NEW BLOG (finally)!

I'm very happy to announce my new & WAY improved blog: http://carlydaniel.com/blog. Way bigger images & easier navigation for your viewing pleasure :) I'm slowly moving the content from this blog to the new one. There won't be any new posts on this blog, so start checking out the new one. Please feel free to leave your comments (on the new blog). Peace!

Me on Halloween: homemade flamingo costume :)

Downtown Laguna Beach Engagement Portraits

For those of you who aren't sure you want purely beach engagement photos, check out the cool combination of spots we used for Lori and Hugh's Laguna Beach engagement session. We started at Peppertree Lane in downtown Laguna Beach, and got an awesome variety of backgrounds while strolling around other parts of downtown Laguna. After a quick wardrobe change, we were ready to get wet and wild at the beach below Heisler Park, also in Laguna Beach. This combo of locations was Lori's idea, and I've been offering it to my clients for family portraits and engagement sessions ever since, thanks Lori! If you're gonna go through the effort of getting all cute and made up for engagement photos, you might as well make the most of it! Lori and Hugh will become Mr. & Mrs. Alexander in the summer of 2010 at Occasions at Laguna Village in Laguna Beach.

Laguna Beach Engagement Session

I vividly remember the first time I met Anni: my sophomore year at a Delta Gamma rush party. I was so drawn to her personality and wit; I just knew we would end up being friends. Any girl who has the guts to sport a hot pink cast on her injured leg is cool in my book.

Anni met Chris almost immediately after moving from Minnesota to Newport Beach to attend Chapman University. Six years later she accepted his proposal for marriage, and they will be tying the knot in April 2010 at Pacific Edge in Laguna Beach.

Pacific Edge is an awesome Laguna Beach wedding venue that’s perfect for weddings of 130 guests or less. Check out this Pacific Edge wedding I photographed in May 2009. Anni and Chris’ ceremony and reception will take place on the deck, and they’ve even hired an 80’s band for the reception! Their Laguna Beach engagement photos were taken at the beach below Heisler Park in Laguna Beach. Enjoy the engagement portraits of this good looking couple!

Anni & Chris' fur baby: Tyler

Seven Degrees Wedding Photography Laguna Beach

Seven Degrees combines ultra-dramatic lighting and unique pieces of art to create a chic, modern wedding venue in Laguna Beach. What I love most about Seven Degrees is that it's somewhat of a "blank canvas" in that you can bring your vision of your wedding to life. You can see in the images below that Seven Degrees' custom lighting gives so much emotion to the overall feel of the reception room. My #1 favorite photo spot has to be the bride's dressing room, which offers giant glass doors and sleek, modern furniture in place of the typical flowers and frills. Closely following in second place is the cool, blue mosaic wall that perfectly reflects the artsy Laguna Beach lifestyle. I actually looked into holding my wedding here, because I love how different it is than any other Laguna Beach wedding venue. Enjoy the pics of Raazi & Shaunna's wedding!

Baby Photography Orange County

I don't like to play favorites, but I must admit that baby D is my favorite little person to photograph. Her parents hired me to do her newborn photo session, and I have photographed her at least 5 more times since then. Just a couple weeks ago I met baby D's new baby brother at his first photo session! The Macey Special package I offer includes 4 photo sessions and a free album. Most of my clients use the first session on maternity portraits or newborn portraits, then decide to purchase the Macey Special so their baby's first year of life can be professionally documented through my lens :) A very heartfelt thank you to baby D's parents for being such loyal clients and friends, and allowing me the opportunity to photograph your beautiful children.


Baby D's daddy surprised his wife with a canvas gallery wrap and album with images from our most recent photo session. He kidnapped baby D from daycare for the secret photo session at the Fun Zone on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach.

An image from baby D's second photo session at about 6 months old.

From the surprise Mother's Day photo session at the Fun Zone. I spoiled baby D with her first taste of candy.

Baby D hanging out on a bench at the Fun Zone at our Mother's Day photo session 2009.

Baby D's daddy also called upon me for a surprise Mother's Day photo session in 2008. The image above is from that session, taken at the Montage in Laguna Beach.