Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church - Castroville, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Patty + Maurilio

As Patty and Maurilio’s wedding approached, I couldn't help but count down the days until the big event. The couple chose Quail Lodge as the location for their wedding preparations, Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Castroville, CA for their ceremony.

On the day of the wedding, everything ran smoothly and according to schedule. The couple was punctual and easy to work with, which made my job as their wedding photographer that much more enjoyable. They trusted me and my team completely, which allowed us to capture every stunning moment of the day.

As the bridal party got ready, I made sure to take photos of all of their details. From the rings and shoes to the outside of the church, these small details tell the story of the day. I always make sure to include them in my galleries so that the couple can remember the little things, too.

When it was time for the ceremony, my team and I prepared to capture the big moment. Patty and Maurilio were so romantic, and it was a pleasure to photograph their ceremony. You could practically feel the excitement of the guests as they watched the couple say their vows.

These photos look so effortless, however looks can be deceiving. Church lighting can often be a challenge to work with, and that was definitely the case today.

Due to the church's rules, we were not allowed to use flash, which made things a bit tricky. To ensure that the exposure settings were just right and the skin tones came out consistent, we had to work with the limited natural light that was available. By bumping up our ISO, we were able to capture beautiful photographs. Then after the ceremony, we headed outside for some group photos.

Group photos can be a challenge too, but I have a pro tip to share. I always ask everyone to close their eyes and open them on the count of three. This usually gives me around a 98% success rate and ensures that everyone is looking in the same direction and has their eyes open.

After that, we headed to the reception to party our hearts out! The couple chose an elegant white and lavender theme for all of the decorations, flower arrangements, and the cake.

Everyone had a blast while dancing, eating, and celebrating the couple. From the youngest to the oldest, there was not a frown in the entire building!

Overall, it was an amazing experience to photograph Patty and Maurilio's wedding. They were such a wonderful couple to work with and I wish them all the best as they start their married life together. I am confident that the photographs we captured will serve as a beautiful reminder of their special day for years to come. Congratulations!

Woodsy Location - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Patty + Maurilio

Patty + Maurilio are such an amazing couple, and I’m over the moon that they booked me for both their engagement session and their wedding.

These two lovebirds met when they were young, and their friendship slowly developed into a gorgeous romance.

Patty loves Maurilio because of his big heart. He always helps everyone, and he’s very friendly and soothing to be around. I definitely felt that during our session! Since it was their first time having professional photos done, Patty was a little nervous, but Maurilio was so sweet and coaxed out tons of giggles.

With Patty laughing, we were able to snap so many awesome photos! Just look at how they radiate happiness and love for one another! I can’t get over it.

Maurilio loves Patty because she’s a woman of great values. She’s trustworthy, cares for people just as much as Maurilio does, and is a good listener.

With such similar values and a long history of commitment, they make each other stronger and have become an amazing team.

Their first official date was a homemade meal at Maurilio’s house. This couple really loves the beach, so an ideal date night for them would be to eat dinner there.

Maurilio proposed during a family gathering in his house, in the beautiful flower garden. He asked his sister to take a picture of them, and when Patty turned around, there he was, on one knee!

It’s such an honor to document their next step of the journey. For our engagement session, we went to a woodsy location in Pacific Grove. They brought two outfits, and by the end, they were posing like pros!

Thanks so much for choosing me as your engagement and wedding photographer! I enjoyed documenting your love story, and I wish you all the best as you finish up wedding plans. See you soon!

Morro Bay, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - AJ + Ariana

I was in for a glorious treat on AJ + Ariana’s special day because their intimately-sized wedding took place on a boat! It was my first time taking my camera to a sea session, so I was more than thrilled to face any new challenges that came up!

The wedding party prepared at Front Street Inn & Spa, which was less than a quarter mile from the dock. This made things so easy for everyone involved! The transition from land to boat was seamless.

I can’t recommend Chablis Cruises enough for their amazing service. If you’re looking for the perfect intimate wedding venue, you really can’t go wrong with a boat like this! AJ + Ariana definitely made the right choice. This was a venue to remember!

The captain had to guide the boat in a zig-zag pattern to avoid rough waters, so the lighting changed frequently. We didn’t avoid the rough waves entirely, but that was a part of the day’s magic!

I needed to re-frame the shots consistently while photographing, but good coordination and communication with the captain helped out immensely. I can’t wait to do something like this again!

To combat the constantly-changing environment, it was crucial that I used a high shutter speed on my camera. This allowed us to capture crisp images even though I wasn’t nearly as steady as I am on flat ground!

With just their closest friends and family, the event felt truly intimate. I loved all of their theme and style choices. Atomic Blooms went above and beyond, translating AJ + Ariana’s floral dreams into a reality. This couple put so much thought into their special day!

The sun was actually out, unlike a few months ago during their engagement shoot. During that session, the mist and fog were so thick that we could barely see the horizon.

While that session was also amazing, I’m so glad that the weather was different today so that we could have the chance to capture the waves and Morro Rock in the background!

AJ + Ariana, I’m completely floored by how stunning your wedding was. These pictures are worth a million words! Congratulations, and I can’t wait to see what life has in store for you in the future!