Coronado Engagement: Megan and Colin

Megan remembers the first time she saw Colin: across the room at a dance class, and they were just little kids. Megan and Colin's families have known each other for years and the two began dating in high school. Both amazingly intelligent, Megan loves to cook, and Colin is a reader and loves to eat! Together they are emotionally in tune with each other, know exactly what to say to make the other laugh, and are downright, deep in love.

Colin would joke that he would 'fake propose' to Megan just like Jim would 'fake propose' to Pam on The Office, but Colin was in fact able to completely surprise Megan when he dropped to one knee in the Carlsbad Flower Fields to propose.

To commemorate their upcoming dream wedding at San Diego's iconic Hotel del Coronado, the hotel itself and adjacent beach made for the perfect engagement session backdrop. Highly valuing family - even pet family members! - their 11 month old French bulldog, Beau, also joined in on the fun!

Megan and Colin, you two make me dance with excitement: I adore the love you two share for each other and for your families, I love how you are both so driven, and I love how you are both so much FUN! I am beyond excited to be a part of your wedding this upcoming July! xo, Evelyn

Oaxaca Travel Guide

There have been countless times when I have reflected on a past meal and said to myself, "I remember when I ate..." and simply beam in recalling that memory. The time I finally gave in and learned to like mushrooms in Italy. The time I found myself in a dark, smokey Shanghai ally, where I sat in mini chairs, with a mini table, to eat fresh steamed mystery dumplings I ordered by pointing, nodding, and smiling. Sigh.

As a lover of food and the experiences collected with them, I knew I wanted to check out Oaxaca, Mexico thanks to the Chef's Table episode on Chef Enrique Olvera: he endearingly boasts Oaxaca as a place of inspiration for him, where one of kind dishes are found. I was ready and willing to visit what is considered Mexico's food capital!

A week in Oaxaca was just what I needed to eat at every place I wanted to experience, explore outside of the city, and sit in the Zocalo to watch life go by. Every person I encountered was warm and welcoming, and I definitely cried during my last stroll in the city; I was so sad for my trip to be over but so grateful to have experienced this amazing part of Mexico.

Below are a few of my trip's highlights in Oaxaca!

Casa Oaxaca

My heart literally pitter patters at the thought of eating at Casa Oaxaca. Everyone wants to sit on the rooftop that overlooks the Church of Santo Domingo; I did so for dinner and lucky me, had fireworks going off during my meal! I also had lunch on the first floor and found the experience to be just as amazing. Table side made fresh salsa accompanied with a massive tostada top with crumbled queso fresco starts your meal on the right foot, and I highly recommend the mezcalinis. Casa Oaxaca was the highlight sit down restaurant for me!

What to eat: The menu is full of traditional Oaxacan dishes! Some of our favorite items included:

• Tlayuda Tradicional with chorizo. This traditional Oaxacan dish is a large folded over tortilla with a variety of fillings, from cheese to mole to squash blossoms.

• Tostadas de atun, or tuna tostadas.

• The duck taquitos, pictured below, covered in to-die-for mole

• Ensalada de nopales, or cactus salad, which meshes nopales, beans, grilled avocado, and more in a mouth watering dish.

What to know: You absolutely need a reservation for dinner, especially if you want to secure seats on the rooftop. Also, come hungry.

Casa Oaxaca, Calle La Constitucion 104A, 68000 Oaxaca

'Taco Ally' at 20 de Noviembre Market

20 de Noviembre is a traditional Mexican market where you pick out grilled taco meat from one of many meat vendors in the long corridor, hence 'taco ally,' and enjoy your tacos. Simple in theory, a bit more complicated in execution when you walk in, and at peak times, face chaos: everyone wants to help assist you. Initially overwhelming, but an absolute must-do because everything is so fresh, delicious, you're likely to end up sharing a table with locals, and the intensity is exciting.

What to know: Follow these steps and you'll enjoy your tacos stress-free!

• Walk in, grab a basket, pick a stand, and select your meat and quantity. We really liked the cecina enchilada (adobo marinated pork), and you may also ask to have onions or other veggies they may have on hand to be grilled. Pay for your meat directly with the vendor.

• Walk back to the entrance and have one of the gentlemen coordinating the family style seating area seat you.

• Once seated is where you order fresh tortillas, beverages, and a variety of toppings, from fresh cut limes to salsa picante to pickled carrots from the vendors walking from table to table offering their specific product. You pay each vendor for the goods they have sold you.

• Your meat will be delivered to your table, and it's time to ensemble your tacos and enjoy!

20 de Noviembre, Miguel Cabrera 120 Col. Centro, 68000 Oaxaca

Fundacion En Via Tour

In doing my research on Oaxaca, I came across Fundacion En Via, a non-profit that provides micro financing and support to women in Oaxaca and its surrounding area to run sustainable businesses. As a woman business owner myself, I was fascinated and thrilled at the idea of taking an En Via tour to visit and learn about some of these women. 

There were 11 guests and two English and Spanish speaking tour guides, who were THE nicest, and together in a van we made stops to five different women's businesses in two villages outside of Oaxaca. 

One stop was in a small village where we were welcomed into a woman's home and restaurant where she personally served us lunch and told us the great impact accountability and micro financing has provided her: she has been able to build a cement floor for the restaurant and hopes to extend the roof as her next investment. She dreams of one day having a map on her wall and having every person who visits note where they are from. 

We moved onto Teotitlan del Valle, a popular community known for it's woven rugs, and where we were welcomed into the home and workspace of a woman who have been weaving since she was a little girl. She was extremely proud of the new business cards she had just received, in fact her first business cards ever! These women are hustling to make it work for themselves and their families; I have to say that this entire experience was humbling and one of the top highlights of our trip to Oaxaca.

What to know: 

• To date, tours are only held on Thursday and Saturdays, so we plan accordingly.

• Carve out a full day for this: the tour leaves Oaxaca at noon and returns in the evening.

• There was one rug in particular that caught my eye, and someone bought it before I made up my mind. I don't live with many regrets, but I still think about this rug! I could have known who made it and where it came from! Moral of the story: see and like a rug? Buy it.

Fundacion En Via, www.envia.org

Suculenta

From the street, we saw this really cute room with colorful jars lining the walls. With no sign on the exterior, I hesitantly walked in and surprisingly found myself in the health food store, Suculenta. Selling organic jams, oils, pickled veggies, cacao and more, the owner and maker of these goods, Paulina, is there making all of these organic goodies right there in shop and welcomes you taste test anything!

What to buy: Everything here makes the perfect gift, but the sweet pickles were my favorite! You can stock up on a lot of small sized jars to maximize the variety of goods you bring home! 

Suculenta, Porfirio Díaz #207-G Colonia Centro, 68000 Oaxaca

Pan:Am

When in Mexico, I am always seeking the best pan dulce because hands down, I love bread. Warm, fresh bread right of the oven? Even better, and this is what Pan:Am delivers! Pan:Am is part bakery, part coffee shop, part sit down café located in the center of town. 

What to order: Their Oaxacan chocolate croissant and their cream cheese and fruit filled pastry are musts. Perfectly flakey, not too buttery, and even better warm!

Pan:Am, Av. Belisario Dominguez 809, Col. Reforma, 68050 Oaxaca

Museo de la Culturas de Oaxaca

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. "I love it. I love it SO much," were my initial words upon walking into the this museum, and Chris said, "I knew you would." The long, multi floor corridors with beautifully arched, tall ceilings are stunning and were immediately added to my 'wedding portrait dream locations' list: simply classic and bright! As my partner, Chris knows the inner workings of my creative side and ensured we visited this museum because he knew this backdrop would make me so happy.

Aesthetics aside, the massive museum covers the history of Oaxaca and how its cultures were shaped and formed with a number of accompanying artifacts.

What to know: Most if not all descriptions are in Spanish, and even as a native speaker, I couldn't read and decipher everything as fast as I could in English. The Museo does give you great views of Plaza Santo Domingo and the respective signature Oaxacan church.

Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, Macedonio Alcalá s/n, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca

Cafe Nuevo Mundo

Recommended to me by a local, this independently owned cafe is known for it's hot chocolate, roasts coffee on site, and offers pastries as well as an extensive food menu. I was welcomed by friendly barristers each time we visited, all eager to give me recommendations on their specialties.

What to order:

• 'Chocolate Oaxaqueno con espresso' aka Oaxacan hot chocolate with espresso, pictured below.

• Caramel banana frappe, also pictured below.

• The Chai Diablo

Cafe Nuevo Mundo, M. Bravo 206, Oaxaca

A few More Highlights

• San Martín Tilcajete is a must! Known for its community of wood carvers of beautiful alebrijes, brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of both animals and fantastical creatures, Jacobo y Mari is the must-see shop. They create small, hand held sized figures to life sized sculptures. The shop tour guides walk you through the alebrije making process and you are able to see artists carve and paint there too!

• When in Oaxaca, you must drink mezcal! As a mezcal novices, I found the best place for education and tastings was at Mezcaloteca. Appointments are required at this bar where the servers individually go over the history, traditions, and ‘how-to’ taste mescal with you.

• I had a private driver take me to Monte Alban, an archaeological site right outside of the city. Come early! I arrived at 8am, was the first one there, and avoided the crowds by the bus loads who arrived around 9am.

• I stayed at Quinta Real Oaxaca. I considered it to be in the perfect location - walking distance to everything, and its grounds are beautiful with fountains and natural light everywhere. The rooms were a bit small and as a former convent, the walls lacked insulation of noise, but we would definitely stay here again.

Oaxaca will be a place that I will have many “I remember when I ate…” Hasta la proxima! Until next time! - Evelyn

Balboa Park & Sunset Cliffs Engagement: Carly and Alex

A first date over sushi set off a passionate love between these two. Together they value spending quality time with one another - especially while traveling internationally - and sharing in each other's interests: Carly has a background in winemaking, so very early on in their relationship she asked Alex to serve wine at an event she was hosting. Not only did he oblige, he enjoyed it, demonstrating a clear interest in one of her passions which won her over.

Calling San Diego home, iconic Balboa Park was the perfect backdrop for part one of their engagement session followed by Sunset Cliffs with their fur-babies, Duke and Dakota, who seriously loved the camera! 

Carly, from the moment we spoke I loved your energy! Alex, from the moment we met I loved how clear it was you love Carly: how you spoke highly of her, your 'Wine Princess,' and how you dote on her niece. Together, I adore you! Thank you for your laughs, care, and trust: you had zero questions about jumping and climbing over a few rocks to get to just the right location which led to fun and even more laughs. I am SO excited to photograph your fall wedding! xo, Evelyn

What To Wear: Engagement Photos

We have all been there: standing in front of our closets, wondering what to wear. It's a random Tuesday with nothing especially crazy-amazing on the agenda, and we struggle to pick something out, so I understand the guidance desired when my couples ask me, "What should we wear to our engagement session?" because this session IS in fact a mometous event!

Think of your engagement session as a special occasion date. This is a time for you both to connect, spend quality time together, and look good while doing it!

Take this opportunity to dress up!

Special occasions call for you to get dressed up! For my brides, a classic, single color cocktail dress and heels is the perfect combination: a shorter dress lets you walk freely, show your feminine side as well as your awesome taste in shoes. For my grooms, a well fitted suit and dress shoes are a match made in heaven. Since it's often warm in Southern California, a crisp, collared shirt works well too: you will look put together and sleek!

Just like with your wedding photos, you will want to look back at your engagement session in a timeless manner and have what you felt in these photographed moments be top of mind. You want these photos to hang on the walls of your home and your families' homes for years to come, not until the trendy outfit you wore goes out of style.

Opt for solid colors that help you both pop amongst any background; it allows the focus of each photograph to be on you! Also, remember to also wear different colors from each other in order for each of you to stand out.

To my ladies who are looking to wear something different than your classic little black dress, I highly recommend Rent the Runway: with thousands of beautiful dresses in stock, that they will send you up to two sizes of each dress for you to wear and send back to them. Easy process and affordably chic!

Remember that you will be photographed from head to toe, so shoes matter. Gentlemen, shine up your dress shoes, and ladies, be cute and comfortable since we will be moving a lot during your session.

Love your outfit!

I love being a part of the pre-wedding and pre-engagement shoot process with my couples, so it's my pleasure to give you my opinion on wardrobe options. When Chelsea, pictured below, sent me photos of dresses she was considering for her engagement session, she pointed out this white dress and said, "I'm not going to lie: I'm pretty obsessed with it!" THIS reaction, THIS excitement, THIS feeling is what you should have when picking out your engagement session outfit.

Love what you are wearing, feel beautiful (handsome, for my fellas) and confident in what you wear so the only thing you are thinking of is being in the moment.

Have a professional do your hair and make up.

Your engagement session is a special occasion date, so while your outfits will look amazing, you'll want to prioritize your hair and face too! I recommend hiring a professional or your wedding hair and make-up artist to run a wedding day hair and make up trial on your engagement session date. You will have know what to expect on your wedding day as well as look and feel your best in your engagement photos.

And to my grooms, you know that there is nothing more fresh feeling then getting a clean haircut and shave!

So as you plan our your engagement session outfits, or special occasion date as I've dubbed it, check off each item on this check list for the perfect look:

• Cocktail dress and heels

• Suit and dress shoes

• Solid colors

• Professional hair and make up

• Fresh hair cut and shave

Remember, I can always be your fashion consultant beforehand if you want to share outfits with me! I can't wait to see you at your engagement session! - Evelyn

Why You Should Order A Wedding Album

A discussion over whether or not to purchase a wedding album occurs when you are booking your day with me or after you have received and are thrilled with your wedding day images. My recommendation is always yes! A wedding album is an absolute must and I am happy to break down the reasons why wedding albums are a timeless investment and how I make the process easy for my couples.

Wedding albums are timeless

Your wedding day goes by fast and you want to remember what you smelled, the anticipation before the first look, and how hard you laughed and cried during the speeches. 

The beautifully designed, high end wedding albums I offer my couples are the equivalent to the brand name, little black dress that you invested in, knowing you would wear it time and time again because it's simply classic, so well made, and your go-to for feeling amazing. 

Wedding albums are a timeless capsule of your memories from this day; they highlight the best moments and bring you back to what you felt. Like that dress, it's an investment that will pay itself off over and over.

Your wedding album will also be accessible: whenever you or family want to see photos from your wedding day, I guarantee that you will want to open up an album rather than search for files on a computer. It will sit beautifully on your coffee table and perhaps later be moved to a bookshelf, where subsequent albums - of your first baby, of family photo albums - will join it. 

Save time by allowing me to do all of the work

I know that you are both successfull, career driven individuals who always make time for your friends and family; how do you fit in the time and energy to look over your 800 individual wedding photos you absolutely love to select the photos for your album? Also, designing a wedding album is about selecting what photos to include as well as determining how they should be laid out in the album.

This is where I come in: from the moment your wedding gallery is sent to you, I am already in the process of selecting the 50-70 best images from the hundreds delivered. I then design the album to tell the story of your special day and have you look at and approve the lay out before sending it to print. Have a few photos you must have included? Perfect! I want to know this so I ensure to include them!

Your time as a newly married couple is precious; spend it together being active, visiting family, and planning a second honeymoon. Leave the decisions up to me!

Access the highest quality of wedding albums

While there are a lot of options for you to print your photos on your own, I have access to the best printers that only sell their products to professional photographers like myself. The linen covered albums I offer my couples are made with the best materials: printed on the finest archival paper - read: this thick, luster paper will stay true to it's colors and not fade over time - and the dust cover, presentation box, and album are all handmade by a team on the East Coast that I am personally in contact with during the printing process.

Remember that the quality of your wedding album is critical. Your investment should go towards an album that will last a lifetime.

You select the size and cover

All wedding albums I offer are square in size and you have the option order a 10" x 10" or 12" x 12" option. You also get to choose your album's cover from a variety of textured, linen options in a number of colors.

Would you like to include a wedding album into your wedding package or have more questions about albums? I'd love to chat with you! Drop me a note here! - Evelyn