Pasadena City Hall Engagement Session and Arab Ceremony at Elli Banquet Hall

Pasadena City Hall is one of my favorite locations for client sessions. It's not just because it's only 15 minutes from where I live, but because it offers a wealth of photo opportunities. The historic architecture of the building, combined with its inviting, neutral tones, makes it a prime spot for taking photos for any occasion.

Sheehan and Ahmad started as friends, but over time, they formed a tight bond due to their shared cultural experiences—both are half Filipino and half Middle Eastern. I found this incredibly unique as I'd never met anyone with that specific mixed heritage before. At the time of their engagement session, they were in a long-distance relationship, spending most of their time together via phone and FaceTime. Despite having very different hobbies and interests, they're constantly learning something new from each other.

We kicked off the engagement session by capturing photos all around Pasadena City Hall. As the sun set, they drove their Mercedes EQS to the front of city hall to take photos with it. I’ve never photographed an engagement session with an expensive car like this so this was a treat for me! We wrapped up the session with some silhouette shots at the entrance.

After the photo session, we headed to the engagement party at Elli Banquet in Pasadena. In Arab culture, it's customary to have an engagement party or ceremony right after the couple's photo session. One thing I've learned about Middle Eastern culture is that their ceremonies can be incredibly LIT, and this one was no exception! The party was in full swing from the moment they entered until the very end.

This was also my first time trying these specific Middle Eastern dishes. While I can't recall their names, I can assure you they were delicious! A big thank you to Ahmad & Sheehan for allowing me to capture this momentous occasion in their lives!