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!

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!

Mission San Juan Bautista - San Juan Bautista, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Nick + Sonia

Nestled in the gorgeous San Benito county lies the Mission San Juan Bautista, which was the perfect venue for Nick + Sonia’s wedding! It was an amazing day, and I’m so happy that we got to photograph it!

The day began at Hacienda De Leal, where the bride and groom prepared for their upcoming nuptials. This pretty spot did the bride justice as she and her bridesmaids prepared for the day! A makeup artist from Nelas Studio and Academy made sure that the bride looked stunning.

As always, I made sure to capture amazing detail shots to help the couple remember the little things. We had some harsh light during this part of the day, but we easily solved that by adjusting our positioning in a way that took advantage of the harsh lighting. That way, we still achieved dreamy photos!

The ceremony was breathtaking! The Mission San Juan Bautista really was the perfect place for Nick + Sonia’s wedding. It was so meaningful for the couple and everyone in attendance!

No one could keep smiles off of their faces! The ceremony went so smoothly, and the happy couple looked straight out of a fairy tale.

After the ceremony, we headed to Casa Maria for the reception, where Oscar By Oscar did a fantastic job conjuring Sonia’s decoration dreams into reality. With soft pinks and whites, the reception table sang of refined luxury.

Central Coast Entertainment kept everyone dancing. This shot is one of my favorites! I placed my camera on a tripod and used a long exposure to create an intentional blur. This dance is called “Vibora Del La Mar,” which is a traditional Mexican dance where the people try to knock down the bride and groom while holding hands and dancing in a line. The dance is super fast-paced, and this photo is worth a thousand words!

The guys in particular had a blast! This is why I love my job. I also love it when my clients are open to creative shots like this one! For a fresh angle, I got on the ground and told the guys to pretend to be in a music video. They nailed it!

Nick + Sonia, your wedding was a day to remember! All of your hard work and planning definitely paid off. Since you gave us a timeline of what was to happen two weeks before the wedding, we were able to squeeze out every last drop of fun!

Thanks for being such great clients. You two are an amazing couple and I wish you both the best in your new future together. Congratulations!