On our own anniversary (which is October 1, 2005 in case anyone is tracking) we often pull out our wedding album and relive all the happiness which was (and continues to be) our wedding. To help Dustin and Katie celebrate, we thought we would put together a few images to remember all the fun details from their big day.

For us, the best part of photographing Katie and Dustin had to be how much time we had to work with them.  We spent a couple hours just on bridal portraits—about an hour on the grounds of the Newport Beach Temple for formal shots followed by an hour of portraits at The Lab in Costa Mesa for photos with a more casual look.  It was awesome not to have any time constraints for portraits before heading to their reception later that evening.

In fact, we had so much fun taking pictures at their wedding that we actually added a special package aimed at budget-conscious LDS couples who still appreciate great wedding photography (check out our Orange County LDS wedding photo package).

So without further ado, here are some highlights from Katie and Dustin’s wedding.

Congratulations love birds!

We’re pretty sure this is what most brides have in mind!  After several weeks of rain, the sun finally made its return to Orange County, just in time to shine a little light on Katie and Dustin’s wedding.  These two tied the knot last Saturday at the LDS Temple in Newport Beach.  Keith and I had the honor of photographing this duo after their temple sealing. You might remember Katie and Dustin from their engagement session we shot in Oak Glen last fall.

After about an hour at the temple grounds, we visited the Lab in Costa Mesa for some more casual portraits. Katie and Dustin are adorable together!

And did we mention that Katie looked stunning?! Keith captured her perfectly.  One of our favorite shots of the day!

The Lab was the perfect spot for these relaxed portraits.  Their wedding colors of yellow and black blended perfectly with the anti-mall’s decor.

Congratulations to Katie and Dustin!!! We hope you enjoy this sneak peek!

And are you an LDS bride planning your big day? We offer special LDS Wedding photography packages customized around the traditional Mormon wedding day. Check it out and contact us for more details.

The Y. Family - Irvine

The B. Family – Irvine

The K. Family - Irvine

The Y. Family – Orange County

The S. Family – Aliso Creek Beach

The G. Family – Irvine Regional Park

The T. Family – Orange County

The Y. Family – Mission San Juan Capistrano

Megan + Stuart - Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano

Instigator – San Juan Capistrano

The L. Family - Anaheim Hills/Yorba Linda

The K. Family – Aliso Creek Beach

The S. Family – Irvine

Stephani + Alex – Seal Beach

William – Orange County

The L. Family - Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano

The A. Family – Dana Point Ocean Institue

The Y. Family - Irvine

The C. Family – Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano

The L. Family – Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano

The F. Family – Orange County

Baby Elle – Brea

The V. Family – Irvine

The T. Family - Dana Point Ocean Institute

The C. Family – Dana Point Ocean Institute

The S. Family – Irvine

The P. Family – Irvine

The B. Family – Orange County

The T. Family – Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano

The A. Family - The Lab, Costa Mesa

The B. Family - The Lab, Costa Mesa

The K. Family - The Camp, Costa Mesa

But last December, we had a family approach us to do their holiday pictures, and they wanted something different. Something colorful. Something funky. Something like…the Lab and the Camp in Costa Mesa.

We previously shot an engagement session at this fun little “anti-mall” located on opposite sides of Bristol, south of South Coast Plaza. The L. family included Jenny, Pat, and their fantastic four-year-old son, Harrison, who all showed up wearing coordinated, but not identical outfits (and they got extra style points right off the bat for that).

If you have the time you could probably spend all day exploring the artsy nooks and sitting areas at just the Lab or the Camp. But during our short time with the L. Family, we picked about 10 locations that lended some flair to their pictures. We think the results speak for themselves.

On a side note, Keith and I both agree that four years old is just about the perfect age for children to really participate in a family session. Harrison is proof of that.  This four-year-old was super cute, well-behaved, and took direction. Plus he looked polished in his button-up shirt and woven sweater.

Much thanks to the L. family for allowing us to work outside the box on this one!  We can’t wait to figure out where we’re going to photograph your 2010 photo session.

April and Matt were awesome to photograph.  When we arrived to meet them they first wowed us with their great style—April’s mustard sweater and shoes added pop to the photos and complimented the blues and grays in Matt’s sweater and jeans perfectly.  Then we were wowed with their willingness to have fun with each other in front of the camera.  Using the Lab or the Camp as a background for engagement or family photos may be not the top choice for every couple or family.  But for those up for some fun in a funky and colorful location, it’s perfect.  Just view the slideshow and see for yourself.

But change isn’t just limited to our website—it’s also in our photos!  This month Keith and I had the awesome opportunity to photograph the L. Family.  But this was no ordinary family session.  Instead of heading to a park or the beach, we opted for the Lab and the Camp in Costa Mesa.  The urban, eclectic backdrop offered a ton of color and texture that just can’t be found anywhere else.  You may remember that we photographed April and Matt’s engagement session at these same spots earlier this year.  But this sneak peek photo proves that the Lab and the Camp isn’t just great for couples, it’s also perfect for families.

Do you know of a hidden gem like this in Orange County?  If you do, don’t be shy.  Tell us about it.  We’d love to meet you there for a session.