Jessica and Jordan had such a beautiful wedding and since they had not had formal engagement session done, we decided to do it a couple days after the wedding.   It was such a perfect day and the ocean looked absolutely gorgeous and blue! 

It was fun to take some casual photos of the two of them and with such a beautiful backdrop it hard not to keep shooting!  

Hello beautiful and fun couple! Brittany and Gabriel were gifted a mini session because, well, they're awesome and getting married next year.  Duh, that's what great friends do - they gift one of kind engagement sessions! 

They were so fun to be around and even though a little camera shy, they totally rocked it by being themselves.  That's the best part of my job, that I get to capture the essence of a person that makes up their personality... that is magic.

We walked around downtown and found great spots to create images that reflected who they are.  And can we just say how gorgeous Brittany is?!?! 

I don't think I ever tire of photography my beautiful and growing family!  Cristy is my cousin and sister to Yessenia, who's wedding I shot last year! I'm so happy for them both and excited that I was able to photograph Cristy and Julian's engagement session in beautiful downtown Riverside.

They are super cute together and had a great time! 

Over the course of the wedding planning process, I like to sit with my clients and really get down to what they are looking for as far as photography.   What styles they like, what look they're going for, and most importantly, what compliments their personalities.  All of this mixed in with with my style of romantic, intimate, and classic photography.  

A lot of the time, this can't be captured with just one session or one location.  And therefore we schedule two days in different locations! I love when my clients choose different locations and looks because it gives me the chance to create something different with each session.  Perhaps one more classy with interesting lighting, and the other with fun accessories full of light.  

This is exactly what we did :).  This is part 2 of Abril and Daniel's engagement session with a more urban feel.  To see part 1 click HERE.  Enjoy!

The clouds were gloomy but we ventured into the session any way.  We never thought that with the rain a double rainbow would appear in the backgroud with the sun hitting their faces creating such unique images! We had to work fast to capture the moment but I think we did a pretty good job.  After, it kept raining but Cristy + Lalo didn't even flinch.  They kept going with energy and laughter.  It was a fun session :).

Can't wait for their Cancun wedding in November!!! 

Oh these two.  The love just radiates out from their heart-to-heart connection.  When their eyes meet, you can see the flame burning ever so brightly!  I loved every second of getting to know them and having them in front of my camera.  They were naturals and loved to laugh.  They are adorable!

I can't wait until their wedding in October! I know it's going to be beautiful!

One of the best parts of my job is being able to go to places that hold a special place for my clients.  To show them familiar places in a different light.  We had big gloomy clouds above us and I was able to experiment with a little bit of flash.  Which, if you know me, I have a love-hate relationship with flash.  Engagement sessions allow for this kind of experimentation.  Helps to try new techniques without the pressure of making any mistake you can't take back, like on a wedding day.

Anyway, these two are really in love and I had such a great time photographing them in their hometown, where they met and fell in love!

Just wait until I post their wedding from Mazatlan!  *Soon*

As time goes on, I have come to realize that there is a blurred line between clients and friends. Sometimes clients become friends, and other times friends become clients. It's such a great feeling when we walk and talk about everything and anything and really feel connected on a different level. Of course, this makes for excellent photos because they stop focusing on the camera and more on who is behind it. It becomes a conversation.  

This session was no different and yet it is very special to us because Roberto and Sheila are in deed first friends. And they took us to the magical place of Noritori in the Sierras of Chihuahua to walk amongst the trees and enjoy the crisp spring air that can only be found there. Mesmerizing and breathtaking it leaves a mark on you and you find yourself wanting to go back.  

There are no words to describe how honored I am to do what I do.  To be able to create once in a lifetime photos for families, couples, kids, and babies.   Thank you to all of my clients for letting me be a part of your lives and for having me photograph you!

I look forward to seeing many more familiar as well as new faces this year!  

Happy 2015 everyone!

View fullsize

I absolutely love engagement sessions.  When I meet with potential clients, I make sure to express how important an engagement session is.  Not just for the photographer, but for the couple.  Aside from the wedding day, the engagement session the only real time you have before your wedding that photographs a couple the way a couple really is.  How their love really is.  It allows the couple to have extra photos of them that are a bit more relaxed.  It helps us to get to know each other on a deeper personal level rather than just meeting on the wedding day.  Helps me ask nosy questions like how they met, and how did he propose (or she!) and anything else that doesn't have to do with the wedding day.  All while getting romantic and intimate portraits of how they are, together, as one.  Before all the stress and wedding dress, and flowers.  

This engagement session is no less beautiful!  Gaby and Fer took us to the canyons of Majalca which are just gorgeous during this time of year.  With a small river flowing by and beautiful light coming through the trees, it was a dream!  And how they are together is nothing but full of love.  Check it out :).