Tag Archives: Engagement

Santa Monica Pier: Ricky & Nikki Engagement

This cute and wacky couple held their engagement session yesterday at the Santa Monica Pier. Anyone that I’ve photographed can tell you that I have this hand gesture for getting people to kiss. I shoot with a long lens and it is sometimes difficult to hear from far away. Ricky and Nikki kept imitating my gesture throughout the session. Don’t mock the hand signs! :) I told them that I would give them both large moles on their faces if they kept it up.

I just love how Nikki’s flowing dress adds energy and complements the leading curves of the wooden fence in the photograph below. We actually had to walk a bit just to find the perfect fence with the roller coaster in the background and no litter on the sand.

The next three photographs beneath the pier are nothing less than HOT!

All natural light in the photograph below in 1/20 sec, f1.6 at ISO 3200!.  That’s camera talk for freaking dark. I braced myself on one of the horizontal crossbars and the couple had to keep completely still for the image.

Pink shirt, pink wall. Blue shirt, blue wall.

The engagement session had ended, my gear was packed and tucked away, and Nikki and Ricky were on a separate path down the pier when I spotted the balloon clown.

Serena & Parker Engagement: Pier 7, Embarcadero

It was a busy and fun-filled Easter weekend for the Chan-Clan. We drove up to Northern California Thursday night and returned back home late Monday evening. We didn’t want to fly with Sophia still very young. The drive wasn’t bad at all and we made record time with about a 6 hr trip each way. We periodically stopped to stretch Sophia’s foot long legs.

Serena and Parker’s engagement session was one of the highlights over the weekend. Serena and I go way back to our college days at UCLA. I remember regularly watching the X-Files together with Serena and some other friends. I was very honored when asked to photograph my dear friend’s wedding in Nov.

Serena and Parker are real troopers for posing in the cold weather.  I had three layers on and was still cold at times.

Serena and Parker on Pier 7 making out on a bench

I’ll blog about the other two events over the weekend on subsequent posts.  Stay tuned!.

Michelle & Phong : Laguna Beach Engagement

Well, I got my camera bag and butt wet again this past Sunday shooting Michelle and Phong’s engagement session at Laguna Beach.  I’m an active shooter and often find myself knee deep in water.  I was shooting into the shore and Michelle was suppose to watch my back for incoming waves.  Thanks a lot, Michelle ! :) Well, we all got caught up in the moment and before I knew it a rush of water came and I literally wet my pants.  Thank goodness, my camera bag is somewhat water resistant.

It was a beautiful day at the Main Beach in Laguna Beach. The Sun was bright, but not glaring in the late afternoon. The weather was warm, but not hot. There was a nice constant cool breeze.

We moved inland as night approached to capture all the beautiful ambient light of the many shops nearby.

Michelle and Phong are getting married in late October at The Villa in Westminster.  This will be my first time covering an event at The Villa.  I can’t wait to see what I can do with all the lighting at the venue.

Can you  see the sailboat in the distant horizon?

Laguna Beach Engagement

Laguna Beach Engagement

Laguna Beach Engagement

Laguna Beach Engagement

Laguna Beach Engagement

Laguna Beach EngagementLaguna Beach Engagement