Heidi Ryder Photography: The Blog » Southern California and Destination Wedding Photography

Yustine and Chris’ San Juan Capistrano engagement session was pretty ideal in every way. We had several great locations to work with, a beautiful day with beautiful light, perfect weather, and Yustine and Chris couldn’t be any cuter together! When I first met these two last year during their consultation, Yustine and I bonded over our love for boba, and I was smitten with the two of them instantly. They were both so easy-going and friendly, it was impossible not to be! I was so happy when they wrote me afterwards to tell me they wanted me to photograph their wedding.

Because of that first meeting and subsequent exchange of emails, I knew the three of us were going to have a fun day during their engagement session, and I was not disappointed. We started at Mission San Juan Capistrano, which was a first time visit for all of us. The mission is incredibly gorgeous and a perfect backdrop for photos because there is so much variation. I truly felt like I could shoot there for the rest of my life and never get bored!

It was really hard for me to edit this session down – there were so many great ones to choose from! Here are some of my faves…

Now, I don’t use the word fabulous a lot, but there is just no other word to describe these two. Wouldn’t you agree?

After finishing up at the mission, we headed to the Los Rios Historic District of San Juan Capistrano and took advantage of the adorable houses and storefronts found along the tree-lined streets.

During our shoot, Yustine told me she made Chris practice poses with her for their shoot. I thought that was adorable and so funny to hear! Chris showed me his favorite “pose” – check out his form! Good work, Chris.

Finally, I followed Chris and Yustine to Crystal Cove, which is where Chris proposed. I always love getting the opportunity to go back to the place where it all began with my clients. That’s a very special part of their lives that they’re letting me revisit with them and I consider it a great privilege. So, I was happy to head to the beach with these two, but I was absolutely floored when I discovered how amazingly gorgeous Crystal Cove is. SO. GOOD.

Yustine and Chris, you guys are so fun!! Thank you so much for being all-around great! I am so looking forward to your wedding day AND our boba/dinner double date!

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When Robin and I were discussing ideas for her and Alejandro’s engagement session, Southern California was in the midst of a week-long rain storm. I can’t even remember the last time it rained so much in So Cal. Robin and I both love rainy, gloomy weather and thought it would be awesome if it rained a little bit on the day of their shoot. Umbrellas! Galoshes! Hats! Coats! We were excited at the thought.

But, alas, there was no rain to speak of on the day of the shoot. But it wasn’t exactly a sunny day either. Don’t tell Mother Nature, but I ended up being thankful for the lack of rain because we wouldn’t have been able to utilize at least two of our great locations, and since it wasn’t very bright out we still got to pull off the cold weather look in the end. Best of both worlds!

Robin and Alejandro made my job easy. They are so warm and kind to each other that there’s just this sort of peacefulness that happens when you’re in their presence. I didn’t have to direct them much, they were just happy to hug and stare into each other’s eyes for–well, forever, I’m guessing. And that’s why I love my job. You try being unhappy when you’re in the presence of love. I was actually super tired before this shoot and by the end of it, I was completely rejuvenated. As a gentleman by the name of Huey Lewis would say, that’s the Power of Love.

Robin and Alejandro, thanks so much for the fun time! You guys make me happy.

We started off underneath this beautiful flowering tree.Robin is a writer and an avid reader and Alejandro is a musician so we incorporated some props. Robin brought several gorgeous books and Alejandro brought some of his drums.

She read to him and he played a drum, called a djembe, for her. Alejandro joked that these photos would be missing sound so people wouldn’t get the full experience. So, please imagine the gorgeous sound of the djembe while viewing these.

The next one makes me laugh. Alejandro placed an orange on Robin’s head, and then he preceded to chomp at it. CHOMP!

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I had been looking forward to Alexandra and Michael’s engagement session at Disneyland since the day I first met them and they mentioned they might like to have their engagement photos taken at the Happiest Place on Earth. I, of course, was thrilled at this idea and was so excited when it all worked out! The three of us met at the front entrance to the park bright and early on a Sunday morning in an effort to beat the crowds. If you’ve never been to Disneyland that early before, it’s a bit of a ghost town, at least for a few minutes, before the crowds start to really filter in. It was surreal, but fun!

It was especially fun to explore the park with these two. They both love Disneyland, Michael especially. He knew all kinds of cool facts about the park and it was awesome to see it through his eyes for a little bit. Disneyland was the perfect location for this shoot and I’m so happy I was able to be a part of it. Alexandra and Michael, thanks so much for exploring Disney in the early hours with me—I cannot wait for your wedding in August!

Here are a few of my favorites of the day…

Obviously we had to hit up the tea cups. This was the first time I had been on that ride in probably 20 years and we went on it twice in a row! I only got slightly dizzy…

We found a love tester and it told Alexandra and Michael that their love was uncontrollable. Obviously!

This next shot was requested by Michael who wore his ears proudly alongside his very accommodating fiancée–she wouldn’t have donned mouse ears for anyone but him. That’s true love. 

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It is always an incredible honor when my work gets picked up on other sites. Especially when those sites are some of my favorite reads. This is the second time my work has been featured on Green Wedding Shoes and I couldn’t be more pleased! Jen decided to feature Jackqueline and Jeremy’s Griffith Observatory engagement session with the adorable handmade pinwheels. Mucho thanks to Jen! Click the screen shot below to see the whole feature!

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Jen and Will’s Santa Monica engagement session had to be split up into two days because the first shoot was rudely interrupted by very strong, cold winds. And when I say winds I mean, like, we may or may not have been in a tornado. Okay, maybe it wasn’t quite that dramatic, but Jen and I both agreed it was impossible for a girl’s hair to look it’s best for photos when it’s uncontrollably being whipped this way and that. So, we stopped mid-shoot and rescheduled for a later date. And, because we’ve been kind to the planet and are owed lots of good karma from Mother Nature, we were blessed with an absolutely gorgeous second shoot day!

Jen and Will found me through Will’s co-worker Oliver, whose Rec Center Studios wedding in Echo Park is still one of my favorites because of how genuine, personal and touching the ceremony was. Though Jen and Will were both at Amanda and Oliver’s wedding, we didn’t have the pleasure of meeting until we scheduled a dinner together to talk about their own wedding. I liked them both instantly and felt like I was having dinner with old friends, and I was so excited when they chose me as their wedding photographer. Their engagement session was, again, just like hanging out with my friends – my adorably in love friends. Those are the best kind, really.

Jen and Will, thanks so much for hanging out with me and showing me around your ‘hood! I can’t wait for your wedding next month!

So I know I’ve said this before, but I just love it when my couples bring along props for their shoots! Will and Jen’s wedding is going to have a bit of an apple theme, so Will picked out these tiny, perfect little apples especially for their engagement session. Will’s last name (soon to be Jen’s!) starts with a ‘P’, so the pewter ‘P’ was another great personal touch. So cute!

When we were brainstorming ways to incorporate the apples, Will asked me if I wanted him to juggle them. Jen was surprised because she had no idea he knew how to juggle! So, obviously I had to document Jen’s first time seeing her future husband’s juggling skills. Not bad, Will, not bad at all…

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I was so happy to hang out with Annie and Gero for a little bit before I left for WPPI in Vegas. I met up with them at Annie’s parent’s home in Santa Monica, which is the very same house she grew up in. If that’s not a personal location, I don’t know what is! This session was rescheduled from the previous weekend when we were rained out. It also rained on this day, but it was the only day that worked for all of us, so we had to keep the date, rain or shine. And wouldn’t you know it, it rained while I was driving over there and it rained the second I left to head home after the shoot, but it stayed perfectly dry the entire time were outside shooting. Couldn’t have planned it any better, even if I tried!

Even in the short time I spent with them,  it was clear to me that Annie and Gero are perfect for one another. They’re both kind and warm, aren’t really fans of being in front of the camera, and they both adore their sweet dog, Marty, who was a bundle of energy during our shoot since she had been cooped up inside most of the day due to rain. Photographing this session really felt just like hanging out with old friends and I’m so excited I get to photograph their wedding in May!

Even though they weren’t excited about being photographed, I like to think I made it at least a little bit enjoyable for them and I love the simple and sweet images we made that day. Annie and Gero, thanks for being good sports! Enjoy…

When Annie was growing up, her mom would take a picture of her on the front porch on the first day of school every year. I thought it was pretty neat that another one of Annie’s milestone was being documented on the same porch.

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Last year around this time I headed to Las Vegas for WPPI, a photography tradeshow and convention for wedding and portrait photographers. I had a blast and I am excited to do it again this year! I expect to learn much, laugh much and WALK much! Me and 10,000 of my peers will be invading Sin City with cameras in tow. It’s bound to get intersting!

I will be back in the office responding to all emails and inquiries on Thursday, March 11th. Thanks for your patience.

Here’s an image from a shoot I did at the Neon Boneyard last year. You can see more here: Neon Boneyard Photos Part 1, Neon Boneyard Photos Part 2. I’m participating in another group shoot this time and I’m looking forward to sharing those images with you, too!