In a county full of buildings, traffic and people, it’s nice to know there’s a place in Orange County that allows you to escape and get lost in the fields. A recent bridal photography shoot took me to such a place with the ever in-love Carla and Austin as I shot their bridal shoot at Carbon Canyon Park in Fullerton.

It was an amazing day to for a photography session as the sun, weather and even the bugs all cooperated for this very sweet couple. The shots were taken in a remote part of the park, where there is an open field that left us with plenty of privacy.

It was just an enjoyable day that makes me proud to have chosen a profession that I enjoy so much and that others love the results.

From Carla’s Point of View….

Three16: Tell us about your dress, the brand, style and where did you get it?

Carla: First off, let me say that It was such a treat doing a photo shoot with your team! Although we got married almost three years ago, it was such a fun excuse to pull out my dress. I would recommend that everyone do a shoot a few years out! It was so romantic and reminded me how blessed I am to have Austin in my life.

I found a dress I loved while visiting my mom in Austin, Texas. However, I just couldn’t bring myself to spend the $2100 on a dress I would only wear for about 5 hours of my life. So I spent the next few weeks searching for a similar option with a better price tag. I found this dress on preownedweddingdresses.com. It was never worn and so similar to the dress I was looking for. I just about died when the seller told me I could have it for $350. Plus it was my perfect size; I hardly had to do any alterations.

Three16:  What do you love about your dress?

Carla: Lace, lace and more lace! Seriously though, I knew I wanted a lace gown and this was the perfect dress. I ended up adding more lace details to the neckline, which turned out perfectly!

Three16: How did you and Austin first meet?

Carla: We met in my Human Anatomy class at Biola University. He was the super cute and somewhat distracting TA (teacher’s assistant). He likes to say he taught me anatomy, but I ended up taking his job the following semester when he graduated so what does that tell you? No, but in all seriousness, we actually didn’t interact much in school, but reconnected a year or so after he graduated and the rest is history.

Three16: When did you get married? What was your favorite moment of the wedding day?

Carla: We got married on 8.11.12. As sappy as this sounds, my favorite part of the day was probably the few moments we got to sneak away from the reception to take some pictures. It was such a dream, the first couple hours of being husband and wife. Plus, having all our favorite people there to celebrate with us was so much fun. It was like a giant party.

From Austin’s Point of View….

Three16: What did you and Carla do for your first date?

Austin: It was very difficult trying to figure out what the perfect first date was. I wanted to take her to the beach and grab dinner, but I loved to fish as well. So I decided to combine the two and took her fishing off of Seal Beach pier. It was a lot of fun because we were able to watch the sunset and talk, while doing something together at the same time.

Three16: Describe Carla in one word, and why did you choose that word?

Austin: There are too many words to describe Carla, but if I had to pick one I would pick Genuine. She is very authentic and what you see is what you get. She will always tell you exactly what she feels. She is very attentive and caring. She listens to what I have to say and responds in a very sensitive and empathetic way.

Three16: What’s your advice to couples getting married?

Austin: Marriage is a beautiful thing but definitely takes a lot of work. You have to be willing to compromise on some things. Being a good spouse requires sacrifice and being a servant even when you don’t want to. Remember to always set aside time for each other and find time to do things special for each other.

With people like Carla and Austin, and others along the way, how can I not be thankful for gift I’ve been given to do a job I love so much?

Recently engaged?  We’d LOVE to help! Contact us today.

In addition to the wonderful people I photograph, I’m very thankful to continually work with these amazing vendors:

Flowers by: Flower Allie | www.floweralliestyle.com

Makeup & Hair: Stephanie Larson

Decor: Illuminated Events | www.illuminatedevent.com