Downtown Fullerton Engagement Session | Ioanna and Dimitri

From the first time Gina and I met Ioanna and Dimitri we knew they were going to be so much fun. When we took them out for their engagement session to Fullerton Arboretum and the Downtown Fullerton area, we had no idea how much positive energy they were going to bring and all I have to say is, THEY ABSOLUTELY BROUGHT IT!! Haha!

Since they came to the United States from Greece and have established themselves in Orange County, they wanted to use the areas around Fullerton as their backdrop for their engagement session. As a graduate from Cal State Fullerton (class of 2003, baby! Go Titans! Haha!) I knew the exact locations to use and because Ioanna and Dimitri had enough energy for days, our session actually lasted a few hours. 

With their wedding coming up in a few weeks, we know it's going to be intimate, fun and surrounded by the people they absolutely love and cherish. We're so excited to see these two get married and we can't wait to see it unfold!

Many Congratulations, guys and we'll see you in a few weeks.

Summit House Wedding | Charisse and Justin

I can barely put into words the amount of energy, excitement and love surrounded Charisse and Justin throughout their wedding. They opted to be married in the beautiful St Paul the Apostle Church in Chino Hills and had their reception at Summit House Restaurant in Fullerton. They seem cool on the outside, but their friends and family definitely know how to celebrate!

We were able to help out our colleague Alex Mo  with Charisse and Justin's wedding and the team we had throughout the day was so awesome to rock out with. We're so grateful to be able to serve each and every couple we meet, and we absolutely love our "job". 

Charisse and Justin brought it and loved every minute of their day. From the custom suits the grooms and groomsmen wore, to the uninhibited emotions they allowed themselves to feel. It was definitely a special day for them and it was on full display. 

We're so happy for these two and many blessings to you guys! 

The glow on Justin's face is all natural, no camera tricks or photoshop. The excitement and love between these two was truly radiant.

Carbon Canyon Engagement Session in Orange County | Laura and Cory

A few weeks ago, Laura and Cory had a specific request to hold their engagement session in open fields with wildflowers and tall grass. Gina and I had a few places in mind, but we were turned away from our initial location due to active wildlife on the local trails. We made a quick change of mind and found Carbon Canyon Regional Park with quite a few areas to use for their engagement session. 

The wildflowers right off the trail lent itself to a beautiful backdrop and we had such a blast with Laura and Cory. The other features in and around the park almost made it too easy to photograph. 

Engagement sessions are some of our favorite times to spend with our couples as they lend themselves to some intimate and relaxed portraits prior to the wedding day. Since Laura and Cory will be getting married at Malibu West Beach Club, the open fields and rustic setting provided a different setting for their engagement session than their wedding location. 

We can't wait to see these two get married! They certainly complement each other perfectly and we can tell their wedding is going to be awesomer than awesome. Haha!

Many congratulations to you guys and make sure to show them some love in the comments!

In addition to bringing their dog, Bailey, along to their engagement session, Laura and Cory brought a scrapbook with images stemming from when they met in high school. It was so fun to see how much their hair and clothes have changed from when they first met! Haha!

Valuable Tips On Being An Awesome Second Shooter

Rancho Las Lomas Wedding Photography - Reception in El Teatro

A few weeks ago my buddy Tommy, from Thomas Pellicer, texted me and without many details given he asked if I was available to help him out for an upcoming wedding at Rancho Las Lomas.  My schedule was open and I quickly told him, "I'm in!" I've known Tommy for a few years now and this was our first time working together. It was a pretty cool day as he asked me to hang out with the groom and groomsmen and cover their details and formal images prior to the wedding ceremony, while he was with the bride and bridesmaids.

Groomsmen

Groomsmen Candids

WHY WE OCCASIONALLY SECOND SHOOT FOR OTHERS

As Gina and I primarily shoot weddings as lead photographers, we occasionally work with our colleagues to help them out when they need it. We do this for a few reasons:

• As lead photographers, we all need help at one time or another and as our schedule permits we lend a hand to support each other
• It challenges us to work on our photojournalistic techniques without the pressure to capture the main events during the wedding
• The lead photographer is only one person, so having a second set of eyes allows the client to get some awesome images from different angles

Groomsmen at the tool shed

Villa overlooking El Teatro

Pre Wedding Bridal Prep With Her Watchful Ringbearer 

SIX VALUABLE TIPS TO BE AN AWESOME SECOND SHOOTER

Without further ado, here are some valuable second shooter tips I gathered from my most recent experience:

1. Make the primary photographer's job easier; don't be too proud to carry their bags/equipment
2. Set your ego aside and shoot what the lead photographer needs you to cover
3. When shooting in the same space, shoot with a different lens to give the client a different perspective
4. Be ready to shoot as if you were the primary photographer
5. Self-motivation is key; anticipate the emotions during each part of the day as the primary photographer will most likely be capturing the essential parts of the day
6. It's common courtesy to ask if you intend to use them for your own portfolio

Pre Wedding Groom Prep

Pre Wedding Groom Prep

Custom Suit for the Groom

Pre Wedding Groom Details

The Wedding Ceremony in El Teatro

DETAILS AND THE "IN BETWEEN" MOMENTS

Primary photographers rely on second shooters to get the details the bride and groom have taken countless hours and effort to make sure everything is perfect for their day. 

By the way, how cool are those personalized glass flasks for the groomsmen?

Dessert Table

Sweet and Saucy Shop Three Tiered Cake

Cocktail hour outside of the Grand Salon

The newlyweds introduced as husband and wife

Anticipate the raw emotions throughout the day to help tell the full story

Again, these are based on my experience and I hope these help you to become a better second shooter. I also want to say thanks again to Tommy for letting me hang out and rock this beautiful wedding!

Much love and Congrats again to Roxanne and Michael!

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