My favorite thing about planning a proposal: the stories I hear from the person proposing. Alejandro was no short of amazing things he had to say about Aime, his high school sweetheart, wonderful baker, romantic, hard worker, and soon to be nurse. Even more exciting: his desire to start a whole new chapter together as an engaged couple and eventually as husband and wife. Alejandro, along with help with his mom, Suzette, and myself, ensured every detail was in place, lured Aime out to a beach in Coronado - one they have frequented before and means a lot to them - with a picnic in tow. After getting down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage, Aime said yes, but the surprises didn't stop there!
After a photographing portraits of the newly engaged couple, I was going to ‘leave’ and said, “Why don’t you two sit on your picnic blanket and I’ll take one last photo before I leave.” I knew what was to come next: BOTH of their families came up from behind them to surprise Aime AND join in on a very special boho-style picnic set up by Posh Picnic. The champagne was popped, glasses were raised, and all of the fixings for tostadas were passed around as two families came together to celebrate the love of Aime and Alejandro!
Suzette, who knew that photographing your family 6 years ago would then lead us to coming back together to plan and photograph this momentous occasion for you all! Thank you for keeping in touch and trusting me to capture this! Alejandro, you are the absolute kindest guy who’s attention to detail is impressive. I loved hearing all of your stories about you and Aime and can’t wait to hear more! Felicidades! xoxo, Evelyn
"You have no idea how much this man loves you," is the first thing I told Ale, right after Williams pointed at me, the photographer who just captured his proposal to her. When Williams contacted me to document this momentous occasion, he gushed about his fiance to be: this patient, hard working woman who works with at risk youth is the woman he can't live without.
Commence the planning! Williams knew he wanted to propose at Balboa Park during their two year anniversary getaway, but this would be their first time to the park as they were coming from out of town. Enter, me, who knows Balboa like my own backyard. He researched locations and showed me what he liked. I presented ideas. I drew maps for him. We were truly scheming behind the scenes ha! Williams' mission was to ensure this proposal and post celebratory photoshoot would be perfect. His love for Ale, his attention to detail, and his huge heart made me a true fan of Williams!
When it was time, Williams got on this knee and asked Ale to marry him. Without hesitation, she said yes! To celebrate the momentous occasion, I documented Williams and Ale as a newly engaged couple!
Williams, any man who goes above and beyond to plan every detail behind the ultimate gesture of a proposal is a winner in my eyes! Thank you for being so amazing to plan with! Ale, I felt like I knew you before I met you: you are so kind! Know you both now have a friend in San Diego! xo, Evelyn
Some people simply embody a feeling or an action. Cynthia is a wife, mom of soon to be three, friend, and daughter, and she embodies a hug. A long warm hug that wraps you up to make you feel safe, heard, and cared for. Cynthia is that feeling when someone is rubbing your back when you don't feel well: she lets you know everything is going to be okay whether it's with her words, actions, or listening ear.
I have known Cynthia since college, when we were big eyed, eager undergrads at Cal (Go Bears!) and when everyone knew that Beto ADORED her but hadn't made his move. To have attended their wedding and watching their family grow has been a delight. To see them both grow into new life roles and raise gorgeous and kind children makes me a proud friend. With their third baby on the way, Cynthia and Beto wanted to capture this special season in their life and include the whole family at a session at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek.
Cynthia, thank you for always trusting and believing in me from my photography day 1! I can't wait for the whole family to come down to San Diego! xo, Evmo
When Estee, Jose, and I Facetimed to discuss wedding photography for their big day, I knew this was my ideal couple to work with: Estee and Jose are truly a team, evident in their equal involvement with me as we planned their day. They are foodies at heart, immensely value family, hard work and education, and absolutely love each other. Jose is a romantico, and how these two danced Mexican banda at their wedding reception, cheek to cheek, as if no one else was there, made me admire them even more. When I delivered their photos and album, I was sad: with no more 'business' reasons for us to interact, I remember thinking, 'I hope we can be friends.'
To my heart's content, we kept in touch. When Estee told me that they were expecting their first child, I was thrilled. When they asked me to photograph their maternity session, I was honored.
Once again, the three of us planned for this very special shoot, and Estee had a vision of what she wanted: the Arts District in Los Angeles would serve as one of the backdrops to their shoot. We would include the 'Bloom' mural from Oakland-based artist Allison Torneros because Estee and Jose met and fell in love in Oakland, so the town (no pun intended! Ha!) is an important part of their love story. Equally important, Jose and Estee are from Los Angeles, making this baby a proud second generation Angeleno to be, so catch Downtown LA in the background in the second part of their maternity session.
Come the afternoon of their shoot, Los Angeles was bizarrely chilly, but the universe knows what it's doing: as we began shooting in front of Bloom, Mexican banda starting playing from a nearby food truck. Cue the perfect opportunity for these lovebirds and soon to be parents to dance to stay warm. Just like these two make each smile and laugh, make each other feel safe, I just know this Angeleno baby is going to be SO loved.
Estee and Jose, I ADORE YOU! Thrilled is an understatement for how I feel about the soon arrival of Baby Hernandez! Thank you for allowing me to continuously be in your lives, as your photographer and friend. Con mucho carino, Evelyn
