Ventura County wedding photographer Gloria Mesa| Santa Barbara wedding photographer

Rincon Beach Club Resort | Lieutenant J.D and Elena wedding

2010-08-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

Working in Santa Barbara, driving along beautiful Hwy 101, and photographing a wedding is a lot of fun. This is what we did for the wedding of Lieutenant J.D. and Elena. It was hosted by the Rincon Beach Club in Carpenteria. I LOVE this venue. Everyone worked very hard to make their wedding a dream come true. J.D.'s family flew in from Ohio to join in the celebration. The day before the wedding, I got to meet everyone at the rehearsal dinner. I believe that this is the BEST way to "break the ice" with all of the family members and the bridal party, so that when the day of the wedding arrives, everyone feels comfortable with me. The religious ceremony was also held at the Rincon Beach Club, Melissa Sylvester and the staff did a remarkable job of making sure that things were ready for the enjoyment of the guests. The bride and groom had a fantastic time and so did their college friends who came from all over the United States. Now, I will show you some of my favorites of the day. By the way, J.D. and Elena are enjoying their honeymoon in Paris and Italy, right now.

Lieutenant J.D Patton and Mrs Patton.

vendors:
Second Camera: Laurie Bayley

Ceremony and Reception Event Planner:
Melissa Sylvester, Asistant Jaime Anderson Rincon Beach Club

Wedding Gown by Pebbles Bridal

Tux by Calvin Klein through Men's Wearhouse

Rings: Kimpel's Jewelry in Ohio

Honeymoon: Trafalgar tours France

Stationary: Hand made by mother of bride.

Candies: See's candies

Cookies: Jessica Foster Confections

Wedding Cakes
Company: Jana's Creative Cakes

Florist:
Symphony of Flowers

Ceremony/Cocktail Music:
Mariachis Aguilas de Mexico

Reception Music:
Coastal Events

Officiant:
Ken Craft

Videographer:
Coastal Events

Valet:
Blue Star Parking Co

Thank you for visiting my wedding photography blog.
To visit my wedding photography portfolio
Contact me or call (805) 297-5728

San Fernando Mission engagement session | Milton and Erica

2010-07-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

The day I met with Milton and Erica, to photograph their engagement session, was during the heat wave we had this month. Even though it was hot, we had so much fun. Milton and Erica wanted to be photographed at the San Fernando Mission; a great choice, since I love the Spanish look as much as they do. I met Erica and Milton last year when they were guests at the wedding of Amber and Julio which I photographed. Now they needed a wedding photographer so they contacted me. I am a so delighted and happy, of course!! Now, a bit of the story of how Milton proposed to Erica.

"It was a trip to San Francisco that changed our lives for the best. It was on Friday, June 26, 2009 at around 11:00pm on top of the Twin Peaks to be exact. We were both enjoying the breathtaking views of the city, where it felt like we were “on top of the world” over-looking the 360 degrees of the city. It was then that Milton began telling me his most sincere feelings as he stood behind me and we both admired the beauty of San Francisco. I never imagined he was going to propose that day. We were both over-looking the city when he said, “You and I can reach anything together and that is why, here at the Twin Peaks, the highest point in San Francisco, I want to ask you something . . .” that is when I turned away from the city view to look at him and it was then that I realized he was proposing. He got on his right knee and opened up a ring box which reflected this beautiful sparkling 3-stone diamond ring and asked, “Erica will you marry me?”. I was so happy and surprised that at first I said, “are you kidding???” and he replied, “no, no I’m not”, so he asked again and with a huge smile and tears in my eyes, I replied “ of course I will marry you!!!”. We both hugged and kissed, we were so happy; it was one of the best moments in our lives. From there we heard people clapping and saying congratulations and that’s when we realized we had an audience, it was other tourists that were there. It was a few minutes later that I remembered and asked Milton, “wait what about my parents”, and he said “don’t worry they already know”. Milton had spoken to my parents without my knowledge and had asked for my hand in marriage. This made it even more special, I felt like I was having a beautiful dream from which I didn’t want to wake up."
Erica and Milton are going to have a religious ceremony in Glendale and the reception at the Pasadena City Hall. It is going to be a fantastic affair.

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McCormick Home Ranch Ventura wedding | Saul and Jennifer

2010-07-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Saul and Jennifer celebrated their wedding sacrament at the San Fernando Mission; a beautiful place to get married and a place that has tons of history and traditions. Before the ceremony, there were friends and family joining us to be photographed with the bride and groom. After the religious ceremony that took place at the San Fernando Mission, everyone drove to Ventura to the McCormick Ranch, located in Camarillo; a delightful venue for outdoor weddings. Jennifer wanted to incorporate the traditional aspects of our culture into her wedding. Some of the details were found at Olvera Street, which Saul and Jennifer personally selected. Friends and family members had a fantastic time. Jennifer and Saul enjoyed one another with a surprised serenade to each other.. That was amazing!!

Some of my absolute favorites...

Thank again to all the vendors that made this possible: Jennifer and Saul Thank you for being SO sweet!!!! I had so much fun..

Jennifer's Dress: from Pebbles Bridal Warehouse
Bridesmaids dresses: from Alfred Angelo
Jennifer's make-up: Fashionably Wed
Photographer: Gloria Mesa Photography
Ceremony: San Fernando Mission
Choir: Louisville High School Ensemble Royale
Reception: McCormick Home Ranch in Camarillo
Food: El Tapatio
Cake: Bread Basket in Camarillo
Candy Buffet Table: Gabee Perez
Mariachi Mariachi Rey de America
Honey Moon: Carnival Cruise Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

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To visit my wedding photography portfolio
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Wedding in Temecula | Stuart Cellars Winery

2010-07-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

We celebrated the wedding of Marco and Lisette in Temecula, a fabulous place to host a wedding. I love the open spaces and the greenness of the vineyard. I had so much fun!! I met Lisette at the beautiful villa that her parents own; what a house. After finishing with hair and make-up, she put on her dress and got ready to see the man of her life. Marco's side of the family travelled from all over the country, especially from Sacramento, where Marco was raised. When I saw Marco in his uniform, I felt a joy and a sense of respect. I can't help myself from admiring a man in uniform. The religious ceremony was perfect and well planned. After the new husband and wife got married, we all drove to the
amazing venue, Stuart Cellars Winery, in Temecula. The day was breezy, but right around 6:30, the wind stopped. The weather was so nice and everyone had a fantastic time. Marco and Lisette, thank you for your hospitality and for making me feel like a friend. Stayce, the catering manager of Stuart Cellars, was incredible. Her and Maria Lisette's wedding coordinator make sure every single aspect of the wedding was perfect.
Some of my favorite images of the day!!

Marco and Lisette have a great time in you honeymoon, I know that the Caribbean sounds delicioso!!! Thank you to my buddy Rodolfo Arpia for coming to help me second shoot in this event.

Church in Temecula: St Catherine of Alexandria Catholic
Hotel: Hotel Embassy Suites in Temecula
Hair/Make up artist: Helena Pham
Wedding Cordinator: Maria Gomez (626) 201-3691
Flowers: Michael's Flower Girl
Latin Gents' Entertainment (DJ animador) Fidel Ramirez
(818) 281-1961

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Anna Kuperberg and Amy Deputy workshop in San Francisco

2010-07-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

As professional photographers, we always have to be on top of things, looking at new and improved equipment. One of the most important aspects, regarding photography, is to educate ourselves. That is exactly what I did; I attended a workshop with one of the photographers that I have a lot of respect for in this industry. The workshop was held in San Francisco, with Anna Kuperberg and Amy Deputy hosting this incredible workshop. I got to spend a few days in San Francisco and enjoying the company of 20 other talented photographers. It was a fabulous experience and something that I definitely will never stop doing; learning and improving myself in all aspects of photography.

Love this hotel super cute and adorable... Sir Francis Drake in union square.

My Buddies David Josue from Mexico and Ed Atrero From San Diego, and Vlad..

Amy and Anna in accion..

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Los Angeles River Center and Gardens | Adrian and Marybeth wedding

2010-07-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

The wedding of Adrian and Marybeth was on Saturday and I got to be a part of this wonderful event. Every detail was well thought out.
From the time that I arrived at Marybeth and Adrian's house, I felt welcomed and excited.I was referred to Adrian and Marybeth by Sylvia and Samson, a couple whose wedding I photographed last year. Thank you guys!! Adrian got ready in a nearby hotel, while Marybeth wanted to get ready in her own house for her BIG day. I love the venue that they chose for the reception celebration; outdoors, trees, natural lighting, nice breeze and can’t forget the birds singing. I enjoyed that so much, and so did the new husband and wife.
The Los Angeles River Center and Gardens did a stunning job putting everything together. When we arrived from the religious ceremony, everything was in its place and ready to enjoy.
Some of my favorite images of the day!!!

Thank you Adrian and Marybeth for having me in you BIG day!!! Maria Miranda did an stunning Job coordinating this event, thank you form the bottom of my heart.
Also Thank you to my great friend Miguel Pola for helping me in this wedding.

Vendors:
Dress: Alfred Angelo
Make-up and Hair: Chailling
Rings: Kay Jewelers
Flowers: Tricia Carey
Honeymoon: Caribbean
Catering: La Grotta de Capri Catering
Cakes: Jan Downhower.
JD o Band: Grupo Los Soñadores

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Brandon and Jacqueline wedding| Hartley Botanical Gardens

2010-06-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday morning I meet with Jacqueline at her friend's house where she was getting ready for her wedding, Brandon, the groom, was with his friends getting ready as well. The wedding was held at Hartley Botanical Gardens located in Ventura County. This is a great place to host weddings and events. The ceremony took place in St Mary Magdalen Chapel in Camarillo. After the ceremony, we drove to Hartley's botanical Gardens were everything was ready for the guest to enjoy. The party was a total hit. The guest were dancing and having a wonderful time and I was able to capture some incredible moments. Here some of my favorites images of this splendid event.

Vendors :

Dress: Pebbles Bridal-Pronovias
Tuxedos: Friar Tux
Rings: Giantto
Honeymoon: Breezes Panama Resort and Spa
Caterer: Command Performance-Trevor Fitzpatrick
Photographer: Gloria Mesa Photography
DJ: Coastal Events- James Reed
String Quartet: Ambrosia String Quartet- Melissa Phelps
Reception Coordinator: Bella Dia-Wendi Hatfield
Florist: Belle of the Ball Design-Jennifer Rothfield
Cake: Skiff's Bakery-Steve Skaggs
Venue: Hartley Botanical Gardens

Thanks to my buddy Adam for helping me in this wedding.

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First female photographer in the cover of Bodas USA.

2010-06-07T23:14:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day full of fantastic news that I would love to share with you. Last February I submitted several images from different weddings to Lillian De La Torre president of Bodas USA, she selected one of my images of Diana using the red wall as a background for the Verano/Otoño issue of the magazine.

It feels great to be the First female photographer on the cover, when Lillian gave me the news I was very happy and I shared this information with my husband and family. This Magazine is beautiful and full of information for brides to be. You can find Bodas USA in your local Bookstores and retail stores. The Wedding was held at the Camarillo Ranch House Foundation in the city of Camarillo.

I want to show my appreciation to all the people that worked on the magazine from start to finish, and to Diana and Danny for having such a fantastic wedding event, and of course for choosing me as their wedding photographer.

Thank you for the bottom of my heart..

Lillian De la Torre Director of publishing.
Sandra Evans, Art Director,
Angela Gomez-Holbrok, USA, (Consultant Graphic Designer)

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Los Alamitos Engagement session | Marco and Lisette

2010-06-01T23:01:00.000-07:00

I meet Marco and Lisette on a Sunday afternoon to drive at Los Alamitos military base.
The place it's so cool, love the rusted walls and HUGE hangars; where I was able to snap a few clicks.
I never been in a place like this before. Thank you Marco for making it happen.. :)
We started outside checking the helicopters that Marco flies, he is a medevac pilot for the national Guard.
A year from this day, Marco proposed to Lisette in front of her whole family, since Marco was going to be deployed to
Afghanistan, where he spend 12 months. But Before proposing to Lisette, Marco ask for her hand in marriage to her father.
That tradition is till alive by many of my clients. I love when couples bring along their customs and traditions, that is something that I cherish and admired.
After we finished at the base we drove to Seal Beach, the day ended it being really windy and super cold,
but Lisette manage to stayed warm and continue the session.
Their wedding is going to be held in a the chapel in Temecula, beautiful place to host weddings. Temecula has lots of wineries like the one
where the reception will take place, Stuart Cellars and winery in Temecula. I am sure that besides wine we are going to have lots of Tequila.
Dear Lisette and Marco, thank you for spending a great day with me..

Some of my favorites of the day.

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Wedding of Mike and Maggie | Private Residence.

2010-05-25T18:14:00.000-07:00

The Wedding of Mike and Maggie was a great wedding, the company of great friends and love ones, made the perfect combination to have a fabulous event.
I drove to the private residence where the reception took place and where Mike was waiting for me with all the grooms men, all wearing Kilts.
They look very good!! Maggie mention that Mike was going to used Kilts, one way of honoring his heritage, Scottish.
As I drove to Fleur de Lis Chapel with the guys, I was drop at Mike mom's house, where Maggie was getting ready in the company of Bella, her sweet and adorable little girl. Maggie look so beautiful!! After a few portraits we all drove in a limousine to the chapel to meet Mike and the whole group of friends and family members.
The evening was perfect the weather was incredible, the food and the cup cakes delicious!!! Mike and Maggie, thank you for letting me be part of your wedding and to Elena and Chris Basteri for referring me to you..

Maggie Gown: Winnie Couture from The Dresser in Fullerton
Make-up and Hair stylist: Mandi Crane
wedding reception Caterer: Lucille's
Reception coordinator: Laura Windell
Bakery: Summer Banjamis
Photo Booth: Photo-works interactive
Rental: A1 rentals
Limousine: Limo World.
Florist Evelyn Aminoto from Sunshine flowers

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Ventura County Engagement | Saul and Jennifer

2010-05-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

Saúl and Jennifer met each other while attending California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA. Both of them had decided to take on a double major in Spanish and in 2002, while taking courses in Mexican and Spanish Literature, they found themselves sitting in the same classrooms. Though they had seen each other on campus prior to this, it was not until they were sitting in the same room that they began to converse and eventually date. Fast forward a couple of years to 2007 and Saul and Jennifer had completed their master’s degrees; him in public policy and administration and she in education. Though this was a major goal for both of them, Saúl had always had a goal, a strong desire, to travel. In December of 2007, Saúl and his cousin embarked on a South American adventure where they planned to visit Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Perú. Over Easter vacation in April of 2008, Jennifer decided to meet Saúl in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Upon arriving at the Buenos Aires Airport, Saúl greeted Jennifer with a sign and flowers. Then, when they arrived at the apartment Saúl had been staying at they celebrated their reunion with cheese and wine. Despite all of this, Jennifer was still unassuming and had no idea of what would come the following day. As it was the first morning of Jennifer’s visit, Saúl had created a sight-seeing itinerary for them to explore the city together. Their first stop was the “Jardín Zoológico de Buenos Aires”. After walking around and enjoying the beautiful weather and the sights of various animals, Saúl suggested that they leave to grab some lunch. As they were headed for a taxi, Saúl then told Jennifer: “Never mind, let’s take one of these horse carriage rides instead”. Little did Jennifer know that Saúl had already pre-arranged this. As they toured Buenos Aires, Saúl began reminiscing about how long he and Jennifer had been together and how great those years had been when all of a sudden he got down on one knee and asked Jennifer if she would marry him. Ring box in hand, Jennifer was still in disbelief and all she could do was giggle. After a few seconds, when it finally struck her, she immediately said yes! Later that night, Saúl and Jennifer celebrated their engagement with dinner and a tango show at “Esquina Carlos Gardel”.

Saúl and Jennifer will finally be married on July 3, 2010. Their mass will be held at the San Fernando Mission in Mission Hills, CA and their reception will be hosted at the McCormick Home Ranch in Camarillo.

Some of my favorites of the day...

Saul and Jennifer Thank you for spending the afternoon with me, I had so much fun!!

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Wedding of Ray and Sandra in Granada Hills

2010-05-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

Hello friends and new visitor of my wedding photography blog, I give you a HUGE welcome. Now, we celebrate the wedding of Ray and Sandra.
The day was beautiful, nice breezy, blue skies a perfect Southern California day. What else can I ask for? Wonderful weather to get marry. I meet Sandra at her sister house where she was getting ready. While Ray was at his mother's house. Later they saw each other for the first time at Santa Rosa Church in San Fernando Valley.
Later we all drove to Knollwoods Country club in Granada Hills, we all gather family and friends and of course Ray and Sandra. To complete the family session. For a moment, I did not want to stop taking photos. I had the perfect light and the perfect couple the wind was working wonder with Sandra's hair, I love it!!. After finishing the portraits, we got ready for grand entrance, as I got in the hall, I noticed the mariachi having a great time enteraining all the guest with traditional music.
Ray and Sandra thank you for allowing me to be part of your wedding celebration, I am sure you guys had a blast on Costa Rica..

Some of my favorites of the day.

Vendors:

Knollwoods Country Club
Santa Rosa Church
Dress by Maggie Sotero
Second Camera by David Pelaez
Flowers by St Germain Flowers
Mariachi Rey de America
Luis Castro Dj Rhythmic Entertain
Honeymoon: Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort

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Newborn Photography in Ventura County | Baby Angelina

2010-05-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Photographing babies it’s one of the most rewarding moments a photographer can ask for.
When Maritza and Steven called me last year to have a pregnancy session, I got really excited.
I meet Maritza and Steven at the wedding of Tiffany and Tarquinn; she was the maid of honor and of course, I was their wedding photographer.
When I saw Maritza again; she looked beautiful expecting a baby girl. On the pregnancy session I got to
use my lights again, that was so much fun. Working with studio lighting makes me feel so good, really good.
This year, baby Angelina was born and I got the opportunity of meeting her at her house. It was a pleasure
what a cute little girl, she loves the camera. She keep looking at me and following me with her tiny eyes.
I enjoyed the session so much, baby Angelina did not cry a lot. She did a great job!!
I can wait to see baby Angelina again…

Some of my favorites of the day

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Engagement session in Ventura County | Brandon and Jacqueline

2010-04-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

The story of Brandon and Jacqueline happened over a series of years with their paths crossing several times before officially meeting...

Brandon and Jacqueline's first crossing was when they were both in the second grade and made their First Holy Communion together at St. John's Seminary College. Not realizing it, the two were separated into groups the day of their ceremony and they didn't even know until years later that they were in the same class.

Brandon and Jacqueline finally officially met at Adolfo Camarillo High School during their sophomore year. Through mutual friends and classes Brandon and Jacqueline became friends but it wasn't until Brandon joined the cross country and track team that they started seeing each other on a regular basis. Seeing each other more frequently was easier with Jacqueline's father being Brandon's coach and teacher at ACHS. It became obvious that the two cared for each other very much and they dated through the end of high school and graduated together in 2002.

Now inseparable Brandon got an athletic scholarship to UCI and went away to school. Jacqueline stayed locally and attended Moorpark College, later transferring to SDSU. Although the separation was hard on them, they managed to continue their relationship through long phone calls, a lot of weekend driving, and yes, even love letters.

When Jacqueline graduated college she moved back to Camarillo, where Brandon was already living again. Finally in the same town, she and Brandon were able to strengthen their relationship. After a short time the couple was finally engaged. It only took 10 years of dating to get to where they are now.

The Sacrament of marriage will take place St. Mary Magdalen in Camarillo and the reception will be taken place at Hartley Botanica in Somis.

Some of my favorites of the day.

This is Hartley what a great dog!!

Thank you So much for spending a delightful afternoon with me!! : )
Thank for visiting my wedding photography blog.To visit my wedding photography portfolio Contact me or call (805) 297-5728

Engagement session | The City of Claremont

2010-04-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Now that April it's almost gone, we are preparing for the upcoming weddings that I will be photographing in May. This time was for Maggie and Mike; sweet as honey and super COOL couple!! We meet at the city of Claremont to do the session. We had a really great time and I was able to capture some sweet and relax moments. Maggie and Mike are getting married next month and they are transforming their house for the reception with white tents; that will give a cozy feeling. I CAN WAIT!!!!
This is how Mike proposed to Maggie:
"Mike and I met in High School and actually had our first date when I was a sophomore in High School!! Unfortunately nothing came of it, but we remained friends throughout high school and kept in touch throughout the years. We were reunited about 4 years ago while out with friends and have been inseparable ever since!!

We had planned on getting away to Palm Springs for a weekend and were planning on heading out on Friday. I woke up Friday morning to smell bacon and eggs being cooked in the kitchen. Mike had gotten up really early and cooked me my favorite breakfast, breakfast burritos!! He had made coffee, gone out and bought flowers and had music playing in the background... while I was eating my breakfast he said he had something he needed to tell me, then he got down on one knee!! He said, Maggie, will you and I didn't let him finish!! I jumped up from my chair and told him YES! YES, of course!! Then he laughed and said that I hadn't even seen the ring, I told him it didn't matter what the ring looked like, all that mattered was we were going to be married! Happiest day of my life!"

I specially want to give a HUGE thanks to Elena and Chris Basteiri for referring me to Maggie and Mike.. THANK YOU!!!

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Wedding of Vince and Karla at the Garden Room

2010-04-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

Getting married is a fabulous event, I drove to the hotel where Karla was getting ready. The day was beautiful having a fabulous wedding with a wonderful couple. Vince got ready at this parents house where David my second photographer, was taking care of all the photos with the boys. The ladies where ready and looking sassy! Karla looked stunning in her Maggie Sotero gown. GEORGEUS!!!
She and the ladies drove in a limousine to the ceremony where Vince was waiting anxious to see his bride!!
The Ceremony took place at St Matthias church, the mariachi a tradition to have during the ceremony; did a marvelous job.
After the ceremony took place we all drove to Heritage park for the group photos and later to the reception at the Garden Room in la Habra. You can also see this images in Facebook.. too!! : )
Karla and Vince took their honeymoon in the beautiful Acapulco Mexico..

The boys by David...

VInce and Karla congratulations!!
Thank you to all the vendors that made this possible:

Dress: Maggie Sottero
Shoes: Jessica Simpson
Jewelry: Margareta Art Deco Drop Necklace and Earrings
Make-up by MAC Cosmetics
Hair by Juan Carlos at Aleida Divine in South Gate, CA
Flowers by Alicia's Flower Boutique in OC
DJ: DJ Ray
Cake: Lydia's Cakes
Photography: Gloria Mesa Photography
Second photographer: David Pelaez.
Thank for visiting my wedding photography blog.
To visit my wedding photography portfolio
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Engagement session in Simi Valley, Ventura County

2010-04-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

April!! I just happen to love this month; you may ask, why? Because I was born in this month. I have celebrated my birthday and
it was fantastic.. I couldn’t ask for more things.. ( hope my husband is not reading this..) : )
Last Friday I met with Sandra and Raymond to have their engagement session. We had such a great time. We were laughing and I tried to make the experience
fun and relaxing for them so they would remember this moment for many years to come.
We are going to be celebrating their marriage at the Santa Rosa church and the reception will take place at the Knollwood Country Club. Sandra and Raymond met on a blind date and this is how it happened:

"We met almost 7 years ago. It was a blind date that my sister had set up for me, which, at the time, I did not want to meet anyone. After several weeks of my sister insisting that I meet this guy I had no choice but to say yes. Our first date went so well that we both felt as if we had known each other for a long time. Raymond was and continues to be the most respectful person I had ever met and extremely sweet. From that day forward our romance began and here we are, almost 7 years later, getting married. He was my first and last “blind date.”

Cute, so adorable together and I have to agree with Sandra. Raymond is a true gentleman..!!

If you would like to be a friend facebook.. click on link.

Some of my favorites of the day!!

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Jesus and Annette wedding at the Double-Tree Hotel in Commerce.

2010-04-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you guys for such a wonderful time!! The wedding of Jesus and Annette was a fabulous event.
I drove to City of Commerce to meet Annette on her wedding day. The wedding day finally arrived; I know for a fact how hard and how dedicated
Jesus and Annette were with all of the preparations for their special day.
Since she was a little girl she had a dream of this day and her wish was granted. The ceremony took place St. Rosa of Lima in Maywood,
while the wonderful staff of the Doubletree Hotel in Commerce, had the hall ready for the party time. Jasmine Ocampo, the catering manager at the Doubletree Hotel, was very delightful and helpful.
I had a wonderful time there..
I got to meet so many wonderful people that I have kept in touch with via Facebook (love it there).. I could not ask for more in my life!! Great couples and such wonderful friends and family members.. ahh!! I am so blessed..
Some of my many favorites of the day

By David my second and talented photographer.

By David,

Thanks to all the vendors that made this event possible,
Jesus and Annette Thank you so much for having me with my camera capturing this incredible moments.
I know your honey-moon in Bora Bora was a delightful!! can wait to see your guys again.

Invitations-Rene Graphic & Printing, Los Angeles
Ceremony- Saint Rose of Lima, Maywood
Reception- DoubleTree Hotel, Commerce
Ceremony decor & Lazo of orquids- Milflores Wedding Specialist, Maywood
Mariachi- Fiesta Mexicana Mariachi
Transportation
bride& Groom Car- Bentley 1957 Classy Chassis Rentals Ventura County
The Wedding Party Limousine- 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Rendon Limousine Service, Downey
Photographer- Gloria Mesa Photography, Ventura County
Second Photographer- David Pelaez
Videographer- Parallel Media Productions, Orange County
Reception Decor
Linen Co.- Golden Moments San Bernardino County
Pipe& Drape- Luna Party Rentals, Los Angeles
Favors- Florbella, Pico Rivera
Photo Booth- Photo Booth Pro, Aliso Viejo
Reception Flowers- Pedroza Flowers, Los Angeles
Lighting- The lighter Side, Inglewood
Cake- Rossmoor Pastries, Signal Hill

Bride & Bridesmaids
Bridemaids Make up- Anabel Wren, Long Beach& Sandi Avila, Altadena
Bridemaids Dresses: Davids Bridal

Bridal Hair & Make Up- Alex Rodriguez, Downey
Wedding Gown & Veil- Designer: Eden Bridal, Bridal Store: The Wedding Montebello, CA
Headpiece Designer: Erica Kohsler, Shoes: Bliss Bridal Shoes

Groom & Groomsmen
Groom & Ringbearer ceremony tux- Designer: Joseph Feiss
Groomsmen & Fathers: Designer: Calvin Klein
all tuxes were rented in Mens Wearhouse

Rings: Dave Schneider, Long Beach

Music/Entertainment
Mariachi- Fiesta Mexicana Mariachi, Diamond Bar
Band- Grupo Ornelas, Pico Rivera
DJ- DJ Amaze, West Covina

Honeymoon
Bora Bora, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa
Travel Agent: Triple AAA

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To visit my wedding photography portfolio
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Style Unveiled LA | Unveiled Bridal Show

2010-04-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

The day was hot and really sunny, a totally California day. I got the invitation to assist at the Style Unveiled L.A Thank you for making this exquisite event.
For me was a great experience because I got to see a ton of vendors and learned a few things. This kind of bazaar showcases the city’s best inspired vendors in an elegant, park-like setting of LA’s boutiques. It was mainly for brides-to-be and their families to enjoy.
I got to taste some incredible food by talented caterers and saw amazing displays by the most incredible wedding and event coordinators.

Some of the images I captured of the day.

Love the display of color .. by 24 Carrots catering and events

This is a very romantic setting by Bk Events..

Fresh elegant and delicious.. House of An catering

The Bridal bar event resources.. Just love the presentation

Left by Fantasy Frostings Right by Erica O'Brien Cake Design

Cake on the left by Cake monkey bakery and on the right by Sweet and Saucy shop

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Wedding at La Verne University.. Brian and Sonia

2010-04-06T22:24:00.000-07:00

Hello friends, I wanted to let you know that I have been really busy photographing some incredible weddings and working on the engagement sessions that are coming up pretty soon..
Also, I have been invited to shows that have introduced me to lots of new vendors and have gotten me thinking about the new trends for weddings this season. Fun, really fun stuff.
But this blog is to showcase the wonderful wedding of Sonia and Brian, a very lovely couple that I met last year that had chosen me to be their wedding photographer, what a joy!! I got to work at the University of La Verne where they hosted the reception; great venue.
The grounds were fantastic. Thanks to Tita, Sonia's mom, for working so very hard in making sure Sonia got the wedding of her dreams..
Brian and Sonia, thank you for trusting me with such an important event at the beginning of your new life together.

Some of my favorites of the day..

I know how wonderful time you had at Moon Palace at the Riviera Maya, paradise!!!

Thank you David for being a great Help!!!

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Engagement Session at Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort.

2010-03-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

I was so happy when Elena called me to set the engagement session for her and J.D., her fiancé. The reason was because when Elena booked me for her wedding, J.D. was in Afghanistan serving our country. I was so proud of that and, of course, excited to meet him for the first time. We had a blast!! Elena and J.D. are perfect for each other. I love to be around so much love and respect. Elena has a lovely family. I got to meet her mom (I adore her) and I can’t wait to celebrate their wedding. The ceremony is going to be hosted at the Rincon Beach Club. I know it's going to be a fantastic wedding!! I also wanted to share the story of how J.D. proposed to Elena. The work of several people was involved. Here is the story of Elena and J.D proposal.

Tuesday, May 5th: J.D. finds out that he is deploying to Afghanistan sooner than originally anticipated. He tells Elena and she is immediately upset! Wednesday, May 6th: J.D. boards a red-eye flight to California to surprise Elena with a proposal.

Elena is at work having what she thinks is going to be another day in the life of a first grade teacher. She is preparing for her First Grade Social Studies performance for the following day (meaning she was going to work late). At 10:00 a.m., that morning, J.D. arrives in California. He decides to plan a mini scavenger hunt for Elena.

At 3:30 in the afternoon Elena luckily had to use the restroom in the teacher's lounge, where she encounters a teacher friend (named Stacey) who asks “what are you still doing here?" Elena is puzzled as to why she is asking that question, she was working of course. Stacey
continues to tell her to go out to her car because there is something she should see. Elena proceeds to her car to find a rose and a card with her name on it. She is completely surprised and wonders how J.D. had placed the card on her car. She continues to question Stacey “How
did J.D. get that card to you?" Stacey says, "He is here." Elena is still completely shocked. She proceeds to open the card to find a sweet message as well as details telling her to follow the clue to get to her next clue. There was a map leading her to Mandalay Bay Embassy Suites in Oxnard, California. She is to ask the concierge for the next clue. When Elena arrives there is another rose and card from J.D. with another sweet message and a room key. Elena wanders around this huge hotel, not knowing where to go, and is soo anxious to see J.D. She finally finds the room and is ready to see him, but there is yet another rose and sweet message from J.D. In the last card she is to meet him out on the beach. Once Elena gets there he is holding another
rose. Elena rambles on for many minutes about how surprised she is that he is there. It was at that point, standing on the beach, that J.D. asks for her to marry him. She said “YES!" of course."

Wonderful story… something to tell your grand-kids… so this is what we did that day!!
Thank you to all that help J.D in his quest...

This is the beach where he proposed to Elena.

Elena and J.D wanted a Red barn. Here at the Camarillo Ranch house.

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Pacific Palms Resort Wedding Photography

2010-03-12T14:44:00.000-08:00

Hello friends,
I want to start by saying thank you for stopping by my wedding blog. It is very important to me that you know that.
Last year I got an e-mail from a bride that was getting married, here in California, at the Pacific Palms Hotel in the City of Industry.
Their names are Danielle and Thomas and they wanted me to photograph their wedding. They both live in New York; but the majority of their family lives here.
The wedding was held on a Saturday. Crystal Kelly, the banquet manager, was extremely helpful. She made sure that everything was just as Danielle and Thomas dreamt and envisioned it to be.
When I arrived at the Pacific Palms Hotel, Danielle was just getting done with her makeup and hair. She introduced me to all of her family members.
The day turned out to be fantastic. When Danielle put her dress on, she looked like a "goddess"; Perfect!!
The guests and family members had a blast. The DJ rocked the house.
I wanted to give you a bit of the story of Thomas and Danielle and also tell you how they met.

Long story short...We met in San Diego, at work, in a training
session in 1998. We started a long distance relationship in 2000. He
could not resist me. He has a love for Mexican food and women, I
guess! Our first date was in Arizona, where he went to college. He swept me off my feet, and then asked me to spend a winter wonder land in New York City for Christmas. He asked me to come out and move with him to New York. I always wanted to move to New York. I had visions of me in New York, sometime in my life! So I did it. In October of 2002, I moved out to New York and started my life. I thought it was going to be for maybe two or three years tops, while eight years later here we are happily married with a wonderful house Tom bought me, two years ago.
Vendors:
Flowers and decor done by Blooms for less by Alfredo Samaniego
Cake was done by Federico's bakery in Pasadena.
Dj: Frank Coronel
Some of my favorite images of the day…

These earrings belong to Tom's mother Deborah, where passed on to Danielle. .

It's all in the family!! Jen (Tom's baby sister) Roxanne, Andrea and Vanessa.

Love the look of Tom, taken by David : )

Dear Tom and Danielle you have a wonderful honeymoon in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
David, thank you for helping me in this wedding. Thank you!!

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Engagement Session at UCLA and the Santa Monica Pier

2010-02-22T20:36:00.000-08:00

Hello friends. As you see, we are back to work!! Things are shaping up really well and I am very thankful for that.
Super Bowl weekend was a good day to do an engagement session at UCLA and the Santa Monica Pier.
We started early because we promised Vincent that he would be able to watch the Super Bowl with family members. We did a really great job, finishing just in time for them to go out and see the game.
I would like to tell you that Karla and Vincent are going to celebrate the sacrament of marriage at St. Matthias Church and the reception will be held at
the Garden Room in La Habra. It’s going to be a great wedding.
Karla is making sure that everything is perfect for her wedding.
Now I would like to tell you a bit about how Vincent proposed to Karla.
As for his proposal:
“Vincent proposed to me on Christmas morning of 2008. We were at my mom’s house opening gifts, and he gave me this hideous jacket that was two sizes too big for me, so I wasn't a very happy camper but had to pretend I loved the jacket. At the same time we had given my mom a puppy, Charlie, who was running havoc in the house. So while I got up and looked after Charlie, in another room, that morning, he asked my mom for permission to marry me. Obviously she said yes and as I was walking back to the living room, he walked up to me and gave me a hug and started telling me that the past year had been a rough one (he was laid off in early 2008) and that I had stuck by him through all the rough times and that 2009 was going to be different. So, by then, I thought it was weird because my mom and sister are sitting on the couch WATCHING and SMILING! So I got embarrassed because we aren't very affectionate in public, and especially not in front of my mom (you know the Hispanic respect factor)! So then, I see him reach for his pocket and get down on one knee. I FREAKED and he asked me to be his WIFE! There was a mixture of all these emotions and we both got a little teary eyed and my mom and sister ran up to us and gave us a huge hug! It was very simple and intimate, just the four of us in the room, but it was PERFECT! He knows how important my mom and sister are to me!"

Enjoy some of my favorite images of the day:

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Leave it to me Events in Beverly Hills

2010-02-17T17:10:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends and new followers. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for spending some of your time visiting my blog.
This year, I am going to showcase some of my favorite vendors such as; my favorite wedding florists, my favorite food caterers, the best DJ's in tha’ house and the best wedding coordinators.

Now, some of the people that I will be interviewing are vendors that I have worked with and love the way they do business.
What I am trying to do is to help in any way that I can to narrow your work as a bride and also as a consumer. Also, I will show very few vendors that I admire the most and hope that I can work with them in the near future.

So let’s begin. This post is dedicated to Beverly and will showcase her as my favorite wedding coordinators. She is the owner of Leave It To Me Events located in Beverly Hills, California. She is a professional and a very proud member of ABC (Association of bridal consultants) and MPI, which are all wedding related sites. So here is goes:

What can you tell me about your business?

When I founded Leave It To Me Events in 2006, my vision was to assist individuals, companies and non-profits in maximizing their events through strategic planning and creating fun, original and fabulous atmospheres for their guests. I hold a MBA and am a member of
The Association for Bridal Consultants and have professionally coordinated corporate events for major Fortune 500 companies, planned parties and coordinated weddings for family and friends. My professional team and I are constantly evolving by staying on top of the market and enhancing our skills through our relationships with vendors, associations and the industry at large.
Leave It To Me Events is based in Los Angeles, doing business in surrounding areas such as, Beverly Hills, Orange County, Ventura County and the South Bay. Leave It To Me Events was nominated in the Top 5 Best Businesses in the Inland Empire and won the 2010 Bride’s Choice Award. Leave It To Me Events will take care of all your planning needs and be assured that all the details, large and small, will be taken care of so you can feel like a guest at your own event. Leave It To Me Events is seeking the ultimate opportunity to build and establish a personal/professional relationship with clients and are committed and totally dedicated in assisting customers and in bringing their vision to life!

Both ceremony and reception sites have an on-site planner. Why would they need a consultant?

This is a common question and quite justified. Some places do include their own "on-site" coordinator. When this happens, Leave It To Me Events does not infringe on their responsibilities. They do a wonderful job getting done what is contracted, but they are usually focused on the venue they work for; leaving the question of who will manage the details that the bride and groom have spent hours working on, such as flowers for readers, groomsmen, grandparents, assuring the musicians, limo, and photographer are on time, programs are handed out, candles are lit, bows on chairs are straight, DJ is on time, and much more. On site coordinators are frequently not prepared or willing to take care of the little things or problems. We are their personal assistant for the entire day. Knowing what the big picture is and assuring that every detail is in its place, looking as beautiful as they have dreamed it would.

If their budget is tight how can they justify the cost of hiring a consultant? 

Leave It To Me Events will help them stay on budget by locating the best values for their money. By hiring a coordinator who has the knowledge, experience and is able to identify qualified vendors & suppliers, they are saving on purchases of planning guides, wedding books and internet time that would normally be used to obtain these things. We are there, for the bride and groom, the entire day to oversee any conflicts, keep them on schedule, and stay behind the scenes taking care of everything so they may enjoy this beautiful day, a value you cannot put a price on. Their personal wedding consultant is the best investment any bride and groom could make. She will assure that the entire day runs calmly & smoothly and will always have the bride and groom’s best interest at heart while going that extra mile for them.

What qualities should they look for in a bridal consultant?

It is very important that they feel relaxed and comfortable with their consultant. After all she is the one who that they are trusting this important day with to keep things running smoothly and worry free. And she will be with them for many hours. Check to see if she is a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants. If so they will know that she is following the guidelines of ethics and knowledge that is important and required.

What if they have already done most of the planning? Can you still help them?

Yes, we can assist them in many ways, even though they planned all the big things there are always little details that need attending to. We also help by becoming their point person for the rehearsal and wedding day. All of the planning that they have spent hours coordinating, can be left with us to orchestrate. They can be certain that we are on top of everything and leaving nothing for them or their family to worry about. They will be free to visit and enjoy their guests while we set their mind at rest that everything is running according to plans.

The leave it to me events team..

Some of Leave it to me events at the Camarillo Ranch house in Camarillo..

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Cartagena Colombia

2010-02-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share some of the things that I did while in South America. The city selected by many brides, as their destination wedding, is Cartagena de Indias, Colombia; Why Cartagena? It’s a beautiful place full of history and color. I love the beautiful backgrounds and old streets and the houses are to die for. We spent four days there and had a blast!.

I was able to arrange a bridal session in Cartagena. Thank you Alejandra for looking so gorgeous and for helping me with this incredible dream of mine.

A bit of info about Cartagena thanks to my loyal Wikipedia…
Cartagena de Indias was founded on June 1, 1533 by Spanish commander Pedro de Heredia, in the former location of the indigenous Caribbean Calamarí village. The town was named after Cartagena, Spain, from which most of Heredia's sailors came.
Initially, life in the city was bucolic with fewer than 2000 inhabitants and only one church. A few months after the disaster of the invasion of Cote, a fire destroyed the city and forced the creation of a firefighting squad, the first in the Americas.

Thanks again for visiting my blog…

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My Very First Post of the year.... Keep it real

2010-01-29T12:42:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends and fellow photographers. I hope everyone had a great time celebrating the holidays with your loved ones. This time, for my first blog of 2010, I want to take a moment to talk about me. I will be brief.
I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco and spent half of my life there, enjoying many wonderful years in the company of my loved ones. Our family was very humble, but we never missed a meal or were without a roof over our heads. I am one of the youngest of 9. I have 6 sisters, yes!! Six, can you believe it! Let’s not forget about my other 3 brothers; my poor mother!!
As a child, I would always dream a lot. I have always been and still am, in a way, a dreamer. I enjoyed the arts and photography. Since we didn’t have a lot, we made up games to keep us busy. We were very active kids; running, bicycling, running errands, skating and playing games with our neighborhood friends. It was fun!!
I still have my dad and he has his house in Guadalajara. My mother passed away 15 years ago and I can say that it was the most painful and saddest time of my life. I know that one day we are going to be together again, but right now, I miss her so much. I try not to think about her much because that makes me sad. I think about the great moments we had together…TONS of those moments.
When I moved to the states, I was able to meet wonderful and great people that were able to help me with my journey in this country. Without the help of them and my family, I could never have made it in this huge country; it can be very lonely, very lonely.
I have a brother whom I adore; he is the oldest one. We chat on the phone from time to time. He lives in Moorpark with his family and grandkids.
Being in this wonderful country has given me the opportunity of meeting my 2 loves; Fernando, my husband, and photography.
I think of myself as a very happy and content girl. I don’t get angry easily, but I do cry easily. I like silence. I love animals, and because of this I became a vegetarian.
I love the company of my dog Sammy, a small Chihuahua albino that barks a lot.:)
I love sunsets and long walks on the beach. I spend my money on photography equipment instead of clothing, although I do have a love for shoes!!!
One of the most memorable memories that I have was being able to visit Europe with my husband; we had a fabulous time.
I am happy to report that being a photographer has been one of the most important accomplishments of my life. I love what I do and I will continue as long as I am physically able.
I hope, by this, you will get to know me a bit more.

This is me, when I turned one...

This is the only photo of some of us together as kids; Filo, Jose,Bertha, Mom and Dad and me ..

My husband and I having a great time..

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Happy Holidays!!

2009-12-16T19:32:00.000-08:00

This year has gone by really fast and I am so grateful for everything that has happened to me and my family. I want to thank you all for allowing me to photograph your weddings and for making me a part of your special day. I made a promise to myself that I would, to the best of my ability, make your event as meaningful and special to me, as it is to you. God has been so good to me that I am thankful every day that He has allowed me to do what I love the most. I wish you the best in life and remember; dreams can come true. I am an example of that. Happy Holidays! Health and love to all of you.

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Fun times..

2009-12-16T18:51:00.001-08:00

I invited all of my friends from the Foro de Fotografos a group of talented photographers, to the Vineyards in Simi Valley. Soroor, the event manager had everything together for us to enjoy. My favorite vendors, who made this party possible, were:
The Vineyards In Simi Valley
Shutter Booth ask for Cheryl
PCL West
Vic-ProLab
Tim Adrian"s Entertainment..

Being in the company of my friends.. priceless!!!

Marissa, Marcie,Susan and Victor Segarra,Alex Ceja and myself

Susan and Victor Segarra, Miguel Pola, Adam George, Natalia, Alex Ceja and one eye from John Solano.

My dearest friends John and Elizabeth Solano

Us with the Solano's

My Husband Luis fernando and myself all lost in the photo-booth

With my buddy Rene Miranda

My buddy Rodolfo Arpia

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Wedding in Ventura County; Simi Valley California

2009-12-10T20:12:00.000-08:00

The wedding of Dolores and Scott was held over the Thanksgiving weekend. What a wonderful month to get married (as Dolores, I did it too, in November).
Diana’s house, in Simi Valley, was the perfect setting for this intimate wedding. Dolores looked so beautiful that Scott kept smiling, BIG, all day long!!
They celebrated their marriage in a very intimate way by inviting only those who meant a lot to them. Thank you for making me a part of your wedding day!
After the ceremony took place, we had some time to do some portraits of the family and of the new husband and wife. So, I present to you my favorites of the day.

Make-up by Kiss the Bride
Cake by Skiff’s Cakes in Simi Valley

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Wedding at St Vincents Catholic Church

2009-12-03T22:40:00.000-08:00

Friends,
I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and ate tons of delicious food along with my favorite; apple pie, yum!
Christmas is quickly approaching and I hope that everything is well with your loved ones and friends. Me, I couldn’t be happier!!
I had the pleasure of working with Cynthia and Juan, photographing their wedding. As I arrived at Cynthia’s house, I was just thinking how this was one of my last weddings of the year. :( That kind of made me a little teary-eyed.
You may ask, why? Well, I am not sure if you have noticed, but I love what I do!! I love to photograph people that are in love and to be a witness to such events.
The wedding of Cynthia and Juan was fantastic. They decided to see each other before the ceremony so that we could take more time for photographs. We had so much fun. The church, in which they were married , was so beautiful!! Cynthia looked stunning! Loved her Spanish look; very classy and elegant. Juan looked so handsome and dapper and ready to marry the girl of his dreams.
Special thanks to my dear friend Miguel Pola for referring me to Juan and Cynthia. Also to Rene Miranda for helping me with this event.
Some of my favorites of the day...

I used Doña Margarita's dress as my background, she was her mother.

To honor her mom's name Cynthia chose "Margaritas" for her bouquet

This is one of my favorites.. L-O-V-E I-T

Mariachi during the Ceremony..

The Bañuelos family.. Dad is a sweet heart..

The Fausto boys...

Evelyn, Cynthia and Maria

Great evening in the company of a wonderful couple!!

Vendor:
Flowers: Commerce Flowers
wedding Dress: Lily's Bridal
Bartending: Fil Herrera (909) 973-9357
Make-up: Madia Renner
Church: St Vincents Catholic church In Los Angeles
Venue: Smarts Hall In Whittier

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Fashionably Wed in Burbank Make-up Artistry

2009-11-27T23:52:00.000-08:00

When Tiffany called me this year to let me know that she was going to start her own business, I was so happy for her. She happens to be one of my clients from last year, as a wedding photographer. LOVE IT!! I wish you all the best; you are going to make it big. Your love and dedication for the craft shows every time you work on a new bride. She and I got together to showcase her work. We met in a local park and she was able to find two gorgeous ladies. Thank you Shamarra and Tabitha for spending a great afternoon with us. Yadira, you rock!! She was helping me with the lighting and the reflector; thank you girl. ;) Shamarra is an actress and you can see her page here: She is currently in a play called “Answer the Call”. Please check it out.

So, my friends, if you would like a great make-up artist for your wedding, don’t forget to call Tiffany, she will make you look stunning.
Fashionably Wed is the place to call.

Some of my favorites from the session:

Tabitha looks stunning!!

This is Shamarra..

I present you TIffany the owner of Fashionably Wed

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Los Angeles Style Unveiled

2009-11-23T19:04:00.000-08:00

Friends; today I was having such a hard day because I was thinking about my family in Mexico. I miss them so much and now that the holidays are coming, it gets even harder.
But then I received today an e-mail from a very sweet lady.
the news was that my dear friend Beverly from, leave it to me events planning, Informed me that we got published in L.A. Style Unveiled.
That totally makes me so happy.. She submitted the images and they love what we had. Thank you for your hard work, Beverly, you are the best!!!!
This was the wedding of Diana and Danny and it was held at the Camarillo Ranch House in Camarillo. I love my clients, they are the best! Beverly work hard coordinating this event. She was able to find the "Dream Team"

List of vendors:

Photographer: Gloria Mesa Photographers
Coordinator: Leave it to me Events
Second Camera: Rene Miranda
Venue: Camarillo Ranch Foundation
Florist: Your Image floral
DJ; Hey Mister DJ
Cake: Siblings Bakery
Dress: Camarillo Bridal
Catering: DJ's california Catering
Beauty: Amy Sparks Make up

I am happy to show you what L.A Style Unveiled showing their blog.. please check them out they are fantastic.

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Wedding at the Double tree Hotel in Claremount

2009-11-20T10:08:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, I woke up feeling super great. I was getting ready to photograph the wedding of Suzanne and Chris at the Doubletree Hotel in Claremont. The drive was perfect; no traffic for a Saturday morning. When I arrived at the Doubletree Hotel, I waited a few minutes to enjoy the hotel and to acclimate myself to all of the beautiful surroundings and to get ready to photograph Suzanne getting ready. When I arrived at the room, she had all of her lady friends with her helping to get things done!! I love all of the help that I get during the day; thank you ladies!! You rock.
Chris and Suzanne wanted to have all of the pictures done before the ceremony. It was the decision that she and Chris made at the time they booked me. By the way, I need to especially thank Elena Basterie for referring Chris and Suzanne to me. I am very grateful for that. ;)
While photos were being taken of the future husband and wife, the family was gathering at the ceremony site to complete all of the photos so that the new husband and wife would be able to enjoy the cocktail hour and relax a bit before the party started.
We had a blast! Suzanne and Chris had the most relaxed and fun family members and friends; They danced and enjoyed the food and music until the party ended…
List of Vendors:

The Dresser- Bridal Couture
Sin Sol Tanning- Barbara Colley
Flawless Elegance-Jeanine Farrell- Make up-
Alli’s Creations- Allison Kettle- invitations, labels, escort cards.
Flowers By Eugene- Rob
Linco Custom Framing- Steve Lindemann
Janet Hart of Dancin' wheels DJ
Professional Wedding Planning- lilifair@netzero.net
Manuel Espino second camera

Some of my favorites of the day:

The neckless was from Suzanne's grandmother, beautiful pearls..

Chris getting ready photos taken by Manuel.

I love this image.. very first time they see each other that day ; )

Thank you Suzzane and Chris!! Un beso!!!
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Las Posas Country Club the wedding of Christina and Albert

2009-11-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

November is here!! We blink and X-mas will be around the corner. What a wonderful time to plan a wedding, right? That’s what Christina and Albert did; they wanted to get married in the fall and wanted a harvest wedding.

When I met Christina and Albert, we clicked on the spot. We met in Moorpark, in a coffee shop and had coffee and apple pie. YUM! There is nothing better than apple pie. While chatting for awhile, I found out that Albert and I share the same last name, but not my married name. That was so fun!! I don’t meet many people with the last name, Villasenor, I love it but it’s too long ;)
Christina wanted to get ready at her mom and dad’s house in Santa Paula, my new favorite town. I just love old textured buildings and what lovely people. Christina’s daddy greeted me as I arrived to the house that he build. Albert and Christina were married in a very traditional Catholic ceremony, which I am very familiar with since that is the way I grew up. Christina looked stunning in her Maggie Sotero gown. Preciosa!!
The ceremony took place at Our lady of Guadalupe in Santa Paula while the reception took place at the Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo.

When we arrived, Betty had everything perfect; the harvest theme that Christina and Albert wanted was there and looking perfect. She is totally amazing. That’s why I love my career; I meet the most incredible people and meet new friends in a fun way. The smell of cinnamon and apple filled the air at the Las Posas Country Club. The color of fall was shown at every table. It was a lovely wedding.

Thanks to all the vendors and Thank you David for coming along!!!

Sound effect band in Oxnard
The world fines photoBooths
Roeland Kloss manager at las Posas Country club
Camila event planning

Some of my favorites of the day…

Albert's family just like my own, we are 9 kids.. : )

Christina's.. Love her mom's name.. Gloria ; )

Group of friends from Berkley.. good times..

Albert and Christina had a wonderful honeymoon in the Mediterranean.

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Engagement Session at the Dodgers Stadium

2009-11-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

I never knew how much fun I was going to have with this session. Juan and Cynthia wanted to do a session at Dodger Stadium and also downtown Pasadena. I was not really aware of what we needed to do or if it was going to be possible. Well, I told Cynthia that I wanted to do Dodger Stadium only (Juan would be super happy about that) but we may only be able to do so much because of not knowing which areas we would be able to get into. We were the luckiest couple and photographer that day!! We met early on a Sunday morning and we were able to get access to the inside of the stadium. This was my very first time at the stadium. I have always wanted to visit, but never had the opportunity; what a fabulous place. BIG and BLUE, what a big mama!! We were able to spend a couple of hours at Dodger Stadium walking around and seeing many different places that we had never imagined. Special thanks to Dustin; you were an angel!! Cynthia and Juan are getting married this November at St. Vincent Catholic Church and the reception will follow at Smart’s Banquet Hall in Whittier. It’s going to be a great party, I can tell you right now.

Some of my absolutely favorites of the day…

Lucky couple at the Diamond of Dodgers stadium..

Tommy Lasorda?...

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Wedding at the Universal Sheraton in Los Angeles.

2009-10-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

The day was sunny and the drive to the hotel, where Nicole and Mike were going to get married, was very nice. As I arrived at the Universal Sheraton Hotel, in Universal City, I stopped and looked at the great view that this hotel has. Right as you park, you can see the complete valley. I took a few minutes to admire the day, by looking around, and I saw that it was perfect. I said to myself, “what a day to get married”. Then up I went to visit Nicole in her suite where she was waiting for me. As I arrived, the room looked so rad. Brown and blue colors all over the hotel; great decor and I loved it. Nicole was just finishing up with her makeup artist and looking beautiful!! I just can’t say enough about the beauty of brides, especially my brides!! ;) The dress, the shoes, the rings; breathtaking!! Mike and Nicole chose to see each other before the ceremony. It was a very special moment for Mike and Nicole because it was just the two of them. They decided to get married during the cocktail hour; yes!! This wedding was very special for Mike and Nicole because Mike’s nephew was the person that performed the ceremony; sweet, very sweet. The flamenco guitar played while the ceremony took place, then upstairs the mariachi was waiting for the grand entrance of the husband and wife. Later, during the dance with the parents, there was a very tender moment when Mike danced with his mother. That moment caused me to be really teary-eyed. Moments like this make me feel more alive because I love to be a witness of so much love among family members; it’s a great gift. Thank you Nicole and Mike for allowing me to be there to capture the moments with my camera. As always David you are a great friend thanks for coming a long.

Wedding gown of Nicole by Watters
Mike Tuxedo By Hugo Boss
Swank Audio VisualLighting
Commerce FlowersFlowers
Sam House DJ Sam
Porto's Bakery Yumi Cakes..

Especial thanks to Norma Padilla that made everything looks so beautiful!!

Nicole has the most amazing smile so is her mom Juanita..

David images of the boys getting ready.. :)

From David's view.. great image

Tara and Pablo from the wedding I did 6 week ago...

One more from David's camera...

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Wedding at the Hyatt Hotel in Westlake Village

2009-10-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

The wedding of Sheyla and Ben was a total success. They invited 50 of their closest friends and all of their family members to celebrate their marriage. The ceremony took place at one of my favorite places, the Hyatt Hotel in Westlake Village. The lobby was recently remodeled and they did a great job. When I arrived, Ben was ready to take his pre-wedding photos, so we started right away. We really enjoyed working with Ben, he is quite the model. After I finished with the grooms’ session, it was Sheyla’s turn. As I arrived at her suite, she was just finishing her hair and make-up, so I started photographing her dress, shoes, etc. Then it was show time!! Sheyla looked stunning in her dress and the hair and make-up artist did an outstanding and flawless job!! There is a moment that I want to share; when Emerson looked at his little sister for the first time, he cried. It was such a beautiful moment; it was just a split second so I was glad that I was there with my camera to be a witness of this special moment.
I was so happy to be there! Everything, the wedding, the reception, went as planned. The Malaver family definitely knows how to party. Everyone danced until the party was over. Sheyla’s ancestors are Colombian, just like my adorable husband. ;) The Cumbia was the most played music of the day, and wow!!, Sheyla dances like a pro. I sometimes found myself dancing too, but with the purpose of moving around the room so as not to miss a moment to snap a shot.
Emerson: I want to take a moment to thank you for all of your help in making sure that your sister looked as beautiful as she did on her wedding day. Thank you Emo!!

Tuxedos.. The Men's Wherehouse
Dress and shoes ... David's Bridal
Cake ... Skiff's Cakes in Simi Valley
Flowers .. Dayron's Flowers
Makeup and Her .. Evelyn White
Dj.. Adrian's Entertainment

Some of my favorite images of the day..

This moment is when Emerson looked at his baby sister for the first time with her wedding gown.

Love this moment... Emerson was kindly translating his mom the wedding ceremony..

Don Luis is talking to the new husband and wife.. sweet!

Love this one..... ; )

Cumbia time!!..

Thank you Manuel for helping me on this beautiful event.
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Santa Barbara Engagement session Mike and Nicole

2009-10-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day in Santa Barbara where I met Nicole and Mike for their engagement session. When I arrived, they were waiting for me in a very cool restaurant eating some appetizers and drinking some yummy wine. We chatted for a while, as we all finished the appetizers. The lighting was just perfect. As we were sitting, rims of sunlight came across the patio of the restaurant. It was perfect!! Time to start.

We walked to the courthouse where Nicole and Mike chose to have their pictures taken. Afterward, we all drove to several locations in Santa Barbara. Since Mike works there, he knew of a very cool secluded park. I really loved it and will be bringing more of my couples there. Thanks Mike!! Mike and Nicole love a good wine and good conversation. We had so much fun together that they totally forgot how nervous they were before the session. We are celebrating their marriage at the Universal City Sheraton in Los Angeles. My other couple, Pablo and Tara, are going to be there too!! I get to see them for the first time after their wedding day. I can’t wait.

Some of my favorites of the day…

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Wedding at St Sophia Orthodox Greek Cathedral

2009-10-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

It is raining in Southern California. I love it because I get to turn on my fireplace and get my laptop and start working next to the fire.
It is a great way of spending quality time editing a wedding and blogging about it too. Can you guess where I am right now? :)
The wedding of Maria and Danny was fabulous and fun!! She and Danny got married at the St. Sophia Orthodox Greek Cathedral in Los Angeles. This church is amazing. It is full of gold, everywhere you look. There are great crystal chandeliers and fabulous paintings; it makes me feel as if I were in Europe again.
After we finished with the religious ceremony, we all drove to Santa Monica and took photos right on the streets. Danny has a very special love for cars, any cars, so we tried to find a cool looking machine as we walked down the streets. We finished at the beach and took photos right outside of the Shutters Restaurant. I love the way Maria and Danny are so relaxed and easy to work with. They wanted something totally relaxed with very little direction on my part. I did a bit of it, but I was always very careful not to direct too much. :) Maria looked so precious in her gown; totally like a princess!! The reception took place at the Venetian Palace in Reseda. The night was beautiful, and to the surprise of the newlyweds, Danny’s mom hired a professional belly dancer to perform for them at the end of the celebration. David as always I am so grateful for all of your help.

Some of my favorite images of the day.

As I arrived at Maria and Danny's house I found this painting.

Love the fresh and natural look of her makeup..

This images of the guys where taken by my dear friend David..

On our way to Santa Monica, if you can see it got so foggy right away..

Danny's Daddy giving a toss to the new husband and wife..

Maria and Danny have a wonderful time in Aruba
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Wedding at the Occidental College in Eagle Rock; Nicole and Garry

2009-10-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

I have been enjoying this wonderful weather. I love the changing of the seasons. The lighting looks different; the air feels different. Well, I have another wonderful wedding to show you. This wedding was held at Occidental College in Eagle Rock. Love the location that Garry and Nicole chose to be married and that they invited all of their family members and closest friends. I remember Garry telling me and describing to me the place where they were actually going to be married. When I saw it, it was just as I had pictured it in my mind. I met Nicole and Garry at the Courtyard Hotel in Burbank. They both chose NOT to see each other before the ceremony, so when the moment arrived, it was very touching and full of happy tears from lots of invited guests. During the ceremony, I heard all praying for the marriage of Nicole and Garry and it was so beautiful. No matter how many times that happens, it never gets old and I always experience something wonderful and beautiful. Nicole looked gorgeous and beautiful and Garry looked handsome with his stunning green eyes! The reception hall was decorated with candles and my favorite flowers: white orchids. Very romantic!! As always David thank you for all of your help!!
Some images of the day…

Lorena Washington of Lavish it up work on Nicole's hair and makeup
Graham Silver From Silver tunes rock the house..

Nicole looks so sexy!!

Right after the group prayer

Great portrait by David.. I just love it!!!

Garry's Mother.. she is a very sweet women.

Seeing each other for the first time...

Looks at Nicole's daddy, long tears.

Do I have to say more...

A funny Moment during the ceremony...

Love this Portrait..

Thank you Nicole and Garry, I bet you had a wonderful time in Puerto Rico...
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Skirbal cultural center Erick and Nicole wedding

2009-10-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

Hello, my friends!! I have a very busy month. I am super happy and excited to show you some of the weddings I am waiting to blog about. Please be patient if you do not see your wedding blog. The wedding season is almost over, but not for me. I am busy and happy to be working very hard for my clients because they deserve the best. Nicole and Erick’s wedding was celebrated at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. What a place! The architectural aspects of this center are so freaking beautiful. Mr. Skirball knew what he was building. The wedding was very successful. Nicole and Erick had a blast together with their closest friends and family. I want to thank my dear friend, Roger, for inviting me to shoot this wedding in his company. It was a pleasure. I, personally, had tons of fun.

Some images of the day.

Manolo Blahnik.. love them!

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Wedding at the Villa del Sol d'Oro in Sierra Madre: Tara and Pablo

2009-09-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

The wedding of Pablo and Tara was very cozy and fun. They wanted their wedding to have the feeling of a villa in Italy. Well, they did! They chose the most beautiful Villa del Sol d’Oro in Sierra Madre. What a place! I absolutely fell in love with it. The Alverno Villa (Villa del Sol) is a duplicate of the Villa Collazzi located on the outskirts of Florence Italy. Villa Collazzi has been occupied for several centuries by the Bombicci Fomi family, and legend has it that the Villa is the only one ever designed by the immortal Michelangelo. The Villa del Sol d’Oro is one quarter scale of the original. I really wanted to stay there and make it as my own home. Tara and Pablo chose to see each other before the ceremony, so I was able to take special time to photograph them alone. Then family and friends. After we where done with the portraits, it was time to get married!. When it was time to say their vows to each other (I cried!!) it was a very touching moment and everyone got to experience the love that they feel for each other. Thanks to all of the family members how flew from Argentina, Canada and all over the world to be at the Villa del Sol d’Oro to celebrate the marriage of Tara and Pablo.
Special thanks to Nicole and Mike who referred me to Tara and Pablo. I am extremely grateful for that. David, thank you helping me with this lovely wedding.
Dj by Creative sounds

Some of my favorites of the day.

Special Thanks to Rene Branski for making Tara's gown.

Time to see each other..

Love it!! can I say more...

By David

Pablo's Parents

Tara's Mom..

A kiss by daddy

Tara talking to Pablo.. Love it, love it

Pablo's turn to talk to Tara..

I was able to notice how much Pablo love his family..

Dancing with Daddy

Watching a video where grandmother is talking to them...

Have a wonderful time in Tahiti...
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Engagement session in Ventura County

2009-09-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

This engagement session was one of my very favorite places to shoot; Ventura County. Ben and Sheyla want to go to the “cross”, a very special place here in Ventura. You can overlook the entire Ventura County and the Pacific Ocean. The place is very romantic and beautiful to spend some time alone or to just hang out. Ben and Sheyla wanted to start right on that spot. After we drove to the “cross“, we walked down Main Street where you can find many little stores and great restaurants. You see! That’s why I love my Ventura. ;) Ben and Sheyla met on a trip they took, while on a mission, to the Dominican Republic. Right then they fell in love!! The ministries, it’s quite wonderful, you should check it out at
go-ministries.org. It’s a non-profit organization. In the month of October, Ben and Sheyla are going to celebrate their marriage on the beautiful grounds of the Hyatt Hotel in Westlake Village; I can’t wait! It’s going to be a fantastic wedding full of “cumbia” because Sheyla is from Colombia, just like my sweet and wonderful hubby. ;)

Thank you guys.. see you in two weeks!!

Wedding at the Camarillo Ranch foundation House

2009-09-23T16:13:00.000-07:00

The wedding of Danny and Diana was full of wonderful traditions, laughter and tons of happy tears. Almost a year ago I got a phone call from a very sweet lady whose voice sounded very happy and she was on a mission. She wanted me to be the photographer for her wedding. Later I learned that she found me and contacted me from Alabama, where Danny and Diana were living at the time. The date of her wedding came as fast as the wind. That Saturday, as I arrived at Diana’s house here in Camarillo, I felt like I was at home!! Diana looked so beautiful in her gown! When we left the house to meet Danny at St. Mary Magdalen Chapel, where the wedding took place, I saw Danny looking so crisp and perfect waiting to see the girl of his dreams walking down the aisle with her daddy next to her. I felt goosebumps at that moment that will stay with me forever. After the ceremony ended, all of the family members stayed for photos with the new husband and wife. Since we had plenty of time, we had so much fun photographing just Diana and Danny at the Ranch House in Camarillo, where the reception took place. We almost spent 2 hours! If you have been photographed by me, you will understand; “one more…right here”. I even have a nickname, thanks to Joe Curley: Mrs. “one more shot”!! ;) The reception was perfect!! Beverly, of Leave It To Me events, did a stunning masterpiece. She took care of the smallest details that Diana had always dreamed of. The party was very successful and everyone rocked till midnight!! I had a blast! I really do at all of my weddings; I enjoy them as much as the guests do. ;)
Thank you Diana and Danny for giving me the opportunity to be a witness, through my lens, of an important day..Gracias! Thank you, Rene, for working hard and helping me with this event. Beverly, you are the best!!

Hotel: Four Seasons in Westlake.
Coordinator: Leave it to me Events ask for Beverly, she it's the Word to me..
Cake Siblings bakery ask for Shirley Moore.
Caterer DJ's California Catering
Florist: Your Image botanical design
DJ Hey Mr DJ
Lighting: Wendee's Occasions
Hair and Make-up: Picture Perfect Maleup & Hair.

Some of my favorites of the day…

Blessings before going to get Married...

Rene photographed Danny getting ready.. ; )

Moments before seeing Danny.

The look of Love...

Talking to Danny.. Love this image.. ; )

Ladies at Work...

Time for the guys..

La familia...

First Dance....

Danny and Diana have a wonderful time in Italy...

Wedding at Bel-Air Bay Club

2009-09-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of taking a wonderful drive down PCH. I arrived at the Bel-Air Bay Club where the view was stunning. When I arrived at the
Bel-Air Bay Club, I went to say hello to Karen. I like to arrive at least 30 minutes before I am supposed to be there. I found Karen so nice and cozy in her room taking a small nap. That morning, Karen received some beautiful flowers that Mikey had sent to her. So cute!! She read the card and it got me teary-eyed. Karen and Mikey chose this location to celebrate their marriage. The gazebo, where the ceremony took place, had the view of the Pacific Ocean. What a day!! It was warm, sunny and full of emotions. Karen and Mikey chose to see each other before the ceremony, which is very popular right now. I try very hard to make their day as special as it is. We call it the “first look”.
I have been very happy with the way I have set the meeting. I make it intimate and romantic. Right after the ceremony, we finished the portraits that we needed to do; and then, party time! Steve, who was in charge of 11H Entertainment, was the Master of Ceremonies and he rocked the house! Everyone danced and enjoyed the music and had a wonderful time. I have always enjoyed working with Rene Miranda; he helped me so much!! Thank you, Rene. During the party, Mikey wanted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his parents. Congratulations!! I get so emotional when precious moments like these happen. I guess it is because I will never have the opportunity to see my own parents have that joy. But I am so lucky that I get to live it through others. God is good to me.

I would like to thank all of the people who worked very hard on this event:

Starcross’d Films…I love these guys!! I really do. They are professional and so sweet.
Steve Muchnij from 11H Entertainment.
Mario Murcia, the manager of food and service at the Bel-Air Bay Club.
Sky Flowers…great service and everything looked fresh.
Ray Santos (323-842-5422) for helping Karen and all the ladies with their make-up and hair.
Town and Country…thanks to Ted for making sure everything looked perfect (he is Mikey’s brother).
Melanie Eslava.. for making sure everything run on time.. : )

Some of my favorites of the day!!

The flower that Mikey send her with a beautiful card..

Three generations in one room..

Love what Rene did ...

Getting Blessed by his father.. Huge in our traditions..

The whole bridal Party.. Photo taken by Rene while I set the shoot.

Continue the bridal party... by me : )

The parents...

Thank you Mikey and karen for letting me be there in your special day..

Wedding at the Camarillo Ranch House

2009-09-09T21:51:00.000-07:00

The wedding of Dave and Christy was a wedding that we waited a while for; it took place on the gorgeous grounds of the
Camarillo Ranch House.
I met Christy a few years back in a kick boxing class. That was fun! We have been friends ever since then. I was so honored when she asked me to be her wedding photographer. I felt so happy and excited to be there when she walked down the aisle to meet her future husband, Dave. The day of her wedding, Christy and the girls were getting ready at the Westlake Inn Hotel in Westlake Village. I love the grounds of this hotel for photos. We used them before the girls left in their limousine for the Ranch House.
The wedding was a total hit! The Red Barn, at the Ranch House, had never been used before for a wedding. We got to be the first ones to use it after its restoration. What a pleasure! The ceremony took place at the Ranch House, too; the location was perfect. Christy’s wedding day was just as she had imagined it would be. The staff at the Camarillo Ranch House did their best to accommodate any request that we had. Thank you guys! At this wedding, I got to enjoy the company of many lady friends that I have not seen for a while, such as, Andrea and Tricia. Thank you ladies for all of your help and for making me feel so welcome!!

Special thanks to Angelica and David for helping me with Christy’s wedding; you are the best!!

Command Performace Catering Group. ( Ask for Joe) if you like attention to details they are the best!!
CMW video productions ( Clerence is owesome!)

This one by David Pelaez.

Christy walking with his father... Love Dave's face..

Thank you Dave and Christy have fun at Hawaii.

Engagement session in Downtown Los Angeles

2009-09-08T21:57:00.000-07:00

Last week was a fantastic one for me. I got to work in two different weddings over the long Memorial Day weekend. But now, I am taking a tiny break from editing weddings in order to post the engagement session of Pablo and Tara in Downtown L.A. Visiting this area of Los Angeles makes me realize how wonderful and rich our cities are. The engagement session was at the Eastern Columbia Building; it’s a green jewel in downtown. If you have been downtown, you couldn’t have missed it. It’s wonderful!
We got up to the top and the view from there was so peaceful and relaxing; honestly, I did not want to leave. We used two apartments; one unfurnished and one perfectly decorated with antiques and original Boteros.

Tara and Pablo are getting married this weekend at the Villa del Sol de Oro in Sierra Madre. Special thanks to Nicole, who told Tara about me..Gracias!!!!

Some of my favorite images of the day…

A view from Downtown L.A at Sunset time..

Wedding in Moopark at the Secret Garden

2009-09-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

Hello my dear followers and new visitors. These past weeks have been oddly dry and hot. As you all have seen, I have been working non-stop. (gratefully, always)
The wedding of Steven and Montserrat took place last Sunday, here in Ventura County, just a few minutes from my house. This sweet couple got some amazing images when we did their engagement session in Orange County, with the orange truck; here is the link:
Their wedding was very nice and sweet. They were surrounded by their closest family members and their closest friends. The ceremony and reception were held at the Secret Garden in Moorpark; one of my favorite places here in town. If you know me, I have a tendency to “pull” my couples, for a few minutes, while the guests eat their dinner, in order to get some dramatic photos. It’s just us and no one else. Well, Steven and Montserrat where so happy to do it. We went to the train station in Moorpark and got some fantastic images. Thank you again to the Secret Garden for always treating me and my associates as a guest. Michel, you are the best!! Thank you to David for always going along with my crazy ideas.

Some of my favorites from the night…

First dance...

Mother and Son...

Steven and Monserrat have fun in Disneyworld..

Wedding in Berverly Hills

2009-09-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing wedding, in Beverly Hills, of Sanaz and Bobby. The wedding was in a private residence and was very well organized. Bobby and Sanaz chose to see each other before their ceremony; that always gives you extra time for photos. I try to make the “first look” very special; it has been working great with some of my clients. Bobby and Sanaz wanted to have some portraits done at UCLA. We all rode in the limousine; that was sweet! After we arrived, we started to walk around the beautiful grounds of UCLA and began picking out places to be photographed. After we finished, Sanaz went to her room to freshen up and to wait for all of the guests to arrive. I have to let you know, their ceremony was one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have seen. Sanaz was very kind to explain it to me:

“The ceremony was a Baha’i wedding ceremony mixed with traditional Persian symbols such as the table in front of us. On the table the many symbols were:

1. **Mirror** (of fate) and two **Candelabras** (representing the bride and groom and brightness in their future) one on either side of the mirror. The mirror and two candelabras are symbols of light and fire.

2. **A specially baked and decorated flat-bread**. This symbolizes prosperity for the feasts and for the couple's life thereafter.

3. **A bowl of crystallized sugar** to sweeten life for the newlyweds.

4. **A cup of honey** to sweeten life. Immediately after the couple is married they each should dip one pinky finger into the cup of honey and feed it to the other one.

5. **A bowl of sugar coated almond strips (white)** to be shared with the guests after the ceremony.

6. **A scarf or shawl made out of silk or any other fine fabric** to be held over the bride and bridegroom's head throughout the ceremony by various happily married female relatives. (This shawl belonged to Bobby’s mom, when she married Bobby’s dad. This was used during their ceremony and it was her wish that both her sons use this during their ceremony, but she left it to Bobby as a wedding gift).

7. **Two sugar cones** made out of hardened sugar to be used during the ceremony. These sugar cones are ground together above the bride and bridegroom's head (over the scarf held above their heads) throughout the ceremony to shower them in sugar (symbolizing sweetness and happiness).

At the end, people throw coins at us which represents wealth and prosperity.

The readings at the ceremony were either Baha’I prayers or poems in Dutch and English. In Dutch, by my sister, because we grew up in Holland. It is common to mix non-religious poems with religious prayer to make the ceremony a little more lighthearted and also especially when one of the people getting married is not religious, such as me. This way it becomes a more personal ceremony. "

As always Thank you David for helping me in this wedding.

I love traditions!!

Sanaz and Bobby, Than you so much for letting me be there with you in your special day. Have fun in Greece!!

Great angle by David Pelaez.

The first Look

Right after the ceremony.. one more portrait won't hurt : )

Bahador Catering
Flowers and designs by Gina
Vista Video Productions

Albert and Christina Engagement Session in Burbank

2009-08-29T00:29:00.000-07:00

Last year I met with Christina and Albert to talk about their wedding ideas and to select their photographer. They did!! We met in Moorpark in a really rad café. I love these kinds of places, they are funky. Albert is a very kind man and Christina’s smile could melt an igloo. Their wedding will be a very “homemade” event. She is choosing to have apple pie as her wedding cake. What a fun and different approach. Also, they have spent some time making “homemade strawberry jam” as a gift to all of their guests. Their engagement session was one of a kind. Albert wanted to go to
Bob’s Big Boy restaurant in Burbank. The restaurant is open 24 hours and they have the very traditional American food. Albert and Christina mentioned the reason they wanted to have their engagement session there. As a kid, Albert and his family used to go on Sundays to eat at Bob’s Big Boy. It was a huge tradition in Albert’s family. Christina and Albert wanted to have something special since they both love that restaurant. As you see, they dress for the era; very 50’s. Thank you guys for putting in the extra effort. You totally made my day!! The reception will be held at Las Posas Country Club and the Sacrament of Marriage at Our Lady of Guadalupe church in Santa Paula.
Some of my favorites of the day.

Thank you for stopping by...

Wedding at the Porter Ranch Country Club

2009-08-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

Happy week dear friends. I have been so excited lately that I wish you could see me now (dancing). Last week we were part of the wedding in Northridge of Nate and Sarah. I arrived at Sarah’s cousin’s house where all of the girls, along with Sarah, were getting ready. It was fun to see all of the ladies getting ready all at once; oh yes, in one bathroom!! But it was just perfect because everyone took turns. When Sarah was ready with her hair, make-up and her gorgeous dress, we went and did some portraits of her, solo. After achieving what I wanted, we all drove to the Porter Valley Country Club where the boys were waiting for us. Nate and Sarah chose to see each other before the ceremony. That went as planned and was as special as they had always dreamed of; again the pressure was off. Right after, the bridal party joined us for some fun shots. After a little while, we tucked the bride away. (Guests should not see the bride at all). The ceremony was beautiful. The background was the golf course and the pond which is on the grounds of the Country Club. At night the view was to die for; the perfect place to be with the weather we had last week. The DJ was Liberty City; they rocked the night and kept all of the guests happy and dancing. Julie Pittman, the catering manager at the Country Club, made sure that all of the details for the wedding were ready as Sarah wanted. The flowers, by A Symphony of Flowers, were perfect.

Some of my favorites of the day…

Images of the boys done by the talented Rodolfo Arpia

Special Thanks to Rodolfo Arpia my friend for helping me in this wedding!! Thank you so much!

Karen and Michael engagement session at Venice Beach

2009-08-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

This morning I got up and realized how happy I am and feeling that life goes by too fast. I stopped and looked at my wonderful husband and gave him a huge hug. I love you baby!!
Ok, enough about me. This week I met Michael and Karen at Venice Beach (a great place and very different). It was the very first time that I got to meet Michael because he was busy when Karen and I met. This wedding is going to be very special to all those attending. Michael’s brother and best man passed away a few months ago; he was young and everyone is missing him so. Karen adores Michael. She is the perfect part that Michael needs in his life. They are very cute together and funny too! We spent an afternoon together and we were having so much fun with the session. Michael and Karen are celebrating their marriage at the Bel-Air Bay Club in the city of Pacific Palisades. It’s going to be fantastic and I can’t wait to meet Michael’s side of the family and Karen’s side too. If you have watched The Food Channel, for sure you have seen the salsa that Michael’s company makes; “Mis Padres Salsa”. Please try it; it’s delicious!! I want to thank Katerina, Karen’s daughter, for helping us.
Some of my favorite images of the day…

Thank you for stopping by.

Wedding at the Vineyards in Simi Valley

2009-08-18T22:45:00.000-07:00

Hi my dear friends. Last week we celebrated the marriage of Nicholas and Carley, a very loving and fun wedding.
The day was perfect!! Carley looked so beautiful; full of grace and elegance. Nicholas was as handsome as a GQ model. Carley and Nicholas were referred to me by my dear friend Soroor, who is the special event manager at the Vineyards. Kelly, the event coordinator, was very helpful that day taking care of all the details for the wedding. Carly had a stress-free wedding. They are awesome to work with. The flowers, by Unique Floral Designs, were just perfect; just as Carly had dreamed of. The cake, by Delicious Bakery, was the “perfect icing on the cake”; yummy and delicious. Thank you Carly and Nick for letting me be a part of your special day. Thank you also to your families for giving me such a warm welcome.

From David angle..

Special Thanks to David Pelaez for coming along to Help me.....

Engagement Session in Pasadena

2009-08-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hi!! It’s wedding season, can you tell? Last week, I was part of two gorgeous weddings I shot; what more can a little Mexican girl ask for? I am so blessed!! Now it’s time to showcase the session of Nicole and Garry.
Two birds in love; so in love that when I met them we all cried with happiness as Nicole described to me why she loves Garry so much. I fell in love with them as soon as I met them. As I told you, Garry, I did!!
Nicole and Garry are going to celebrate their marriage at the Occidental College in Eagle Rock.
I really enjoyed the session, as I always do, but this time we were able to get into the Pasadena Performing Arts Center, which was closed. A good man let us in for just a few shots. Thank you, good man. (We never got his name). I present you some of my favorites of the day.

Tags: Wedding Photography, Occidetal College,Pasadena Art center.

Wedding in Ventura at the Crowne Plaza Hotel

2009-08-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends
I am having a blast working on the images from the weddings I did this weekend; perfect brides and grooms, perfect venues, perfect guests!! The wedding of Joe and Rian was held at the San Buenaventura Mission. What a beautiful church and mission, built in the 1700’s. The courtyard was the perfect place for Joe and Rian to have their “first look”. She chose to see her future husband before the ceremony. That was FANTASTIC! It was so perfect, everything well planned, so the pressure was off. If you remember, Rian and Joe had their engagement session there in Ventura also. After the religious marriage, we walked to the beach and took some fun portraits of them. The hotel, where they hosted the reception, was the Crowne Plaza Hotel which was walking distance from the beach. While the guests enjoyed the cocktail hour, we were taking some more portraits of the new husband and wife in the lobby of the hotel. This was the perfect place to be creative. Here I present you the wedding of Rian and Joe…

The First Look... I love it!!

What a handsome group

What a moment..

One of my favorite...

Dj by Creative Sound

Special Thanks to Angelica and Miguel for there fabulous help!!

Joe and Rian have a wonderful time in Zihuatanejo...

Dave and Christy Engagement session

2009-08-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

Hello friends and new followers. I would like to thank you for stopping by my blog. These last couple of weeks have been very busy; I just wanted to let you know. I have been working on some very cool engagement sessions that I need to post here. The weddings that I have been a part of are also going to be in my blog; I just need more hours in the day. You understand, right? Well, I am presenting you with the fabulous engagement session of Christy and Dave. This engagement session took place in the Malibu and Santa Monica areas.
I met Christy a few years ago at the gym where we used to work out. We also did kickboxing together; tough class, but we loved it! Christy met Dave, the man of her dreams and he proposed to her while she was celebrating his birthday. How sweet!! Love that Dave! Their wedding will take place this month at the Camarillo Ranch House in the city of Camarillo. Christy told me that the Ranch House has been renovated and her wedding will be the first one to be held there. We are going to rock that house!! Christy and Dave have a fun group of friends and I can assure you that it is going to be a fun, fun wedding!! I can’t wait!
Some of my favorite images of the session..

Thank you for letting me have a wonderful time with your family Christy and Dave!!!

Wedding of Ian and Claudia in Long Beach Petroleum Club

2009-07-31T22:13:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we celebrated the marriage of Ian and Claudia. The bride and the groom choose not to see each other until they arrived at Saint Raymond Catholic Church, where they got married. I was a Claudia's house while she was getting ready; then we all drove to the Church. I was so lucky to have witness of two very special moments; Claudia's mom gave her the blessing and Ian mom did the same to him. That was a very special moment to me. After the religious ceremony, we all drove to the place where we did the formals portraits. After everyone did an excelent job posing for me, was party time. The reception was held at the The reception was held at the Long Beach Petroleum Club in Long Beach, California. Nikky Epple, from Unique Occasions Events, did a fabulous job making sure that the venue looked its best. Thank you Nikki!! The DJ rocked the house. Allen, from AAA DJ Services, kept everyone dancing and having a great time all night. Michael, from Shu Media Productions, took all of the video and I loved the way he worked around us. Thank you Michael!!

One of my favorite moments, Claudia's Mom gives her a blessing..

Ian's Turn..

I just love the way Claudia's Mom it's looking at her, priceless.

Ian and Claudia have a great time in Alaska and Cancun!!
Special thanks to Roger and Alma for all of your help and talent.

Engagement session in Orange County

2009-07-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

This past week has been full of joy because I have been working with wonderful couples soon to be married. Monserrat and Steven are a very adorable couple. They had a very clear vision of what they wanted for their engagement session. They wanted something with a 50’s touch. Here is a bit of history about this session in Steven’s words: “I also wanted to tell you that I went over to my Bedstefar’s house; I am half Danish and Bedstefar is Danish for “father’s father” or grandpa. He had his photo album open and was telling me about the day that he bought the truck in 1959. He took my dad to Watson’s Drug Store for lunch and took a picture of the truck outside of the same diner where you took this picture. I told him everything that we did together and ended with telling him that I asked you to specifically take a picture in the same spot that he did 50 years ago. I saw him get teary-eyed and was just soooooo thankful and happy, you wouldn’t even believe it. I just wanted to let you know that you not only made it great for Monserrat and me, but you brought tears to my Bedstefar’s eyes with just the thought of one picture.” So this truck has lots of history and I love it. Steven chose to restore the 1959 truck all by himself. Monserrat couldn’t be happier with such a wonderful husband-to-be. We are celebrating there wedding at the Secret Garden in Moorpark it's going to be fantastic!!

This is the fabulous 1959 Orange Truck all restore by Steven..

Engagement session at Paramount Ranch and Malibu

2009-07-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

Wow! This is my 100th post! Yeah, I like it.. This past week was a busy week for me because I did several engagement sessions. Nate and Sarah's was a bit different. Since they have kids already, we decided to included then in the session, Everyone has a great time. Nate and Sarah are going to celebrate there wedding this coming month at the
Porter Valley Country Club. I know we are going to have a fantastic time.. here are some of my favorite images of the day.

Thanks you guys!!

UCLA and Santa Monica Pier Engagement session

2009-07-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

This week has been "cosmic"; I having so much fun! Right now it the time to get all of our engagement sessions done for the weddings that are coming soon. I met Danny and Diana last year. She called me over the phone, one day, from Alabama, where they live right now. She hired me to be part of her awesome wedding team. Since they don't live here in California, we set the time to meet this week. Diana and Danny picked the school where they met; U.C.L.A. They had a vision of wanting to go to the Carousel at the
Santa Monica pier. When we arrived, it was closed, but luck was on our side because, Diana was able to get the carousel open and they turned on all the lights just for Us. We have a blast!. Thank you Danny and Diana for giving me such a wonderful material to work with. In September we are going to have their wedding. The sacrament of marriage at St Mary Magdalen Chapel. The reception will follow at the Camarillo Ranch house.
Some of my favorites images of the day.. staring at UCLA, ending at Santa Monica Pier.

Thank you for visiting!

Family Session in Simi Valley

2009-07-14T23:16:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to take a tiny break from weddings to enjoy the other side of photography; Family sessions, It is a part of photography that I really enjoy. I was so happy to have met Stacy and her beautiful family. We have been planning this session for a while and I am so happy that we finally found the time to do it. Simi Valley is a great place to find the perfect little place to get a very relaxed and fun portrait session. I love my JOB!!!! I love my clients! and I love Simi Valley..
Some of my favorites images..

Bodas USA la Revista my work got published

2009-07-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hello My friends!! I am a very happy camper; today as I returned from a wedding in Yosemite, the mail carrier delivered a very sweet package. " Bodas USA la Revista" I got to be interviewed and some of my work from last year was published; I am stocked. The wedding of Veronica and Patrick was a great wedding. Thank you Liliana de la Torre for the opportunity and the experience. Bodas USA is a fantastic magazine; it's totally in Spanish; I love it!! Thank you to all who contributed in the preparation of this magazine. As a professional photographer I am honored to share this experience with others in the industry.

I am so grateful for all that I have now!!!

Wedding of Carl and Melissa at the Castaway in Burbank

2009-07-09T01:33:00.000-07:00

I arrived to Julie's house in Camarillo where Melissa was getting ready. The day was hot literally, very bright and beautiful. I had the pleasure of photographing Carl and Melissa's wedding this month. The ceremony and the reception took place at the Castaway in the beautiful city of Burbank. What a view; the best in the valley. The staff of the Castaway make sure everything was just like Carl and Melissa wanted there wedding party. All of the guest had such a great time, DLXU entertainment made every one rock; Kelly is amazing. He had everybody dancing and having a great time..
Some of my favorite images of the day

As always a very special thanks to Rene for his incredible help!

Engagement session for Suzanne and Chris

2009-06-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

Photographing the engagement session of Suzanne and Chris was a lot of fun, we met in the city of San Dimas. Suzanne and Chris are going to celebrate their wedding in November. The reception will take place at the
Doubletree Hotel in the city of Claremont. Suzanne is using some of the images from this engagement session as "Save the date"; how fun is that!! Thank you guys for a wonderful afternoon.. I want to especially thank Elena for the referral!!
Some of my favorite images..

Alliance of the Arts at Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village

2009-06-22T15:32:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I had the opportunity to be invited by my friend Mark Brandes to photograph the annual event. The Angels of the Alliance present a luncheon each year which is enjoyed by over 500 guests. The luncheon features shopping at over 50 boutiques, a delectable lunch and of course, the table decorating contests, which highlight the event. Independent professional judges bestow awards in several decor categories. Proceeds from the event support the Alliance for the Arts children and youth programming efforts. This time I was very excited because it was being held in one of favorite places, The Four Seasons hotel in Westlake Village, one of the best hotels in Ventura County .
Some of my favorite images of the day.

Love the decor...

Engagement session in Long Beach

2009-06-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends. Last week I had the pleasure of photographing the engagement session of Claudia and Ian. Their wedding will take place in July, I am looking forward to photographing this event. We met at their home in Long Beach, then together we drove to the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens at the California State University, Long Beach; great place. The engagement session almost got cancelled because we thought it was going to rain; but I was wrong, the sun came out to it's fullest. After shooting for a while in the Japanese Garden, Ian and Claudia felt a bit hungry. They invited me to have lunch with them, so we all drove to a sushi place with very yummy food. Thank you guys!! Right after we had lunch, we walked some more the streets and looked for more locations to photograph. Their wedding will take place at the Long Beach Petroleum Club next month.
Some of my favorite images of the day.

My very first workshop of the year..

2009-06-09T23:15:00.000-07:00

Education has been always very important for me; I'm learning new techniques or just improving what I already know. Being a professional wedding and portrait photographer is more then having a great digital camera. It's way more complex and wonderful! As you know, my very good friend Rodolfo Arpia and my new dear friend Sergio, the photographer from Arizona, team up to give a two day workshop In 100% in Spanish. I have a lot of respect for Rodolfo and Sergio. Each day of the workshop was super long. I am not kidding you; 12 hours a day and it just keep going and going. In the workshop there where nine other photographers, besides me, that attended. They came from Spain, Arizona, Texas and of course California. I was sad when we finished, but happy to gain all this new information that I am using as we speak. I want to thank my dear colleagues, Alma Beltran, Cayupe, Karen Savignon, Miguel Mayo, Rene Miranda, Sergio Angon, Jose Luis Melgar, Jorge Flores and to Antonio Garcia who flew from Spain to be here with all of Us. Special Thanks to Foro de Fotografos for giving me the opportunity to meet such a wonderful people.

~~ Group photo courtesy of Sergio ~~

Photo taken by Rodolfo, do I look happy or what?

One of my best friends Rene

Engagement Session in Malibu

2009-06-09T01:12:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I met Carl and Melissa, here in Simi Valley, to photograph their engagement session. They chose a beautiful outdoor location. While we were hiking at Malibu Lake, into the wild areas of Malibu Lake National Park, we came across real wildlife, which we tried not to disturb. We moved slowly, very slowly, to find another location. After a very nice hike we all drove to the beach to Leo Carrillo State Park. This place was perfect, the fog started to come upon us and it got cold. We finished the session, then drove back home.
Melissa and Carl’s wedding will take place in Burbank at the Castaway..I can’t wait to share this very special moment with them and their family..

Some of my favorites images..

I love Melissa's pose!!

this is one of my favorite images, love is in the air...

Thank you Carl and Melissa for spending a wonderful afternoon with me...

Wedding at the River Gardens in Los Angeles

2009-06-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

Love my clients! Last Saturday I had the opportunity of covering the wedding of Samson and Sylvia, a very sweet couple. The wedding was very traditional and I love Sylvia’s family and the fact that she is one of twelve children. Before leaving for church, Mom and Dad gave the blessings to her daughter, a very Mexican tradition. The ceremony took place at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Los Angeles. Sylvia works at this church which is one hundred years old. Then Mariachi time! The reception took place at the River Gardens, which is located in Los Angeles too. I really love this venue because it is like going back in time. It looks as if I were back in my hometown. Sylvia’s brother and sisters had prepared some folkloric dances to entertain the guests while we took photos of the new husband and wife. Thanks to my buddy, John, for this referral. Some images of the day.

This is when the parents give the blessing before leaving the house.

Love this images of Miguel's great angle..

This is Samson's new family, Sylvia's brothers and sisters..

Thank you Miguel for Helping me to create beautiful images...

Chris and Elena's Wedding in Santa barbara

2009-05-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday Chris and Elena tied the knot in Santa Barbara. The day started well; it happened to be Memorial Day weekend. It was a good time to photograph a wedding in Santa Barbara. I have always wanted to be part of a wedding like this one. The family, the most important people to Elena and Chris, were invited and were part of the celebration. I felt so good all day, Elena looked preciosa! I arrived at the Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort located in Santa Barbara, and as I was looking for the room, I saw many brides getting married. It is a great hotel. After everyone gathered, we all rode a trolley that they had rented for the occasion. I had so much fun! Then we all arrived at the beautiful Court House in Santa Barbara, the place for wedding photography and the place where Chris and Elena got married. Then we all jumped in the trolley again and had a wonderful time at Stella Mare’s French Country Cuisine. Then the tequila shots started. I want to thank everyone for making me feel like a guest!!

Some of my favorites of the night.

I love this image that David took!

David took this shot at the right time to catch this moment, lots of love...

Thank you David for always being willing to help me out!!

Wedding of Tiffany and Douglas at the Elk Lodge

2009-05-20T03:46:00.000-07:00

The day was warm and windy; last Saturday I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Tiffany and Douglas in Simi Valley. The ceremony took place at her mother’s residence in Thousand Oaks. Tiffany looked like a goddess with her blond, long hair. I cannot say less about Douglas; he looked like the prince from a fairy tale, Tiffany’s fairy tale.
The bridge that Tiffany walked down was built specifically for the occasion. Her daddy’s friend built it for her just like her daddy would have if he were alive.
During the ceremony we had a harpist playing sweet melodies. Then, right after, they drove to Simi Valley to meet everyone at the Elks Lodge where the reception took place.

Right at this moment her uncle handed her a very special note... very special!

Love this view from Rene's camera..

Special thanks to all the vendors who made this possible..

Perfect Cakeable
Tuneful productions
Susan Kanin Ceremony Harpist
Michael's Flowers

Thanks to my buddy Rene for helping me and always looking out for me.. ; )

Wedding at the Wedgewood in Ventura

2009-05-15T01:17:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I had the honor of photographing the wedding of Ryan Kirk and Brittiany Molloy, now Mrs. Kirk.
I really enjoyed working at the Wedgewood; the staff was very helpful. Brittiany and Ryan had planned their wedding for 3 years; it sure was perfect!! The wedding ring that Brittiany put on Ryan’s finger was from Grandpa who passed away some time before the wedding. He was well missed!
Brittiany looked beautiful. Her dress, hair and makeup were just perfect. Thanks to Angelina for making every one look their best.
The night arrived and everyone danced the night away. I would like to take a moment and thank the catering sales directors Elaine and Sarah for all of your help!!

Love this lighting...

Thanks to Roger Taylor and David for all your help!!!

Engagement Session at the Botanical Gardens

2009-05-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I met Tiffany and Douglas for their engagement session at the Botanical Gardens in Thousand Oaks. It is a great place if you like to garden and to be close to Mother Nature. When I met Tiffany, we talked and talked. We clicked instantly. She is so easy to talk to. If you need a wonderful masseuse, she would be the one to call. I can’t wait to photograph her wedding; it’s going to be a fantastic event. She and Douglas have worked on many of the details. I can’t wait to see the results. Some of my favorite images…

Thank you so much for stopping by my bloggito!

Wedding Photojournalist Association new member..Me!

2009-04-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends. I am so happy to inform you that I got accepted to this wonderful association, the WPJA.
I am very happy and would love to share this information with all of you, my dear friends. If you are wondering what that information is, well I took some paragraphs from the WPJA website that explains in better words what the heck this is. So here it goes: "The Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) is a professional organization composed of photojournalists and wedding photographers from around the world. What sets our members apart in the industry is their candid, documentary approach – a distinctly artistic vision toward wedding photography". there! Now here is more information, this is very important:
"The Wedding Photojournalist Association grants membership to the most talented professional wedding photographers in the industry--photographers who focus solely on using their photography skills in documenting weddings." Yeah! I just love that!!!