Bride & Groom's First Kiss | Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer

Here's a beautiful sneak peek at a wedding I photographed in Santa Barbara at a venue and gorgeous estate Villa Verano. It was my pleasure to work with some of the best vendors in the industry such as Kelly of Demaray Events, SBB gourmet catering, and Ella and Louie who provided the lush floral arrangements. My husband and I got married in Santa Barbara (at the Historical Museum) so going back to that town to shoot another couple's wedding brought back so many good memories from ours. I love SB and kinda wish I lived there, hehe. More to come stay tuned!

Liao Family | Irvine Family Photographer

Recently my husband told me about this movie called Boyhood, where the same cast was actually filmed over the course of 12 years. Crazy right!? But it's awesome nonetheless. Photographing my friend Jennifer's family the past couple of years has been a similar experience. You look back on past photos and wonder how time has flown so quickly. Jennifer's daughter matures so much each time I see her, and one day she's going to be EXACTLY like her mother. The resemblance is already uncanny and she's barely 4.

I am so glad I get to photograph their beautiful and growing family. These are the last photos of just the three of them, and soon there will be a new little one to embrace! Here are snippets from their fun and quirky family session in Irvine, Orange County. 

Marisol and Jaime | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer

This beautiful outdoor wedding at Cafe Pinot was one of my favorite weddings from this year. I just love outdoor venues and beautiful ceremonies on the grass. The space is so intimate yet only inches away from the huslte and bustle of the City. The venue is situated right in front of Los Angeles Downtown Central Library and was chosen because the bride and groom are both literary majors and English teachers. Hence the library-themed reception complete with a card catalog and book decor. Not to mention the gorgeous florals provided by Ellamah that fit so perfectly with the bride's Marissa lace dress and veil. Toward the end of the evening, the father of the bride gave an incredibly touching speech. It was one of the most sweet and poetic toasts I've ever heard. Tears actually welled up in my eyes as I was photographing! 

Wedding Event Planning: Demaray Events
Floral Design: Ellamah

Secret Garden Wedding Inspiration | Style Me Pretty Feature

Well I'm just over the moon now...Style Me Pretty, one of my favorite wedding blogs of all time, featured my images on their front page again! I worked with an amazing number of vendors, including these gorgeous actors from my friend's feature film, Love Arcadia, and of course Ellamah for the floral design, BHLDN for the gorgeous gown, Fantasy Frostings in Pasadena for the pretty rustic cake, Modern Elements for the exquisite calligraphy, Theresa Huang's team for the fabulous hair and makeup, Anthony & Michelle for the modeling talent, Found Vintage Rentals for the delightful vintage furniture, Vintage Table Co. for the beautiful table setting decor, Veiled Beauty for the most amazing wedding veil, and finally our lovely venue, Sunny Gable Estates. 

Check out Style Me Pretty for more of this gorgeous Secret Garden affair! 

Arboretum Arcadia | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer

The Arboretum Gardens in Arcadia is an amazing little gem tucked away in the San Gabriel Valley. When my clients ask me to photograph them there, I let out a little squeal and do a little dance...in the privacy of my own home of course. But seriously, this gorgeous botanical garden cannot be missed if you live in Los Angeles County. The peacocks, exotic plants, mini waterfall, and Victorian architecture are just some of the beautiful things featured at the Arboretum. I never cease to find a new spot to photograph. I had the absolutely pleasure of photographing this sweet couple's engagement session there, and I managed to find two new areas that I had never come across before in the, oh, ten times that I've visited. The light there is soooo soft and diffused and makes these film images look like fine art. It reminds me a lot of when I did the Jose Villa workshop a few years ago, and the dreamy pastel colors that came out of the mountains of Santa Ynez. This image really signifies what I strive to do in my work...make it soft, airy, and ethereal, like so many of my favorite film photographers in the world. More engagement photos to come, but here is a lone one that makes my heart sing.  Can't wait for their wedding at the Crossline Church in Laguna, Irvine OC coming up this weekend!

Portraits | Theresa Huang & Company

“It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are.”  -Paul Caponigro

I had the best time photographing the talented artists of Theresa Huang's Makeup & Hair Design team. They truly are beautiful inside and out. I love Theresa's work and have always been an admirer, so it was an honor to be asked to photograph her company portraits. One of Theresa's artists actually did the hair and makeup for my own wedding last June. Thanks for making me look so beautiful, Tina! :) 

One of my favorite things in the whole world is taking portraits. The art of taking portraits involves not only the photographer, but also the subject. The person whom you're aiming the camera at is very much a part of the creative process. During this time I get to know the person I'm photographing on a more intimate level, and I take a few moments to just observe them before composing the final shot. Best of all, I am tasked with communicating everything I want to say about a person in one single portrait - equivalent to a thousand words. Not much more to be said here right?

The first few photos are of the ever-talented and ever-lovely Theresa Huang.