Recognize this couple? This is part 2 of a great engagement session with Mike and Amanda, this time from around San Francisco. Last time we shot at the Fair in San Luis Obispo county but this time we shot near their home.
For those of you that are super observant, you might actually see one of my previous grooms in the background of 2 of the images!
So funny! I’ve had a couple people tell me they can’t access my blog from work because my previous post from Nettie and Leon’s engagement photo shoot includes the word “wicked.” I guess the work filter blocks it in case it’s a cult website! How funny is that?
It was an engagement photo session marathon the other weekend in San Francisco! Somewhere in the middle I had a mountain bike race too (I did well, 3rd place in Cat. 2) so it was a very exhausting weekend! Stephanie was along helping out so it made it so much easier, thanks Steph! We met with Ben and Sarah in Golden Gate Park and while I grew up in the Bay Area and drive through the Park all the time, I haven’t actually been in the park since probably the early 1980’s! I vaguely remember a museum and something about King Tut then going to the SF Zoo and riding a camel. I was probably 4 years old at the time. Funny thing, when we met with Sarah and Ben the King Tut exhibit was back at the de Young Museum! That’s gotta be a good sign!
We explored the park and found some locations that made it look like we ventured far into the outback (Ben in from Australia so I had to throw in an Aussie reference somewhere!) though we were actually right in the middle of things. Ben is a fellow bike rider so we had a great time laughing at all the $7K bikes being cruised around the park as if they are made for such a lowly existence!
Sarah and Ben have a great connection and had a great time just doing their thing. Plus they are both super mellow and wonderfully warm people so it was a very pleasant afternoon. It made me really excited to shoot their wedding, fortunately, I don’t have to wait long as it’s about 2 weeks away!
I love musical theatre, I really do. Some people think it’s funny but it’s actually in my blood as my grandparents were opera singers. When I did a study abroad in London I must have seen 15 plays, it was awesome! Being in San Francisco has the advantage of getting to see lots of show being tested for potential runs on Broadway so we try to get to a couple shows a year. But I have to admit, I pale in comparison to Nettie and Leon! My first clue was the meeting place: the classic Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco. The next was that they brought their own playbills as props. Then I found out they have seen Wicked 17 times! Okay, they win!
It was a really fun day and Leon and Nettie are a gorgeous couple and a ton of fun. Leon I hardly recognized as he’s gotten himself super fit over the past few month, nice work! And Nettie just can’t take a bad picture, she’s just so elegant! They have been together for years and have a maturity in their relationship thats really great to see, I’m very much looking forward to what is sure to be an awesome wedding!
Yes, the hill really is that steep! Nettie is showing off her heel skills here!
Day wouldn’t have been complete without this shot!
I love shooting engagement sessions in locations that have real meaning for the couple, Lori and Bobby have tons of history together at UCSB so what better location to shoot? You don’t have to twist my arm to get me down to the beautiful town of Santa Barbara! In the middle of a January heat wave with a hot couple? Even Better! I went to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara for photography school so it’s always nice to get back there.
Stephanie (my wife for those that don’t know) decided to join me to assist. It was her birthday so we figured we’d go out after the shoot (at Los Olivos Cafe). We met up in Isla Vista and headed right into campus. There must have been 20 new building on campus, it was pretty crazy. Sure would be nice to sit in class and look down the beautiful Santa Barbara coast line!
Lori and Bobby were super nice people and a ton of fun to get to know. We went all over campus and even shot in the library where Bobby worked for several years. Next we went to a couple different beaches (that were packed because of the gorgeous weather) then back to campus for some night shooting.
I can’t wait to shoot the wedding this summer at Gainey Vineyards in Santa Ynez, it’s going to be amazing!
Gotta love night shoots!
Lori looking gorgeous
super wide angles sometimes are fun!
Out in the fields…well, actually not but it looks like it 
Making out in the library… If only all studying was this fun!
Gotta love sunset in California!
I love this shot, so much fun shooting at night!
This is a totally funky building with all these fluorescent lights that cast some very interesting colors.
We had a blast hanging with you guys and can’t wait for the wedding!