San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography: Blog

A dog and a cat, going on a walk. |Caitlin + Piotr Engaged|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 21:41:51 GMT

San Diego is full of small trails and hidden valleys in its neighborhoods - just perfect for walking with your dog and feeling like you don't live in a major city. Sometimes, if you're ridiculously lucky, you also have a cool cat that goes on said walk with you. No big deal, just a couple in love. Going on a walk with their Bernese Mountain dog Monty. And, their cat named Bellatrix.

Quick, someone call Disney!

Caitlin and Piotr are getting married tomorrow and I am thrilled to be a part of the journey. I don't blog very often, but couldn't pass on the opportunity to share these amazing photos with the world. I feel doubly lucky that the two of them are down to earth and cool humans - I couldn't be more excited for them and I can't wait to celebrate with them tomorrow!

Without further ado, I hope you enjoy my favorite engagement photos that I've had the joy to create. We laughed, climbed trees, chased Trixy, Monty chased us, and we created magic. It was so much fun. Many thanks to Caitlin, Piotr, and of course their crazy amazing pets.

Author Portraits |Jean Guerrero|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 21:04:43 GMT

Every once in a while, I have the opportunity to photograph and create something special. This was one of those times.

Jean Guerrero is an award winning KPBS Fronteras journalist, who has been covering border issues for most of her career from both the Mexico and US side of the border. While border issues have certainly taken center stage in recent years, for Jean, the border is both literally and figuratively interwoven with her family and her identity. When Jean reached out early this year looking for headshots for her upcoming book (CRUX: A Cross-Border Memoir), I was thrilled. The memoir is a years long labor of love that chronicles her journey to understanding her father - she'd spent the better part of her twenties writing and rewriting it, and it was finally being published. So, it felt important to create portraits that would do justice to her work - to say the least.

After some thought, the obvious choice for location was the US/Mex beach border, considering her relationship with the border and its role throughout the memoir. The results are some of my favorite portraits I've taken to date - while we focused on headshots, I also knew I wanted to create portraits that resonated with Jean and her writing.

Don't forget to pick up her book, available as of this week, here: CRUX: A Cross-Border Memoir

Elfin Forest Maternity Portrait Session |Amy + Damon|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 01:27:44 GMT

These two are officially parents to baby boy Grayson and I'm so excited for them! I have a lot of client turned friends who I love seeing every year, but Amy and Damon were friends first which made it even more special.

Amy is a fellow photographer, whom I've had the pleasure of getting to know these last few years as our businesses have grown and challenged us. She has been a wonderful resource for me when I only have the camera to talk to! I can only hope that she feels the same. So, when it came to it, I jumped at the chance to create these images for her and Damon. It was to celebrate our friendship, to celebrate them as a couple, and to celebrate their new family. It really reminded me how important it is to document your life and share your joy with the people around you - a department where I've been lacking as life gets busy.

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Marisa + Scott |A Sunset Cliffs Engagement|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 23:26:35 GMT

Earlier this year, I had the honor of being asked to photograph a fellow photographer's wedding. I was (and am still!) so flattered! Well, their wedding is around the corner and I couldn't be more excited to celebrate along side their friends and family. So, it feels like the perfect time to share their stunning engagement photos from Sunset Cliffs. It's packed with incredible landscapes, with some scary adventure in the middle.

Though Sunset Cliffs is known for it's beautiful cliff and ocean vistas, this time we had the good fortune of an extreme low tide. This gave us a unique opportunity to hike to a very private beach and photograph in some amazing surreal backdrops - practically all on our own! The whole place felt like it was out of a fantasy novel, with undisturbed sands, green oversized rocks, and a calm ocean.

Having said that, a word of caution to the adventurous - those typically water covered rocks are quite slippery without the proper shoe gear. Though I thought I was careful, I still managed to slip off a rock and barely escaped without cracking my head on one. My camera and a couple lenses weren't as lucky, but in the end I am grateful for not being airlifted out.

Now that it's been some months, I am happy to say that all is well and I am particularly proud of this shoot - I worked through the scary bit, shot in manual focus just in case, and Marisa and Scott were a dream to work with.

I hope you enjoy the images we created together as much as I do. Also, don't wear Toms on slippery rocks.

Welcome baby Dean! |San Diego Newborn Photographer|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 21:06:14 GMT

Baby Dean is so incredibly lucky and so incredibly loved.

Miracle babies like Dean don't always have the easiest time arriving but they always bring such joy and happiness with them. He was welcomed by his doting parents and as well as grandparents - they flew across the Atlantic and even knitted the most adorable outfits. The love and devotion for Dean came through in every frame and it was difficult to narrow it down without going completely overboard.

I've known Michelle for a few years now, having photographed her (and her furry baby!) a few times before. The four legged furry baby may now have some competition for attention, but he's not going anywhere anytime soon. It has been such a privilege to get to call her my friend and not only a client. I am beyond happy to have had the chance to document this new chapter in her life and get to know her family and new normal. We started our photographic journey on the beach, but have continued on to the nursery which may not have the same views but certainly has more magic.

We captured some amazing moments, from Dean's budding Arsenal fandom (he's a quick study) to tears of joy. I hope you love looking through these photos as much as I loved capturing them.

Scripps Pier Beach Family Photos || A Buckler Reunion!

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:55:26 GMT

These are some pretty awesome siblings - I would know, I've known them for give or take ten years. That, by the way, is pretty crazy to type out! When the stars align and everyone is able to make to San Diego at the same time, that is a pretty good occasion to schedule a photo session and update the family photos. All three have gotten married and some new blond and blue eyed adorable littles have joined the bunch!

Naturally, it being San Diego, the beach was the way to go. Though the weather didn't quite cooperate and the sun had no intention of showing up, Scripps Pier is such an incredible beach presence that there really is no missing out. With rolled up pants and sand everywhere, we all survived two toddlers tolerating us at the beach - we even had a few laughs along the way :)

Scroll down to see a few creative double exposures - I mixed it up with some trees from the yard and some San Diego cypress along the beach. It's no secret that they're a favorite of mine.

Cape Henlopen State Park |Lauren + Ryan Day After|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 21:20:31 GMT

One of the best parts of a destination wedding is having the chance to explore the area and see another corner of the world. Lucky for me, Ryan and Lauren wanted to share one their favorite places at home: Cape Henlopen State Park. This means that we've met on the beach on the West Coast in San Diego, all the way to the beach on the East Coast in Delaware. Even now, it brings a smile to my face - destination weddings, bring it on!

These are some my favorite images from our day after session. I still can't believe that it was over 90 degrees and we were swimming in humidity, but you'd never know it now. Now, all I see is the awesome journey these two created and get to share for years to come: getting engaged by the Pacific Ocean and married by the Atlantic Ocean. I couldn't be happier to have been a part of it all.

Lauren + Ryan Married! |From the Pacific to the Atlantic|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 20:06:12 GMT

Through the magic of life and happy circumstance, I had the good fortune of photographing Lauren and Ryan's love story from the West Coast to the East Coast.

In fact, the first time I met Lauren and Ryan was the day that they got engaged. I'd only exchanged a handful of emails with Ryan, planning the perfect location for his surprise proposal to Lauren at Scripps Pier - him stressing out about the how/when/where and me putting on my best stalker hat (we photographers wear many unexpected hats). If you haven't seen the post, definitely check out the moments we captured:

A Scripps Pier Proposal |Lauren + Ryan|

What started as a wonderful testament to their first step in their married life together, turned into something extra special for me when they asked em to photograph their wedding outside of Philadelphia the following year. So a little over a year later, I was flying across the country to document their wedding. They put on a fabulous affair, with a ceremony at the Corinthians Yacht Club and unbelievable reception at The Waterfall, bringing touches of beachy San Diego throughout the day. Even with all the glitz and glam, the best thing was the celebration of their family and friends (and vice versa) - especially, the many subtle ways Lauren's brother became a part of their day. Even in his absence, he continued to be present.

Many thanks to all the vendors that helped make the day a success, with a special thanks to Engineered Events and Silver Sound.

Stay tuned for their day after session st Cape Henlopen State Park - from one beach to another!

San Clemente Beach Family Photos |Eustice Family|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 23:13:10 GMT

'Tis the season...for updating family photos! While I'm in the thick of it, I thought I'd share a favorite from earlier this summer. On the West Coast and especially Southern California, there are no substitutes for photos at sunset on the beach - if you happen to be vacationing like the Eustice family, it also happens to be a total treat to spend the evening with your toes in the sand. With the pier in the background, San Clemente gave us a beautiful backdrop at Mariposa Beach for these playful and fun family photos. These two sisters stole the show and became rock stars in front of the camera.

A Colorful Rancho Bernardo Inn Wedding ||Setoo + Viktor||

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 20:36:24 GMT

Now that the cat is out of the bag and the Exquisite Weddings Magazine feature is live, I couldn't wait to share this stunning wedding on the blog! From the first moment that we started planning their engagement session (see here!), it was obvious that Setoo and Viktor were a style force to be recognized. Their engaging and fun personalities only made everything more fun and made their photos resonate more. When you can laugh and have fun with each other, the story becomes all about you.

Their wedding at San Diego's Rancho Bernardo Inn was meticulously put together - from the colorful flowers and succulents, the romantically lit ballroom, to Setoo's elegantly embroidered gowns (yes, multiple). It was a day to remember! Many thanks to all of the vendors who made it possible:

Coordination, Day Of: Melissa Reinke
Ceremony and Reception: Rancho Bernardo Inn
Florals: Indera Kanjee, Unique Flowers and Mandaps
Catering: Passage to India
DJ: Amit Kotecha, 3D Sounds
Dress: AsoPalav
Shoes: YellowBox
Dessert: Blush Desserts
Hair and Makeup: Madison Cardoza, King Cardoza Studio

There couldn't have been a better team to pull it all off for Setoo and Viktor! Check out their handiwork below...

Winansea Graduation Portraits {Marissa}

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 20:19:11 GMT

Marissa'a sister was the first to get in touch and get the ball rolling: it turned out that she was helping Marissa look for a photographer to capture some graduation photos. After she mentioned that Marissa was a music therapist and thought to include her guitar for her portraits, she had no idea just how thrilled I was to have this opportunity! I knew that I just had to make it happen. As a guitar player myself, I'm sure I was living through Marissa in some way but really...these photos are so gorgeous that I'm not even embarrassed to admit that! All due credit to Marissa who was a complete natural in front of the camera.

Windansea in La Jolla was the perfect backdrop for her sunset session at the beach - it's a favorite of Marissa's and mine. It's the perfect blend of sandy beach and cliff-like rock formations. It's one of La Jolla's better beach spots for watching sunsets and enjoying the coast.

This particular day at the beach did not disappoint in the least.

I've picked up my guitar a lot more often since this photo session.

A San Diego Courthouse and Balboa Park Wedding |Yun + Johnny|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 22:50:57 GMT

When Yun got in touch a while back, she knew exactly what she was looking for - a natural photography style to capture her small courthouse wedding before the big one in China the following year. The courthouse isn't always easy to navigate and it can be difficult to know what to expect, but we were able to talk and walk through everything - even planning an extra trip to Balboa Park to capture some portraits by my favorite big tree. At this point, I think it might be Yun's favorite tree as well! The afternoon light in Balboa Park is absolutely magic and it didn't disappoint on Yun and Johnny's day.

Yun and Johnny were so easy to photograph and I truly felt lucky to have them as clients. Not only could they not take a bad photo (they were total naturals in front of the camera), they were extremely gracious through the delays and waiting at the courthouse. It's hard to mind all that extra time when you have the chance to get to know such nice people and celebrate with them.

Follow their story below...

A USD Immaculata Church and Maderas Golf Club Wedding ||Katrina + Chris||

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 00:04:00 GMT

I'm so excited to finally share Katrina and Chris's elegant wedding! San Diego is lucky to have some of the most beautiful churches and the USD Immaculata Church is no exception. It is an absolutely stunning place to begin married life and I loved sharing the day with these two lovebirds. They followed the day with a reception at the Maderas Golf Club, with gorgeous setting and even some flower arrangements by Katrina's mom. All in all, they put together a classy, relaxed, and happy celebration which is just what a wedding should be.

What these photos don't show is just how hot August can be in San Diego, and even with all the wedding crazy and the heat, the excitement didn't wane for these two. Both of them (and their families!) stayed in the moment from start to finish, having fun and laughing, which was such a treat to see and experience behind the lens. I'm pretty sure these two have been laughing since their engagement session - whether it was at me or with me, I'm not sure still.

Thank you for having me photograph the day and I hope you love experiencing the day all over again - I most definitely have!

Dog Days of Summer at Del Mar Dog Beach |Grommet!|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 17:44:44 GMT

It was the greatest pleasure to meet Michelle a few years ago and I only wish we had managed to spend more time together. Getting to know her better, we had no idea just how much in common we had! After making San Diego home for the last few years, it was time to move on and to commemorate the city she called home, she wanted to celebrate her fur baby Grommet.

When she got in touch to schedule a shoot, I was so excited. Besides spending the evening with Michelle, pet photography is one of my favorites. Since adopting my own doggy fur baby, I've only grown more obsessed! You can never have too many photos of your kids or your pets, and Grommet is no exception.

The sun may not have graced us with its presence, but we had a great time running around and getting sandy - Grommet most of all :)

Here's to bigger and better things and that we cross paths again ♥

Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Family Photography |Lindsay, Travis, and Amelia|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 17:46:29 GMT

Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve seems to be one of San Diego County's best kept secrets. Maybe it's because we have we so much incredible coastline that it gets overlooked (or that I've lived under a rock), but it wasn't really until last year that I even had the inkling to start exploring - and I have barely started! So naturally, when Lindsay first got in touch looking for a forest look, Los Penasquitos was one of the first places I thought of - mature trees, running water and established trails give the whole place a really magical feel.

Lindsay planned every last detail and she absolutely confirmed my love for a red dress. All three arrived looking absolutely perfect, but little Amelia had the best accessory: the mean mug. Mom and dad were pretty good, but they had nothing on Amelia! She is all adorable attitude and made for some of my favorite candid photos this year - the rest of us just followed her lead.

Setoo + Viktor |A Polite Provisions & Morley Field Engagement|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 06:22:04 GMT

This must be the most glamorous and yet natural engagement I've had the privilege to photograph and put together. Setoo and Viktor absolutely nailed it and the juxtaposition of the two locations showcases their versatility and fun for life - from serious to laughter, from gowns to nature trails...they had fun from start to finish. Lucky for me, I get to photograph their wedding in a few short days.

We started off in what is the coolest bar in all of San Diego - Polite Provisions. It's set in a mock pharmacy (with a retro make-over) whose whose is to make you a classic, seasonal, or bespoke cocktail of your choosing. If you haven't been, you must go - it's a wonderful treat - and I personally recommend an Aviation (if you're into gin). Viktor would probably recommend an Old Fashioned, which is a classic whiskey cocktail if that is more your jam. In fact, just go for a craft cocktail and try something new.

Aside from the cocktails, Setoo and Viktor arrived in style and blew my socks off - Setoo in a stunning white gown and Viktor in slicked-back suspender ensemble. I couldn't have styled them better in my dreams! We followed things up with something a bit softer at Morley Field, one of my favorite nooks by Balboa Park, for some gorgeous light and greenery. All in all - they laughed, they smiled, kissed on command, gave me their best serious faces, and most of all they had a great time. I can't wait for their wedding around the corner!

April + Ben |A Downtown San Diego Library Engagement|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 07:13:27 GMT

I absolutely cannot wait for this weekend. It is going to be such an adventure - a wedding at camp! I don't want to spoil too many details before I can share the photos as well, so I thought I'd share the happy couple's engagement session at the Downtown San Diego Library from last year.

I can't believe I haven't blogged these photos yet and looking back through them has been so much fun. April and Ben decided on the Downtown Library in San Diego to show their love for this beautiful city (check out their SD Padres hats!) as well as Ben's love or architecture. It was the perfect choice - the library downtown is just incredible between the impressive architecture, beautiful light, and not to mention the awesome view of Downtown San Diego. If you haven't been, I couldn't recommend it more.

Happy browsing and look out for what will undoubtedly be a fun filled adventure at wedding camp!

Alex + Marco |A San Diego Temple Wedding|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 01:09:02 GMT

Alex and Marco wanted to have a change of scenery from Utah and get away to get married! I love stories like this, as it's exactly what my husband and I did and Santa Barbara will always have a special place in my heart because of it. Lucky for me, they chose one of the best destinations in the world by coming to San Diego, and of course brought along their families to celebrate with them.

Alex and Marco chose the absolutely iconic San Diego Temple in La Jolla. Truly, it is one of the most spectacular and impressive structures in the county - there is no substitute. The only thing that could trump it are the beaches and coastline, which is exactly where we headed next! Beside the view and the ocean, we were treated to one of those absolutely unreal winter sunsets with purples and reds that make the sky look like a watercolor painting. Make sure to scroll to the end to see some more of my favorites!

Congratulations to you both and your families, and thank you for inviting me along! I hope that San Diego will hold a special place in your hearts as it does mine.

Elfin Forest Family Photography |And baby makes four!|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 07:36:43 GMT

This set of family photos goes down in my personal record book as one of the most magical ones. It was our second time getting together - the first was a cake smash for Madison's 1st birthday! We chose Elfin Forest for it's beautiful oak trees and of course Escondido Creek that runs along a trail in the preserve. There isn't much running water in San Diego, so this is a treat. The icing on the cake was the family, who came in some serious style - it couldn't have been more picture perfect and we took full advantage.

The stars aligned for Brittany, Jake, little Madison and myself. Looking back even months later, it still takes my breath away just how beautifully we captured these sweet and stunning family moments at the precipice of baby no.2's arrival! I'm fairly sure that Brittany was actually glowing, braving the brisk water and all - don't forget to scroll to the bottom to see some of her stunning maternity portraits in the middle of the creek. Somebody pinch me!

I am so thankful I've had the chance to meet this family.

Sydney + Brandon |An Intimate Irvine Regional Park Wedding|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 07:38:49 GMT

Whether you get married on the most expensive hotel in town, the beach, or park, there is no doubt that your family and friends who work the hardest to help pull it off. It is, after all, their wedding too in some ways. For Sydney and Brandon, that was so much more apparent than usual that it left an impression on me to this day. I loved being a part of it and capturing all the details of their family affair - both big and small. My favorite bit had to have been the tent with portable air conditioning that Sydney's dad set up (and broke down at the end of the night!) to help her keep cool in the unusual September heat.

John + Shayna |A Balboa Park Proposal!|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 09:14:19 GMT

John is a maestro of proposals. He wasn't nervous in the least and Shayna didn't suspect a thing (almost).

John decided to surprise his long-time girlfriend at the top of the Museum of Man tower in Balboa Park - one of the best views of San Diego. It's the first year since the 30s that the tower has been open to the public so these old views are all new again. He rented out the whole tour (though Shayna was kept in the dark), I came up with a back story (that I rehearsed, but didn't even use!), and together we climbed the 180 steps up the tower. Before we knew it, we were at the top and I lurked in the shadows as much as possible.

There is nothing quite like a surprise proposal. Even if it's expected, even if you know - it's always emotional and just a wonderful moment that is one of a kind. It was a beautifully clear day at the top of San Diego and an absolutely perfect moment for John and Shayna ♥

Many congratulations to these two love birds!

Lisa + Crispin |A La Jolla Engagement|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 19:12:04 GMT

Lisa and Crispin had the most adorable walk down memory lane - and I had the privilege of photographing their afternoon! We started around the corner from where they had their first date, stopped for a little gelato and coffee on the way, then took a stroll to down the very street they went down to La Jolla Cove. I don't know where to begin on what was my favorite, but it was definitely somewhere between the laughter, goofy faces, and the sweet looks these two couldn't help giving each other as they relived those first dates together. It's been a few years since then, but the memories were fresh on this day.

Love was in the air - as was quite a bit of fun which you can clearly see in every other photo ♥

Danielle + Weston |A Windansea Intimate Beach Wedding|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:35:51 GMT

Danielle and Weston thought they'd get out of the Arizona heat this summer for an intimate (cooler) destination beach wedding. Little did they know that San Diego was going to be having it's own heat wave, but it didn't stop them or their families from celebrating! We ran around Pacific Beach and La Jolla, drank many bottles of water, and all in all a day full of fun and love. I'm not sure whether it was the 100 degree heat, but these two seemed deliriously happy and I was so glad to capture their first moments as husband and wife.

It was another gorgeous day in San Diego, and a beautiful start to Danielle and Weston's lives together. Here's to many years of happiness!

Lauren + Ryan |A Scripps Pier Proposal!|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 02:55:22 GMT

I got to know Ryan as we schemed a perfect plan for a surprise proposal to his longtime girlfriend, Lauren! What became clear very quickly is how much thought he'd already put in. He had planned this anniversary trip to San Diego and set the proposal on the anniversary date - all that was left was to find a photographer to remember the moment. Luckily, he and I were able to connect through the vast internet web. We exchanged emails, found the perfect spot, and set a time for sunset! Though the sun didn't come out, Ryan and Lauren were such a treat to photograph that it didn't matter one bit.

Ryan is a true romantic - he had a fantastic vision for this moment in their lives and I was flattered to be a part of it. Lauren is a lucky girl!

A San Diego Courthouse Wedding |Christine + Art|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 01:53:53 GMT

I met Art and Christine on the day that they were married. In fact, they didn't know that I was coming and they had never even heard my name before that day. They are so loved that a friend of theirs arranged the photos as a wedding gift and told them that morning. I was so honored to have this opportunity and yet nervous about how they would react. Needless to say, they were absolutely wonderful. Their families were wonderful, and they are very clearly and dearly loved.

Together, we captured a very sweet and intimate moment in their lives and it couldn't have been more perfect. Having also eloped at the courthouse myself, ceremonies like this just melt my heart and bring me back. Simple, elegant and full of emotion.

Sometimes the smallest of ceremonies are the most romantic, and this one is no exception.

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A Del Mar Dog Beach Engagement |Raquel + Bailey|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 20:01:58 GMT

Pookie, Moe-Moe, Kylie, and Ernie stole the show at the Del Mar Dog Beach on an amazing low-tide day.

Raquel and Bailey are the happy parents of these adorable little pups! What started with two became four, and now they seal the deal in July! My favorite was Pookie, aka 'Ol' Lady,' who braved the water while walking up and down the tide-line, all the while tolerating her younger siblings' crazy-pants antics. We chased balls, ran around, got wet, and ate a lot of dog treats. Not pictured: the volunteer dog handlers! We would've been lost without the two of you!

Once the dogs were thoroughly wet, the three of us went romping around in the water and took advantage of the amazing low tide at the beach. From the mirrored sand, the gorgeous sunset, and the shallow island in the sand - it was magical. Props to Raquel and Bailey for being up for anything.

Del Mar Engagement

Brynn + Dan |A La Jolla Wedding at La Valencia Hotel|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 19:59:00 GMT

Dan and Brynn were meant for each other, and I captured their first few hours as a married couple. What luck! We were able to connect through a mutual friend who mentioned that I was a MN transplant, and the rest is history. There's nothing quite like the bond over growing up in 9 month long winters and buggy summers of the mid-west! They chose to have a destination wedding in sunny San Diego and escaped the winter for those perfect few days, and dragged their friends and family along for the ride. I'm sure they managed to forgive them, probably somewhere along the beach :)

Dan and Brynn chose the iconic La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla for their ceremony and reception, and pulled together a day full of fun, champagne toasts, laughter, music and love. It was another gorgeous day in San Diego, and a beautiful start to their lives together. Here's to many years of happiness together!

Venue: La Valencia Hotel

Hair & Make-up: Beauty-By-Stacey

Morley Field |An Extended Family Session|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMT

I love photographing extended families! It's such a joy to see multiple generations all come together from all corners of the globe, which is exactly what the DeHarpporte family managed to do over the holidays this year. It was so wonderful to get to know them on a beautiful San Diego winter afternoon - light jackets were needed (the horror!). My favorite was how the grandkids relaxed over the session and especially the mischievous photobomber that made his presence secretly known. I shared some of my favorites throughout, so you can catch him in the act too!

We decided to go off the beaten path for the session, on a short little trail in Morley Field. It's a favorite spot of mine - a place I chose for some of my own photos. I love the trees and the beautiful afternoon light - it's just photo magic! Once a beautiful family like this is added into the mix, it just can't get better.

Here's to a very happy 2015 to the DeHarpporte family - I hope they're able to spend many holidays just like this for many years to come!

These guys made it easy. I love everything about this session.

Janet + Kiik |A Coronado Wedding|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 17:00:00 GMT

I ask all wedding clients what they're looking forward to the most, as a way to find out what is most important to them and to get to know each other a bit better. Janet and Kiik had one of the best answers: their friends and family having fun celebrating their wedding. They put on a classy affair with a variety of entertainment throughout the day for their guests: a photo station, games, a live band, and even several comedians! They made sure to see their guests whenever they could and really made the focus all about the most important people in their lives.

As the fly on the wall, I can definitely say that they reached their goal. There was so much laughter, from the little ones to the grandparents, that I had a hard time finding a photo where guests weren't smiling. What a pleasure it was! Janet and Kiik got ready with their wedding party at the historic Glorietta Bay Inn on Coronado, followed by the ceremony and reception at the Coronado Community Center. The lovely flowers were arranged by none other than the talented Desiree Mangandog.

merideth + matt | a stonesteps beach maternity|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 03:41:04 GMT

In about a month, Merideth and Matt will be welcoming a baby girl! Their kitty fur babies will be taking second fiddle for a bit and their lives are undoubtedly about to change in ways that they never expected. I am so excited for them! They've been married for 10 years and have patiently arrived at this moment in their lives.

Merideth got in touch through a former maternity/newborn client that moved away from San Diego, and I am so glad that she did. We three had a wonderful afternoon getting to know each other, joking around and enjoying the beautiful sunset - we also managed to snap a few photos along the way. These images are without a doubt some of my favorite maternity photos I've captured. We had the most amazing sunset, impressive low tide, and two people who were open and excited for the next step in their life journey. I was just lucky enough to have a peek :)

No joke, the progression of colors from this sunset were incredible! It started sunshine yellow, to light blue and purple, to brilliant orange, and finally a rainbow of purples and oranges. When it happens like this, it's magic.

happy 2015!

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:00:00 GMT

With the New Year around the corner, I wanted to share something exciting with my photo family...we've adopted a puppy! He's a one year old Jack Russel/Dachshund mix, who we've (re)named Alfie. He's an incredible mix of spunk and cuddle-bug that I can't get enough of just yet. Isn't he the cutest?!

Maggie the cat is still undecided as to just how adorable he may be, but I'm hopeful she'll turn around.

Then again, that look says murder...my days are numbered, I'm sure.

Happy holidays everyone!

Jenn + Mike |A La Jolla Engagement!|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 18:40:14 GMT

I always recommend clients take the time to get photos done outside of the wedding, when you're your most relaxed and you're wearing your own clothes. Wedding dresses and tuxes are beautiful and stunning, but they're not your every-day attire either. That's why I love engagement sessions or day-after sessions - it's a chance to have fun in front of the camera without all the stress.

With that said, I had the pleasure of photographing Jenn and Mike's wedding earlier this year - in fact, just about a month after I got married myself! When they booked, they knew that they wanted engagement photos...but just not in the traditional sense, which I love! To commemorate that special time in their live, they knew that they wanted to have their photos done at the spot that Mike proposed - Torrey Pines, overlooking La Jolla and Scripps Pier. Since Jennifer had already said yes and 'I do', Mike was a lot less nervous this time around and was a total and shameless flirt. It was amazing and I could really the joy these two felt in their first year of marriage. These two love each other, that's for sure!

Relive the beginnings of their love story below <3

Ryann + Josh |A Balboa Park Wedding| - Part 2

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 18:18:02 GMT

Check out Part 1 of Ryann and Josh's Balboa Park wedding here!

I don't usually blog in parts, but sometimes it's difficult to narrow down all my favorite images to one post. That's exactly what happened here and I'm not even sorry. I decided to post my favorite romantic portraits of Ryann and Josh for this half - the tilt-shift photos at the 'Big Tree' in Balboa Park. This is probably my favorite spot EVER and anytime I get to shoot with this tree, I am excited. Ryann and Josh hiked up in their wedding gear and all - no complaints whatsoever. They were up for everything and it shows in the photos - we captured some amazing shots!

Follow along with their celebration at the Loggia in the Prado, Balboa Park directly below - they had some beautiful details throughout.

Stay tuned for their adorable family photos to come!

Ryann + Josh |A Balboa Park Wedding| - Part 1

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 01:21:41 GMT

Balboa Park is a San Diego icon, and for good reason. It's a 1,200 square foot park in the heart of San Diego - that's right, 1,200 square feet. Not only does it have open spaces, gardens, trails, beautiful Spanish architecture, museums and restaurants...it also houses the San Diego Zoo. It's a beautiful place to visit and an even more beautiful place to get married. This is exactly what Ryann and Josh did and they did it with style. San Diego has some great year-round weather, but this August day was one for the books.

I met Ryann and Josh earlier this year while they were still shopping around for their wedding photographer and we immediately bonded over our mutual love for the San Diego uptown area, Balboa Park, and vintage Art Deco jewelry. On the day of their wedding, the similarities didn't stop there either! From choice in wedding dress designer (we chose the same designer!), suits, colors, craft beer choices...I felt more and more at home - and giddy with excitement! Apparently, I already knew this couple before we really even got to know each other. It was an amazing experience to share their wedding with them and get to know their friends and family.

Ryann and Josh chose the historic Lafayette Hotel to get ready, with incredible floral wallpaper. Their ceremony was held at the beautiful Alcazar Garden (modeled after the gardens of Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain) in Balboa Park, followed by a reception at the Loggia in The Prado.

If you weren't there, here's your chance to follow their story from start to finish, and if you were - relive it one more time and tell Ryann and Josh what a beautiful day it was and how happy you are for them. I know that I smiled and laughed, from the beginning to the end.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Ryann and Josh's Balboa Park Wedding!

Liz + Jon |A Del Mar Dog Beach Anniversary!|

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 22:46:43 GMT

I met Liz and Jon last year when they were planning their wedding and they chose me to photograph their big day. The thing that I remember the most is just what a genuinely nice couple (and people!) they are. I am a lucky photographer!

Well, a year has gone by which is crazy! The week before their one year anniversary, Jon called me up with the best surprise gift: he wanted to commemorate their one year anniversary by doing a session with their two fur babies. They had just adopted their second dog so their family had just gotten a bit bigger :)

Other than seeing Liz and Jon again, the best part was that this was the dogs' first time at the beach! Seeing them explore and play in the sand/water was a joy. They were a bit apprehensive in the beginning, but with a bit of encouragement by Jon and a whole lot of doggy courage, they were running in the water like pros. By the end of the morning, everyone was a bit soaked (Jon especially!) - it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning!

'Tis the season...for mini sessions!

merima@studiomerima.com (San Diego Wedding, Portrait, and Lifestyle Photography) — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 17:57:54 GMT

Announcing Holiday mini-sessions on November 8th! This is the perfect time to update family photos for Holiday or Christmas cards. I still can't believe this time of year is upon us! Where did 2014 go?!

Each session is $150, 30 minutes, and includes 15 edited images via digital download. There are 4 Magee Park spots and 2 beach sunset spots available, so book your preferred time and location soon! If you've never been to Magee, it's a completely overlooked and adorable park with a red barn(!), gazeebo, rose gardens, open grass/trees, and the Carlsbad Historical Society.

See you soon!