She’s a fashionista from Orange County who’s the epitome of cuteness. He’s a musician through and through who’s got the tall dark and handsome thing going on. She went to a wedding with a friend one time. He was there. He ruled the dance floor. She noticed. He noticed too. He danced with some grandmas and then he got her number and asked her out on their first date to Japanese food. The rest is history… because now… they’re two peas in a pod… and engaged. Thank God for weddings!

John, Liz, and I had a BLAST hanging out and shooting their engagement pictures! Seriously…. Liz and I could chat for days and not get tired of each other… and John is SO FUNNY. Here’s some shots from the “urban-y” part of the shoot at Orange Circle….

Liz… you are just TOO CUTE…

Okay… and I have to tell you all. I have found a NEW favorite place to shoot at Orange Circle… this little back area was so PERFECT! The light bounced off of 3 different white walls… I’m pretty sure I jumped up and down with excitement like a little school girl.

John is a a reader of this blog…. and was quite inspired by Billy Jack’s model escapades…

After a quick wardrobe change, we made a beeline for Irvine Regional Park to take some shots as the sun was going down. John and Liz changed outfits while I scoped out the park… and I was surprised to find no one around. No joke… it was completely silent besides the sounds of nature…. soo peaceful! John brought out his baby…. his Martin Acoustic Guitar and strummed softly as the sun’s rays softened into yellow velvet across their faces….

After some shots in the park, we went exploring into the creek bed… and the light was GOOOOD.

Fact: John’s a quiet and reserved person… until he gets a guitar in his hands. I’m pretty sure at least a third of the shots I got of John rocking out on the guitar are blurry because I was laughing so hard…

I couldn’t help myself…

We ended the evening with some good old fashioned fun… and Jonas Brothers Jumps…

John and Liz. You rock my socks off. You’re so fun to be around, you’re both gorgeous people inside and out, and you like sushi. I’m glad we got to spend the evening together and I’m super excited to shoot your wedding next April.

Two of my very good friends got married yesterday. After taking the morning to rest, I’m looking through all the images from yesterday and I have tears in my eyes. I had a conversation with Alissa’s mom yesterday about weddings… about how my job is to document love…. and how I couldn’t wish for a more perfect job. It constantly leaves me breathless and in awe of L.O.V.E.

This is Alissa on the day she proclaimed and promised her love to Billy Jack forever.

She told me it was the best day of her life.

Today was beautiful.

Today was inspiring.

The air felt full of creative vapor.

I took a deep breath and gave it my all.

Here’s a sneak peek from today’s engagement shoot with Chris and Chelsea…. more to come….

I saw this one movie one time where the father of the main character tells her that everyone has the exact love life they want. I watched that movie like 5 years ago… and I’m still not sure what I think about that statement. But something I do know is that life is made up of a series of choices. We have the choice to love instead of be cynical. We have the choice to take a risk, knowing fully that we might get really hurt. We have the choice to pick ourselves up after a major disappointment or tragedy and keep going with hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have the choice to defy everything we know and feel comfort in for the chance at something greater. We have the chance to live fully and love greatly. We just have to choose it. If these choices were easy, everyone would be a superhero. Life goes by so quick. Love is a choice… but one good love is worth risking everything for. There’s some food for thought…

Here’s a sneak peek of the engagement shoot I did with Billy Jack and Alissa yesterday in San Diego. More to come!