Miguel and Michelle met during their first year of college, and have been inseparable ever since. We photographed their Carpinteria engagement photos at Michelle’s boss’s gorgeous estate–with a vineyard included! The lighting was amazing, the views were beautiful, and the couple was adoringly romantic!
How did Miguel propose?
“It took me a long time to propose. I planned it for over a year but every time I was going to propose something came up and it didn’t work out. I finally did it last May in the car. One of our favorite songs was playing and I just popped the question!”
Why did the duo choose the Carpinteria home for their engagement photos? “It has a romantic view, nature, and has something that makes us feel like home.” I loved photographing at the home, too. Aside from the lighting and beauty being every photographer’s dream (not to mention, Michelle and Miguel were super easy to photograph!), it was great shooting at a new location and being able to get creative with it!
The lavender bushes, vineyard, olive tree and sunlight were a beautiful backdrop for this loving couple.
The two fell into each other perfectly!
So what are Michelle and Miguel most looking forward to on their big day?
“We are looking forward to seeing our families become one, our friends seeing our love, and our guests enjoying our big day, celebrating with us.”
The duo’s wedding-day is bound to be filled with love, fun and romance!
The Santa Barbara Courthouse and San Ysidro Ranch…two of the best spots in the Santa Barbara area to get married, and Paul+Cindy got them both! And the two locations could not have been a better match for the duo. From Cindy:
“We were searching for an intimate venue and the Wine Cellar at San Ysidro Ranch caught our eye, and we just love Santa Barbara. My mother-in-law then recommended the Courthouse because we love historical buildings. We both loved the idea of having our ceremony at the Santa Barbara Courthouse and our wedding reception at San Ysidro Ranch!”
Cindy and Paul’s chose the love tree for their intimate Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding ceremony.
Cindy’s beautiful peony and rose bouquet.
After the Courthouse ceremony, we headed to San Ysidro Ranch for the newlywed’s reception, where we started off with romantic photos of the couple at the iconic lavender field.Paul proposed to Cindy on the beach in Santa Barbara, so the couple’s connection to the city was palpable. The two wanted an intimate garden feel for their wedding, which San Ysidro Ranch absolutley delivered. From picking and eating the fruit, to admiring the plants and abundant flowers, Paul’s love of gardening was also evident as we walked around the gardens at their San Ysidro Ranch wedding.
Cindy was originally planning on not wearing a veil, but changed her mind the weekend before their wedding. From Cindy, “I’m really happy that I added the veil” and so am I! 😉
The couple’s San Ysidro Ranch Wine Cellar wedding reception details were romantic and stunning.
So what are the two most looking forward to as a married couple?
“Starting a family, sharing experiences and building a beautiful home together.”
Congratulations, Cindy and Paul! Here’s to a life full of love, adventure and beauty!
From their engagement session location choice, I knew Glen Annie Golf Club was the perfect fit for Sam+Sara’s wedding. These nature lovers celebrated their classic wedding in the Goleta foothills, surrounded by family and friends. The sun kept peeking in between magnificent clouds, which helped create a dramatic and unique setting for the day.
I absolutely adore this door! Aside from being one of my favorite colors, it helped make the wedding dress detail photos pop even more!
Sara’s BHLDN Etoile gown fit her perfectly and was such a classy and elegant look.
Time for Sara+Sam’s First Look!
Sara and the bridesmaids’ peony bouquet were actually a DIY by the bride’s mother and one of the bride’s oldest friends–quite impressive!
The bride with her bridesmaids.
The groom and his groomsmen.
The wedding party.
We had to take advantage of the large oak tree at Sam+Sara’s Glen Annie Golf Club wedding venue. This is the perfect spot for large and small groups.
The clouds during the wedding ceremony at Glen Annie Golf Course created an even more impressive backdrop.
I used Sara+Sam’s decor to create a unique ring-shot.
Sun-kissed kisses!
I asked Sam+Sara what their favorite part of the day was…
“Our favorite part of the day was visiting with all of our friends and relatives and knowing that everyone was there to share in our happiness and love.”
And what are the two most looking forward to as a married couple?
“Sharing more adventures together and a lifetime of laughs!”
I love the romantic feel of Glen Annie’s outdoor area–perfect for weddings!
Congratulations, Sara+Sam! Here’s to love, laughter and happily ever after! 😉
“He invited me over for dinner…and laid the charm on thick that night…needless to say we have been inseparable ever since!”
Gerry and Nikki chose the Ennisbrook Trail in Montecito for their engagement session. From Nikki, “Ennisbrook was perfect because we both love Montecito and all the beautiful nature in the area. The flowers that were in bloom and the beautiful oak trees looked like paradise and a perfect backdrop for our engagement photos!”
The whimsical foliage fit right in with their whimsical personalities! We lucked out with the nasturtiums blooming (not so much with the poison ivy), and the sun peaking out through the clouds just enough to give us nice lighting.
So how did the two meet?
“Gerry and I actually met about 10 years through a mutual friend that was my roommate during college. However, we didn’t start dating until only a few years ago when I moved to Camarillo for work. I didn’t know many people in the area, so I asked Gerry if he would want to meet for dinner some time as friends. He invited me over for dinner, but he had a different idea and laid the charm on thick that night…needless to say we have been inseparable ever since!”
I had a lot of fun photographing Nikki’s engagement ring in this Montecito setting! Here’s how Gerry popped the question:
“I was so happy when Gerry proposed!! It was a normal quiet night at home with our two dogs. I was sitting at the dinner table on my computer when Gerry started tossing our dog’s ball my way. Next thing I knew our dog, Bailey, was looking at me to throw his ball when I noticed a shiny ring on his collar. Gerry knelt down next to Bailey and asked if I would marry them! It was so perfect and so us. I said yes without hesitation!”
Can’t wait for Gerry and Nikki’s Belmond El Encanto wedding later this year!
Ria is proof that the mantra ‘less is more’ is not always true–One does not have to bare it all to be sexy, as this beautiful mom of two proves. Ria is a fellow photographer and great friend, and I was honored to photograph intimate boudoir photos for her while I visited her and her family in Oahu, Hawaii. She shared with me why it was so important for her to have these photos taken (and a few kind words)…
From Ria: “When I had my second baby I gained so much weight I thought I was never going to lose it all. It wasn’t until I really started working out hard that I started to regain my confidence. All my hard work definitely paid off and Karen showed and delivered it in the most exquisite and passionate way through photographs. I never thought I would love looking at myself again after feeling big and not pretty for almost 3 years. That all changed when I did the beach boudoir photoshoot with Karen…”
Scroll down to read more!
“…When Karen told me she was coming to Hawaii, I instantly asked her to do my boudoir photos. Her artistic eye and her natural editing really makes me love her work. I am SO awkward when it comes to taking my photos. I get super nervous and I tend to smile funky/act dumb because I feel like I’m not doing anything right. Within the first few minutes after a few poses and photos, I got super relaxed and ended up having so much fun with her! She captured some beautiful photos that show the real me, not the me trying so hard, and not the awkward smiles. She will do everything to get the shot even if it means getting wet or sandy.
I’m so happy I decided to do the boudoir photoshoot and have Karen capture every beautiful angle of my body. After seeing the photos, I have never felt so comfortable and proud of my body and that’s because Karen does her amazing magic and knows exactly what she’s doing!”
Boudoir photos are so much more than just ‘sexy photos.’ They’re about regaining and maintaining confidence, they’re about reclaiming one’s sexuality, they’re about reminding ourselves that our lives and personalities are not one-dimensional, and they’re about having fun while doing all of these.
Ready to experience all of these for yourself? Shoot me an e-mail at info@karendphoto.com and let’s chat.
Rain or cane, nothing was going to stop Adrienne+Andy from getting married! From on and off rain throughout the day to Andy breaking his heel the day before the wedding, the duo’s Gerry Ranch wedding was one for the books! In between tears of happiness, the two could not stop smiling–they were truly made for each other!
Here are a few words from Adrienne about how unique the day was…
“As much as we hoped and crossed our fingers for no rain, it was inevitable. However I think it’s going to make for some gorgeous photos! Plus everyone keeps telling us it’s good luck 😉 Of course I can’t forget to mention the cane incident! As mad as I was after finding out about the cane, it really is so Andy to do something crazy haha! He is adventurous, daring and fearless which is how he ended up with a cane on our wedding day! I shouldn’t have been too surprised haha. Honestly, I can’t believe how many people told us that it is really a wedding they won’t forget.”
Below is a slideshow from the day. Scroll down to enjoy the photos at your own pace. Enjoy!
Andy+Adrienne’s First Look at Gerry Ranch was adorable and emotional!
Adrienne with her twin sister, Andi. I am so honored to have photographed both of their weddings!
Bridal party photos!
The ladies had matching rings for the big day.
With Andy’s injury, we had to get creative with making sure he didn’t move too much.
When searching for wedding venues, the two immediately fell in love with Gerry Ranch and for obvious reasons…From Adrienne:
“When we first got engaged we were thinking of doing a destination wedding. However, after we started the planning, we realized that we wanted to have our family and friends join the celebration and if we went too far, we would miss having everyone together. After searching online for local spots, I can across Gerry Ranch. We made an appointment that week and immediately after arriving at the grounds we knew we found the spot that was perfect for us! It was the first venue we looked at and it couldn’t have been more perfect! We loved the flowers, the layout, the mountains in the background. It was everything we hoped for.”
I’m not sure how many couples can say they’ve had their wedding photos taken in a blueberry field! Gerry Ranch for the win!
We captured fun bridal party photos with colorful umbrellas. When Mother Nature gives you rain, you go play in it!
The dapper groom+groomsmen!
Time to get hitched!
Being surrounded by their loved ones was Andy+Adrienne’s favorite part of the day…”It was so much fun to have all the love and support from everyone in our lives. I wish we could relive it every day!”
The newlyweds!
Adrienne’s necklace had an extra special touch to it: “I wore a diamond necklace that I had made a few months back with the diamond from my mom’s wedding ring when she married my dad. It was really special and made it feel like I had a little piece of her with me that day.” Just like her sister, Andi, Adrienne also attached a locket with a photo of her mom to her wedding bouquet.
Loved Adrienne’s backless dress!
Let the party begin! Reception details…
The bride and groom’s First Dance as husband and wife.
So what are the two most looking forward to as a married couple? “Having each other as partners for life. Oh, and of course…. babies!!”
Congratulations, Adrienne+Andy! I’m looking forward to the next celebration!
As naughty as this trend may sound, the naked cake is picking up steam, and with good reason. By forgoing an outer layer of icing, it highlights the artistic capabilities of your baker and the natural look of your cake. This helps show off the texture and color of your cake. Add natural elements, like fruit and flowers, to complement your wedding theme and decor. Depending on the colors, fillings and toppings, a naked cake can look elegant and/or rustic.
“Our wedding day will be one of our most memorable days as a couple because we felt the love and support of our family and friends…”
Intimate. Emotional. Bonding.
George+Donna’s wedding day fell perfectly in to place–the two wanted to celebrate their union with the family and friends who mattered most to them, in a beautiful setting that would allow the LA couple to have a mini-destination wedding in a beautiful location. The two chose the Santa Barbara Courthouse Mural Room and Wine Cask Restaurant for their relaxed and romantic special day. Scroll below to check out some of their wedding photos!
The day began with George and Donna’s first look at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Garden. The two consider their first look to be one of the most memorable parts of the day.
The two married in the Mural Room with a lively, fun and emotion-filled ceremony.
After the ceremony, we took photos of the couple around the Santa Barbara Courthouse.
Donna’s beautiful wedding bouquet!
Donna showing off her precious baby bump!
George looking suave!
Donne rocking her elegant wedding look!
The couple chose Wine Cask for their wedding reception for many good reasons…
“We found the restaurant to be perfect for us, as they specialize in good food, good wine, and they also have the Margerum wine tasting room. Because George and I’s first date was wine-tasting in Malibu, having our wedding in a tasting room perfectly fit that element of our relationship.” The couple included rustic elements into their big day…”George and I are very much into the rustic feel and our wedding theme was no exception. When I was planning the details of our wedding, I made sure that our colors, the materials and the pieces we incorporate had a rustic feel to them.” This was also true of their Ellwood Coronado Butterfly Preserve engagement session!
Details from the couple’s wedding attire!
So what are the two most looking forward to as a married couple?
“We are looking forward to growing our family together and having a deeper love for each other.”
The duo’s wedding-day is bound to be filled with love, fun and romance!
Paul proposed to Cindy on the beach in Santa Barbara, so the couple’s connection to the city was palpable. The two wanted an intimate garden feel for their wedding, which San Ysidro Ranch absolutley delivered. From picking and eating the fruit, to admiring the plants and abundant flowers, Paul’s love of gardening was also evident as we walked around the gardens at their San Ysidro Ranch wedding.
So how did the two meet?
The couple included rustic elements into their big day…”George and I are very much into the rustic feel and our wedding theme was no exception. When I was planning the details of our wedding, I made sure that our colors, the materials and the pieces we incorporate had a rustic feel to them.” This was also true of their 
