Karen L. Barnes Photography

Erika and Stuart chose to do their engagement shoot in Venice, which was so much fun.

I absolutely loved that that they had this great sign in their apartment. It was so perfect I might have to start making them for other couples.

There is so much old brickwork in Venice, and it made for some great photos, especially combined with models who were so much fun.

We wandered around Venice and took advantage of some of the brightly painted walls.

Stuart and Erika were willing to try some shots on the boardwalk, which is a little daunting due to all the watching tourists, but we ended up having a really good time and getting some great shots.

Finally, we headed down to the water to get a few sunset shots.

Erika and Stuart are planning their wedding for later this month, and I can’t wait to work with them again.
Looking forward to seeing you both in a few weeks!

Jenn and Scott are engaged to be married in July, and, a few weeks ago, we headed out to Topanga and Santa Monica to shoot their engagement photos.

We started by walking around Topanga for a while getting some of the more rural shots that Scott wanted.

We then drove over to the Promenade just before sunset to add an urban setting. They are so in love with each other, and didn’t need too much coaching to get some great shots.

We stopped in front of a local pub for this one.

The patrons were pretty amused with Jenn and Scott’s comfort with public affection.

Jenn and Scott tolerated my love for gritty alleys, and managed to look adorable, despite the fact that it was freezing.

Lastly, we headed out to the beach for some sunset images.

I think it’s safe to say their wedding will be a whole lot of fun.

Melissa and Jose were married on December 13, 2008. They have known each other since high school, and had an amazing group of friends and family.

Melissa is so beautiful, and I love the black and white images of her. This is one of my favorite images of the day.

Melissa and Jose were married at St. Vincent’s in Los Angeles, which is a gorgeous cathedral style church built in 1925.

St. Vincent’s is now an historical landmark. The inside of the church is even more ornate than the outside.

Melissa and Jose had passed on the usual transportation choices, and had rented this classic car for the day.

Jose and Melissa’s reception included a mariachi performance, and found nearly every person in attendance dancing.

Congratulations to both of you, and thank you for letting us share in such a great evening!

Belinda and Edwin decided to celebrate their very first wedding anniversary with a photoshoot. It turned out we are from the same hometown (Downey, CA), and so had a lot to talk about right from the beginning.

First, we went to Topanga Canyon and spent some time hiking around and letting them become comfortable with the camera. Topanga is one of my favorite places in LA to shoot, and there were tons of places to stop and get some great shots while we rested.

We stopped under a bridge for a while, which turned out to be a really nice spot to shoot.

Next, we hiked up one of the trails for a bit, and found several romantic places to stop.

After we finished at Topanga, we rushed up PCH to make the Malibu Pier before the sun set.

This was such a fun shoot, and we’re already talking about planning another session in the spring when the wildflowers are out.

Thanks so much to you both!

Jen and Porter had an intimate wedding at Pepperdine University, followed by a dinner at Geoffrey’s. Jen and Porter met in Texas, but decided to marry at Porter’s alma mater. We stole away from the reception for a bit to photograph Porter introducing Jen to the Pacific Ocean.

Katherine and James were married on September 27 in Pasadena. They had a wedding which alternated between Chinese and Western traditions, beginning early in the morning and lasting late into the evening.

Edyta and Vance married on September 13, 2008, at Little Brown Church in Studio City.

Wishing you both so much love and happiness.

Liz and Kevin were married at Wayfarer’s Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes on August 30, 2008.  They were married by candlelight in an absolutely beautiful ceremony.
Congratulations!

Here are a few shots from the wedding of John and Dorothy, which was held in Huntington Beach.

John and his daughter prepared a surpise serenade for Dorothy, which left everyone teary-eyed.

Jen and Aaron married at the Eagle’s Nest in Cypress, CA on 6/21/08.
Jen was an absolutely beautiful bride, and man, they really know how to throw a party.