Posts tagged california

Beena + Peter. Fun Engagement Photos at Malibu Creek State Park

"All, everything that I understand, I only understand because I love." — Leo Tolstoy

When I look at Beena and Peter, contrary to popular belief, I believe that platonic friendships between men and women exist before turning into something serious. They were friends first; met in college 15 years ago.

"I stole Beena's best friends," Peter said. "They're also my best friends now."

Taking the leap of having a romantic relationship from friendship might feel scary, and people might fear that it would ruin the connection they already have, but I believe the best relationships truly grow from friendships, like Beena and Peter.

I had so much fun with them in Malibu the other day; observing their love, honesty, and comfort for each other was sometimes hilarious, yet emotional and real.

I just can't wait to witness it all again at their wedding... Woohoo!

EngagementAnnie BangSeptember 22, 2015wedding photojournalism, wedding photographer, engagement session, engagement photo, engagement photo ideas, malibu engagement photo, malibu creek state park, california, los angeles wedding photographer, candid, natural engagement photos, fun engagement photosComment

Kristin + Tomasz. Beach House Destination Wedding

"Kristin, my heart loves so many things about you." - Tomasz

"Tomasz, you are my favorite. The best person I have ever met." - Kristin

I wish I could have been in the same room of the Ph.D. party at Northwestern University in Chicago when Kristin met Tomasz whose energy and carriage she described as "a cross between Tigger from Winne the Pooh and a knight from King Arthur's Round Table."

They talked about why they chose Northwestern, where they were from, chatted about his upcoming salsa class. (Kristin was a former dancer.) She was determined to get a date with him; however, Tomasz, who's from Poland, did not comprehend her "cheesy" American pick-up line.

"It was something like, 'it'd be nice to see you again,'" Kristin said. But in Poland, you never ask someone out upon first meeting them; there was no "proper" response from Tomasz. Then, Kristin wrote her email on a piece of paper and marched back over to him and stuffed the paper in his hand saying, “Here! take this; write to me!”

Thankfully he did! That was 11 years ago.

Now they both live in Boston as Tomasz is an Economics professor at Harvard University while Kristin is finishing up her graduate program and teaching at Boston University. And their intimate and beautiful wedding took a place at a beach house in Cambria, a seaside village in California, owned by Kristin's grandparents, where she spent many childhood vacations and where all her siblings got married. The celebration was filled with laughter, tears of joy, and euphoria. I am SO blessed to have been there to witness it all.

WeddingAnnie BangSeptember 15, 2015beach wedding, destination wedding, wedding photojournalism, wedding photographer, wedding photojournalist, wedding photography, los angeles, california, california beach wedding, California Beach Destination Wedding, beach house weddingComment

New Yorkers in Cali

“I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is happiness: a glass of wine, a roast chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea. Nothing else.” - Nikos Kazantzakis

Soomin and I used to work for the same newspaper in Seoul at different times; we've read each other's bylines and perhaps that was about it. Life is a funny thing. It's funny how and where it leads us to - like my relationship with Soomin and her family. We didn't know much about each other before, yet immediately connected when she visited Los Angeles with her husband, who is a journalist in New York, and their omg-too-cute-I-could-squeeze-him-all-day son.

As spending some high-quality time with her family, I've realized that the stories of those I photograph make me more aware of my own place in life, my own path, and my own joy. I meet so many amazing spirits and see how they're experiencing this wonderful world, and I think about where I am and where I want to and will be in this day-to-day strangeness of it all. I'm constantly inspired by what I'm surrounded and feel so grateful.