Here are some pics from Kristy and Doug's engagement shoot at Hermosa Beach. 

They live in Florida where they both teach.  Doug coaches volleyball as well, thus the pictures of them playing volleyball. Both of them love sports--they met in a softball league, and we met for drinks at their old sports bar hangout on the Hermosa Beach Pier.

They are in town this weekend for a friend's wedding.... Their wedding will be here in LA in late July. I can't wait!

Michael

Update 5/28/09: I just got this email from Kristy: The pictures are BEAUTIFUL!  Doug loves them and we shared it with our friends and family too.  They thought it really captured "us." Awesome!  That's exactly what I go for when shooting.

Drinks were on Doug. There's kind of a private joke about Doug buying beer... which shall remain private ;)  Newcastle (I think) for Doug, Fat Tire Ale for Kristy and me. On tap, and delicious.

We were walking down the boardwalk, and the guys on the balcony figured out we were making engagement pictures--they were staying

at this hotel for a wedding the following day. Congrats went out to Kristy and Doug from these guys, and another couple there as well.

Yes I asked the friendly dude on the board to do this :)

Before wrapping up, we drove over to a little apartment that they shared

when they lived in the area to make a few pictures of them on the stairwell. Glad

we did--I love this shot.

So why would you want to do an engagement session?  Is it a gimmick used just to make more money? No.  On the contrary, I think it is an excellent investment. Investment? Huh? Yep! For a relatively small amount of money (considering your total wedding and photography budgets), consider the following numerous benefits:

You get comfortable with being photographed.  If you have never been photographed as the center of attention, that may add to any anxiety you are feeling on your wedding day.  Part of my goal is to reduce your anxiety. Wouldn't you rather spend just a couple hours making pictures of you and your fiance with your photographer in a very relaxed, fun, upbeat atmosphere, as opposed to never having been photographed except on your wedding day?

E-shoots (as we photogs sometimes call them) are fun! Did I mention yet this is a fun thing to do?

I can see how you and your fiance interact: I look for things like body language, facial expressions, how you communicate with one another.....
The rhythm and cadence of your speech.....
How you make one another smile and laugh. 
As a Wedding Photojournalist, these observations can prove to be very insightful.  At a very practical level, getting to know each other better in this way ultimately leads to better story telling pictures on your wedding day.  In a much broader and touchy-feely super cool sense, I get to see you two in the heart of your happy place--which means that YOU will get great pictures of you and your sweetie in your happy place! At an e-session, just as at your wedding, I'm looking for those glorious moments of sweetness and love and laughter.  Seriously, how cool is that??  And you will have some of these pictures that you can use for a variety of things, like save the date cards.  Would you rather look at a great picture announcing your nuptials, or a box on your calendar?

Besides your wedding day, will you ever take the opportunity again to have pictures made of just you and your fiance in love?? 

Take advantage of the opportunity.  Celebrate together.  You'll have fun and be glad you did. ;)

Michael