Los Angeles Wedding Photographer - Rachael and Ryan

the fog began to peel back over the sea, giving way to the warmth of the sun as if changing shifts. but, the blanket of calm and excitement did not change with the weather. today would be the perfect day.

upon arrival to the shade, an intimate & luxurious boutique hotel in manhattan beach, my assistant and i found carissa of jl designs laying down the canvas for rachael and ryan's big day. shortly after finding rachael, preparing herself for the day ahead, one of my favorites, paper tape films showed up to add a cinematic & vintage perspective to the day.

since their engagement shoot only weeks prior, i looked forward to the wedding day. rachael and ryan maintain a sense of calm & confidence in front of the camera, because they simply are who they are. they are in love with each other. they know who they are. they know who their family are. and they love it all. they love the uniqueness's.

often, my biggest challenge as a photographer is to pull the person-in-the-person out, and showcase the real heart of a bride, a groom... a couple... a heart. but, with rachael & ryan, they are so unabashedly themselves, photographing the two of them was a dream.

so, here it is... the last gabriel.ryan. wedding of 2009, and well worth the wait. rachael & ryan, thank you for the invitation.

enjoy.the.story.








moments before meeting her groom.

the wait.

the embrace.





ashley rose snagged this little gem during the portrait shoot.









an intimate bridal party.

ashley caught these next two moments, too.





the transformation from wedding ceremony to reception, with much thanks to wild flower linens.

the morning of the big day, i learned that ryan has a weakness for doughnuts. so, you can imagine his excitement when surprised with a dougnut-tree groom's cake.

man and wife.


custom gallery featuring ALL their photographs: Rachael-and-Ryan-Wedding-Photo-Gallery

view my portfolio. contact gabriel & carlie.

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Orange County Engagement Photographer - Lacey and Robby

12 days ago, our life was hijacked in the most exciting way possible; our baby boy, lincoln roe davis, decided he wanted to join the party a couple weeks early. and for myself, being a strong type-A personality, liking order and strategy, our early surprise threw me for a loop. my to-do list dropped like a brick, my email inbox ballooned, and i checked out. instead of cruising on the work train, i swapped the projects of the past 12 days for some much needed cuddling.

now, i don't mean to stop the cuddling all together [seriously, laying with your newborn can be one of the greatest treasures in life], but i figured now was better time than ever, to jump back in the saddle and get to work. so, here it goes...

last month, i met lacey & robby at the rose canyon cantina in trabucco canyon for their engagement shoot. the sun lingered down near the crest of the canyon's bordering hills and the three of us took a walk up the winding mountain road passed the cantina.

pause.

we noticed the silence and calm, not often escaped by myself or my los angeles counterparts. we noticed the calm, enjoyed the woodsy air, and let the carefree aroma of the canyon guide the next two hours.

she pulled her bangs back across her forehead, and he glanced over his shoulder at his bride to be... the woman he would marry next summer. needless to say, lacey & robby made my job easy. when a couple is in love as much as these two, and are comfortable in their own skin, my belief is that those qualities shine through their photographs, and can not be replicated or manipulated by any type of photoshop. lacey & robby are the real deal.

after the shoot, carlie met us at the cantina for margaritas, which then turned into a meal, which then turned into an epic conversation about love, life, and the future. lacey & robby, thank you for the invitation; the invitation to your story. i can't wait for the big day next july at the st regis in dana point.

in the mean time i must returned to some much needed cuddling.










a little yin & yang.



purrrrrrfect light.







seriously, lacey was rockin' it the entire shoot, but towards the end, robby couldn't be outdone and struck this GQ pose like he'd been doing it for years.




custom gallery featuring ALL their photographs: Lacey-and-Robby-Engagement-Photo-Gallery

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me. and, if you want to stay current on all things current with the gabriel.ryan. story follow me on twitter.

Love In Pain

there was a calm about the room. only the sound of her breath lingered. and she labored for it... she labored just to breathe once more.

it's hard to believe that it has now been 3 years since i lay in that hospital room, grieving the journey my 19-year-old baby sister was taking. and i feel odd in sharing this truth, but those few days at the UCLA medical center, tirelessly crammed in a room full of family, were some of the best days of my life. for those few days, nothing else mattered. the pain of our quickly approaching loss, anchored the love we felt for my sister; anchored the love we felt for each other. so, even though those moments were some of the hardest of my life, i look back on them fondly.

fast forward 3 years, and i find myself once again, laying in the calm of this room. only the sound of his breath lingers. and i find myself in awe of the same God that gives and takes away.

yes, i am tired. yes, carlie is tired. yes, our baby boy is a lot of work, and at times even painful. and, yes i have never felt so much love in my life, as i do now. so i have a sense, with the love that i feel now, these will be some of the moments in my life that i will look back on fondly.

enjoy.the.story.

Lincoln Roe Davis

3 years ago today, i had my first conversation with carlie renee davis. today, she gave me a son.

lincoln roe davis was born at 3:22pm, weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces, and 19 inches. and we couldn't help but share a few photos, before the day is set to rest.




















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Orange County Engagement Photography - Kristina and Mike

if boulder colorado had an ocean...

ahww... if only...

our conversation moved from one thing to the next, while they both continued to glow & smile. after dating for a number of years, we talked about how it is inevitable that someone at their wedding will make a comment like "it's about time" or "mike & kristina finally pulled the trigger..." but, at the end of the day, what matters most is kristina & mike's decision; their decision to take on this life together. and in the middle of it all, they are still the two young hearts that met at school years ago.

with mike still living in denver, i had yet to meet him, prior to the shoot. my nerves were settled as soon as we shook hands and i realized his heart was just as kind as kristina's. it would be a good afternoon.

so, we strolled down town san clemente, made our way to calafia, and called it a night after one rockin' engagement shoot. kristina & mike, i can't wait for the big day next spring!!




one of the first photos of the day, and kristina is already calm, collected, and ready to work it.















kristina asked if i could shoot the two of them dancing in the tide... uhmmmm, yes please.









okay... so, i couldn't resist. we stopped off at kristina's apartment in between locations, for a quick wardrobe change. because he has had nowhere to store it, kristina's living room has now become home to mike's fish tank. when asked to snap a couple frames of the aquatic escape, i was actually thrilled.

mike... the fish tamer ;)




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Ventura Wedding Photography - Katie and Frankie

any day is better in good company... add a wedding in the mix, and who could ask for anything more...

when the rog and myself pulled into town, seeing that we had beat traffic, we opted for a sit-down meal at pete's breakfast house before starting the work day. over juevos rancheros & french toast, we chatted about life, business, and the day to come.

originally from ventura myself, there was a sense of nostalgia that made me that much more excited & anxious to get the day started. with one last fork-full of potatoes, we cleared our booth, and made our way downtown to michael kelley's salon to meet with katie.

the day was simple; it was about two people. and those two people love each other deeply.

when it comes to delivering photographs from a wedding, i'm always looking for that kind of genuine love. you can spend six figures on your wedding, or secure the most luxurious venue on the block or plan every little detail to perfection... but, without love, you won't like your photographs.

it's interesting how much value in what i deliver my clients is pre-determined by them, but i can tell you, without a doubt, katie & frankie will cherish these photos. for nothing that i have done in camera or in photoshop, but for the way he looks at her, the way she smiles at him... for those reasons alone, these photos are priceless.

enjoy.the.story.



roger & i swung by the candlelight bar & kitchen to snap a couple detail shots, before the ceremony.

...then we stepped into the salon & spa to meet katie.

both bride & groom rocked laces: katie's pink-laced all-stars.



the first look.


some might think i'm super-human, with the ability to instantly canvas a particular moment with a 100 yard radius... nope, i just make sure to bring the best assistant photographers. thanks roger.




we took a brief stroll down main street before the hill-top ceremony: downtown ventura california.










another from the rog: pre-ceremony.

and, now... man & wife.




one of my favorites from the day.




packing up.

The Candlelight Bar & Kitchen
211 E Santa Clara St
Ventura, CA 93001-2717
(805) 643-3264

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me. or, follow me on twitter.

A Forster Mansion Wedding - Michelle and Justin

the music stopped, the clinking of silverware against glass slowly rose & faded, and all eyes turned towards the center of the tent. licking cake from his fingers, he began to speak, sharing his heart with the guests of his wedding. he honored them and thanked them, for not just being part of such a special day for he & his bride, but for playing such an important role in their story. today would be like no other; today would be theirs - forever.

all was good in the world, or at least, under the stars at the forster mansion.

the ebb and flow of the entire day seemed to pour out rather effortlessly [much thanks to darcie from joyful weddings and events], which left me & my assistant the joyful task of capturing a handful of photographs that might honor michelle and justin's story.

there's not much more i feel i can say, but offer the sincerest thanks. michelle & justin, you gave me the greatest gift you possibly could when hiring me to photograph your wedding day; you put value on me. it is one thing to think wedding photography is near the top of the priority list during your wedding planning. and it is an entirely different thing to value the person behind the lens. seriously, i am humbled and so grateful. thanks for the invitation.

so, without further adieu, i give you mr. and mrs. justin fraley... 'til death do you part.

michelle & justin spent time to scout the area surrounding their venue, and hand picked where we would shoot the handful of portrait sessions scattered throughout the day. location #1 - the cemetery.



location #2 - an old barn in downtown san juan capistrano.





roger joined me, as my assistant for the day, and i found this little gem when i was sorting through his images.

the details were simple yet articulate, much like the words of ernest hemingway. flowers by tara wheaton with megan's garden.

during the ceremony, i couldn't resist highlighting michelle's ink. i think lincoln would like this one.

did i forget to mention how perfect the light is at the forster; combination open shade and backlight... yes please. oh, and the perfect couple, to boot.

after the ceremony, we took a quick jaunt down to los rios district in san juan [location #3] and these two are one of my favorite pairings.





cover shot! BOOYAH!!!



soft. stoic. perfect.

again, thank you, for being a rockin' couple with rad style and a genuine heart. out.

The Forster Mansion

27182 Ortega Hwy
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2702
(949) 661-6676

click here to view my portfolio. click here to contact me. or, follow me on twitter.