Orange County Engagement Session | Casper's Wilderness Park | Dana point | Sarah + Chris

Sarah and Chris' engagement session at Casper's Wilderness Park and Dana Point was one I won’t soon forget. This was one of those sessions that I had been looking forward to since I met them over coffee to chat about their wedding plans a few months ago! Upon meeting Sarah and Chris, I just knew they were a perfect fit for the Mink Photography family! They are fun, outdoorsy, adventurous, and stylish. I couldn't wait to work with them!

Their engagement session took place at one of my favorite parks in San Juan Capistrano followed by beach hopping in Dana Point! We had amazing light throughout the whole session, it's like this day was solely meant for their engagement session. I am just bursting with joy that I get to document their entire love story! 

Sarah and Chris, your happiness is contagious, I absolutely loved being surrounded by it during our shoot and I cannot wait until your wedding at Ponte Winery in November!

 

Vendor Love:

Film Lab: Goodman Film Lab shot on Fujifilm 400H and Kodak Portra 800
Beauty: If it Makes You Happy Hair
Floral: Peonies and Petals
Dress: Morning Lavender
Silk ribbon: Silk & Willow

La Jolla Engagement Session | Windandsea Beach | Lauren and Ben

I am so excited to share this La Jolla engagement session with you all! It's definitely one of my favorites because it's light, bright, fun and all shot on my trusty Pentax 645n with Fujifilm (except for the last photo where the wave is about to get us, you'll see what I mean)! 

It doesn't get better than sunshine, a cute pup, and a gorgeous couple ;) I met Lauren and Ben last year while I photographing Lauren's sister's wedding at the Omni La Costa (which was also absolutely stunning!). Ben proposed at Windandsea beach on Christmas Eve and a few days later Lauren reached out about their engagement and wedding photography! Of course I was more than elated, I love working with friends and family of my previous couples!

I always suggest that couples try to find a place that they'll feel comfortable and relaxed in for their engagement session, which is why Windandsea in La Jolla was the perfect spot for Lauren and Ben! These two lovelovelove the beach! They got engaged in La Jolla and are getting married at the Hilton Waterfront in Huntington Beach this October so make sure you stay tuned for even more beachy goodness from these two!

 

Can we just all agree that Slater is like the cutest Chihuahua of all time?  

The wind was definitely our friend for this session! I love the way flowy dresses look on the beach paired with the light sea breeze.

Sweet kisses as the waves and clouds started to roll in <3 

Ben did SO good picking out Lauren's ring! I love the classic and timeless look!

Thank you rain for bringing in all the pretty greens and flowers!

Don't worry, no one got wet in the making of this engagement session ;) 

Los Angeles Engagement Session | Danielle + Eric

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite engagement sessions to date! Everything from the location, the outfits, and the fact that I shot most of it on film makes my heart so happy! If you've been following along on my social media you'll know that I have recently started shooting film again. About five years ago, I learned on a 35mm film camera and large format cameras while in college earning my BFA in Fine Art Photography.

To be honest, I was totally turned off by shooting film with my couples at first. Not because it's not the most beautiful medium ever (because it is!), but because its pricey, getting it developed and scanned can take a week or two, or the fact that I have to pause and change rolls during my sessions didn't seem like something that I could add into my already busy wedding workflow.

But all of these "turn offs" actually ended up being positives in my shooting techniques. You see, film slows photographers down a little bit (in a good way!). It helps us think, anticipate, and compose photographs. With only 16 photos per roll of film we have to be very careful about what we are shooting. This, I believe, has made me a better photographer over the past few weeks of my new film journey in weddings. I am so excited for the upcoming weeks because I have an endless amount of shoots and film scans coming back to me left and right. Every time I get that golden email from Goodman Film Lab my heart races with excitement and it feels like Christmas! 

This particular film session was with Danielle and Eric, who I absolutely LOVED hanging out with! Their love radiates and they know how to have fun together! I love couples who laugh a lot, it brings so much life to their images. We chose LA Arboretum because of the lovely colors, even on a cloudy day the flowers and trees still looked amazing. Afterwards we headed over to Pasadena City Hall where the sun came out just in time for the end of the session! 

Congratulations Danielle and Eric! 

Desert Editorial Shoot | Red Rock Canyon | Las Vegas, Nevada

It's finally here! I am so excited to share every favorite image from when I traveled to Las Vegas earlier this month. You see, once a year, thousands of photographers come together in Las Vegas for WPPI. WPPI is an organization that serves the educational and business needs of wedding and portrait photographers. This conference and expo is a professional organization that exists to help photographers by providing them with exclusive information, programs and professional services to assist with their photographic artistry and business needs. I always walk away from the expo with new benefits, valuable industry information, and, of course, some pretty photos.

This year I decided to attend a "shoot out" at Red Rock Canyon, about 20 minutes aways from the Las Vegas Strip. This shoot consisted of 33 photographers, two educators, great styling, and gorgeous models. It was insanely windy but we used every bit of that to our advantage to create beautiful, flowing, imagery. 

I truly believe that as creatives, we need to keep growing, keep learning, keep inspiring, and keep teaching others. This shoot did just that, I learned, I helped others, I created content that I was proud of and was photographing something that inspired me. 

This particular trip, while I didn't shoot any film, it inspired me to start again! I am thrilled to announce that this year I will be adding film into my photography workflow. Although I am not a complete stranger to film (I began shooting film in 2009 while getting my BFA in Photography), I have not yet had the chance to incorporate into weddings. I can't wait for what's in store, and I hope you all stay tuned for this new journey! 

Cheers! 

 

 

 

Vendor Credits:

Shoot out hosts: Julie Paisley Photography and Jeremy Chou Photography

Creative direction, styling, and florals: Janna Brown Design

Hair and Makeup: Natalia Issa

Gowns: Claire La Faye, Tara Lauren, Lovers Friends LA

Paper goods: Julie Ha Calligraphy 

Rings: Susie Saltzman

Silk ribbon: Silk and Willow and Frou Frou Chic

Suit: The Black Tux

Sponsors: Fuji Film, The Find Lab, and Sixteen and Grain

Models: Diana Rykun, Erin Muller, Shelbi Byrnes, and Annelise Temple

 

 
The sweetest of promises 💕💍 . . Film: @goodmanfilmlab @fujifilm_profilm *tap for vendors*
I can't help but to be obsessed with these two and how perfectly they compliment one another. I'm in awe every day that I get to capture such sweet memories for my couples 💕📷 . . Venue: @callawaywinery Dress: @maggiesotterodesigns Shoes: @badgleymischka Custom suit: @groomsgrotto Video: @theater10films Floral: @flowerallie Entertainment: @extremedjservice Beauty: @privebeauty Film: @goodmanfilmlab
Our August 1st mini photography workshop at @rancholaslomas is quickly approaching and I can't wait! We have an amazing line up of sponsors - - thanks to @perfecttheevent who has been working hard to design and make every detail perfect! There's only 5 spots left and we'd love to see you there for a day of portfolio building, creativity, learning, and fun! . . Photo above credits: Shootout Host | @jeremychouphotography Venue: #greystonemansion Coordination + Design | @tristanneedhamdesign HMU | @chialimengartistry Rentals | @sweetsalvagerentals Stationary | @owlpostcalligraphy Flowers | @laurasfloras Ribbon | @thepoetryofsilk Shoes | @bellabelleshoes Cake | @cakestudiola Styling Kit | @thestylebox.ca Models | @willowmodels @sxvxnnxhgrxy @itz_maximilliano Gown | @grace_loves_lace Tux | @theblacktux
Just got some sneak peek scans in from Megan and Khang's wedding that took place earlier this month! Talk about best light ever that day! 😍 Can't wait to see the rest of them, oh and this was with my new 35mm film camera! Way too excited about shooting more beautiful film 💕🙌🏻
I took a little four day break from Instagram because July is SO busy! Our daughter turned four today (I don't even know how that's possible!), I have 6 lovely weddings to photograph, and I've got my family in town! I'm trying to keep up on my Instagram but if I'm a little slower with posting that's why, I promise I didn't quit 😂📷 #busyseason #photographerlife
Still dreaming about Liz and Ryan's wedding reception at @thevillasanjuancapistrano! The romantic tones mixed with lots of greens fit their style and this venue so perfectly 🍃🌷 . . film: @goodmanfilmlab @fujifilm_profilm floral design: @peoniesandpetals
Better late than never, right? I've been so busy all day celebrating but didn't want to forget to wish you all a happy Fourth of July! I hope your day was filled with family, friends, appreciation for our lovely country, and of course, tons of red, white, and blue! 🇺🇸✨ #fourthofjuly #july4th
Took my new @the_mrs_box out for a spin at yesterday's wedding! Simplicity at it's finest 💍✨ Styling board: @heirloombindery Silk ribbon: @adorncompany
Running into July like 🙌🏻 I have six couples tying the knot this month and I could not be more excited! It all starts tomorrow! ✨ film: @goodmanfilmlab @fujifilm_profilm
Is anybody still awake? I'm in the midst of busy season and now more than ever I'm working around the clock and resorting to night owlism - see, I'm so tired I'm making up my own words 🦉🙈 but seriously, who's with me? 🙋 . . Shootout Host | @jeremychouphotography Venue: #greystonemansion Coordination + Design | @tristanneedhamdesign HMU | @chialimengartistry Rentals | @sweetsalvagerentals Stationary | @owlpostcalligraphy Flowers | @laurasfloras Ribbon | @thepoetryofsilk Shoes | @bellabelleshoes Cake | @cakestudiola Styling Kit | @thestylebox.ca Models | @willowmodels @sxvxnnxhgrxy @itz_maximilliano Gown | @grace_loves_lace Tux | @theblacktux

Join me on Instagram: @mink_photography