We headed out the Los Angeles Union Station for Odinah and Paolo’s engagement session this past weekend. You’re in for a visual treat if like architecture and trains. The Union Station even served as a backdrop for several movies. The trains are still in service today. The halls may be rented for events and weddings.
My wife and I headed out to Santa Barbara, CA for a little day trip. My original intention was to scout the venues by myself for a wedding I’ll be shooting in two weeks there, but the weather was so beautiful that I decided to invite my wife along. The weather was pefect; it was a sunny and breezy 67 degrees outside. This is the kind of weather that attracts folks from all over to CA.
We stopped by the hotel that the Bride and Groom would be staying at. The hotel has a gorgeous lobby.
The balcony for the suites were quite sweet as well. The dark wood for the balcony immediately caught my attention.
Next, we drove to the Ricon Beach Club where the Reception would be held at. All the folks there were busy setting up for a wedding. Ashley, the coordinator was kind enough to take a few moments to show me around the venue a bit.
The actual wedding would take place on the beach. We were fortunate that people were already there preparing for a Ceremony.
I found a few great locations for photographs of the bridal party after the wedding ceremony. Right along side the rail road tracks are some beautiful wild flowers and a long wooden fence extending the length of the beach.
Okay, now here is the train that almost killed me! As my wife and I reached the tracks, we heard the train and felt the rumbling of rocks and pebbles on the ground. I look to my right and see nothing, I look to my left and still don’t see a train. At this point I’m still cautiously walking towards the tracks, all the while thinking if there really is a train coming. When I was about 4 feet from the tracks, my wife says “hey, look, it’s coming real fast from the right”! I stop in my tracks. Pun intended 
It must have only been about 1 second from the time I first saw the train to when it came barrelling down the tracks 4 feet in front me. I stood there frozen in place thinking “oh shit, that was close!” My next thought was to take a picture since this was the closest I’ve ever been to a moving train. Am I crazy or what?!
-HenryC