Colton Hall Museum - Monterey, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Jose + Carolina

If you're looking for a photographer in California to capture your engagement session, look no further! Recently, we had the pleasure of photographing Jose + Carolina's engagement at the beautiful Colton Hall Museum, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the results.

From the moment we met Jose + Carolina, we knew they were going to be wonderful to work with. They were both so kind and easygoing, and you could tell they were genuinely in love with each other.

As a photographer, it's always great to work with couples who are already comfortable in front of the camera, but we understand that not everyone is like that, especially when it's your first time doing a professional photoshoot. At the beginning of the session, Jose + Carolina were a little stiff and cold, but that's completely normal. I wasn’t phased at all!

We always give our clients some time to warm up and get comfortable, and that's exactly what happened with these two. With a couple warm ups and ice breakers, Jose + Carolina were able to take a deep breath and enjoy the session.

After that, they were so natural that you would’ve thought they were models! I’m so proud of them and how well they adapted. Their photos turned out beautifully.

Colton Hall Museum was the perfect location for this engagement session. The historic building and grounds provided a beautiful backdrop for the photos, and we were able to capture some truly stunning shots. The architecture and landscaping are everything and more, and we were able to play around with different angles and perspectives to create some unique images.

We're excited to say that we'll be photographing and filming Jose + Carolina's wedding in April. They are expecting a ton of guests, so it's going to be a big event. We can't wait to be a part of their special day and capture all of the beautiful moments for them.

If you're looking for a photographer in California for your engagement session or wedding, we would love to work with you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation, and let's create some beautiful memories together!

Downtown - Monterey, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Melissa + Kevin

Melissa + Kevin’s wedding is going to be amazing! I’m completely convinced of this, especially after our amazing engagement shoot in Downtown Monterey.

I’ve got to tell you, this was one of those sessions where I have my ideal client, they wear exactly what I want them to wear, and the weather was amazing. Gladly, we checked all the good stuff off on our lists.

If I had to nitpick, I guess it was just a little bit crowded in Downtown, so we had to shoot a bit strategically to avoid getting unwanted photo-bombers. Tourists and traffic can be tricky to work with, but with a little patience, we got some stunning images. Take a look!

First off, Melissa + Kevin are amazing. Melissa works in radiology tech, and Kevin works in agriculture. They both have such big hearts and big smiles, and I know they’re going to absolutely dominate married life.

They once again killed it with their outfits. Our first session was about two months ago with their kids, and they had the same energy and enthusiasm as last time. I loved it! Check out that post here.

With her hat, Melissa is totally the star of the show. You go, girl! But we didn’t count Kevin out. His plaid shirt added the perfect touch against Melissa’s dress.

The weather was absolutely perfect, too. With the couple feeling their absolute best, it was so easy to create organic moments of love.

I can’t recommend Downtown Monterey enough for photos! We found so many cool doors, murals, fountains, and trees to shoot with. This session was totally 10/10!

This will be the last time I see them until their wedding in August, 2023. I know it’ll be here so fast! I can’t wait until that day, and I know they can’t either!

Thanks so much for booking me for your engagement session and your wedding! I’m so thrilled to be able to photograph both events. In my opinion, August really can’t come soon enough! Best of luck with all the wedding plans.