Bernadette and Payon’s engagement session started off with a few drinks at the bar inside of Union Station in Los Angeles.  This lovely and down-to-earth couple “says” that they are camera shy…  I find that hard to believe because their pictures show otherwise.

We started off with a some pictures in the courtyard and worked our way up to the train tracks.  Aren’t they so adorable together?  Payon seems to enjoy the position of his head (against Bernadette’s chest) a whole lot throughout the engagement session.

I love the feel and mood of this picture!  It was taken in one of the tunnels that lead up to the train tracks.

Payon went from dancing on the pole to climbing the pole! LOL… these two are just too silly!!! I LOVE IT!!!

After photographying at the Union Station, we decided to head over to Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles.

No comments on this picture…

We ended the evening with a romantic cuddle under a beautiful waterfall/fountain.

Thank Bernadette and Payon… I am really excited and can’t wait to photography your wedding at Yamashiros Restaurant in Hollywood.

I’ve known Kam for about 5 years now (when Gavin and I first started dating).  Gavin told me many silly and crazy stories about his college years at UCLA with Kam.  A few years ago, we went on a double date and that was when we met Roxy for the first time… and NOW they’re getting married!  Their wedding will be on Aug. 15th at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach.

For their engagement session, we started off with some quick pictures around the house and then over to Laguna Beach.

I love this picture of the two of them.  These two are so madly in love that every smile is so geniune and filled with happiness!

They decided to do their engagement session in Laguna Beach.  This is where Kam proposed!

I love the view!!!

We ended the night with some delicious ribs at Lucille’s.  Here are some pictures while waiting to be seated.

Congrats guys!!!

Gavin and I are happy to announce that we are now ENGAGED!!!  He officially proposed on June 27, 2009.  We will be having two weddings:  a traditional Vietnamese/Chinese wedding in Vietnam (for my family) and an American/Western wedding in the States.  Yay… I’m so excited!!!

I want to take this opportunity to thank our good friends, Vivian Tran (owner and lead make up artist of AllMadeUpTeam)  and Doug of Furious Photographers for everything!

Gavin and I had the pleasure of working with Vivian and her girls a number of times now and each time, her team does an absolutely amazing job.  She is highly recommended on my list for make-up and hair.  As for Doug… he never ceases to amaze me with his photographs.  Not only is he an awesome wedding photographer, but he’s also an excellent fashion photographer!  We are honored to have him as a close friend and as our wedding photographer.  I can’t wait till our big day!  Thank you sooooo much guys for doing such a kick-ass job!!!

For our engagement shoot, Gavin and I decided that we’re going to wear our actual wedding attires.  Here are pictures of me getting ready for the shoot.  Hehehe… after taking pictures of so many brides getting ready, it feels kinda weird being on the other end of the camera and seeing pictures of me getting ready.

While Vivian was doing my make up, Gavin and Doug were playing around and taking silly pictures of each other. Looks like they are having lots of fun with all the hats!  Looks good on you boys!!!

Doug is constantly on automatic pose for the camera.

We started our engagement shoot at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

After the Performing Arts Center, we headed over to Table Rock in Laguna Beach for some sunset pictures!  Here are some of my favorites.

Check out the waves on this one:

It was so romantic! I had such a great time hanging out with my life-long best friend.  I love you Gavin!!!

We now finally have professional pictures of us where we can actually see our whole body and the background at once (without Gavin’s arm being in every single shot).  Gavin and I have so many picture of just our heads!

I love this picture of us! We look like happy little kids…so happy to be sitting on the life guard stand.  Look at Gavin…

Click here to see our entire engagement shoot here.

To all my brides out there… “I am in the same boat as all of you.  I feel the excitement and stress that comes with planning for a wedding.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any question at all regarding photography or wedding plannings in general.  Having been in the industry for 2 years now, I am more than happy to spread the knowledge.”

Cheers!!!

-judy

I had such a great time photographying Angel and Jimmy’s wedding.  They’re such a wonderful couple… so sweet and down to earth!  Angel and I totally hit it off  minute I walked into the salon where she got her hair and make up done.  We chatted on and on about grad school and about life in general.  Angel is PA (Physician’s Assistant) that graduated from Western University in Pomona (the school where I want to go for my Pharm.D).  She gave my lots of helpful tips regarding grad school!

Angel’s rock is just simply beautful!  And for those who don’t know… I go gaga over rings!!! I don’t know when or how it started, but I am just fascinated with how beautiful and unique every ring looks.  Here are my two favorites of Angel and Jimmy’s symbol of love!

Here’s our lovely bride sipping away at her Starbucks’s as she gets ready for her big day.

LOVE the lashes!!!

After the salon, Angel went to the SLS hotel in Beverly Hill (formerly known as Le Meridien) where she and her girls got ready.

Angel was so kind and sweet that she offered to lend me her wedding dress for my engagement shoot this coming Friday.  I was blown away with her generosity.  Her name totally suits her…  inside and out!

Being a tad behind schedule,  Angel and her girls rushed to the car so that they can go back to the salon and get her veil in before going to Church.  In the car, I suddenly realized they had forgotten their flowers in the room.  Being the only not in heels and can move around faster, Angel asked me to go to the room and grab the box with all the flowers. Unfortunately the key was also left behind in the room! I had to wait in line at the front desk to get another key.  The funny thing is… there was another person in front of the line that kept talking and talking and talking.  I couldn’t wait any longer so I had to reach up and tap this 6 feet 9 individual on the shoulder (I am 5 feet 2).  “Excuse me sir but I have a bride in the car who’s running late and she needs to speak with the clerk to get a key into her room because she forgot something. I don’t mean to be rude, but could I go first and you continue your chat after?”  He was cool about it, but he had a look on his face which probably reads “do you even know who i am…”  Well… I ran into this man again while in the elevator. I don’t know why but it always happens that when you’re running late, the elevator has to stop at every floor before you can get to yours.  The door opens; he steps out.  His friend held the the elevator door opens as they talked some more once he was already out.  I once again had to speak up.

So… are you wondering who this man is???  Well… I found out later that he a professional basketball player for the Miami Heat.  He’s Michael Beasley! Jimmy (our groom) is a hugh fan of Michael Beasley.  In fact, the groom and his boys took some pictures with Michael earlier in the day.

I felt really stupid!

Angel and Jimmy’s exchange their vows at St. Brendan Church in Los Angeles.  This church was beautiful.  It was very well lit; perfect for photos.  Their Priest was very nice and what’s even better is that he’s a man of humor.

I captured Jimmy’s reaction as he saw Angel for the first time as she’s walking down the aisle with her parents.  I thought it was soooooo cute how he started crying the moment the doors open and he saw his bride!

The reception was held a Empress Pavillion in LA.  They served a delicious 10 course meal for their guests. After dinner was night filled with lots of entertainment.

Jimmy drove right into her dress for the garter… no hesitations! You go boy!!!

This group was definitely a dancing crowd! WOW!!!  Breaking dance, to getting down low low low with each other, and doing a dance off!

Watch out!!!  He’s downing Hennessy Cognac!!!  Be careful there because you might and drunk…

…and when you get drunk… I have the opportunity to take photos of you!  Dancing like this!!!

Angel & Jimmy, thank you again for having us at your wedding! Gavin and I had a wonderful time.  Hope you both have lots of fun in Maui!

We’ll definitely have to grab dinner together and hang out again soon!

Hello All,

Our venture starts off at Monterey’s Fish House in Carmel where Gavin and I stuffed ourselves with excellent seafood for Lunch!  We started with 3 dozens of oysters (raw and grilled), and a bowl of shrimp bisque.  For the main course, I had the best crab cake and crab ravoli ever.  Gavin had grill Sea Bass which was also very yummy.  We left that place with our stomachs ready to explode!  I highly recommend those who like seafood to try Monterey’s Fish House if they are ever in Carmel.

This was our first stop through the beautiful 17-Mile Drive.  Once again… I strike-a-pose for the camera.  Every since I was little, I love to be in front of the camera.  As an adult, I just love love love being a photographer and being behind the camera photographying others!

This is pebble beach.

oh… and if you’re wondering, that’s me playing dead from falling off one of the cliffs.

Silly Gavin… what are you doing???  Are you imitating a crab again? 

LOL… I love this picture!

Here is the famous Lone Cypress Tree!!!  The view is just gorgeous… I can’t even find the words to describe how beautiful everything looks!

We made many frequent stops as we drove through the 17-Mile Drive.  Here are some of my favorite spots where we stopped for photos.  Isn’t it breathtakingly beautiful???  The one on the upper left hand corner is called the “ghost tree”.  The one the lower left hand corner is the Bixby Bridge.  The two right images are coastal scenes that were just too good to pass up while driving through.  I love it there!!!

Finally, we stopped by Pismo Beach in time for the romantic sunset.

We then had dinner at Mo’s Smokehouse BBQ.  After having so much seafood, Gavin knew I would totally appreciate meat!  I am a total carnivore and can’t be too long without meat!  Here we had excellent ribs and pull-pork!  This place is also very highly recommended on my list!

Thank you everyone for taking your time to look through my blog and get to know me and my photojournalistic style as a photographer.  I’ll try my best to keep you all posted with the latest and greatest of all my life ventures.