Tag Archives: Engagement Photography

Cal Poly Pomona Engagement Session: Damian loves Jennyfer.

February 3, 2026

Do you ever wonder if you are in a crowd and you are walking past your soulmate? Maybe he’s sitting in the library studying while you’re outside going over your notes. Maybe he’s using the elevator while you’re using the stairs. Maybe in a crowded auditorium, he is sitting a few rows back. But you never cross paths. For Damian and Jennyfer, Destiny and Fate tried to bring them together. They were both architecture students at Cal Poly in Pomona, but they never met. They would graduate, never having spoken a word to each other.

Destiny and Fate were not about to give up. On an APP called Hinge, Damian had lost hope of finding anyone, then suddenly there she was. He was captivated by Jennyfer’s profile, so he messaged her in response to one of her prompts. Jennyfer stared at his picture and saw that his eyes held a kind expression. Soon they were talking, realizing they had been on campus at the same time.

They had their first date at the Olive Pit in Brea. “We made plans to have our first date on St. Patrick’s Day. I arrived early at the restaurant, and I was nervous because many times when things seemed well with text, they felt awkward in person. The moment I first saw Jennyfer I was captivated by how great she was and my worries disappeared. She was so funny, smart, kind, and adorable that we spent all the time talking like we had known each other our whole lives.”

Jennyfer soon learned that Damian not only had kind eyes, but he was kind, strong, and funny. “He calms the storm inside my head. Damian has a way of making me feel safe and like no matter what happens or what I’m worried about- it’s gonna be okay.”

Damian also felt safe. “One of the reasons I fell in love with her was her independence, her kindness, and the fact that I could be my genuine self with her.”

On their second year anniversary, Damian proposed. After a fancy dinner, they went back to his house. He had prepared a secret surprise. He had arranged a candle and rose petal trail leading to twinkling string lights with photos of all their adventures together and a sign that said “Will you marry me?”

“On the way home after the restaurant, I made an excuse to go home. When we arrived, she wanted to wait in the car, but I convinced her to come inside, just in case I took long. When I opened the door, the house was dark. I gave the command, and all the lights turned on, and the song by the Beatles began to play. I walked her down the rose petal and candle trail, and I got down on one knee and proposed. It was a beautiful, intimate moment. ”

Jennyfer cried and said,”Yes.” Damian placed the ring on her finger and gave her the biggest hug and kiss and held her tight. Fate and Destiny had won.

This Story was captured by A Story in Time Photography – Jessie Cadenas with the assistance of Gaby Ortega. We are Los Angeles, Orange County Wedding Photographers located in the Inland Empire. Our style is Classic, Romantic, and Fun. If you are interested in your Family, Graduation, Quinceañera, Engagement, or Wedding Story being captured, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the contact button at the top of this post or HERE.

See and get to know Jessie, the photographer on her personal FACEBOOK PAGE (yeah it’s open. You can stalk, but we can always be friends), but if that’s too weird this is the Business Page! Follow us on Instagram!

GALLERY

0 comments

Engagement Photos: What to wear.

January 8, 2026

I love taking engagement pictures! I love hearing their love story and capturing another chapter.
1. Wear comfortable clothing. If you are not comfortable, it will show in the pictures. If something is too tight, difficult to move in, you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing this in front of your friends then don’t wear it.
2. You don’t have to dress to match where we are shooting. Heels at the beach? Not a good idea.. for walking, but that fancy dress will stand out!
3. Wear comfortable shoes to walk in or that can be easily changed. Flats to Pumps!
4. Wear NEUTRAL colors-beiges, whites, grays, olive green and browns, pinks, light blues….The jewel tones are also a great complimenting colors: sapphire, emerald, fushia, amethyst and ruby red. Please don’t wear black as a main color.
5. Please don’t wear something with lots of patterns or logos. That checkered shirt is going to be calling everyone’s attention to it instead of the main thing which is You, your fiancé and the ring!
6. You guys should kind of match each other: colors and style but not in a geeky way. In other words your fiancé in a suit and tie and you in jeans will not look cool. You also don’t want to wear the exact same shirt. That’s so “brother and sister.” My mom would dress my brother and me up in matching clothing. No wonder we have issues.
7. You don’t have to get your hair and makeup done for the pictures, but what a great time for your makeup artist to practice! Go get that trial done! Pamper yourself. These are your engagement pictures! … Make sure your hands are nice, manicured nails… unlike my jagged, nail-chipped ones that are dry. I know gross, but my hands aren’t in the picture. Yours will be! There’s an awesome engagement ring on it!
8. If we are changing outfits, start with the fancy one first and then go casual. Maybe there is a team you love… (Go Dodgers!)

These engagement pictures were captured by A Story in Time Photography, If you are interested in your Quinceañera, Engagement, or Wedding Story being captured, don’t hesitate to contact us using the contact button at the top of this post or HERE.

0 comments

Chino Hills Wetlands Engagement: Chris loves Valeria

September 7, 2025

It would be a phone call that would set the wheel of fate spinning. There was no reason for Chris to receive an invitation for an interview. He had a stable job with good pay, but a greater power seemed to give him an opportunity he had no clue he wanted or needed. He interviewed and accepted the job. He did not know it then, but he was about to work beside a woman who would make him perceive the world much differently.

Valeria had noticed the new, cute guy at work for a while. His good looks had caught her attention, but now she was seeing that he was kind and thoughtful with everyone around him. Valeria decided to make her move, and she asked him to lunch. Chris, who was usually very quick with analyzing and making decisions, got stumped. A beautiful woman was inviting him to spend time over a meal and all he could say was, “I brought my own lunch”. It was not the answer that Valeria was hoping for and Chris beat himself up all day with regret.

Fate, however, wasn’t done nudging them together. After a work event one evening, a group of coworkers stopped at In-N-Out. Valeria’s shoes were killing her and she took. them off. Without hesitation, Chris took off his socks and gave them to her so she wouldn’t have to walk barefoot. That simple, selfless gesture shifted something in her heart. Soon after, Chris finally picked up on her hints and asked her to dinner.

Their first big date was unforgettable—a hockey game where the Anaheim Ducks won in double overtime. That night, Chris officially asked Valeria out, and from then on, their story truly began. Nervous but hopeful, Chris worried about things like his old beat-up car. But Valeria never cared about appearances or material things. She saw him for who he was. “From that night forward, I watched him effortlessly fit in with my family. I fell more deeply in love with his kindness, his patience, and the way he always puts others before himself. It’s the little things, like making me coffee before I even ask, meal prepping my lunches for the week or surprising me with flowers when I’ve had a rough day. That quiet, everyday thoughtfulness is one of the things I love most about him.”

As the years went on, their love deepened through family gatherings, vacations, and countless everyday moments. Chris fell for Valerie’a compassion—her instinct to help. “She’ll see a frail person with groceries walking home and offer them a ride, she’ll stop and get water for wandering pets, she’ll offer patients a ride home if their ride service gets delayed. Just a few weeks ago, this group of individuals just crossed the border and asked how to get to a certain city and of course Val went above and beyond and helped them out with funds to get there. This type of behavior is not taught, it is developed to how you perceive the world and I love her greatly for that.”

Together, they’ve supported each other through both joyful times and heartbreak. When Chris lost his father in 2021, Valerie was his rock. On his birthday, she gave him a framed photo of his dad with a QR code linking to his father’s last voicemail—a gift that moved him to tears and reminded him he had found someone whose love was boundless and enduring.

After more than eight years of laughter, adventures, and quiet Sundays spent watching football and enjoying BBQ, Chris knew it was time to ask Valerie to marry him. He spent months designing the perfect ring, certain he knew exactly what she would love. He asked her parents, received a tearful blessing from his future father-in-law, and planned a proposal during a trip to visit her brothers in Las Vegas.

New Year’s Eve closures forced Chris to take her to a scenic drive in Red Rock Canyon. As they admired the breathtaking view of mountains and canyons, he dropped to one knee. Valeria turned, and emotion overtook her. The expected tears flowed. What was unexpected was that Chris was crying too. He had cried when he lost part of his family, and now he cried again as he started his own family. Valeria of course said yes!

Today, Chris and Valeria look back with gratitude on every twist of fate that brought them together—from a spontaneous job interview to socks at In-N-Out, from BBQ Sundays to canyon sunsets. They are best friends, partners, and now, soon-to-be husband and wife.

Slideshow

This Story was captured by A Story in Time Photography – Jessie Cadenas with the assistance of Melissa Quezada. We are Los Angeles, Orange County Wedding Photographers located in the Inland Empire. Our style is Classic, Romantic, and Fun. If you are interested in your Family, Quinceañera, Engagement, or Wedding Story being captured, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the contact button at the top of this post or HERE.

GALLERY

0 comments

Cal Poly Pomona Engagement: Michael loves Angelina

March 25, 2024

Michael and Angelina crossed paths in biology class during their sophomore year at Ontario High School. Michael couldn’t help but be captivated by Angelina’s enchanting eyes and beautiful smile. He smiled back, and a connection sparked between them. Little did they know that this encounter was the start of their story.

As fate would have it, they found themselves sharing more classes and even attending a memorable Sadie’s Hawkins Dance together. During this special event, they shared their first dance and kiss. However, after graduation, life took them on separate paths, leaving them to wonder about each other’s lives and what the future held.

But destiny works in mysterious ways, and with the help of a mutual friend, Michael and Angelina were brought back together five years later. This time, they reconnected as friends, spending time together and truly getting to know each other. Angelina quickly discovered that Michael possessed an incredible blend of kindness, humor, and loyalty. His ability to make her laugh and his selflessness in caring for others touched her heart.

Not only did Michael and Angelina share a love for Oldies Music, but Angelina also became Michael’s biggest cheerleader, constantly encouraging him to pursue his dreams and reminding him of his unlimited potential. With her unwavering support, Michael felt inspired to chase after their shared goals and aspirations.

And so, Michael knew he needed his best friend always by his side. He wanted her as his wife. In the very place they had spent countless hours together, Victoria Gardens, Michael would propose. Angelina’s mom had hired a photographer who asked to take their picture. It was then that Michael dropped to one knee. Angelina was shocked. Suddenly, they were surrounded by her family. Angelina was overwhelmed, but of course, she said “Yes” to the man she loved as those around them applauded and congratulated them on the beginning of the new chapter of their love story.

SLIDESHOW

This Story was captured by A Story in Time Photography: Jessie Cadenas. If you are interested in your Engagement or Wedding Story being captured, don’t hesitate to contact us using the contact button at the top of this post or HERE.

See and get to know Jessie, the photographer on her personal FACEBOOK PAGE (yeah it’s open. You can stalk, but we can always be friends,) but if that’s too weird this is the Business Page!

To see all the pictures from this session, visit the Gallery.

0 comments

Schabarum Regional Park Engagement: Jesús loves Ady

March 22, 2024

Raul and Prici had a plan that included salsa dancing and a couple falling in love. They were sure that Jesus and Addy were perfect for each other. After all, they were both: weird, nerds, socially awkward, Type A, academically oriented, and particular. So with Jesus secure in their backseat, they picked up Ady for a night of dancing at La Granada.

Neither Ady nor Jesus had any expectations whatsoever. But the attraction was immediate. Ady saw a very cute guy, and Jesus was caught off guard by Ady’s long hair, eyes, smile, laugh, and, of course, her motivating energy.

The revelation of their Type A personalities would happen on the dance floor as they both tried to lead. Ady had been told many times before that she needed a strong man to lead, and as Jesus started again, she found it hot. They escaped the dance floor and their chaperones to talk. The conversation that followed became suddenly serious when they both laid it all on the line. Ady told him she wanted to get married and have kids, and those terms were not negotiable. Instead of running, exiting stage left, suddenly remembered he had somewhere to be, etc., Jesus felt relieved and he told Ady his plans which included a serious relationship and possibly moving for medical school. They were the couple that connected on knowing what they wanted. With the serious stuff out of the way, the nerds in them emerged and they then discussed playing Yighio Cards at Frank and Sons. (I’m pretty sure this is a scene from The Big Bang Theory.)

Jesus made his move on their ride home and would steal a kiss, and it would be at her front door that she would kiss him. The adventure was just beginning.

If the serious conversation they had at the club was not enough to convince Ady he was the one, a trip to Wrightwood, where she got them lost, would result in them sharing drinks at a dive bar. Here, Jesús told her that he was a Big Brother and always considered adopting. He did not know it then, but Ady, at that moment, “clubbed him on the head” and took him off the market. She was in love! And it was also at that moment that Jesus knew he wanted to marry her. She also wanted to adopt as well. He knew it took a certain special someone to do something like that – all the personality traits, the world view, and connotations that came with that, she was who he was looking for in a life long partner – a wife.

“She makes me feel safe to be vulnerable. I’ve never been used to being comfortable in sharing where I am emotionally, but she knows how to catch those moments in me. And what makes it even more special is that she knows exactly what it is I need in that moment – physical touch, words of affirmation, or quality time. And honestly this is a big part of why I fell in love with her, she simply understands me. She understands my weirdness, she hypes me up when I get on a rant, she listens when I’m rambling on about ruminating thoughts, and she hypes me up and motivates me when I am unsure of myself.”

Together, they saw all the beautiful possibilities and the future they could build together. And so Jesus had to think of a proposal that would symbolize their commitment to each other and the world view they ascribed to, which is that marriage is a choice one makes every day. Every day, you choose love, you choose to keep going, you choose to work hard at it, and you choose to encourage the person beside you. Marriage is like running a marathon. And so they trained and ran. There at the finish line, with the world watching, Jesus proposed to Ady. Ady said, “Yes,” to the man who could lead her… on a dance floor, race beside her.. .in a marathon and yet let her soar with his heart in tow.

(Funny story: Ady actually met Jesus’ mom a few years before. She is a mariachi, and so at an event, Ady serenaded her without knowing she would be her mother-in-law. )

SLIDESHOW

This Story was captured by A Story in Time Photography: Jessie Cadenas with the assistance of Melissa Quezada. If you are interested in your Engagement, Wedding or Quinceañera being captured, don’t hesitate to contact us using the contact button at the top of this post or HERE.

See and get to know Jessie, the photographer on her personal FACEBOOK PAGE (yeah it’s open. You can stalk, but we can always be friends,) but if that’s too weird this is the Business Page!

To see all the pictures from this session, visit the Gallery.

0 comments