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Boudoir beauty

Linda Ly — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:06:14 +0000

Sometimes brides approach us hesitantly when it comes to shooting boudoir photos. Naturally, it can be both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time… but boudoir is just as much for you, as it is for your significant other. Keep in mind that boudoir doesn’t always mean lingerie or nudity; it is simply a day for you to be pampered, feel your utmost beautiful, and not worry about your impending nuptials — if only for a few hours.

Below is a bride who contacted us with nothing more than a couple of ideas torn from magazines. She wanted a highly-stylized, MAC makeup-esque editorial shoot that focused on her fiancé’s favorite feature — her eyes. We put our talented team of stylists to work in the studio, glamming her up with a gorgeous color palette and a faux bob reminiscent of a vintage screen siren.

And voilà! Insta-sex kitten, straight from a magazine ad! Her fiancé is quite the lucky man!

Christine and Scott’s Mexican beach wedding – Part IV

Linda Ly — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:57:20 +0000

Congratulations Christine and Scott on your beautiful Baja wedding! Thank you for having us be a part of it! May your lives be filled with sunshine and endless offshore winds.

Christine and Scott’s Mexican beach wedding – Part III

Linda Ly — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:12:49 +0000

Christine and Scott opted for a low-key approach to their ceremony — no bridesmaids, no groomsmen, just a simple and stylish affair on the sand with all of their guests in bare feet. As the sun waned on the Pacific horizon over Playa Palmilla, they exchanged vows before an intimate gathering of friends and family while a string mariachi played on.

Though the ceremony was contemporary, Christine and Scott honored their Mexican surroundings with Mexican wedding traditions performed by a local priest — the traditions of the Thirteen Gold Coins (trece monedas de oro, given by the groom to the bride as a symbol of trust and confidence, signifying he will support her) and the Lasso (el lazo, a large loop of rosary beads worn by the couple in a figure-eight shape as a symbol of love and unity, which binds them together every day as they share the responsibilities of marriage for the rest of their lives).

Christine and Scott’s Mexican beach wedding – Part II

Linda Ly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:05:38 +0000

An avid surfer, Scott has a special place in his heart for the sights and sounds of the ocean, so it was only fitting that their wedding day infuse the same casual, airy vibe. Scott’s button-up echoed the soothing blue waves of the Sea of Cortez, while Christine’s simple, graceful frock was light and flowy, perfect for catching the afternoon sea breeze.

Their families hosted an outdoor reception on the terrace of a private villa overlooking Playa Palmilla, where the ceremony would take place. In tone with the beachy chic atmosphere, the reception featured relaxed yet elegant table settings adorned with natural elements. Seashells, starfish, stones and whale bones were collected locally and used as decor throughout the party.

Christine and Scott’s Mexican beach wedding – Part I

Linda Ly — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:09:07 +0000

For their December 5, 2009 wedding, California couple Christine and Scott knew that they wanted to celebrate the day in an ultra romantic destination that was both sentimental and extraordinary — the exclusive enclave of Palmilla, Mexico, tucked in between Los Cabos on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, where Scott’s family has a home and where the couple has vacationed often. It was the perfect getaway for their closest friends and family, who escaped the start of winter in the States to bask in the Baja sun for a long weekend of 80-plus temps and bottomless margaritas by the beach. Que bueno!

Glitzy jewelry editorial for Gem Tech

Linda Ly — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:07:34 +0000

Via wtphoto, this new beauty editorial (shot for luxury jeweler Gem Tech) is too stunning for words! Will captured both the models and the products flawlessly.

I actually think this would make a brilliant and unique portrait idea for a bride as well, if she wanted to showcase her engagement or wedding ring, a special piece of jewelry, or her family’s vintage heirloom jewels…

Sneak peek of Christine and Scott

Linda Ly — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:21:16 +0000

We love destination beach weddings! (Really, who doesn’t? … especially when it’s a warm beach in the middle of December!) A couple weeks ago we flew out to Los Cabos, Mexico, to photograph the wedding of Christine and Scott. Their beautiful ceremony took place on the fine white sands of Playa Palmilla in front of an intimate gathering of friends and family. The outdoor reception was hosted in one of the private estates in the exclusive La Caleta community of Palmilla, overlooking unspoiled coastline. It was an elegant, five-star affair to remember!

Betty and John’s rustic fall wedding – Part III

Linda Ly — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:52:28 +0000

Betty and John’s intimate wedding reception, tucked away on the grounds of the Stonehouse at Temecula Creek Inn, was so lovingly and meticulously thought out for months that it felt like a cozy retreat. Tables were named after various streets around Berkeley, California, that had special meaning for them and their friends (they first met in college at Berkeley). Guests could cuddle up around the fire pit after indulging in a hearty cookies-and-milk bar.

I love how the flower cutouts on the cake match the embroidery on the bottom of Betty’s dress. Details like these were absolutely divine.

With John being an avid San Francisco 49ers fan, Betty decided to surprise him at the reception with a specially made team cake!

Congratulations Betty and John, our newly-wed lovebirds! Thank you for having us be a part of your beautiful day!

Betty and John’s rustic fall wedding – Part II

Linda Ly — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:59:12 +0000

Right before sunset, gathered with their guests at the historic Stonehouse at Temecula Creek Inn, Betty and John were married under a handmade natural arbor of pastel roses, stargazer lilies and hydrangeas. Their passionate wedding ceremony, filled with personal handwritten vows and heartfelt readings of their favorite song lyrics, had everyone in tears… happy tears!

A sweet in-the-moment shot… Betty and John skipping with the flower girl and ringbearer through the Stonehouse’s verdant grounds.

Betty and John’s rustic fall wedding – Part I

Linda Ly — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:59:01 +0000

Wow! We have had so much go on the last few weeks… please pardon the lapse in posting. With the holidays here, family events, friends in town… and all the normal editing that goes on in our studio daily… we’ve been swamped! We also just came back from shooting an amazing destination beach wedding in Palmilla, Mexico. All week long we enjoyed 80-90 degree weather in a tropical paradise, so what a shock it was to fly home to LA and be greeted with bitter cold and rain! Are we actually experiencing a real winter in LA?? I can’t wait!

And I know we long ago promised more photos of Betty and John’s wine country wedding, so we won’t make you wait any longer. Below are some of our favorites from the romantic outdoor ceremony. Betty and John wed on the sprawling lawn outside the Stonehouse at Temecula Creek Inn. This century-old granite and stone building sits amid rolling green hills and distinguished oak trees, perfectly secluded in the Temecula Valley. It was the perfect fall wedding… rustic, charming… with muted, pretty colors.

Betty, being of Thai descent, wanted to add a meaningful touch to the traditional guest favors… so she chose handwoven bamboo fans from Thailand for the ceremony.

I love the documentary feel of these black-and-white photos… they really capture the intimacy of the moment.

More to come!