The light does amazing things on a sunny summer afternoon in Fallbrook. The way it comes through the trees at 5 o’clock, how it slants west to east late in the day, approaching dusk — it’s almost made for photographers.

With Chris and Kristin, we had the pleasure of exploring a different side of the weather here in town. It was a rainy day in 2011 when we set out for their engagement session. Thankfully, we were spared any raindrops, but there was still moisture on the ground and in the air. The light wound up being perfect in a different way. It was diffuse and soft; the kind of light that you would expect out of New England or the Pacific Northwest.

Our next post, soon to follow, will be Chris and Kristin’s wedding — which, of course, ended up being a hot day in August. :)

We couldn’t leave the preserve without taking a family picture.

Christian and Dawn. What can we say?

No, really: What can you say about a picture-perfect day in North County, with a couple that’s totally in love, a bridal party that knows how to get down, and a gorgeous venue set up just right? That’s the kind of day it was.

We owe a few words of thanks before unleashing this barrage of photos: First, to the couple, who made our job easy by being relaxed and fun and not even a little bit camera-shy; to their groomsmen and bridesmaids, who were awesome in that upbeat, drama-free kind of way; to the guests who made the photobooth rock (coming soon…); and to Melanie at Twin Oaks Valley Golf Course, who was super helpful and liked our photos enough to print a promotional brochure a few months after the wedding featuring only Dawn and Christian. (Check out Twin Oaks if you’re looking for a killer outdoor venue with a view.)

We were at the scene of the ceremony for more than eight hours, and left with hundreds of blog-worthy shots. For the sake of time (and your eyeballs), here are our favorite 100 — give or take 20. That’s how tough it was to narrow this one down.

Let’s start out with nine of the best, then go back to the beginning…

We met Dawn through a friend, whose wedding we have yet to blog. (Actually, it was Grace from this engagement session.) Since Christian was working out of state, we did not have a chance to shoot their engagement pictures. Wedding day was the first time we met him.

Ties! Can’t live without ‘em… Oh wait, yes you can!

You just can’t be in a wedding without one.

Best boutonniere-pinning sequence in history:

The toasts were some of the best we’ve ever heard. Funny, heartfelt, profound. A bridesmaid read a toast from one of Christian’s former Marine Corps buddies that was absolutely ridiculous.

Start to finish, this was one of the best weddings we’ve ever attended. To have been the ones documenting the day was a privilege indeed.

Christian and Dawn, thank you.

Congratulations, and best wishes.

The old Mission Road bridge in Bonsall was already one of our favorite places to shoot. No one ever had to twist our arms to get us out there, and even though Adam and Teryn were the umpteenth couple we’d escorted across the old arched span, shutter clicking all the way, they definitely kept it fresh and fun. This early summer session was also the first time we’d ever taken pictures of a couple in a construction zone, which is something that could grow on me real quick. :) :)

We shot their wedding less than a month after this, and will soon be sorting through the best of the ceremony and reception, which were also right here, on our home turf. All I can say about their wedding photos is this: TREES. You’ll see.

Old Bonsall bridge, meet new Bonsall bridge. BOOM!

Before I tie this off, a couple of outtakes and, yes, another hands-in-the-shape-of-a-heart.

This is Grace, and this is Micah. Say hello. If you have known Micah for at least five years, which I have, you can say you knew him before he was six feet tall. Now he’s pretty much a giant, and Grace, as you can see, is the very essence of the word “petite.” Needless to say, one of the best things about taking their engagement pictures was the height difference.

One of the other great things about their session was a spot Micah knew about, where he used to play paintball with his friends and siblings. It took about five minutes of hiking, and then there was this great little scene, with abandoned cars all overgrown and ready to be photographed. All I can say is that it’s in Vista somewhere, and we’d love to shoot your engagement pictures, too, if you want to know exactly where! :)

As I catch up on blogging here at the end of the 2011 summer wedding season, this is one of those long-overdue sessions that Grace’s friends have already seen on Facebook. We shot their wedding in June, so stay tuned for a deluge of some of our best work yet in an upcoming blog post.

Until then, please enjoy and comment!

Grace and Micah, you guys rock.

It has been over a year since we shot Jeremiah and Shannon’s wedding — so long, in fact, that they already have a little boy to keep them up at night. So this post is well overdue.

But never out of date.

See, we did Jer & Shan’s killer engagement session at the old Bonsall bridge several months before their wedding, and when the Big Day came around, we knew to expect TONS of chemistry and emotion. (These are two main ingredients of any great wedding picture.)

As Shannon’s family calls Fallbrook home, everything was held here in town. The ceremony was convened at the historic First Christian Church of Fallbrook (which was literally one of the first Christian churches in Fallbrook — if not THE first), and the reception was held at her family’s house down by Highway 76. There, among other awesome things that went down was an incredible photobooth, which we blogged not long after their wedding.

Their day was filled with great legacies of lasting marriages and family ties, and as friends we would have probably been there anyways. But being part of such a special day was a privilege that we will never forget. We love you guys (and your little guy)!!! :)

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Finally, I blog a wedding. :)

This is from all the way back in July ‘10, when my Uncle Paul got married and added Nadine to our rambunctious clan. Their ceremony and reception were at The Grand Tradition in Fallbrook, where we shot their engagement session almost a year ago. You can also see my favorite images from their photobooth here.

It is a blessing to be a part of anyone’s wedding. And it’s even better when you know at least one of the people making vows. And it’s even better if like 50 members of your extended family are around to give you a hard time (and lots and lots of hugs). This wedding was especially awesome because of the beautiful surroundings at The Grand Tradition–the settings and angles are tailor-made for wedding photography–and the fact that, well, Fallbrook is our home base. We don’t have to look it up on the map. This is where we live, and weddings here feel like hometown events to us.

This was truly a special day, and we were honored to play such an intimate role in documenting every minute of it. We love you, Uncle Paul and Aunt Nadine!!!

Every wedding should end with sparklers. :) :) :)

We recently did a photo session of our niece, Emma Rose. All cheeks, as you can see. We decided to throw Isaiah into the mix, and together they had no idea what to do with eight unruly limbs. Hands were entangled, feet were playing footsie unintentionally, and they actually got along really well…

…until…

More baby! That’s right! After months of not blogging since our last Isaiah post, we have another Isaiah post for you. (Currently working on a couple of weddings, an engagement session, and more to follow.)

Had to post that one first because it’s the face he makes when someone across the room has something he wants. Like candy, even though he doesn’t know he wants it yet.

… a 1/10-scale model who is easier to work with than most professionals!

After a loooooong blogging hiatus (caused, incidentally, by the subject of this very post), we are unspeakably proud to present our son’s first portrait session.

As a photographer’s son, Isaiah is the perfect subject. Fussy at times, yes, but no more than a professional model… :)

Plus, when he is awake he stays bright-eyed and alert. And he already knows to look for a lens up in his grill.

Little man reserves the right to yawn a LOT because, you know, taking pictures is hard work and stuff. Which is fine, ’cause it’s cute, and I reserve the right to take pictures all day long.

This is his complaining face, which precedes the screaming face by about 12-and-a-half seconds…

And then there’s the My-Head-Fell-Sideways-&-I-Can’t-Lift-It-Back-Up face.

Have to end with this one, even though it’s pretty much a magazine ad for a particular brand of pacifier. The fact is, if you’re with Isaiah for more than half an hour, odds are very good you’ll see him chomping on that thing.

P.S. Prepare to see much, much more of this kid on this blog. :) :) :)

With their wedding coming up in November, I recently met Shaun and Jessica in Encinitas for an engagement session. We’d been hoping for a sunset, but instead we got pure marine layer blah. Luckily, marine layer blah makes the light on the beach so amazing that it would have been hard to take a bad picture (which also had to do with my subjects — you guys rock the camera!!!)

And the winners are…

I have to kick this post off with one of my all-time favorite portraits.