The opportunity to meet an amazing couple in San Francisco happened in such a fast and fantastic way that I almost can’t believe it.

Just a couple weeks before their session, I get a call from Jeff (in Chicago) who said he and his fiance will be in California and think it would be a good opportunity to do a session with me. I find out they will be in SF, not LA, my heart sinks for 15 seconds, but then we work it out for me to come up to meet them for the session. On October 2nd, we drive up to SF, photograph the beautiful couple at the stunning Baker Beach, have dinner with friends (here! it was spectacular!), and then drive back early the next morning for an engagement session back in LA on October 3rd.

It was a whirlwind, but it was a wonderful trip – Jeff and Cherry are beyond sweet and it was so exciting to be able to rendezvous with a couple from halfway across the country. It was also so thrilling and refreshing to shoot in an entirely new and unfamiliar backdrop. I might have been (and still am) a little too obsessed with those twisty windy cypress trees and the perfect backdrop the woodsy area by Baker Beach provided. It was almost as if select trees had toppled down in a perfect fashion, and someone said “we could move these, or we could leave them here because they would look AWESOME in a photoshoot.”

I fall in love with SF a little bit more each time I go – the urban vibe, the cute apartments, the amazing food. I know there are so many other nooks that we have yet to explore and better yet, to photograph around, and can’t wait to go back again soon! If you’re planning a wedding or would like to do a session in the bay area, I would love to hear from you! :)

Special thanks to Hana Chung for recommending some great spots for a session in SF! :)

If you have not yet browsed a stunning issue of the new e-zine, Utterly Engaged, please do pour yourself a nice cup of tea, make a beeline for their website, and prepare for an utter feast for your eyes. The talented girls Eva of Red Velvet Occasions and Lucy & Henny of D*LSH Design teamed up to create a beautiful and practical e-zine for the budget-savvy, eco-friendly, style-loving bride (which is so many of the brides we work with :)

I fell in love with the magazine the moment I saw it and am so so honored to have been able to collaborate with these girls & other amazing vendors, and have some of my photography featured in the past couple issues!

I’m sure you all remember this amazing Mad Hatter-inspired tea party I blogged about awhile back, coordinated by the fabulous innovative Joanna Chong. See the article with Joanna’s behind-the-scenes info here.

(Also special thanks to Trendsetting Wedding and Vintage Glam (now Ruffled!) for featuring this shoot!)

Staying on the tea theme, for the last issue I photographed this exquisite tea room, nestled in the heart of Old Town Orange. I can’t believe I never knew about this place!

A few more of my favorites. Paris is currently #1 on my must-visit list and it was just heavenly browsing all these vintage French details!

And lastly, I got to work with the talented Angela Giang of Shop L’Atelier a couple months ago. We photographed her new line of lovely bridesmaid dresses which were then featured in UE! We actually set up the shoot right in my apartment – a blank wall and the warm afternoon sunlight worked perfectly :)

Be sure to browse through the issues as there are tons of other amazing articles, all offering lots of inspiration and laid out in the most beautiful spreads. And be sure to stay posted for Issue #5! :)

Amanda & Anthony held a beautiful beach wedding in Ventura last month. Working with them at their engagement session (which will be posted soon!), gave us a glimpse of just how sweet and amazing this couple is – they both have an infectious radiant energy and most of all, are so positively and honestly in love. Their wedding day was the ultimate reflection of them and therefore the perfect balance of romantic and fun – with sweet quiet moments scattered between lots of laughter, jokes, and dancing galore!

The day was overcast, which cast a beautiful soft light on the affair, one filled with the most beautiful whimsical details. I was head-over-heels for the feather theme that was incorporated into the bouquets and reception details, adding a unique and vintage touch.

Amanda & Anthony – thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your gorgeous joy-filled celebration!

The bouquets were stunning! Love the spotted feathers…

A quick capture of Amanda’s mother as she watched her daughter walk down the aisle…

A quiet moment right after their exit…

Are they not such a stunning couple?

Loved the feathers incorporated into the details…