Modern Romantic 6th Street Bridge Engagement // Katherine and Ricardo

Los Angeles, CA

When discussing engagement session locations, Katherine said they were looking for a place that highlighted Los Angeles. It’s where they met and fell in love. The 6th Street Bridge had just opened at the time so after checking out a couple potential spots and going on a drive on the bridge, they decided to move forward with it. I’m so glad they did and I can’t even explain how AMAAAAAAZING they looked!

**Not pictured: me waiting on the street to meet them and as I turn to look across the road, I see them running and waving at me, sun glowing behind them, looking absolutely stunning. I just knew it was gonna be a great session, and I totally regret not turning on my camera to capture that scene that totally looked like it came out of a rom-com. But enough of my ramblings, back to their story!

“We met and fell in love in Los Angeles in our mid-to-late 20's. We encountered some of the toughest obstacles as a couple during those years. We feel like overcoming these obstacles helped to solidify our commitment to one another.”

“I want to feel the sense that we’re each other’s peace. We’re each other’s best friends and know 100% that we always have each other’s backs.”

— Katherine

Another reason why this location was perfect for them: Ricardo said that he grew up right next to it, so he knew the old-school bridge and the surrounding area was kind of like his playground. My favorite part was when he said he and his buddies used to make music videos in the LA River back in the day. I can’t say I haven’t done something remotely the same ;D

It was such a beautiful day. After all the rain we’ve been having here this month, we had to postpone their session and push it a week. Twas a good thing though. The rain had cleared up the smog so the DTLA skyline was clear and the sun came down and gave us a colorful sky.

It was a modern, romantic engagement on the Los Angeles 6th Street Bridge.
Leaving a little space here on the internet to remember Katherine’s chucks that we forgot on the bridge. I’ll think of them whenever I see this photo.

Thanks to Katherine and Ricardo for slaying this session! I can’t wait for your wedding this year!

Click here to check out Boris and Maria’s fun county fair session!

Old Towne Orange Engagement // Tram and Jason

Orange, CA

Tram and Jason had their first date at Provisions in Old Towne Orange, which made this area the perfect spot for their engagement! We wanted to recreate their first coffee date, but unfortunately they don’t serve coffee anymore. It didn’t stop us from grabbing some shots at the table where they sat though ;)

I loved strolling the streets of Old Towne Orange and getting to know Tram and Jason. There was so much texture and the sunset shining in between brick buildings, giving them that beautiful glow, was just *chef’s kiss*. Can’t wait to capture more magic at their wedding next year!

Check out Nicole and Ray’s Adventure Session in Glamis Sand Dunes Here!

Sunny Adventure Engagement in Glamis Sand Dunes // Nicole and Ray

Glamis, CA

The Glamis/Imperial Sand Dunes is probably one of our favorite spots here in California! I can’t get over how amazing it is that this exists just 3 hours away from Los Angeles. It’s like being in another country without having to leave.

Ray and Nicole were the first couple we got to photograph at the dunes, and they were just one of a kind! We met up at 9am in the morning and it’s like we all fell in love and played in the sand til the sun was too high up that the light wasn’t great anymore. But what a morning! Can’t thank them enough for meeting up and adventuring with us, all while looking fabulous.

P.S. Isn’t Nicole just the M-A-S-T-E-R of skirt tossing so it looks all flawless and flowy?! Truly unmatched!

Glam and Cozy Forest Engagement in the snow // Shireen and Kane

Redwood Circle Engagement Session at Balboa Park // Haley and Ansel

Bluff Lake Engagement // Donna and Roger

A Breathtaking Engagement in the Forest
Big Bear, CA

You know that little thing called Covid-19? Yeah. Crazy story.

Once upon a time, Donna and Roger met up with me at a cafe in Pasadena. Crazy, right? Like we met for the first time, no masks or anything! Long story short, they were awesome and I hoped they’d hire me as their wedding photographer and thankfully, they did! <3

Covid happened so their scheduled engagement session got postponed, and then postponed, and then finally, on a perfect day in June, we decided to just go for it. They were actually the first engagement session we shot when we decided to slowly start opening our business back. This session? MAGICAL.

Not only was this location breathtaking, Donna and Roger were equally as marvelous. DONNA MADE HER OWN DRESS!! That yellow dress you see in these photos? Yes, she made it! Andy and I were stunned.

Donna and Roger met when her sister invited her and a group of friends to go to the 626 Night Market. They started talking and the rest is history. They already win in our books. The 626 Night Market is where you can find the best things in life!

Knapps Castle & Loon Point Beach Engagement // Melina + Ashot

Beach and Knapps Ruins Sunset Engagement
Santa Barbara, CA

I’m not gonna try to sugar-coat this, I definitely take a lot of credit in how Melina and Ashot met. Some background for you guys: Melina and I went to film school together and were admitted in the same semester, meaning that we would be doing our senior thesis at the same time and that all of our classes will align. Melina is a ball of sunshine and energy. The first time I met here was in our Film Production class. Our professor asked us how we wanted to rate our classroom etiquette, whether it would be an R-rated class (meaning swearing is fine and no one takes offense) or keep it PG. Melina immediately raised her hand and said something in the lines of, “I would like to make films in this class in PG because I want to show it to my kids in the future.” Everyone tried to explain what our professor meant, and pretty much fell in love with her personality. Somehow with a strike of good luck, we became great friends. She would drive me around Los Angeles, the map embedded in her head, and we would eat in new places and watch independent films at the NoHo Laemmles. If you ask her today what movie we liked the best, I’m sure her answer would be “Wiener Dog.” It’s a great movie, y’all should watch it ;)

So senior year of college comes and she told our group of friends that she’s ready to find love and was thinking of creating an online dating profile. The year went by and she still hasn’t created anything. Finally, one night, I asked a couple friends to come over for a game of Catan and after a victorious round, I told them I was planning on creating a profile for Melina to inspire her to finally make one. Naturally we all gathered around my laptop and started writing everything we knew about her. Once it was done, we sent her an email with her new account. She thought it was hilarious and soon enough, she made a more serious profile on eharmony and used some of our well-thought descriptions!

Guess what happened next? Enter Ashot.

Ashot complemented Melina so much. It’s crazy how you want the best for a friend and then their partner comes along and you hope he’s worthy enough of her, and then BAM, you see that they’re such a match made in heaven. When her engagement session came, I knew it had to be in locations that reflected them and I knew it had to be somewhere that screamed adventure. That’s exactly what this whole session was. A trip to a favorite beach close to Santa Barbara, delicious Thai food, and some phenomenal views and magical light in the mountains. Add some good friends in a car and the time just flew by.

Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park Engagement // Susan + Adam

Orange County, CA

Susan and Adam were the perfect couple to start our 2020 season with! It was a beautiful proposal story and it sounded very much like them: cozy and romantic. They planned on having a New Year’s Eve night in with dinner and a movie at home. He didn’t want to risk her falling asleep before midnight arrived so right after their meal, he went down on one knee and popped the question! She said yes and two weeks later, we were snapping some very cute engagement photos.

As we were walking to a different spot, I found this area where the sun was peeking through the trees giving the most gorgeous light! I maaaaayy have been too enthusiastic about it but it rubbed off and they went with it! What can I say? Light is M-A-G-I-C.

Adam and Susan met through Coffee Meets Bagel, which in my opinion, is the cutest online dating site name. They said they went on a first date, then a couple more, and just never stopped! Lines like that get me all the time. So excited to be a part of their wedding journey and we can’t wait to shoot their wedding in September!

Oak Glen Engagement Session // Melanie and Nicholas

Cozy Engagement in the Woods
Oak Glen, CA

Melanie and Nicholas were the winners of our 2019 December giveaway and I was so happy that they won! While figuring out where to do their engagement session, we found out that we had a mutual love for Oak Glen. Their session was cozy, fun, and filled with all the giggles. I freaked out a bit when they said they met Roger Deakins (a cinematographer Andy and I LOVE)!

Photos by A+M Badillo Images

Makeup by Beleza by Claudia Pinto

Check out Melanie and Nicholas’s wedding that I photographed a little less than a year later!