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.

Asilomar State Beach - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Jay + Akshata

In early December, Jay planned meticulously for his marriage proposal to Akshata, and he contacted me to see if I was available to capture the moment for them. I was all for it!

The proposal was going to happen at sunrise on Asilomar Beach. I was looking forward to dreamy sunrise shots, but as the day came closer, a huge storm rolled in. I advised Jay of the rain, and that if his heart was set on those romantic sunrise shots, we might want to reschedule. But he just said, “Let’s do it anyways!”

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting there to be much to work with during the rain, but Jay must have had a gut feeling because man, these photos turned out to be some of the most striking engagement photos of my career! His flexibility on the matter was very admirable. Sure enough, the day came, and there was enough rain that I actually had to cover my camera with a grocery bag to keep it dry.

Jay told Akshata that his boss wanted to see him out there before their day began to show him something. Jay is in tech, so I’m surprised Akshata didn’t suspect anything, but she went along for the ride.

Then Jay popped the question, and Akshata was shocked! With the rain falling around them, it was hard to tell if she was crying or not, but she was so touched and accepted immediately. Congratulations!

The wind was so fierce that I had to be careful which direction I pointed my lens. If it got wet, the images would turn out blurry, and I definitely couldn’t risk that. By positioning the couple strategically, we overcame this obstacle.

When I got home, I was still completely drenched. I’ve never experienced that on a shoot before, and it was definitely a wild ride. Even so, I would 10/10 do it again!

When Jay + Akshata saw their final gallery, they were in love with the photos. I can definitely see why! These two were so passionate and loving.

Thank you so much for choosing me to document this special moment, Jay! It was so much fun planning with you, and I’m so happy that we went through with the session despite the foreseeable challenges. Congratulations, you two!

Wedding at Shadowbrook Restaurant - Capitola, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Adrian + Laura

Last November, I had the privilege of photographing Adrian + Laura’s wedding in Capitola, CA! This wedding was so beautiful, and it was such an honor to be there to capture all of the fun memories! Take a peek at these amazing photos.

This wedding was pretty small and low-key, which helped the guests and the couple relax. With just family and a handful of friends, they all got the chance to know each other before the ceremony.

The couple got ready at Chaminade Resort & Spa in Capitola, which offered a clean, white space to tell the story of the morning.

Adrian’s mom even came to the resort to help Laura get ready! It was so sweet to witness the relationship these two have. I can tell that they love each other very much, and that they’re going to be great in-laws!

Laura’s details were so much fun to take! I snapped photos of the ring, her dress, the stationery, and more!

Adding photos like this adds so much variety to your galleries. I also love the creativity it takes to place all of the elements on a styling mat. The one I used is from chasingstone.com. You need an artistic eye to do it properly, and I’m so proud of these!

The wedding itself happened at the Shadowbrook restaurant. The whole thing was pretty simple, but beautiful all the same. Adrian + Laura took my advice when creating their timeline, which made things go pretty smoothly.

Adrian + Laura opted not to have a first dance or speeches. This goes to show that not every tradition is right for every couple. I’m so proud of them for making this day their own! One tradition they kept, however, was the cake cutting!

We did our very best to tell their story through pictures. After I sent the gallery, I received a text from Adrian that read, “YOU DID A PERFECT JOB! THANK YOU!” As a photographer, that’s one of the best things to hear from my client.

I’m thrilled you love the images, Adrian + Laura! It was such a joy to come and document your wedding. Congratulations on your marriage! I wish you both many happy years together.