This is an engagement session in the most literal sense – as in, they got engaged DURING THE SESSION. I love how the universe pulled everything together for this one.. a quick timeline of how everything transpired –

– Linda, soon-to-be engaged and ridiculously sweet, emails me regarding photographing her wedding this year.
– I find I’m unfortunately already booked in the month she was looking at.
– Super bummed-ness all around.
– A few weeks pass, I get an email from Reggie, saying he’ll be proposing to Linda soon, he knows we were in contact, and would I photograph the proposal?
– HECK YEAH.
– We plan it all out ninja-style (complete with code texts – I believe Reggie had me inputted in his phone as “Aunt Amy.”)
– The proposal happens at the lovely Santa Monica beach, we do portraits afterwards around the pier, and I get to work with this amazing couple after all!

I love shooting in Palos Verdes! It feels like an extension of my backyard. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Torrance, and you’re met with cliffs, breathtaking views, and quiet solitude. My sister and I drove up once (pre-SLR days), and took pictures in one of the random fields with a point-and-shoot. And now, years later, I get to make pictures of amazing couples in the same area? Life is awesome, yes? :)

Hanaya and Darren are the types of people who bring the happy with them wherever they go. They both share a super sweet and mellow vibe, and complement each other so so perfectly. We’ll all be heading back up to PV for their wedding in July!

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I love when sessions unfold like this – laidback, organic, real. All lifestyle-like, as if I just happened to accompany them on an evening stroll. And on this particular stroll, Deena & Mas brought along their too-adorable-for-words puppy for the first half, and a couple bottles of wine for the second :) They love visiting wineries together & sharing a bottle at the end of day and I’m happy that we could incorporate some al fresco wine tasting into their session!

Deena & Mas are seriously the sweetest, and I loved spending the afternoon with them!

I am so in love with Deena’s Anthropologie dress… reminds me of Japanese indigo patterns which are my fave…

I think these are some of my favorite portraits ever…

Wine!