Beautiful Day Photography’s Weblog

Evelin and Reggie live in Texas, but their families live in California, so they decided to get married at Wayfarers Chapel right down the street from her parent’s house and then visit the Korean Friendship Bell on a hilltop nearby for photos.  Their reception was at the Ports O’ Call Restaurant in San Pedro overlooking the marina.  So I LOVE discovering new spots, especially around Wayfarers Chapel, since we have such limited time to shoot on their property.  I had never been to the Korean Friendship bell before and we had SO much fun going up their in their massive Escalade Limo to take photos AND to practice their group choreographed dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.  Can I say that one of my more funnier moments EVER shooting a wedding was when we all showed up as a huge group, (all of them dressed up in their wedding gear) and they just broke out into the Thriller routine in the grass (WITHOUT music:) and we were taking photos.  ALL of the tourists were like, “What the F*&%?”.  We must have looked pretty ridiculous, but it reminded me of all of those commercials on the internet where people break out into a choreographed dance routine in a busy London Train Station or something…TOO funny!  Their dance was a HUGE success and Danielle and I had a blast shooting it.  Also, I was super psyched that they were playing Salsa/Merengue at the Reception…I just HAD to dance:)  It’s the Cuban in me!

To check out more photos from this event, just click on this link.

I LOVED Thoa’s Dress…Actually I was slightly obsessed with taking photos of it.  Thoa told me I could have it for my wedding one day and that was a nice idea until a wave took her out during the formal photos on the beach!  Seriously, considering what happened, Thoa and Glen Glen just laughed it off and were so cool about it.  Actually Glen freaked more about his shoes than Thoa did about her dress, but then Glen totally cried way more than Thoa, so I guess that makes sense:) The beach photos were SO worth it though.  You HAVE to check them out! In any case, I LOVED this wedding, because I got to work with the fabulous Laurie Davies with 5 Star Weddings and Events, one of my ALL TIME favorite coordinators. I always know I have a wedding that I can submit to a magazine when Laurie is coordinating it:) I also adore shooting at the St. Regis in Monarch Beach, because there are endless places to shoot around the property and it is so regal and elegant. I also brought my great friend and fabulous photographer Tammi Land and had my two interns assisting me as well, so we had a complete photo posse at this wedding.  They had perfect weather, an amazingly delicious Chinese feast, and a great group of people who all just treated us like fellow guests.  Thoa is the one who works for Obagi Skin care and has out me on her skincare program for the last 2 months.  I was hoping that she was proud of my face when I showed up at her wedding:)  It’s working though.  When I went home for my family beach holiday, my entire FAMILY was raving about my skin and wanting to use whatever I was using…So ladies, it REALLY works!  Check out Obagi Skincare products!

To check out more photos from this event, just click on this link.

I have been excited to shoot this wedding for months.  When I first met Dana and her mom, Nancy, we all just really hit it off.  Her parents own a fine jewelry store in Long Beach called Mark Schneider Designs where they make make custom engagement rings and wedding bands.  They of course made the bands for their daughter’s wedding and did an amazing job.  I have NEVER seen a bride SO relaxed and chill in my life.  We all just hung out ate, took photos and waited for the ceremony….The BOYS on the other hand were swimming, drinking and being ridiculous in their towels for the photos:)  Honestly, the rooms were right next to each other, so when we were walking back and forth from one room to the next it was like stepping into a different reality.  It was SO funny.  In any case, when the ceremony started it was all emotion and love.  Michael was so enamored and you could just see it in the way he looked at Dana.  The gorgeous setting at Ponte Winery overlooking a perfect blue sky, brightly colored flowers, dresses and parasols with the vineyards in the background made for stunning vibrant photos. They did such a great job with the decor and the party just never ended.  It helps to have professional dancers and performers as friends.  Seriously, their group was SUCH a blast.  If you look at the photos you’ll see how crazy the party got:)  So congratulations again.  I am SURE we will be putting a book from this wedding down at her parent’s jewelry store.

To see more photos from this event, just click on this link.

SO I am sure you all remember the crazy pregnancy photos I did of Nish and Jeremy a few weeks ago.  I originally met them, because I shot their wedding almost 7 years ago and since then they have become very close friends of mine.  I can’t wait for them to have their little boy and start adding to their family!  Since our last shoot, they have been chosen to be one of the couples featured on E! for a new upcoming Baby Show.  So they were there filming her baby shower, and other than the huge guy holding the camera in the background, it was SUCH a cute event.  Kayla, Truc, Nicole, and Christine did SUCH an amazing job throwing this shower!  Many of you have commented on the beauty of the coordinating invitations, decorations, etc. So I wanted to give a little love to Christine, who has her own business crafting artful baby & special occasion stationary.  I am passing along Christine’s website www.chloeblossomdesigns.com. She is extremely talented and her business had become a great success.  ALL of Nish’s girlfriends did an amazing job decorating and having fun games to play,  prizes, and overall just being fabulous hostesses.  I HAD to blog some of the details because they were just SO cute!  Love you guys!

So here is the wedding I shot at Wayfarers Chapel on August 1st.  Natalie and Steve and I share an upstate New York connection, where we all went to school at the same University, New House School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.  We missed each other by a few years, but we still had the same experience and professors and I can’t believe we are all so professional and grown up now!  I feel like college was 6 lifetimes ago, but I am loving California and shooting weddings and I was happy to meet them not only through Wayfarers Chapel, but to share our Alma Maters as well.  Natalie’s mom has a great condo right across the street from Wayfarers Chapel where the reception was held by the pool and it was so simple and fun.  Everyone danced, partied and we were able to get some great shots poolside of Natalie and Steve (and of course a few in my favorite golden field).  I felt like it was  perfect day.  Thanks for having me!

To check out more photos from this event, just click on this link.

Becky and Adam are SUCH a cute couple…I had another wedding to shoot that day…literally at the SAME chapel, so two of my favorite ladies, Meg Perotti and Danielle Klebanow covered this one for me.  We all high-fived in the parking lot when I led out the first bride and Becky was led into the Chapel for the next ceremony…LOL. They had SO much fun with Becky and Adam’s bridal party.  It helps to have a lot of time to shoot formals and to see each other beforehand (especially when dealing with Wayfarers Chapel and their strict timeline).  My hidden secret of shooting in the golden field next door to Wayfarers has now been shut down:(  It was fun while it lasted, but I am SO sad about this!  I am not sure what the reason is, perhaps the recent wildfires that almost took over Wayfarers Chapel and the surrounding fields, but either way Becky and Adam are one of the lucky few to have these gorgeous yellow field shots for their portraits!

To see more photos from this event, just click on this link.

SO I HAD to share these photos, because my sister’s kids are SO adorable.  Havana, Javier and Little Alejandro kept us all busy at the beach and to try to get these 2 photos where everyone looked good, took about 500 photos, a little photoshopping, and A LOT of patience,  but VOILA!  Instant Christmas Card photos!  Must be nice to have a professional photographer as your sister:)…Plus, I had the BEST time in Duck, North Carolina with my whole family.  We were on a little island so we were able to see the sunrise and sunset over the water…which was spectacular by the way.  Check out the sunset photos I made my mom pull over the car to get:)

My Mami and my sister, Christy

                                                                                                                                                                                         Kiki my oldest sister and I

Seriously, between Whitney and Kevin’s shoot and THIS one, I think I took the entire beach home with me in my car!  LOL, Jennifer, Matt and I got soaked waist down from this shoot, but we were laughing SO hard I could barely take pictures.  They are SUCH a chill, cool couple and were SO understanding when I had to reschedule their shoot to go to Bali for a last-minute wedding.  It all worked out and we could not have had better weather.  Matt is in the Army and getting him to be less serious is a bit challenging , but I think Jennifer brings out the fun side of him.  Its apparent that they laugh a lot and have a ton of fun together.  Jennifer is such a fun spirit…you can’t help but laugh and smile around her, because she always is.  I am excited to shoot their wedding in a few weeks and I wish the best for these two…Oh, and ps, you two are going to have some EXTREMELY tall kids together! LOL

You HAVE to love the Grittiness and also Prettiness of Venice.  I LOVE both sides and think they are equally as beautiful.  Whitney, Kevin and I took the idea of shooting in our local hood from a previous engagement shoot of mine a few weeks ago..since not only are we good friends, but neighbors.  I mean it’s TRULY sad that Whitney lives walking distance from me and I never see her…hopefully that will change, but I have to say that we had SO much fun at this shoot.  It’s hard to take a bad photo of Whitney, she’s gorgeous as you can see, but we were frolicking…literally by the canals, under the Venice pier…it was TOO funny.  Their wedding is next May at the Surf and Sand in Laguna Beach and it is going to be a weekend-long celebration which I can’t wait to be a part of!  So far 5 of my good girlfriends are engaged!..and Whitney and Kevin are going to be starting off the year of wedding craziness for me and my friends in 2010.  Seriously, you two rock, I have been waiting for you two get engaged forever and I am SO happy for you!  Thanks for letting me capture your day!

Ivonne and Chris are not just a former bride and groom of mine, but they are friends and NOW neighbors as well.  I had the privilege of meeting their new daughter Soledad recently and I came by the other day to shoot some snapshots of her with Ivonne, since Ivonne being the budding photographer she is, has only photos of Soledad by herself and with Chris.  I wanted her to have some alone with her daughter too…I mean she DID do most of the work (sorry Chris!:).  So here are some pics from our 20 minutes quick shoot…She is SO serious, but was an easy subject to photograph:)