The Engagement of Sylina & Tony

I had only visited San Juan Capistrano for the first time a week shy of Sylina & Tony letting me know they were considering the city as a possible location for their engagement session. They had remarked how beautiful the downtown area was, and from what I had seen during my own visit, I couldn't have agreed more.  The main corridor through the town has much to be admired, but the true gem of the location in my eyes is Lios Rios St., which is a little back road running parallel to the main strip. Here, you'll find nooks and crannies full of character and rustic charm, all the sort of cues that tame the blood pressure -- and about as close as you can get to country here in bustling Southern California.  Just the type of spot I favor shooting in.


It was actually pretty crowded the weekend we shot with tourists + other photographers documenting weddings, proms, and engagements in the area.  But I think we did a pretty good job making the space seem as if it was all our own.  Sylina & Tony were very open to exploring as much of the area as possible that late afternoon, and our investment yielded some really nice captures from the day.

Looking forward to sharing their wedding images real soon!

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Our Little Nugget

Greetings, all!

I took a bit of a sabbatical this year from shooting and blogging to get the nest ready for our little arrival.  It was a tough decision to limit the number of events I took on for 2012, but given the amount of time I like to invest in each session, it was ultimately a wise decision. 

And now she's here, and we love her!  She's become my new fave photo subject, and I'm burning up the shutter count on my Canon just about every chance I get.  What a wonderful excuse to buy more gear!  Wonder when she can have a camera of her own?  She's even sat with me a few times while I'm editing photos, and she'll drift right to sleep. My work is that fascinating to her - hah!

Hello, world!

 

I Do: The Wedding of William & Teresa

The year is drawing to a close, and I'd like to share one more event before I disappear for the holidays.

Most of the weddings I photograph fall on the weekends, but this was a Friday afternoon celebration, and I'm always happy to be flexible and work with a different schedule. Our day started at the home of Teresa's parents for "getting ready" coverage. This is not only a great time to capitalize on capturing impromptu moments between the bride and bridesmaids, but it's also an opportunity to go on a scavenger hunt for all the mementos and flourishes that will play into the day.











After navigating our way through some Friday rush hour traffic, we enjoyed a ceremony at Lawndale Christian Church. I had actually visited the church on my own a couple days prior to scope out the floor plan and lighting, and to see if the church enforced any special instructions for photographers. Sometimes, a church will have very specific guidelines as to how and where a photographer can shoot, and it's important to operate by those rules. Lakewood Church was refreshingly relaxed, and pretty much let me shoot from anywhere (including the balcony), so long as I was unobtrusive.










A reception was held at the Ayers Hotel, Manhattan Beach. This is another one of the places that I've driven past countless times, but had never been inside. Check it out if you have the chance! The interior impresses with a courtyard and big crackling fireplace perfectly suited for this type of late fall wedding. And although autumn weddings often mean shooting portraits after sundown, this location offered plenty of intimately lit nooks in which to shoot in.













Congratulations again, Teresa and William!

And Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! It's been a fun year!

Wedding Coordination: Monique Aguilar Events