With engagement sessions, I love when it’s as if I’m just accompanying the couple on a date… natural laughs, quiet intimate moments, an organic unfolding. This is definitely how this one felt – just an afternoon in downtown, a couple cups of coffee, a walk around the neighborhood, a spontaneous stop here and there. I do give some direction during sessions but the ultimate goal is this right here; Dina & Mark interacting in the fun sweet way they do and me accompanying with camera in tow.

Wedding photos are lovely and joyous and so precious, but I love engagement sessions in that they can really show a bit more of who you are together on an everyday level. A snapshot of this.particular.moment in your life.

Iva is the friend of many past brides I’ve worked with, so I was beyond excited when she emailed me to tell me it was her turn next! I was even more excited when I met with her and her fiance Aaron, and they informed me that they wanted to do their engagement photos at Umami. As in the mindblowingly awesome burger place. The one where I always order the Manly Burger, and if my dining companion happens to be a dude, the server always tries to give it to him and I’m all, NO EXCUSE ME THAT MANLY BURGER BELONGS TO ME. That place.

There are a few Umami Burgers in LA (I’m working on the next one being built in my living room), but we ended up doing it at the super cute spacious location in Los Feliz. I loved the upbeat Japanese writing on the walls, and the kokeshi dolls, and the pretty light (first blog post of the year and I’m already talking about pretty light! it’s happening!), and most of all that Iva and Aaron chose a location that was unique and full of memories for them.

Afterwards we headed up to the Griffith Observatory which is always a lovely backdrop for photos. Excited for their wedding later this month, which will be my first one for 2012!

This session was like a little tour of the south bay (aka my home! Torrance FTW! I got a shirt for Xmas that validates all of this!) We visited some of PV’s prettiest spots and finished up along the Redondo shoreline. I love the movement, the wind, the light in the last few at the beach – these types of organicky (oh yes, I totally did that, I just made up a word) photos always speak to me the most :) I’m so excited to work with Wendy and Jon again next year!