David Manning Photographers Bloggin

Some adorable cuteness on the blog today!  Aaron and Leanna have the most sincere connection and seeing them together is so incredibly sweet!  It’s the type of connection that comes from two people that are perfectly on the same page as they walk together through this life.  On that sentiment, the images capture many of those moments with them doing just that.  I think that every couple has a “thing” that they do during a session, and holding hands and walking together is definitely theirs!

We shot at San Dieguito Park in Rancho Santa Fe and the place could not be more beautiful!  Rolling hills of grass right next to little paths through the brush.  Super cute!  Okay, let’s get to some images!

I know it’s early in the shoot and I always think the images get better and better as we shoot, but this image below is one of my favorites from the day!

Leanna absolutely lights up when she looks at Aaron!

Amazing trails through the area!

I was so happy when Leanna told me that they were bringing Aaron’s family pooch, Mr. Poppers!  Animals are such a cool part of a shoot and the connection is really cute.  When the two of them first met and started dating, taking Mr. Poppers for a walk was this really great time for the two of them to hangout, walk, and gave them opportunities to talk and get to know each other!  So of course we had to bring him along!

Look at that face!!!  That is one cute pooch!

 

I’m so excited for their wedding in September!  Seeing the two of them on that day will be proof again that true love is so real and beautiful!

Oh flipping cuteness in Arizona!  I flew out to Tucson for Steve and Kristin’s engagement session and it was such an amazing time!  Kristin picked out Tohono Chul Park for our shoot and I could not have been happier!  Tohono Chul Park is home to what’s considered one of the greatest botanical gardens in the world.  Sprawled out through the property are different gardens that represent a cross section of the natural desert landscape.  Definitely one of those places that no matter where you look there’s another beautiful spot around the corner!

The best part of the shoot though, was the chemistry between Steve and Kristin!  To give you a feel of these two, when meeting online, Steve’s opening line was, “Aren’t all accountants boring?!”  She loved his sense of humor and personality, and the rest is the beginning of a great love story.  I’m not sure that the two of them, or me for that matter, stopped smiling through the whole shoot!  Every moment they were together, Steve was whispering in her ear or making some sort of comment to keep her beaming the entire time!  The best part of all for me, was seeing Steve with Kristin.  Steve is my second cousin and I can remember climbing through the barns on my uncle’s farm during the huge Perrino Family picnic year after year.  The stories that we have, along with my brother, his sister, and the rest of the kids in our generation (there’s a bunch of us!), are endless and have kept us going many nights over a good beer.  Seeing Stevie, what we called him back then, grow up into a man and meet such an incredible woman that cares about him and pushes him to be his best, kept bringing tears to my eyes behind the lens.  I blamed it on the desert wind of course…

Let’s dive into some images of this adorable couple!

 

I love the Kristin’s playfulness in this shot!

This is pretty much the entire day in these two images.  One of them smiling together, then the next into total laughter and giggles!

LOVE when women go up on their tip toes to kiss their man!  Super cute!

After walking through the gardens casually, we decided to dress it up and get fancy!

No matter where we went, or what we were doing, these two were just looking awesome!  Finishing the day off with a little sunset stroll through the paths, these two really turned it on and their incredible vibe together pops in this next set!

I’m really pulling for this shot to be blown up on canvas!  Backlit goodness with whimsical tree branches?!  Yes please!  Kristin rocks for picking this place!!!

Suuuuuper cute shoes!

And the last shot of the day, almost always being my favorite, Steve and Kristin rocked it in the gardens!  Their wedding on the beaches of the Gulf Coast is going to be incredible!  I cannot wait to see the look on Steve’s face when he sees Kristin walking down the isle!  These two are so perfectly made for each other, it’s ridiculous!  I’ll admit it, I’m pulling for a few tears our of Steve ;)

This engagement session was awesome!!!  Seriously, I feel like I should just stop there… But I’m not going to!  Chalon and Tylia are such a fun, active, outdoorsy, and all around adventurous couple; we wanted to captured that in their home town of Carlsbad.  Starting off at the famous Carrillo Ranch, we had a blast cruising the property together.  These two are so natural together, right from the beginning, we were getting awesome images.  I actually ended up shooting 1,758 images on this shoot!  It’s hard to keep that trigger finger under control when everything is so good looking!  Let’s get to some images!

 

I love that both of them are so calm and confident in their own skin.  They are definitely a couple that is made of two strong individuals that make each other better!

Love the benches on property and this one under the tree was a perfect place for Chalon and Tylia to have some time just hanging out while we stepped back with the long lenses.

 

Ending down at the beach was really cool because we went to a spot that they call “theirs”.  Every couple in San Diego should have a beach they can call “theirs”…

After a quick wave snuck up on them, Tylia didn’t know what to do, so she just naturally jumped into Chalon’s arms!  Definitely one of my favorite moments of the day!

 

Chalon and Tylia,

You two are incredible together!  Seeing the two of you together brings such a big smile to my face and I cannot wait for your gorgeous wedding!

- David

Love is amazing sometimes.  Which makes love stories even better!  Jerry and Natalie have an incredible love story and I’m so happy to be able to tell it through photos!  These two love birds will be getting married next month at The Mission Inn in Riverside.  The Mission Inn is a jewel tucked up in Riverside that I was blown away to see!  Everywhere you look is something new and historic!  Shooting with them was so much fun, because we’ve done it before… Huh?  Yep, we’ve shot an engagement session before.  About three years ago, I met Natalie in a Starbucks in Poway to talk about her wedding to Jerry.  During the process, they realized that the timing was not right and went their separate ways.  Then, I received a phone call, “Hi David, not sure if you remember me, but this is Natalie.  I’m getting married!”  I was floored and so excited to reconnect with her to find out all about what she’s been up to and who this man was.  Then I found out it was Jerry and I was so happy I was nearly shouting!  Love really is amazing and their story only proves how the strength of love can endure even through tough times.  I can’t wait to celebrate with them next month, but for now, let’s check out some images!!!

 

The best part about these two is how often they smile together!  You can’t put them anywhere without laughter and giggling!

To all of you out there about to have an engagement session:  CUTE SHOES!

This is the chapel that these two love birds will be getting married!  The inside is… wow.

I may have yelled, “Kick a leg!”… Jerry may have listened.

I love this next set of images because it’s so reminiscent of a couple that’s just meeting.  He’s shy and trying to make his move, while she stands back and smiles!

Hi, my name is Jerry…

Umm, did I mention that they’re a bit goofy?  They are!

And my personal favorite, saved for last!