Their wedding was not only a union of two families, but two cultures.  Quite often, Gavin and I have weddings with different cultural backgrounds that create a unique blend of traditions.  In this case, we started with a small Indian ceremony for Alfred’s family, followed by a Catholic ceremony, followed by a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony at Angie’s parents home, and they ended it with a reception at the beautiful Hilton Waterfront in Huntington Beach.

Check back again soon for their wedding video.  But in the meantime… enjoy their awesome photos.

I love her Badgley Mischka shoes!!  Like every female, i LOVE shoes!!  But here is the weird part: I love them, I buy them, but I never wear them!!  Therefore, Gavin sometimes has to play defense.  =)

Thank you Kelly Zhang Studio for doing an awesome job!!  I’ve worked with Kelly Zhang’s team many, many times and her girls always do an amazing job!!

i LOVE the natural beauty look!!

Hahahaa… I don’t know what I said that was so funny!!

Oh yeah… I remember now!!  ”How many Doctors does it take to put on a wedding dress??”  j/k  LOL.  For those who don’t get it, almost everyone in Angie and Alfred’s bridal party are medical doctors (or a healthcare professional).  In fact, there were about 25 emergency room doctors at the reception!!  Holy Moly… this is one wedding I wasn’t afraid to choke on my food at!!  =)

While the girls were busy dolling up for the big moment, Gavin was with the boys capturing video footage and somehow still managed to do photographs!! =)

And then we headed off to church!!  I kept humming … “Going to the chapel and we’re gonna to get married.”

After their Catholic Wedding Ceremony, they proceed back to Angela’s parents’ place for the traditional Vietnamese Wedding Ceremony.  For those who are not familiar with a Vietnamese wedding ceremony, the Groom and his family has to “receive” the bride from her parent’s house.   Gifts covered with red clothes (representing the wealth that the groom’s family will bring to the bride’s family) is always an important part of the Vietnamese tradition.

The bride and groom burn incense sticks, asking for permission from the ancestors to bless them.  And may I add that I really LOVE her ao dai (traditional Vietnamese wedding dress)!

They will then in front of all their guests, serve tea to their parents.  Each parent will then give advice about marriage and family to the couple.  The most popular advice seems to be, “make me lots of grandchildren.”  LOL!!

Their reception was held at the beautiful Hilton Waterfront Resort in Huntington Beach.

Thank you Katie Webb and Emily Kouri of Interwined Events for helping Angela put together such a lovely wedding!!  The details and design of this reception banquet was just amazing!!

What I thought was SO meaningful was that in lieu of getting party favors for their guests, Angela and Alfred decided to donate money to charity … St. Jude’s Medical Center.

Steve at Honored Occasions did a fantastic job with lighting and DJ.

Orchids… what a great choice of flowers!!  Did you know that Orchids represent represents love, luxury, beauty and strength?  Don’t ask me how I know but I find that Gavin and I read many random things and sometimes they just stick.  Hahaaha

Oh… and guess what??  This cake is fake!!  Yes… you read correctly!!  It’s make of Styrofoam!! For desserts, Angie and Alfred surprised their guests with ice-cream from Cold Stones!!  WOW… what a treat!!  I made friends with the waitress real quick!!

And then the party started!!! What a crazy crowd!!

Toward the end of the reception, Gavin and I pulled Angela and Alfred away for a quick 5 minute session at night.

Thank you Angela and Alfred for such a memorable day!!  We had a great time hanging out with your awesome group of friends.  We can’t wait to bbq at your house (hopefully soon).  You guys gotta try Gavin’s BBQ ribs!!  He’s really modest about it, but it’s to die for!! =P

Thank you Steven Tran for assisting with photo and video!!  You’re awesome!!

For an engagement shoot, we usually capture our couples as themselves.  Since we already had a cute video that showed them as themselves, they wanted their engagement shoot to be a little more stylish and chic.  They wanted something more classic and refined, like martinis in a 50s bar.  We still stayed in the same area for the engagement shoot (Newport Beach) and started at a dry dock nearby.

From there we headed to a local restaurant that they frequent near Lido Island, called the Cannery Restaurant.  I think it was nice not only having martinis as props, but also as a mid-shoot break!

And here we are in a diner nearby.  Not pictured are the awesome onion rings and grilled cheese sandwich we ate!

And of course we had to get them with a family portrait with their lovable dog, Casey (see the video above).

I’ve been dying to share this wedding with everyone for the longest time, but I had to anxiously wait since it was pending for publication in California Wedding Day Magazine.  Now that the Magazine has hit news-stands a couple weeks ago… it is my pleasure to share with everyone Mekela and Jason’s beautiful wedding at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  Wedding Photography at the Walt Disney Concert Hall is always amazing because it is a marquee location in Downtown Los Angeles.   It provides a modern and chic backdrop for today’s stylish Bride and Groom.  Don’t forget to check out Judy and Gavin Photography in print in California Wedding Day Magazine

Mekela and Jason are a fun and laid-back couple who absolutely adores each other.  After dating for 2 years, Jason popped the question during a Caribbean cruise.  It also turned out that the proposal wasn’t the only surprise:  Mekela also found that she was pregnant.  How exciting is that!!!  Mekela gave birth to an adorable baby boy on Easter Sunday.  Exactly one year later (on Easter Sunday), Mekela and Jason decided to tie the knot and have their two most important memories be forever entwined.  Isn’t it so romantic and thoughtful?!?!!!

A huge thank you to DeNeitra Vincent of Savvy-Events for making this day exceptional!  Everything flowed smoothly and flawlessly!!  DeNeitra and her team are super professional and nothing but a joy to work with.  I can’t wait to work with them again in the near future.

And now… Please allow me to lure you in with this first image!! Haahaha  =)

Being in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the Ritz Carlton is definitely a popular hotel for brides to get ready in.  Check out the view from Mekela’s room.

Check out Mekela’s rock!!

She’s so cute!!

And here she is… our beeeaautiful bride!!!

I love the braids in their hair.

I think getting into the dress is one of the most exciting parts of the day!!  This is when everything begins to settle in and the “Oh my God it’s really happening” comes to mind.  This is also where a lot of crying begins… tears of joy that is!!

Instead of doing a first look with the Groom, Mekela did a first look with her dad.  I thought was very sweet and thoughtful.  There was not a dry eye in the room when Mekela’s dad started crying when he saw his beautiful daughter in a wedding dress.

Mekela also had a present for her dad… a hand’kerchief that reads:  ”To the first man I ever loved…”  At this point, the photographer, that would be me, started tearing up too!!

Their Easter-inspired wedding was decorated with spring colors mixed with a soft grey, to perfectly coordinate with the architecture of the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

I love that all the leis were freshly flown in from Hawaii.

At the end of the aisle, our strapping Groom Jason strikes a pose (or two) for the camera.  LOL

Mekela’s family awaits as she walks down the aisle.  By the way, look closely and tell me if you see someone else who is famous!!  That’s right… Pauly Shore is a good friend of Jason and is one of the groomsmen in the bridal party.

I absolutely LOVE photographing weddings!!  There are so many good vibes and happiness to absorb from all the love that’s around me.  I am such a baby… I tend to tear up easily, especially when the bride or groom starts to cry.

Wedding Photography at the Walt Disney Concert Hall is definitely toooo easy!! It’s such a beautiful, beautiful wedding venue!!

Hawaiian Native Mekela blended elements from her culture with western traditions with the exchanging of the leis as well as rings.

And this is their adorable son, Weston!!  Happy Birthday Weston!!

What a beautiful family…

Pauly Shore is such a ham…

With only 15 minutes for the bride and groom portrait session, Gavin and I extremely happy to capture so many amazing pictures of Mekela and Jason.

I love her dress…

For the first time:  Mr. and Mrs. Jason Swing

And here’s the moment where the crowd goes crazy!!  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh…

Bravo… Encore… the live performance of “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” was AHHHH-MAZING!!!

We were all in for a special treat the entire evening!  Jason and Mekela had performance all night long.  From Bollywood dancers to booty dancer!! LOL

I’ll let you have one guess at what song was playing!!  Hint hint:  ”I like big butts and I can not lie.  You other brothers can’t deny.  That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face, you get sprung…”

It was definitely a fun and memorable wedding reception!!  I love the photo-booth pictures!

Mekela and Jason also had a grand exit with sparklers!!

Thank you Mekela and Jason for having Gavin and I be a part of such a special day.  It was such a pleasure working with you both.  And since their wedding, Mekela and Jason have another addition to their family… another baby boy!!  Best wishes to you both and I can’t wait to photograph your family pictures soon!!  xoxo

The morning started with the girls getting ready at Jessica’s house.

I saw Jessica’s parents wedding picture and thought, “how cute would it be to include it in the dress picture”.  I absolutely LOVE the lace in her dress.

And more toasts!!  LOL

If you haven’t noticed, all the bridesmaids are wearing a different color and style dress.   Jessica personally picked out the color and style for each girl.  I love that it’s so unique!!!

I can’t stop laughing at this picture.  Jess is definitely a fun bride to photograph!!  Jess and Dan did not want to see each other prior to the ceremony, so we had to do bridal party pictures separate.  This is where haven’t two photographers come in handy.  Gavin was with Jess and the boys, while I was with Dan and the girls.  Since Gavin and I are both lead photographers, we were able to knock out a whole bunch of pictures in a short period of time.

A “home-alone” inspired pose!!

This picture definitely dates Jessica and Dan’s wedding.  The boys are doing a “Tebow” and Dan is in a “Brady” pose.  Does this mean that it’s “game over” for Dan?!?!?  LOL

I call this picture my “Desperate Housewives” pose!!  They all look so HOT… don’t you think?!?!

It’s so funny… the girls picked Dan up and then dropped him!! Ouch….

What’s really special about Jess and Dan’s wedding ceremony is that Dan’s father was one of the Priests that married them.

I always find it sooooo sweet when the groom can’t hold back his tears!!

The Vineyards is Nestled along the foothills of Simi Valley in Ventura County.  The owners Soroor and Jimmy are a joy to work with.

And more toasts…

Here are some of my favorites during their brief Bride and Groom portrait session.

Jessica looks gorgeous!!!  Dan… you’re one lucky man!!

Congratulations to Jessica and Dan!!  Thank you for having us…

Meghan and Rob have known each other for almost 15 years now.  They met while going to college in Florida.  After graduation, Rob got a job and moved to California.  About 5 years later, Meghan’s job transferred her to California as well.  Here, the two reconnected and began dating!!  Totally meant to be… wouldn’t you say!?!!  For their engagement session, Meghan wanted to photograph where one of her all time favorite movies, Back to the Beach was filmed in 1987.  We started off their engagement photography at Malibu Pier and made our way along Malibu Beach.

Gavin and I are so excited to be their wedding photographers at Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica this Friday.  Doing wedding photography at Casa Del Mar, Hotel by the Sea is definitely treat and is a guaranteed awesome time.  Being right on the beach and having a floor-to ceiling glass windows overlooking the Pacific coastline, Hotel Casa Del Mar is definitely a luxurious hotel choice in Santa Monica.

I love this picture!!!

I find Beach engagement photography is also soooo romantic!!

This is definitely one of my favorite pictures!!

Stacy Porras and her team is incredibly talented in creating and carrying out Angelic and Mike’s wedding vision flawlessly.  See the pictures and you’ll know what I mean.  The day ran so smoothly leaving us with plenty of time for pictures.  Her team was always around and is so friendly to work with.  The details and design of the wedding were absolutely stunning.  I definitely look forward to working with this awesome team again in the near future.

As for doing wedding photography at Vibiana, I can’t speak enough kudos about this gorgeous location!!  I can shoot there all day and never run out of ideas for a perfect photo.  =)  In case you didn’t know (or you are looking for a wedding venue), Vibiana is actually a historic landmark in downtown Los Angeles.  It was created in the 19th century and was known as the Cathedral of St. Vibiana.  Unfortunately, during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the building was severely damaged and needed to be replaced.  The replacement was a new cathedral, Our Lady of the Angels, built just a few blocks away.  Now, the original Vibiana underwent renovation and stand beautifully in the heart of downtown Los Angeles hosting many events including wedding ceremony and receptions.

Don’t forget to click play to check out their wedding video at Vibiana

Thank you Joyce Luck for doing an amazing job on Angelic’s hair and make-up.

I say this all the time, but I really LOVE it when my bride and groom decides to do “the first look” and see each other before the ceremony.  It’s amazing capturing this emotional and intimate moment.

I am SMITTEN with Vibiana!!  This dome is just sooooo beautiful for pictures!!

And yes… Vibiana still has all the confession booths in place.  =)

Simply b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.

When Angelic started tearing up… family, friends, and myself teared up with her.  I just love it when couples write their own vows.

What I found really unique about Angelic and Mike’s wedding was “the puzzle ceremony”.  Instead of unity candles or having a sand ceremony, they decided to have special family members and friends help put together different pieces of a puzzle (their engagement picture) signifying the importance of various parts of their lives.  The last piece of the puzzle was put in by themselves to symbolize that their lives are now complete (with them as husband and wife).  What an AMAZING idea!!  It’s truly unique!!

And finally… last but not least… sealed with a kiss!!

While guests enjoyed live music during cocktail hours, the catering staff magically transformed the room into a banquet hall.  Isn’t it just LOVELY???

I just love the modern and elegant style of this wedding!!

The Grand Entrance… followed by a romantic first dance!!

“Endless Love” is definitely a classic song for a first dance.

Half way into the reception, Angelic changed into a gorgeous evening dress specifically designed for her (by Michael’s family).  Michael’s family owns a bridal dress company in Taiwan.

Towards the end of the reception, Angelic changed into the traditional Chinese wedding dress, Qi Pao (or Cheongsam).  What’s even more special is that Angelic is wearing the same Qi Pao that her mother wore for her wedding.

As the celebration came to an end, our photo-video team took Angelic and Mike around Vibiana for some more amazing wedding photos at Vibiana.  I told you I can shoot at Vibiana forever!! hehe.

Definitely some of my FAVORITES!!

LOVE IT!!

Did I mentioned that only 4 days after their wedding, Angelic and Mike moved (yes… moved permanently) to Taiwan to help run the family business!!  Congratulations Angelic and Mike!! Best wishes to you both as you start your journey together!!  Gavin and I are so happy and excited to see what the future holds for you both.

And finally, special thanks to my assistant Steven Tran for always doing an amazing job!!

P.S.  Don’t forget to check out Angelic and Mike’s fun-filled engagement photography session in downtown Los Angeles.

Sorry if I wander into camera geek stuff more than Judy would, but I LOVE THIS CAMERA!  This first shot is done almost completely in camera using Canon’s new built in HDR feature (currently only for the 5Dmk3).  I intentionally shot Tommy Trojan in the shade into a blue sky to see if it could pull it out.  The 5D mark 3 did an amazing job, even though it’s handheld with some of the starkest contrast you can get in a composition.  Camera settings: HDR natural, +-3EV, shot handheld with image-align on.

One thing about Shanine and Ron is that they are a very “natural” couple, where you can see the way they love each other very easily and obviously.  It’s really refreshing seeing that, especially since they have been together for over 8 years!

After a quick session at USC, we proceeded to downtown Los Angeles for the rest of the engagement photography session at night.  I took this one pic candidly as we walked over to the Downtown LA JW Mariott for some drinks and appetizers (more drinks than apps it turns out).  Camera nerd settings: f2.8, 1/60s, ISO6400 @16mm

Ron used to live right down the street from LA Live, so we stopped at the JW Mariott hotel lounge area for a quickie break.  Well, what was supposed to be a break turned into 5 drinks for me (since I have to work after all) and 7 drinks for Ron.  Wow that guy can throw down!  Needless to say they were preeeetttty loosened up for photos at this point.  Disclaimer: Judy and I, as a rule, don’t drink at weddings.  Luckily, engagement shoots aren’t weddings.

I love the look of downtown LA when the traffic dies down, people leave work for home, and this serene stillness floods the air in downtown.  The lights says it’s still alive, but the tranquility of the streets contrast that.

We hopped over to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for some quick photos, but they had already shut down their garden by this time.  No worries, considering the amazing plethora of nooks to be discovered in Los Angeles at night.

This next image was shot at ISO8000 (f2.8, 1/20s).  Normally I don’t use an f2.8 lens at night, so it was a joy getting to shoot really wide when I wanted to.

That night had a nice layer of fog coming in.  When life gives you lemons, I like to make Limoncello.  Judy and I have always tried to use weather to our advantage.

After this Shanine hopped into a gorgeous white gown to finish off the shoot.

I think this is one of my more favorite images from the shoot.  I see many different poses, statures, hugs, kisses, and mannerisms in my many couples.  This one struck me, since I didn’t have to ask them to be tender to each other in this way.

Ron works for Wells Fargo (he is a district manager up in Oregon, I believe), so we had to get a photo in front of his old workplace.  This image really started pushing the limits of the camera.  It’s at ISO10,000 (yeah, really awesome) at f2.8 and 1/15s, handheld.  The JPG compression for our blog doesn’t do the image justice, so click here for a 100% crop of the center of the image (this sample is exported from Canon Photo Professional with no post-production at all).  Btw at this point the new autofocus system of the 5Dmk3 has been dreamy to work with, nailing almost every single image in the lowest of light.

Wow that was an awesome time spent with good people.  It’s a great start for our new cameras and a great start for the new photography that we can pull off because of it.

Leslie-Ann and Reggie are a modern couple living a modern lifestyle.  This selection of images is aimed at capturing a contemporary look with techniques reminiscent of the 60′s.  Gavin and I had a great time hanging out with this lovely couple and we can’t wait to do wedding photography at the beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall.

I love themed engagement photography sessions!

Michele and Kevin met when they were both students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  They are a sweet and kind couple that not only love for each other… but they also have  a love for nature, people, and animals.  During their spare time, they both volunteer at a Pet Rescue where they would help walk dogs on the boardwalk to generate interest from the public (for adoption).  I think that is so meaningful!!  It’s a great way to spend time with your significant other while at the same time help out an animal in need.  =)

For their engagement photography session, Michele and Kevin wanted a place that has lots of greenery.  The LA Arboretum is just perfect for what they want and more!!

And now… here are some of my favorites:

I love the solar flares in this picture.

Kisses on the forehead are always so romantic.

I just love their beautiful smiles!!

After engagement photos at the LA Arboretum, they went to a nearby field to enjoy a nice little picnic.  It was a gorgeous So-Cal day.   The sun cast a beautiful glow on the field and the couple.

And for the picnic: bread and salmani, sparkling champagne, topped with some sweet and fresh strawberries!!

And finally… a nice little walk on the Colorado Street Bridge while enjoying the beautiful sunset!!  What an AWESOME date!!!

Thank you Thea Hargrove and Lara Burnap (of California Wedding Day) for featuring our wedding photography at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  It is truly an honor to be one of only six featured weddings in such a chic and stylish wedding magazine.  The Spring/Summer 2012 issue of California Wedding Day is filled with inspiring fashions, tips, and trends along with some of California’s most beautiful wedding ceremony & reception locations for the modern and savvy bride (and groom).  Definitely pick up a copy of California Wedding Day (and be sure to check out and book mark page 102) when planning your perfect wedding!!

I will never forget Mekela and Jason’s wedding at the Walt Disney Concert Hall last Easter.  They had the most memorable and best first dance ever!! How??  Well… Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler sang Mekela’s favorite song, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”   It was actually a surprise from Jason to Mekela so nobody knew about it (including us) until about 10 minutes before the grand entrance to the reception.  I was blown away with Steven Tyler’s live performance of “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing!”  I promise… more pictures to come later!!

A very big THANK YOU to the woman who made this wedding day flawless!  Thank you DeNeitra of Savvy Events  for planning such an incredible day!!  You and your team did an awesome job from beginning to end.  It is an absolute joy working with you.  Gavin and I really appreciate your hard work in submitting this wedding to California Wedding Day Magazine.  We look forward to the pleasure of working with you again in the near future!

And last but not least… thank you Mekela and Jason for having Gavin and I be a part of your big day!! It was ahhhh-mazing and we loved every minute of it!!  xoxo

Karyn and Travis got ready at two different vacation homes that they rented out for the entire week.

Travis got ready not too far away, where Gavin hopped over to cover him getting ready with his boys.

aahhh… drinking before the ceremony… i LOVE it!!  Gavin and I did the same thing for our wedding.  =)

I absolutely LOVE this little flower girl!! She’s three years old and is such a doll.

It’s so cute how she eagerly opens the present that Karyn got her.  So darn cute!!

And… we’re out the door and on our way to Jackalope Ranch.

Jackalope Ranch is a beautiful wedding venue.  It’s got excellent service and awesome food!!

I thought it’s so cute how Travis met Karyn half way down the aisle and escorted her to the alter himself.

I got a little emotional myself seeing Karyn taking deep breathes and trying to hold back her tears of joy.

For their ceremony, Karyn and Travis also had a “Rose Ceremony”.   The rose is considered a symbol of love and a single rose always means only one thing…, “I love you.”  So as the first gift to each other as wife and husband, the giving of the rose signifies love for eternity.

And for their first kiss… well… see for yourself!!  The crowd definitely got a good laugh of it for they know Karyn and Travis really well.

I LOVE this one!!

For their first dance, Karyn and Travis had everyone gather around with sparklers.  This made for such an awesome picture.

And of course… let the drinking and partying begin!!

And before we left… a nice portrait with the bride and groom!!  =)

Thank you Karyn and Travis for such an awesome day!! Best wishes to you both!

I remember meeting Maura and Nathan at their home in Marina Del Rey and instantly clicking with them in that we had many things in common.  The major common denominator being photography!  Maura has been photographing for a while and specializes in fashion, portraits and editorial work.  It’s quite flattering when she decided to book with us.

Everything about this wedding is beautiful and embraced in a cozy intimate kind of love.  The details were amazing, the flowers were spectacular, and the venue… so gorgeous!!   A HUGE thank you to Allyson Levine and the entire team at BoB Gail Special Events for making this day exceptional!!   Everything came together beautifully and flawlessly!

Maura is stunningly beautiful!! I love how her blue eyes “popped” with the natural beauty look.

Our groom, Nate is a handsome man as well.  No wonder their two kids, Frankie and Charley are so good looking!!  =)

In all my years of being a wedding photographer, I hardly see a ceremony that is set up in a circular layout.  I love it!!  This arrangement provides a warm embrace of closeness and love as friends and family witness Maura and Nate’s union.

And finally the beautiful Bride’s appearance!!

For the first time… Mr. and Mrs.  Jones!  Congratulations to the newly weds!

I absolutely love how Santa Monica Pier glows in the background!!

While we were taking the Bride and Groom portrait session, the wonderful staff at Casa Del Mar quickly transformed the Colonnade Ballroom (where the wedding ceremony was held) into a beautiful reception hall!!  The transformation was amazing!!  Once again, thank you Allyson Levine for all your hard work.

They introduced me to a new drink that is huge up in British Columbia, but I’d never heard of it before then (and I’ve taken bartending classes before).  It’s called a Caesar, which is basically a bloody mary with Clamato.     After we had some food in our stomachs and vodka in our veins, we started with photos right then and there in that pub.  By the way, Judy and I have a no-drinking policy at weddings, but engagement shoots are a little more mellow (plus it eased Travis right into the shoot!).  I loved the brickwork and rustic woodwork around the restaurant.

After that we hopped down the local downtown Vancouver streets and alleys, where Travis used to live.

We also hopped over to the Waterfront Centre, which was right down the street.

After that we hopped in their car and headed over to Jericho Beach near West Point Grey, which had a little pier with a great view of downtown Vancouver.   One thing I love about destination engagement photography sessions is getting to see new locations that matter to the couple.  It’s refreshing seeing how a couple has “their spots.”

Yeah, Travis likes to squeeze in moments like that.

Right there at the Jericho Sailing Centre, they had a large shipyard or drydock of small boats.  I had to get some photos here.

After that we went to the Flying Beaver Bar to wait for my flight, and squeeze in a couple of Caesars (at this point they had me hooked on them already)! Sometimes I really like images like these, where they are just candid and casual across-the-table pics. It reminds me of what other people see when they see a couple in love.

Thanks to Karyn and Travis for the amazing time, great food, and new drinks in Vancouver!

Lisa and Koichi are a sweet, sweet couple!!  Gavin and I had the absolute pleasure of getting to know them and capturing their big day.

Before you go on to enjoy their wedding photos in Los Angeles, check out their wedding video done by Gavin

Thank you Jennie (from Kelly Zhang Studio) for doing such a great job with Lisa’s make-up and hair.

It was so funny watching Lisa’s girls help her put on her petty coat (after already having the wedding dress on).  Hmmm… I wonder what is going on back there?  LOL

I love pearls for weddings… simple and elegant!!

While Lisa is dolling up for the first look, Koichi is prepping for the “big moment” himself.  I absolutely LOVE the anticipation that my bride and groom has when seeing each other for the first time.

And finally… the first look!!!

I love doing wedding photography in Los Angeles.  There are SO many great spots for photos… with the most popular being the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  Wedding Photography at the Walt Disney Concert Hall never seems to get old for me whether it’s during the day or at night.  During the day, we are able to utilized the sunlight bouncing off the surfaces to create awesome images.  During the night, photography at the Walt Disney Concert Hall is great as well since the lights in Downtown Los Angeles glows beautifully!!  The Walt Disney Concert Hall is definitely one of my favorite spots for wedding photography or engagement photography in Los Angeles.

Wedding photography on railroad tracks???  It’s awesome!!  Here are some of my favorites.  The black and white wedding photos always seem to add a little more to the mood… don’t you think! hehehe!  I love it!

I love how the city glows in the background!

LOL… this one is tooooo funny!!

The Marvimon House is really a hidden gem in Los Angeles.  I swear I’ve driven by it tons of times (and in fact my family goes to a Buddhist temple near it every Lunar New Year) and I can’t believe I never knew until Lisa and Koichi’s wedding.  Surrounding the Marvimon House are train tracks, abandon fields, wired fencing and grungy alleyways… serving as a photographer’s playground for wedding photography (well… at least for me).  =)

For their grand entrance to the reception, Lisa and Koichi had their guests participate.  It’s really awesome seeing their close friends and family danced their way into the seating area!  I’ll give you one guess as to what song they all came into.  That’s right… “Forever” by Chris Brown.

And for their reception dinner… SUSHI!!  Yes… sushi!! How awesome is that?? Those who know me… i LOVE sushi!!  I was in heaven with all the yummy salmon and tuna and yellow tail!!  Oh… don’t get me started on sushi. LOL

Isn’t their cake topper just so cute??

Thank you Lisa and Koichi for a wonderful day!! Gavin and I had a great time hanging out and meeting your friends and family!!  Good luck with your other wedding in Japan.  I know it will be super awesome just like your wedding here in Los Angeles.

Also, a special thank you to our assistant Steven Tran.  Great job!!

We had a great time hanging out with Danyell and Adrian for their downtown Los Angeles engagement photography session.  We started off at the Los Angeles Union Station and then headed to the Walt Disney Concert Hall – two amazing engagement photography locations in downtown Los Angeles.

I love that the Los Angeles Union Station has beautiful soft lighting everywhere!!

Before they get married, Danyell and Adrian had to work out a couple house rules:
1.)  Adrian has to convert from being a Dodger fan to being a Yankee’s fan.
2.)  Danyell has to put up with the “No Pets Allowed” rule.

Hmmmm… I can’t decide which one is worse!!  =)  The funny thing is… people walking by were  ”awwww-ing” at the no pets allowed sign.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall is another fantastic location for engagement photography in (downtown) Los Angeles.  The reflective surfaces of the concert hall provides great lighting during the afternoon hours.

Most of the items (i.e. wedding invitations, the flower girl’s pomander, the cake topper, the wishing tree, etc.) were all Carolina’s DIY crafty creations.  David helped out here and there.  =)  Everything was definitely a labor of love and came out beautifully.  It definitely had my creativity flowing as well.  Carolina and David’s entire wedding was held at Hotel Maya in Long Beach.  We’ve done wedding photography at Hotel Maya in Long Beach many times, and it is definitely a gorgeous venue.  After the recent redesign (previously known as the Coast Hotel), the hotel now has a rustic and textured decor that is a perfect setting for a wedding.  The scenic view of the downtown Long Beach waterfront is breathtaking, especially at night.  The nearby Queen Mary also makes a unique backdrop.

Click the play button to check out Gavin’s video for Carolina and David.

I love her beautiful emerald cut engagement ring.

I love the laces on Carolina’s Chinese Laundry wedding shoes.  She added a nice personal touch to the shoes with some Swarovski’s crystals and pearls.

Carolina bought all the pieces for her hair piece and sewn it together herself.  What’s more amazing was the flower girls pomander that Carolina made as well.  It was completely made of cut-out strips from the novel “Perfect” (by Judith McNaught) and hand-crafted into paper flowers.  Can you believe it??  Did I also mention that I love her bouquet too!!

I really dig the classy, vintage hair style that Carolina is going for.

While Carolina is getting dolled up by the talented Kathy Tran (from Kelly Zhang Studio), David enjoys a cold beer with his dad.

It was a perfect day for a beautiful wedding.  The weather couldn’t be more perfect.

It is so sweet that Carolina honored the memory of her mother with a picture in a locket which she carried on her bouquet.

David’s Christian Dior (CD) tie fits their wedding color perfectly.  And the CD also represents their initials.

This is the view from their reception ballroom.  The Queen Mary created a scenic back drop for the wedding.

Here’s another amazing DIY project that Carolina crafted.  The cake topper was made of wooden peg dolls and Carolina added “wedding words” (i.e. love, happiness, loyal, etc.) from the dictionary to it.  She made and added  the birdcage headpiece on the female topper to resemble the one she wore!!  The wooden base of the cake topper was burned, stained and then carved with their names and wedding date.

Hahahaaa!  Poor David, he had no idea it was coming!!

For their first dance, Carolina and David surprised everyone with a well choreographed Tango.  Beautifully done guys!!

And here are some of my favorites from their bride and groom portrait session.  It’s so great to have a wedding at Hotel Maya because Shoreline Village is just a hop away.  Shoreline Village Wedding Photography is a must when it comes to having a Long Beach Wedding.  =)

Love is… SWEET!!

They are just so cute!

I absolutely LOVE how the skyline glows in the background!

After Shoreline Village, we headed back to Hotel Maya to finish off the wedding photography session.

Love this picture!

Congratulations to Carolina and David!!  It was truly a pleasure to meeting and working with you both!!  I am so grateful that we still keep in touch and I look forward to our growing friendship in the many years to come!!  Cheers!!

Special thank you to Steven Tran for assisting with photo and video.

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.

When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall.

And down will come baby, cradle and all.”

I titled this article “The Greatest Gift” because indeed it is!!  Bringing a child into the world is a beautiful and ultimately the most rewarding experience.  The ability to create and carry a new life (all in your belly) is beautiful in itself, and for this reason, I find the female body incredibly amazing!!   With that said, a BIG congratulations to Nancy and Alan Holt (my brother and sister in law) for they are expecting their first baby and it’s a BOY!!  Gavin and I are overjoyed for you both and can’t wait to meet Luke in March!!  Luke is such a cute name!

Thank you guys for the addition to the Holt Family.  I know he’s gonna be soooo loved and spoiled by everyone!!

Gavin and I had a great time with Nancy and Alan for their Los Angeles maternity photography session.  We started off at an open field where Nancy and Alan enjoyed a little nice picnic and quality time together.  It’s so cute that Alan got a cute bouquet of Gerber daisies for Nancy.  What a beautiful couple they are!!

There is something about pregnancy that is so magical.  They call it the most joyous time of your life. They say that you are more beautiful than you have ever been and that you have a glow about you!!  I most definitely agree… Nancy looks radiant in her maternity pictures!  Here are some of my favorites from their studio maternity photography session.  When we do studio photography, we aim for tasteful and artistic photographs.

I love this scarf!!  I think I’m gonna have to barrow it when I do my own maternity session!  =)

I am sure that it’s an amazing feeling your baby move and kick inside your belly!!

I love black and white studio pictures.

I especially LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture!! Hahaha… it’s plain, simple, and elegant!!

Again… Congratulations to Nancy and Alan!! Thank you for making me an Auntie and Gavin an Uncle again.   We have three smart and beautiful nieces and we are so excited to welcome baby Luke!!

Angela and Alfred meet when they were doing their medical school rotations together.  At first, it was pure competition to see who would do better.  But after a few study date  and an abrupt passionate kiss from Alfred,  Angela’s heart melted… she was sold and the rest was history.  =)  During the engagement session, we shared many funny hospital stories that we’ve encountered.  Both Angela and Alfred are  emergency room physicians, so their stories totally beat out my weird pharmacy stories. LOL.  Alfred is such a trooper during shoot… he had just gotten out of a 12 hour-shift and then went straight into the engagement session.  As soon as we were done with the shoot, he had to get back to a conference call.  It’s so great to see such caring and dedicated physicians like Angela and Alfred.  Gavin and I are so excited to photograph their wedding at the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach at the end of March.

You all may remember Nisha and Mike’s Indian Wedding from a few blog post back.  I am so happy and honored that their vibrant and fun-filled Indian wedding is featured on South Asian Bride Magazine today!!  SAB Magazine was launched in 2010 and since then serves as a resourceful guide for the modern South Asian Bride (in the United States & Canada.)  If you’re a South Asian Bride looking for the latest fashion trend for your wedding or inspirational ideas, SAB Magazine is a must!  =)

You can check out Nisha and Mike’s full feature here:  Indian Wedding Photography

Ayano and Tubasa had an initiate wedding at Shutters on the Beach and then a reception banquet at Casa Del Mar.  Shutters on the Beach is Casa Del Mar’s sister hotel. Usually, couples can only use one or other but never both wedding venues on the same day.  It’s awesome that Ayano and Tubasa tied the knot on a Monday and therefore they got the best of both worlds.  Shutters on the Beach offers an outdoors beach front wedding ceremony and Casa Del Mar’s Colonnade ballroom offers a classy and majestic ambiance.

Their wedding was definitely one of our favorites!!  They were such a fun, FUN group to be around and I can’t get enough of their silliness!!  You’ll see what I mean when you browse through their wedding pictures at Casa Del Mar.

This is my first time seeing a black diamond and it’s so beautiful!

Tubasa is in the military and his groomsmen were all military boys as well.  They all are such a ham!!

One minute they are nice and well-behaved…

and the next minute… boys will be boys!!  Poor Tubasa is being jumped here!! LOL

Tubasa got all the boys glasses!  I love this picture of him “selling” the glasses on the black market!  I’m tell you.. they’re all goof-balls.

The awesome thing about our husband and wife team is that we are both lead photographers.  Gavin can go with the boys to get their silly, goofy, portraits while I stay with the girls to make sure no moments are overlooked.

Ayano and Tubasa did their first look in Casa Del Mar’s charming lobby.

I absolutely LOVE it when my couples are fun and playful.  Ayano pinched Tubasa’s butt as she walked up to him.  Haha

We photographed their bride and groom portrait session around Casa Del Mar and on the board walk.

I love this group!!

I can’t tell if he’s laughing or crying!! LOL, we think it’s a little of both!

I thought it was really neat that they had a sand ceremony and used seashells to hold the sand!  It goes so well with a beach wedding ceremony (at Shutters on the beach).

And the very first (of many) toasts of the evening!!

I absolutely LOVE the lighting in this ballroom!!

The catering staff at Casa Del Mar did a fantastic job!!  I got the ribs and oh WOW it just melts in your mouth!

You know a wedding is gonna be FUN night when it starts with the bride and groom chillin’ at the bar!! LOL

High five to shots!!!

And here are the results of having one too many shoots!!  Of course… we can’t forget the lab-dances!!

And I really don’t know what’s going on here!!  Everybody is picking everybody up… literally!!

As the reception came to an end, Gavin and I took Ayano and Tubasa out for some more wedding photography.

Like I mentioned earlier, Santa Monica pier is within sight of Casa Del Mar and glows beautifully at night.  I would love to do a wedding at Casa Del Mar and then hop over to do more wedding photography at Santa Monica pier.

Congratulations to the newly weds!!  Thank you for having us as your Santa Monica Beach Wedding Photographers.  It was truly an honor to hang out with such a fun group and we wish you all the best!!  Cheers!

For Hannah and Topher, it was definitely hiking, being outdoors and enjoying the beauty all around.  It was such a beautiful day for a 9 mile hike!!  Just kidding… it was actually only about 2 miles to get to Stuartevant Falls.  However, if we were to do the entire hike, then it would have been 9 miles.  But then that would just be suicide for me.  Hahaha  =)  We had so much fun hanging out with Hannah and Topher as we took our time and enjoyed every step of the hike and appreciate all the natural beauty that surrounds us.  It was quite relaxing and I would definitely love to do it again.

This beautiful fall (Stuartevant Falls) is totally worth crawling over rocks and through water to get to!!

As the sun starts to set, we made our way back and on the way stopped for some low-light photography.

Thank you Hannah and Topher for such a wonderful adventure!!  Can’t wait to hang out with you both again for your wedding at Almansor Court in Alhambra.

We photographed Janice and Kawai’s engagement session over the Christmas Holidays when Janice was visiting Kawai from Hungary.  I love meeting my couples for the first time, but Janice and Kawai were extra special to me because of their love story.  They told me that airports and airplanes are very meaningful to them.  They spend a lot of time on flights flying back and forth to see each other.  I’m super thrilled to be their Los Angeles engagement photographer and capture some wonderful memories for them to take back to Hong Kong.  For their engagement photography session, we started off at the El Monte Airport.  Engagement photography at El Monte Airport (or any airports) is a no no due to security reasons.  Fortunately for us, one of Kawai’s friend at Cal Tech teaches flying lessons there and so we were hooked up.  =)

Janice has a beautiful smile!!

We continued their Los Angeles Engagement Photography Session at the famous Walt Disney Concert Hall (engagement photography).  You can never go wrong doing  Engagement Photography at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

There are just tooooo many beautiful spots that make awesome backdrops at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (WDCH).  During certain time of the day, we were able to utilized the sunlight bouncing off the surfaces to create awesome images.  And at night time, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and downtown Los Angeles glows beautifully!!

And finally, we ended their Los Angeles engagement photography session with beautiful and romantic sunset engagement photos.  Another popular spot of engagement photography in Los Angeles is at Santa Monica Pier.

Janice and Kawai… enjoying the sunset in Los Angeles.

We had some really low-tides that day and it created some really cool patterns in the sand.

They really do embrace every second with each other!

Thank you Janice and Kawai for such a beautiful love story and a wonderful afternoon!!  We had lots of fun hanging out and getting to know you both.  All the best as you finish your education and start a family together!  Hopefully Gavin and I can visit you both in Hong Kong one day!  And then you can show us around!!  =)

Gavin graduated UCLA with a Computer Science and Engineering degree but decided that he didn’t want a desk job.  Using the knowledge that he knew about computers and programming, Gavin started our photography and videography business in May of 2006.  This book highlights how Gavin successfully built our first website — Gavin Photography, and how important the internet has been for helping our clients find us.  I always tease Gavin about being “the Master of Lighting” and an “Internet Guru.”  And reading this book, my feelings are validated even more.  He’s more than just a business man with an expensive camera, Gavin is an artist that dedicates his time to taking care of each client and creating artistic photographs.  In the short 5 years that we’ve been doing wedding photography (& videography), we’ve been blessed by many beautiful moments and friendships!!  I’m so excited for our feature …

Gavin and I had the pleasure of meeting and working with so many wonderful couples and traveling to many beautiful locations this year.  From the deserts of Palm Springs to the tropical island of Maui to the scenic beaches along the California coast… we are so honored to have the opportunity to capture memories of people in love!!  In this blog, you’ll find wedding photography that we’ve done in 2011.  (Pictures in this blog are in no particular order).  Also, I sincerely apologize for not having the opportunity to blog each and every single wedding that we’ve done.  I have a ton of ideas and weddings to share, so I will definitely be catching up with my blogging in the next couple of months.  Thank you for stopping by and we look forward to hearing from you soon!!

Happy New Year everyone!!  May the New Year bring you lots of love, warmth and happiness!!

Sandy & Chris | Wedding Venue:  Huntington Beach Hyatt Wedding Photography

Valeria & Gary | Wedding Venue:  Sheraton, Maui  — Maui Destination Wedding Photography

Carolina & David | Wedding Venue:  Hotel Maya Wedding Photography

Peian & Branden | Wedding Venue: Vellano Country Club Wedding Photography

Barbara & Charles | Wedding Venue:  St. Regis Monarch Beach Wedding Photography

Lan & Mitch | Wedding Venue:  Huntington Beach Hyatt Wedding Photography

Mekela & Jason | Wedding Venue:  Walt Disney Concert Hall Wedding Photography

Megan & Will | Wedding Venue:  Calamingos Ranch, Malibu Wedding Photography

Karyn & Trevis | Wedding Venue:  Jackalope Ranch Wedding Photography

Sara & Josh | Wedding Venue:  Woodland Hills Country Club Wedding Photography

Sandra & Dennis | Wedding Venue:  Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden Wedding Photography

Lisa & Ian | Wedding Venue:  Fullerton Arboretum Wedding Photography

Theresa & Darlington | Wedding Venue:  Anaheim Marriott Wedding Photography

Joy & Joe | Wedding Venue:  Westlake Village Inn Wedding Photography

Trina & Trey | Wedding Venue: Renaissance Hotel, Long Beach Wedding Photography

Kristin & Trevis | Wedding Venue:  Electra Cruises Wedding Photography

Valerie & Addison | Wedding Venue: San Clemente State Beach Cottage Wedding Photography

Maura & Nate | Wedding Venue: Casa Del Mar, Santa Monica Wedding Photography

Nisha & Mike | Wedding Venue:  LA River Center and Gardens Wedding Photography

Christina & George | Wedding Venue:  Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden Wedding Photography

Jennifer & Jay | Wedding Venue: Seafood Palace 2 Wedding Photography

Sasha & Howie | Wedding Venue: La Jolla Cove Bridge Club Wedding Photography

Vanessa & Ben | Wedding Venue:  Spanish Hills Country Club Wedding Photography

Michelle & David | Wedding Venue:  Empress Pavillion Wedding Photography

Anchesa & Ben | Wedding Venue:  Congregation Ner Tamid Church Wedding Photography

Lisa & Koichi | Wedding Venue:  Marvimon House (Smog Shoppe) Wedding Photography

Winnie & Donny | Wedding Venue:  Electra Cruises Wedding Photography

Carmen & Charles | Wedding Venue:  Universal Hilton Wedding Photography

Uyen & Trung | Wedding Venue:  San Gabriel Hilton Wedding Photography

Nora & Joe | Wedding Venue:  S-Fine Dining Restaurant Wedding Photography

Jessica & Suneel | Wedding Venue: 7 Degrees, Laguna Beach Wedding Photography

Ayano & Tubasa | Wedding Venue:  Casa Del Mar, Santa Monica Wedding Photography

And last but not last… our very own wedding!!  Gavin and I just celebrated our 1 year anniversary on December 26 and we can’t stop reminiscing the big day!!  Looking back through our wedding photos and watching our wedding video, we can’t help but smile!!  I hope to one day have the privilege to capture and document your special day so that your memories will be past on for generations to come!!

Judy & Gavin:  Wedding Venue:  Vietnam Destination Wedding Photography and S-Fine Dining Restaurant Wedding Photography

Thank you again for visiting and we hope to hear from you soon!!  Please feel free to send us a message or leave a comment about anything.  We’d love to hear from you and chat about photography, wedding planning, lifestyle, FOOD, or just because!!  =)

I always get excited when meeting my clients for the first time… it’s like going on a first date!!  Hahaha.  I knew I was gonna LOVE their wedding the minute I met them.  Nisha and Mike are so incredibly down to earth, know how to have a good time and make each other laugh!!  Their Indian Wedding Ceremony and Reception was hosted at the beautiful Los Angeles River Center and Gardens.  Gavin and I have done wedding photography at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens multiple times and each time it gets more and more lovely.  Residing on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles, the LA River Center and Gardens is an ideal backdrop with many spots for photos!

I LOVE photographing traditional Indian weddings because it’s so fun and vibrant!! The celebration is always so lavish, filled with enthusiasm… and not to mention the feast!!  OMG… Indian people do not kid around when it comes to food!  Seriously… I thought the appetizers were the meals!!   They fed me so much I thought I was gonna die of food coma!  Haha

We started their wedding day with the Bride and Groom portrait photography around the LA River Center and Gardens.  Here are few of my favorites!! Enjoy…

This may sound weird… but I LOVE this gate!! Haha

Nisha and Mike both have such beautiful genuine smiles!!

What a handsome couple!

Doesn’t Nisha look stunning in her beautiful red Sari??

And here is Nisha stealing a peek during the Baraat.  A baraat is a wedding procession where the groom travels to the bride’s house (or in this case the LA River Center and Gardens) on his horse (or elephant).  For this ceremony, family and friends of the groom dances and accompany him as they meet with the Bride’s family.

And here, Nisha mother applies Tilak on Groom’s forehead to ward off any evil.

So cute that they gave each other a high-five instead of a first kiss.

Check out this gorgeous location!!

For the first time… the Mr and Mrs!! For the reception, Nisha changed into another gorgeous Sari.

And let the party begin…

I love a wedding that has Limbo!! LOL

In addition to the candid pictures during the reception, Gavin set up a photo-area where guest took silly pictures!!

What an incredible wedding!! Thank you Nisha and Mike for having us!

Also, thank you Steven Tran for assisting with our photo-video team!

I love this picture of Christina and her baby Bella!!

Christina has such a beautiful smile.

Shoreline Village is definitely a popular location for wedding photography in Long Beach.  It’s not hard to see why… there are so many great nooks for photos!

What a gorgeous wedding venue!

Christina had many DIY projects and the center pieces is one of them.  All the flowers were made of silk.

Ben, who is a professional saxo player (also their good friend) put on an amazing performance.  Gavin and I also had the pleasure of photographing Ben’s engagement session in San Pedro and wedding in Palos Verdes.

Christina and George decided to attach at $50 bill to both the garter and bouquet.  This definitely got all the bachelors and single ladies out on the dance floor wanting to catch it.  LOL

I especially LOVE the following pictures.  As the world falls asleep, a million fireflies awakes!!

What a beautiful celebration!!  Thank you Christina and George for having me be a part of your big day!  I hope you enjoyed your honeymoon in Europe!

Thank you Steven Tran for assisting me with this wedding.

I was so happy and honored when Connie contacted Gavin and I to be their Los Angeles wedding photographer and videographer.  Connie and James met each other at the hospital where they work together.  Connie started noticing that Dr. James (Pediatrician) was making his round to her nursing station quite often.  =)  And then it all started with a cup of coffee.

We did their engagement photography session in Laguna.  The shoot started off in an open field, then we made our way to downtown Laguna, and finally ended with some gorgeous sunset engagement photography.

Thank you Connie and James for such a fun and energetic engagement session, AND for introducing us to a new delicious all you can eat Korean BBQ!!  Let’s do it again!!  =)

Check out our other Laguna Beach Engagement Photography Sessions .

Peian and Branden got ready at the Pacific Palms in City of Industry!!  I have a couple weddings booked next year for the Pacific Palms, and I can’t wait to photograph at this gorgeous location again.

I hope you all take some time to enjoy Peian and Branden’s wedding video before looking through their wedding photos.  Gavin and I are so excited to be working together more often next year as a husband and wife photo-video team!!  Enjoy…

Check out her beautiful rock!!

I absolutely LOVE her Vera Wang wedding dress!!  I love all the layers it’s got!!

Thank you Angelina (from the All Made Up Team) for doing an awesome job on Peian’s hair and make-up.

I’ve been wanting to do this picture for so long but didn’t get a chance till now.

And here’s our strapping groom Branden!!

I love it when my couples choose to do a “first look.”  I think it’s such a brillant idea because it gives us so much time for pictures.  A first look is an intimate moment where the bride and groom sees each other for the first time.  It’s often very emotional both the bride and groom… (and myself).  I always find myself tearing up as well.

This picture is so cute!!  Tears of joy and laughters of happiness…all combined into one!!

After their first look, we started the bride and groom portrait session at the Pacific Palms.

The girls…

The boys…

The gang…

After doing the Pacific Palms Wedding Photography Session, we headed out to Vellano Country Club (wedding photography).  Vellano Country Club is a fairly new hidden gem tucked away in the beautiful city of Chino Hills (country clubs aren’t too common out there).

Thank you to Floral by Jenny for all the beautiful flowers and centerpieces.

Guess where I was hanging out most of the night.  hehehe

Their first dance as the Mr. and Mrs.!!  Peian and Branden took dancing lessons and did a nice choreographed dance for their first dance.

And let the dancing begin…

And here are our good friends… Doug and Phebe doing their tango!  =)

And they live happily ever after…

Congratulations to Peian and Branden!!  Thank you for having us be a part of a beautiful celebration.  Best wishes.

A shout out to Steven Tran for coming along to help with photo and video for this Chino Hills country club wedding.

What can I say about these two love birds… Val and Add are beautiful people inside and out.  They have amazing chemistry and share a kind of love that inspires all of us to love!!  Val and Add have been together for over 7 wonderful years.  But there are little moments — like the way they hold each other, the way they look at each other, or the way they laugh with each other that makes it as though the honeymoon phase never left.  I am so honored to be a part of such a beautiful celebration!!

Addison and his best-man wasted no time with the drinking!!  Cheers!!

I thought it was really sweet that Valerie had all her girls deliver her wedding present to Addison —  a card and a boudoir album!!  Boudoir Photography is getting more and more popular lately in that it makes a great wedding gift for your soon-to-be husband.  I guarantee it’ll put a smile on his face… it sure did with Addison!!  =)

I love Valerie’s wedding dress!! And isn’t the coat hanger such a great idea??

And here’s their first look.  It’s very common now for the bride and groom to see each other prior to the ceremony.  I’d say about 75% of my clients choose to do the first look.  This way, we have plenty of time for pictures and it sure helps alleviate a lot of stress for the bride and groom.

It was quite warm that day, but Val and Addison were troopers to hike all the way down to the beach!! I LOVE it when my couples tell me, “whatever you want Judy”!!!  LOL

Here are a few of my favorites from their wedding photos in San Clemente Beach.  It doesn’t even look like it’s in California… right?

Their wedding toasts was during the beautiful sunset.  I love the colors during the golden hour!

Capturing the dancing during the reception is definitely one of my favorites especially when there’s one too many beers involved!!  LOL

This picture is extra special for Valerie.  It’s her great-grandma being silly!! hahahaa

How come there’s always this at every wedding I photography???  Because my couples KNOW how to have fun… that’s why!! I love it!!

Hahahaa…

I thought this was hilarious!!  When Addison was busy drinking one of his groomsmen knotted their ties together and he didn’t even know!!

The knotting of the ties lead to a huge conga line!!  How awesome is that??

Thank you Valerie and Addison for having me!!  Here’s to a hundred more years of happiness … Cheers!!!

Thank you Steven Tran for assisting me with the wedding.

Today, I’m happy to share with you Sandra and Dennis’s wedding photography at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at California State University of Long Beach.  The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a tucked away gem for a beautiful Japanese Garden wedding ceremony and wedding reception.  It is donated by Mrs. Loraine Miller Collins in honor of her late husband Earl Burns Miller.  The design of any Japanese Gardens is very intentional and emphasizes Japanese art concepts, such as negative space (which Gavin and I use often as photographers).  The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden (wedding ceremony) has a wide assortment of Japanese elements such as a koi-pond, river rocks, bamboo groves, etc.  It is definitely unique.  The placement of the bridge makes the wedding ceremony a centerpiece of the garden.

Sandra and Dennis are awesome!!  They, like Gavin and I, LOVE to eat and drink!!  All the times we’ve hung out together involves eating and drinking.  LOL.  Sandra and Dennis knew each other in High School, but didn’t reconnect and started dating till their 10 year high school reunion!!  Fate… definitely!!  Sandra and Dennis hired us as photo and video team for their wedding at Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden.  Before you start looking through their wedding pictures, check out their wedding video.  Cinematography done by Gavin.

I thought it’s so thoughtful of Sandra to have a tote of goodies for each her bridesmaids.  Candies, cookies, make-up, shoes, deodorate (lol), you name it!!

There are many “big events” throughout the wedding day… but sometimes, it’s the “small and intimate events” such as the first look that are so romantic and emotional.  Photographing the bride and groom’s first look is always my favorite.  I love the anticipation and the look on the groom’s face when he sees his beautiful bride for the first time.  Priceless!!

For their bride and groom portrait session, Sandra and Dennis decided to go to Shoreline Village (wedding photography).  Unfortunately, when we got there, Shoreline Village was blocked off for a private event and all we had to play with was the bike trail along the water.

We fell back on plan B and headed over to Signal Hills.  I remember doing one of my very first engagement photography session at Signal Hills (back in late 2009) with Mae and Pat.  It’s a beautiful location on top of the hill overlooking the entire city.

And here, we are at the blue pyramid at the Cal State Long Beach campus where the beautiful Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is located.

Dennis has got to be one of the funniest groom’s we’ve photographed.

Isn’t it just beautiful??

Oh, did I mention that Sandra is a high school math teacher??  For their party favors… calculators that say “we add up”.  Such a great idea!!

Check out “pi” as their cake topper!!

You KNOW it’s gonna be a GREAT party when it starts with this…

Followed by this…

And more of this!! Hahahaa!!

I love that the dance floor was packed!

As the night came to an end, I was so stoked to get the following pictures:

What an incredible day filled with so much fun!!  Thank you Sandra and Dennis for allowing us to be part of such a beautiful wedding (at Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden).  Gavin and I can’t wait to hang out with you both again.

Also, a special thank you to Garming Lu for being our photo/video assistant.