Vietnamese Engagement Session | Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park | San Dimas, California

It's been a long time coming for Tiffany & David, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to capture this special moment in their lives. Originally, we planned the engagement session at Carbon Canyon Regional Park. However, when we arrived at the hiking trail entrance, a ranger stopped us and asked if we had a photo permit. We didn't, so we had to quickly find a different location while we still had enough light. Luckily, we had planned the shoot early in the afternoon, and Frank G. Bonelli Park wasn't far from Carbon Canyon. This was the first time a ranger had stopped us—I'd been fine during previous client shoots at Carbon Canyon. I guess it was just bad luck.

At Frank G. Bonelli Park, we began the engagement session with their Western outfits. After capturing a good number of shots, they changed into áo dài, traditional Vietnamese attire. I love when couples incorporate their national garments into photoshoots like this! As I took the photos, I felt transported to Vietnam—not only because of their áo dài but also due to the mountainous landscape in the background resembling the Vietnamese countryside. Despite the change of plans, this was such a fun engagement session, and I can't wait to photograph their wedding soon.