I'm Eileen, so nice to meet you! I am a Los Angeles based photographer, passionate about people and a huge fan of love. I truly believe photography is God's gift to me; through it I am able to share life with some of the most amazing people. What a privilege and joy it has been!
Click on the next page for more on me or take a peek at my own wedding day here.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Blessings!
photo by Shelley Paulson Photography
RANDOM FACTS
I use way too many exclamation marks, but I'm really just that excited!!!!
I want to know what moves your heart.
I say "that's so funny" quite a bit, but it can mean a number of things.
I am a lover of donuts and tea.
I floss every night before bed!
I love the idea of being spontaneous, but rarely do things unplanned.
I am the youngest of four girls, but I'm taller than all my sisters.
I would love to open a cafe someday.
I am fascinated by the bridegroom God and his ravished heart for all of humanity
Wendy and Dennis celebrated their 12 year anniversary this year! Woohoo! The Changs are such dear friends of ours and it was such a privilege to celebrate this joyous occasion with them. And did you know that they played SUCH a huge role in how Benny and I first got together?! (I would love to share our story with all of you someday!) Benny and I are forever grateful for this beautiful family! : )
The St. Regis in Dana Point, CA was the perfect location for our session. The resort was beautiful with its own garden and nearby trail with the most beautiful view. If it wasn’t for the coming rain showers, we could have stayed outside forever! Haha ok, maybe not forever. But these three girls are just SO adorable and I’m totally enjoying getting to know them more and watching them grow up through the years.
Albert and Emily had one of the most colorful weddings I’ve ever seen! The vibrant MOLAA (Museum of Latin American Art) in Long Beach was the perfect venue for this beautiful couple and I love how it is so much connected to their hearts, passion, and dreams. Albert and Emily first met in 2006 when their churches did a joint missions trip to Mexico. They became friends that summer and while they both thought highly of each other, nothing happened immediately. Over the years the two kept in touch and their friendship grew through their passion for the Latin culture, the Spanish language, and their heart for urban missions. Finally they became official in 2012 and they sure are a dynamic duo! When you see them together it just feels right and there is no doubt that they were made for each other. A + E are such kind people who live such full lives. It doesn’t get any more perfect than that! : )
Emily and Albert also both LOVE to dance!! I was so impressed by their grand entrance and their epic first dance. They even had a dance-off between their friends! It was truly and honor to witness this celebration. Thank you so much for having me. Blessings to the both of you as you begin your new life together in Boston! : )
Ahh, the FIRST LOOK! They had me in tears!
Jeff and Michelle are getting married in less than two weeks!! It has been so much fun getting to know them this past year and I am SO excited to celebrate with them on their big day! Their engagement session was such a dream. We started out in Eaton Canyon and ended our session at Michelle’s school where there is a beautiful orange grove. The light was golden and made for such perfect pictures to capture this season of their lives!
Jeff and Michelle first met on a church white water rafting trip. Although Michelle caught his attention, Jeff was too shy to talk to her at that time. But not to worry! There were plenty of opportunities after that for them to interact through Pacific Union College and through Michelle’s home church. During Jeff’s first weekend at the church, he knew he was in trouble when Michelle first got into his car. He wrote in his prayer journal, “Help me not to fall for her. I probably already have, but help me to get over it quick.” I think we are ALL thankful that God didn’t answer his prayer! : ) And now 5 years later they are getting married!!
My best friend is so beautiful!! Take a look at these photos and you will definitely agree! hehe : ) Gwen and I have been friends since the 5th grade. I remember the first day of school when she rushed into the classroom late, helmet on her little head and a big bandage on her chin. She was the new girl at school that year and we quickly became friends. Through the awkward years of junior high we learned to lean on each other for support and encouragement and even now, things have not changed. Gwen and I have walked through some of the most difficult and the most joyful seasons of life together and I am so so so thankful to have her by my side through it all!
Gwen is currently studying law at Berkeley (yes, she’s not only beautiful but smart too!) and I am so proud of who she is and who she is becoming! Love you! : )
Aimee and Jason are getting married this November!! It has been SUCH a blessing to have this girl by my side as we both plan for our upcoming weddings. I have known Aimee since the first grade. Can you believe it?! In high school and all throughout college we would take walks around our neighborhood praying and wondering who our future husbands would be. Now we take walks and talk about our fiances and marriage and wonder what life would look like in just a few months. I love looking back and thanking God for his faithfulness and perfect leadership in our lives. He is so good! : )
Aimee first mentioned Jason’s name when we were just chatting over frozen yogurt one day. He had been emailing Aimee and we were trying to figure out his intentions. Throughout the next few months I was so excited to get updates about their growing relationship and learn more about Jason’s serving heart. And I love that he had a heart for missions, something that is so dear to Aimee! They are so perfect for each other and their love sure does shine through these photographs! : ) Thank you for such a wonderful time you two! It was so fun to double-date on this shoot and enjoy such a delicious meal together. LOVE YOU!!
Our second stop was in Temple City, where Aimee and I grew up. We came to this park for school activities and fairs, but most importantly, this is where Jason proposed! : )
Have you heard of a “first look?” What is a “first look,” and why do people set time aside to have one on their wedding day? If you’re asking these questions, then read along! : ) I’ve had several brides ask me what a “first look” is and why it might be good for them. Here are some of the details, and hopefully you’ll find it helpful as you plan for your big day! : )
Ok… so what is a “first look?”
Traditionally, the groom is not allowed to see his bride until the ceremony. Some people believe it’s bad luck. Others don’t think it’s a big deal. But I heard the tradition came out of a time when arranged marriages were more common. To ensure the groom didn’t run away after seeing his bride for the first time, they made sure he didn’t get a chance to see what she looked like until the actual ceremony! So interesting huh?! Even though things are a bit different in our time (I hope!), some people still choose to keep that tradition. It is a special moment when the groom sees his bride for the first time, as she walks down the aisle! : )
The “first look” however, is another option. If you choose to have one, this happens before the ceremony. Right after the bride steps into her dress, we set aside 10-15min for the bride and groom to be alone. The groom is placed at a beautiful location and waits until the bride sneaks up from behind. I love capturing the emotions of that moment when the groom turns to see his bride for the very first time in her wedding dress! : ) During that time, some couples also exchange gifts, pray together, or simply remind each other to enjoy the moment.
Now that you know what a “first look” is, why have one?
1) Your wedding day will be a crazy day! Having a “first look” gives you a quiet moment together before the craziness goes into full swing!
2) They make for beautiful photographs! The “first look” is an intimate moment when a couple expresses all the joy and anticipation of the wedding day. Whether it comes in the form of laughter or tears, it’s a wonderful moment to capture.
3) It helps with your wedding day schedule! Instead of rushing bridal party pictures, bride and groom portraits, and family photos all after the ceremony, you can take care of some of it before and not be as rushed after you’re married. This helps especially if you are having a ceremony later in the day.
4) Some brides feel much calmer after seeing their groom and vice versa.
And finally, here are two “first looks” from my latest weddings. They are some of the sweetest moments from the day! : )
Jeff and Lisa-Anne see each other for the first time:
Lots of happy tears for Albert and Emily!
This is my favorite session with Charles, Angela, and baby Ollie so far! : ) Yay, can’t wait to share these pictures with you!! We came to Cedar Grove Park and was pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful daisy field. That + some golden light made for such a magical session. I can’t believe Ollie is turning 1 next month- looking forward to celebrating his 1 year with another shoot. Stay tuned for more with this fun family! : )
What a colorful session we had with Thanh and Karen! They introduced me to their neighborhood in Claremont and I just fell in love! The Claremont Colleges were made up of beautiful buildings with pops of color throughout the campus. It was so fun walking around with these two and getting creative with some of the props (like the funky double-rocking-chair below!) we found along the way. What a perfect backdrop for this cute couple! oh, and LOVE that Karen brought along fresh peonies to our shoot!
Yay, can’t wait to celebrate with you two in November! : )
Where did you have your first date? David took Christine to The Last Bookstore…and later brought her back to ask for her hand in marriage! I love that we returned to this super cool location to take photos and relive some of those sweet memories! : ) Cafe Kaldi was another meaningful location for David and Christine. It’s right in their neighborhood and it’s their go-to place for yummy drinks and a relaxing environment to read. Right across the street is the South Pasadena Library, where we took our time enjoying the evening and soaking in the golden light. What a beautiful pair you two are, Christine and David! Hanging out with you guys was a great reminder of God’s goodness in all of our lives. I can’t wait for your wedding at the end of the year : )
If you are looking into locations for your engagement session, try taking a stroll down memory lane and picking out places that have been significant in your relationship. Not only will these photographs mean more to you in the years to come (especially if you move and cannot visit your favorite spots as often), but a familiar setting can also help you feel like yourselves and more comfortable in front of the camera.
It has been such a joy following the Pengs this past year and watching their family grow! When I first photographed them a little over a year ago Naomi was still pregnant with David and now he is already ONE (the day of our session, actually)! How time flies! Not only was this session super fun because Henry and Justin are twins (can you tell?) but they each wore matching shirts with their own sons too! hehe. Enjoy : )
