Despite my feelings towards running, I thought I would try it and chase this elusive “runner’s high.” I found the best local spot I could, with great scenery to give me the best chance of enjoying the sport. Long story short, after a month of running every day I never hit a runner’s high. Despite great music blaring through my iPod, brilliant scenery, nice running shoes, and great weather, I still hated running just as much as before.

That leads us to Richard and Aileen, I know, it doesn’t seem related, but it sort of is… sort of. You see, Richard and Aileen have complete trust in me as a photographer. So when I asked where they wanted to shoot, they said, “we don’t care, we trust you, you pick!” So, while running didn’t work out so well, the spot where I ran has always been in the back of my mind as a great spot for a shoot. So I said, cool, let’s go to Peter’s Canyon and shoot there!

Richard and Aileen complied, and we headed out to Peter’s Canyon after making a brief stop at Citrus Park in Tustin. We had a fabulous time chatting and goofing off… oh, and taking pictures.  Richard and Aileen are definitely two of the most natural couples I have shot. They needed to help when it came to acting natural or even with long bits of  PDA =).

I had a blast hanging out with Richard and Aileen during their best friend Colin and Josie’s Wedding. I had a blast shooting their engagement session, and I am truly stoked to see what kind of crazy partying we do at their wedding!

You guys are brilliant together, enjoy the photos! =)

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Clouds, sun, fields, yep… I think this calls for a bit of HDR action.

Nice butts!…They must work out.

The twinkling of the backlit trees at Citrus Park was gorgeous.

I told you we had a blast goofing around, the next series of shots should show that nicely =).

Yeah, your buff Aileen. No seriously, she actually lifted him up.

Richard and Aileen’s version of Magnum, or is it Blue Steel… not sure, but it’s haaawt!

Our first shot at Peter’s Canyon. Shot equation: Back Flash + Front Flash + Sun + Hot couple making out = Crazy cool

Shooting through tall grass is one of our favorite looks. Has such a soft and intimate feel to the imagery.

You don’t always need multiple lights to create the look of having multiple lights, you do need some creativity… Oh, and a few $30 reflectors =)

Engagement Session Location: Citrus Park, Tustin

If you are interested in booking Lin and Jirsa Photography for your wedding, please visit our Contact Page or call our studio manager at 714.323.5536

If you are interested in booking Lin and Jirsa Photography for your wedding, please visit our Contact Page or call our studio manager at 714.323.5536

So, what made the shoot extra fun and personalized is the amount of attention and detail these two put into planning ideas for the shoot. They had multiple wardrobe changes, props galore and a trooper attitude to do pretty much whatever I wanted to get the shot =). This planning and effort on their part allowed us to deliver a very personalized product that is a direct reflection of Camrin and Jonas’ wonderful personalities.

We started off the shoot in San Juan Capistrano at a small park across from the Amtrak Station. As usual, we started off with a basic set of portraits prior to going into our typical LJP fun and artistic session. What made it awesome was how Jonas and Camrin were just itching themselves to get the good stuff. After I showed the couple a few basic portraits from the start of the session, Jonas was like, “so these are good portraits, but we aren’t going to do too many of these right?” “Don’t worry Jonas, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” I reassured him.

Well, Jonas and Camrin I hope you guys enjoyed the shoot as much as we did. I love working with creative individuals, especially when they are as kind and fun as you two. So, enjoy the photos guys and know that I am stoked to see what kind of shots we come up with at the wedding =).

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I know guys, I know, but you need to have at least a couple basic portraits… You know, for posterity sake… Oh, and so your parents don’t kill us!

A trail, a park, yeah, I think we need to do a few walking candids. I am just glad Jonas is a comedic virtuoso when it comes to making Camrin laugh.

Back lighting, back lighting, back lighting, need I say more?

Always time for a little train track balancing act… hey that rhymed!

This went something like, “Hey guys, let’s do some cool serious fashion shots against this grungy shed.” Apparently, they had a different definition and idea when it came to the term “serious fashion shots.”

Ok, so after the shot you see above, which is literally 5 feet away from the train tracks. The deafening train horn sounded and we all jumped back against the wall as the train blasted through going what felt like a bajillion miles per hour just a few feet from our faces. While the train was passing, I had an idea, perhaps a not safe idea, but an idea none-the-less. “Quick Camrin, in 5 seconds jump up and give Jonas a big kiss!” I thumbed through my camera settings like a crazy person strung out on ten 5-hour-energy shots (this is actually a bit too accurate a description come to think of it) adjusting my shutter down to 1/40th of a second, ISO down to 100, aperture to F4 and got this shot just as Camrin jumped into Jonas’ arms before the train finished passing. Probably one of my favorite shots to date.

Jonas and Camrin told me the concept behind this next shot was to shoot them how they were in college, two completely different people living around each other but without really acknowledging or being a part of each others’ lives. You see, in college Camrin was one of the popular sorority girls while Jonas was one of the artistic and musical hippy types. Like oil and water… so at least they thought back then =)

So, my take on this shot was to first show them leading their separate lives in the before shot. Then in the after shot (two shots below) show them meeting with more dramatic colors and in love with a little “love halo” of light surrounding them.

This is Jonas’ serious face. Family formals, here we come!

Jonas and Camrin are both quite the intellectuals. They both love reading, and so they brought a collection of their favorite books which we used to setup the little “inspired” reading session you see below.

If you are interested in booking Lin and Jirsa Photography for your wedding, please visit our Contact Page or call our studio manager at 714.323.5536

So, anyway, we started with some basic portraits and then just moved our way through downtown Laguna Beach shooting. I must say that while Laguna Beach is a city and area we have shot dozens if not hundreds of times by now, it is amazing that every time we shoot there, our shots still come out looking different. Every time we are there, we see things we didn’t see before, or create shots in ways we didn’t before. It is amazing at how many ways you can view and shoot the exact same scene.

Why is this the case? I don’t really know. Perhaps it is because each time we go back to Laguna Beach we have gained some additional perspective and possibly insight, maybe this time I am in a slightly different mood than the time before, perhaps it is our couples personalities that make us view a location in a different light? Maybe it’s a combination of everything. But, all I know is that no matter how many times I go to Laguna Beach, I always come back with unique shots.

I think that may be the reason I love photography so much. The fact that while everyone is playing with virtually the same ingredients (a camera, a scene, a subject) we are all creating images that are completely different based upon our experiences and personalities that has shaped our lives up to that point. The passing of a year, month or even a single day can affect our perspectives enough to completely change the way we see and visualize a scene.

Anyway, Farimah and Ehsan, I hope you guys enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. I wish to thank our wonderful assistant Olivia for her help during this session. She was quite the trooped in helping me carry virtually everything for the shoot and assist with lighting when needed.

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Nothing like a bench, a couple, and a boy with a little charm in his pocket. Good job Ehsan ; )

Candids are so simple, yet they will always be one of my favorite types of shots. Just simple emotions, caught and immortalized on film… or memory cards rather, haha.

Gorgeous eyes anyone? Yes please!

We are big fans of film, and film style grain. While we are shooting digitally, it is nice to be able to create that look and effect to stamp an image with a timeless look and feel.

We dig voyeurism. Not creepy voyeurism mind you, but simply shots that capture a single story being told in the midst of so many other stories. I always wonder what other people in these shots may have been thinking or doing at that specific moment.

We ended our shoot with a little goofing around. I think its quite a good note to leave on =)

If you are interested in booking Lin and Jirsa Photography for your wedding, please visit our Contact Page or call our studio manager at 714.323.5536

If only we could post more pictures from this location, I’d love to show you more pictures from this part of the day. The Walt Disney Concert hall is full of great locations with amazing lighting.

I love playing with Shadows in my photography, especially when accented by the shadow of the surroundings.

HDR engagement photography plus art usually equals some cool looking stuff.

The Los Angeles Chinatown Lights create a great backdrop for engagement photography.

If you are interested in booking Lin and Jirsa Photography for your wedding, please visit our Contact Page or call our studio manager at 714.323.5536

Anyways, enough rambling. Here’s Grace and Oliver’s engagement shoot. Beneath his tough exterior, Oliver is a super nice guy, which fits in perfectly with his profession as a nurse. I’m glad this didn’t come in handy during our shoot, as we daringly darted on and off the railroad tracks that were still in operation. The end of the night came quickly (and safely thank goodness) and we came away with a ton of great expressions, moments, and imagery. Thanks guys; and I look forward to your wedding.

Engagement Session location: San Juan Capistrano

If you are interested in booking Lin and Jirsa Photography for your wedding, please visit our Contact Page or call our studio manager at 714.323.5536