KATE NOELLE PHOTOGRAPHY » ENGAGEMENT

Peter and Carol’s Engagement

knoelle — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:59:29 +0000

The sun shone brightly at the 5 o’clock hour. As we walked through the wildflowers, a soft ocean breeze gently blew through her hair and the smell of cool salty waves filled the air. He gazed at the blue horizon, his arm holding her close to his side. Picture perfect. This is how Peter and Carol’s engagement shoot went… perfect, picturesque, and utterly romantic. Their love for each other displayed itself naturally… from the way he held her hand, to the way she looked into his eyes.

I first met Carol in junior high. We were two silly kids who happened to like swimming and we decided to take a summer water polo class. I remember the first day of the class, we both realized VERY QUICKLY that water polo was A LOT harder than we thought. So in between bobbing up for air, giggling at our incompetence, and then choking on water…. we survived the class and continued on as friends through our high school years. From high school, we both went our different ways to college, we both had some traveling adventures… and sure enough we both met our Prince Charmings. And now, as Carol and Peter are nearing their wedding day…. I can’t help but be excited for my longtime friend! Here are my favorites from the evening…. I think you’ll agree that they are TOO CUTE!!

This is one of my favs!

Special thanks to Danyell Weinberg for the beautiful job on Carol’s makeup!

Rob and Jackie’s Engagement

knoelle — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:11:48 +0000

Rob and Jackie met in high school. Being introduced by mutual friends, they started the first years of their relationship as friends…. hanging out at lunch, studying, and discussing the future of their young lives. When it came time to decide on colleges, Rob landed a place at USC and Jackie decided on an east coast school. They hung out all summer with their friends, and it wasn’t until their first college school year started to approach that they began to realize they didn’t want to lose each other. Rob took Jackie on their first official date to Laguna Beach and as they enjoyed a delicious dinner at Las Brisas, he asked her to be his girlfriend. She said yes.

Then, as life often happens, school drew them apart to their prospective universities…. but they maintained their deepening relationship through the distance. The tragedy of “9-11″ happened and Jackie and Rob found themselves shaken and uncomfortably aware that the “important things” in life needed to be prioritized a little better. Jackie transferred to a university back in California to be closer to family, and to Rob. And 12 years after that first date, we found ourselves back where it all began to document their engagement before they tie the knot next month.

These two have a love that is rare…. their love runs deeper than deep, and their friendship truly is the foundation of their relationship. The comfortability, the predictability, and the intuitiveness toward each other’s needs is remarkable. I absolutely loved spending the evening with them. Here are my favorites from the evening….

How beautiful is Jackie?!!!! Danyell Weinberg did a beautiful job with the hair and makeup!

Rob, you’re pretty handsome yourself…

Bill and Leslie’s Engagement

knoelle — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:34:12 +0000

Back when I first started my business in 2008, I worked part time at a local coffee shop called It’s a Grind. It was one of those bucket list jobs that seemed to be available at the perfect time in my life… and I met so many wonderful people. While I am no morning person… the shift I enjoyed most was the opening shift which started at 5:30am. I would roll out of bed at the sound of my alarm, make an angry face at the darkness outside my window, and stumble out the door to start brewing coffee and get the store ready for the day. That part of those mornings, the waking up and getting out the door part, was the hardest…. but the fun part began at about 6am when the daily customers started rolling in. This was where I first met Bill. He’d come into the store more chipper than any other human being alive at that time of morning. He’d ask me how my morning’s going, poke fun at my sloth-ish mannerisms, sip his black coffee from his travel mug, and tell me about the new things in his life. His buddy would come in right after him and join the conversation…. then they’d sit down to read and answer emails on their Blackberrys for the next 30 minutes. Those early risers MADE my morning.

Well, fast forward to 2011… I got a phone call from Bill excitedly telling me he met someone and that they had just gotten engaged. He asked if I was still doing wedding photography and asked to meet up and talk about possibly being his wedding photographer. Long story short, I am his and Leslie’s wedding photographer and I couldn’t be more excited for their wedding day! These two are SO GREAT together and the life that shines out of their relationship is refreshing and inspiring. And Leslie…. Leslie, Leslie, Leslie. Leslie is a complete joy and her laugh is so contagious I could feel myself laughing with her every time she tipped her head back and giggled. She brings the “lovey dovey” out in her strong and shrewd business man of a fiance… and I absolutely love them together! Here are some of my favorites from their engagement shoot at the Orange Circle in Orange….

Bill and Leslie, thanks for choosing me to tell your love story. I’m stoked for your wedding day later this month…. and I’m so glad you’ve found each other!

Kyle and Stacy’s Engagement Shoot

knoelle — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:51:36 +0000

Before I begin, I have to tell you that I LOVE Kyle and Stacy’s story. I really really do.

They first met at work. She was the new girl who had just moved to California from Texas. She was a brilliant blonde whose love for conversation and relationship annoyed Kyle a little bit. To Kyle, this chatty country girl wanted to talk too long as she walked by his desk, and smiled way to much for his liking. So he kept his distance and maintained a professional respect for his outgoing co-worker.

Kyle happened to be a somewhat quiet young man who prided himself in focus and hard work. He was a high achiever and had ambitious plans for his career future. Stacy just saw him as a stuck up surfer dude, and left him alone after countless attempts at conversation with him.

But, as experience teaches us time and time again, first impressions aren’t always a true reflection of a person. And THANK YOU JESUS, for that!! A little while down the road, Kyle realized he was wrong about Stacy, and Stacy realized Kyle really wasn’t mean and he wasn’t really a surfer….. and they both kind of fell in love… in the forever kind of love.

Kyle loves Stacy more than words…. and Stacy has truly found the man of her dreams. He appreciates her excitement for life… and her relational personality has brought out the best in him. For two people who came from such different backgrounds, they’ve truly found “home” in each other.

I met them at their old stomping grounds, Hermosa Beach, and we had a great time walking, talking, and shooting some super cute engagement photos. Here are my favorites from the afternoon….

Kyle and Stacy…. you were a dream to work with. I had so much fun with you two and I’m so glad we had the chance to meet and document your engagement. Thanks for sharing your story with me, and I hope our paths cross again someday. You’ve got something great in each other…. God is SO GOOD.

Daniel and Che-monte’s Engagement

knoelle — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:32:28 +0000

Daniel and Che-monte met dancing. How romantic is that?! They also happen to work for the same large company near Nuremberg, Germany. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her… for a good reason… she’s GORGEOUS. And she couldn’t stop thinking of that sweet young man and how he’s “not like other guys in Germany.” Somehow, both Daniel and Che-monte knew they had something special… and they’ve been together ever since.

They recently got engaged and are SEHR SHOEN (sooo cute) together! Che-monte contacted me when she heard I would be traveling to Nuremberg and we quickly set up a time to shoot some engagement photos. They couldn’t have picked better locations… a beautiful park and a beautiful castle. That’s right… a castle. And even though it was a bit cold outside, the rain held up until the very last shot of the evening.

Daniel and Che-monte, I am so glad we met. Your love for each other is something really amazing and I wish you the absolute best as you continue on your journey together. It was such an honor to capture all your sweet whispers, stolen glances, and genuinely happy smiles. Here are some of my favorites from the day…

Andrew and Lindsay’s “Will You”

knoelle — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:12:01 +0000

I know I’ve said it before, but I’m going to say it again…. I think it’s SO important to be able to laugh. Lately I’ve been noticing the dynamic between couples, both newly married, and couples who’ve been married for years. Everyone has their quirks and bits with their romantic partners, but there are some that have that “special something” that seems to bond them together more than the average couple. As they walk, he says something to poke fun at her. She kind of rolls her eyes with a knowing smirk on her face because she knew what he was going to say before he said it… and comes back with an equally sassy comeback. They both enjoy a good laugh over it, silently holding each other close. Andrew and Lindsay are that couple. She’s sweet, and quietly witty… and he’s got the hearty laugh that makes her smile. He’s a doctor in Loma Linda who moved here from Australia… and he’s an Aussie to the core. She’s studying to be a Marriage and Family Therapist and has a passion for teaching people how to love better. Together they’re Andrew and Lindsay…. that couple everyone’s jealous of because they love each other like they’ve been together for years.

And on their engagement shoot a few weeks ago, we laughed, they told stories, we talked about their dreams and passions…. and we took some sweet pictures to document their love. Here are some of my favorites from the evening at Casper’s Wilderness Park….

Andrew and Lindsay, I hope you feel each others’ love in these photos…. and years from now, as you look back, remember how you were “back then” and how far you’ve come. Keep loving each other.

Brian and Megan’s “Will You”

knoelle — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:57:41 +0000

Megan grew up in San Clemente doing all the things a Socal girl loves…. cross country, swimming, and lifeguarding. Growing up in sunshine and surrounded by beaches… seriously, what could be better? (says yet another product of Southern California lifestyle) She continued on from her San Clemente lifestyle to pursue higher education at some big time San Diego colleges and emerged with a Doctorate in Audiology. She’s smart….. and pretty…. a killer combo, if you ask me.

Brian grew up just a stone’s throw away from San Clemente, in Upland. Surrounded by a very close knit group of friends and family, he enjoyed playing football like any normal kid. He continued on in his own adventure of higher learning at University of La Verne, graduated with a computer science degree, and now works for an airline entertainment engineering company. Just a normal guy who happened to be smart, good looking, and ambitious.

The comfortable normalcy of Brian’s life, however, didn’t last long. Shortly after his graduation, Brian was rushed to the hospital after experiencing random paralysis on his way to work. Doctor’s found an underdeveloped cluster of blood vessels in his brain that had caused the paralysis. After lots of physical therapy and determination, Brian recovered completely. And although he still had some facial droop and difficulty speaking from the accident, he was close to normal again.

Sometime afterwards, Brian and Megan, still in different places in their lives, both joined eHarmony in their search for that special someone to share life with. Their chats were intriguing, and both Megan and Brian felt themselves falling for each other. After two years, and another “bleed”, the time and love they built into each other came to fruition with a proposal… and an excited “YES!”

I love how their individual stories have intertwined and made their relationship story so strong. Brian loves Megan SO MUCH… and Megan just thinks Brian is “the bee’s knees.” And on their engagement shoot a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but smile at how sweet they are with each other.

Jonathan and Marsha’s “Will You” | An Orange County Engagement Shoot

knoelle — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:33:08 +0000

Jonathan and Marsha met on an online dating site and I’m REAL impressed at how perfect they are for each other. She’s sweet and incredibly encouraging, and he’s quietly intelligent with a strength of character that peeks out now and again in conversation. Both love the Lord with all their heart and their relationship is built strong on the rock of that love. Here’s just a snapshot of how amazing these two are…. After taking a few shots at the beginning of their engagement shoot, Jonathan quietly suggests we “pray for the pictures”, and at his suggestion, Marsha excitedly exclaims, “oohh! What a great idea! Yes! Let’s pray for our pictures!” So we circled up, and Jonathan offered a prayer of thanks for such a beautiful evening for photos, and he prayed for a time with me that would glorify God’s name. Marsha chimed in and prayed for me to be able to see them how God sees their love, and that I would be able to document their love in a way that touches hearts. We ended the prayer and continued shooting…. and I left that evening feeling refreshed, completely blessed, and full. It’s not often I meet people like Marsha and Jonathan, and it’s even less often that I get to spend an afternoon chatting, shooting, and getting to know “them.” I pray for more times like that afternoon shoot, and I’m so thankful I’ve had the opportunity to document their love. Here’s my favorites from the evening at Casper’s Wilderness Park and Laguna Beach….

Marsha and Jonathan,

You two are beyond cute together and I’m so excited to shoot your wedding in a few weeks!

Joe and Rachel’s “Will You” | A Sacramento Engagement Shoot

knoelle — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:04:12 +0000

Across the Young Life room, he saw her. She didn’t even notice. He tried to be funny… she still didn’t notice. He persisted…. and months later…. she went on a date with him and was pleasantly surprised to find out he wasn’t who she thought he was. Their friendship continued and blossomed into a romance…. and then he asked her to marry him. After all his hard work, he got the girl of his dreams to give a resounding “yes!” and she couldn’t be happier. Joe and Rachel have such a fun and carefree love, and I had such a blast spending time with them up in Sacramento shooting their engagement photos! Here’s my favorites from our afternoon of adventuring…

Andrew and Liza | An Engagement Shoot |

knoelle — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:28:27 +0000

There are people who are decently smart… just smart enough to get by and still look like they know what’s going on. Then there’s the people who are truly smart and don’t even have to try to look like they know how the world works. I’m pretty sure I fall into the first category, but Andrew and Liza definitely fall into the smart people category. Throughout junior high and high school, I would glance across the classroom at Liza and wonder if she was as confused as I was…. but alas, she would always have this expression of understanding… and her answers confirmed my suspicions… she was just plain smart. Since high school, Liza went off to college and graduated early, only to continue her education in pharmacy school (if there’s a more formal name for it, I don’t know it… case in point) and recently graduated and became a bonafide Pharmacist with a leading US company. Like I said…. she’s smart. Then there’s Andrew, who is probably the most perfect guy for her. Not only is he ridiculously smart, but he oozes a quiet certainty that CONVINCES me that he DEFINITELY knows how the world works. Together, I think they’re going to conquer the world. They met back in high school, and… they’ve been smitten for each other ever since! When she first asked me to be their wedding photographer…. I couldn’t have been more excited and honored, and over the course of their engagement, I’ve gotten to see little snippets of how sweet, how sure, and how deep their love for each other is…. and it makes me giddy inside. Here’s my favorites from their Orange County “Modern meets Country” Engagement Shoot…

Liza and Andrew, this day was so fun and I’m so excited for your San Francisco wedding coming up next month. You two are so cute together and I wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin the transition to man and wife.