Garland Ranch + Colton Hall Museum - Carmel Valley, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Monica + Daniel

Monica + Daniel just got married on January 7th in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I wish I could’ve been a part of it, but I was a wee bit outside of their budget. However, they still wanted to work with me, so they hired me for their engagement photos.

I photographed Monica’s cousin, Maria, for her wedding a couple months ago. Tap here to see my blog post all about Maria + Noe’s big day!

Monica and I actually had multiple instances of mutual connection, and it was so cool to discover that during our session. She’s a Dental Hygienist, and it turns out that she actually worked with my sister at a dental office a couple years ago. Small world!

We scheduled the shoot for Mid-December, and at the time, the couple were knee-deep in wedding preparations. Monica + Daniel were both eagerly anticipating their big day.

Their smiles were so wide and genuine that I couldn’t help but grin along with them! Right from the start, I knew that we were going to capture some prize-worthy shots.

This engagement session included two gorgeous locations: Garland Ranch and the Colton Hall Museum. I’ve shot at both of these places a million times, so I know all of the tips, tricks, and special alcoves that will give the illusion of privacy even if the place is busy.

At the Garland Ranch, Monica + Daniel combined their wardrobe colors expertly, Monica with her bold purple dress, and Daniel with dark, neutral tones. Having that fantastic pop of color in Monica’s dress made the couple stand out in front of the greens and browns of their surroundings. Great job, you two!

When we arrived at the Colton Hall Museum, the couple changed into clean, bright white. Planning different outfits for each location really made this session special, and I’m thrilled that they chose the pieces they did.

Even though I couldn’t make it to your wedding, it was a pleasure meeting you both for your engagement session at Garland Ranch and the Colton Hall Museum. Congratulations on your marriage! I know you’re both excited to step into this new stage in life.

Garland Ranch - Carmel, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Mari + Juan

I was so excited when Mari + Juan booked me for a family session last month! I did their family photos about a year ago. That time, we photographed Mari’s side of the family, and this time I got to meet Juan’s!

They were just as much fun to work with. It was so cool to see how much this family cherishes each other. Mari + Juan’s kids have grown up so much!

Our session happened at Garland Ranch. I convinced them to go for a 4pm time slot, and boy, was that the right call!

The weather was one of those 10/10 days, and I could not have been more happy with how nice it was. The sun was just right, which gave us the chance to use all sorts of photography techniques like backlight.

This family loves western attire, and this wardrobe choice shines in every photo! The western theme is so perfect for showing off their personalities. They played with it!

With extended family shots, it can sometimes be a bit tricky to make sure that everyone has their eyes open, but we had such a good time! I kept things moving and paid close attention to all of those little details so this family has perfect memories to look back on.

Some of Juan’s family were even visiting from Mexico for the first time in many years. To be able to capture their reunion was such a blessing!

I took so many photos of everyone together, but I also set aside some time to capture just Mari + Juan’s family! They are such a joy to work with, and I look forward to hopefully seeing them again soon!

Mari + Juan, I was so happy to see you again! I can’t thank you enough for choosing me again to photograph your beautiful family and extended family. When looking at these photos, I hope you fondly remember the memories we made that day.

Garland Ranch - Carmel, CA & Asilomar State Beach - Drew Zavala Photography - Adrian + Laura

Adrian + Laura loved their friend Maria’s wedding photos so much that they instantly contacted me when it came time to book an engagement photographer. I didn’t find out that Maria referred them to me until we had our consultation call. It was such a great surprise!

I absolutely love it when amazing clients refer me to their friends! Adrian + Laura were both so sweet, and I was so excited to work with them since they knew Maria! It was great to hear all about them and their vision for the session.

Laura + Adrian are huge Disney fans! Laura is a preschool teacher/aide, and Adrian works for Goodwill as a hiring manager. They care for others so much, it’s easy to see how they ended up together.

A huge goal I had for this amazing engagement session was to capture their kind hearts! We definitely succeeded. With just one smile, you can tell what gems Adrian + Laura are.

We went to two fantastic locations: Asilomar State Beach, and Garland Ranch. Asilomar State Beach is a go-to of mine. Sunny or overcast, this beach never fails to give a stunning backdrop for my clients. Laura + Adrian were no different!

The weather was bleak and overcast, and it even started to drizzle a little bit, but man! They weren’t phased by it at all!

I was a little bit worried because we hit some traffic on the way, which made us lose some light. But we made it to the beach in time and were quick with the light that we had. We definitely got some winners!

Laura + Adrian did a great job coordinating their outfits. They perfectly followed my portrait session style guide and combined their colors beautifully. They took so much care with every detail!

During the session, I made Laura + Adrian super comfortable in front of the camera, warming them up with movement shots and then throwing in a little posed moment when they were ready.

Laura + Adrian were so ready to smile! The engagement session couldn’t have gone better. I loved every second of it. It was great to meet you two, and I wish you the best with all the wedding plans!