I Do: The Wedding of Doral & Justin

What's a great way to decide if you'd like to work with a photographer? Spend the day with them, at someone else's wedding! Referrals are wonderful, but nothing quite beats seeing how a photographer goes about capturing a wedding you're familiar with first hand.

Doral was the maid-of-honor at Kat & Frankie's wedding, and I was definitely flattered when Doral asked me to be a part of her very own day. I had a laugh-out-loud time reuniting with Doral and Justin at their engagement session -- and their willingness to let loose and have fun with the camera carried over to their wedding. Seriously, I love how these two can laugh! I think this had a lot to do with "kissy-kissy". Apparently, during their engagement session, I saw an opportune moment befitting of a smooch, and when I went to suggest said smooch, "kissy-kissy" tumbled out of my mouth. Hey. I don't remember this gem, but Doral and Justin sure do! Needless to say, the ghost of "kissy-kissy" continued to have awesome mileage on their wedding day, and with the good humor flowing, the smiles and positive energy were effortless.

Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo made for a picturesque ceremony and reception. If you are ever heading to Santa Barbara from L.A., indulge in a quick detour and explore the area. It's lovely and made for a very private and beautiful celebration. DJ Pasha, turntable extraordinaire, great working with you once more! And it was a pleasure collaborating alongside videographers Kurt and Derek from New Chapter Productions to document this event.

Thank you again, Doral and Justin, for your thoughtfulness, good cheer, and trust. Huggy-huggy!

Officiant: John Martin
Florist: Unique Floral Design
Groovy Getaway Car: Classy Chassis

The Engagement of Danny & Kacey

Malaga Cove Plaza has forever been a drive-by for me, never the destination. Nestled in the hills of Palos Verdes at a four way intersection, the plaza's Spanish architecture commands a glance, but the traffic has always hustled me along before I could commit to popping the blinker and detouring for a peek.

A recent engagement session changed that. Kacey and Danny were hopeful for a location that offered a California blend of architecture and the outdoors, preferably a place where we wouldn't have to jockey with the weekend crowds for use of the space. Malaga Cove Plaza fit the bill perfectly, and little did I know just how much its curb appeal opens up to a cozy maze of nooks, archways, fountains, and cafes, some of the construction dating back to the 1920's. A short hike up the street brings you to Malaga Cove Library, and in the opposite direction, a contained desert garden ideal for those in need of some time alone.




Credit must also be given to Danny and Kacey for bringing along their personalized props. Hey, it's not every day you get to toss your future monogram in the air! They caught the letters, of course -- so no doubt that means good vibes for the wedding to come. Thanks again for making for such a great day Danny and Kacey!