Joshua Tree & Coffee Shop Engagement Photography Session | Brad & Silva

BRAD + SILVIA

Engagement Photography Session

Date: 02.08.20

Locations:

• Augie’s Coffee, 300 E State St #100, Redlands, CA 92373

• Joshua Tree National Park

Vendors:

• Photographer: Mike Federis Photography

This is true story about a young couple that fell in love at Starbucks! Seriously, how romantic is that? They are definitely coffee connoisseurs and they know their stuff. They also agree with me Starbuck’s Coffee is pretty basic and the local coffee shops like Augie’s, Arcade’s Coffee Roasters, Lift Coffee are they way to go.

So it was a no brainer that an engagement session at a local coffee spot like Augie’s is the perfect location. Since they chose Joshua Tree National Park as their engagement destination, we decided to stop at Augie’s Coffee in Redlands and capture some candid photos of them just hanging out. Unfortunately, the original location with the “red” building is now leased by another coffee shop. The new location is located on State Street inside the commercial building. As usual, the place was packed but do offer outdoor seating with tables. We all missed the original, small quaint building. It was just so iconic. After getting our coffee fix, we headed out to Joshua Tree National Park.

The drive is about 2 hours from Redlands. If decide to enter via the North Entrance, there is usually a line since visitors are purchasing tickets, asking questions, etc. You can enter from Palm Springs side, but there is not much on the south side. In addition, the drive to the major attractions from that entrance is a bit far. So I recommend entering via the Main Entrance and purchasing National Park Pass. This is so worth if you decided to visit the park multiple times. To enter the park without a National Park Pass is about $30. The National Park Pass “America the Beautiful” is $80. I highly recommend arriving at the park 4-5 hours before sunset. You will have to do a bit of driving to get from one location to the next, especially if it’s your first time.

Here are some of my favorite spots:

• Hall of Horrors

• Skull Rock

• Jumbo Rocks

• Cholla Cactus Garden

• Keys Views

Another recommendation for all you photogs out there is to invest in a pop-tent! If your client is planning to do multiple outfit changes, this will save you time and provide comfort for your clients. Joshua Tree attractions are spread out and sometimes the restrooms are not most ideal places to change outfits.

Our plan was to shoot at Jumbo Rocks, Skull Rock, and Cholla Cactus Garden. We knew we may not make it to Cholla Cactus Garden since it’s about a 30-40 minute drive from Skull Rock. So we made the most of our time at the other locations. However, there are so many places where you can just pull over to the side of the road and take pictures.

After the long journey to Joshua Tree, we ended the day at my favorite fast food restaurant, In-N-Out Burger. We managed to capture some great candids here as well!

Here’s what Brad & Silvia have to say about their Engagement Session:

What were your top 3 photos from the engagement gallery?

Our 3 best photos are attached to this email :)

What was the biggest surprise of the day?

The Biggest surprise of the day for us was seeing how beautiful Joshua Tree and the Scenery.

What was your most anticipated part of the day?

We think the most anticipated part of the day was getting a perfect shoot in which we got a bunch of course and now we can't choose just one!

What ended up being your favorite part of the day?

Climbing up the rocks and seeing the amazing view and actually being tall for once.

What were some of your favorite engagement details?

Brad- "Being able to surprise her in which i walked up behind her and got to dip her and give her a surprise kiss"

Silvi- " My favorite engagement detail is running up behind brad and jumping on his back getting that smile out of him"

Describe Augie's Coffee and why did you choose that location?

we picked Augie's Coffee because we meet and feel in love at a coffee shop, but Starbucks is to gross to re-live

the moment we first laid eyes on each other. #upgrade

P.S there coffee is to die for!

Describe the Joshua Tree National Park and why did you choose that location?

We both share that creative spark for adventure & we feel Joshua tree had an edgy, yet beautiful scenery that fit best with our personalities and tastes.

How did you feel after the day ended?

We were very exhausted but yet very excited to see the magic Mike created with us that day, we loved every minute of it

What did you like most about working with Me (Mike)?

We feel, Mike was very "engaging" and professional, as well as creative and friendly with our engagement session. all in all we strongly feel like we've gained a friend through our engagement session with Mike.

What are you looking forward to the most as an engaged couple?

Enjoying this journey and being able to count down the day till we become one with each other.

being engaged is a big step towards saying "I WILL" im looking forward to the journey of building a stronger relationship with my one, and far ahead after they become my only and my forever

What advice would you give to future bride and grooms looking to plan an engagement session?

Be spontaneous, get excited and love love love your future spouse! the more spontaneous and excited you become leading up to the engagement session, the more fun you will have!

Check out their Wedding Website and learn more about their story! Plus, they have an AWESOME honeymoon fund that I encourage you guys to support!

Malibu Wine Safari Surprise Engagement Proposal | Malik + Farhana

MALIK + FARHANA

Surprise Engagement Proposal

Date: 01-25-20

Location: 32111 Mulholland Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Vendors:

• Photographer: Mike Federis Photography

• Venue: Malibu Wine Safari

This was one of the most challenging and rewarding engagement sessions to date. I absolutely loved how everything turned out. Big congrats to Rahim & Farhana! You guys are such wonderful people and I’m so happy for both of you!

Below is a brief summary of how everything was planned and the details behind the surprise proposal.

What’s so interesting about this Surprise Engagement Proposal is that Malik’s sister is the one that found me on Instagram back in November of 2019. Amber luckily stumbled upon my Instagram page and sent me a direct message. At first we had some technical difficulties with her e-mail and sending over my estimate. Eventually, we finally figured it out and I was able to contact Malik from there.

Malik’s plan was to take his now fiancé, Farhana on a Malibu Wine Safari Tour and surprise her with the epic question “will you marry me?” The tour would consists of several stops along the ranch and include a lunch. Malik knew that Farhana would love this tour because of the amazing wine and animals on this ranch. One of the most famous animals on the ranch is a giraffe named Stanley, who was featured in the movie Hangover Part III.

The biggest challenge of this surprise engagement session was finding the perfect spot for him to pop the question. We definitely wanted Rahim to pop the question early on the tour so we can freely take engagement photos. It would be a tough sell for me to pretend that I wasn't a photographer throughout the tour.

So we did some research and found an interesting spot where there was a free standing door that had a picturesque backdrop of a mountain. At the time we thought this was called the frame. Unfortunately, once I arrived at the venue, they informed me that this spot would be towards the end of the tour. This definitely threw a wrench in our plans but there was another location which they recommended. So the entire time I was texting Rahim to keep him in the loop and make sure were both on the same page. I also talked to the driver and tour guide and confirmed that there was a frame on the second stop of the tour. I decided to fill in the driver and tour guide on the secret since I wanted to make sure we had enough time at the second stop.

Our tour started at 11:00am, and we all jumped in an open top truck that fit about 15 people. Malik and Farhana sat in the front row of the truck. My entire goal before the 2nd stop was to be as invincible as possible, but I have to admit it was difficult since I was by myself. When most people go on these type of tours, they usually go with a group of people or another person. So I sat all the way in the back pretending to be a blogger :)

But, I was up for the challenge and I wanted to make sure this would be a success for Malik. The first stop of the tour was Stanley the giraffe. The tour guide gave us a a brief history on Stanley’s movie career and how he ended up at the ranch. Overall, he was a friendly and happy giraffe. I took a few candid photos of Rahim and Farhana here but I didn’t want to make it too obvious since we were all clustered in a small area.

The next stop would be “proposal spot” Once the truck pulled over, I immediately changed my lens to the 70-200mm lens. I wanted to be fully prepared and didn’t want to be changing lenses in the middle of the photos. The actual spot was about 100 feet away. But, before the big question moment, the tour guide walked us over to a table to taste some wines. There were a few red and white wines, I honestly couldn’t remember if I was drinking a pinot or cabernet. I was too focused on taking candid photos and mentally preparing for the big moment. From time to time, I would make quick eye contact with Malik. I knew he would have to slowly make his way to the spot. Luckily, there were some animals towards the that area and so Malik started walking Farhana to that area.

I also told a few people on the truck about the little secret and I asked young lady to record the entire surprise.

I stood about 50 feet away pretending that I was just taking pictures of the landscapes. Malik finally made eye contact with me and gave me a thumbs up that it was a “go” So Malik made his way under the frame and perfectly positioned himself and Farhana as I suggested. I could tell that Malik was slightly nervous and Farhana was a bit confused why they were walking under this frame. On the other hand, I knew this was going to be a beautiful moment.

Positioning: This is so important to make sure your client is positioned correctly in front of the lens to capture the perfect shots of this special moment.

The moment was very touching as Malik finally got down on one knee and pulled out a beautiful engagement ring. For some reason, it seemed like everyone from the tour knew what was going on. Once Farhana said “yes” everyone from the tour was cheering for the beautiful couple. Farhana was absolutely elated and surprised. At this point, I’m just shooting away taking as many photos as I can so I don’t miss any moments. At the same time I was super happy for Rahim and her lovely fiancé, Farhana. I was finally able to introduce myself and tell Farhana that we had planned this for months. It was truly a perfect day for Malik & Farhana.

The entire tour was lovely and we were able to capture some amazing photos at this beautiful vineyard and ranch. After the tour, we had one last surprise for Farhana. Rahim had made reservations at Malibu Cafe and invited all their closest friends. The Malibu Cafe was about 5 minutes away and this would be another great surprise for Farhana.

Overall, the surprise engagement proposal went as smooth as we planned. I’m super thankful to the staff at the Malibu Wine Safari and the friends I made on the tour for helping us out.

I’m sure you’ve heard enough from me. Here’s a few thoughts and insights from Malik:

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What were your top 3 photos from the engagement gallery?

1. The one with Farhana holding the ring out. 

2. The one with me on my knees proposing. 

3. The one where she jumps after i propose. 

What was the biggest surprise of the day?

MG: How picturesque the whole tour was and I was really thankful you asked a girl on the tour to catch a video of the moment so we'll always have that. 

What was your most anticipated part of the day?

MG: The proposal itself i was anticipating as I wanted everything to be perfect (which it was :)). The afterparty lunch we had was a great surprise for Farhana as she didn't expect that at all and to share this special moment with family and friends was something we'll always cherish. 

How did you feel after you popped the question?

MG: I felt so relieved after popping the question. I felt like a new man ready to celebrate with my new fiance. 

What ended up being your favorite part of the day?

MG: My favorite part was after the safari tour we snuck into the rose garden to take pictures which all came out amazing.  

What were some of your favorite engagement details?

MG: Favorite details has to be location, food, pictures and family. All very important to a successful engagement and ofcourse the girl saying yes :).  

Describe the Malibu Wine Safari and why did you choose that tour?

MG: I chose the wine safari because of how much Farhana loves animals. I knew i wanted to incorporate animals into the proposal i just didnt know how. We dont drink and we love food so i made sure to pick the lunch tour which gave us great food we can enjoy together and pictures with animals and in the beautiful hills of malibu.    

Describe Malibu Cafe and second surprise of the day.

  MG: Having family there was very special especially when Farhana and I saw our siblings it was emotional to spend that moment with our partners in crime. It really felt like we joined 2 families.  

How did you feel after the day ended?

MG: I also put together a dinner for both our families including our parents so that was very special. We all laughed ate and had a great time feeling relaxed and excited for the road ahead.   

What did you like most about working with Me (Mike)?

MG: I love how innovative you were. You played music to make if feel more natural you told us exactly how to pose and you took the lead in making sure the things that would slip my mind you would catch it, I would say you were much more than a photographer you were like a engagement planner! Great experience.   

What are you looking forward to the most as an engaged couple?

MG: We've been going out for 3 years and its been special every single day with each other. The thing we're most looking forward to is spending these special moments with the family and travelling.    

What advice would you give to future grooms looking to plan a surprise engagement proposal?

MG: Try to pick a location where there is sentimental value also fine a way to get her siblings or family/friends involved. It will make it so much more special for the both of you as it was for us.   

Tom Ham's Lighthouse Wedding | Curt & Sarah | San Diego, CA

CURT + SARAH

Wedding Day

Date: 01-18-20

Location: Marina Village, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA 92109

Vendors:

• Videography: Walter A. Media

• Make-Up: Natalie Santos

• Venue: Tom Ham’s LightHouse

I first met Cut and Sarah during their engagement session at Balboa Park in December of 2019. They were referred to me by my good friend Walter Arenas. They were such a sweet couple with great chemistry. I always learn so much about the couple from the engagement session. Engagement sessions are so important not just for me but also the couple. These sessions helps me learn about how they met and how they fell in love. This allows me to connect with them and helps them feel more comfortable. Most of the couples I meet have never done a photo session and for some it’s a little intimidating. So the more I know about them and more they know about me helps build that trust. That trust helps calm their nerves and they act more naturally in camera. Here’s the link to their engagement session photos.

This was no different with Curt and Sarah. Curt and Sarah are very simple and down to earth couple. I loved that because I live life in a very similar way. They wanted their wedding to be small and intimate. The guest count was around 50 people. I also loved the fact that the Curt and Sarah would be wearing the traditional filipino attire. Curt would be wearing the traditional “Barong” which is a short sleeve shirt made out of bamboo. Sarah would be wearing the traditional filipino dress called “Filipiniana” which is a two piece dress with large butterfly shoulder sleeves. The sleeves typically have some intricate design.

A week prior to the wedding, we had a conference call to discuss the wedding day timeline and make sure we covered everything in detail. Their wedding venue was at the Tom Ham’s Light House Restaurant in San Diego and getting ready location was the Hilton San Diego Harbor Island Hotel right next to the restaurant. Both locations are convenient and great for photos. Both face out to the Pacific Ocean and have direct views to Downtown San Diego.

We started the day at the hotel to capture wedding detail shots (rings, save the date cards, flowers) and getting ready portraits of the bride and groom. 

Curt and Sarah were on different floors because they wanted a first look before the ceremony. We started at Curt’s room since I knew most grooms don’t take more than 5-10 minutes to get ready. Curt actually has really long hair but he styled it in a simple bun. One of the must have shots was Curt with his hair down, per Sarah’s request :) After taking a few more candid shots the groom and his groomsmen, we moved our way to Sarah’s room.

The bride’s room is usually chaotic and has lot of moving parts. Sarah was still getting her makeup and hair styled by Natalie, so we took a few photos of the ring and her traditional filipino dress. Once Sarah was ready, we focused on capturing some portraits with her sister, bridesmaids, her mom, and Curt’s mom.

For the first look, I decided to do it across the street at the park. This was the perfect spot to capture the beautiful background of the coastline and downtown San Diego. We were able to capture some amazing portraits during sunset! We then ended up doing all the wedding part and family shots there.

This was my very first wedding ceremony during sun down. The ceremony was set at 6pm and it was completely dark. So Walt and I put up LED lights strategically around the ceremony site. We didn’t want to ruin the mood of the ceremony, so we stuck with only four lights that would illuminate the aisle way and the bride and groom for photo and video. Thank you Curt and Sarah’s family for making the ceremony site a success. The ceremony was a success!

The rest of the day went as well as expected. There were so many surprises that had me surprised. One of the highlights for me was Curt singing “This I Promise You” by N’Sync. Great job Curt!

The Grand Exit was pretty fun! Since we couldn’t do a “sparkler” grand exit due to fire safety. I had everybody pull out their phones and turn on their flash to mimic the sparklers.

Congrats again Curt and Sarah! We wish you happy long lasting marriage!

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I’m sure you’ve heard enough from me from this blog post! Here’s the review from Mr. and Mrs. Sendaydiego.

What was the biggest surprise of the day?

• Sarah Answer: How fast it went by and Curt’s surprise song.

• Curt Answer: “I honestly wasn’t surprised” – Curt

What was your most anticipated part of the day?

Sarah: Giving speeches as I know this would be a very emotional day for me. 

Curt: Taking photos

What ended up being your favorite part of the day?

So many! Its hard to pick. For Curt, it was the pre-wedding photo shoot and getting to spend time with guests. For me, it was also the pre-wedding photo shoot and then getting time to connect with the guests at the reception. Curt and I wanted to keep the wedding small and very intimate so we could enjoy time with our friends and family.

What were some of your favorite wedding details?

Sarah: Getting ready with my mom, mother in law, SIL, sister and all my good girlfriends. I also really enjoyed all of the help and support Curt and I received throughout the day from family and friends. Everyone chipped in to help with décor, setup, takedown, etc.

Curt: The alter. Watching our moms and my Aunt Michelle work hard to get the alter prepped for the ceremony. It was true labor of love and was completely improvised, but perfect and exceeding our expectations.

Describe the venue and why did you choose Tom Ham’s Lighthouse?

Tom Hams was the first place Curt took me to dinner when I visited San Diego for the first time when we started dating. Curt had originally suggested Tom Ham’s as a venue and after visiting several venues, Tom Ham’s was our last stop. ts on the water and has an amazing view, is romantic and has a very intimate vibe. The food is also great.

How did you feel after the day ended?

Exhausted, relieved, joy….it was a long day! It was also sad as we know this would probably be one of the last times we would have all of closest family and friends in the same room.

What did you like most about working with us (Mike & Dolly)?

You guys were both super professional and were excellent at communicating. You both are calm and collected and have a clear vision for how you want for a photo to turn out. You both have an exceptional attention to detail and made the entire process so easy and fun. We also appreciated the pre-wedding consultation that was provided. For us we wanted a lot of photos of our family and friends, and less focus on just the couple. When we received our final wedding album we couldn’t have been happier. It had the perfect mix of the bride and groom, but also an awesome assortment of friends and family. We also liked how you guys worked so well together with the videographer team. Guests event commented on pleasant and professional the two of you were. Curt and I can’t wait to book our next photoshoot with you (perhaps baby Sendaydiego 😊 ) Thank you Mikey and Dolly for you being you and for making our day extra special. We hope to connect again with you soon.

What are you looking forward to the most as a married couple?

Curt: A baby

Sarah: Spending time with Curt and making memories with him and our family and friends. Perhaps a baby Sendaydiego will come in the near future 😊

What advice would you give to future couples for their wedding?

Curt: Don’t waste time on the details that don’t matter. Don’t forget to eat. 

Sarah: Same. I focused so much on the small details (i.e. programs, wedding flowers) and could have spent more time connecting with guests and enjoying my time more during and leading up to the wedding day. 

Wedding Highlight Video by Walter A. Media

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San Diego Harbor Wedding Photography | Marina Village

MICAH & DONNIE

Wedding Day

Date: 10-06-19

Location: Marina Village, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA 92109

One of the most memorable weddings to date! The day was full of love and happiness. Such an honor to be part of their special day.

The day started at the Marina Village Conference Building where I met Micah and all her friends and family. Donnie and the boys were in a separate building just a couple minutes away.

We started with the groomsmen first since they usually don’t take that long to put their suit and tie. The men all wore matching 3 piece suits. Their suits were classy with black and grey tones. We were able to capture tons of candid photos of everyone just chilling and excited for the big day. After taking detail shots, individuals, and group shots I transitioned to capture the Bride.

Micah was absolutely stunning! She had an elegant dress lined with jewel design. We also captured some portraits with her parents who were just plain awesome and wonderful.

The first look was right outside the Marina Village Conference Building. Such a great venue, because you are literally next to the harbor and there are so many nice places to photograph here.

The outdoor ceremony went as smooth as can be. The ceremony was situated on a grassy area overlooking the harbor.

Here are must have and fun portraits of the bridal and groomsmen party! Such a fun group of friends and family.

Last but not least is the reception! This is where all the fun begins. What an amazing night full of surprises and so many talented people who can sing and dance!

Victoria Beach | Laguna Beach Engagement Photography | Suzana + Justin

SUZANA + JUSTIN

Victoria Beach, Laguna Engagement Session

Date: 12-14-19

Location: Victoria Beach, Laguna, CA

Suzana and Justin are a young, beautiful couple originally from Texas. Justin is a Captain in the Air Force and Suzana is a Registered Nurse. Their love story started like most relationships, they met through mutual friends and were friends initially for some time. Their long distance relationship eventually blossomed and they hit it off.

Laguna Beach is Suzana and Justin’s favorite beach line in Southern California. They wanted sometime unique and picturesque. Suzana decided with Victoria Beach, which is a hidden gem in Laguna. There is no direct route to the beach from the pacific coast highway. Therefore, parking is a little bit tricky since there are no signs pointing towards the beach. Many of the locals despise visitors from parking not the neighboring streets. So I recommend that you find parking right on the Pacific Coast Highway, but this may get crowded during the summer. Winter is the best time to schedule photo shoots, there are less visitors and spectators.

There are two entry points from Victoria Drive and Wards Terrace. There are no public restrooms, so we recommend brining a pop-up changing tent for your couples. The last option is to take the trolley from Treasure Island or the Main Beach.

We decided to park right on Pacific Coast Highway and walk down between the homes. If you park north of Victoria Beach Dr., you can walk down McAulay Place or Sunset Terrace and it will lead you to a Public Stairway to the beach. Not far of a walk at all, just be careful of the cars coming around the corners.

We were so lucky because the past few weeks it had been pouring down like cats and dogs in Southern California. There was also a slight chance that it might rain near the coast that day. I’ve always been lucky with the weather and it has never rained on me yet. The day was just perfect! There was a slight overcast which gave us some diffused light. This spot is definitely a hidden gem. There were a few people on the beach but no where near crowded as the Main Beach.

Suzana and Justin wanted to start the engagement shoot wearing her nurse scrubs and Justin’s military uniform. I actually loved this idea because it’s an important part of how they moved here in Southern California. They briefly met through mutual friends in Texas, but then Justin was transferred to a new duty station in Southern California. They eventually reconnected and started a long distance relationship. Their relationship kept building and they made the decision to move in together. This meant that Suzana had to move all the way to California from Texas. What a big leap of faith! The rest is history!

After taking some natural light photos, we made our way towards the tide pool and the pirate tower. The Pirate Tower is slightly north of the beach. You won’t be able to see it from the entrance of the beach. The tide pools were amazing. We were able to capture some dynamic photos with flash there.

The Pirate Tower is an interesting sight, the tower was built in the early 1900s and it’s still standing to this day. The tower is located north of the beach, you will have to walk over a section of rocky terrain to make your way to the tide pools and pirate tower.

It was simply an awesome day to spend some time with Justin and Suzana, we absolutely love their positivity on life and infectious enthusiasm. Dolly and I are so glad to have connected with them. We are so looking forward to their wedding in July. Love you guys!

Here’s a highlight video of their engagement session at Victoria Beach.

Glendora Backyard Wedding

DAVID + TRISH

Date: 12-22-19

Location: Glendora, CA

David and Trish are a wonderful couple from Texas who recently had their wedding ceremony earlier in the year. Unfortunately, the wedding was in Texas and many of Trish’s family members and friends couldn’t attend. So they decided to do it all over again in California. The venue would be at Trish’s home in Glendora, California where she grew up.

I was actually contacted just a week prior by a Claudia Terrazas, Wedding Planner (www.timewithterrazas.com) through instagram since the previous photographer could not make it. I accepted immediately since I was available and I know how difficult it is to locate vendors 3 days before Christmas. Yes, the wedding ceremony was on December 22, 2019, just 3 days shy of Christmas.

The ceremony would actually take place inside the living room of their home. I still couldn’t believe how they were able to fit everyone in this space. They definitely made it work! I did enjoy how intimate and joyful everyone was.

We also love the little details all over the home. The wooden circle pieces for the reception tables was beautiful.

Here are some of the getting photos of Trish. We loved how bright red hair contrasted with her lovely wedding dress.

This was my first ever wedding ceremony in a home and one of my favorite weddings of all time. The feeling in the living room was just full of joy and positivity.

Engagement Photography at Big Bear Lake | Sean & Lauren

SEAN + LAUREN

Date: 11-02-19

Location: Juniper Point, Big Bear Lake, CA

Big Bear is known for its beautiful forest scenery and iconic lake. Sean and Lauren requested a location that would provide that nature and forest vibe, and Big Bear was the perfect location for their Engagement Session.

One of my favorite spots in Big Bear is called Juniper Point, it’s located on the North Shore and pretty secluded. There is plenty of parking since it’s not one of the most popular spots in the area, but I guarantee you its has beautiful views of the mountains. You will need to purchase an Adventure Pass at the Ranger Station or you can buy one at REI or Big 5 Sporting Goods. It’s pretty inexpensive for $5 a day, but I usually recommend purchasing the annual pass since its a mere $30 for the entire year. You can also use the America Beautiful National Park Pass. Make sure you display these permits on your car, or you may receive a pricey ticket from the Rangers

Cell signal is pretty sketchy up there, so make sure you share the GPS location to your client before you meet. Or you can also carpool before driving up in the mountains.

There are plenty of spots to take photos here. I mix it up by using all aspects of the area. There is a pathway lined with these gorgeous wooden fence, and I use this as leading lines to frame my couples. There are also tons of meadows which create a natural scenic environment for wider angle shots. Last, but not least, go down to the lake and just snap away. You can’t go wrong here, every view is amazing.

Camping Trip and Couples Portrait Photography at Joshua Tree National Park

NATHAN & MELISSA:

11-23-19

For the last couple years, it’s been a tradition for me to plan a camping trip with my cousins and closest friends. This year I decided to take them to Joshua Tree National Park in November, which I think is one of the best times of the year. The weather averages around 65-70 degrees during the day but does drop to 30 degrees at night.

Since we were going to spend a couple days at Joshua Tree, this would be a great opportunity for me to photograph a couple. My cousin Melissa and her boyfriend Nathan kindly agreed to be my couple for this trip. They were seriously more than happy to. This place is too gorgeous not to.

Our campsite was located towards the south entrance near the 10 freeway. Cottonwood Campgrounds was the only available site in November. Most of the hiking trails and beautiful spots are located closer to the north entrance.

So we decided to enter via the West Entrance Station from the 62 freeway. The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/fees.htm However, if you purchase the $80 America The Beautiful Annual Park Pass https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm You will have unlimited access to all the National Park Pass for an entire year. Also, if you can use it as an Adventure Pass if you decide to park at certain areas such as National or State Wilderness Parks.

From here, we stopped by a few locations before we got to our camp sites. A few of my favorite spots are Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, and Baker Dam.

Honestly, you can pretty much pull off the side off the road and every view is beautiful. Here’s a portrait shot of the couple in the middle of the road.

The Cottonwood Campgrounds were actually pretty nice. The restrooms were clean, which was a bonus. The campsite itself was large enough for tents and had a pit for fire.

The next day we decided to stop by the Hall of Horrors, recommended by my cousin Jan. This is actually a prime spot for rock climbers, but also a really cool place with a bunch of caves. So many perfect spots for wide angle shots.

Balboa Park San Diego Engagement Photography | Curt + Sarah

CURT + SARAH:

Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

12-01-19

Curt + Sarah was referred to me by my fellow photog, Walter Arenas (Videographer: Walter A. Media). I’ve worked with Walter a few projects and he’s such a talented videographer. He’s basically my go to when I need a videographer in the San Diego Area. Apparently, Curt has been a long-time friend of Walter and Walter’s Team was hired to capture the video side of the wedding. I was super excited to do another Engagement Shoot and Wedding in Sunny San Diego!

Curt + Sarah wanted to keep their Engagement Shoot local and wanted some diversity in the environment. I knew the perfect spot for them. Balboa Park was a no brainer. Balboa Park is basically a one-stop shop, it has beautiful gardens, museum, water fountains, parks, and more. I’d say the only drawback is the tourists. Balboa Park is a popular destinations for tourists and weekends are very busy. Come during the week or the morning to avoid the rush.

As a photographer, Balboa Park is a hassle free area. Balboa Park does not require permits for still photography and parking is free! Parking in San Diego and near the coast can be a hassle sometimes, but not Balboa Park. There are so many areas to park. The best place to park is on the west side of the park. You can usually find parking along Balboa Drive which parallels Sixth Ave. This is walking distance to El Prado Road, which leads to Cabrillo Bridge Entrance.

My goal for their Engagement Shoot was to shoot at Alcazar Gardens, Front of San Diego Museum of Art, and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. I wanted to provide them at least 2-3 environmental backgrounds since they wanted to do an outfit change.

They were the sweetest couple ever! Love working with couples that just let me do my thang and allowing me to capture their connection. Looking forward to their wedding next year!

Simple + Joyful Elopement in San Diego

ASHLEY + DANIEL TAYLOR:

Ashley was the beauty and make up artist for my buddy’s (Miguel & Irene) wedding back in July 2019. She did a phenomenal job on Irene’s makeup. We connected through instagram and the rest was history. Months later she contacted me and ask me if I was available for a courthouse wedding. Of course I said yes! I was super excited for her and it would be my first time photographing a simple courthouse wedding in San Diego.

They chose to have the wedding at the County Administration Center (CAC) in Downtown San Diego. As usual, I arrive at least 30 minutes early to scout the location and look for potential portrait shots. This place is just beautiful. The County Administration Center Building faces the Pacific Ocean and is literally walking distance from the beach. It is also nearby the Star of India and Maritime Museum. Parking at the CAC was easy and free. There is a 3 hour limit, which was plenty of time to capture their pre-wedding portraits and the ceremony.

We started off the session right in front of the stairs that lead from the parking structure. There was a beautiful row of trees which provided shade and great focal point for Ashley and Daniel.

Ashley wore a gorgeous white dress and changed her hair color in this bright burgundy color. Daniel wore a black long sleeve shirt and black slacks to go with a super casual white suspenders. I loved their super casual wedding attire.

They also brought two cute dogs, I totally forgot to ask what type of dogs they were. However, they were definitely a handful to hold and keep still for the camera. But, I was able to manage to take a couple photos when I made a chirping sound.

After taking a few formal portraits with the family and friends, we moved on to the side of the building facing the ocean. The entrance is enormous lined with windows as high as 30-40 feet. I bystander suggest that we come at night to witness the colorful lights that light up the building. Next location was this arch covered in roses. This was actually an alternative spot for couples that wanted to have the wedding outdoors versus the typical indoor courthouse wedding. Unfortunately, the water fountains that parelled the walkway were off, so we decided to check it later if they turned it on After taking a few more photos here we moved into the CAC Building for the ceremony.

If you are tight on a budget this is definitely the way to go, the fee for a marriage license in San Diego is $70 and $88 for the ceremony. Less than $200!

Prior to the ceremony, Ashley and Daniel’s had a meeting with the county clerk and officially signed the wedding papers. It was quite interesting as they also received a ticket with a number that would populate on the tv screen to determine if it’s their turn. This made the process efficient as there were at least 4-5 other couples waiting for their wedding ceremony.

Once their number was called, the county clerk walked us into this small room with 4 rows of benches similar to the ones you would see at a catholic church. The ceremony was simple and straightforward, it was only their parents that attended the wedding. This made the moments even more special for them. Daniel’s parents actually flew all the way from Australia.

After the ceremony, we decided to check if the fountains had turned back on. Luckily, all the fountains were running at full blast. This was one photo that Ashley really wanted to we had to capture this. The only issue we had was the tourist and kids playing in the fountains. They would definitely be a distraction in the photo. So we waited a bit and the crowd dissipated and were able to capture some amazing shots. Ashley had one more weird request. She wanted to do a creative photo with a “tiny hand” Google “tiny hand meme” and you will know what I’m talking about. We couldn’t stop laughing!

This was one of my most enjoyable weddings to date. Even though we had a time crunch for the portraits, Ashely and Daniel had a great time and loved their photos at the end.

Oak Glen, Los Rios Rancho | Engagement Photography Session

Adrian + Anabel

10.27.19

Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen, California is a beautiful place to shoot during fall season.

Oak Glen is situated in the eastern side of San Bernardino Mountains.

Los Rios Rancho is actually considered one of the oldest and biggest apple farms in California. This beautiful apple ranch is a hidden gem in San Bernardino County. During Fall Season (October to November) is the best time to witness the changes in season. The leaves start changing and transforming into rich vibrant colors like oranges, yellow, and reds.

My beautiful couple Adrian & Anabel chose this location for its rich and dynamic backdrop of colors. We timed it perfectly, we arrived around 4:30pm, which gave us plenty of time to explore and pick the best spots. I highly recommend carpooling with your couples since cellular signal is pretty bad at the Ranch. This will eliminate the chances for any last minute changes or the chances of being lost.

We started the shoot towards the south side of ranch past the botanical gardens. The botanical gardens is a wonderful spot, but I find it to be bit crowded with people.

This is usually a great place to start since there are very to little amount of people. I find that when there is less eyes on the couples, the couples feel more at ease. If your couple has never done any professional photography work, you have to slowly get them in the right mindset and mood.

There were so many great spot to choose from. Most of the trees were in full bloom, but I always try to pick backdrops that are still simple in a sense. So another great spot is literally on the dirt path leading to the picnic area.

This was another favorite spot of mine, I love the wooden fence in front of this massive tree.

My favorite spot to photograph is between the apple trees. This will provide one of the most appealing shots for the couples, since this is considered an apple ranch.

Pro Tip:

• Remind the couple to bring layers of clothing, temperatures can drop as low as 40 degrees

• use a wide angle lens to capture the landscapes

• grab a map of the ranch, this will provide you an idea of which spots to choose from

  Location:

• 39611 Oak Glen Rd, Yucaipa, CA 92399

Sunset shot with a flash behind the couple

Glamis Sand Dunes | Engagement Photography Session | San Diego, California

Jon + Renee

Glamis Sand Dunes | Engagement Photography Session | San Diego, California

One of the best kept secrets in San Diego is the natural sand dunes of Glamis. Glamis is about 2 hours east of Downtown San Diego. It is very popular among ATV enthusiast looking to kick some sand around.

We drove from Chino Hills and it took about 3 hours on a Sunday evening. We decided to go to the Osborne Overlook (Osborne Park Rd, Brawley, CA 92227) and walk from there. The sand itself is unbelievably soft and grainy. Be prepared to get sand in between your toes. Parking is free and the sand dunes is literally right next to the parking lot. So if you’re not up for hiking this is the best spot for “non-hikers”

Photography Tips

• Arrive 1 hour before sunset to scout the area for the best dune

• Be prepared to get your gear dusty

• Use a wide and long lens for different perspectives

  Couple Tips

• Wear clothing that will be contrasty to the tan color of the sand

• Bride to be: wear a long dress to capture some epic shots