Andy + Rachael | Padua Hills Engagement Session | Claremont California | Los Angelas Wedding Photographer {Inspiration: Yellow, Stripes, & Chill}

{Andy & Rachael | Padua Hills Engagement Session | Claremont California | Los Angelas Wedding Photographer {Inspiration: Yellow, Stripes, & Chill}

What a beautiful afternoon!! The sun mixed with a soft haze to create a soft, glowy, romantic atmosphere. Andy needed some insisting at first. (grin) It feels weird--I get it--to have somebody ask you to kiss..for a long time. and like it. and LOOK like you like it...and THEN get up in your business and snap pictures of it. I get it! But about 10 minutes into shooting, we hit a stride and i backed off a bit...we found a few stellar spots around Claremont College campus to enjoy each other a bit. Once done enjoying The Claremont Colleges, we made our way up to Padua Hills...and oh did the foothills deliver. I have a love affair with grass and all things green and sunbeams. I just breathed in the smell of spring blooming...and by this time, I saw Andy & Rachael falling into eachother even more...  I went to a photographer's conference recently. One of my favorite speakers, Sue Bryce, pushed me to slow down and really aim for a connection with the client. my groom. my bride. the person(s) in front of me who'se trusting me to 'capture them'...not just pose and go. It's easy to get so caught up in racing the sunset or making sure settings are right or your directing them well enough...but taking a deep breath, letting the clients rest, find their moment together and then nudging them to be more vulnerable and relax even more....such a skill...such an art...such a goal...  My dear friends, I am tickled pink to be trusted with this crazy awesome stage of life for you guys! Can't wait to see you again and celebrate with you both on your wedding day in June! | LKM

LKM in SoCal!

 {Laura K Moore Photography | Southern California Mini Portrait Sessions | March 22 & 25}

It's True! We are comin' to town. I'm even bringing babies (for grandparents), my sis-in-law (for bonding) and stylist (for my bomb clients). I have 1 more slots open: monday morning the 25th. :D Eeks! Ready set go! | LKM

Jeff & Abby | Rainy Downtown Engagement Session | Pasadena, California Wedding Photography

{ Jeff & Abby | Rainy Downtown Engagement Session | Pasadena, California Wedding Photography}

Oh my stars. Butterflies are swarming in my tummy. The excitement for these two little love birds is incalculable. I've known Abby since she was a lil' tike. No joke. One of my oldest  family friends.  To see her grown and loved by a good, good man who is humble, tender, loyal, passionate and sincere--i just want to cry and thank Jesus for being so so very good. Check out that rain. Seriously, one of my coldest/rainiest shoots ever. So worth the miseery!!  okay, so it was REALLY really cold. So we were trying to see if we could capture our breath...and they were laughing/shivering/snorting all sorts of wonderfulness.the black and white below is abby's favorite :) (and shhh, don't tell her, but i printed it on canvas and am surprising her for her wedding :D)did i mention we got wet? coffee shop subtleties we laughed SO much! we were struttin' around downtown pasadena and saw this hole-in-the-wall bookstore. I mean, it SMELLED like old books. It was fantastic...and we got uber cozy amongst its shelves. mmmmhm. these images (below) are some of my favorite. Jeff & Abby ADORE each other and are just so comfortable together... i love the moment below in black and white. the story and journey they've been on these past few years make the tenderness and trust a REALLY big deal oh how he loves her

19 days you guys!! can NOT wait to see you soon, shoot your Pasadena wedding. Laugh SO much and celebrate with you guys!! See you on the flipside baby! | lkm

Ryan & Samantha | Yellow and Teal Couture Wedding Photography | San Diego, Green Gables Estate | Pt.1

{Ryan & Samantha | Yellow and Teal Couture Wedding Photography | San Diego, Green Gables Estate | The Girls}

So...i'm breaking highlights from this amazing San Diego wedding into multiple parts. There is just...too much awesomeness. Yellow and deep teal were Sam's colors with a splash of couture inspiration. With Guess heels and Vera Wang dress, Ms. Fashionista herself was glowing. My team and I arrived at the 'girls pad' late morning with time to spare so we could just hang out and bond a bit while they gussied up...

oh that dress.... Vera Wang did not dissapoint! Sam and her mom had a really special bond... Once we donned the dress, touched up the make-up we had planned to spend a good amount as 'just us girls.' We hit up mom's orchards in the backyard  first... sam was more than willing to do pretty much anything...until winds picked up and we were frozen to the bone. The rest of the bridal party went to go warm up in the car while MOH Catie and Sam enjoyed a few last minute laughs and poses. then meandered over to some awesome nearby train tracks and let the 'sass' spew. Back at the Green Gables Estate, we avoided San Diego's once-in-a-lifetime hurricane remnants  and gushed over the incredible Bridal Prep room decorated with posh little quaint details.

oh man....these little ones.... :)

the lady in waiting... ;) love these moments of anticipation. the excitement OOZED... :)

to be continued... :) | lkm

Jason + Christine | Claremont Colleges, California | Maternity Session

 {Jason & Christine | Claremont Colleges, Claremont, Southern California | Maternity Session} Baby #1 is always an intense thing. I watch these soon-to-be parents look ahead at the unknown future, preparing for radical, exciting change. Because that's what kids do. They change you. They change the dynamic of "him and me" into "us."  Kids rock worlds. They humble hearts.  The calm before the storm is special and that's one of my favorite parts of capturing these maternity moments. It's a solid fist pump to an awesome prelude to an even MORE awesome chapter ahead. (sigh) and thats all i have to say about that. :) | Jason & Christine, thank you so much for letting me frolic about with you during the burst of color and fallen leaves at the Claremont Colleges. You guys were delightful. I hope these moments captured are sweet memories  of that precious prelude... | lkm

With great joy and excitement for you guys!

LKM

Jesse + Samantha | Southern California Lakeside Proposal | Riverside Wedding Photography

 {Jesse + Samantha | Proposal in the Park | Fairmont Park, Riverside, CA | June 2012} A couple weeks ago I received a sneaky text from Sam asking the sly question, "so would you happen to have December 15th booked yet? I'd like to tentatively, secretly reserve you for a particular occasion..." (smiley face smiley face smiley face). To which i promptly called back with hushed squesls and excitement. It wasn't offical. Nothing was official of course. There was no ring. And that angst was setting in mixed and colored by sheer joy. So i grinned to myself with a sprouting idea, told her timing would be perfect and hung up. I immediately called Jesse and pitched an idea that sounded a little like this, "so, this is going to be way presumptuous of me, but...i'm still gonna go for it. Would you by chance happen to have the ring yet?" He was getting it that Friday. Perfect. "I'm going to be in town to shoot in a few weeks, would you be up to letting me possibly scheme with you??" He was. He did. And i 'sponateneously called Sam the Sunday before my Monday Riverside Mini Shoots, June 18th, and asked if she could whip up a sassy outfit, grab her honey, indulge in a bit o' romance and meet me for a Sweetheart shoot 'just for fun' at the park. She was game of course.

I started off with just a few fun casual portraits. Honestly, Jesse and I hadn't really set up an agenda. So my mind was racing with a gameplan while trying to maintain a really casual front so Sam wouldn't suspect anything :) I love this picture below with that glow behind Sam's gorgeous face and sparkly eyeballs :DI pretended to hem and haw a little looking for a few more spots with fun sunbeams. Asked them if they just wanted to walk along the lake. They were down. We found a secluded peninsula. Perfect. I was able to mutter to Jesse: "the code words will be 'I'm gonna back off and you have to give me a whole 60 seconds of romance..."... So that's what I said. And that's what they did. They talked and snuggled for a little under that darn tree. I couldn't hear anything. I actually started to wonder if Jesse was gonna flip the script and ask for a different spot. Or something... I'm so glad i just shut up and watched and snapped away... (Do note Sam's funny face in that 3rd picture to the far right. You should ask her what choice explitive she used when she got a closer look at the ring. I burst out laughing) Her eyes DANCED! SO excited!! couldn't stop looking at her new bling bling SO stinkin excited for Sam! We trotted back to show Lawson and the kiddos the new finger decor.  I've known Sam for a LONG time! Watching her go from highschool, through college and into adulthood--wrestle with big things, grow with Jesus, meet Jesse and now engaged--sheesh! I'm so overwhelmed with joy for her! Can't wait for your wedding in December dear friend!! 

Courtney | "Because I Can" Session | teaser

 {Courtney | Riverside Mini Sessions | March 19, 2012} This sweet little thing has been a friend of mine for years. Laughing with her for an hour straight and just getting uber girly was surely a HIGHLIGHT of that crazy mini session day in Riverside! | lkm

Choe Family | Riverside, CA Family Portraits | teaser

 {Choe Family Portraits | Riverside, CA | Mach 2012} Check out this little face :D just wrapped up the edits for the Choe Family sesh and excited about releasing them to the family shortly! :D

Alison | California Baptist University Senior Portraits | sneak peak

 {Alison Moore | Senior Portrait Session | Downtown Tucson, AZ | March 2012} Here is a sneak peak into my senior session with Alison Moore. More golden loveliness can be seen on her gallery HERE. :D

Peter + Vanessa | Southern California Engagement Session | Citrus State Historical Park | Pt.2

{Peter + Vanessa | being cute in the middle of Dufferin St. in Riverside, Ca | January 2012} ...there love story continues. :) If you didn't catch P + V's part one, go Here. And take note that after you trudge through all the gooey tenderness, at the bottom of the post you'll get to read the first-hand account of their proposal back in December. Beware though. He sets the bar UBER high. It's kinda ridiculous actually. | lkm I really would like a huge glowing canvas of that bee in the branches (image below left)Such a pretty little thing :) and oh my gosh, can they get their goof on!I don't get it either. African flossing? My heart just swells at the idea of God blessing Peter with Vanessa as his bride...a woman whom he loves, tends to, cares for, who loves Jesus and others. The innocence and sheer delight and new experiences and amazing sense of 'team-mate' ahead of them--yup, there's the grapefruit in my throat again.  My joy in my brother is unabashed. The blessing in having him include me in these plans and attempts to woo his lady is beyond me. The phone calls and questions and opinions on 'how should i do this?' made my heart swim with glee :)

So....here's the proposal story I've been gushing about. (as told by Peter)...note: at the end of Vanessa's semester abroad in Africa, Peter joined her parents to spend Christmas on safari and traveling about the country. I know. Sick huh?

Sent via facebook to all their close friends shortly after they got engaged...

She said yes! Here's how it happened: 

On December 25th, I gave Vanessa her first clue: a small silver treasure chest. The next day I gave her a silver key with the verse 1 Peter 1:22-23. The third clue was the movie Muppet Treasure Island (in which Gonzo says the line, “to Zanzibar, to see the Zanzi-barbarians!”). Fourth clue was a hand towel and fifth clue, conveniently placed on her bedside table by her dad this morning, was a photo album showing the timeline of our relationship so far. 

Last night, we arrived on Zanzibar island off the coast of Tanzania (in eastern Africa). I immediately began to scope the area for the big question, since I was planning on burying the ring in a cherry wood treasure chest I had a guy make for her. I approached “Gharib”, a local African at the receptionist desk and in a conspiratorial tone said, “I am planning on asking my girlfriend to marry me tomorrow but I need your help.” His eyes lit up. He was in. He found me a shovel and a place on the beach that was on the edge of the Breezes Beach Club property. Mr. Johnson talked to Sarah, another helpful worker to get a glass bottle for the treasure map. The closest she could find was a wine carafe—it would have to do. I then had Vanessa’s brother Aaron set up a camera behind a tree as I buried the treasure chest next to a palm tree. I made the appropriate pirate markings on the piece of synthetic leather I had burned and dirtied (for authenticity of course), and then went to pick up Vanessa. 

She had all the clues ready with the additional zebra striped bowl we picked up in South Africa. I then gave her the wine carafe with the treasure map which she untied and gazed with artistic appreciation for a few moments before looking to me for direction. “Well, follow the map, I said.” So we did. I purposely made the dotted pirate route wind through the club grounds before looping back along the beach to the chosen palm tree. She noticed the camera first and laughed. Then she noticed Aaron sulking in the shadows of the tree and laughed some more. Aaron turned on the camera and discreetly took off down the path. “Oh look, a shovel!” she said. “Well, what do you think you should do?” I asked. “Maybe I should dig in this soft dirt over here…” she jested (so maybe I’m a pirate in training and didn’t cover my burial site so well). She dug up the treasure chest, unlocked it with the key I had given her as a clue, and opened up the chest to find a journal and a small box. The journal had some words about love and stuff and then after reading John 13 I had her sit on the treasure chest while I washed her feet in the zebra bowl. I dried them with the red hand towel (4th clue) and had her open the small box. Inside was a smaller box containing a black ring box and inside the ring box was…the ring. I told her some more stuff about love and running the race alongside each other and more mushy stuff and then said, “Vanessa Nicole Johnson, will you marry me?” She said yes. We hugged for a few moments then realized how humid it was so we headed in to breakfast with Vanessa’s family. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Hope to see you soon. 

Peter (& Vanessa)