Documentary Style Engagement in Downtown Los Angeles // Casey and Brendan

Downtown Los Angeles, CA
(Grand Central Market + Angel’s Landing)

Meeting Casey and Brendan was like a breath of fresh air. From our first phone call to the engagement session, they expressed that they weren’t so into posed photos and wanted a more candids. They chose DTLA and Grand Central Market as the backdrop of their engagement because they wanted to highlight Los Angeles since it played a big part in their love story.

Their documentary style engagement session in Downtown LA was everything and was such a good fit for their love story - which, by the way, is just like a movie! And because no one can tell it better than they can, here’s how it went:

“We met on the ides of March 2020, the pandemic lockdown happened at midnight the night we met. I (Casey) should never have been where I was when I met Brendan. I was supposed to be in Ireland celebrating St. Patrick’s day instead of at a bar in Venice beach because the travel bans happened 2 hours after my plane took off to take me there. I didn’t even live in LA. I lived in San Luis Obispo. I was just so tired after my 36-hour trip to Europe and back that my travel buddy and I decided to stop for the night instead of driving 4 hours home from LAX. We needed rest and a drink to process everything that was happening! Brendan was there with his brother and would have left before I walked in but a band album came on the sound system of ‘the Brig’ that they had just seen in concert a few days before...”

The locations in this Downtown Los Angeles documentary engagement session are the very iconic Angel’s Landing, Grand Central Market, and local streets around the area! The bustling city matched Casey and Brendan’s upbeat dynamic. Plus, the food & beer at Grand Central Market were superb and totally represent some of the things they love to do together.

All images taken by A+M Badillo Images, Los Angeles and Pasadena Wedding Photographer.
Serving Southern California and travel where your love takes us!

“…When he walked up to me we were both trying to figure out where we knew each other from. Sure that we had met before. We hadn’t… not one mutual friend and living hundreds of miles apart. We hit it off immediately. After returning home the next day we FaceTimed in our perspective quarantine homes (with our parents). We FaceTimed for hours everyday for 2 months before meeting in halfway where we became official ;) We dated for 1.5 years long distance before I moved to LA to be with him and where we live together now. We feel very lucky to have met. It was meant to be!”

Thanks for the beers and all the fun running around downtown, Casey and Brendan! I love this city so much and will take any opportunity to capture any part of Los Angeles and show off your love story!

And hey, if you’re still here reading, this is your sign to let me tag along with my camera on any city, old town (or winery) date night you want to have! I live for great food, vibes, and photos ;)

Check out Liz and Favian’s Elegant and Rustic Wedding at The Hacienda in Santa Ana, CA

Big Bear Family Session // Fosty Family

Lake-side Family Session
Big Bear, CA

Let’s face it, fall is the ——-best-—— season. HANDS. DOWN. Why? Apart from the SoCal weather sort of cooling down and the seasonal festivities beginning, we get super cute family sessions like this one! When Chavon reached out to me about doing their Christmas family photos while they were up in Big Bear, I could not say no. Big Bear is gorgeous, but put the Fosty family in front of that lake backdrop and you have something special!

Don’t Jack and Henry just melt your hearts?? Mine definitely did, especially when Jack asked me if he could hold my hand while we walked to a different spot for photos. Still can’t get over how precious that was!

Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding // Ally + Kyle

Santa Barbara, CA

Ally & Kyle had one of those classic love stories. His buddy’s wife was Ally’s best friend. They met, they talked, and haven’t looked back since. Courthouse weddings hold a special place in our hearts - it’s where Andy and I first got married! It’s the perfect place to remind us what’s really important in a wedding, and that is to be united as one. Ally and Kyle were beaming the entire time! Even when they were signing their marriage license, smiles were thrown around and you could tell that they were just happy to be together. The beauty of the Santa Barbara Courthouse was enhanced by the love of these two gorgeous souls and my heart was melting the ENTIRE time!

Isn’t Kyle’s little sister Vanessa SO ADORABLE???

You know your marriage is off to a good start when the hubby picks you up so your heels don’t sink in the grass ;)

Eagle Glen Golf Club Wedding // Mario + Marissa

Corona, CA

Marijo and I always enjoy capturing weddings. But there is something especially gratifying in photographing the special moments of someone we know personally.

Mario and Marissa had the cutest love story: they were high school sweethearts. At first, Mario would playfully tease Marissa in their home economics class. He tried to play it cool, but she could see through his jokes and pranks. He had a crush on her. Things progressed naturally from there and they began to date.

Now, my family has been close to Mario’s for many years. I’ve seen him transform from the gangly young prankster he was to the handsome man he is now, albeit still a prankster. So for the life of me I didn’t know what Marissa saw in the sly rogue! Ok, in seriousness, from the get-go they complimented each other very well. It was natural as air for them to be together. They dated for a number of years before they were married. And you can see in the photos below, in that knowing look as they gaze into each others eyes, the the love they share has only grown.

Big Bear Adventure Session // Tiffany + Anthony

Adventurous Winter Getaway
Big Bear Lake, CA

I thought I was excited when Tiffany and Anthony said yes to doing their couples session up at Big Bear, but I guess they were more enthusiastic about it because they ended up making a weekend getaway out of it! Was hoping to catch some snow but at the very last day of March I guess it was at the tail-end of our Californian winter wonderland. No worries though, we got some bits of snow here and there and some amazing locations!

Do you ever meet couples and think that they must have been together for a while now? That’s what I thought when I met Tiffany and Anthony but it turns out, they’ve been dating 3 months! They both said it felt like it’s been longer though, which totally makes sense. Their connection was undeniable and they were always having so much fun!