Amanda and Eddie are photographed at the Santa Monica Pier on 12/27/11.

Amanda and Eddie’s engagement shoot was round two for me at the Santa Monica Pier. I always try to do something visually different when returning to a location. The challenge of finding new photo spots and trying different lighting techniques keeps me motivated and inspired.

Let me remind you that this image was taken in late December two days before Christmas. People were actually in the water as it was an absolute gorgeous, sunny day at the beach. Sometimes I think I’m spoiled being a photographer in Southern California.

Amanda and Eddie have an awesome beach wedding in the works for the summer and I can’t wait to be a part of it!

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Amber and Joe are photographed at Irvine Regional Park in Irvine, CA on 12/18/11.

Nature was the theme of Amber and Joe’s engagement shoot at beautiful Irvine Regional Park. We took a lovely walk through one of the nature trails, reminding me of how much I love the outdoors. The late autumn leaves were strewn about, and the seasonal red and orange colors of the whole place made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Their first location choice was the LA County Arboretum, but we came to find out the gardens are closed through the holidays. After looking over a list of possible nature type locations I sent her, she went with Irvine Regional Park which was an excellent choice! I am definitely coming back for more.

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Krista and Jesse are photographed at Point Fermin in San Pedro, CA on 11/13/11.

My good friend Jesse is hands down the funniest guy I know. His visits to California always leave me with sore cheeks from laughing so hard. I share the same crazy sense of humor as Krista and Jesse, and that made their engagement shoot lots of fun.

Point Fermin in San Pedro is just one of many cliff areas with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. I had to definitely give Krista props for hiking down a trail to the edge of a cliff in her red high heel shoes! I’m looking forward to their destination wedding (for me) in Maryland this summer.

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Elia and Frank are photographed at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, CA on 10/1/11.

Photographing my sister Elia’s wedding was a unique experience. It was extra special to me to be able to tell the story of her and Frank’s wedding day at Quiet Cannon in Montebello. This was my second time shooting a wedding at this great venue, which features a romantic, California gazeebo setting and gorgeous grounds.

Eli made her own beautiful manzanita tree centerpieces with our aunt Rossana’s help. The cake was by Hansen’s Cakes, florals by Allen’s Flowers, and Michael from The DJ Pros kept the party going.

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Michelle and John are photographed at Jack Nichol Park in Long Beach, CA, on 9/17/11.

I enjoyed myself while documenting Michelle and John’s wedding. Michelle is a ball of energy and her smile is contagious. Their traditional Catholic ceremony took place at the beautiful  St. Anthony Church in Long Beach. Bride and groom photos were taken at Jack Nichol Park, a secluded area with a terrific view of the marina. Acapulco Restaurant was the intimate yet lively setting for their reception.

I heavily implemented video into my  coverage of Michelle and John’s wedding. The hybrid results of still photographs and video tell the story in a very unique way.

A big thanks goes to Martha’s Flowers and Rossmoor Pastries for great florals and cake, as well as to my assistant David Pardo for shooting video throughout the day.

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Michelle and Cameron are photographed at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach, CA on 9/4/11.

After Michelle and Cameron’s engagement shoot, I knew I was in for a treat on their wedding day. Cameron is a trumpet playing jazz musician, composer and educator. Michelle is a dancer, choreographer and ballet instructor. Their musical passions really came out in the elegant style of their jazz-chic rooftop wedding at The Reef in Long Beach.

There was never a shortage of interesting and stylish details to shoot. Jade was the color of the day, accented with a black and white floral pattern. The Hotel Maya provided beautiful backdrops for photos before the ceremony. During the ceremony, the view of the harbor was amazing, and the setting sun peaked through the clouds right in time to catch the kiss.

I lot of creative detail went into this wedding that Michelle planned herself. Lots of great people made it all come together, including Wedding Flowers 4 Less, Dance Party Industries, Rossmoor Pastries, and an awesome jazz trio thanks to Michelle Maestas to name a few.

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Elia and Frank walk their dog Harvey along a path at Angels Gate Park in San Pedro on 9/1/11.

I’m thrilled to be able to document my sister Elia’s wedding next month. She’s always just been just “Eli” to me. Angels Gate Park in San Pedro was a beautiful setting for their engagement shoot with special guest Harvey.

Harvey is a dog with a strong personality to say the least! He definitely adds another element to make for some fun photos.The sun was setting really nice over the Pacific Ocean and the view was amazing. Hopefully next time I take photos here, the Korean Friendship Bell will not be under renovation and fenced off.

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Marylinda and Darryl are photographed at the Garden Room in La Habra, CA on 8/27/11.

Marylinda and Darryl’s wedding was a colorful and fun celebration to be a part of. Apex Flowers did a wonderful job of supplying bright florals and unique bouquets. The Garden Room in La Habra was a lovely setting for Marylinda and Darryl to exchange their vows.

After the ceremony, we took bridal party photos at nearby Creek Park in La Mirada. The lush greenery, wood bridge, and tall trees provided for nice photo backdrops… not to mention relief from the blistering heat!

The day wrapped up at the couple’s home for their reception, where Silver Service Events provided an excellent BBQ dinner, and where Marylinda and Darryl’s close family and friends danced the night away.

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Eliza and Daniel are photographed on their wedding day at Leisure World in Seal Beach, CA on 8/20/11.

Everything about Eliza and Daniel’s wedding showed their unique personalities. All the great little details that make a wedding special came together to make a vibrant and fun celebration.

Eliza and her bridesmaids went with a vintage theme, complete with bouquets of red roses for Eliza and tulips for the bridesmaids. Each bridesmaid had a slight variation of the same tan blouse with black skirt combo, which is a nice departure from the usual laws of bridesmaids dresses.

Daniel’s dreadlocks were fun to photograph, as he and his groomsmen wore traditional Filipino barong shirts with black Vans shoes. Their wedding cake sat atop a mountain of chocolate cupcakes, and I’m sure none of their guests complained about the candy table. Good times!

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Patty and Anthony's wedding is featured in Wedding Nouveau Magazine, the premiere digital and print-on-demand bridal resource for intercultural brides and multi-ethnic weddings.

I’m very excited to have Patty and Anthony’s wedding featured on Wedding Nouveau. A big thanks goes out to all of the vendors that made this wedding happen and to Patty and Anthony for allowing me to document their special day.

Check it out: {Real Wedding} Cambodian & Mexican Fusion in Long Beach, CA

The magazine offers insights into real fusion wedding inspiration, hot interviews with trailblazers in the event design world and fun collaborations with some of today’s most sought after photographers, fashion designers, event planners and much more.

{CREDITS: Catholic Ceremony at St. Lucy’s Catholic Church of Long Beach and reception at the Queen Mary; Cake from Long Phung Bakery ; Cambodian Flowers from Vannary Bridal and Catholic Ceremony Flowers by the bride’s mother, Leaksmey Oum, and aunts; Hair, Makeup, Jewelry, and 7 Cambodian outfits by Vannary Bridal; Bride’s shoes by Aldo; Wedding Dress by Alfred Angelo the Disney Collection; Bridesmaid’s dresses from David’s Bridal; Groom’s and Groomsmen suits by Friar’s Tuxedo; Stationary/Invitation DIY kit from Michael’s; Event Designer by Lea Quimbao (Queen Mary Catering)}