Mexico with Jose Villa

It’s pouring buckets of rain outside of the cozy hacienda where we will sleep soundly tonight. Jose and I are here just a couple hours away from Guadalajara Mexico to finalize preparation for his November workshop. We spent a day and a half at his grandmothers house resting, hanging out and talking with the occasional meal (which she insists that I eat more than I am able). Yesterday we shucked freshly picked corn and roasted it over the BBQ. I was amazed at how delicious something so natural and pure could taste.

We came to Guadalajara, Mexico on Tuesday after Jose’s one day workshop in San Francisco with Gene Higa. The reason we are here is to prepare for His Mexico week workshop this November. We will be scouting locations and picking out models tomorrow.

This afternoon we arrived to the Hacienda (where we will conduct the workshop) which we have all to ourselves; all 26 rooms! We cruised through the nearby town snapping pictures of the local people hanging outside their homes. I brought a Hasselblad that a friend lent me and Jose is working it with his Holga. The pictures you see here were taken with my digital from both Jose and I. The rain started to pour after we finished our bottle of red following dinner. I stood in the downpour for awhile to remind myself of how real this whole experience has been.








Jose shot this image of his grandmother with my camera. He commented just how much he loved the light. It has been exciting switching off between shooting film and digital for the both of us.

















These last 2 shots are by Jose.
Amazing the way he sees the world and directs people and arranges objects. I have learned so much from exploring Mexico with our cameras in just these past couple of days. I think everybody in the world should take his Mexico workshop! I cannot wait to return in November. The Hacienda is gorgeous and when I arrived I felt like I went back in time or walked onto a movie set. We will photograph more today but I don’t think I will be able to post until I get home because we will be leaving our internet connection behind.

Myung + Stacy {Pasadena, CA}

Myung + Stacy have got style oozing from their pours. They are creators. Graphic designers. Lovers. It was a joy to spend the afternoon walking around Pasadena exploring old alleys and storefronts together. And the gelato… A-MAZ-ING!!! Can’t wait for your wedding just weeks away!

Kyle + Kimberly {Irvine, CA}

I met up with Kyle and Kim at their home in Irvine when I was down in Orange County for a family weekend. I had met them before a few years ago at Kyle’s brother’s wedding. I remembered them the moment that I saw them again. They were the couple with the wicked awesome dance moves! They actually met ballroom and swing dancing. I had so much fun getting to know them and photograph them around the new construction around their town home. I’m not actually shooting their wedding, but I am honored to have been able to capture a piece of their love story.

Ben + Min {Cayucos, CA}

Ben + Min got married at Swallow Creek Ranch; one of my favorite locations on the Central Coast. Ben’s family actually owns and runs the ranch. The wedding ceremony took place in a rustic field behind the barn with a view of the ocean peaking between the hills and Eucalyptus trees. Ben and Min expressed their unity by writing their names on a paper airplane and throwing it together into the air. It was hilarious and sentimental, which I think sums up who they are as a couple. Way to be awesome!











Check out their engagement pictures!

Steve + Veronica {Pasadena, CA}

Steve + Veronica got married at the Castle Green in Pasadena. It was a beautiful setting dripping with purple flowers and accented with a koi fish pond backdrop. A string quartet ushered the guests to their seats and the bridal party down the aisle. The Castle was majestic and yet classy. Veronica was stunning and Steve daper. It was a pleasure working in such a historic slice of Pasadena!








Check out Steve and Veronica’s engagement session!

Destination Hawaii {Elite Hawaii Weddings}

I am really excited about being listed on Elite Hawaii Weddings! So if you are planning a destination wedding in Hawaii definitely check them out and hit me up! We love traveling and we love shooting destination weddings!

Gavin + Melanie {Shell Beach / San Luis Obispo}

Are you kidding me?! Gavin and Melanie are just about the most handsome couple ever! They just go together like… like chocolate and peanut butter! They got married on a beautiful cliff overlooking the Shell Beach coastline. And if that wasn’t pretty enough, they had their reception at none other than Holland Ranch. The sky was perfectly overcast for the wedding with a little hint of sunlight peaking out over the ocean miles into the horizon. As soon as we finished up the bridal party portraits we buzzed over to the ranch and walked right down into the heavenly glory of dripping sunlight and chocolate hillside for icing-on-the-cake couple portraits.

The groomsmen made my day (no, week!) with their 80’s glasses. I just wanted to take a million different pictures with those guys sporting their mad times square style. They also wore name tags corresponding to their title or responsibility. There was The Doc, Best Man, The Amateur, Bone Man, and lastly the groom; Crabbman (his last name being Crabb). Oh, and watch out when you park in Pismo Beach because I got a $40 parking ticket! (Whenever in history did they start charging to park in Pismo?! *chanting; We don’t live in L.A. We don’t live in L.A.)

Adornments arranged the most beautiful flowers for the whole event! It is amazing how flowers can tie an oceanside park and a country ranch together. Events Redefined did an amazing job coordinating the whole day. They were so organized and calm, they made me even relax!

Their reception was too legit to quit with the swinging tunes of the San Luis Jazz Band, the best food ever by Phoenix Fine Catering, a tower of multi-flavored cupcakes, and the most amazing A&W truck complete with freezers of vanilla ice-cream and root beer on tap.

If you want the inside scoop into how Melanie planned her amazing wedding, check out her blog; Crabb Cakes. She is such a great graphic designer!

















Check out their engagement pictures if you want some more Crabb love!

Andrew + Sandra {San Luis Obispo}

Andrew and Sandra were just naturals in front of the camera. They really have some beautiful chemistry. They got so into each other that I was happily snapping away! I am excited for their wedding coming up very soon!

Holland Ranch {San Luis Obispo Wedding Venue}

Check out my latest interview with Jaime Strand of Holland Ranch on The Wedding Standard!

Darren + Caitlin {Nipomo, CA}

Darren and Caitlin got married at the Dana Powers Barn in Nipomo and boy was I excited because I LOVE barns for some reason. I would have totally gotten married if this barn was operative a year and a half ago. It’s a new (yet old) addition.

We had a lot of fun because Darren and Caitlin are so stinking amazing. There was a lot of love going around and profuse joy.

Here are some highlights. Caitlin had two of the cutest bubble gum blowing flower girls in history. Darren’s grandpa played jazz music on his hollow-body Epiphone during the cocktail hour while the owner of the barn poured blue moon into mason jars for guests. Darren and his buddies took over the dance floor and busted out some wild moves. (Anna suggested I lay on the floor and shoot a picture of them all dancing around me. It didn’t turn out to be the best idea because one dude straddled and lifted my legs while dancing so I only got a shot of his hind quarters. Not a pretty picture!) The Chocolate Divas took everybody (Anna and I included) to chocolate heaven. It was a perfect day!











This kid was not excited to be the center of attention.

Gavin + Melanie {San Luis Obispo}

Gavin and Melanie are Cal Poly graduates that now live and work in New York City. Coming back to SLO for their wedding is like coming home. They are due to get hitched on Saturday so we got to squeeze a last minute engagement session in before the big day of love. Can’t wait for tomorrow!