Asilomar State Beach - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Milo + Maria’s Family Session

Asilomar State Beach was the perfect place for a family session. Milo, Maria, and their kids Hannah and Aden were absolutely fantastic. I’m so excited to share some photos from their session!

Milo is actually my second cousin, and this is my second time photographing their beautiful family. They wanted a different landscape from last time, and Asilomar State Beach popped out at them from my online location brochure. I have to say, it’s one of my favorite spots.

They took my advice and scheduled at the perfect time. The sun faced them at a beautiful angle, so they didn’t need to squint or look directly into the light. This made our photos so flattering!

Oftentimes, wind is also a tricky variable when it comes to sessions on Asilomar State Beach. It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen beforehand, so a lot of times it’s like rolling the dice. However, today there was not even a breath of wind, so we didn’t have to worry about some of the things I normally would, such as messy hair.

It was great seeing them again and catching up with all the family news. Hannah and Aden are growing up so well, and I’m excited to see what they become in the future. Hannah had just returned from a week at Science Camp, and she was still glowing! She loved looking in the tide pools for urchins and other sea critters.

As our session came to a close, the tide started to come up. I had them stand on a rock while the water came in. These photos turned out particularly awesome! Better yet, we didn’t get wet.

I had so much fun during our family session, Milo! It was such a blessing to work with your family, and I can’t wait until the next session.

Backyard Micro Wedding - Morgan Hill, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Jeff + Holly

The day has finally come! Jeff + Holly’s backyard micro wedding was such a fantastic event. It was such an honor to photograph these lovebirds during their special day. Thanks for picking me as your wedding photographer!

Jeff + Holly kept the event small and intimate, which was absolutely perfect. Everyone got to meet everyone else, and even get know each other throughout the day. With just the closest friends and family, the couple weren’t stressed at all!

It was so cool to see how relaxed they were. They trusted me completely with their photos, letting me do my thing, which allowed them to live in the moment. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

They had their micro wedding right in their backyard, so the lighting was a little split due to the tall trees. Some spots were really bright and others shaded, but with a little post-production magic, these photos turned out so whimsical!

The couple offered a huge charcuterie table for their guests, catered by plattersbyelizabeth. As you can see, she did an amazing job putting these together. They’re beyond stunning!

Jeff + Holly had two dogs, named Wednesday and Kingston. I could tell right from the start  how loved these two dogs were. Sadly, Kingston passed away two weeks after the wedding.

Kingston, the white frenchie, has been with Jeff + Holly for nine amazing years. Holly texted me and asked if I had any photos of him, and thankfully, I did. She said that Kingston passed away peacefully, two weeks after the wedding.

I knew how much Wednesday and Kingston meant to them, so I included as many photos as I could into the final gallery. I’m absolutely heartbroken for them, and I am so grateful to have captured him with my camera.

Kingston held on until the wedding day, which makes me wonder if he knew how special of a day it was going to be. These photos are even more special, knowing that he was there to watch his people tie the knot.

It was such an honor to be there myself, Jeff + Holly. Congratulations on your marriage, and I wish you every good thing in the world.

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.