Category: Places

La Jolla Shores is a popular beach for tourists and locals because it provides one of the most beautiful stretch of beaches in Southern California. With fine sand and relatively slow sloping shorelines, one can walk a good distance into the ocean and just be waist deep in water. Surfs are mild in some spots which also makes for a long ride to shore on a boogie board. My kids loved it here during our short visit. While the water was a cool 60° F, having a body suit helps. After boogie boarding, there is always something to entertain my little curious scientists. Sea life like the sand crabs are one of them. Easy to spot because they make tiny spouts of water as the water recedes back. They just dig in and filter them out. Plus who could resist building monuments of sand castles to fill the time? I wish I could put down my camera and join in on the fun but someone’s gotta make meaningful memories, right?

August was that time again for my annual trek up to San Luis Obispo where family and friends took time to get away. We came right in time for Thursday’s farmers market where Higuera Street is closed off for people to roam freely to enjoying food, fun and entertainment. And as usual, I brought my camera for the occasion because there’s always something interesting going on. I got to chat with a nice old gentleman, “Uncle Sol” as he’s known, who plays the fiddle in and around town. He showed me a photograph (the one he’s holding in his hands) that won him 1st place in a photo contest. A delightful man who entertained me with some of his tunes. While there we stopped by the famous BubbleGum Alley right on Higuera between Broad and Garden. The kids were either amazed or disgusted or both.

Whenever we get together with Erica España of Twine Events and Nancy Teasley of  Oak and the Owl, something magical happens. It’s like when those two ladies touch anything it turns to Gold! See fer yerself.

A special Thank You to Shelley and Tom, Blair’s parents. You guy’s are great. Thanks for the memories!

Vendors for this wedding:

Venue:: Casa Del Mar – hotelcasadelmar.com
Coordination:: Maryam Forutan of Delicate Details – delicate-details.com
Videography:: Cameron Carrier of New Classic Films Video – newclassicweddingfilms.com
Hair & Makeup:: Kat Laskey of Absolutely Beautiful Brides – absolutelybeautifulbrides.com
Cake:: Vanilla Bakeshop – vanillabakeshop.com
Florals:: BeBuds Florists – bebuds.com
Rabbi:: Mendel Schwartz

 

 

 

 

It was great to work with Erica España of Twine Events and Nancy Teasley of Oak & the Owl who helped design this most awe-inspiring wedding. This time up in beautiful Santa Barbara’s San Ysidro Ranch. Nancy’s floral designs and candle lanterns were absolutely breathtaking. Nestled in the Montecito foothills of Southern California’s wine country, San Ysidro Ranch with it’s quaint architecture and its sculpted landscape makes me think of a tranquil French village. One of the most beautiful locations I’ve shot by far. Their ceremony was at the romantic Santa Barbara Courthouse Mural Room. It adds a touch of mood and the murals make any wedding feel truly historic.

See it on Style Me Pretty. And see the gorgeous post on Oak and the Owl.


Vendors for this wedding:

Ceremony Venue- Santa Barbara Courthouse www.countyofsb.org

Reception Venue- San Ysidro Ranch www.sanysidroranch.com
Getting Ready Venue- Canary Hotel www.canarysantabarbara.com
Photography- Desi Baytan Photography www.desibaytan.com
Coordinator- Erica España of Twine Events www.twineevents.com
Floral designs, lanterns and candles- Nancy Teasley of Oak and the Owl www.oakandtheowl.com
Stationery- Amber Moon of Pitbulls and Posies www.pitbullsandposies.com
Linens- La Tavola Linen www.latavolalinen.com
Hair and Makeup- Team Hair and Makeup www.teamhairandmakeupservice.com
Calligraphy- Katrina Centeno of Maison du Papier www.calligraphykatrina.com
Officiant- Santa Barbara Wedding Minister www.santabarbaraweddingminister.com
Brides Dress: Custom Alvina Valenta www.jlmcouture.com/Alvina-Valenta
Bridesmaid Dresses- JCrew www.jcrew.com
Custom Dress Alterations-
Sofreh Aghd design by Bride

I love nature. I photograph it any chance I get. Being in Southern California we really don’t get a lot of snow except in the mountains. But still, it hasn’t snowed often enough there either. So on this particular day, I got a treat while visiting Mt. Baldy to see snow, I snapped a few rolls with my GA645. Craving fulfilled.

This grand wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty.

Vendors for this wedding:

Ceremony & Reception Site:: Nicole Kingston – Vibiana – www.vibiana.com

Coordination:: Deanna Tat – Chic Ambiance Events – www.chicambianceevents.com

Caterer:: Toni Wiley – Jay’s Catering – www.jayscatering.com

Bartender:: Chad Dickey – The Cocktail Concierge – www.coctailcrg.com

Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music:: Reiko Nakano – Strings by Reiko – www.stringsbyreiko.com

DJ:: Aaron Hillier – Night to Remember DJ’s – www.needdjs.com

Taiko Drummers:: Derek Nakamoto – email

Florist:: Gilly Flowers – www.gillyflowers.com

Hair & Makeup:: Chiali Meng – Chiali Meng Hair & Make-up – www.chialimeng.com

Hair & Makeup for family:: Makoto Wakasone Hairstylist – email

Lighting/Sound/Draping:: Amber Yin – Amber Event Productions – www.ambereventproduction.com

Rentals:: Cori Lovelace – Signature Party Rentals – www.signatureparty.com

Rentals:: Jannette Galindo – Elegant Designs Specialty Linens – www.elegantdsl.com

Transportation:: Nathan Dane – Paragon Parking – email

Videography:: Joth Riggs – Whitestone Wedding Films – www.whitestoneweddingfilms.com

Hotel:: Kanako Echeverria – Doubletree by Hilton – www.losangelesdowntown.doubletree.com

While vacationing in LA, Yvonna decided to do an engagement session (unbeknownst to her fiance, Nickola). BTW, they’re getting married in their native country of Indonesia. What a cool idea!  I suggested Venice Beach, and the thought of canals came to mind.  So off we went and spent a perfect sunny Southern California day at the beach.Â