POV You're newly married
People enjoying a casual dinner gathering with plates of food spread across a wooden table surface.

 

You just spent your wedding weekend in Monterey with your closest friends, family and favorite wedding photographer

 

A couple sits on a bench in front of an illuminated gallery storefront with autumn leaves scattered on the ground.

It's Labor Day weekend, so you're enjoying an extra long weekend and taking your time getting back to "real life." You don't want to go back just yet, so you're soaking up every little bit of charm that Monterey has to offer. Before the trek back home, you decide to go eat dinner at the same place you had your first date. Then an idea comes to mind, so you text your photographer...

A couple in black and red outfits share playful moments together in a series of connected photos.
A nighttime street scene with illuminated trees and parked cars along a commercial district sidewalk.
Text message conversation showing multiple messages about planning a photo shoot and discussing logistics at Papa Chang's.

"Wong Kar-Wai type dreamy nostalgic city lights" was the inspiration


This was completely different from both their engagement session and wedding day but sounded like so much fun, so naturally I jumped at the opportunity and we made it happen!


It was a long weekend for all of us, but we showed up and surprisingly Kelly's bouquet still held up (Annik of Fancy Pansy Art Design I don't know what magic you put in those flowers but they lasted throughout the entire hot weekend and still looked fabulous!). We gave hugs, laughed about some of our favorite wedding day memories, and then got into their session.


We recreated some elements of their first date, except this time Kelly was in her cheongsam and Adam in his suit, and then just ran around downtown Alvarado Street going wherever caught out eyes. Kelly and Adam gave me full reign to pitch anything, shoot from any angle, suggest any pose, and it paid off.


Everything about this session feels like a dream and I truly hope for more romantic cinematic sessions like this year and beyond.

Mexican restaurant interior with colorful mural featuring Aztec calendar and vibrant artwork above stone wall and wooden tables.
A person holds a colorful sandwich filled with fresh ingredients on a wooden table.
A row of wooden chairs at a restaurant with colorful wall art and murals in the background.
Students studying together at wooden tables in a cozy restaurant interior with warm lighting and brick walls.
Person sitting at wooden table in colorful restaurant with graffiti-style murals on brick walls and pendant lighting.
A couple shares a playful moment as they lean in close to each other at a social gathering.
A playful moment captured with colorful graffiti wall backdrop in vibrant lighting.
A series of black and white photos showing someone smoking and reclining in a casual indoor setting.
Colorful wall mural artwork featuring vibrant designs and patterns in a restaurant or cafe setting.
People sit together in a casual indoor setting with wooden furniture and warm lighting.
A colorful mural depicting vibrant street art and graffiti style designs adorns a wall in an urban setting.
Sequence of dance moves shown on terracotta tiles with colorful wall murals and wooden chairs in a restaurant setting.
Hands hold a glass of red wine during a wine tasting event in a dimly lit room.
A person in a red dress sits at a rustic wooden table in a dimly lit restaurant with decorative guitars on the wall.
A couple in formal attire shares intimate moments at a restaurant with colorful wall murals and decor.