Why take time to practice in the mirror?

Every girl does it, even if they wont admit it. Every girl practices that seductive look - the piercing eyes, the parted lips, the firm jaw line. It's the look in every Calvin Klein ad, most perfume ads, and about every pop-star and actress has it mastered. How did they master it? They practiced in the mirror, were coached on it, and tried thousands and thousands of times in front of a camera.

This look of seduction is fun to practice. Get your favorite lip gloss and try it out. Some of us girls are better at it than others. I fall in the "not-so-good" half, but Nick frequently humors me and tells me I am getting better (See... I practice). An engagement session is one of those times to practice for the camera. Of course, not every photo will have that look, but it gives you some air time to try out what you have learned thus far. We want you to, quite literally, work the camera! The more you are able to let your guard down and allow yourself to be beautifully you in front of the lens, the more it will show.

Last week Jasmine Star wrote an awesome blog about giving the woman permission to feel beautiful in front of the camera. Permission to be yourself, go for it! This is quite along the same lines. Nick and I are never judging from behind the lens. We are dying for your guards to fall and for you to "ham it up" (as we tell Kara).

This is another reason we LOVE, love engagement sessions. They are prep for the bridal session, trash the dress session and wedding.

We photographed Samantha and Mike's engagements a couple weekends ago down in the beautifully spectacular Orange County. We started at Rancho Capistrano and then headed over to Laguna Beach to catch the sunset. Samantha is one of the women that fall into the "Perfect every time" category for the seductive look. She has it nailed. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

Oh to be Engaged!

Getting engaged is one of the most fun times of your life, up until the wedding day, of course. The romantic idea of being together forever, the precious image of holding hands at 80 years old as you cross the street, the beautiful wedding dream within grasp, are all floating around in your mind from the moment you wake up until the moment you fall asleep (and even while your asleep for that matter!!) It is only fitting to celebrate this fun, beautiful, loving -albeit sometimes chaotic - time in your life with some Engagement Pictures! Engagement sessions are geared towards capturing the romantic love shared between the two of you and the fun energy you bring to each other. They can be traditional or contemporary, but the main thing is they REFLECT you and your relationship!

We love engagement sessions because they give us a little one on one time with our brides and grooms, as well as give the bride and groom an opportunity to get familiar with our camera equipment. An even greater bonus is that the engagement photos can be used at your wedding as centerpieces, made into awesome sign-in books, played as a slideshow during your reception... the possibilities are endless!

Right now we are offering 1/2 off our engagement session when you book your engagement session and wedding package together - contact us for details!

Here are a few of our recent engagement sessions that we wanted to share with you!

Aiyana & Jason - Laguna Beach











Audrey & Jeremy - Balboa Beach











Missy & Jake - Downtown Riverside

Why we recommend Engagement Photos!

A little camera shy? Unsure of how to "act" in front a camera? What to test your hair or makeup for the BIG day? Well, here at Nick Corona Photography we offer a simple solution to all those questions...an Engagement Session! Engagement photos can be used at your wedding as centerpieces, made into awesome sign-in books, played as a slideshow during your reception - there are TONS of things you can do with engagement pictures. What's the best thing about engagement pictures though? The extra time spent in front of the camera will make you feel more comfortable on your wedding day. If you feel awkward in front of the camera, it will show - so let's eliminate that awkward feeling and get some fantastic photos! Here are a few of Jennifer and Marc's pictures from their engagement session in Laguna Beach, CA.

Recent Engagement Pictures

To take or not to take engagement pictures is a common questions we get asked. "I am camera shy!", "I am not photogenic...", "Isn't it sappy and cliche?", are a few of the hesitations we hear. Here is the thing, you should take engagements...ESPECIALLY if you are camera shy!! Getting to spend a little time with your photographer pre-wedding day, and learning the feel of the camera is a sure-fire way to kick that shyness! Instead of saying you are not photogenic, let your photographer know if you have a profile side that you favor. Lips are big (meaning important) in engagement sessions... so don't be afraid to throw on a bold color, or interrupt the lip-locking session to freshen up the gloss.

Sappy and Cliche? They certainly don't have to be!!! We definitely have the requests for the traditional beach or park engagement pictures, and there is nothing wrong with that. Families love them and they are great to hang in the entrance to your home... but these days engagement sessions can be much more unconventional! Take a stroll down the streets of Los Angeles, or jump into a busy boardwalk at the beach and your engagement pictures have gone from traditional to trendy --just like that!! Nick and I have tons of cool places to take engagement photos, so if you are open to the unconventional, just shoot us an email asking for some ideas on locations...we're bubbling with information!

Here are a few of our recent engagement sessions. We hung out with Lily and Chris in Venice Beach, CA, which was incredible. Where else are you going to see guys walking down the street with 12 ft. Python's wrapping around them?
















We spent a little time with Veronica and Gustavo at USC in Los Angeles on probably one of the nicest days we have had in a while!! Even though school was in session, the students were gracious and jumped out of our pictures!








We also got to get to know Erick and Vanessa romping through the streets of downtown Los Angeles.









Getting to spend some time with our brides and grooms is fun, but getting to capture their personalities... that's what makes us keep picking up the cameras!

Sarah & JP - Lookout Point

Sarah & JP have a magnetism about them that draws you in and when you are around them you cannot help but enjoy their company! Down at the Lookout Point in Corona Del Mar we trashed around the beach, climbed on some rocks and snapped some amazing pictures of these two love-birds. Besides being JP's favorite beach, this is where he got down on one knee and popped the question! We had such an awesome time, we did not even know we were working!