Amy & Mike Engaged! | San Diego Wedding Photographer

Allow me to introduce, Amy & Mike! Aren't they really really ridiculously good looking?


Amy's sister, Jillian, and I went to graduate school together at SDSU. I was so excited when Amy (who lives in LA) wrote to tell me that was getting married in San Diego and that she and her fiancé were looking for a photographer. Thank you Jillian for the recommendation! Anyways, I knew that it was going to be a fun wedding within seconds of meeting them and I wanted in! Amy & Mike are a very relaxed and fun-loving couple, so I'm predicting happy tears and a packed dance floor at their celebration in August!






At first Amy & Mike just wanted to do photos at the wedding, but I told them that I really thought they would enjoy an engagement shoot as well. Engagement shoots are a great way for me to get to know a couple in front of the camera -- what kind of angles/lighting/framing they like, which goofy smile they like/don't like, how they interact with each other -- and this makes the wedding pictures even better!

Sometimes grooms are apprehensive about booking an engagement shoot because they have never been in front of a camera for a long time, or they think they'll feel awkward posing with a cheesy smile for hours, but my grooms always walk away really glad they did it. And I think it is because I don't make them pose -- I just tell the couple to have fun together and I take pictures while they play!

Mike was one of those grooms that took a little convincing, but I heard him say "That was really fun," as he walked to his car. ;) Amy & Mike's photoshoot was very spontaneous and we spent the whole time laughing, so I'm not surprised he had a good time!








Thanks Amy & Mike! I can't wait for the wedding!!!

Shoemaker Family

I was so excited when Maggie contacted me regarding family photos! First of all, I love family! Secondly, I love the beach! So...we hit the sand!

Beautiful family.



The tide was so high! It kept sneaking up on us...and of course I was concentrating too hard to notice when it would attack them! Oops. :) We all ended up pretty wet by the end of the evening...ha!

We had to pull out all the stops for this little thing! Bracelets, funny sounds, silly faces, pretzels, books....but in the end...I think it worked! We got some really awesome shots of her!


This is one of my favorites! All three of them look so cute...like they are really having fun!




Isn't he the cutest young man? Watch out! This kid is going to be a heartbreaker! ;) Hmmm...I might have to get his number for Abbey someday...ha ha!

I LOVE this shot of him and his parents. So sweet and real...another favorite.


Well Shoemakers, I had such a blast with you all! I hope you enjoyed the ocean....er, water? ;) Good thing it wasn't too cold. Ha ha! And I hope you enjoy your photos!

The Drew Family

Good Grief!!!
I can't believe its been almost two months since I've blogged! That's terrible! You guys really need to get on me!
I have definitely been busy...maybe one of these days I'll be able to catch you all up...
...maybe. ;)

For now though, I have to share a token from my shoot last night.

Last night was easily one of my top favorite shoots of the summer! The Drew family really knows how to have fun...and how to love. It really was so special to be a part of their evening. I felt so happy walking back to my car after spending some time with them.

Below is one of my absolute favorites!!


The whole time I was shooting I kept thinking,
Once a mom, always a mom...no matter how big your babies are.

And this photo illustrated my point perfectly.

Leith & Pati Engaged!

A couple of weeks ago, I had an engagement shoot...first downtown and then to the beach! They were a darling couple. He's on the way to becoming a doctor at UCSD medical school, and she just graduated with a degree in nursing! The perfect pair!

We had a really great time...and yes, I'm just getting around to posting them!

There were so many awesome photos...here are a few of my favorites.

I loved the red! He kept whispering funny things into her ear....it made for awesome shots!

So cute!




This one looks like it should be the cover of a romance novel. =)

And a perfect ending for the perfect evening...