture their day ~ especially considering Melissa was one of Lisa's closest childhood friends!(#4Star ~ she knows what we mean..)  ;)

Melissa & Kevin are just a BLAST together ~ always laughing & having fun.  Just best friends in love.

Here are a few of our favorites!

Venue:  Quail Haven Farms

Second Shooter:   Erica Streelman Photography

Hair/Makeup:  Mary Jane Zondervan

Tyler & Christina

Hands down one of the best parties we have been to ~ a true celebration!  The whole vibe of the day was just excitement & joy...exactly what a wedding should be!

One of the fun parts about the "post processing" (as we call it) of a wedding is getting to go through the images and relive it ~ and I was literally smiling the entire time as I sorted through their wedding photos.   Tyler's HUGE smile in every photo is contagious!!

Christina had an amazing Boho style for herself & her bridesmaids looking STUNNING in Stone Cold Fox.  There were lots of little Hawaiian touches to the day to incorporate her heritage.   And our talented friend, Carly P Design Studio, created so many beautiful personalized signs found all throughout the venue.

The Maya in Long Beach has such a beautiful & unique feel to it!   It sits right in the harbor with a gorgeous view of downtown Long Beach & the Queen Mary.  And to top it off ~ it has it's own HOOKAH lounge!!  So, of course, they had an adorable & inviting hookah lounging area on their upper deck patio!  So cool.

Their beautiful outdoor wedding, with a waterfall as the backdrop, was followed by an AMAZING party.   The DJ (DJ DIK) was INSANELY good!   The dance floor was going all night ~ and we totally joined in.  (not so unusual for us...)  ;)    We decided we want to throw a party just so he can DJ.   THAT good.

So many fun & memorable moments throughout the day ~ and here is just a taste of the goodness!  Enjoy some of our favorites  :)

Venue:  the Maya, Long Beach, CA

Coordinator:  Candice Sanders, Events by Candice

Florist:  Jenelle Sell

Cake:  Rossmoor Pastries

Hair:  Miranda Pierre

Makeup:  My Girls on Film Studios

DJ: DJ DIK

James & Lauren

Not only was this an absolutely beautiful wedding ~ it is sure to be a beautiful marriage.

James & Lauren are amazing people ~ and we loved every moment of their day

We are so excited to share some of our favorites from their rainy day Redlands wedding at The Mitten Building earlier this month!!

Enjoy!!!

 

Venue: The Mitten Building, Redlands CA

Florist: Felicity Blooms

Hairbows, Garters & Bowties: JBHandmades

Cinematographer: DP Weddings

To view Lauren & James' AHHHMAZING wedding video click here!!!

http://dpweddings.com/james-lauren/

James & Lauren's Glam Engagement

I first met Lauren as a model for our Bohemian Wedding Inspiration Shoot

Lauren exudes beauty on so many levels.   She loves Jesus ~ is humble as can be ~ and is so incredibly kind.   She is also SO fun to photograph...(look at the photos..case in point.)   So after our our shoot, when she inquired about her own wedding photography Lisa and I were beyond thrilled!

We haved loved getting to know Lauren, and have been playing "it's a small world after all" over and over as we continue to realize how many mutual friends & connections we have!

Lauren just gushes about her hubby to be, James ~ who I just met at this styled shoot for the first time.  And they are completely adorable together ~ and compliment each other so well.

I'm so grateful they allowed me to 'style' an engagement shoot for them ~ they were the perfect couple to make my vision come to life.

We went for a rustic meets glam engagement shoot ~ dressed to the nine's, as they say, in the middle of the woods.

Megan Minnema of Megan's Hair & Makeup did a GORGEOUS job on Lauren's hair and makeup, and Lauren looked stunning wearing Adrianna Pappell and jewelry by Nadri

Enjoy a few (or a LOT) of my favorites!

We are SO excited to shoot their wedding this August in Redlands!!

A Dream Dress up

I am completely and utterly in love with this shoot!!!

Our friend Alyson approached us with the inspired idea to photograph our precious girls in our wedding gowns as a keepsake ~ and while I was excited at the idea, I had no idea how much I would obsess over the turnout!

I can't wipe the smile off my face sorting through the many photos of our laughing, giggling JOY filled girls dancing around in our dresses.   And full disclosure...they were at the very least just as radiant if not more than we were on our actual wedding days.

Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!!

the Thuy family

One of the best parts of doing photography is getting to meet so many wonderful people.

the Thuy family came in to visit from Arizona ~ back to their old stomping grounds ~ Laguna Beach

...which just happens to be absolutely beautiful.

Beautiful family + beautiful Laguna Beach = a great family photo sesh.

Maria & Darren

So in love with this wedding ~ and this couple!

Right off the bat we knew we loved them... over a cup of coffee at Starbucks they told us their amazing story about how they were not high school, but JUNIOR HIGH sweethearts!   And how life had taken them different directions for awhile, only to bring them back together years later ~ and this time, for the long haul!  Needless to say...their slideshow was amazing ~ including photos of them together as little teeny boppers.

We had an incredible day with them starting off with a traditional Tea Ceremony that was an incredibly sweet & special event to watch unfold.   Then off to their STUNNING wedding at the Mission Inn in Riverside ~ Which is now one of my very favorite spots.... WOWowow.  So much design, and so much history!!

Every detail was stunning, and Maria & Darren were such a JOY to be with.

We feel so spoiled to have gotten to capture their day!!

AHHH and this reaction from Darren!?!  What EVERY woman wants on her wedding day ~ completely overwhelmed & wow-ed! Love love love!

Their Ceremony was held in the GORGEOUS & historic St Francis of Assisi Chapel. Breathtaking.

A dear (& TALENTED) friend of mine (Carly P Design Studio)

who literally 'does it all' (as they say) did the custom signage for Maria & Darren's wedding ~ how cute is this!?

Kimberly & Mark

Sacramento, CA Meadow Wedding

Of course, the only day it rained in weeks was on this, their wedding day ~ but they chose to not let it affect their plans or their spirits, which made all of the difference in the world.

They continued as planned with outdoor photos, and were wed in the meadow that is Kim's safe haven ~ where she goes often with her horse Billy to escape the hustle and bustle of life and just enjoy God's incredible creation and the blessing of each day.

It's like a little hidden treasure only a few miles away from the busy downtown city of Sacramento.

She rode in on her horse through the trees, wearing her mother's wedding gown, and met Mark at the end of the aisle of wood stumps.

And as if on cue, the sun came out right as Kim came down the aisle.

Perfection.

They finished their day with a celebration over dinner with close friends & family at the stunning Vizcaya in downtown Sacramento.

Event Coordinator:  Stacey Kitchell

Reception:  Vizcaya