Wedding at Shadowbrook Restaurant - Capitola, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Adrian + Laura

Last November, I had the privilege of photographing Adrian + Laura’s wedding in Capitola, CA! This wedding was so beautiful, and it was such an honor to be there to capture all of the fun memories! Take a peek at these amazing photos.

This wedding was pretty small and low-key, which helped the guests and the couple relax. With just family and a handful of friends, they all got the chance to know each other before the ceremony.

The couple got ready at Chaminade Resort & Spa in Capitola, which offered a clean, white space to tell the story of the morning.

Adrian’s mom even came to the resort to help Laura get ready! It was so sweet to witness the relationship these two have. I can tell that they love each other very much, and that they’re going to be great in-laws!

Laura’s details were so much fun to take! I snapped photos of the ring, her dress, the stationery, and more!

Adding photos like this adds so much variety to your galleries. I also love the creativity it takes to place all of the elements on a styling mat. The one I used is from chasingstone.com. You need an artistic eye to do it properly, and I’m so proud of these!

The wedding itself happened at the Shadowbrook restaurant. The whole thing was pretty simple, but beautiful all the same. Adrian + Laura took my advice when creating their timeline, which made things go pretty smoothly.

Adrian + Laura opted not to have a first dance or speeches. This goes to show that not every tradition is right for every couple. I’m so proud of them for making this day their own! One tradition they kept, however, was the cake cutting!

We did our very best to tell their story through pictures. After I sent the gallery, I received a text from Adrian that read, “YOU DID A PERFECT JOB! THANK YOU!” As a photographer, that’s one of the best things to hear from my client.

I’m thrilled you love the images, Adrian + Laura! It was such a joy to come and document your wedding. Congratulations on your marriage! I wish you both many happy years together.

Asilomar State Beach - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Milo + Maria’s Family Session

Asilomar State Beach was the perfect place for a family session. Milo, Maria, and their kids Hannah and Aden were absolutely fantastic. I’m so excited to share some photos from their session!

Milo is actually my second cousin, and this is my second time photographing their beautiful family. They wanted a different landscape from last time, and Asilomar State Beach popped out at them from my online location brochure. I have to say, it’s one of my favorite spots.

They took my advice and scheduled at the perfect time. The sun faced them at a beautiful angle, so they didn’t need to squint or look directly into the light. This made our photos so flattering!

Oftentimes, wind is also a tricky variable when it comes to sessions on Asilomar State Beach. It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen beforehand, so a lot of times it’s like rolling the dice. However, today there was not even a breath of wind, so we didn’t have to worry about some of the things I normally would, such as messy hair.

It was great seeing them again and catching up with all the family news. Hannah and Aden are growing up so well, and I’m excited to see what they become in the future. Hannah had just returned from a week at Science Camp, and she was still glowing! She loved looking in the tide pools for urchins and other sea critters.

As our session came to a close, the tide started to come up. I had them stand on a rock while the water came in. These photos turned out particularly awesome! Better yet, we didn’t get wet.

I had so much fun during our family session, Milo! It was such a blessing to work with your family, and I can’t wait until the next session.

Coyote Creek Golf Course - Morgan Hill, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Carolina + Vic

Carolina + Vic’s wedding at the Coyote Creek Golf Course was an absolute dream! I can’t imagine a more beautiful place for a wedding in Morgan Hill, CA.

We were a bit worried on the day of the wedding because the weather forecast predicted some rain, but thankfully, it didn’t happen. We did have a cold breeze during the ceremony and portraits, but seeing Carolina + Vic tie the knot was worth it! Their love was definitely warm enough.

When planning the wedding, these two were so eager to get a timeline set in place. That was so helpful, because timelines always help everything run smoothly. There were a bunch of vendors to coordinate with, so we all collaborated to ensure that everything was on time. It was a great team effort!

Carolina + Vic chose great vendors! Working alongside Danny’s Photo Booth and Soiree DJ Entertainment was a breeze. They went above and beyond to make Carolina + Vic’s day as special as possible.

As for my part, I was efficient and quick with family photos. It was pretty cold outside, so everyone was shivering a little bit. Fortunately, family photos happen in groups, so I moved from one group to the next so the free birds could head inside.

I used one of my favorite photography techniques during a quick portrait session with the couple. Keeping my eye on the sun, I waited until it was just a bit behind the mountains. The sun didn’t blare into my lens like it did earlier, instead creating a soft, romantic halo.

Sure enough, magic happened! Needless to say, we got some epic portraits! This technique never fails to give us stunning shots.

I also used a long exposure while shooting photos on the dance floor! This shows a little extra movement, and I love how it makes these photos so lively!

The guests did a traditional Mexican dance with Vic. They even threw him up in the air! He almost hit the ceiling, but fortunately he didn’t. Vic + Carolina also choreographed their first dance, and it was such a precious moment between them.

Your wedding was stunning, Vic + Carolina! It was a real pleasure to photograph this huge next step in your relationship. I hope you cherish the newlywed phase, and I wish you many happy years after that!