Elena & Don are photographed at 433 Paseo de la Playa in Redondo Beach, CA on 5/12/12.

Elena and Don could not have picked a better venue to celebrate their wedding day than the fabulous ocean front estate home at 433 Paseo de La Playa in Redondo Beach. With a stunning view of the coastline and a private path to the beach, the exquisite private home was the perfect setting for a small and intimate ceremony and reception.

Elena was glowing all evening long and Don was all smiles every time he looked at his new bride. As the setting sun peaked through the clouds over the ocean, I knew these photos would be special.

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Jean and Scott are photographed in Manhattan Beach, CA on 4/28/12.

It could not have been a more perfect engagement photo shoot for Jean and Scott. As the sun set in beautiful Manhattan Beach, they took a nice stroll down the beach bathed in warm, golden light while I took photos from the pier. Then we brought it down a notch and took some nice posed photos on the sand just as the sun went down.

Jean and Scott were all smiles and were the best to work with. The combination of the beach, gorgeous setting sun, and an awesome couple makes a photographer very happy!

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Amber and Joe are photographed at The Hacienda in Santa Ana, CA on 3/10/12.

This was my second time around shooting a wedding at The Hacienda, an absolutely charming venue in Santa Ana. Amber and Joe were on cloud nine as they exchanged their vows in front of family and friends.

The Hacienda provided their specialty Viennese Spiced Carrot cake, Weeds & Co. Florist provided exceptional floral arrangements, and Keith, a DJ from Premier Events, had the party rocking. All the little details that Amber put together in her wedding, in particular these adorable little planting pots with seeds that her guests were able to take home, made the day extra special.

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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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