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.

Pinnacles National Park - Soledad, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Sal + Gaby

Sal + Gaby are huge outdoor junkies. They’ve even started converting a van into a camper! I have been following their progress for awhile now, since Gaby posts updates through Instagram. It’s so cool to see their dream coming together!

Because they love being in nature so much, I can’t think of a better place for their engagement session than Pinnacles National Park. We headed out before sunset to make sure that we had enough time to hike up.

I should have brought hiking boots. It was a good thirty-minute hike up to one of the peaks, so we got sweaty (at least I did, haha). Sal + Gaby are definitely way more experienced than I am with this stuff.

We set off at a good pace so we could make it to the peaks in time. There, the light was amazing, and we still had a decent view of the surrounding areas. It was key that we captured the gorgeous trees and surrounding mountains.

I used the Sunseeker app to help keep track of the sun, and with careful scheduling, we had just enough time to hit all of Sal + Gaby’s must-have locations. There were plenty of edges and viewpoints that made for stunning backgrounds.

During all that hiking, we also got to know each other, and that was a real treat. Sal + Gaby are super easy-going and flexible, the sort of people who emulate a fun and calming vibe. They have a great sense of adventure, as expected of a pair who are about to be on the road a lot.

We discovered that we live literally four blocks away from each other. How crazy is that? I loved their sense of humor, too. They have an inside joke using their favorite weird masks. Sal’s is a Bigfoot mask and Gaby’s is an alien one. They totally owned it!

Sal + Gaby came prepared with two outfits. Since we were out in the middle of nowhere, they changed behind some big boulders when it was time for formal outfits.

There was so much joy and laughter during your engagement session, Sal + Gaby! You two are medicine. I love your outlook on life, and I can’t tell you how happy I am for you two.

Here’s a big congratulations on your upcoming marriage! I can’t wait to see what life brings for you two. I’ll be eagerly following your van conversion!

Asilomar Beach - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Vargas Family

In mid-July, I had the immense pleasure of photographing the Vargas family for their annual family photos!

It’s always a little nerve-wracking to try out a new photographer, but as first-time clients, I was so impressed with the amount of trust they put in me!

Liz told me that one of the biggest struggles she has with family photos is keeping them fun and easy-going. Luckily, that’s my specialty! If family photos aren’t a blast, you’re doing it wrong, even with toddlers!

Toddlers will be toddlers, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t make your photos magical. With a little kindness and patience, creating whimsical moments of your little ones isn’t difficult at all.

In fact, the toddler stage is one of the most energetic! I like to use that to our advantage to create movement and depth in your photos. The key to this is going with the flow and capturing them as they explore the beautiful world around them.

The Vargas Family were stunning in semi-formal fashion. Although you can never go wrong with dressing too fancy for photos, this family hit the nail on the head by choosing wardrobe that suits them and their styles.

As always, Asilomar Beach was gorgeous, and the family ended up loving the location so much that they wished they’d had more time!

After the shoot, Liz sent me an email to let me know how much she loved the photos. She was amazed by how well we captured her boys’ personalities, and wrote that it was by far “One of the best photography experiences we’ve had as a family.”

She went on to say that, “You captured some very sweet moments between each of us that we can now treasure for a lifetime. Thank you just isn’t enough. You are a master at your craft.”

Nothing makes me happier, Liz! Thanks for choosing me, and I look forward to taking your holiday photos later this year!