Sara and Brian had a bird theme to their wedding and I loved how all of the details tied together.  So cute!

Sara and Brian, I hope you are having a great time on  your Hawaiian honeymoon!  Here’s your slideshow!

Makeup by Flawless Faces

First Look

Flowers by CM Armstrong Designs

Enough about me.  Back to Vanessa and Alan!  There are two things that stuck out to me about their day.  First, I love how personal the whole day was.  Their friend Mike married them, which I loved!  It makes the ceremony so much more about the couple rather than when a stranger marries you.  He even borrowed his Mom’s bible for the occasion!  In lieu of favors for their wedding guests they made a donation to an animal shelter in their guests names because their dogs are such a huge part of their lives.  And instead of just one song for their first dance they had two.  One traditional and one fast paced Latin song.  They are great dancers!

The second thing that I remember about the day were the emotions.  Vanessa had a strict no tears policy and said that crying is for funerals, not weddings.  She tried very hard to hold it together, but I caught her crying on two separate occassions.  The first was when her sisters gave an emotional toast.  And the second was during the father daughter dance.  Both Vanessa and her father were trying so hard to hold back the tears!  It was a very sweet moment.

Thank you to Sheetal for referring Vanessa and Alan to me!  I have had a great time getting to know them both!  I hope the honeymoon to Jamaica was amazing!  Here’s the slideshow!

The Athenaeum is a gorgeous venue to get married.  It’s so historical and has such beautiful architecture.  It was the perfect backdrop for Nancy and Eric’s wedding.  Nancy and Eric met while traveling the world together and they told me that the Athenaeum reminded them of some of the places they had visited together.  It was such a beautiful and elegant affair.  And ran so seamlessly thanks to the vendors and staff on site (special thanks to Samantha from La Bella Dia and Dior from the Athenaeum!)

Congratulations, Eric and Nancy!  I hope you are enjoying your honeymoon in Croatia and are making new adventures together now as a married couple!  Here’s your slideshow!

This ring was Nancy’s Grandpa’s (Poppa as they affectionatly call him) fraternity pin and later her Grandma’s (Dotie) engagement ring.  The fabric around the flowers is the baby bonnet that Nancy wore when she came home from the hospital.

Flowers by Commerce Flowers

Mark with Awesome Entertainment did a great job of keeping the party going!  One of the best DJ’s I’ve worked with!

Remember Dotie and Poppa?  They won the Anniversary dance and Nancy gave her the bouquet.  I couldn’t hear what was being said, but you could tell that Dotie was very touched and couldn’t believe Nancy would give her the bouquet.  Then Dotie and Poppa shared a special dance together.  Poppa whirled and twirled her all over the dance floor.  Dotie sang to Poppa.  They looked like teenagers!  It was really one of the cutest things I have ever seen.

Eric works for a big GPS company.  Inside his ring Nancy had the coordinates of the Athenaeum engraved.  How cool is that?

Quite possibly my most favorite ring shot I’ve ever taken!

But, beyond all of the beautiful details and perfect location it was seeing two college sweethearts who have such an amazing love for one another finally get married that made the day perfect.  I didn’t know Leslie and Yashaar before they booked me for their wedding.  However, Leslie just happens to be part of the best sorority, Delta Delta Delta.  Leslie and Yashaar went to the University of California, Irvine and Leslie joined Tri Delt right after I already transferred to UCLA.  Her maid of honor, Cassandra, is my Lil’ Sis and most of the bridal party happened to be Tri Delts as well.  It was such a fun reunion to see all of my “sisters” all grown up, engaged, married, with babies!  It’s amazing how fast 10 years can go by.

I could tell Leslie was a bit nervous (understandably) before the ceremony.  My favorite part of the whole wedding was seeing her walk down the aisle towards her groom and seeing all of that nervousness go away.  Her eyes remained focused on Yashaar as she walked down the aisle and a huge smile came across her face.  I love that moment.  When you realize that you are really getting married to the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with.

Congratulations, Leslie and Yashaar!  I hope you are having an amazing time in Kauai!  Here’s your slideshow!

I’m sure all of you shoe lovers will recognize these shoes.  They are the shoes Carrie leaves in the closet from the Sex and the City movie (except in silver, not blue).  Be jealous ladies, very jealous!

Brides, I can’t stress how important it is to not only have a talented makeup artist, but also one that is able to stay on schedule!  It really sucks when your makeup and hair artists cause you to be an hour late and you miss pictures (yes, I am speaking from experience!).  Nicole Deanne is both an awesome makeup artist and she finished EARLY!  Thanks, Nicole for keeping us on schedule and for making the ladies look beautiful!!!

Leslie’s florist, Shannon G, was the same florist who did my own wedding flowers!

Leslie’s nephew took a few minutes away from watching Dora to give her some love

I love how all of Leslie’s bridemaids bouquets were different!

If you’ve been to Palm Springs before you know why the groomsmen ties are so awesome!

They pushed back the wedding date once again to Thanksgiving Day weekend in hopes that Cristina’s dad would be well enough to attend that wedding. But, just a week before the wedding I got the call that he wasn’t going to be well enough so they asked if they could push it back one more time. April 10, 2010. To give her dad lots of time to recover. Cristina couldn’t imagine getting married without her dad there.

I got an email from Cristina in January confirming the April date for their wedding. I asked how her dad was. Almost knowing in my heart what the answer was going to be. Cristina’s dad passed away in early December. I was so sad for Cristina and her family. But, she assured me that they were doing fine.

The days leading up to Cristina and Mike’s wedding the weather forecast called for rain. Then the rain disappeared from the forecast and it was supposed to be cloudy and cold. All I wanted for Cristina and Mike was a perfect wedding day after everything that they had been through. And the weather ended up being perfect. Sunny and warm. I can’t help but think that was Cristina’s dad had something to do with that.

Cristina didn’t want to get to married without her dad there, and she didn’t have to. He was there the whole time. From the poem that was found in her dad’s desk and read by Cristina’s sister, to the amazing and emotional toast that Mike gave, and the first dance with her mom to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” he was there celebrating with his amazing family that has been through so much in the past year.

Congratulations, Cristina and Mike! I’m so, so, so happy you were finally able to have your dream wedding. It was an amazing day and I was so happy to be apart of it! Here’s your slideshow.

PS Thank you to the awesome Denise Bovee for referring her cousin to me!

Flowers By Sharen

The reception was held at Calamigos Equestrian Center in Burbank.  Beautiful venue and great staff to work with!

I love happy accidents!

Very, very emotional toast by Mike.  Not a dry eye in the room.

One of the best toasts I’ve ever heard by one of the Maids of Honor, Cristina’s sister.  The toast included the Eight Clap.  If you don’t know what the Eight Clap is then you’re not cool

Cristina’s mom and sisters found a poem in Cristina’s father’s desk that he intended to read at the reception.  A very special and very emotional moment.

I can’t get through the mother/son dance without crying.  I lose it EVERY. SINGLE.  TIME.  Can’t help but think that will be me and my little boy one day.

I’ve been busy working on my new Mom*tog guide! Here’s a shot of cute, little (well, not so little because he’s a chunky monkey!) Baby Liam that I got during one of the shoots for the guide. I just love that little guy!

More from this awesome session coming soon!

January

I was published in my first bridal magazine – The Knot

Cute baby Cami came by for a Valentine’s Day session

3 new friends from Arkansas came out to spend a day with me to learn and have some fun!

And that same day I met a family that I would become great friends with over the past year.  The Carson family!

February

Mr. Bryaden Bittel turned 1 and Mom*tog was launched!

Brayden did a little modeling

Hosted another fabulous Day with Drew

Heidi and Chris were married in Beverly Hills!

March

The couple from  my very first solo wedding had a baby.  On Brayden’s birthday!

Hosted yet another fun Day with Drew

Had a fun shoot with my friend, Denise

Brayden learned to drink out of a sippy cup!  Such a proud Mommy moment

I got to shoot this adorable baby!

We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day

I shot Marisa and Jaime’s super fun engagement session

April

Brayden and Emma did a bit more modeling

I attended a workshop with Jose Villa

Shot one of my most favorite engagement sessions of all time

Brayden continued to learn new things and make me laugh

And I shot a gorgeous wedding at Pelican Hill (and this couple is expecting a baby soon!)

May

The couple from the second wedding I ever shot welcomed baby number 2

I shot my first Korean ceremony

And their beautiful wedding at the Huntington Beach Hyatt the following day

I helped a friend announce a very special surprise

Jamie and Erik were married in a very emotional wedding ceremony

We took our very first family trip to Kauai!

I did a fun mini session with this adorable baby

And I took baby Cami’s 1 year pictures!

June

We said goodbye to our first home as a family and moved into a wonderful new house that quickly became home

Lisa, Richard, and Lola came down from Oregon for their engagement session

The Bittel family got in front of the lens for our family pictures with Tara Whitney

I shot Nga and Jay’s super fun engagement session at UCLA

I shot Liz and David’s official engagement session

And Heather and Justin were married

July

I got to help Jamie announce the sex of her baby!

I had a fun shoot with three crazy brothers

I had my annual shoot with the Abadie family!  So happy they moved back to California!

I hosted two more Days With Drew

Brayden took swimming lessons

I shot Sandy and Matt’s engagement session in Laguna Beach

And Leslie and Husam had a gorgeous wedding in Los Angeles

August

Cute, little Baby Jake was born

I had a ton of fun shooting April and Patrick’s engagement session, but it was so HOT!

Brayden Bittel turned 18  months and got his first haircut!  It was a bit dramatic, but he sure looked cute after!

Romy and Ryan had an absolutely gorgeous wedding in Malibu

This awesome family came to see me while visiting from Colorado

Marisa and Jaime were married at the Mission Inn in Riverside which is a dream to shoot at!

And I shot Cristina and Mike’s engagement session

September

Had fun shooting in an orange grove with this family

A Bruin and a Trojan decided to get engaged.  You’re a good man, Ryan, for putting Alison’s faults aide

I shot Baby Luke’s maternity session

And just two short weeks later he arrived!  A little early, but totally healthy!

Worked on an upcoming project for Mom*tog with the Carson girls

Shot Nicole and Jeremy’s engagement session in Venice Beach

Brayden got ready for college football season

Liz and David were married

And so were Tara and Daniel!

October

Lots of family sessions in October!

First, the Cox family

Then the Davis family

The Bengard family

And the Simmons family!

April and Patrick were married at the St. Regis Monarch Beach

And Lisa and Richard were married at the Wynn in Las Vegas.  My very first Vegas wedding!

And I shot my last wedding of the year – Sandy and Matt at the Balboa Baby Club

November

The UNposing Guide was released on Mom*tog!

I shot an awesome new client, the Maddux Family

And their friends the Comi’s!

Brayden went to his very first UCLA football game and loved every second of it!  They even won!

I shot the most well behaved kids I have ever worked with and had a ton of fun!

I shot the Imus family for the 4th year in a row

I worked with the Nygaard family for the first time and they were awesome!

The Paskin’s flew their plane down from Santa Barbara and we had an awesome shoot!  I even got to help them announce that baby number 2 is on the way!

And I shot Nancy and Eric’s engagement session in Los Angeles

Brayden got his second haircut and it wasn’t nearly as traumatizing as the first!

December

I shot my friend and favorite florist, Jenny B’s, family pictures with a yellow VW bus!

Baby Liam finally arrived!

I shot my last engagement session of the year.  Leslie and Yashaar in Santa Monica

Brayden posed with Santa and didn’t cry!  He even asked for a choo choo

And Baby Kyrsten arrived too!

Here’s what I’m looking for:

1)  A fun family who can get creative with their wardrobe.

2)  A family with at least one child in between the ages of 4 and 10.

3)  A very RELIABLE family who will be on time and dependable.

4)  A family that I have not worked with before.  I love all of my clients, but I like to show my mentorees how I interact with a family I have never met before.

Here’s what I’m not looking for:

1)  If you are a couple without children please do not email.  I will post again when I’m looking for couples.

2)  Families with adult children.

3)  Families who don’t know how to have fun!

The family that is chosen will get a session with me free of charge and 10 high resolution images on a disc.  If you’re interested and available please email me at drew@drewbphotography.com.  Your email must include a current picture, ages of your kids, and please tell me a little bit about you and your family.  Thanks!

ETA:  Thanks for all of the emails!  I found my models, but will keep all of your information on file for the next time I need a family to model.  Thanks!