Orange County Professional Photographer
Being a professional photographer in Orange County, as well as Los Angeles, we get the opportunity to photograph a wide array of different types of photo shoots. And although we do more than just wedding related photography, engagement sessions and weddings themselves are still the most requested.
But one of our favorite parts about being a photographer is getting the opportunity to meet and get to know all the different people you cross paths with. When it comes to photographing engagement photo sessions, we find that the couple is usually a little more at ease with one another. They also get a chance to become comfortable working with their photographer and being in front of a camera. Let’s face it, we are not all celebrities. Plus, this is a time for them just to relax, be in love and just be in the moment with each other. While shooting an engagement session, this allows the couple to really put their love for one another on display and I got this feeling in a recent shoot with Sarah and Nick at the Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park.
Located in Cotode Caza, the Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park is one of our favorite nature locations in Orange County.We love what this location brings to your photographs as it has plenty of amazing natural backdrops that will really highlight your photos. It has the right blend of an open-spaced park and that of a forest-like feel to it. There are plenty of hiking trails, bridges and a ranch-style wood fence that we will be sure to incorporate. One other aspect about this awesome location is that it doesn’t get very crowded, so we won’t have the problem of having people wandering through or in the background of your photos.
At Sarah and Nick’s photo session, I really felt the love between them. They seemed very relaxed and in their element as we walked amongst all the wonderful nature.
Truly what are the chances you go off to school and within the first few weeks, you meet your future? Well, that was the case with Sarah and Nick as they met in a freshman Bible study during their first few weeks as students while attending USC but didn’t start dating each other until their sophomore year. But it was more than just attractiveness that brought these two together, it was the intellect and the hours and hours of conversations that they just could not get enough of. And that makes for a wonderful foundation to any relationship.
So what started as two freshmen joining a study group, to their first date a year later, to a proposal at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Nick and Sarah will be standing in front of family and friends on April 18, 2020 at the Dove Canyon Golf Club in Trabuco Canyon tobecome husband and wife.
All the details of their engagement session at this naturesque location was captured by the team at Three16 Photography. We would really like to thank Sarah and Nick 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.
Sarah and Nick’s Love Story
How &When did you first meet? Describe your thoughts and how you felt about each other. Was it love at first sight?
Sarah and Nick met in a freshman Bible study during their first few weeks as students at USC. Nick says, “Of all the delightful people in the group, she stood out, as far as beauty and wit were concerned. I remember being intently interested in each comment she made. Plus, she was the only one who really seemed to understand my jokes, which was a big plus!” We didn’t start dating until our sophomore year at USC. Sarah fondly remembers talking to Nick for hours about everything from baseball to theology to neural circuits and hanging on every word.
What do you both do for work?
Sarah works as a marketing coordinator for the eCommerce division of a telecommunication company, and Nick is going to medical school!
GROOM: What was it that made you first start liking your bride-to-be?
Sarah’s strong mix of compassion and intelligence sparked my love for her. She deeply cares for the lives of those she encounters, and her gift of discernment allows her to care practically for others by speaking insightful truth into any situation. When I was getting to know Sarah, I wanted nothing more than to listen to her thoughts for hours.
BRIDE: What was it that made you first start liking your groom-to-be?
Nick is so intentional in the way he cares for people. He is constantly putting the needs of others before his own (which I know will contribute to him being a great doctor when he’s finished with school). When I was getting to know Nick, I was able to witness him serving and caring for others for over a year, and needless to say, I liked what I saw.
Tell us about your first date. What was going through your mind and where did you go and what did you do?
Our first date was Nick’s birthday! We went to a formal event for a campus group with which Sarah was involved. Alongside several friends – who didn’t know we were dating yet – we laughed and danced the night away! At the end of the night, Sarah surprise Nick with cupcakes for his birthday.
What makes your relationship special? Tell us some things that you both value in your time together and what makes your relationship unique?
We highly value conversations and new ideas in our time together. Our relationship is special, because our love is grounded in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. As we explore new ideas and activities in our time together, we know we have a deeper love as our everlasting foundation. Our sense of humor and valuing of hospitality also make our relationship unique.
Tell us about your proposal story! How and Where did it all unfold? Were you surprised and tell us, who cried first?
On August 24th, after we had been dating for exactly 1,000 days, Nick took Sarah to all her favorite spots in San Juan Capistrano. After we visited her favorite coffee shop, we spent some time strolling in the Mission, her favorite spot in town. Once we sat down in a private area near the picnic tables, Nick reminisced on our love story. Near the end of his speech, Sarah asked him if he was going to get down on a knee – and he did! Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch at her favorite restaurant in San Juan and called our family and friends to tell them the news! While the day slightly deviated from Nick’s original plan, God orchestrated the situation to be even better than Nick expected!
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?
The most important thing is to get organized early! Doing so allows you to see the big picture and avoid being blindsided by important deadlines and to-dos. Beyond that, take each step at a time; wedding planning can be a very daunting process overall, but each step is actually really enjoyable! The cake tasting has been Nick’s favorite part so far! Sarah’s favorite part of planning has been crafting a celebration with Nick that represents the two of them as a couple.