February 16, 2011
John and Austyn are like old friends. Really. When we left their engagement session, I nearly blurted out, "So, when are we going to see each other again??", like I expected to make a dinner date with them for the following week. They are genuine and friendly, and I enjoyed every minute of our evening together. Their wedding is scheduled for June in Nebraska (they're a couple of cornhuskers, and even though KU and Nebraska are rivals, somewhat, I'm totally endeared to the fact that they're Midwesterners and I sort of wish I were moving to Nebraska with them this summer!).
As John is just ending his time serving our country in the Infantry, and as he comes from a family of Servicemen, it was only appropriate to start our session with a more formal look with John in his Blues.
Austyn had asked me early on if I'd mind if they brought their two pups. As I am very fond of dogs, I was excited and asked what kind of dogs they had. She answered, "A Great Dane and a Bull Mastiff..." Perfect!
They were a little confused at first and couldn't figure out who the crazy chick was with the black box that kept clicking...........
(One thing that has struck me as I've gone through all of their images is the way John looks at Austyn. I caught many moments like the one following, where he's looking at her, and you can absolutely feel how crazy he is for this girl.)
So after a number of unsuccessful tries at getting the dogs to give me a good attentive look, John said, "Try saying t-r-e-a-t-s. See if that works." So I did. "Hey guys! Want a treat?? Huh? Want a treat?" Worked like a charm!
We wandered without the dogs for a little bit before hitting the beach ::
And I'll end with my very favorite image of the night. Perhaps one of my top 10 favorite images ever. Can you feel the love?!
Laura and I had chatted about where we'd like to go for their session, and decided Laguna would be easy for all involved (there was a dog-sitter in the mix as well). I didn't know until we were there that Main Beach at Laguna was where Tim and Laura had their first date! So, it was totally appropriate that we shot there. The evening was lovely, and I'm looking forward to Tim and Laura's upcoming 4th of July wedding!
Beautiful. I especially LOVE the ones on the rocks by the ocean! Love that they brought their first "baby" to be part of their session.
(02.11.11 @ 02:43 PM)January 21, 2011
The one thing I noticed, during the entire time we spent shooting their engagement photos, is how Chris made Ashley laugh. It was constant, and it was real.
We met up for their engagement session in an old, overgrown, avocado orchard. It was the perfect picture (no pun intended) of relaxation and romance- old quilts, a picnic, and Scrabble. Perfect.
At one point, Ashley showed me a little bag that she keeps all of her love notes in- letters and cards from Chris over the years. It was too sweet!
I can't wait for their June wedding at the Temecula Creek Inn. With Ashley's good taste, it's bound to be outrageous!
Beautiful work -- I love the scrabble images! And that last image is absolutely divine!
(01.21.11 @ 09:01 PM)Swoon. What a fantastic session. GORGEOUS images. Can't get enough of the Scrabble shots. And the location, my goodness we must go at my next visit. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
(01.21.11 @ 10:36 PM)These are awesome! I have kept all of the cards and love notes that Kevin and I have exchanged over the years also. Congratulations and cant wait for the wedding!
(01.22.11 @ 09:34 AM)Beautiful session Rachel...love it! Love the scrabble board...will have to try it for a family session ; )
(01.22.11 @ 01:39 PM)LOVE this set Rach....love all of the detail shots and LOVE LOVE LOVE the ones of them lying opposite...faves! You are fabulous at this! xo
(01.22.11 @ 02:25 PM)beautiful. amazing. stunning and beautiful light. you rock Rach.
(01.22.11 @ 06:25 PM)So so beautiful Rachel! I can feel the love and I absolutely adore the details you captured in the session. Can't wait to see their wedding photos!
(01.25.11 @ 11:09 AM)That was almost 4 years ago, and Daniel and Amber are now looking forward to their October wedding. We had an enjoyable, albeit windy, engagement session in downtown Riverside on Saturday night. I'm so excited to get to be a part of their big day this fall! A sneak peek from our session::
Amber, you are so beautiful!
what a sweet couple!! I love the shot of you looking down the stairs!!
(03.31.10 @ 12:33 PM)Oh Rachel, these are just lovely! I love that it was windy because it gives movement to the pictures... plus she's got fabulous hair! Can't wait to see the photos from the wedding... They'll be amazing for sure!
(03.31.10 @ 12:34 PM)Rachel - I so love these! Beautiful couple! Can't wait to see the wedding images!
(03.31.10 @ 12:36 PM)I love the connection you captured here. They are obviously very much in love! Can't wait to see this beautiful couple's wedding images!
(03.31.10 @ 12:49 PM)I wish my engagement pictures looked as beautiful as this! Beautiful work Rachel!
(03.31.10 @ 01:00 PM)Rachel!!!!
You're going to have so much fun photographing their wedding - they clearly ADORE each other!! Beautiful pictures of a beautiful couple :-)
Awesome images! She is going to be such a pretty bride. Congrats to the lovely couple! Looking forward to seeing the wedding photos. Nice work!!
(03.31.10 @ 01:30 PM)These are so lovely!!! First off what a great looking couple. The bride to be is gorgeous and she looks really good in royal blue! I love them all but the last 3 are my favorites. They really show how much in love they are. WONDERFUL job!
(03.31.10 @ 01:56 PM)oh goodness, girl. these are magnificent! they are SO sweet together and it's obvious they are head over heels. really beautiful...can't wait to see more of this adorable couple. fabulous work on this session, as always!
(03.31.10 @ 02:15 PM)You did a beautiful job of capturing the love between them. They are radiant in the first images and I love the intimacy of the shot where he is pulling the hair away from her face.
You are going to ROCK their wedding!
(03.31.10 @ 02:56 PM)Rachel, you know I adore your work, but this is among your best. You did an awesome job capturing their love and connection. What a beautiful couple and stunning photos!
(03.31.10 @ 03:19 PM)Wow, Rachel, beautiful engagement session. These two look like they have so much fun together, they're so cute! Just looking at these brought a huge smile to my face. And, an October wedding, sigh...... They couldn't have picked a more beautiful time of year to get married. They'll have all the beautiful colors to compliment their day, along with that crispness that can be in the air that time of year. Have fun!
(03.31.10 @ 03:45 PM)they are such a sweet couple, i bet you'll have fun in their wedding.... beautiful work, as always
(03.31.10 @ 04:01 PM)Rach, these are fantastic!! Gorgeous couple as well....Amber is a beuatiful bride to be! I love the feeling the wind created in these too! I can only imagine how beautiful thier wedding images will be.
(03.31.10 @ 05:39 PM)Beautiful! I love the movement the wind created in these. They are all beautiful, but the second and third photographs are my favorite. The way they are looking at eachother and the tender way the groom to be is sweeping his fiance's hair off her face...just lovely!
(03.31.10 @ 05:56 PM)what a beautiful couple! great job capturing their sweet connection:)
(03.31.10 @ 06:32 PM)What a beautiful couple. They look truly in love. You did a fabulous job on these, Rachel!
(03.31.10 @ 08:01 PM)aaaaaw! These are great shots - I bet they are happily planning their wedding! Love love love the last one!
(03.31.10 @ 08:10 PM)Congrats to the couple! These are stunning, Rachel....as usual!! :) They are blessed to have you as their photographer. My favorite is the last one. YOu can really see their connection with each other. Great job!
(04.01.10 @ 10:02 AM)Love all the laughing! This looks like my kind of shoot! I want shots like this of me and my boyfriend!!
(04.01.10 @ 10:31 AM)what wonderful engagement photos!! i love the "mood" you created for this session. how lucky that this couple had you as their photographer!!
(04.01.10 @ 12:20 PM)Fabulous shots! Can't wait to see the wedding pictures of their big day...CONGRATS YOU TWO!
(04.01.10 @ 11:47 PM)gorgeous images. i think they chose the right photographer =). can't wait to see the wedding shots, great work!!
(04.02.10 @ 05:20 AM)These are stunning! Beautiful couple, Beautiful photographs!!
(04.03.10 @ 03:37 AM)So cute! They look so in-love! Can't wait to see the wedding images! :)
(04.05.10 @ 04:27 PM)These are just perfect! They look so happy and comfortable together. Can't wait to see the wedding pictures.
(04.09.10 @ 09:33 AM)
Work it E!!! He is a natural Rach. So excited to see more from these sessions!!
(03.28.10 @ 12:19 AM)
That last shot Rach......oh my goodness.....BEAUTIFUL!!! LOVE them all!
(02.17.11 @ 03:46 AM)LOVE the photos Rachel and isn't young love a thing of beauty. Wishing this gorgeous young couple the best of married life. A great start getting you to do the engagement photos!! And that last one is divine!!
(02.17.11 @ 04:27 AM)wonderful images Rachel!! that last one is soooo beautiful.
(02.17.11 @ 08:22 AM)Oh Rachel! That last one took my breath away. They are all beautiful and sweet but there are just those images that are like magic. That is definately in the magical catagory.
(02.17.11 @ 09:00 AM)They're so cute! And yes, I can feel the love. Very nice.
(02.17.11 @ 10:14 AM)Oh yes! Love that last one so much :) Beautiful session Rach!
(02.18.11 @ 06:52 AM)Wowza.
(02.18.11 @ 01:38 PM)Rachel - breathtaking! I love the last one and the one where they are walking with the houses in the background - THAT's my favorite! A work of art!
(02.18.11 @ 07:57 PM)eek. gotta say the "no lifeguard on duty" shots are my fav. s t u n n i n g.
(02.18.11 @ 10:47 PM)HOLY COW! my face totally hurts, too! cannot even pick a favorite, although...ok, that last one is absolutely to die for. you completely and utterly ROCK, sister! :)
(02.23.11 @ 11:23 AM)Rachel, I agree with everyone else- the last one is great! It is like they are alone & you are far away with your camera and really good zoom in lense. It is a great picture.
(10.05.11 @ 02:22 PM)