The quiet and reserved lady behind the Brotbäckerei counter patiently waited as I chose a pastry to enjoy with my fresh cup of Kaffee. I pointed to the flaky looking pastry with something that looked like chocolate drizzled over the top of it and handed over a few coins, hoping I understood the amount correctly. She nodded her head and silently went to help another customer. I let out a sigh of relief and walked out into the crisp air to enjoy my treats…. and I smiled as I thought about how I had just walked through a forest in a small town in Germany to get a pastry and coffee…. by myself. In that moment, I felt so independent… like I was living life as full as I possibly could.

This happy memory flashed through my mind upon reading an email from a young couple from Germany. They mentioned they were traveling to Orange County and desired to spend an afternoon with me documenting their love with a photo shoot. And on a warm summery afternoon not too long after, I met David and Mirjam (more affectionately referred to as “David and Mim”) at a Starbucks to chat and laugh over some iced coffee and tea. They told me all the things they love to do, their goals and passions, and we all bonded over our common experiences in the great land of Germany. Mirjam is a bright and cheery-eyed girl who loves her Lord and loves her David. David is a dedicated tech guru who, besides loving his wife more than anything, also loves photography with a fiery passion. Together, they’re the perfect mix of sweet and serious, playfulness and thought, and most of all…. they’re more in love today than they were the day they got married.

We left Starbucks and headed off to our first location…. an Orange County favorite of mine…. Irvine Regional Park. There, we did a bit of hiking, a bit of shooting, and a lot of laughing. Here’s some of my favorites….

From the park, we made our way to Newport Beach, a place David and Mim were especially excited about shooting. This part of the shoot was probably the most fun because those two acted as though they had died and gone to heaven…. they were STOKED to be at the beach. They ran, laughed, splashed, kissed, hugged, jumped, and took it all in… here’s my favorites from the beach….

It was such a beautiful day, and spending time with David and Mim was a dream. I left feeling full of life and excited for marriage. Thanks for bringing your light and laughter into my life, Kandelhardts…. peace be with you as you travel and continue on in your journey.

This week has been tumultuous, to say it kindly. Life has surges of big swells, and low tides. Just as Southern California Beaches have experienced its first big swell of the summer, so has life and business for me. You can do one of two things when the surf looks bigger than we can handle… stay on the beach and appreciate the view from afar…. or give it all you have in hopes of a glorious and fulfilling ride. I’m fighting for the courage to tackle the high surf and not allow myself to sit on the beach. I hope you have given this week all you have… and I hope you find that the challenge and your hard work yields many a “ride of your life.”

And to illustrate my thoughts, here’s a shot from a portrait shoot I did earlier this week….. Cheers!