Shooting in the forest can be technically challenging, and I almost always try to bring off-camera lighting with me to help supplement and control light when the ambient situation isn't ideal (which is almost always the case in the forest). I met Amy and Lu at Henry Cowell State Park, just off Hwy 9 in Felton, California. They are a sweet, reserved couple and I enjoyed coaching them through, discovering what kind of poses did and didn't work for them. Here's a few of my faves from their engagement session:
I love it when a couple decides to have a low key wedding that's more like a fun party that happens to include a wedding ceremony, skipping a lot of the typical formal parts. It's a nice break from the norm, and allows me to focus on all the candid moments, capturing the intimacy of a smaller wedding with lots of interaction between the couple and their loved ones. After getting ready at Seascape Resort in Aptos, Karen and Todd held their wedding ceremony on the bluffs above La Selva Beach.
The sun decided to hide behind the marine layer for this quirky, fun engagement session at Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz. Even though we didn't get a sunset, the soft light bathed Veronica and John with lovely attention and helped us create some amazing photos. I love how many shots they're totally cracking up, not taking this whole engagement shoot thing too seriously! Here's a few of my faves:
Monarch Cove Inn is the perfect venue for a daytime wedding with a stunning view and beautiful landscaped grounds. The bride gets a generous suite in the middle of the property, where she can check out the setup progress with clandestine peeps through her upstairs window. I arrived early for Mandy and Dave's wedding so I could capture the details of this beautiful spot – as well as check in with this adorable couple and meet the friends and family surrounding and supporting them for the day.
