This week’s websites of the week come from Sae Lee Portrait Gallery and Candy Apple Photography.

Sae Lee of Sae Lee Portrait Gallery shot Claudia and Matt’s engagement session outside of Los Angeles, CA. Sae recalls, “Claudia and Matt love Spanish missions, so we chose to shoot their engagement session at the old San Gabriel Mission. It’s located about fifteen miles north of Los Angeles and is relatively small and secluded. The mood of the mission perfectly complimented Matt and Claudia’s semi-formal attire.”

“My initial excitement with this session was the color tonality. Between the background of the door and couple’s clothing and the directional natural light from the left and additional fill light, I really loved this image.”

“Since Claudia loves mission architecture, I positioned them under the archway, which highlights the structural details.”

“After the vertical portrait, we created this horizontal off-center composition. The couple was closer and the neutral, textured wall supported the mood.”

“Sitting on the bridge over the stream in an intimate, quiet moment.”

“Claudia loved this palm tree, so I created this image with my super wide angle lens, which gives a bit of optical distortion.”

Cassie and Ryan’s wedding was shot by Jennifer Evans of Candy Apple Photography in downtown Denver, CO. “Cassie and Ryan had a really fun, beautiful wedding in downtown Denver,” Jennifer states. “The day started at the dramatic Immaculate Conception Cathedral with its gorgeous altar and tall spires. Then, everyone in the bridal party all hopped on a bus, and we did a fun photo shoot at some scenic Denver locations. Finally, the beautiful day ended at the historic Magnolia Ballroom.”

“The bus had some balloons on it, so we grabbed those for some fun shots.”

“This shot and the next shot was taken at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.”

“A classic portrait of the entire wedding party.”

“The bus stop where we were shooting has this amazing yellow wall that really worked with their black and white wedding colors.”

“We took this picture in Riverfront Park on the Fourth of July weekend. It was such a moment of calm during lots of holiday weekend chaos.”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

This week’s websites of the week come from Leslie Anne PhotoFinish and Kristen Weaver Photography.

Leslie Halper of Leslie Anne PhotoFinish in Encinitas, CA shot Ben and Jasmin’s engagement session near the Pasadena Bridge. “On my way to meet Ben and Jasmin, I knew this would be one of my favorite sessions,” states Leslie. “I couldn’t help but notice how Ben adores Jasmin and how sweet they are together. With a beautiful couple and amazing backdrops, it was easy to capture all the lovely moments of this awesome session!”

“We had to get one with the amazing architecture. This is one of my favorites.”

“I love the candid and sweet moment of this image. The bridge was an amazing location and gave the images a classic feel.”

“This was one of the last of the evening and I just thought it was such a great end to the evening. It looks like a walk home from a date night!”

“I loved the light we had here and Jasmin’s dress was perfect for this shot!”

“See how cute they are? This was a moment captured in between posed shots, and I love it!”

Amanda and Keith’s wedding was shot by Kristen Weaver of Kristen Weaver Photography in Gainesville, FL. Kristen recalls, “Amanda and Keith got married on a super hot June day in Gainesville, FL. Amanda recently graduated from the University of Florida and Keith lives in Oklahoma as he serves in the United States Air Force. Their wedding was chic and classic with hot pink, black, and gray details. Amanda carried a gorgeous bouquet of pink peonies and roses, and Keith wore his dress blues.”

“This is one of my favorite shots from the wedding! Amanda and Keith incorporated this gorgeous pink and black color scheme with his Air Force career, and I thought that this photo was the perfect way to set the tone for their entire event. Simple, elegant and classic.”

“Amanda just looked so happy in this picture! Keith was so attentive to her and I thought this really captured who they were!”

“This was right after the ceremony, which took place in the gorgeous backyard at the Gainesville Country Club. They were married on this hill that overlooked a beautiful valley. It was the perfect backdrop, and even though it was pushing 100 degrees that day, everything was beautiful and their happiness just radiated!”

“I adore this picture of Amanda! She had a beautiful Oleg Cassini gown and this long flowing veil. Every time she would turn around, the wind would catch her just right and she absolutely glowed! This was one of those moments where timing was everything.”

“I wanted to do something just a little more traditional for their parents, but instead of the standard ‘stand and smile’, I asked them to walk a little bit away from me and then turn towards me. It creates a much more casual version of a traditional pose.”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

This week’s websites of the week come from The Girls Shoot and Andrea Hallgren Photography.

Amy and Steven’s maternity session was shot by Sarah Flores, Felecie Medellin, and Lucie Easterwood of The Girls Shoot. Lucie recalls, “We took Amy and Steven over to the South Shore Harbor Marina in Clear Lake, TX for some canoe time and also to the organic farmer’s market. Amy and Steven both love the water and enjoy being outdoors, so we knew these would be great spots for their session!” 

“This was one of the fist shots of the day. Amy and Steven walked down the ramp to the boat dock and turned around as they were waiting on us. The lighting and scenery was perfect! These two are truly naturals!”

“Amy was so brave standing on this moving dock being seven months pregnant to get this perfect shot!”

“The canoe ride was a bit scary at first, but once they were in we don’t think Amy minded being paddled around like a queen!”

“A quick change, and we headed to the organic farmer’s market. We loved their clothing choice for this spot!”

“Sunglasses were mandatory for this sunny day, and we think they rocked it!”

Andrea Hallgren of Andrea Hallgren Photography shot Sarah and Russ’ wedding in Franklin, TN. “Sarah and Russ had a beautiful garden wedding at the Carnton Plantation,” Andrea states. “Their outdoor wedding and reception with close friends and family couldn’t have been more wonderful! With beautiful summer colors and lovely details, this afternoon wedding was a perfect backdrop for their special day.”

“Sarah and Russ exchanged their vows under this beautiful oak tree. This photo captured the pure joy and love this sweet couple shares between them.”

“I love black and white photography, and I really felt this image captures the pure emotion surrounding their beautiful day.”

“This photo was taken on the side an old smokehouse building next to the Carnton home. I really love the texture of this wall and their wonderful expressions.”

“I thought this was such a cute shot of the two of them.”

“This 1960s blue Jaguar really made for a great backdrop, and of course this adorable couple didn’t hurt the shot either!”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

This week’s websites of the week come from LifeAsArt Photography and Laura Leslie Photography.

Shanon’s bridal portraits were shot by Jeremy and Amber Minnerick of LifeAsArt Photography in an old cotton mill in McKinney, TX. Jeremy recalls, “Shanon is having a destination wedding where she isn’t allowed to bring the photographer of her choice, so she wanted something unique for her bridal portraits. The rustic, old cotton mill in McKinney is one of our favorite locations for bridal shoots. Light falls perfectly no matter where you turn, and there are also many opportunities for adding creative light.”

“This shot really shows how gently Shanon’s beach wedding dress falls to the floor.”

“Here is a great example of how wonderful the available light is inside the mill.”

“The floors make for fantastic reflections.”

“There is an abandoned, cushion-less, green vintage couch left in the mill that works great for a few overhead portraits.”

“It had been raining most of the day, but once it let up we were able to get outside for a little while to capture the wonderful blue-ish mood left over from the storm.”

Laura Thompson of Laura Leslie Photography shot Elena and Fernando’s wedding in West Palm Beach, FL. “Elena and Fernando’s wedding took place in West Palm Beach, and their gorgeous reception was held in Boca Raton,” states Laura. “After the ceremony, we went to downtown Delray Beach, a great downtown location with a ton of amazing photo opportunities for the bride and groom shots. We had almost an hour for these shots, and it was fun walking around with them downtown!”

“Gorgeous tree downtown!”

“Love this and the tilt shift lens I used to get this shot.”

“Soft and romantic. She looked stunning.”

“We found this old shack downtown. This was also made with the tilt shift lens.”

“She loves him.”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

This week’s websites of the week come from Angela Lang Photography and Meurer Image Photography.

Angela Lang of Angela Lang Photography shot siblings Tasar and Kiran with their family at the Temescal Regional Park in Oakland, CA. “I love photographing in Temescal Regional Park,” states Angela. “This family was so fun and easygoing, and there was a lot of love between Tasar and Kiran. I loved all the candid moments they had together that show the comfort level that my clients have with me.”

“This family is so fun and easygoing. A casual walking shot was totally appropriate for one of their family portraits. I love photographing at Temescal Regional Park in Oakland, CA.”

“I’ve photographed this family before, but this time we added a nice portrait of just the parents into the mix. They hadn’t had a professional photo taken of them together since their wedding, so they were due. It wasn’t hard to capture their love because they are really connected.”

“I love this girl’s energy! I photographed her when she was six months old and again last month. She arrived decked out in her finest tutu and was a delight to photograph.”

“There was a lot of love between these siblings. The little sister bent over onto her brother’s lap without any prompting from me.”

“I have taken this kind of family portrait before, and mom said she loved it and wanted it for her own family. It turned out great because of all their big smiles. I was struck with how much joy this family has together, and I’m glad their personalities shone through in the images.”

Danielle and Paul’s wedding was shot by Meurer Image Photography at the Pechanga Resort in Temecula, CA. Andrew and Chris Meurer recall, “One thing both Danielle and Paul wanted from their photos was to capture the beauty of the day and the relaxed nature of the event. We could tell that Danielle and Paul were very much in love as their personalities shined through each photo. This was our first opportunity to photograph at this venue, and we were delighted to have such a classic environment to help make their vision come true.”

“The first image of Danielle is a classic shot. It’s something that we try to accomplish at every wedding. Every girl dreams of their gorgeous wedding dress, and this shot really catches the beautiful champagne lace and sash.”

“This photo was shot right after the wedding ended. It shows the venue while at the same time capturing the couple’s love for each other. The wedding party is admiring the couple and the beauty of the location while the couple shows that they can’t keep their eyes off each other.”

“As a photographer, you always try to capture the couple in a relaxed setting. The big day can sometimes be overwhelming, but in these two shots you see a couple that has all the time in the world for each other.”

“Another relaxed portrait of Daniele and Paul.”

“When you have an exquisite structure like this wooden bridge, you want to photograph all that it entails. From the great color of the wood to the depth that it creates with the landscape behind it, you want to maximize every shadow so that the great architecture really helps add to the emotion in the photo. The couple wanted to show beauty with simplicity on their wedding day, and it was definitely accomplished. As Danielle and Paul told us, ‘The photos are amazing, more than we could have ever asked for,’ and that is how we hope each couple feels about our work.”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

This week’s websites of the week come from Alicia’s Portraiture and Cali Sparing Photography.

Alicia Johnson of Alicia’s Portraiture shot Emy and Ava’s portraits at several Chicago landmarks. Alicia recalls, “My beautiful little models wanted to have their photos taken in front of their new home, at the Chicago Art Institute, and at the Millennium Fountains. Each location provided a unique backdrop for their portraits. There were a few moments during the day that made me realize how lucky I am to be a photographer.”

“I just love this image! This was taken at the beginning of the shoot and the girls were feeling very affectionate towards each other. I decided that we would start the day at the south gardens of the Chicago Art Institute. This particular garden is covered with a full canopy of beautiful flowering trees that acted as a perfect natural soft box for our lighting. The only thing that was posed about this picture is the placement of the girls in the garden. This was just such a pure and innocent moment of a little girl kissing her big sister. It just doesn’t get better than this. It’s moments like this that make me realize how lucky I am to be a photographer.”

“My beautiful little models wanted to have a picture taken in front of their new home. They just recently purchased a condo in the city and decided that they should commemorate it with a picture. So of course I obliged them and laid on the ground to shoot up in order to include as much of the building as possible. At the time I was aggravated that the tree was blocking the top of their building, but in the end, it made a nice frame for the girls.”

“Adding a texture and color adjustment to this picture added a vintage feel.”

“The contrast of the girls in pristine white dresses sitting on the grungy steps to the El train made for an intriguing story.”

“At the end of the session, the girls’ father had the idea of letting them trash their dresses in the Millennium Fountains. The shallow water gave the most beautiful reflections. It was an amazing end to the day!”

Becky and Derrick’s wedding was photographed by Cali Sparing of Cali Sparing Photography. “Becky and Derrick were married on a beautiful spring day in Bozeman, Montana,” states Cali. “After the ceremony, I took them to a huge yellow barn to accentuate the western-chic style of their wedding day. They also wanted to do something a little different, so I decided to photograph them in an underground parking garage littered with graffiti. Following this, they had a beautiful reception at the historic Baxter Hotel in downtown Bozeman, Montana. They are so happily in love and easy going, which made photographing them easy!”

“This was one of the first shots I took when we arrived at this beautiful yellow barn.”

“It had rained right before this shot. The sky opened up and created the most beautiful light, allowing all the colors to pop and the mountains to peek through in the background. A slight breeze also helped create a fun effect with Becky’s veil.”

“There was a huge mound of long, thick, green grass. I asked Becky and Derrick to lie down in it, and that’s when this image was captured. BEAUTIFUL!”

“This is an old underground parking garage in downtown Bozeman, Montana. I’ve always wanted to photograph here. With Becky and Derrick’s reception venue, the historic Baxter Hotel, just around the corner, it was the perfect opportunity. This is one of my all time favorite pictures. It’s simply fantastic.”

“Becky and Derrick had their reception here at the Baxter Hotel. This is also where Derrick proposed, and where Becky’s mom went into labor with Becky. It is a very special spot for the two of them, and was the perfect place their beautiful, intimate reception.”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

This week’s websites of the week come from Jennifer Werneth Photography and Barbie Hull Photography.

Jennifer Werneth of Jennifer Werneth Photography shot Alyson and Justin’s engagement session at Walt Disney World. Jennifer recalls, “Alyson and Justin wanted vivid color and great backdrops in their photos, so we took them to Epcot inside Walt Disney World. We started their session at the fountain in Morocco and ended in a courtyard in Italy.”

“Colorful tiles and beautiful architecture made this a romantic beginning.”

“I picked out this bright green door inside Morocco for this shot.”

“This was taken inside Morocco’s market where we found this fantastic red couch.”

“This fun shot in front of this electric red door is Alyson’s favorite.”

 “A final photo in front of the majestic fountain located in Italy’s courtyard.”

Michele and Sam’s intimate wedding was shot by Barbie Hull of Barbie Hull Photography. “Michele and Sam met at work and were both transferred to Seattle,” states Barbie. “They were married at The Januik Winery in Woodinville, Washington. Their family and friends all traveled in from around the globe to be with them on their special day.”

“Sam and Michele are the sweetest couple. She is more serious and he is the right amount of playful to make her laugh. He is always doing silly things and she just loves him that much more for it!”

“I have to say this is one of my favorite images. This fun couple is always cracking up, so it was a nice, quiet way to start the cocktail hour sitting in front of the bocce ball court, enjoying the view.”

“In both of our photo shoots, I noticed Sam’s favorite direction to look is towards Michele, so in this photo I had them go back to back. Michele is so cute and playful, and you can tell Sam is dying to sneak a peek! We laughed during the ENTIRE photo session!”

“This image was taken right after the ceremony, and since they were getting married at the Januik Winery, we HAD to spend a little time in the barrel room with glass-o-wine in hand!”

“This was the last photo of the evening. After dinner and the delicious cupcakes, we snuck away for a quiet moment by the fire and this amazingly glowing wall. The perfect end to the perfect day!”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

This week’s websites of the week come from Justin DeMutiis Photography and ultra-spective.

Justin DeMutiis of Justin DeMutiis Photography shot Chanae’s senior portraits in Ybor City, FL. Justin recalls, “One of the reasons I love doing senior portraits is because I get a chance to learn about seniors and talk about the excitement of college and future goals. Chanae is leaving to go to school in California, and she wants to be a doctor. Behind the camera, she already looks like a young professional. We did the shoot on what I think was one of the last nice days before summer.”

“This was one of the first shots right outside the parking garage. I asked if she watches America’s Next Top Model. What do you think her answer was?”

“I positioned her in the best light from the setting sun, gave her a few pointers, but she did the rest.”

“This was one of my favorite shots. She seemed to get more comfortable as the shoot went on and took direction very well.”

“I love her subtle expression in this shot. To me, her face and pose make this shot.”

“This alley is popular among photographers and other visual artists in the area. We were lucky to have it to ourselves to take advantage of the graffiti. I stood on a fire escape to grab this shot.”

Danielle and Cameron’s wedding was shot by Anna Vickroy of ultra-spective at the quaint Purple Orchid Inn in the Livermore Valley wine country. “Danielle and Cameron are two of the most calm and easygoing people I’ve met in a long time,” states Anna. “They admitted that they are somewhat camera shy, so we had a practice photo session the week prior to their wedding. On their wedding day, they were more comfortable and it was very easy to capture their fun-loving spirits.”

“The wedding party is standing in an olive orchard at the Purple Orchid Inn.  Cameron is awesome at dipping Danielle, so it was natural that when I asked him to kiss her, he made it dramatic!”

“We borrowed the couple towards the end of dinner service during the reception to capture a few romantic photographs before the sun set.”

“The view of the Livermore Valley is absolutely breathtaking, and the night was just so perfect.”

“Danielle was so stunning, and I had noticed throughout the evening how Cameron would look at her, so that is how this shot evolved.”

“This image was taken in the lobby of the Purple Orchid Inn. While all the guests were enjoying the reception, this was a moment for Danielle and Cameron to take a break and enjoy themselves.”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

This week’s websites of the week come from NEOART Photography and Chriselda Photography.

Ela Raveling of NEOART Photography shot Rebecca and Jim’s portraits at the construction site for the new Miami Marlins stadium. Ela recalls, “Rebecca and Jim got married recently and wanted to follow their wedding with an extreme art photo shoot. Jim is a project manager for the new Miami Marlins stadium that is being built, so after a few phone calls he was able to get us clearance to go inside the construction site. This was a fantastic location and probably a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to do such a shoot. We were able to use our definitively unique style to capture the beauty of the bride as well as this huge mega structure.”  

“Just after we took the last shot of the day and started to leave the Marlins stadium, a high school baseball team showed up to do a photo session inside the construction site. After a brief conversation, we got the whole team to stand next to the bride and took this picture. Next, everyone threw their caps up in the air while the bride stood still.”

“…And Jim thought this was only going to be about Rebecca. I love this shot because you can tell that they are sharing a moment between them, and just by the smile on his face you can tell she has one also.”

“This picture was taken between two concrete forms which were being supported by the red cross bars in the picture. The bride just happened to bring red boots with her, so there was only one thing to do – get her in there!”

“I guess this is what they do during their lunch break!”

“This picture is on the very top of the stadium where you can see for miles! The stadium stairs have not been installed yet, and there are just huge gaps between the concrete forms. Where his leg is hanging down there is a 30+ foot fall, so they were very careful getting into position for this location!”

Peyton and Ashley’s wedding was shot by Chriselda Reyes of Chriselda Photography in Woodlands, TX. “This couple is very special to me,” Chriselda states. “Peyton’s father passed away a few weeks prior to the wedding after losing his battle with cancer. Ashley told me that she was proud of the man Peyton had become through such a trying time in his life. She looked at him that entire day as if she were repeating that in her mind. For this very precious couple, the entire day was an expression of the deep love and appreciation that they have for each other. To me, a successful wedding day is one where you see a reflection of the couple’s love for one another throughout the day. A reminder of the faith, hope, and passion we all crave and admire. To say that they had a successful wedding would be an understatement.”

“This was just moments after the wedding. I asked Peyton and Ashley to stand with each other while I ‘tested my lighting’, and they put their heads together and I knew I had a great image. This image epitomizes their wedding day and their love for each other!”

“We stayed behind the church while guests cleared out, and we were able to enter again to take family photos. The chapel is nestled in the woods and made for the perfect backdrop for their photos!”

“This chapel is absolutely breathtaking! Peyton and Ashley stood at the altar for the traditional pose with the two of them. I love the windows, the stone floor, and the trees in the back!”

“This is the Chapel in the Woods in Woodlands, TX. I might have jumped like a giddy little girl when I saw the inside of the chapel! It is simply stunning and the PERFECT place for their wedding. The windows at the front of the church provide a perfect view of the tall trees.”

“Their wedding reception was held at the Greenspoint Club in Houston, TX. Peyton and Ashley took the dance floor for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. It was such a sweet and heartfelt moment.”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.

This week’s websites of the week come from La Bella Vita Photography and Jeff Evrard Photography.

D.J. Ellis of La Bella Vita Photography shot Sarah and Matthew’s engagement session in Fresno, CA. D.J. recalls, “Sarah and Matthew were born and bred in Fresno where you’ll see a lot of farms and a whole lot of cowboys. This being said, it was important to Sarah that their photos reflect who they were and what their hometown is all about. She’d call herself sort of a cowgirl, and being an agricultural town, Fresno’s old broken down barns, deserted farm trucks, and glorious fields of colorful wildflowers really speak volumes to the nature of its soul. Towards the end of the night, we headed to Jim-Bo’s, which is a genuine Clovis cowboy bar and pool hall. It all seemed to weave perfectly together the feel of this rustic town with the romance between these two lovers.”

“I loved the idea of Sarah’s shirt matching the color of these Red Bud trees. Funnily, the colors are so similar that if you stand back far enough, it looks like she’s one of the leaves falling to the ground!”

“If you live in Fresno, these wildflowers are no stranger to your eyes. They shoot up in every field all over town at certain times of the year, and it’s always kind of sad when they’re plowed down.”

“Sarah insisted we take some photos in front of an old truck - something about the cowgirl in her! But for me, I love the contrast of the beautiful young couple sitting up against this old, worn down farm truck.”

“As an artist, I love the juxtaposition of this ‘granny’ couch out in the middle of a field where it clearly doesn’t belong. But for Sarah, she just loves the sentimentality of the fact that she’s sitting on her Grandmother’s old sofa…in the middle of a field.”

“Ah yes, Jim-Bo’s bar. A local landmark where you will find cowboys, cowgirls, pool tables, plenty of beer and dancing, a guaranteed good time, and if you’re lucky, a couple getting cozy near the pool tables.”

Liz and Mike’s wedding was shot by Jeff Evrard of Jeff Evrard Photography near the Sprint World Headquarters Campus. “For this wedding, I happened to have an extremely creative bride that was down for anything,” states Jeff. “We headed to a large hill just off the Sprint World Headquarters Campus to take portraits of the bride, groom, and their wedding party. There, we were able to get the majority of the shots. The rest of the portraits were taken near that location. Amazingly, some of the photos, due to time constraints, were done in a strip mall parking lot!”

“Just off Town Center Plaza in Leawood, KS.”

“This was taken at the strip mall parking lot near 135th and Mission Road.”

“Sprint World Headquarters Campus East Hills – originally supposed to be long wheat, but they mowed it the day before. Bummer, but we made it work!”

“Another shot making it work!”

“Bride and best friend strike a pose. Weddings go fashion.”

To view the complete events, visit our websites of the week page.