Jardines De San Juan - San Juan Bautista, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Janet + Manny's Wedding

Every wedding holds its own unique charm, but some love stories have a way of touching your heart in profound ways. Janet + Manny's wedding at Jardines De San Juan was not just a celebration of their love but a priceless moment that just had to be documented.

It was such a privilege to be there for Janet + Manny’s wedding, and I can’t wait to show you all of the amazing photos from their extraordinary day! These two were such a romantic couple.

Love has a beautiful way of unfolding in the quiet moments, away from the grandeur of the ceremony. As Janet + Manny prepared for their big day, we captured all of the emotions, from nerves to excitement! Something that really helped the couple relax was taking first look portraits together.

Hacienda de Leal served as the perfect backdrop for their first look portraits, and it was a moment so pure that time seemed to stand still. The emotion in their eyes as they locked gazes for the first time that day gave us chills!

Despite some harsh lighting during the ceremony, we were determined to preserve the magic of their day, working tirelessly to position them in the most flattering angles. Their love definitely shone through in every frame.

Photography freezes moments, but videography breathes life into them. Janet + Manny recognized the value of both mediums, and we were honored to provide them with the opportunity to relive their wedding day in both photos and video. Check out their highlight video!

Manny + Janet - Teaser from Drew Zavala Media on Vimeo.

The blend of photographs and video footage allowed us to capture their love story in its entirety, unveiling the subtleties and emotions that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. One of my favorite moments of the entire day was getting a drone shot of Janet walking down the aisle. It was priceless!

Janet + Manny were so overjoyed that they purchased this package, and they did not regret spending more for both. That said, I highly encourage clients to follow their own path.

Thank you both so much for the honor of documenting your special day! As these two start their new life together, Janet + Manny invited us to go mountain biking with them in Utah, where they will be living from now on! We’ll definitely have to take them up on it soon.

Janet + Manny's wedding was such a beautiful day. From their intimate first look portraits to the breathtaking ceremony, we were humbled to document their journey at Jardines De San Juan. Thanks again for choosing us, and see you in Utah!

Colton Hall - Monterey, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Lucy + Jesus

Lucy and Jesus' engagement photoshoot was one for the books. It was such a pleasure to make memories with them, and they have such vibrant personalities that it was impossible not to have fun!

Let’s witness their love unfold against the stunning backdrops of Colton Hall and the beach! These locations were everything we needed and more to bring their love story to life. Check it out!

Lucy, a dedicated nurse, and Jesus, a skilled construction worker, meticulously planned every detail of their engagement session, including brand new outfits! They wanted to make sure that everything turned out perfect, and they executed their vision so well.

They were also a dream in front of the camera. I usually give about 99% of the direction, but that last 1% takes things so far! Lucy and Jesus nailed it.

Lucy even had some great ideas of her own. She had a particular photo that she wanted taken, so we tried out her pose in several different locations to make sure she got the shot she wanted.

I’m so glad that we scheduled our session pretty early in the evening, because they ended up hitting unexpected traffic. Fortunately, their effective communication ensured that we could still visit all the locations on their list — and even have time for an outfit change!

My handy-dandy changing tent was perfect for the occasion since there were no public bathrooms near the beach. It’s definitely a ton easier to change in there than in your car.

Lucy and Jesus embraced the romantic ambiance. They even brought along a bottle of champagne! This was such a great touch to their session.

I am eagerly anticipating their wedding, which will happen in August. We’ll be photographing it too, and I’m so excited! As a Monterey and Carmel engagement photographer, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with couples like Lucy and Jesus, and I can’t wait to document the magical moments of their upcoming wedding. Thanks so much for choosing me as your engagement photographer!

King City, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Ledesma Family

As a family photographer, I always love it when I have the chance to photograph a large family. Recently, I had the chance to photograph an amazing photo session with the Ledesma family. I can’t wait to show you the pics!

I photographed their whole family about a year ago, and we were actually supposed to do a maternity session when Mom was pregnant with the twins, but these little guys couldn’t wait to see the world, so they came earlier than expected.

We waited until these little guys were ready for a family session, and it couldn’t have worked out better! I’m so glad that they are strong and healthy and that they have a loving family that just adores them.

Our session couldn’t have happened on a more perfect May day. We went to one of my favorite photo session locations ever, which was San Lorenzo Park. The sun was shining, and we had just the right amount of wind to play with Mom’s flowing dress.

Speaking of the wardrobe, I loved how well Mom color-coordinated all of the outfits. Following a cohesive color theme, each member of the family wore something unique and fun.

I know how hard it can be to get a bunch of kids ready for a picture-perfect photo session. It can be super stressful for some parents, so I always do my best to reassure everyone that everything will turn out fine.

During times like these, I always allow more time than allotted to accommodate transitioning or any mishaps with the kids. I’m here to make your family photo session as easy as a breeze!

Having a newborn set of twins on the set presented a few unique challenges, but the Ledesmas came prepared. They brought a stroller to the session so the little ones could snooze safely while I snapped some shots of Mom + Dad together.

The kids were so well-behaved, too. I couldn’t believe how well they listened to my prompts. They even had a great attitude throughout the entire session. Fantastic job, you guys!

I can’t thank the Ledesmas enough for becoming a repeat client. Thanks for all of your support, and I hope you enjoy your photos!