Lovebirds // Jess + Kelsey

I had so much fun photographing Jess and Kelsey's engagement recently. 

These two are the best kind of googly-eyed. They are head-over-heels for one another in the most adorable way. We wandered about Moñtana De Oro State Park in a vintage VW convertible, ending our time together with a gorgeous sunset. These are the things dreams are made of, people. 

Cannot wait for their wedding this year! Congratulations Jess and Kelsey! 

In Defense of Sunrise

Let's talk about light. There are so many options for your portrait session: indoor, outdoor, sunrise, sunset, or middle of the day... there are a lot of options and even more opinions. Here's the skinny about outdoor light for your upcoming shoot. 

If you're booking a portrait session the time of day is definitely a factor to consider. 

Mid-day is generally the least flattering light. There are ways to work around it, but usually it's the warmest and most in-your-face kind of light. If you can choose when to be photographed, keep reading.

Most often, your photographer will point you to sunset time. It's the golden hour, where everything looks like a fairytale. You're glowing with light and your day is winding down.

Still, with all the enchantment of the fading evening, I love shooting in the mornings. There's an energy and possibility in its air. If you can brave the early wake-up, shoot at sunrise. Go to sleep early for one night and give a try. Those soft morning colors and the quiet that comes with it, that feeling like you're the only one awake brings such a closeness in sessions. Like you have a special secret that the whole world is missing out on while they snooze.

I'll shoot a sunset session any day of the week, but ask me about a sunrise one and I'll get little jumping monkeys inside of me. Because it's just that good.

xo,

Sabrina

How To Choose Your Wedding Photographer

You're engaged! You're in love! The world is at yours!  

And you are going to throw a marvelous party with all your friends and family. 

Wait, how many people is that? And how much will all this cost? Does Great Aunt Ursula really need to be there? 

It can get overwhelming--even when you try to keep it modest. Somehow I thought that planning my "simple" wedding would be easy like Sunday morning. Actually, it turned out to be more like a Monday. Even though we kept it simple, I still wasn't excused from figuring out things like how many napkins we needed.

The same goes for choosing your wedding photographer. 

After meeting with many couples, I find most of them are pretty unsure about choosing a photographer (especially for their wedding). But I'm here to help you narrow down your choices on a choosing a wedding photographer. 

Style 

Whose work are you attracted to? Does fine art photography best describe your day or a more photojournalistic approach? Wedding photography can range from straight-out-of-camera to moody, high contrast photos and everywhere in between. So it's important to do your research! Check hashtags like #weddingphotographer on Instagram or explore Pinterest for ideas.

Price

So, you found a few photographers that meet your style. Now what about price? Everyone has a different budget, so there are no wrong answers. However, you usually get what you pay for. If your budget is tiny, ask a friend or relative to help out in documenting your day. If you're able to budget for a photographer, choose one you love. They have an important job! Event planners, florists and musicians are all only serving you for one day-- your photographer's images are what will last for years to come. 

The 'Fit'

Maybe now you've narrowed down your choices to a few photographers that meet your style and price. The 'fit' is a super important part of the process. Read your photographer's 'About' section on their website or blog. Email with them. Set up a coffee date. Get to know your potential photographer. You want them to feel like the perfect fit for your wedding day. Getting photographed is vulnerable and intimate. You want to choose someone you're comfortable with to photograph you while you're living out one of your most important, heart-on-your-sleeve days. 

I hope this quick guide helps to guide you through the process of choosing a photographer for your big day! If you have any questions, shoot me an email or leave a comment below. I would love to hear them! 

Cheers, 

Sabrina

Venue: The Gardens at Peacock Farms

Caterer: Gusto on the Go, Sugar Lips

Music: Muir Music

Photography: One, Another Photography

Matt + Gillian

Some couples just have it. 

When I met Gillian and Matt a few months ago, they were in the thick of it-- new jobs, moving, and planning a wedding. But here, when the best day of their lives had finally arrived, the most stressful part was being able to tie a bow-tie. 

These two had all the mushy, loving looks that make even a stranger's heart confident that this love will last. From Matt's Cinderella scavenger-hunt proposal to Gillian's beaming joy when she's with her man, these two are the real deal. 

Venue: The Gardens at Peacock Farms

Caterer: Gusto on the Go

Music: Muir Music