One of the things Allie and I love to do with our clients is to send them a Getting to Know You (GTKY) Questionnaire in which we ask them all sorts of personal questions about their hobbies, likes and dislikes and little things about each other. The primary reason we do this is simple: we want to get to know our clients better because we love what we do and we love our clients! When we receive the responses, Allie and I go over the entries and then begin to brainstorm ideas for their engagement shoot.

This is important with David and Melissa. When we initially spoke with these two about their engagement, they wanted to shoot somewhere in nature, or by the beach. When Allie and I reviewed the GTKY responses, Melissa mentioned that David’s most proud accomplishment was that he was getting his pilot’s license. So, I suggested an airport theme, and they JUMPED at the idea! Especially when you consider that they are are also avid travelers and have lived abroad frequently for months at a time. (another questionnaire tidbit). I couldn’t imagine a better environment for these two than the Santa Monica Airport!

But, how the heck were we going to get access?? Luckily our groom was one of those few people who can sell ice to Eskimos. On the day of our shoot, he actually drove around the airport and walked into random buildings, asking anyone who was around if he could shoot his engagement photos in a hangar or on the tarmac. And would you believe it, several people HAPPILY obliged. By the time Allie and I arrived, the red carpet was rolled out and we were on a first name basis with the proprietors! HAHA!

Melissa and David, Allie and I genuinely had such a blast with you guys. We can’t wait for you to see these pictures and we can’t wait to travel with you to Mexico to photograph your beautiful wedding next year!

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For the last few years I have been on the Board of Directors of LA’s BEST Friends,Los Angeles’ most dynamic social and philanthropic group dedicated to supporting the LA’s BEST After School Enrichment Program through volunteering, fundraising, public outreach and community building. LA’s BEST serves over 28,000 kids at 180 elementary school sites in Los Angeles neighborhoods most vulnerable to gangs, drugs, crime and at schools with the lowest student test scores.

Additionally I have been the principle photographer for the last four years, responsible for annual report and marketing collateral photography. You can visit the Tear Sheets on my commercial site to see some of the images: Brian Callaway Photography

Once a year BEST Friends throw an annual fundraiser, Summer in Full Bloom, held at the beautiful Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. Allie and I donated an engagement session for the silent auction, and Sarah and Andrea were the winners! Shooting these photos was such a blast, look at these two!

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Sami and Sean have been together for over seventeen years—a long-term romance that started when they were kids. After these many years they are still very much in love. And it’s not hard to miss. Look at the photos below: they are still as playful as they were seventeen years ago.

Their wedding is on my birthday on August 22 at Vibiana, which is so appropriate: I can think of nothing more gratifying than capturing the wedding day celebration for these two.

These photos were shot on and around my favorite place in Santa Monica: Shutters on The Beach. After the photos, Allie and I relaxed at the bar, and shared an ice cold Stella. What a sublime way to punctuate an amazing weekend of photography.

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When was the moment that Bri and I realized that Michelle and David are awesome? Perhaps it was watching the beer relay races at their family reunion? Or was it when we met them at their house to talk photos and Brian bumped into the foos-ball table, aka the dining room table, and almost knocked over the roulette-whiskey-shot dispenser? Was it when we found out about their appearance on Design on a Dime?

Or was it the first moment we met them and saw how perfect they compliment and complete each other.

When he starts a sentence, she finishes it.
When she sips on a beer, he’s already chugging.
When he laughs, she’s giggling.

She is absolutely beautiful and sweet, and he is genuinely handsome, funny and approachable.

Michelle and David seemed to have found the secret: from what I can tell humor and an easy-going attitude toward life are the major ingredients. Every time we see them, we seem to learn a little more about ourselves, and you can’t say that about just anyone…

Stay tuned for their wedding highlights from their wedding at Vibiana. On the down-low: the Budweiser Beer Truck may make an appearance. There is no doubt that this is going to be one for the books!

The following pictures are some highlights from their recent engagement session at the Santa Monica Promenade.

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