Good evening from Minneapolis everyone!
As I’m looking out my window at the street below with the bustle of the shoppers, the snow gently falling and the twilight of the night sky just breaking through the clouds – it’s hard to believe that I was just in Orange County photographing Jen & Nathan’s Engagement Shoot. Crazy I say!
I recently was introduced to Jen & Nathan from Leah & Linsey with The Double Knot wedding & event planners. If Leah & Linsey sound familiar it’s because I have had the honour of photographing both of their weddings along with them working their magic for my clients. Like LeeAnne & Garrett’s Timeless Orange County Wedding I just photographed!
So to be able to work with another couple that’s in the perfect hands of Leah & Linsey is guaranteed awesomeness!
Speaking of awesomeness – let me just say working with Jen & Nathan was more like an afternoon of playing instead of working. We first started out in Downtown Brea at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour. Farrell’s is has a TON of sentimental value to Jen & Nathan because this was their first date location.
Aaron helped serve up a totally epic ice cream sundae for Jen & Nathan for their shoot & let me tell you – keeping my mind on the photos instead of the yummy ice cream I could smell was a little tough. But I was easily distracted from the ice cream with all the fun Jen & Nathan were having for their playful and romantic portraits. PLUS! Aaron gave Jen & Nathan a fun introduction & announcement about their Engagement with the rest of the restaurant. He was totally cool!
Once it was a wrap at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Downtown Brea – we headed to the Fullerton Arboretum for more fun & relaxed portraits. The Fullerton Arboretum is a 26 acre botanical garden with a collection of plants from around the world – being the perfect location for a variety of timeless portraits.
As we were touring the Fullerton Arboretum, taking in some of the sights, capturing fun & relaxed portraits and sharing stories – we were interrupted by one of the staff at the Arboretum. He had informed us we were not allowed to capture any “professional” portraits without a permit. Which I thought was odd as I have been photographing portraits there for more than 15 years and never once needed one or had one.
No worries though. He was totally polite to us & we were cool with him as well. As we were heading to the entrance, we kicked around the idea of getting a permit & made our way to the information office. We were told we had to have a permit, which was quite expensive ($100 for 90 minutes) and it has to be purchased in advance.
BUT! I asked the staff member what if we were to be walking around without any professional gear & just used a mobile phone. He said that is totally fine & we just needed to keep it light as we were walking around.
Sooooo… You know me & you know what that meant — a totally MEGA opportunity to rock some of my Signature Mobile Phoneography portraits. Like you may have seen HERE for my “Instagram Weddings & Portraits.”
I asked if Jen & Nathan were up for the challenge and they gave me a resounding YES! So we headed back to my rental car, dropped off the gear (I kept the CF cards tho) and with my Nokia Lumia 1020 in hand – we went back into the Arboretum to rock more portraits. And, let me tell you! Just having a great Nokia 1020 to capture totally epic & colour-rich portraits is definitely the way to go!
Before you scroll down to check out some of my favourite portraits from Jen & Nathan’s Engagement Photo Shoot and you would like to chat with me about your wedding or event, feel free to contact me anytime day or night. I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.
PS, With Veteran’s Day having been this week, I would like to share if you’re in or have been in the military – check out the EPIC Military Discount Program. It’s the BIGGEST in the world at 50% OFF.
And remember…
Sharing is Sexy! Be sure to share Jen & Nathan’s Engagement Shoot on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter
To help other couples see how much fun they can have with the right photographer!