So- my blogging has been really random lately… I have a few full weddings I’m excited to share and will be posting soon. I just thought I would post something fun and unique for the weekend.
A couple weeks ago, I shot a wedding that was more like a 3-day event because I covered the rehearsal dinner and the Sunday brunch following the wedding. However, the rehearsal dinner was like no other rehearsal dinner I had ever seen and was just SO. Much. Fun. Because their wedding took place at the Empire Polo Club (can’t wait to share the wedding with you!) they decided to theme their rehearsal dinner and arrange for all their dinner guests (180 for the rehearsal dinner alone) to play golf cart polo! I had been looking forward to this for a long time, and it did not disappoint. I’ll post more photos of the fun night soon, but here are a few fun shots for the weekend.
We took a few minutes for portraits before the festivities began.
I want to play this all the time. It was so fun! Here’s the bride Lindsey committed to the game.
Thanks to my second shooter Ally for getting the next two shots.
Often, people arrange for portrait sessions to commemorate a wedding, engagement, new addition to the family, or some other special event in one’s life. Then there are the photo sessions that are planned just because- to document a person as they are at a certain time in their life for no particular reason. Sometimes people just want to have some great, fun, memorable photos.
Marissa emailed me a few months ago about scheduling such a session. She is from Canada and was planning a fun girls trip with one of her good friends down the coast of California and wanted to get some photos of herself done during her quick stop in Los Angeles. I immediately fell in love with this idea and was so happy that we were able to find a time that worked. After exploring San Francisco and driving down through the central coastal cities, Marissa and her friend found themselves in Santa Monica, which is where we shot her session.
Having never met Marissa, I wasn’t sure how to approach the session until we actually started shooting. I had a clue I would identify with her in some way knowing that she was planning this kind of a trip- definitely something I would do with my sister or one of my good friends. My main inspiration for portrait sessions is always the personality of my subject- knowing a little bit about the person before I start shooting is essential to capturing a person as they are, which I consider my main purpose as a photographer. In just a few moments, I quickly learned that she was kind and smiley, had an adventurous spirit, a desire to explore and a desire to experience life. We had a lot in common and when the session was done I was bummed that she lives so far away as I felt I had found a new friend. But, she invited me to visit her in Canada, which is an offer I’m sure I’ll take her up on in the future.
We had a lot of fun roaming around the Santa Monica Pier on one of the most gorgeous evenings I have ever experienced there. Here are some of my favorite images that capture Marissa as I found her to be that day- excited about life, open to experience new things, relaxed, beautiful and, above all, happy.
Her eyes were stunning.
Her laugh was lively.
She chose the perfect colors to wear in this setting.
This image makes me so happy… I hope it always reminds her of the fun she had on this little adventure.
This image reminds me of something my dad always says: “Relax and enjoy life.”
One of my favorite series… and one I’d like to see printed large and hung on a wall.
Marissa told me that she left Calgary when it was very, very cold… I secretly hope this image makes all her friends jealous that she got to frolic on the beach during one of the best Autumn heat waves So Cal has had in recent years.
The light… divine.
Love.
An incredible sunset.
Marissa- Thank you for finding me and for allowing me to document this time in your life. I hope the rest of your trip was so much fun and I look forward to one day getting to see Calgary!
For information on a Just Because portrait session, email me.
There’s something about the last days of Summer that have always felt nostalgic to me… it still reminds me of the end of fun Summer days with no homework, preparing to go back to school and head back into real life. Now, as a wedding photographer, Summer means quite the opposite as it is typically our industry’s busiest season. However, even though Los Angeles didn’t get the memo that Summer is supposed to be over by now (just a few days ago Downtown LA hit a record-breaking, melting 113º!), I still feel that emotional connection to the end of long days, warm nights and all things sunny and bright.
Last night, I had the fortunate opportunity to escape the inland heat and head out to the beach to photograph a super fun Just Because portrait session that was a perfect way to cap off a lovely Summer and prepare for the whirlwind month ahead. I walked away from this session thankful for the cooler coastal temperatures, gorgeous evening, fantastic client and all around great experience… I drove home happy because even though Summer is over, this is my real life year-round.
Many more from this fun Just Because portrait session coming soon!
