I meet Sarah and Daniel for the first time about a year ago while photographing Cassie and Ryan’s wedding at the Puddingstone Resort in Pomona.  Sarah’s sister-in-law’s brother is married to Gavin’s (who is my fiance’s) sister-in-law’s niece’s husband’s sister.  WOW… did you follow that???  LOL… cause I think I lost myself while trying to type all that out!!  Isn’t weird how we all probably know each other through seven degrees of separation??

Sarah and Daniel are a great couple and is such a pleasure to work with!!  Sarah is an easy-going high school mathematic teacher (she got her Masters in Mathematics at UCLA), and Daniel is a down-to-earth, goofy kinda guy!!  For their engagement photography session, they wanted something with a botanical garden setting, and what better place to go then the Huntington Library Botanical Gardens and  Art Collection.  The Huntington Library is a BEAUTIFUL location for engagement photography sessions, but unfortunately, they are now becoming VERY strict with allowing photography inside the place.  This is because there are a few photographers that have trespassed certain areas in the gardens and violated the garden’s rules and regulations resulting in damage to the priceless property.  I was told that someone decided to hang off the arm of a 300-year old statue and ended up breaking it.  It’s a shame that these irresponsible photographers have ruined it for other photographers who appreciates and wants to photograph at the Huntington Library for it’s true beauty.  If one wants to photograph at the Huntington Library, they would have to obtain a permit or they can risk being thrown out without a refund and/or a fine (of what I was told to be $2000).  Note to photographers: please respect the location in which you’re photographing at.  We are lucky to be able to photography at such a beautiful location, so please use common sense and respect the property.  Don’t disturb other visitors who are there to enjoy the beautiful scenery, but instead try to photograph around them.

Sorry… enough ranting on my part!!  Back to Sarah and Daniel… it was a hot HOT Friday afternoon when we photographed this engagement session, but Sarah and Daniel are such troopers and we had a great time hanging out at the beautiful Huntington Library.

The Chinese Garden is a must-visit when at the Huntington Library.

Thanks Sarah and Daniel for a wonderful time!!  I can’t wait till your big day in November!!

Here we are, at the famous Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles.  It’s my first time doing an engagement session there, and I’m amazed at how beautiful this historic building looks.  I’m so glad that Xcel and David had requested the Bradbury Building for their engagement session.  This five-story building features ornate cast iron stairs, rich marble tiling, and polished wood all throughout.  The sophisticated architecture and great mood lighting serves as a great backdrop for an engagement session. It’s too bad that we were not able to go beyond the first flight of stairs.

When X’cel and I talked for the first time on the phone, we clicked immediately cause we had so much in common (especially with our pharmacy background).  X’cel and David are two of the sweetest people.  The first time we met, they walked me back to my car after I embarrassingly broke my sandal as we were walking out. I had such a wonderful time hanging out with them both during their engagement session.  These two are so silly and SO in love!!  David LOVES to kiss and every now and then, he also likes to bite X’cel (love bite — that is)!! =)

Isn’t this such an architectural gem??

And this is inside the caged-elevator.

After the Bradbury building, we walked over to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for some more architectural pictures.  I’ve shoot at the Disney Concert Hall many times, and each time I’m happy to find new nooks.

Love the daisies…

We ended their downtown L.A. engagement session with a DELICIOUS bowl of ramen noodles at Daikokuya.  The wait was about an hour (and we were starving) but it was sooooo worth the wait!!  Thank you so much X’cel and David for the wonderful time.  I can’t wait for your wedding in September.

Julie and David are having a traditional Chinese wedding this October and wish to go with their parents’ will of having a traditional Chinese photographer.  They however, still wanted to have a set beautiful and modern engagement pictures to show off.  With that said, Julie and David asked if I offer just the engagement session alone… and I most certainly do!!  Julie and David hired to me do their engagement photography in the Downtown LA area.  We started off at the Union Station and slowly made our way around downtown LA.  Shooting at the Union reminds me of when I photography Takako and John’s Union Station wedding back in September of 2009.

What a perfect dip??!?!!!

It was SO freakin funny my friend Kat (whom we randomly ran into at Union Station), sneaked up behind them and breathed down their neck while this picture was taken.  They honestly thought she was some crazy girl that was gonna attack them!!  Thanks for freaking my clients out Mama Kat!!!

And at the Walt Disney Concert Hall…

love, love, LOVE this picture!!!