Culver City + Venice Canals | Engagement Session

I started photographing Nicole and Anthony’s engagement session in the trendy downtown area of Culver City, CA. This location was highly meaningful to this couple given that they both live nearby to this charming little hub. Cafes and eateries, unique shops, art galleries and other landmarks provided the perfect setting for the first part of our journey that day. We started shooting in and around the Culver Hotel and just wandered around from there! I love leaving a huge part of a photo session to spontaneity, and this was no different. Nicole and Anthony’s fun and playful chemistry really allowed me to fully realize my vision for their day! After spending some time in downtown Culver City we drove out the historic and famous section of Venice known as the Venice Canals.  After fighting for parking, which is to be expected in this area, we jumped right back in! A beautiful, warm sunset greeted us as we closed out this fun session.

Bel-Air Bay Club Wedding | Pacific Palisades, CA

Kristy & Ali’s wedding was certainly a feast for the eyes! Set at the always inspiring and beautiful Bel-Air Bay Club, the day was a flurry of colorful decor, traditional outfits, and delicious food. Every detail was purposefully planned out and brilliantly came together to tell this couple’s unique love story. This wedding was a melding of two strong and vibrant cultures and gave equal measures to traditions from both Chinese and Persian weddings. There was the incredible Sofreh ceremony spread, which is a timeless Persian tradition and the playful Chinese door games, which added such a fun element to the day! The couple also took part in a Tea Ceremony which honored their parents in a very heartfelt way. From beginning to end, this was an absolutely stunning wedding! Kristy wore four different jaw-dropping gowns that were an extraordinary addition to the depth and beauty of the day, each with its own perspective and timed perfectly in accordance with the portion of the day it was worn for. Planner Vanessa Van Wieren with Alchemy Fine Events  did a phenomenal job seeing all of this come to life. I’m sure you will see from these few images what a gorgeous and truly one-of-a-kind wedding this was!

Danny Baker | Epic Imagery

Country Club Wedding | San Gabriel, CA

Kerry & John were recently married and I had the joy of photographing this wonderful event!

I started off this day at the impeccable Langham Hotel in Pasadena, Ca. Kerry, family and bridesmaids were all getting ready at one of the gorgeous cottage suites that provided plenty of space, character and charm for some wonderful details and moments. After capturing the bridal subtleties and occasional humorous outbursts, we made our way to St. Therese Catholic Church nearby for the vows and commitments. Although I photograph many varieties and types of wedding ceremonies, I’m always drawn to the ceremonial and formal traditions of a church, temple or other place of worship. After Kerry & John’s touching ceremony we were off to San Gabriel Country Club for more fun with the happy couple as they celebrated the night away. A special thank you to coordinator Emma Petievich who despite being very, very pregnant did an amazing job! Please enjoy a glimpse into this wonderful event!

Danny Baker | Epic Imagery

Calamigos Ranch Wedding | Malibu, CA

I’ve been so excited to share this incredible wedding!

Lindsay & Daniel married at the always memorable and incredibly picturesque Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, CA. With its majestic Oaks and sprawling views, this venue never disappoints!  L+D selected the Oaks Room for their intimate ceremony and lively reception. The beautiful waterfalls, twisting Oaks, plentiful natural light and other rustic features really lay the foundation for breathtaking images.

Lindsay was radiant from the moment the day began, beaming with anticipation and excitement in her Stella York gown. Daniel was equally enthused and energized as the day unfolded. These two were absolutely perfect together and this obvious connection really stood out through the course of the day.

This particular wedding was especially meaningful to me because of my friendship with Lindsay’s dad, David. David and I connected many years ago back when I was “finding my way” as they say, and presented me with an opportunity to move forward with my life and career. That being said, when David mentioned that his daughter was getting married I was thrilled to serve them on such a momentous day for their family.

Lindsay and Daniel’s outdoor ceremony complete with a waterfall accented backdrop, was genuinely touching. The emotion displayed by each of them as they exchanged vows along with the love and support conveyed in their family and friends’ faces was compelling and thought provoking. All of this love and enthusiasm spilled over into a high-energy atmosphere and an all out dance party!

All in all, this was a beautiful day that I really felt honored to capture! Every great party has a steady hand behind the wheel. A huge thank you to coordinator Samantha Sisk of La Bella Dia for this gorgeous and meaningful day.

Please enjoy a look into this stunning wedding!

Danny Baker | Epic Imagery

Wildwood Park Engagement Session | Thousand Oaks, CA

Several weeks ago I went hiking with my boys at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, Ca. After a great time exploring this scenic area I decided that I needed to come back with one of my engaged couples! Enter Riley & Cory. From my very first encounter with them in my studio I knew that their engagement session would be a perfect fit for this beautiful location. Wildwood is known for it’s golden hillsides, grand Coastal Oaks, gentle streams and picturesque trails. All of these features lent themselves perfectly to the look and feel of this wonderful session. Please enjoy a few images from this beautiful day!

Danny Baker | Epic Imagery

 

Santa Monica Engagement Session | Danielle + Jim

Danielle & Jim’s engagement session was an especially enjoyable one to shoot because of its unique and personal nature.  Since meeting this artistic and fun-loving couple, I was really looking forward to this day! Santa Monica is one of my all-time favorite cities to photograph weddings, engagement sessions… or really anything for that matter. This city really conveys an easygoing Southern California “just be yourself” vibe, and look! I really loved the way this session unfolded and helped to give an intimate look into Danielle & Jim’s personalities and relationship. For many couples, it might be that very first apartment, neighborhood or daily stroll that is later looked back on so fondly, and it was a privilege for me to capture a small part of that for this lovely couple.

The session began with me shooting in their living room, which is such a great idea, as it lent itself not only to feeling more personal, but also to allowing this couple to feel more themselves in their own element.  I loved the wall art, (I mean come on, Jim Henson and Kermit!) and how those pieces helped to incorporate a sense of humor and casualness into the images. We continued in the hallway which was being illuminated by an incredible skylight. Whenever I’ve got a camera in my hand, and even when I don’t, my “light” senses are always on high alert. Finding various types of light, their sources and effects are all a part of the fun for me as a photographer!

Our shoot concluded with us meandering down various streets and taking advantage of the naturally occurring neighborhood features. I loved finding a stunning blue wall, which was more or less like finding a perfect backdrop just begging for a photographer to come along. This type of session, for me, can be quite inspiring and rewarding because my senses are turned up as I seek opportunities in beams of light, abstract shapes, and natural elements and incorporate those into impactful imagery conveying real emotion. I really enjoyed my time connecting with Danielle & Jim. I think this is why I truly enjoy photographing my engaged couples. I feel that it helps establish a wonderful working relationship and also creates a deeper level of anticipation for the big day.

Cheers to the happy couple and I’m looking forward to their Castle Green, Pasadena wedding in May!

Danny Baker | Epic Imagery

 

Wildwood Park Hike | Thousand Oaks, CA

As a wedding photographer, I spend many a day in front of the computer editing, emailing… blogging. Probably far more than I spend shooting ironically. That being said, spending time occasionally outside and away from my studio is always welcome relief. Sometimes it means going on a little walk or simply chipping golf balls on my front lawn (and sometimes off my car’s fender). To that end, I’ve always enjoyed hiking and have been really wanting to connect with my sons for a little bonding time lately. There are times when we head up to our family cabin in Kernville for exactly this very reason. But given the constraints of school and life, we typically stay closer to home. For this hike, we made the breezy 25 minute drive out to Thousand Oaks, CA to Wildwood Park. I recently had purchased a hiking book on Amazon called “101 Hikes in Southern California.” The very first hike listed in the book was a hike called “Paradise Falls” in Wildwood Park, which seemed like a perfect fit in regards to difficulty and location.

I’d heard of Paradise Falls before, but never taken the time to explore the area, which seems kind of silly since it’s really not that far from where we live. So on a beautiful SoCal day this week, my sons and I made our way down the Wildwood Park trails. And of course capturing the beautiful scenery with my trusty Fuji X100 was an important part of the journey. In addition to photographing weddings and other events that I’m well known for, I truly do enjoy nature photography. There is something about the peace, tranquility and solitude in capturing such wonderful imagery. I think part of the appeal is the lack of control. It’s really just allowing things to be what they are and waiting for the right light and conditions. On that note and not surprisingly, this swath of land was the setting for many older Hollywood movies and TV shows featuring John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Paul Newman among others. It’s easy to see the appeal of course…with rolling hills, twisted trails and giant California oaks greeting the hiker at every turn.

The boys and I started our roughly 2 hr hike at the main trailhead and I was immediately impressed by the outstretched landscape of green meadows and native vegetation. The boys LOVE adventuring, so this was a perfect way to expend some energy, take in the beautiful God-painted scenery and have a few laughs along the way. We were pretty excited to make our way down to the falls… with as few falls as possible! We took the Moonridge Trail which seemed to be the most widely traveled. After about 20 minutes of walking, we passed a giant teepee and veered right down to the Arroyo Conejo gorge which flows swiftly into Paradise Falls. Along the way, and among other things, we observed the prickly Pear Cactus, native succulents, coast live oaks, butterflies, bees and lizards. After we finished taking in the falls, we journeyed on a different route back via Indian Creek Trail. This path took us along the tranquil creek and under the generous shade provided by a grove of California live oaks. A slight detour to the Indian Cave on the way back was definitely one of the highlights for my boys.  After a steep climb back up the hill, the boys were sufficiently exhausted and ready for the next adventure.

As nice as it is to be immersed in nature; it’s really about making lifelong connections with my sons. I’m starting to feel a sense of urgency to press in and really invest in their character, growth and faith. (I can’t believe that Jaden, my oldest, is turning 10 tomorrow. Yikes!) I’m also looking forward to creating more future opportunities for these types of moments. I truly enjoy and strive for a relationship where as a father, I can have real conversations about life, love etc…which I’m realizing rarely happens during the daily and sometimes mundane day to day routine.

Until next time! Danny Baker

 

 

 

 

 

Malibu Lagoon Engagement Session | Malibu, Ca

All of this great Southern California weather lately reminded me of this sun-soaked Malibu engagement session I photographed last year. Lindsay and Daniel were so fun to work with… a perfect combination of laughter, playfulness and genuine affection. We began the journey at Malibu Lagoon State Beach which was an absolutely perfect setting to start the fun. I hadn’t been to this location for a photography session in a while so it was great to reconnect with this beautiful spot. The lagoon itself is a nice contrast to the sparkling Pacific ocean right across the sand. The proximity of the lagoon to ocean really allows me to photograph different scenes with various lighting options.

Next we went up the road to Pepperdine University. The plan from the start was to head up to the school after the beach. This was especially significant since this where their relationship began while completing their education. It just happened to be that this particular weekend fell on the 9/11 memorial weekend… which created some amazing patriotic elements mixed with a certain obvious sense of sadness. I was a bit torn on how I felt, but ultimately came to the conclusion that love, freedom and new beginnings reign, even in the midst of tragedy. I hope you’ll enjoy viewing a few below!

Cheers! Danny Baker | Epic Imagery

engagement session kiss | malibu lagoon

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Alexandria Ballrooms Wedding | Los Angeles, Ca

Judy & Erez were married on a rainy, Southern California day and it couldn’t have worked out any better! If you have to be confined indoors for a wedding, the fully restored Alexandria Ballrooms in downtown L.A. is the place to be. Brimming with ornate details and old Los Angeles architectural features, this venue is nothing short of stunning. The cathedral height ceilings, crystal chandeliers, gorgeous Tiffany skylights, and winding staircases provided an endless array of backdrops to showcase a beautiful bride.

I truly enjoyed photographing Judy & Erez’ celebration and the style and elegance they brought, which are evident in every image.  They decided to keep things simple and planned this day without a bridal party, which really allowed the spotlight to be fittingly on them, their family and guests. Veronique Assouline with Veronique Events did an impeccable job, but there was no surprise there. Designer Liza Vill with Brides by Liza crafted Judy’s stunning form fitting dress with lace appliqué and the breathtaking florals were provided by Events by Sammy.

Congratulations again to this stunning couple!

Danny Baker | Epic Imagery

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Ritz-Carlton MDR Wedding | Marina del Rey, Ca

It was such a privilege to photograph Laura & Steven’s Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey wedding last Fall! From my first meeting with them, to their killer engagement session in Santa Monica, I knew that their wedding day was going to be uniquely energetic. As the day unfolded everything fell perfectly into place: The details, exquisite. The couple, beautiful. The party, raging. Planners Monique Atwell & Shannon Berg with A Signature Wedding did an impeccable job bringing it all together. I always consider myself so very fortunate to capture such meaningful moments, and this day was another prime example. Cheers to this couple and their new chapter in life!

Danny Baker | Epic Imagery

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