I have been most anxious for this post for a long time! Katelin and Brayden started dating and I was skeptical as I think as all older sisters usually are. That is not atypical right? As Katie talked about Brayden, first he was was the “cute boy from school”, then it was “this guy that she was hanging out with”, and before we knew it was “her boyfriend”.

It has been fun to see how this relationship has grown from the beginning. I forget the nervous energy that there is when you are first starting in a relationship, My little sister was my college roommate when Trevor and I got engaged so she saw my constant texting, was there for the long chats about where our relationship was going and if I was ready for marriage.  And now to sit on the other side of the table and see Katie go through makes me think we have come full circle. And I kinda love that fact.

Katie seemed to  always feel so confident about Brayden. Not only that, but there was a change in Katelin as she dated Brayden. She became more confident. Although we never talked about it personally, it seemed  like Brayden supported her goals and adventures in life with as much excitement and zeal as she did. They are a couple full of laughter, hanging out with a few of Brayden’s siblings (who were also going to school with them) and taking time to be with each other. Looking on, I think all of our families started to secretly wonder when an announcement would come.

Many dates later, and a sweet proposal in Montana, the two started wedding planning!! Thankfully they were ok with me helping them plan! It was so much fun, sometimes stressful and chaotic, but this was a special wedding.

The day before the wedding, we spent some time to take their formal pictures in the glowing California Sunlight. San Diego, you have sold me. I loved it there! WE shot at the San Diego LDS temple where the ceremony would be the next day and at La Jolla Beach.

Katie, you are gorgeous! You made for one beautiful bride. Thank you for letting Tiffiny and I help to get you ready. It was a special sister moment.

And when did you become a model! Look at the model face! I think this one on the left should be in a magazine!

We had beautiful light for their first look. Thank you sunny California! It doesn’t even look like December!

This is one of my favorites! Her skin is glowing, their smiles are perfect. I love it all.

This is how they look like most of the time. 🙂

LOOK AT THAT GLOW! I want to bottle it and take it with me to every shoot!

We then went off to the beach!! Now I readily admit that I am a California newbie. I had google mapped directions for the San Diego LDS temple to La Jolla Beach and it said it was only a few minutes apart. PERFECT! Well, I should have realized that when leaving at 4:30pm, people were just getting off of work, traffic would pick up quickly AND parking at a beach around sunset is INSANE! Rookie mistakes!

By time we found a place to park (sorry to the little red sports car that we blocked in, we were desperate!), we had 7 minutes to shoot before the sun was gone!!! We jumped out of the car ran to the closest walk way and I shot fast! This doesn’t mean careless, just quickly! This is where I am so grateful for couples that have an engagement session with me before the wedding!!!  Since Katelin and Brayden had been in front of my camera before, I knew their best poses, and they knew exactly what to do when I told them to nuzzle, go nose to nose, or “belly up”.  We were able to work quickly! I took advantage of some “flow pose”  that made shooting time SO MUCH FASTER! The result, we got a TON of images on this ONE little walkway with a variety of looks and lighting all within 7 minutes! I might have to do a blog post for photographer on how to do this in the future.

Thank you seagull for flying at the PERFECT time! And can you see those dots on the beach behind them? Those were all the seals, you could hear them as we shot!

Another one of my absolute favorites!

This was a perfect way to end day one in San Diego! On Wednesday I will be sharing the wedding day!!!!

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