Katie & Paul both recently graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University. They met as sophomores and their chemistry was immediate. They hung out between classes before their first date when Paul rolled up to pick her up in a 1980 White Cadillac with red interior (dice & all). He took her to a play that was a complete tribute to Billy Joel. Later that night they ended up sharing sushi and hanging out near the beach sharing their testimonies. She knew he was the one later that night.

I have actually had the honor of sharing a friendship with Paul for the last two years. I met him while hanging out one evening at PLNU. A while back he mentioned he was in a relationship with Katie and after they graduated he proposed to her. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the two of them together as they have shared their love for the Lord together and started a church here in San Diego.

Since Paul loves to surf and Katie loves to spend her free time at the beach, it made perfect sense that we shot their super fun engagement session at one of their favorite surf spots in Del Mar.

Last week while I was hanging out with my love Scarlett Lillian, we had the opportunity to take one of Jacksonvilles amazing couples Dustin & Candice out for a shoot in the backwoods area for a shoot with our new lighting rig! The lighting rig consists of a Vegabond Powerpack, Alienbee 1600 and a strip soft box.

I have been shooting with studio lights since my college days and I love to work with it any opportunity I can. When my good friends Zach & Jody Gray were in SoCal a few months ago to teach their lighting workshop, I went up one afternoon and there I learned how to shoot better images in camera but also how to travel with your studio lights onto a location shoot.

I love shooting with off camera light now because not only do you get killer images IN CAMERA (Yes… most of these images were done in camera and had little to no photoshop done to them) but you also get to capture images with perfect lighting. If you want to learn more of this topic then you should check out Zach & Jodys lighting IN-CAMERA workshops!! Click here for more info

Scott & Taylor met a few years back when they both worked in the corporate business setting. Taylor had already been working with the company for quite a while. At the same time, Scott was working for them but in another city. One day he had some business he needed to attend to and it just so happened that it was the same place Taylor had been working. After passing by each other a few times, Scott & Taylor finally met and their friendship started…

As they started to fall for each other Scott had to leave work in Reno and head back to San Diego then Chicago. Their relationship became long distance and included short trips to see each other every once in a while. Finally, after their relationship grew to it’s highest point & while Scott was visiting Taylor back in Reno he told her, “I don’t want to go back home”. The next week, Scott was driving from Chicago to Reno with everything he owned in his car to continue their relationship.

I love their story and can totally connect with knowing those strong feelings you have for someone who lives far away.

Scott & Taylor came to Coronado from Reno to visit their families for Thanksgiving. I was so excited when they told me that they wanted a “beach style” engagement session while they were in town! The engagement session was all around the best parts of Pacific Beach. We shot at the fabulous beach hotel Tower 23, rented beach cruisers and rode them along the boardwalk, climbed up underneath the famous Crystal Pier Hotel and finally walked on the beach at sunset. Scott & Taylor are such a fun couple and we had a ridiculously fun time during our shoot. Thank You to Scott & Taylor! I cannot wait to shoot your July 2010 wedding!

While we were setting up the next shot, Scott told me that he can jump-kick like a Ninja! So… he proved it!

Last week, I had the pleasure of shooting an engagement session for one of my couples, Scott & Taylor whose wedding I am so looking forward to that will be taking place on Coronado Beach next July. We had an amazing time shooting down in Pacific Beach near the Crystal Beach Pier Hotel. The top of the Cyrstal Pier is like any other pier but it immediately changes once you step beneath it!

I can’t wait to share all the images later this week!! Enjoy.