Teale and Justin also put me in a good mood…that’s why I’m sharing their engagement session with you today, good moods all around my friends! We met up with them in Ramona for some epic e-sesh action and it didn’t disappoint. We met them for the first time that day and they were just as I had imagined them, easy going, fun, AND ridiculously good looking (I know, I always say it but we do have such hot clients!). Teale is a wedding photographer herself, which always makes me a bit nervous (and flattered they chose us to shoot their wedding…thanks Teale!!), but as soon as I met her I was like, yes, perfect fit. Seriously you two, we adore you both. We love that you have brought us along as part of your story and we can’t WAIT for your wedding..a few more months! xoxo

Today we’re going to share the engagement session of Ann and Steven to share with you. We met up with these two on a rainy day in Golden Gate Park and together we wandered around in the rain, made them kiss a lot, and ate pie. It was exactly what we all needed on a rainy day if you ask me. Below is what came out of our little day in the park and I must say I’m quite pleased, as I’m sure you will be too. Ann and Steven we cannot wait for your EPIC San Fran wedding in the fall….counting the days my friends, counting the days. Until then, enjoy some esesh glory! muah!

In celebration of this inspiration I was thinking we’d share with you a couple that really does it for us in that department. Friends, I have for you Eunice and Dan’s engagement session. This couple is rad. That’s just the simple truth. Oh yeah, and photogenic (don’t deny it Eunice, you know it’s true!), and have excellent taste, AND are probably the NICEST people I’ve ever met. And if they didn’t live all the way over in NYC I’d be bugging them every day to come have mules with me at Starlite to talk about design and photography and financial analyzing (oh wait, probably not that…sorry Dan!). They flew out to San Diego for the weekend and we met up with them in La Jolla to take some pics, then headed over to Starlite to top it off and man, was it heavenly. I know I say this a lot but good images TRULY are a product of the collaboration between us and our couples. We work together and inspire each other, and these two are a prime example. Eunice and Dan, thank you for being some serious rad, for allowing us a peak into your relationship and having complete trust in our vision. We adore you and I meant it when I said I wish we could have many mule nights so next time you’re in SD, it’s a done deal.  xoxo

Oh yeah, and check back with us after their August wedding because it’s going to be epic, what with vendors like Sitting in a Tree Events, The Floral Lab, and DJ Austin Hendrix how could one not be excited? Mmmmmm….so good I can almost taste it. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm…ok enough of me, enjoy the pics!

And because I know you just LOVE hearing about what’s happening with our crazy schedule, how about we share a little San Fran sesh with you we shot a while back? Sound good? I sure do think so! Today we have the engagement shoot of Dana and Steve to share with you. These two are some serious sweetness AND they were SO patient with me and my crutches (this was the first shoot I did after breaking my foot). We met up in San Fran and spent some time getting to know them and their sweet daughter, and shooting a few pics in one of our fave cities….doesn’t get much better than that now does it? Dana and Steve, you two are a breath of fresh air. Thank YOU for letting us experience a little bit of your relationship and your love for each other, and for putting up with me and my slow going. Your wedding is going to be BEAUTIFUL and your marriage 100x more than that! Enjoy the pics lovebirds!

Alright, enough about us lets talk about the sweet couple I have to share with you today. About a month-ish ago Paige and Kyle ventured down to San Diego for some e-sesh action with us. For the session they wanted to do something similar to their first date where they had a picnic and blew bubbles (yep, people actually do that in real life..HOW CUTE are they?), then we thought we’d throw in a little modern twist with a visit to Salk. So we chilled, blew some bubbles, climbed some trees, did backflips (well, not me, that was all Kyle), marveled at great architecture, you know, the usual shenanigans. Paige and Kyle, thanks for being so adorable and making our jobs a piece of cake. We are so so so sooooooo pumped for your wedding in August which we KNOW will be epic (word to Carter & Cook who we’ll be working with that day). Alright, and with that I’m off….naptime followed by Monday night mules at the Starlite in my near future….mmmmmmmmmmmm. Muah!

oh, one more thing. Do you like Paige’s makeup? Well, our amazing intern Delaney did it! That’s right, Delaney rocks, so if you are looking for a great makeup artist email her at delaney@studiocastillero.com

So who do I have for you today? Well, prepare yourselves for pure hot stuff! Renata and Jess are just that, hot…well  and artistic, and unique, and a TOTAL blast to hang out with. I knew from the second I met them at our house months ago that we were all a match made in heaven, they are non traditional, artistic, and share our love for photography. And they love the color gray, hello my fave! So when they mentioned they wanted to head out to Joshua Tree for their non traditional engagement shoot, I was extremely please (to say the least). Oh and even better, we were able to spend the entire day/night hanging out at the rad house together, shooting, listening to Radiohead, and drinking wine. Yeah, it was rad, need more proof? Check out their feature on Green Wedding Shoes where Renata talks about their vision for the session, so great! Enough Rach, time for pics! Before I go though, Renata and Jess, you two are some serious awesome and we had SUCH a blast spending that desert weekend with you. Thank you for choosing us to be a part of this great time in your life, you are such an inspiration to us. Wedding’s not too far away, can’t wait!! xoxo

Let me just say though, I have been completely blessed by my community of photographers here in southern cali. The second I tweeted that I was injured I had mass messages offering to help me with shoots and with anything in general. Seriously, I love you people and I’m going to have you ALL over for dinner sometime in our new house (yep, escrow closes tomorrow) sometime soon! That’s what it’s all about right? A community of people around you to help you out when you’re hurt and stressed, you are not my competition, you are my friends AND my family and Rico and I REALLY REALLY appreciate you. I do still need an assistant now for our wedding this Saturday in San Fran. Rico and I will both be there, we’ll just need someone to help me change lenses, carry stuff (hmmm….unless I can find a good fanny pack), or just cover for me when I need to sit down. I would really really really appreciate you letting your San Fran peeps know and if anyone can help me out we’ll officially be besties…BFFS bonded over crutches and ice packs (and SEVERAL glasses of wine, Lord knows I’ll need it)!!!

Ok, ENOUGH about me already, time for some positivity. And these two are just that. Friends, meet Alina and Boris, the perfect match for Rico and myself (always a good find).  We spent their engagement session running around San Fran, hiking Lands End, eating good food (Gracias Madre…go.there.now) and exchanging beet recipes….oh yeah, and we took some rad pics. Hanging out, getting to know each other, eating? That’s about as good as it gets if you ask me. Alina and Boris, I had such a great time with you. You are true artists which I LOVE and you tell good jokes, which I also love (and you speak Russian, which makes you hot stuff in my book). Your wedding is only a few weeks away and it’s going to be epic…I’ll be the one on the dance floor with the sweet walking cast. Enjoy the pics!! xoxo