Exactly one year ago today, these two tied the knot in a wedding that was filled with an abundance of friends, family, emotion, and of course, the color pink!  We were only able to post a few shots from their wedding at the end of last year.  So to celebrate their first anniversary as Mr. and Mrs. we’re recapping a few of our favorite details from their big day.

Keith and I knew we were in for a treat when we arrived at Green Hills Baptist Church in La Habra on the morning of the wedding.  Their families had spent the previous couple of days decorating the church to fit Jenna and Matthew’s pink and black-and-white damask theme.

We loved the bottles of cider ready to greet guests at the entrance of the reception area.

After taking in the details, we headed upstairs to find Jenna and the girls getting ready.

With hair and makeup complete, we followed Jenna to nearby Creek Park in La Mirada.  The purpose of this excursion: Jenna and Matthew’s first look.  We love that Jenna and Matthew opted to meet and take photographs together before the ceremony.

Yes, it does break with tradition, but the benefits are worth it.  During the fall and winter months, the sun sets much earlier.  By taking photos before the ceremony, Keith and I were able to take advantage of the early afternoon light and not have to worry about chasing down the sun and popping our flashes.  Plus, the mood was relaxed and calm.  Time was built into Jenna’s wedding schedule so that all photos for the first look, family portraits, and bridal party would be shot before the ceremony.  With that plan, there’s no need to worry about keeping guests waiting at the reception.

And here’s proof that a first look is just as emotional as when a bride sees her groom for the first time coming down the aisle.

Jenna and Matthew’s church ceremony has to be one of our favorites.  Jenna’s dad not only walked her down the aisle, be also officiated the ceremony.  It’s always nice to witness a ceremony where the officiant knows both the bride and groom so well.

And perhaps our favorite moment—Jenna and Matthew’s sparkler send-off.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Taylor! You’re a special couple and we hope you have a great time celebrating your first anniversary!

This is the response I often get when I refer to my hometown.  But maybe that’s a good thing.  Nestled just north of the Orange County line is the city where I grew up and spent 20+ years.  It’s more notable neighboring cities are Whittier and La Habra.  The neighborhood where I used to live has remained relatively unchanged over the years.  And that’s a good thing, especially when it comes to one of the area’s hidden gems: Creek Park.

Last Fourth of July weekend I got to hang out at Creek Park with Greta, Chris, and Nate for Nate’s two-and-a-half-year photos.  The park has great grass cover and trees which provided shade during the warm afternoon.  Creek Park also has a number of cute wood bridges, an amphitheater, and even an old horse trail.  Need more proof, just out the C. Family’s session.

But enough about the park.  How about Nate?  I think this grin speaks for itself.  Much thanks to Greta and Chris for such a fun afternoon!

Springtime is a great time to take family photographs in the O.C.  And for this session, the C. Family took full advantage of the season with a fun morning session at Creek Park in La Mirada (yes, technically this is not Orange County… but it’s very close!). The two boys were adorable with their big smiles and matching white shirts, and they got along great during the portrait session.

We love these next two shots. The difference in their heights reminds of the old Cingular Wireless ads.

Much thanks to the C. Family! We look forward to seeing you again this year!

But we hope to break that streak with this post…a sneak peek of Nate at our secret location in La Mirada, just a tad northwest of the Orange County line.  Nate’s awesome parents Greta and Chris booked this photo session to capture Nate at two-and-a-half years old.  You might remember his dapper two-year session last fall. It was great watching Chris teach Nate how to bowl, but I think Nate had more fun just picking up the pins.  And while I took several posed shots of Nate, which I’ll include in a future post, this particular afternoon reminded me that it’s often capturing those candid moments of just playing a game or interacting with one another that make a family session much more special.