San Francisco Pier 7 Engagement: Lien and Phil

When Lien and Phil initially crossed paths, their schedules simply wouldn't align for them to go on an actual date because things they are both equally passionate about - their careers and travel - kept getting in the way. When they finally sat down, face to face on a real date, sparks flew and they bonded over their sense for international adventure, family, and their love for food!

As their relationship developed, there were very specific moments that defined the love they have for each other. Lien and Phil were out running errands one day, when she spotted her favorite store. Like a good boyfriend Phil was, he agreed to go in with her. Lien, both excited to explore this location and slightly nervous to express to Phil the absolute thrill she got from this shopping experience, was immediately calmed and overwhelmed with happiness when Phil said, "Lets go down every isle!" As easy as it came for Phil to join in on something that made her so happy, it was equally as simple for Lien to know that she loved Phil. Phil on the other hand, knew he was all in when Lien met his Mom for the first time, and given their mutual value on family, is looking forward to family portraits on the day of their wedding.

Lien and Phil have spent many of days and nights in San Francisco, so the city served as the perfect backdrop for their engagement session!

Lien and Phil, I love that we can talk travel, food, and simply crack jokes together: you are my kind of people and I am beyond honored to be capturing your big day this spring! I can't wait! xo, Evelyn

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Hotwire, Southern California Team Portraits

You know that sound of a record scratch when a DJ is about to switch the beat up? That's the noise that runs through my mind as I write this: I, Evelyn, am a wedding and event photographer, but when something a slightly different but still so much fun comes my way, I always say yes!

Insert DJ scratch here: I'm switching up from weddings for a quick second to showcase my friends over at Hotwire! Their Southern California team are an amazing crew of professionals who embody the brand by sporting lots of red in their everyday wardrobe and by living 'slightly adventurously' via their own travels. This group asked me to photograph them as a team and I was thrilled to oblige given our mutual interest in travel and their enthusiasm to be in front of the camera. 

Jigger, Mayra, Dustin, and Briana, you not only crack me up with your street strutting, you impress me with your everyday work ethics and drive! xo, Evelyn

Why Have a First Look

Wedding days are full of anticipation, with the moment a couple sees each other for the first time being one of, if not THE, biggest anticipated moment between a bride and groom. This once in a lifetime moment happens ether as you, the bride, walk down the isle, or during a first look, where you and the groom privately see other for the first time before the ceremony.

So, to first look, or not to first look? In my experience as a wedding photographer and in understanding my couple's values, I have found great advantages to having a first look.

Have intimate, private time together

My couples highly value intimate moments between them, so a first look allows you to carve out a piece of the day just for you two. I set up the first look in a private space and advise you to take your time. We allotted time scheduled for this part of the day, but I encourage you to take as long as you need together as this may be your only time together to take everything in privately: your excitement, your raw emotions, what you smell, what you hear. This is uninterrupted time to awe at each other and share an embrace, a kiss, maybe even a few tears. 

My second shooter and I will be the only ones there documenting these moments for you, hence why I am a big supporter of couples hiring photographers they like and feel comfortable with to capture one the most intimate moments of their day.

Enjoy cocktail hour with your friends and family

A first look allows for any photos where you are both included to be taken pre-ceremony. This can include your couple's portraits, your entire bridal party, as well as your family portraits. If all, or some, of your photos are taken before the ceremony, you are able to join all of your friends and family during all or the majority of cocktail hour. You will be able to enjoy a glass of champagne and take that selfie with your college girlfriends without being rushed. You have invited your closest friends and family, so you will want to take the time to really enjoy this day with them.

Bonus: even if we have shot your portraits prior to the ceremony, I am always happy to take you out in the evening for more photos during the beautiful light that appears at sunset. 

Look and feel your freshest during your couple's portraits

The moment when you finish putting on your dress is the moment you are ready: you are a bride and you can walk down the isle at that very moment. Your hair and make up will be pristine, so why not see your groom looking and feeling your best and follow it with your portrait session? Every hair will be in place, and you ensure your eye make up stays put in case there are any tears of joy during the ceremony.

Enjoy twice the anticipation

Having a first look allows you to enjoy twice the anticipation on your wedding day: the first being the first look with your groom, the second with all of your friends and family as you walk down the isle. I have seen groom after groom still be very emotionally moved at the alter as he sees his bride walk towards him, even if he saw her earlier. In fact, a first look allows for many grooms to get their emotions out in private with his bride-to-be and be ready for the amazing moment she lights up the room with her presence.

Thinking about a first look and want to chat about it further? Awesome! Contact me here and we can set up a time to connect!

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Coronado Engagement: Megan and Colin

Megan remembers the first time she saw Colin: across the room at a dance class, and they were just little kids. Megan and Colin's families have known each other for years and the two began dating in high school. Both amazingly intelligent, Megan loves to cook, and Colin is a reader and loves to eat! Together they are emotionally in tune with each other, know exactly what to say to make the other laugh, and are downright, deep in love.

Colin would joke that he would 'fake propose' to Megan just like Jim would 'fake propose' to Pam on The Office, but Colin was in fact able to completely surprise Megan when he dropped to one knee in the Carlsbad Flower Fields to propose.

To commemorate their upcoming dream wedding at San Diego's iconic Hotel del Coronado, the hotel itself and adjacent beach made for the perfect engagement session backdrop. Highly valuing family - even pet family members! - their 11 month old French bulldog, Beau, also joined in on the fun!

Megan and Colin, you two make me dance with excitement: I adore the love you two share for each other and for your families, I love how you are both so driven, and I love how you are both so much FUN! I am beyond excited to be a part of your wedding this upcoming July! xo, Evelyn

Oaxaca Travel Guide

There have been countless times when I have reflected on a past meal and said to myself, "I remember when I ate..." and simply beam in recalling that memory. The time I finally gave in and learned to like mushrooms in Italy. The time I found myself in a dark, smokey Shanghai ally, where I sat in mini chairs, with a mini table, to eat fresh steamed mystery dumplings I ordered by pointing, nodding, and smiling. Sigh.

As a lover of food and the experiences collected with them, I knew I wanted to check out Oaxaca, Mexico thanks to the Chef's Table episode on Chef Enrique Olvera: he endearingly boasts Oaxaca as a place of inspiration for him, where one of kind dishes are found. I was ready and willing to visit what is considered Mexico's food capital!

A week in Oaxaca was just what I needed to eat at every place I wanted to experience, explore outside of the city, and sit in the Zocalo to watch life go by. Every person I encountered was warm and welcoming, and I definitely cried during my last stroll in the city; I was so sad for my trip to be over but so grateful to have experienced this amazing part of Mexico.

Below are a few of my trip's highlights in Oaxaca!

Casa Oaxaca

My heart literally pitter patters at the thought of eating at Casa Oaxaca. Everyone wants to sit on the rooftop that overlooks the Church of Santo Domingo; I did so for dinner and lucky me, had fireworks going off during my meal! I also had lunch on the first floor and found the experience to be just as amazing. Table side made fresh salsa accompanied with a massive tostada top with crumbled queso fresco starts your meal on the right foot, and I highly recommend the mezcalinis. Casa Oaxaca was the highlight sit down restaurant for me!

What to eat: The menu is full of traditional Oaxacan dishes! Some of our favorite items included:

• Tlayuda Tradicional with chorizo. This traditional Oaxacan dish is a large folded over tortilla with a variety of fillings, from cheese to mole to squash blossoms.

• Tostadas de atun, or tuna tostadas.

• The duck taquitos, pictured below, covered in to-die-for mole

• Ensalada de nopales, or cactus salad, which meshes nopales, beans, grilled avocado, and more in a mouth watering dish.

What to know: You absolutely need a reservation for dinner, especially if you want to secure seats on the rooftop. Also, come hungry.

Casa Oaxaca, Calle La Constitucion 104A, 68000 Oaxaca

'Taco Ally' at 20 de Noviembre Market

20 de Noviembre is a traditional Mexican market where you pick out grilled taco meat from one of many meat vendors in the long corridor, hence 'taco ally,' and enjoy your tacos. Simple in theory, a bit more complicated in execution when you walk in, and at peak times, face chaos: everyone wants to help assist you. Initially overwhelming, but an absolute must-do because everything is so fresh, delicious, you're likely to end up sharing a table with locals, and the intensity is exciting.

What to know: Follow these steps and you'll enjoy your tacos stress-free!

• Walk in, grab a basket, pick a stand, and select your meat and quantity. We really liked the cecina enchilada (adobo marinated pork), and you may also ask to have onions or other veggies they may have on hand to be grilled. Pay for your meat directly with the vendor.

• Walk back to the entrance and have one of the gentlemen coordinating the family style seating area seat you.

• Once seated is where you order fresh tortillas, beverages, and a variety of toppings, from fresh cut limes to salsa picante to pickled carrots from the vendors walking from table to table offering their specific product. You pay each vendor for the goods they have sold you.

• Your meat will be delivered to your table, and it's time to ensemble your tacos and enjoy!

20 de Noviembre, Miguel Cabrera 120 Col. Centro, 68000 Oaxaca

Fundacion En Via Tour

In doing my research on Oaxaca, I came across Fundacion En Via, a non-profit that provides micro financing and support to women in Oaxaca and its surrounding area to run sustainable businesses. As a woman business owner myself, I was fascinated and thrilled at the idea of taking an En Via tour to visit and learn about some of these women. 

There were 11 guests and two English and Spanish speaking tour guides, who were THE nicest, and together in a van we made stops to five different women's businesses in two villages outside of Oaxaca. 

One stop was in a small village where we were welcomed into a woman's home and restaurant where she personally served us lunch and told us the great impact accountability and micro financing has provided her: she has been able to build a cement floor for the restaurant and hopes to extend the roof as her next investment. She dreams of one day having a map on her wall and having every person who visits note where they are from. 

We moved onto Teotitlan del Valle, a popular community known for it's woven rugs, and where we were welcomed into the home and workspace of a woman who have been weaving since she was a little girl. She was extremely proud of the new business cards she had just received, in fact her first business cards ever! These women are hustling to make it work for themselves and their families; I have to say that this entire experience was humbling and one of the top highlights of our trip to Oaxaca.

What to know: 

• To date, tours are only held on Thursday and Saturdays, so we plan accordingly.

• Carve out a full day for this: the tour leaves Oaxaca at noon and returns in the evening.

• There was one rug in particular that caught my eye, and someone bought it before I made up my mind. I don't live with many regrets, but I still think about this rug! I could have known who made it and where it came from! Moral of the story: see and like a rug? Buy it.

Fundacion En Via, www.envia.org

Suculenta

From the street, we saw this really cute room with colorful jars lining the walls. With no sign on the exterior, I hesitantly walked in and surprisingly found myself in the health food store, Suculenta. Selling organic jams, oils, pickled veggies, cacao and more, the owner and maker of these goods, Paulina, is there making all of these organic goodies right there in shop and welcomes you taste test anything!

What to buy: Everything here makes the perfect gift, but the sweet pickles were my favorite! You can stock up on a lot of small sized jars to maximize the variety of goods you bring home! 

Suculenta, Porfirio Díaz #207-G Colonia Centro, 68000 Oaxaca

Pan:Am

When in Mexico, I am always seeking the best pan dulce because hands down, I love bread. Warm, fresh bread right of the oven? Even better, and this is what Pan:Am delivers! Pan:Am is part bakery, part coffee shop, part sit down café located in the center of town. 

What to order: Their Oaxacan chocolate croissant and their cream cheese and fruit filled pastry are musts. Perfectly flakey, not too buttery, and even better warm!

Pan:Am, Av. Belisario Dominguez 809, Col. Reforma, 68050 Oaxaca

Museo de la Culturas de Oaxaca

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. "I love it. I love it SO much," were my initial words upon walking into the this museum, and Chris said, "I knew you would." The long, multi floor corridors with beautifully arched, tall ceilings are stunning and were immediately added to my 'wedding portrait dream locations' list: simply classic and bright! As my partner, Chris knows the inner workings of my creative side and ensured we visited this museum because he knew this backdrop would make me so happy.

Aesthetics aside, the massive museum covers the history of Oaxaca and how its cultures were shaped and formed with a number of accompanying artifacts.

What to know: Most if not all descriptions are in Spanish, and even as a native speaker, I couldn't read and decipher everything as fast as I could in English. The Museo does give you great views of Plaza Santo Domingo and the respective signature Oaxacan church.

Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, Macedonio Alcalá s/n, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca

Cafe Nuevo Mundo

Recommended to me by a local, this independently owned cafe is known for it's hot chocolate, roasts coffee on site, and offers pastries as well as an extensive food menu. I was welcomed by friendly barristers each time we visited, all eager to give me recommendations on their specialties.

What to order:

• 'Chocolate Oaxaqueno con espresso' aka Oaxacan hot chocolate with espresso, pictured below.

• Caramel banana frappe, also pictured below.

• The Chai Diablo

Cafe Nuevo Mundo, M. Bravo 206, Oaxaca

A few More Highlights

• San Martín Tilcajete is a must! Known for its community of wood carvers of beautiful alebrijes, brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of both animals and fantastical creatures, Jacobo y Mari is the must-see shop. They create small, hand held sized figures to life sized sculptures. The shop tour guides walk you through the alebrije making process and you are able to see artists carve and paint there too!

• When in Oaxaca, you must drink mezcal! As a mezcal novices, I found the best place for education and tastings was at Mezcaloteca. Appointments are required at this bar where the servers individually go over the history, traditions, and ‘how-to’ taste mescal with you.

• I had a private driver take me to Monte Alban, an archaeological site right outside of the city. Come early! I arrived at 8am, was the first one there, and avoided the crowds by the bus loads who arrived around 9am.

• I stayed at Quinta Real Oaxaca. I considered it to be in the perfect location - walking distance to everything, and its grounds are beautiful with fountains and natural light everywhere. The rooms were a bit small and as a former convent, the walls lacked insulation of noise, but we would definitely stay here again.

Oaxaca will be a place that I will have many “I remember when I ate…” Hasta la proxima! Until next time! - Evelyn