Orange County Professional Photographer
Being a professional photographer in Orange County has afforded me the opportunity to photograph at some of the best locations that this county has to offer. Really the same could be said for Los Angeles and the rest of southern California. Photographing weddings, engagement sessions and a wide variety of family-style photography is a real passion of mine that I get to do for a living. Combine that passion with meeting so many great couples and you’ve got a recipe for success and happiness. And this was apparent at a recent engagement photo session with JD and Hayley that we had the pleasure of photographing at Irvine Regional Park.
One would think that Irvine Regional Park would be located in Irvine, but in fact it is actually located just down the street from our office in the City of Orange, and is one of our favorite park and/or nature locations in all of Orange County. If you think being a photographer in Orange County offers you a lot, just being an Orange photographer offers a wide variety in the types of locations we can shoot at.
As for Irvine Regional, the best time to shoot at this park is during the Winter and Spring, as the forest area is more like an open field with tall grass and trees, and the grass tends to be greener than usual. If we are shooting in the Summer and Fall times of the year, the colors tend to be more Fall-like with the brown and orange colors. We don’t know why this is, but Irvine Regional Park tends to get more of the traditional Fall colors than some of the other local park locations.
While photographing Hayley and JD’s engagement session, you can really feel the playful love between them. Their session was filled with fun, as well as tender moments, and they seemed very relaxed in front of the camera together under all the beautiful trees we encountered.
It’s not often a couple meets online where a guy writes her a poem, and that leads to a first date. But it did for JD and Hayley! The poem led them to a 5-hour conversation, which in turn led them to their first date and they were well on their way to a beautiful romance. One filled with laughter, conversations, joy, romance and the breaking of one of JD’s biggest rules that he has, or should I say, had, on first dates.
What rule did he break? You’ll have to keep reading to find out.
Despite the pandemic, Hayley and JD plan to marry on October 10, 2020 at a private estate in Orange County.
All of the details of this engagement session were captured by the team at Three16 Photography. We would really like to thank Hayley and JD for allowing us to be part of your special day. We wish you many years of love and happiness.
Check out their love story. We hope you enjoy it, and their photos, as much as we do.
Hayley and JD’s Love Story
How & When did you first meet? Describe your thoughts and how you felt about each other, and tell us, was it love at first sight?
So, I swiped right on this gorgeous girl on Tinder. My first thought was that she looked beautiful, smart, and creative. So, when we matched, I wrote her a poem and that poem turned into a 5-hour conversation, and that lead to a date. On March 6th at 5:45 at night, we meet at Macy’s, and what turned into just a meet-up, turned into an all-nighter. On that night it was my first kiss on the first date, and I knew my life was for the better because I found the one.
What do you both do for work?
JD is a receiving manager and I work as a shift lead at a Firehouse Subs.
GROOM: What was it that made you first start liking your bride-to-be?
She accepted every side of me, the good, the bad, and the goofy. She was ok with my poetry, singing, and voice impressions. Even was good at talking about God and our relationship with Christ.
BRIDE: What was it that made you first start liking your groom-to-be?
He was goofy and made me laugh. You can tell he was trying so hard on the first day because he tried out all his accents on me and was a perfect gentleman. I also loved I can be myself around him and he loved me for me.
Tell us about your first date. What was going through your mind, where did you go and what did you do?
Our first date was super fun. We went to the Brea Mall and we met at Macy’s first. I was in the wrong Macy’s, so I went over to him where it had the makeup department. When I came up to him, he said “How you doin’?” (in his best Joey from “Friend’s” impression). Little did I know the mall was the perfect place to go because each of the stores I took him to shows my personality. First, I took him to the Anime store, then the As Seen on TV store, the Disney store and Boxlunch. He was falling so fast and we were having such a good time we went to dinner at BJ’s. I had a burger and he had pasta. I was so nervous to eat in front of him. After that we walked around the area and we were in my car listening to showtunes. He broke his first date rule, he said he never kissed on the first date and then he planted one on me. Best nine-hour date ever!
What makes your relationship special? Tell us some things that you both value in your time together and what makes your relationship unique?
I push her outside of her comfort zone and she introduces me to new adventures every day.
Tell us about your proposal story! How and Where did it all unfold? Were you surprised and tell us, who cried first?
His Proposal: I took her to a place called “Inn of the Seventh Ray” and got her a Gazebo on top of an ancient river that connected together, symbolizing the unity of marriage. Even though she had her suspicions (thanks to the waitress and menu) she emptied my pockets and patted me down. I was so nervous, but she had no idea it was hidden in a compartment in my slacks. After she beat me in a thumb war, I asked her “what would like to be your prize?” She responded, “you” and I said, “then have me you shall” and I got down on one knee. She cried, I cried it, was one of the best moments of my life and I’m glad I did it right.
So I had to also propose to just assure him that I truly am sticking with him.
Her Proposal: On December 13th, my fiancé, me and his parents had a double date at Disneyland. With my ring box in my backpack, I didn’t know if I was actually going to propose. I wanted to propose at the right moment. Little did I know the day was very significant because his parents proposed that same day too. So, it was decided I knew I had to propose. His dad proposed to his mom at the Snow White wishing well, so I did too. It was so cute! His dad pretended to propose to his mom again and I reached for the box in my backpack while JD’s attention was diverted to his parents. I tapped him on his shoulder and showed him the box, in a legend of Zelda ring box that said, “it’s dangerous to go alone, take this.” And when I asked him, I kid you not, the lights and Snow White’s music began to play. JD was so manly with his one manly tear and he was so proud to show off his ring. It was a truly magical proposal.
What is one piece of advice you have for couples just beginning the wedding planning process? And what have you enjoyed most about planning your wedding?
Don’t do it during COVID. It has truly been a struggle. I would say for people planning, just make sure you have family who support you and that you have opinions.
Anything else you want to add?
Remember that two are better than one. For if one falls the other will pick them up.
