Earlier this week, my boys and I drove up to Santa Cruz so that I could shoot Lindsey and Chris is their hometown. I was especially nervous, having not met Lindsey and Chris and having no idea where I was shooting, but I truly enjoyed the trip. I can see why this wonderfully laid-back couple loves Santa Cruz - it is really a sweet beach town with a great family vibe. It was a perfect place to bring Max on his first little get-away and an even more wonderful place to shoot this extra special couple.
To Lindsey and Chris: Thanks for welcoming me to your town! See you on July 4!
delightfully,
Chenin
delightfully,
Chenin
Alice Grisez said:
I LOVE these shots!!!!!! The Big Dipper ones being my favorites. Chenin, you did such a great job and Lindsey and Chris you look ADORABLE. Can't wait till the 4th of July. Warmest regards.
(05.01.09 @ 12:46 PM)
Kat Braman said:
That bike is the coolest!
(05.01.09 @ 12:50 PM)
Chad Morgan said:
Some great moments here. Nice work!
(05.01.09 @ 12:54 PM)
Ashley said:
What a great place to shoot! And you captured them beautifully. You're making me want to go to Santa Cruz now!
(05.01.09 @ 01:10 PM)
Tonya said:
great session...my fav is the one with the orange/rust background...
sounded like a big trip on your twitter...hope your babe was good for the drive :)
(05.01.09 @ 01:13 PM)
Nicky said:
Having gone to school at UC Santa Cruz, I spent lots of time at this boardwalk! Brings back great memories. You did a wonderful job, what an adorable couple!!
(05.01.09 @ 01:14 PM)
erin said:
Delicious! Way to rock that full sun in shot #3...that is my fave.
(05.01.09 @ 01:21 PM)
Tina Harden said:
You are so awesome! I love Santa Cruz and you're right it does have a great family vibe... We take our kids at least once a year and ever since they were Max's age. Youi have captured the beauty of the boardwalk that is sometimes lost with the crowds of people. Wonderful shoot Chenin and I'm so glad you were able to have such a postive !st trip with your little man!
(05.01.09 @ 01:24 PM)
jackie l. said:
i love everything about this session! each photo is just amazing, especially the flare shots . Brings a smile to my face :)
(05.01.09 @ 01:56 PM)
Jasmine* said:
Oh emm gee...LOVE this session! So fab! :)
(05.01.09 @ 02:44 PM)
Michele DeVries said:
Love the bike, what a fun touch! Beautiful photos as usual!
(05.01.09 @ 02:53 PM)
Meg said:
WOW Chenin- love these! What time did you shoot? I'm from up there and I haven't seen the Boardwalk that empty in.... ever!!!
(05.01.09 @ 03:55 PM)
Helen said:
How good looking are they! Ever so pretty, your photos stand out beautifully x
(05.01.09 @ 05:23 PM)
Macy Robison said:
Chenin - delightful, as usual. I follow you on Twitter and was excited to see these images. They're so fun and bright and happy. Fantastic.
(05.01.09 @ 06:14 PM)
kristel wyman said:
love these! and now, i desperately want to go to santa cruz!!
(05.01.09 @ 10:21 PM)
Jeffrey Neal said:
Super cute Chenin! Nice stuff!
(05.01.09 @ 11:17 PM)
Jessi said:
These are stunning. So fun, so perfect.
(05.02.09 @ 05:47 AM)
Heather Sharpe@styleunveiled said:
Chenin~ These are GORGEOUS!!! Love the use of the bike ~xoxo
(05.03.09 @ 01:29 PM)
Allie said:
Chenin, this is one of the best engagement shoots you have ever done, great job!!!
(05.04.09 @ 12:48 PM)
Emily Arth said:
I adore all of the color you incorporate in your photos!
(05.04.09 @ 06:28 PM)
Emily Arth said:
I adore all of the color you incorporate in your photos!
(05.04.09 @ 06:28 PM)
Bree@MemoryJournalists said:
These are SO cute! I love them! I really love the bicycle shots!
(05.05.09 @ 03:24 PM)
Erica Velasco said:
LOVE the location and the great use of light!
(05.07.09 @ 09:09 PM)
Stephanie said:
I've been really enjoying your photos since I found your website and what a great surprise it was to find these pictures of Lindsey and Chris. While I don't know them personally, I know Santa Cruz. Having grown up there and now living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, it was such a pleasure to see my old stomping grounds come back to life before my eyes through your eyes. Thank you for re-capturing the beauty of the Boardwalk for me :)
(05.24.09 @ 11:35 AM)
Stephen Liao said:
I like the color of the pics so much, especially the blue tone. They don't look like the TRA action tone much, do they? If they don't, would you like to share the recipe with us like others?
(06.04.09 @ 06:21 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Lindsey + Chris: Engagement Session
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://cheninboutwell.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/464
Before my quick trip to Santa Cruz (more on that later), I shot Erin and Chris' engagement session in Laguna Beach. It was a gorgeous day and I felt so lucky to get to shoot yet *another* wonderful couple in such a beautiful location. Erin and Chris have been very patient in waiting for this post, so I'm just gonna get right down to it!
To Erin and Chris: Can't wait to photograph your wedding in lovely Santa Barbara! Thanks for a great afternoon!
delightfully,
Chenin
delightfully,
Chenin
Angela said:
I just LOVE the last pic, wow the shadow on the rocks is just breath taking. Great job!
(05.01.09 @ 08:16 AM)
angela said:
I just LOVE the last pic, wow the shadow on the rocks is just breath taking. Great job!
(05.01.09 @ 08:16 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Erin + Chris: Engagement Session
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://cheninboutwell.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/463
I got up bright and early on Saturday morning to shoot Katherine and Andrew's engagement session at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. I've always loved the building, but struggled with the light a bit - shooting at 9am was a whole different ballgame! Beautiful back-lighting, no crowds - it was definitely the way to capture this gorgeous building. Of course, Katherine and Andrew aren't so bad themselves ;)
To Katherine and Andrew: Thanks for a great morning! Looking forward to shooting you in gorgeous Montecito!
delightfully,
Chenin
delightfully,
Chenin
kary heimbach said:
H-O-T..Hot!! Can't wait for the wedding! Gorgeous work, Chenin!
(04.27.09 @ 06:04 PM)
Kat Hennessey said:
Oh my gosh, Chenin!!! SERIOUSLY?!? This is the most amazing, immaculate, Heavenly work I have ever seen! I adore your gift and wish I could be in these moments! I am just so loving everything about you! Thank you so much for giving me a lift today!
(04.27.09 @ 06:27 PM)
Nicole said:
Seriously sophisticated, gorgeous, wow! And what an amazing locale.
(04.27.09 @ 07:03 PM)
Younes Bounhar said:
Gotta love Frank Gehry. Great use of a stunning background to make these stand out. The lines, light and reflections really puts these over the top.
(04.28.09 @ 11:11 AM)
Helen said:
That building is stunning, can imagine it might be just a tad tricky to get the light right, but you seem to have nailed it!
(04.28.09 @ 12:27 PM)
David Pascolla said:
Wow! wonderful work Chenin. Amazing composition, clarity and coolness.
(04.28.09 @ 02:21 PM)
Katherine said:
Just Amazing! Thanks for making us look so good! Couldn't be happier to have you! xoxo
(04.28.09 @ 06:08 PM)
mike mundell said:
very cool, love the 5th shot, what a great place for photos!!
(04.28.09 @ 06:17 PM)
Muriel said:
That first shot is just awesome, Chenin! It's so nice to see a new angle on a popular location. I shot there at 7am and instead of bright lights, there were purples and blues.
(04.29.09 @ 11:34 AM)
Cindy said:
You both look amazing and photograph super well! Love the last 2 shots especially. What magazine should I expect to see you on for next month? Vogue? lookin good hot stuff!
(04.29.09 @ 12:30 PM)
Amelia Thornton said:
ooooooh Chenin...NICE use of the architecture - these are fantastic!!
(04.30.09 @ 09:14 PM)
Andrea said:
Awome engagement images! Especially love the first one - great light and nice building!
(05.01.09 @ 11:35 PM)
dean said:
hey from the right coast;~} awesome working with light. u no taking fotogs is wrighting with light. my, my u really wright very well!!!! your images speak in such a way, you can almost understand what they are saying!!!!! don't u just LOVE recording moments in time? "this life is but a vapor" come c us at dc photographers, dean
(05.02.09 @ 04:02 PM)
Anonymous said:
hey from the right coast;~} awesome working with light. u no taking fotogs is wrighting with light. my, my u really wright very well!!!! your images speak in such a way, you can almost understand what they are saying!!!!! don't u just LOVE recording moments in time? "this life is but a vapor" come c us at dc photographers, dean
(05.02.09 @ 04:04 PM)
dean said:
hey from the right coast;~} awesome working with light. u no taking fotogs is wrighting with light. my, my u really wright very well!!!! your images speak in such a way, you can almost understand what they are saying!!!!! don't u just LOVE recording moments in time? "this life is but a vapor" come c us at dc photographers, dean
(05.02.09 @ 04:04 PM)
dean said:
hey from the right coast;~} awesome working with light. u no taking fotogs is wrighting with light. my, my u really wright very well!!!! your images speak in such a way, you can almost understand what they are saying!!!!! don't u just LOVE recording moments in time? "this life is but a vapor" come c us at dc photographers, dean
(05.02.09 @ 04:05 PM)
dean ray said:
hey from the right coast;~} awesome working with light. u no taking fotogs is wrighting with light. my, my u really wright very well!!!! your images speak in such a way, you can almost understand what they are saying!!!!! don't u just LOVE recording moments in time? "this life is but a vapor" come c us at dc photographers, dean
(05.02.09 @ 04:07 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Katherine + Andrew: Engagement Session
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://cheninboutwell.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/462
Last Friday I had the pleasure of shooting Janice and Ryan's engagement session at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. When I met with them, Janice and Ryan mentioned that they really liked old books and architecture, and I instantly knew that the Mission would be a great spot for their session. This couple is so delightfully in love that I think I'll let the images speak for themselves...
To Janice and Ryan: It was great getting to know you! I am so looking forward to your Big Day!
delightfully,
Chenin
delightfully,
Chenin
janice said:
The pictures are fantastic and we can't wait to see them all! We had a great time and we're so happy you'll be our wedding photographer. :)
(04.28.09 @ 11:45 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Janice + Ryan: Engagement Session
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://cheninboutwell.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/461
Well, I'm back in the saddle. Yesterday was my first day back from maternity leave and it was awesome to kick things off with such a rad couple. Lauren and Carl were nice enough to give me carte blanche at their engagement session. So we headed to a little local trail that I hike frequently and brought along a little something that I've been meaning to play with for a while (more on that later.)
I dug this ladder out of my dad's trash about 2 years ago, thinking it would be neat to use for a shoot. It's acted as a bookshelf in my studio since then, just waiting for the right time to bring it out. When Lauren and Carl were kind enough to let me do whatever I wanted for their session, I knew I found my special couple.
To Lauren and Carl: Thanks for an awesome day! The pleasure was all mine :)
delightfully,
Chenin
I dug this ladder out of my dad's trash about 2 years ago, thinking it would be neat to use for a shoot. It's acted as a bookshelf in my studio since then, just waiting for the right time to bring it out. When Lauren and Carl were kind enough to let me do whatever I wanted for their session, I knew I found my special couple.
To Lauren and Carl: Thanks for an awesome day! The pleasure was all mine :)
delightfully,
Chenin
Ashley Thalman Photography said:
Awesome. Those hills are alive right now and you captured them perfectly.
(04.01.09 @ 06:43 PM)
Meaghan Cook said:
Glad you're back. Great idea for the ladder. 2nd last shot is my fave.
(04.01.09 @ 06:56 PM)
Melanie Watson said:
Beautiful session and location! Drats you Californians and your gorgeous landscapes. Loving the ladder. What a great session to come back to work for. :)
(04.01.09 @ 07:11 PM)
Tonya said:
3 months away and a beautiful shoot to come back to...stunning...love the feel of all the images...
you are fabulous...
xoxo
Tonya
(04.01.09 @ 07:19 PM)
Kellie Kano said:
What gorgeous light! These feel so serene.....just beautiful!
(04.02.09 @ 08:32 AM)
Doug Boutwell said:
Love that last shot so much, and the pano is great, too - gotta get you an XPan. So proud of you for finally getting the ladder out and shooting with it!
(04.02.09 @ 08:35 AM)
Navy Sou said:
Awwww...I love wildflowers! My last session was in a beautiful field full of them. Welcome back!
(04.02.09 @ 01:47 PM)
gracci said:
Welcome back, Chenin! Looks like you didn't miss a beat! love the ladder!
(04.02.09 @ 04:46 PM)
Tracy said:
Please Please Please share this shoot location! I know Ladera...but where where where?
(04.06.09 @ 03:16 PM)
david said:
love the colors as always :) I think the vertical shots deserve to be bigger...they're oo so yummy. Great job!!
(04.14.09 @ 02:59 PM)
Nathan Sage said:
I have been looking everywhere for a field like this. Where exactly is this, Chenin?
(05.06.09 @ 03:40 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Lauren + Carl: Engagement Session
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://cheninboutwell.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/454