My cheeks are still hurting from smiling...had a great time with Melissa and Anthony. They are getting married in a couple months, and it will be a BIG party. Over 350 people, a HUGE BBQ, and lots of laughing. I can't wait! Anthony and Melissa's fathers grew up together, so this family knows each other really well. This won't be the typical wedding where the families are still getting to know each other...they have a leg up on that already. Thanks guys for strolling through the woods, weeds, and wildflowers with me. Here's a peek at some of our pics together...

Angie and Lewis met at freshman orientation in college. They survived all the social scenes, college stress, and made it out the other side still together and happy. The wind was howling today, so we really tried to find some sheltered spots to hide out in. I think we got some strange looks because taking photos in alley ways must not be common? I got a real kick out of their honeymoon plans...camping! I think camping's a lost art for me now with all my dependence on electronics and reality tv. ha ha ha. I think I just might make Jason and the girls go camping one weekend in Morro Bay and see if we can survive!

Long Beach is a city of interesting mixes. There are old craftsmen houses, large commercial places, and beach walks all right on top of each other. Jennifer and Nick live there and wanted to incorporate their digs in the session. Awesome idea. I had a great time seeing the places around Long Beach...although I definitely am glad I don't drive down there regularly. The streets were narrow and had a lot more going on than the average city street country road where I live. Jennifer and Nick, thanks for being flexible on the time...it was raining as I drove home! We got lucky!

I was off to San Diego this weekend for Kristin and Shawn's engagement session. We visited one of my favorite places to shoot...Balboa Park. Apparently, the first sunny day in San Diego in 2 weeks had everyone thinking they would do the same thing. There were about 15 photographers out and about 10,000 people! We found some awesome nooks and crannies to shoot in to avoid the crowds. Including one trail away from the beaten path at sunset. Check out the results... Loved the way they could just not stay serious...so much laughter!

Oak Park, CA Neal and Andrea live in New York City. Since I've been on a "Devil Wears Prada" movie watching kick, I'm extremely jealous. I imagine NYC to be so fashionable and fast-paced. It seems so fun to just sit in some trendy cafe and watch people walk by. As Neal and Andrea pointed out though, despite all those people being so close to each other, it can actually be really lonely because everyone's busy running around doing their thing. Still, I cling to my hope that someday I'll go to NYC and be magically transformed into some uber cool fashionista like Anne Hathaway in the movie and somehow 4" high heels will suddenly be comfortable AND sexy at the same time. Please please let me find heels like that! Well, Neal and Andrea came back out to SoCal to get married near their families and in their hometown. We managed to set up an engagement session at the very last minute possible...literally the moments before sunset on the night before their wedding. But, the results were awesome, the light was perfect. It was so creamy and beautiful outside that night.