Ashley + Jeff

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Rancho Capistrano sits at the top of one of those Orange County type lazy hills, just off the 405 freeway near the 5 freeway intersection in San Juan Capistrano . The spanish mission style architecture much like nearby San Juan Capistrano Mission is spread out over a very large area.  It was previously owned by the the famous Crystal Cathedral in Santa Ana and only recently was donated to the Saddle Back Church. I’m surprised to find out they may no longer be hosting weddings. Ashley & Jeff make a great couple, they found me through my listing at the wedding site theknot.com. She contacted me and came over to my studio office in Costa Mesa on Newport Blvd and 15th street, that’s my old office studio, I’ve since moved to an office in Orange, but I miss my old address on Newport Blvd. So I sat with them and we talked about their wedding going over some of the fine points which were important to them and I was truly happy to have them on board with my services.  Rancho Capistrano is a very pretty property.  There are various places where to host your ceremony and reception. I found the red gazebo with a bridge quite interesting, it looks more Asian than Spanish but not sure what the architects were thinking,  I guess that’s why I’m a photographe and not an architect. They also offers gorgeous bridal rooms to get ready, I believe they call these rooms Casitas. The lighting in these rooms are beautiful with vaulted ceilings and adobe spanish walls makes for exquisite soft natural light! Ashley attends nearby Biola University, I seem to get a lot of clients from Biola, I like that!   The weather made it presence felt, there was lightly rain during the ceremony for a short period of time.  The staff brought out a canopy to lay over the couple and that smoothed things out a bit. The rain did not affect the look of the photos. Ashley & Jeff photograph really well,   I can’t say enough about they’re great looks in front of the camera, comfortable and relaxed is my motto and they did it! They had practice time at their engagement session at Balboa Island in Newport. The day was fun as it always is at my weddings, the couple had a great day as did their  families friends. I was thankful no equipment endured any moisture due to the light rain, plus one of Ashley’s bridesmaids and her cousin hired me to photograph their weddings.