Christina and Jason are an outgoing pair who love the theater (among many other things). Christina is a real Opera singer and Jason is a graphic designer who love acting. They met many years ago when they were both in their teens, during a stage performance of Guys and Dolls. About 7 years ago they reconnected and have been inseparable ever since! They’ve been spending the past few years in NYC and recently moved back to California. Christina first contact me back at the beginning of this year saying “Yours are the first wedding photos that I have not rolled my eyes at! I love how they are candid, tasteful, and beautiful.” I knew then she was Awesome, with a capitol A! We soon met and they shared with me their plans of a beautiful November wedding. This weekend, I had the great pleasure of capturing Christina and Jason’s engagement pictures at their old stomping grounds… The Pacific Theaters in Culver City!
Another fun fact about Christina, she is an avid knitter. She made a jumbo red scarf just for her engagement session!
I love when my couples make their photo shoots personal. When Christina told me about her and Jason’s new “bat-mobile” purchase, we both agreed it would be awesome to have it as a prop for the session! We took these last few images on a parking structure’s rooftop. From there we had beautiful views of Culver City and a beautiful sunset.
I recently added a new lens to my arsenal, the Canon 50mm 1.2L. It’s taken me a while to pick it up because I’ve had the range in a 24-70 2.8L (my first pro lens back in 2004). I actually bought a “cheaper version” Canon 50 1.8 (non L version) a few years back for $400, but it ended up getting dusty in my camera bag, so I sold it. Looking through a 50mm is kinda like what your eye naturally sees so I didn’t find it that interesting. Lately though, I’ve been having a change of heart. The 50mm gives great clarity and minimal distortion around the edges, being a great lens of choice for detail shots and portraits. So, $1500 later… I got the upgrade. I wanted to try it out some more, so I teamed up with Jenna to do some test shots at one of my favorite spots for engagements, Paramount Ranch in Malibu. All of the pictures below were either taken with the new 50mm 1.2L or second to newest lens 24 1.4L. I’m pretty happy how it they came out!
I met Marissa and Tyler at the end of last year during a wedding I shot for Marissa’s sister in Bakersfield. I was so thrilled when she contacted me soon afterwards as she was starting to plan her own wedding!! It was almost 7 years ago when Marissa met Tyler during spring break at Pizmo Beach. In the spring of last year, Tyler brought Marissa back to Seal beach to ask the big question! They’re now planning an intimate wedding at the beautiful Seven Oaks Country Club, in Bakersfield, this May. When I talked to Marissa about where she might like to do her engagement photoshoot, the idea of the beach was on the top of her list. We began their session at one of my favorite hotels in Santa Monica, the Viceroy!
For some beach shots, we walked across the street towards the pier. Spring is definitely in bloom, and we took some warm sunset shots overlooking the ocean.
Sakura and Nathan have been together for almost a decade… They met while working at the same video game store way back when. I actually met Sakura a couple of years ago at a wedding and was pretty stoked to hear she wanted to hire me for her own backyard wedding! Sakura describes herself as “non-traditional” and creative, and their wedding will have a lot of fun alternative ideas with a great color scheme and details! I can’t divulge too much right now, but maybe their engagement sessions has some hints for what’s to come? Sakura and Nathan both share a passion for movies. For their engagement session, they wanted to reenact some of their favorite movie scenes. This first set is inspired by “Shaun of the Dead” zombie scene, riffling through some records.
These two love their dogs Halo and Rambo!
These two birds are from the movie Dumb and Dumber.
Can you guess what movie the last shot represents?
