luka bella photography (real families, real life)

dusty old thing

Oh my, I for the life of me can not keep up with this blog. So much going on, I thought wedding season may give me a break but they just keep rolling right along. I have been working like mad on albums. They are so very time consuming but I want each client to be captivated by their images. I want them to relive the emotions of their day every time they open it. 

This couple captivated me. Their love for the Lord was so evident. I have worked with them many times since their wedding and wanted to share them with you. I may have shared them before, I just can't remember. This was a two day affair both days at different estates in Rancho Sante Fe.

I wish I could explain to you the estate on day one. When I drove up, I was giddy with laughter. Well let me tell you, day two. Shazam!!! I kept driving past it thinking I was lost. I honestly thought it was a hotel. That estate almost made me pee my pants.  Yes, I did say that. I am just keeping it real. And can you guess what celebrity was their? I did not recognise him at all.  Ok, tomorrow I will share that estate or maybe today even. It's worth a check back.

Here is celebrity hint: He is not my "Godfather"?

xoxo

One smoking hot session

I don't have a lot of time to write anything fun or snarky. This couple keeps hitting refresh on the blog to see if their sneek peek is up yet and then texting me to tell me they don't see anything. So I figured I better do something so I can keep working. LOL! Loved this couple, loved the surprise of getting to the house to scout it out before we scheduled a session and peacocks greeted me by the pool. Yes, I said peacocks. Damn, those birds are big. 

Anyway, this couple has some serious chemistry, take a look for yourself....

 

 

 

See, I told you. Thank you Holly and Randy for letting me be a part of your beautiful love story. 

 

Which one is your favorite?

 

J

Lake Arrowhead wedding photographer

I have not posted in ages. Thank you for all the well wishes. I am just finishing up mega wedding season and rolling right into the depths of Christmas season photography. Any photographer will tell you this is madness for us. Lots of deep breathing and every year at this time I get a professional massage. So worth it. My little treat to my poor body. Anywhoo, back to Lake Arrowhead wedding. Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! The resort was gorgeous and the day could not have been more perfect. The couple, oh my. Sometimes I don't meet my couple until the day of the wedding for one reason or another. I had never met this couple before and had only talked to the groom on the phone. I always feel like God knows exactly the type of couples that will work just perfectly for who I am. Kari and Bobby were so that couple. Very relaxed and Kari had the most contagious laugh. I love a girl who really knows how to laugh.

Everything went off without a hitch, until, her eyelashes fell off. Well my friends, a bride with fallen lashes is close to disaster. So we had to change the time of our pictures to after the ceremony so her lovely lashes could be resuscitated. Here comes the minor kink, our beautiful light was just going behind that mountain as soon as we started. I was still able to capture some very real romantic moments. I love those kind of moments. Here is a peek....

 

I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did.

 

Chemistry ( Temecula wedding photographer)

This couple has it just plain and simple. As a photographer you sometimes get those shoots that just run themselves. Well this was one of them. The weather was this beautiful overcast sky, great for shooting. And my couple hot, hot, hot. I am not just talking about what they look like, I mean the fire, the sparks, the CHEMISTRY.......  even my assistant kept saying "Should we be watching this? The way they look at each other, I don't think we should be watching this."

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
She made her own save the date prop. Love it!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I squeeled when I saw this one. Look at her looking at him with that hair that is giving us a peek at her eye. Love it!!

 
 
 
Now do you see what I am talking about. They are going to have one heck of a honeymoon. Did I really just type that.

xoxo

 

Wilson Creek Winery

This was truly one of the most memorable events that I have shot in a long time. Just plain fun. This was a group of friends that have been in each others lives for a long time and you could tell. They really enjoyed each other and had so much fun celebrating one of their best friends birthday. They laughed and laughed and laughed. My cheeks hurt from laughing right along with them.

Happy Birthday Claire 29 has never looked so good!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I told you we laughed!!

Keyways winery Temecula wedding photographer

Anthony + Jessica

Summer is in full swing and it is a juggle of mass proportion. Here is a small peek at what I have been juggling.

 
 
 
 
One of my favorite wedding kisses to date (and I have seen many) the best part is the pastor in the back,    he also is the grooms dad. Look at his face, I love it!

 
 
 
 
 
 
This one is my favorite.

I am officially on vacation starting the 8th and will return on the 16th. I will not have phone access most of the trip so leave me an email if you need to and I can check then now and again.

Many blessings, and I hope you are enjoying every moment of this hot hot summer.

xoxo

Temecula maternity photographer

Beth + Sabo

This family is near and dear to my heart. One day I was working in my home studio and I heard some neighbors talking outside. I looked out the window and there was this beautiful pregnant woman talking to my neighbor. I knew I HAD to photograph her. So I ran outside and literally threw myself at her, introduced myself and asked if I could take her maternity pictures. Funny thing is, her and her husband had just moved into town and her hubby was going to be the new High School Pastor at our church. Small world. So a week or two later they came for a studio session and I have been photographing them ever since. What a blessing they have been to me. No coincidence that they showed up at my friends door that day. They have now planted a new church and it is so exciting watching how God is using this beautiful family. 

 
 
 
 
This little girl was a spitfire. The only way I could get her close to her mommies tummy was to have her lick it. Once that got started oh boy, there was no turning back.

Disclaimer: I don't encourage licking of the tummy very often but in this case I had to do what I had to do.

 
Beth, I hope you don't mind me showing your tummy in all its pregnant glory. But you always have the cutest baby tummy.

 
 
 
This one got me!

 
Actually this one got me too. Beth you look gorgeous!

 
This little guy loves his momma and he could not keep his hand off her belly.

 
And this big guy loves his kids and could not keep his hand off them.

 
Thank you so much for once again letting me help capture these memories for you. Can't wait to meet baby Celine.

xoxo

 

 

Faulkner winery Temecula ca (Wedding Photographer)

Logan + Kim

This couple oozed loved from the first time I met them. What a beautiful example of  celebrating a marriage and not just a wedding. Relaxed, very relaxed and just excited to finally share vows in front of everyone they loved. Not to mention their sweet daughter who got to be a part of the entire thing.

Here is a sneak peek

 
Faulkner winery is one of my favorite places to shoot a wedding. Absolutely beautiful, the brides walk down the aisle is simple breathtaking.

 
 
This is my ZZ top picture, cracks me up.

 
And of course my famous jumping shots

 
  

When the bride instructed everyone to make their ugly face, I had no idea what she was talking about. One of my all time favorites!

 

 
 

The sun was setting and their were tea lights hanging from the trees. Pure magic.

 

She was an angel, just watching her mommy and daddy all dressed up.

 

 
Party of 3.

 

Now the sun was setting and I was chasing the light with some major adrenaline flowing. I did capture a few stunning images before it vanished behind the mountain.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you both for letting me be part of such a magical day.

A few more days and your entire gallery will up for you. Hold tight, there are a TON!

Temecula wedding photographer (Landen+Julissa)

 
I am eyeball deep in weddings and working my fingers until they are sore. Here is one couple very sweet to my heart.

This will be a post with lots of pictures and little words I am just plain out of them at the moment.

 
 
 
 
What would a wedding be without a little jumping.

 
 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 

 
This is how we all felt at the end of the day. Completely and utterly exhausted.

Thank you for letting me be a part of such a special day. Your on-line gallery will be live tomorrow.

xoxo

Temecula CA wedding photographer (jess+anthony)

I have had the pleasure of photographing another Hallworth family engagement session and soon to be wedding. We trudged up the plateau in beautiful weather to capture these sweet moments

 
 
 

Last time I had a family at this location they came home with poison oak so we were on the lookout and in that dress Jess, that would not have been cool.

 
 
 
 
 
We had just seen a coyote right before this shot and as I knelt in the bushes I could hear something rustling behind me. No idea if it was mr.coyote or not way to afraid to turn around.

 
And my favorite. I have a crush on you! You would never know it from this shot but they were being eaten alive by the biggest ants I have ever seen. As soon as they stood up they were covered with them.

Sorry, but you do what you got to do to get the shot. And don't you think it was worth it.