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a session after my goth girl heart,


S & L reached out a few months before their trip to Monterey hoping to book a session to remember their visit by. As big-time travelers, they love to do a photo shoot in the new areas they visit--a lil' memento of their adventure. At first, we had discussed a cute & casual outfit for our walkabout Alvarado Street...but a few days before they were supposed to leave for Monterey, S called me with an idea: "What if I bring my wedding dress?"


During our call, S explained to me how few pictures they actually got of their wedding day, and how it may be cool to utilize the dress she got married in rather than their street clothes. It made the session extra special, kind of allowing the two to relive their wedding day.


So, we ran all over downtown Monterey, with S & L pretending to be two vagabonds freshly hitched and deeply in love (that part wasn't pretend, lol). The entire time we discussed their early days together, S previous experiences as a wedding photographer, and bonded over our mutual dislike of The Beatles (sorry not sorry y'all).

 

Wedding couple poses outside brick building with elegant floral decorations.
Brick storefront entrance with lantern lighting and floral decorations at dusk.

embracing your style



To make things even more special to them, S & L brought with them two punked-out denim vests they used to wear in high school, which is where it all began for them originally. And instead of donning traditional heels, S chose her big combat boots, a girl after my own heart.

I truly love when clients really embrace who they are, rather than trying to be someone else's Pinterest vision. As a photographer, authenticity is so important to me. Not that dress-up is bad (because I will gladly turn someone into a swordmaiden or a princess) but I want to encourage people to show off their core selves, especially since photography is supposed to capture the memory of you. If you wouldn't be caught dead in a sundress, don't feel pressured into wearing it unless it makes you feel comfortable and you.

S & L killed it with their styling, matching the moodiness they had envisioned.


Another fun plus: as a former photographer, S told me she and L actually preferred B&W edits to full-color. As a B&W lover myself, I was beyond excited to have the creative freedom to really deliver on this front. It's not every day a client tells me that!

Elegant wedding scene outside brick building with floral arrangements and storefront.
Close-up details of white wedding dress train against brick and tile floor.
Wedding couple poses near floral arch outside brick building entrance.
Wedding photography session outside brick building with dramatic lighting.
Wedding couple in black and white attire photographed against brick wall.
A couple poses outside a brick building, with the bride wearing a flowing white mermaid wedding dress.
Black and white photo series of a couple against a brick wall with the bride in a white wedding gown.
A wedding couple stands together near floral decorations and a brick wall.
A couple walks together on a city street with the bride's dress trailing behind them.
A couple sits together on decorative tiled steps in black and white photography.
Close-up detail of lace sleeves and hands on a white wedding dress.
An intimate moment captured on decorated theater steps with ornate tile work.
A romantic moment shared between a couple sitting on patterned steps.
A couple sits on the steps of the Osio Theater with decorative tile work visible.
Black and white photo of a couple relaxing on theater steps with geometric patterns.
Artistic black and white wedding photo sequence showing a couple in dramatic poses.
Nighttime sequence of a couple in wedding attire outside a storefront.
Sequence showing a couple sitting and posing together outside a shop window.
Wedding photo sequence on a staircase with dramatic lighting and angles.
Black and white sequence showing a couple dancing in an intimate setting.
Black and white urban rooftop sequence with city buildings in background.
Sequence showing couple relaxing on floor in contrasting white dress and dark outfit.
Black and white photo sequence of couple lying down in casual poses.
Close-up sequence of hands with rings showing intimate moments.
Black and white sequence showing couple in leather jackets against urban backdrop.
A close-up detail of a punk rock style leather jacket with band patches and white lace accents.
A romantic couple in contrasting punk and wedding attire share an intimate moment in low light.
A dramatic nighttime portrait showing the contrast of a white wedding dress against a studded leather jacket.
A stylish couple poses against a red-lit brick wall, combining formal and punk fashion elements.
A couple embraces in dramatic red lighting against an industrial backdrop.
An artistic series of silhouettes showing a couple in an intimate moment against a red background.
Close-up detail of lace and tattoos on fabric in moody lighting.
A couple in contrasting formal and punk attire pose together in dramatic lighting.
A couple rests near a bus stop sign in an artistic black and white composition.
A couple in contrasting wedding and punk attire walk together in a dark parking area.