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

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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