Ahlin Photography

Married :: Indrani + Michael, Tivoli Too, Laguna Beach, CA

2012-02-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

Indrani and Michael got married at the beautiful Tivoli Too in Laguna Beach. The backdrop was a gorgeous outdoor garden courtyard complete with a waterfall surrounded by trees and tropical flowers... all highlighted with romantic Italian charm and of course, twinkle lights.

Indrani did an amazing job of super last minute wedding planning and DIY creative touches with bright green and yellow colors throughout and even a vintage brooch bouquet. See for yourself below!

Amazing party that night! Congrats again to the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. Phillips (and lil' Devoni too)!

:: Complimentary Engagement Session Giveaway!! ::

2012-02-02T14:58:00.001-08:00

It's true, it's true!! Get a complimentary engagement session with the purchase of any wedding package if you book within the next 30 days by "LIKING" Ahlin Photography on Facebook!This includes a one hour photo session, an online proofing gallery and a high resolution DVD of all final, retouched images. Dates are filling up quickly!! Please mention this ad to book offer!

Turner Christmas Soiree 2011 :: Beverly Hills, CA

2012-01-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back, I had the pleasure to once again document the Turner's annual Christmas party in Beverly Hills. It's always an amazing time catching the festive mood and chasing the little Turner twins (now 2 years old!) around. These little girls were lightening fast this time around... and to think I first stuck a camera in their faces before they could stand on their own. A great party! Happy New Year everyone! Here's to 2012!!

Married:: Kailin & Raymond | San Diego LDS Temple

2011-11-29T17:10:00.001-08:00

One of the most adorably in-love couples of the summer, Kailin and Raymond, met not too long ago when they were both teaching English in Russia of all places. Pretty great story to tell the grandkids, that's for sure. It seems to me that they have the thing, you know... where two people just seem to fit together. The evidence is below... just look.

Their wedding took place at the ah-inspiring San Diego LDS Temple in La Jolla on a perfectly sunny California day. The reception: a sweet backyard gathering of friends and family.

Congrats again to Mr and Mrs Naseath! Thanks for letting me be a part of your day.

Engaged :: Missy and Matt! Pasadena City Hall, Pasadena CA

2011-11-17T11:53:00.000-08:00

Missy and Matt are living in San Francisco, but are originally from Minnesota. They met in med school and are the sweetest, most genuine couple I've had the pleasure of meeting. They were down in southern California making plans for their upcoming wedding day in Santa Barbara, so we met at the Pasadena City Hall to shoot their engagement photos. Really fun day with an amazing couple...

Check back for their wedding day images- coming soon!

O'Bier Family Portrait Session - Balboa Park and Windansea Beach, San Diego CA

2011-11-15T23:52:00.000-08:00

A long time ago, back before I was as cool as I am today, I was on my highschool's drill team. That's right, prancing around doing military-like arm movements was an extracurricular activity that I actually volunteered for. It was during that time that I happened to meet one of my best and biggest haired friends, Heather.

Fast forward a few years and a few different hairstyles, and Heather has an amazing husband and some very cute sons. One of those sons really, really loathes having his photo taken. It took a little bit of negotiating, but we finally managed to get a smile out of him. It was a beautiful, sunny San Diego afternoon in Balboa Park and Windansea Beach in La Jolla.

Raquel and Mia - San Diego, Livermore, CA

2011-11-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

Tanya, who is one of my very best friends, asked me to document the sassyness of her two bundles of joy, Raquel and Mia. The images below were taken on two different days, 5 months apart. Raquel, who's 5 going on 11, is bursting with energy every minute of every day and that's pretty evident in the images below... This is the second time I've had the pleasure of shooting her and she's grown leaps and bounds in the last 2.5 years.

* 2.5 years ago *

Harvest Festival with the Wee Ones- Syracuse, UT

2011-10-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I traveled all the way up to Salt Lake City, Utah to visit my brother's family. They just welcomed baby #5 to the pack making them a very happy clan of SEVEN! Amazing. I live way too far away to see my nieces and nephews as much as I'd like... so it was nice to be able to spend some time with them. The weather was just on the verge of changing into the *BUUUURRRR* that is winter in northern Utah.

We spent an afternoon at the Black Island Farms Harvest Festival and tromped around a gigantic corn maze for hours. When we first stepped in earlier in the afternoon, we made jokes about a news article where a family ended up calling 911 after being lost in the maze a little too long. Who would do that, right? Well, turns out...
Let's just say we ended up seeking assistance from the "Corn Police". ;)

All and all, it was a beautiful, sunny fall day with the nieces and nephews.

Ahlin Photography featured on the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook blog

2011-09-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

The brand new Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook featured Ahlin Photography on their brand spankin' new events blog... so proud.

This amazing spot is located in Culver City and has unbelievable views of LA stretching from downtown to the ocean, as well as unique native plants and stunning architecture. This specific wedding was the first wedding ceremony this venue had ever hosted... What a great spot for one, huh?

Check out their new blog here:
http://bhsoevents.wordpress.com/

Wedding :: Kelly and Cara :: Chateau Marmont, Hollywood CA

2011-07-24T01:46:00.000-07:00

I had such an amazing day shooting the glamorous Kelly and Cara at the historic Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood...

More to come!!

Married :: Indrani and Michael :: Tivoli Too, Laguna Beach CA

2011-07-15T23:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick sneak peak at Indrani and Michael's beautiful Laguna Beach wedding at Tivoli Too.

More to come....!

Married :: Kailin and Raymond :: San Diego LDS Temple

2011-07-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

Kailin and Raymond are the sweetest couple...! A few shots from their big day at the San Diego LDS temple in La Jolla.

More to come....

Engaged!! Amie + David (Jess too!) :: Encinitas, CA

2011-06-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

So... thanks to Facebook, an old friend of mine from highschool and I got back in touch.

Many moons ago, Amie and I had big bangs, wore atrocious gold and black skirts to our ankles, clunky marching boots and hideous, white cowboy hats as we tossed and twirled flags together as part of our highschool's prestigious "tall flags" team. ;) Who knew that *several* years later I'd be shooting her engagement photos?

The funny thing is, Amie and David have a similar history... They first met and dated way back around that same time (maybe a few years later). Their paths separated and years later, due to what David calls "the courage of a few beers"... they reconnected on, you guessed it, Facebook. So... a big thank you Facebook, for this whole glorious reunion! Pretty amazing.

Since David surfs, they wanted a beach spot close by... We met up in one of my favorite little beach towns, Encinitas, on a typical June-Gloom, southern CA kind of day. We had a great time just walking around the downtown area, shooting everywhere and eventually heading down to the beach. Amie's beautiful, teenage daughter Jess came along and added a little sass to the day! Her and David were hilarious together- constantly heckling and harassing each other!

A really fun day and so great to reunite with my old friend...
Can't wait to shoot their wedding in August! Congrats again to Amie and David!!

Beachtime...

LACMA Lamp Post Engagement Session: Kelly + Cara!!

2011-06-23T00:19:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun shooting with Kelly and Cara a few weeks ago! We had an action packed day shooting in all of the nooks and crannies around LACMA. The strange and mesmerizing LACMA lamp post installation made for some dramatic twilight images that I really love...

The second half of the post, the green picnic images, were also shot around LACMA... You'd never guess that they were taken right in the heart of LA on a crowded Sunday in early summer!?

I'm totally looking forward to documenting their big day coming up soon at the swanky Chateau Marmont, old-Hollywood style!

LACMA Engagement Session, LACMA lamp post engagement session photos, Kelly and Cara's engagement session, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Engaged! Indrani + Mike (Devani too!): Pasadena City Hall, San Pedro

2011-06-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

Indrani and Mike's are engaged- It's true! Not only are they engaged, but their wedding is right around the corner (one week!). We had a great afternoon of shooting- first at their amazing house in San Pedro and later in Pasadena.

The shots below were taken at the ah-inspiring Pasadena City Hall: Beautiful couple, beautiful architecture.

As were driving from one location to another, Indrani reminds Mike that there's only 2 weeks until the wedding and this is the look in the rearview mirror.

The shots below were taken at Indrani and Mike's house in San Pedro- truly incredible. From the front, it's
cute and quaint, but once you step inside, it's *huge* with an amazing deck in the back.
Also, important to note- 5 year old Devani, when not caught posing hamming it up in the photos below, acted as both Stylist and Art Director for this shoot. I'm not kidding- we may have already found her calling.

Alicia + Darren are Engaged! The Getty, Santa Monica Beach

2011-06-08T16:55:00.001-07:00

On a very lovely day in late May, I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon with the photogenic Alicia and Darren. One second we were skirting the security guards and playing in the beauteous gardens at The Getty in LA and the next we were chasing the last 30 minutes of golden light at the ever-awesome Santa Monica Beach. If they weren't staring deep into each others eyes, they were tossing sandy clumps of seaweed at each other... Ah, love!

In the fall, the love becomes totally, 100% official... Congrats again to Alicia and Darren! I'll see you in November!

Jonna + Jon :: Married :: Grand Pacific Palisades Hotel, Carlsbad CA

2011-05-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

Jon and Jonna's wedding took place at the Grand Pacific Palisades Hotel in Carlsbad, CA and what an amazing day, all accented in fuscia and purple! The ceremony took place on a grassy spot overlooking the ocean and Jon and Jonna's vows couldn't have been more sweet and emotional. There was hardly a moment when the two of them weren't captured either smiling or laughing up a storm... Well, except when the slideshow messages from Jonna's far-away sister were projected or the bouquet was not tossed, but instead given to Jonna's mother for her super-mom achievements and then... there were tears of love.
The night was finished off by some very impressive moves on the dance floor and I can't say thanks enough to Mr. and Mrs. Cordon for letting me be a part of their amazing day!

Congrats again to Jonna and Jonathan!

- A big thanks to Kris Shires for helping me out with this one!

Jonna and Jonathan: Engaged! Abbot Kinney | Santa Monica Beach

2011-05-08T23:11:00.001-07:00

Jonna and Jonathan are probably the happiest, most easy going couple I have ever worked with. There was never a moment without some sort of giggling going on... One thing is for sure, they have the best time together and you can't help but love to be around them and see that easy chemistry shining through.

We had such fun starting with a little jaunt around Abbot Kinney and ending up in the beautiful
golden light of Santa Monica beach.

Jonna and Jonathan's wedding photos are just around the corner!!
A huge congrats to the very happy couple!!

Matt + Kim's Wedding: Spanish Oaks Ranch, Santa Margarita CA

2011-05-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

This unique wedding took place on the beautiful central coast, one of my absolute favorites spots on earth! The gorgeous, rustic lakeside setting of the Spanish Oaks Ranch in Santa Margarita has everything you could ask for... Matt and Kim planned this extravaganza from the opposite coast and what an amazing job they did. The day was an explosion of color, unique flowers and cakes and handcrafted charm! The ceremony spot was nestled under the ranch's majestic oak trees with a backdrop of hundreds of colorful Japanese folded paper cranes raining down from above. Kim and Matt are avid travelers who met... you guessed it, traveling in south america. So traveling themes were incorporated in the decor along with an interesting array of vintage doilies, handkerchiefs, tin cans and books from antique stores and estate sales. The table settings included mismatched fabric napkins, unique China plates and even hand-embroidered table numbers! As the night wore on, the entire venue sparkled with light. Such a beautiful day- Congrats again to Mr. and Mrs. McKenna! And a huge thanks to Kris Shires for her amazing work with me on this one.

Style Me Pretty- Matt and Kim's Central Coast wedding featured!!

2011-04-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

Matt & Kimberly's central coast wedding was recently featured on Style Me Pretty!
Such a beautiful day and a full blog about it coming soon!
Until then, check it out here!

Eric + Jenny : Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Ranch, Moorpark CA

2011-03-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

Eric and Jenny couldn't be a more beautiful couple... She was a mixture of sweet and glamorous all at the same time and it seemed, without much effort! The venue, Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Ranch, is a real working farm! The peaceful atmosphere of this beautiful place made the day even more amazing with it's towering eucalyptus trees, real-live tractors and nearby corn stalks and pumpkin patches. The ceremony was nestled in a grove of trees and the reception area was complete with old fashioned barrels for serving tables and pitchers of iced lemonade. A wedding photograper's dream venue, for sure! Cute little E+J equals LOVE cupcakes sprinkled with chocolate shavings ushered in the twinkling lights of the reception dance floor. And Eric and Jenny were well supported by an energetic group of booty shaking family and friends as the party continued well into the night...

Congrats again to the recently minted Mr. and Mrs. Breshears!! And a huge thanks to Kris Shires for shooting along with me on this!

Keith & Jamie's Wedding : Shelter Cove in Pismo Beach

2011-02-17T23:09:00.000-08:00

Jamie and Keith's wedding took place at one of my favorite spots in the world, the central coast. Their ceremony spot, Shelter Cove in Pismo Beach, is a grassy piece of heaven framed by rocks overlooking the pacific. A long stairway down from the ceremony spot led us to a beautiful private cove... the perfect spot for photos. Such a great couple... and a great day. Thanks again for letting me be a big part of such an important day. Congrats again Jamie & Keith!

- Special thanks to Micheal Fletcher for second shooting alongside me on this one!

Lauren & Jeff's Beach Wedding - Cayucos, CA

2011-02-12T01:05:00.000-08:00

Lauren & Jeff's central coast beach wedding took place back when the days were both warmer and longer in the charming little beach town of Cayucos, CA. The day was full of friends and family... not to mention the cutest flower girls and ring bearer I've seen in awhile.

Congratulations again to Mr. and Mrs. Fontes! Thanks so much for letting me be a part of such a memorable day...

- Special thanks to Kris Shires for second shooting alongside me on this one!

Ahlin Photography wins the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Award!

2011-01-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce that Ahlin Photography has been selected to receive the annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards for 2011!

Ahlin Photography stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements and reviews throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Ahlin Photography for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Ahlin Photography is among the very best wedding photographers within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee.

Read Ahlin Photography's WeddingWire reviews here.

....................................................................................................................

A big thanks to my past clients for the great reviews!!

Turner Family's Christmas Party - Beverly Hills CA

2011-01-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

The Turner's have great parties... it's true. From masquerade parties to candlelit Christmas parties, there's one thing that's for sure, everyone is having a jolly good time! The wee little Turner twins had grown so much since the last time I stuck a camera in front of their faces. They were faster, harder to catch and more entertaining than ever! They just couldn't get enough of the sparkling tree lights and shiny bulbs all dressed up in their lil' Christmas outfits.
This is just a quick glimpse of the night. Great Party!

Happy New Year... 2011! It's gonna be a good one- I can feel it.

Jonny & Valerie's Wedding :: Castoro Cellars, Templeton, CA

2010-10-30T23:03:00.000-07:00

This adorable pair met while living in the dorms at San Diego State. Their picture perfect wedding day took place deep in the vineyards of the Castoro Cellars winery in Paso Robles. The day had a very casual, rustic, outdoorsy feel complete with wildflowers and mason jars. The bride's dress had the sweetest cameo detail in the front and her shoes... equally stylish. A few other details I hadn't seen before were a signable surfboard that doubled as a guestbook and a guitar pick shaped groomscake! A big thanks to Soupy B. for second shooting with me today!

Congrats again to Valerie & Jonny and best of luck on the journey ahead!

- Special thanks to Soupy B for second shooting alongside me on this one!

Miss Leah - The Attorney and Music Licensing Queen

2010-10-12T18:35:00.000-07:00

Brent and Lori's Wedding - Bali Hai, San Diego CA

2010-09-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

The south pacific style Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island sits right on the water with unbelievable views of the San Diego Bay and the city skyline.

It was the first time I had met Lori and was struck by how charming and sweet she was. She sparkled, smiled and oozed calm on what would've normally been an anxious day... She even did each of the bridesmaid's makeup! Just as amazing were the colors and the flowers... purples and burgandies that were complimented by the bridesmaid's simple white tulip bouquets. Beautiful! Adding to the day was the most animated, curly-haired flower girl who kept me laughing with her hilarious facial expressions and the fact that she kept attacking the equally adorable ring-bearer with unexpected kisses. Super cute...

New hubbie Brent is in the military and was getting ready to deploy which made this day even more special... They walked on the dock, kissed and danced with the bay spreading out in front of them. Such a great day.

Congrats again to Lori and Brent. So glad I could be part of your big day!

- Special thanks to Jenna Armstrong for shooting alongside me on this one!

Chris and Emily- Wedded Bliss! Camarillo Library, CA

2010-09-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Chris and Emily were married at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks with a beautiful reception following at the Camarillo Library.

This happy day was accented in pink with a few Disney themed details since these two absolutely love the magic kingdom... The golden light was so pretty right at sunset and made for some amazing portrait shots. At the end of the day, their friends and family gave them the royal send off with a huge bubble blowing party... and off into the sunset they drove with cans and shoes trailing behind!

Congratulations Emily and Chris!

- A big thanks to Michael Fletcher for second shooting for me on this one!

Peter and Niqui's Wedding - Thorncrown Cathedral, Eureka Springs Ark

2010-08-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is Part 1 of 2 of Peter and Niqui's amazing wedding weekend in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It was such an incredible, action packed weekend that it'll take at least 2 entries to properly document.

On a hot, sunny Friday, at least 20 of Pete and Niqui's friends from LA jumped on a plane and flew to the beautifully green and humid land of the Ozarks. The celebrating started on the flight and never stopped over the following 3 days...

Picturesque Eureka Springs is an old mining town located in northern Arkansas and home to the all glass Thorncrown Cathedral. The Thorncrown is 48 feet tall and has 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass!

The day started with prep shots at the allegedly haunted Crescent Hotel. Niqui's dress had amazing details... and Pete surprised everyone with his guest interactive wedding vows! So between the soulmate-like connection these two most certainly have and the hilarious comradery of their friends and family, this was a one of a kind wedding day!

Such an honor to be a big part of this memorable day... Best of luck on the road ahead Pete and Niqui.

Pete and Niqui's Rehearsal Dinner/Shrimp Boil - Eureka Springs Ark

2010-08-13T00:09:00.000-07:00

This is Part 2 of 2 of Peter and Niqui's amazing wedding weekend in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

On the day before the BIG DAY, the rehearsal dinner took place at Beaver Lake. Everyone was just arriving into town, a heat wave was in the air... and the meal was a true taste of Arkansas! An incredible shrimp boil complete with corn on the cob, potatoes and spicy sausage prepared in a giant pot that was dumped on the table for all to enjoy! On top of that, there was swimming, pontoon boating, beer shotgunning, a game of horseshoes... and even moonshine!

Congrats again to Pete and Niqui!

Mary and Kanaka | Godric Grove at Elings Park, Santa Barbara

2010-07-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

Eling's Park is one of the more beautiful wedding venues I've seen... An amazingly beautiful park with both ocean and mountain views high up above Santa Barbara.

Kanaka and Mary's day was a blend of vibrant colors and traditions. It had a western meets Sri Lankan style with a few chinese details mixed in. The ceremony took place in a sunny outdoor amphitheater surrounded by friends, family, flowers and oak trees galore.... not to mention the amazing view of the city and the pacific ocean sparkling in the distance.

Congratulations again to Mary and Kanaka!

- Special thanks to Micheal Fletcher for second shooting alongside me on this one!

Marissa and Jason: Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Culver City, CA

2010-07-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

Marissa and Jason wanted to keep their wedding day completely local... and they did a great job of it.

The day started out with preparation shots at the historic Culver City Hotel. The ceremony took place at the brand spankin' new Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook which boasts unbelievable views of LA stretching from downtown to the ocean, as well as unique native plants and beautiful architecture. It was the first time that this venue had hosted a wedding ceremony- and what a beautiful spot for one. The sun shined golden around sunset and we were able to get the most beautiful shots with the whole city stretching out before us. Amazing! The reception followed at yet another unique location- Akasha Restaurant which offers very tasty organic cuisine with all ingredients coming from small, local family farms.

It was SUCH a beautiful day... best wishes for a very happy future together Marissa and Jason!

- A huge thanks to Kris of k2foto for assisting me on this great day.

Chris and Jeremy: A Commitment Ceremony in Beverly Hills

2010-07-06T19:49:00.000-07:00

When the lovely Kris of k2foto asked me to join her in shooting Chris and Jeremy's commitment ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire, I jumped at the chance. This glamorously historic hotel is located right smack dab in the middle of Beverly Hills with a rooftop deck overlooking Rodeo Drive. Pretty sweet...

What was also sweet and very hard not to notice was the connection that Chris and Jeremy have... They seem to be totally adored by their gazillion friends who looked on with tears in their eyes as they read their vows.

Congratulations you two!

Helen + Greg: West Covina, Cal Poly Pomona

2010-06-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

From the first day I met with Helen and Greg, I knew this was going to be a pretty special wedding... Their relationship started with a few emails and a whole lot of distance. Over time, they both realized that there was much more to what they had going and Helen made the big move to Austin, TX to be closer. From there, well... it was written in the stars.

The day was sort of a mix between traditional Vietnamese and Western-style wedding traditions. We started with bridal party shots at the beautiful Cal Poly Pomona campus where Helen and one of her closest bridesmaids met on the "bench of destiny" many moons ago. There was a traditional Vietnamese Tea ceremony where Helen wore a hot pink Áo dài style wedding dress and a Khăn đống headdress... so stunning on her! That was followed by a western style, backyard reception complete with delicious looking raspberry and sugar topped cupcakes, raspberry lemonade, a roast pig and gorgeous red gerber daisies. And to top all of that off... we set up a photobooth where everyone got just a bit silly (see next post).

Congrats again to Helen and Greg... and thanks so much for including me in your big day.

Helen + Greg's Wedding Photobooth

2010-06-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

Some pretty fabulous images from Helen and Greg's wedding photobooth!!!

The Turner Twins- Beverly Hills

2010-06-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back I was lucky enough to capture the adorable cuteness of Lesley's one year old twins. First there was a feeding session with baby food spilling out everywhere, and then a quick crib session before nap time. I was absolutely in love with these little girls... The expressions are too cute for words and make me chuckle every time I look at them.
More on this day to come....

Engaged: Kimberly & Matt, Griffith Observatory, LA

2010-06-01T23:56:00.000-07:00

It's a pretty romantic story thats taken place all over the map... Kimberly and Matt met a few years back in a hostel down in Brazil after which she moved to NY to be closer to him. They're now doing long distance from DC to NYC and having their wedding out here on the west (central) coast. What better place for an engagement session but the beautiful Griffith Observatory? I hadn't been there in years and not since it had been remodeled. So it was fun to run around with these two and check it all out especially when the golden hour came and the light was so nice and golden! I'm very excited to be shooting their wedding up north this fall. Until then, best wishes Kim and Matt!

Patricia and Paul are engaged!!

2010-05-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

I met up with Patricia and Paul down in Long Beach and we were able to cram everything from bike riding to a bubble blowing session into a few short hours. Most of this shoot was done right on their own tree-lined street, in front of their very own white picket fence! But then we eventually wandered down to where the action was on 2nd Street for a little more fun. Patricia's day hadn't started out so well (who knew that planning a wedding could be so stressful?), but judging from the smiles at the end of the shoot, I think it might've ended much better. I wish you guys the best of luck in your new life together!!

Amy and Peter- Married!! Balboa Park, San Diego

2010-05-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Their eyes first met at a coffee shop... And on a perfectly sunny day down in San Diego's Balboa Park, Amy and Peter decided to tie the knot and say "I do" in front of their family and friends. They did it with the sweetest retro twist, her in a vintage dress and him in bright red converse and tie. At the end of the day, the newly wedded Spackmans sped away in his beloved El Camino, which is definitely already one of the family. Congratulations again to Amy and Peter!! So glad I could be part of your big day.

Alyssa and Hector- Castaway, Burbank

2010-05-08T11:39:00.001-07:00

High up in the Burbank hills with amazing views overlooking the city below is The Castaway Restaurant. Alyssa and Hector were married just as the sun was setting in a beautiful, private grass area surrounded by palm trees. Alyssa was such a gorgeous bride who alternated between a beaming smile and tears of joy all day. A extra tiny flower girl, not even old enough to walk, was pushed down the aisle in an adorable, "Just Married" wagon. Everything was so pretty about this wedding- the bride, the colors, the weather, the way this couple looked at each other... Best of luck in your new life together Hector and Alyssa!!

Gabby and Luis's Wedding

2010-05-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

A beautiful wedding I shot a few weeks ago alongside Eric of Eric Lennstrom Photography.

Amanda and Ryan's Wedding at The Green Parrot, Santa Ana

2010-05-04T23:32:00.000-07:00

Amanda told me that she gets up every morning at some gosh awful hour to cook Ryan breakfast... and she gushes about how she loves doing it. He beams back at her about how he had secret plans to move her in with him long before it would make sense for them to be serious. Let's just say- he knew right away that this was the one. It's pretty obvious that these two were made for each other and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day!

Photographed alongside Monica of Daniel Photography.

Engaged- Bridget and Matt, Abbot Kinney

2010-05-03T01:30:00.000-07:00

So... It's amazing how busy I've been the last few months. I feel like I've hardly had time to breathe and because of that, fell way behind on posting all of the fantastic stuff I've shot in the last little while. So get ready for a burst of blogging!

Below, meet Bridget and Matt- an adorable couple from Minnesota who's engagement session I had the pleasure of shooting a month or so ago. Bridget is out on the west coast for work while Matt finishes up at school. They've got a long distance love affair going and gave me a few hours of their precious weekend together time to hangout and do some posing in colorful Abbot Kinney. We found some interesting spots and had a great time. Congratulations again Bridget and Matt!!

Engaged!! Lauren and Jeff

2010-05-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

I'll be shooting Jeff and Lauren's wedding this coming August on the beach in Cayucos, CA. Some stormy clouds and wind moved in the evening we met for their engagement photos in Santa Monica, but it didn't stop us from making the most of the photo ops on the pier, the beach and of course, the swing sets... so much fun that we went way over the time we had scheduled. These guys make a great couple and I really can't wait to shoot their wedding this summer!

Travis and Katherine's Wedding - San Luis Obispo, CA

2010-04-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

This wonderful event took place just outside of San Luis Obispo in the middle of miles and miles of beautifully green, rolling vineyard hills and just down the road from where Travis and Katherine live. If you've ever driven up through the central coast in the spring, you know that there's almost nothing that compares with how gorgeous it is! We shot the group and portrait photos under an amazing, twisted tree that Katherine and Travis affectionately call "Pixie Hollow". It really does look like something out of a fairy tale. Afterwords, the reception went down at the eccentric and quirky Madonna Inn where many great shots were taken- hot pink spilling out of every corner of the place while Katherine and Travis were constantly smiling at each other. Congrats again guys- I'm sure you'll have a very happy life together. I'm glad I was able to be a part of the big day.

Emily and Thomas Get Married in Pismo Beach

2010-03-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

It rained and rained leading up to their big day, but hours before the wedding the clouds finally broke and it turned out to be the most gloriously sunny day in late February. We took full advantage of this by moving the wedding party down to the beach for some amazing shots as the sun was about to set. Afterwords, this close knit group of family and friends watched Emily and Thomas take their vows in a beautiful tent ceremony. An amazing party followed...even the kids were gettin' down on the dance floor. Congratulations again to Emily and Thomas!!

Abbot Kinney After Dark

2010-02-23T23:50:00.000-08:00

Just walking around Abbot Kinney one night...

Thorn Crown Cathedral in Arkansas

2010-02-06T15:15:00.000-08:00

Remember Peter and Niqui? Their engagement session happened a few months ago and they've since relocated to Arkansas. I'm so exciting to be shooting their wedding this summer at the Thorn Crown Cathedral, a majestic glass chapel sitting on top of a hill in the Ozark Mountains near Eureka Springs, Arkansas. This amazing piece of architecture is 48 feet tall with 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass. It was chosen 4th on the AIA's top designs of the 20th century. This is guaranteed to be a unique setting- I can't wait.

Thorn Crown Photos- Whit and Andrea Slemmons

The beautiful Nan...

2010-01-12T10:26:00.000-08:00

Bridal Session with Amber...

2010-01-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

Raquel and the Backyard

2010-01-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

Awhile back, I documented the adorable Princess Raquel in her natural environment- the backyard! She hammed it up for the camera during a swing session and a lesson from her mom on butterflies. I'd say, she's a natural in front of the camera. I'm looking forward to photographing the newest addition in the family, but will have to wait a few more months for the arrival!

A brand new year and a brand new website!!

2010-01-03T21:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!! My new site is finally up and running! It's designed to emphasis and showcase the photos and has super easy navigation. You can download a pricing guide, order prints online and check out all of the kind things people are saying about my work. :)
I have a really good feeling about 2010...don't you?

www.ahlinphotography.com

Peter & Niqui - Engaged!! Part II

2009-12-17T13:54:00.001-08:00

This is the second half of Peter and Niqui's engagement shoot. Part one happened on the rooftop of their downtown LA loft. And since they wanted their photos to reflect their life in LA before they make the move to Arkansas, it made sense to shoot part two at the beach... and oh, what fun we had! Congrats you guys!

Engaged! Peter and Niqui - Part I

2009-12-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

They live in downtown Los Angeles, so what better place to shoot Peter and Niqui's engagement photos than a sky-high rooftop? Peter and Niqui are just about to take off on a new adventure to start their lives in Arkansas and wanted to capture their life in LA before they made the big move. This was a two part shoot with more to come soon!

New website coming soon!!

2009-11-25T13:21:00.000-08:00

It's finally in the last phases of construction and coming soon...

Rocky Mountain High

2009-11-10T00:39:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a trip to Colorado where we took a drive through the Rocky Mountain National Park on one of the last few warm days of an Indian Summer. Even though the temperatures reached into the 80s while we were there, Bear Lake was already mostly frozen over from a huge snowstorm a few weeks ago. So beautiful...

Rusty+Wendell - San Fernando Mission

2009-10-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

I was honored when Rusty asked me to shoot his wedding at the beautiful San Fernando Mission along with his friend, and fellow wedding photographer, Sachi Villareal. Rusty and Wendel make a really great couple and I had a great time shooting their wedding. Congrats again to the newly weds!

Kentreh + Jeena- Venice Beach, CA

2009-10-18T22:22:00.000-07:00

Kentreh and Jeena make a lovely couple- wouldn't you say!?

Ryan and Davina- Riverside

2009-10-05T02:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Ryan and Davina! So much emotion and such a beautiful day...

Danny + Jayme - Coronado, CA

2009-08-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

On a beautiful early July day, I was lucky enough to photograph this amazing couple's wedding on a beach in sunny Coronado. Their chemistry and connection was easy to see and made it so easy to capture beautiful photos. Congrats again!

Bory and Sandy, Japanese Gardens, Long Beach, CA

2009-08-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

I was very excited about the location of Bory and Sandy's wedding- the gorgeous Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens in Long Beach. A stunning location complete with a koi pond! In the morning, there was a chinese tea ceremony where many gifts were bestowed upon the happy couple... gallons of tea was consumed and millions of hugs were exchanged. That night, the reception was done Cambodian style with the bride and groom in traditional cambodian dress.

Alex + Marmi Le's Wedding- Kioto Hotel

2009-07-16T00:19:00.000-07:00

Set at the elegant Kioto Hotel in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, Alex and Marmi's wedding day was a blend of both backgrounds- sort of a french asian twist! Their ceremony took place in a beautiful rooftop garden, overlooking the LA skyline, complete with bamboo and trickling waterfalls. Long live the happy couple!!

Princess Racquel

2009-06-15T03:17:00.000-07:00

This lil' cutie, belongs to a special friend of mine and in the 5 minutes I was able to keep her attention, we caught this.... more to come.

Glenn and Kelsey - Knott's Chapel

2009-06-07T01:58:00.000-07:00

Who knew that Knott's Berry Farm had a wedding chapel? Well they do! And I was quite honored to experience it first hand as a part of Glenn and Kelsey's wedding day! I had previously done an engagement session with this couple and it was so nice to see everything fall together so well for their big day. Thanks for letting me be a part of it! Congrats again!!

Ben and AnnMarie- Laguna Beach

2009-04-23T13:22:00.001-07:00

On an amazingly beautiful, sunshiny southern californian day in Laguna Beach, I had a chance to shoot this glamorous couple. Can you feel the love!? Definitely a match made in heaven and such a fun day!! xoxo

Somewhere along the road to Texas.

2009-04-23T01:21:00.000-07:00

I came across the most impressive thunderstorm out in the middle of the desert one night traveling to Austin. It looked like a giant atomic bomb going off in the distance. Those Texas storms don't mess around!

Austin, Texas

2009-04-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

This last week I visited Austin, Texas and had a great time wandering around the city. This place has so much character and charm... These images were shot around LadyBird Lake, smack-dab in the center of town.

AnnMarie

2009-04-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun shooting these with AnnMarie running through the corridors with her dress trailing behind her. Thanks for being so photogenic and making my job so easy!

Crystal

2009-03-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

This was one of those shoots that you never want to end. The gardens were in full bloom and Crystal was... well, pretty stunning, wouldn't you say? She didn't think twice about climbing halfway up a tree in that beautiful dress of hers.

Davina, Ryan and Rhianna- engaged!

2009-03-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

Being around this couple, you can really feel the connection they have with each other. Add to that the lil' cutie they call their own and well, it equals adorable. We took their engagements in a park on a beautiful Saturday and I'm pretty excited to be a part of their big day coming up in just a few months.

Seth + Christine - Pacific Palisades Wedding

2009-03-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to shoot this unique wedding tucked away in the Palisades. It was an intimate gathering of tattooed and pierced family and friends who had come to support this couple after they had gone through the trajedy of losing their baby girl, Gracie Lynn, who's name the bride boldly tattooed across her own heart. There was such a great vibe here... so much love and hugging. Thanks for letting me be a part of your special day.

Kelsey and Glenn- engaged!

2009-03-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, I was lucky enough to take engagement photos for this happy couple. There wasn't a pose we didn't try- traffic dodging and all! They are obviously very much in love and I look forward to being a part of their big day very soon! Congratulations to Kelsey and Glenn!

Brandon- Senior Photos

2009-02-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of shooting Brandon's senior photos a few days ago. I took a lot of shots, but this was a favorite of both or ours. You look so dapper Brandon- Congratulations to you!!

Geerdes + The Applepan

2009-02-19T22:21:00.000-08:00

Enjoying a cup of joe and some greasy fries and looking pretty happy about it all...

Diana and Todd- Engagement

2009-02-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

I was excited to do an engagement shoot with Diana and Todd in Laurel Canyon just as the sun was setting on a slightly overcast day. We had a great time up until we ran out of sun light. They make a pretty great couple, don't you think?

Jesse and Elizabeth- Venice Beach

2009-02-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

Jesse and Elizabeth were married on January 2nd in Seattle. They weren't very pleased with their wedding photos and were interested in getting some more interesting photos. We shot on and around Venice Beach in those golden hours just before the sun set. Sweet success!!