Being a photographer is like watching your kids head off to college. We produce loads of heartfelt images throughout the year – we nurture them and love them and perfect them – and then wholeheartedly send them out to our clients and to the world. I get deep satisfaction through the process of creating these photographs and prepping them for our couples to enjoy, and I could spend hours going back through old blog posts reliving our favorite weddings and moments.
But today’s post is like your kid coming home at Christmas break and giving you a giant, squishy-faced, belly-squeezing hug.
The last few months of 2013 left little time for reflection for Jeff and me, but when January came we decided to revive something that we’ve done in the past and loved. Instead of Jeff and me picking out our favorite images and moments from 2013 to share here on the bloggy-blog, we asked our couples to give us their favorites and a short description as to why. As the replies came rolling in, my heart grew about ten times bigger as I read the responses through laughter, swoons, and tears.
And you know what? So many of our couples favorite images are also my favorite images. (Have I mentioned that our couples have impeccable taste?) And then there are some GORGEOUS images that our couples picked out that I had simply overlooked in the highlighting and blogging process. (Again, impeccable taste…)
Today, we are featuring the images that our couples from 2013 have named as their favorite images from their engagement session, and tomorrow we’ll be featuring their favorite wedding images. I encouraged couples to narrow their response down to one image only, but they could pick up to three images and could pick a ‘groom’s favorite’ and a ‘bride’s favorite’ if that made things easier. Plus, they sent a short, one sentence reason as to why they love these particular images.
So here we go! Grab some tea, tissues, and a fuzzy blanket because these posts are going to be goo-oo-ood and you’ll definitely want to spend some time reliving YOUR favorite sessions and weddings from this past year!
ALAN AND ANNETTE | GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY, LOS ANGELES, CA
“The picture at the telescope sign is a beautiful composition, with the soft light and pale green of the sign creating the perfect backdrop for Annette’s vibrant coral dress. I love her smile, the casual way her hair drapes across her check, and how effortlessly beautiful she looks in this photo.”
JOSH AND CORINNE | FELICITA PARK, ESCONDIDO, CA
“I love this picture personally because I know Josh said something goofy and silly in my ear to make me laugh, so those are genuine laughs! And that’s Josh, always trying to make me laugh, everyday.”
“This picture I feel encompasses a large part of our relationship, I’m the girly delicate one and Josh is my protector and provider, watching me from a distance, and in this picture so endearingly. Plus, the lighting is ridiculous!”
BRENT AND ADELE | LA JOLLA, CA
“I cannot even accurately explain how much I love this photo! Not only does Brent look adorably nerdy in lab gear, this photo portrays our fun, playful side.”
“This photo is pure perfection! From the colors to our placement on the cliff. The emotions represented in this photo are also incredibly meaningful – this is us, looking forward to what lies ahead, ready for anything!”
JIMMY AND VIVIAN |UC SAN DIEGO, LA JOLLA, CA
“We love this photo because it brings a smile to our face whenever we look at it. It captured our genuine smiles and we love the uniqueness of the photo.”
JUSTIN AND ALEXIA | LAKE TAHOE, CA
“On our engagement shoot, it felt like it was the first time since being engaged that we slowed down and focused on each other. It’s a day we will always remember.”
RUSS AND ALYSSA | LA JOLLA, CA
“Russ and I have so many favorite photos that it is so hard to pick one. This is the one that received the most likes on our blog post…”
“…and Russ has said that this is one of his favorites of all of our photos. I think we both love it because we finally relaxed and you can just tell that we are happy and in love. The timing for the light was also perfect.”
CHRISTIAN AND APRIL | SAN DIEGO, CA
“We love this image because it reminds us of how much fun we have. Jeff told Christian to ‘whisper things in my ear’ and since we were getting hungry, Christian was whispering some of our favorite junk food – ‘French fries, Western Bacon Cheeseburgers, Milkshakes, In & Out Burgers…'”
ALEX AND ANGELA | SAN DIEGO, CA
“Our favorite because it wouldn’t be a photo of us if one of us didn’t have a shit-eating grin on their face!!”
JASON AND CARISSA | SAN DIEGO, CA
Carissa’s Favorite: “I love the silhouette of our figures and cameos of our faces in the moonlight with the old fashion sign of our favorite downtown hotel in the background. It communicates such love and intimacy of our relationship. I love black and white photos – it’s very French and romantic to me. It was amazing you and Jeff were able to capture this. It was more than we could have ever dreamt of!”
Jason’s Favorite: “An intimate moment upon the rooftop. I love the juxtaposition of our private embrace amidst the hustle and bustle of the city beneath us. I’ve always loved how Carissa fits neatly under my chin when holding each other. On her face is such peace as if she never had an ounce of worry. Gazing off into the night, thoughts of a future with the one I love wash over me. What promise lies ahead as we dream of our new life together.”
DAVE AND CAITLIN | SEATTLE, WA
“This picture captures just about all of our favorites: good food, Pike Place Market, our city, time together, good wine, and good company. Just yesterday, we wandered the crowded pathways of Pike Place Market to pick up dinner fixings. We both are truly happiest when exploring our city with good friends and this picture says that all! We have the best memories of that night with you guys and have the pictures to forever remember it!”
NED AND KIM | DIXON LAKE, ESCONDIDO, CA
Ned’s Favorite: “Look at my wife’s smile! How I feel oh-so-lucky when I see this photo. Of course, she wasn’t my wife yet as it was the engagement session, but just the idea that she can express that emotion when she wraps her arm around mine gives me butterflies all over again. Thanks for forcing two scopophobic people to prance around that beautiful setting.
Kim’s Favorite: “This photo captures so many beautiful elements: the black and white makes the scene feel timeless, while the blurred foliage feels soft and dreamy. Just beautiful.”
ERIC AND LACEY | LOS ANGELES, CA
“We love that this picture could be any two lovers in a big city-but it’s us! We love the artsy feel of it and we think it could be a museum photography art exhibit.”
JASON AND KYM | SAN DIEGO, CA
Jason’s Favorite: “To introduce us at our reception, Kym and I orchestrated a silent film shoot in Balboa park. We invited The Youngrens to come and play with us that day and play we did. As we rehearsed this scene, I don’t know if Kym is looking at me, the camera or Jeff (Youngren) dressed as a priest (ask him). Either way, its sincerity and playfulness warms my heart.”
Kym’s Favorite: “Has the light ever favored a subject so well as it does right here? I always, always break into a big, punch-drunk smile whenever I see this shot. Not only is Jason game to dive headfirst into every adventure our collective, crazy imaginations lead us toward, he can rock a jaunty chapeau like nobody’s business. I married that!”
TIM AND TRISH | SAN FRANCISCO, CA
” I love the way this scoured out “future” little family!”
DANIEL AND LAUREN | ATLANTA, GA
“Our love story is a fairy tale and this picture takes us out of Atlanta and straight into a Lord of the Rings set. We love it because we are both geeks and it’s our movie fairy tale picture.”
“We’ve been told by others that they clearly see the love we have for each other in our eyes. This pictures shows the adoration and joy we get from being together.”
“This photo is full of personality and it shows our character. Dancing brought us together and this picture shows why. It also shows how Daniel loves to lean in for a kiss whenever he can.”
KEVIN AND LARA | POINT LOMA, CA
“I love this picture because it shows us in our element- in running clothes on the track! We met, fell in love, and got engaged running, so it’s really fun to be reminded of it.”
“I love the beautiful natural colors in this picture! I remember us looking at each other, feeling so excited about everything to come, and this picture brings me back to that special time in our lives.”
Stay tuned for tomorrow when we feature our couples’ favorite wedding images of 2013!
Hugs,
Erin
