Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
3800 S Fairview St
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 979-4422

Seacliff Country Club
6501 Palm Ave
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-8866

Chalk another one up for dating website eHarmony! You know I get to meet alot of couples that are planning their weddings and many, many of them meet online. In fact, here are the results of my own personal survey: Most couples are still meeting socially through their friends, but DEFINITELY a close runner up is cyberspace dating. Clif and Amber!! Woooo Woooo!! Here we go . . .

Ceremony at the famous Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, which is actually in Santa Ana . . .

Fashionably late . . . hahah, j/k . . .

After the ceremony we scooted over to beautiful Seacliff Country Club for photos and reception. Lots of sunshine and smiles! Love California . . .

You know I am always up for a little cheese! Let’s GO FOR IT!!!

Clif is giving out golf lessons during the cocktail hour, hahah . . .

Here are a few details from the reception room, including chocolate cake . . .

Thank you Clif and Amber. You are a blessing.

2nd photographer – Brian Jost

Make up/Hair – Allison Escalante

Christ Episcopal Church
408 S. Broadway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 540-1722

Bluewater Grill
665 North Harbor Drive
Redondo Beach, CA 90277-2004
(310) 318-3474

Patti and Dirk LOVE Redondo Beach! When I had met them for their initial consultation they let me know straight up everything is going to be in Redondo – engagement pictures, ceremony, and reception! No problem, just tell me where to show up! They ended up having a wonderfully low-key wedding at the very quaint Christ Episcopal Church. This little chapel on a residential street in downtown Redondo honestly looks like it belongs on a midwest road with the wooden steeple, American flag, blue skies and sun pouring down. So perfect.

After the ceremony, Patti and Dirk seriously just wanted to go on a walk to their favorite places. This was great! I got to just follow them around downtown and document a series of romantic points from their relationship. The street where they go to church, their favorite restaurant (Chaba), and the beach! It was truly a fun and relaxing time . . .

The beach was awesome. There were TONS of people everywhere, lots of rubberneckers checking out the wedding couple, good fun.


The reception was at the popular Bluewater Grill on the marina. Great food, great location.

Here are a few details from the party. Beautiful hand painted wine glasses for everyone, lots of flowers of course. I purposely include a picture of the DJ table because the music was DEFINITELY a center point to the reception. Old school DJ spinning true vinyl, btw. Way to go you guys . . .

I wanted to share this final picture because I really, really liked this moment. It happened just before the grand entrance at the Bluewater Grill. Patti and Dirk were sitting together in the manager’s office, just finished a shot of tequila and were as relaxed and happy as ever. Documentary style, just chillin’, getting ready to have a CRAZY TIME!

Thank you Patti and Dirk! Best wishes, hope to see you again soon.

Huntington Memorial Hospital
100 W. California Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 397-5000

I photographed Jennifer and Kevin’s Aquarium of the Pacific wedding last year. It was such a uniue and beautiful wedding, I will never forget it. Jennifer wore this beautiful light blue wedding dress while they exchanged vows before the the blue waters of the main aquarium. Well, they created another unforgettable memory for me this last week when they invited me to photograph 2 day old Mason Alexander. This turned out to be an emotional experience because it reminded me of my own baby being born 6 months ago.

This is my favorite Mason photo of the session. He looked at the camera and was so inquisitive, it was a perfectly captured moment . . .

Mason chillin’ in his “box” with his lojack on . . .


One of the most beautiful moments of the hour was when Kevin came in and held his baby. Little Mason kept grabbing out at Kevin’s face and just wanted more of him. They say that a baby can recognize his father’s voice the moment the he comes out of the womb – this was proof enough.

I had bugged Mason enough for some photos and he really just wanted to pass out in his Mommy’s arms. He did just that right before I walked out.


Jennifer had Mason’s “going home outfit” laid out and ready to go! She was excited to take her little man home and start a family.

Thank you Jennifer and Kevin for sending me updates on your lives and your baby. I look forward to seeing you again in a few months.

Every once in a while Hoffmann gets some treats from the wedding industry! I received a great surpirse last week when Dayna Lewis from A Very Special Day Event Coordinating came by my place and brought a friend!

Susan Goldfader creates distinctive party favors for any event! Different candies wrapped up, boxed up, jarred, dipped, etc. She can create themed favors for your event, full size candy tables, and even custom candies. The name of her company is Favoritz and here are a few of the treat that she left for me. Well, I thought she left them for me but my wife found them pretty quickly.
That is saltwater taffy custom ordered from the east coast!

White chocolate seashels, chocloate-dipped Oreo cookies, mmmmmmmmmm yum . . .

Photographing families is such a fun experience. One of the reasons is that families (like people) come in all shapes, sizes and personalities. As a photographer, you never know what kind of photos you will end up with until the session starts rolling. The result is always something unique for each family.

The following pictures are the result of “mini-sessions!” These were scheduled all on the same day and are the result of one “Mommies Group” doing some sweet planning. All I had to do was show up and the families started arriving every half hour for photo sessions. Mini-sessions are a perfect way to introduce your kids to a photo time. The sessions are short and can be very candid as well.

Look at Cameron in this top photo, he was so shy at first even though we have worked together several times. It was just a few minutes later though that he gave me a wonderful welcoming smile . . .

Guess who’s turning two?!?!?! hahaha . . .

Older brother with his younger siblings (yes, they’re twins!!) . . .

The little guy on the right was so serious the entire time, so funny . . .

This little girl can melt your heart, beautiful . . .


This little miracle baby was born at 7 months, now fully healthy and ready for his first photo shoot! . . .


How to get your kids to cooperate?!? Bribe them with some Smarties . . .


Contact Hoffmann to schedule your next portrait session – family, baby, children, etc.

Ponte Winery
35053 Rancho California Road
Temecula, CA 92591
(951) 694-8855

A perfect place for an eco-friendly themed wedding is beautiful Ponte Winery in Temecula, CA. That’s just what Amy and Nick accomplished for their unique and wonderful day. From the hemp silk wedding dress to the bouquets and centerpieces filled with vegetables, to the cake and then all the way to the wedding album Amy and Nick will have spent meticulous time searching for “green” vendors to complete a dream. Shelly Wakefield and her event team from Details Details helped pull off this stress-free wedding. The complete list of vendors is at the bottom of this post.

Fitting the theme of the wedding day, Amy’s great dress was custom made hempsilk by Jessica Iverson Eco-Couture . . .

Wedding shoes by Stuart Weitzman . . .


Amy is wearing a custom hair piece from Amy Chou . . .

Take a close look at the bouquets in these next two shots! Notice heads of artichoke and kale mixed in with the florals . . .


Nick and his guys were good sports and lots of fun for the cameras . . .



Some details from the day including the wish tree and the ringbearers pillow made by florist Suzanne M. Smith Designs . . .


The beatiful view for the ceremony at the Ponte . . .




Busting out my infrared camera for this awesome shot . . .




The guests received found their name attached to a lime, which lead them to their reception seat . . .

Here is a collage of the candy table that the guests had to contend with during the cocktail hour!! Not bad!!

Take a look at these wonderfully unique centerpieces – potatoes, asparagus, kale, carrots, peppers, grapes, apples, etc! So wonderful . . .

The reception was pretty simple and centered around socializing. The extraordinary cake decorated with artichoke was definitely the talk of the barrel room . . .

All-in-all a VERY beautiful and unique day. It was really a pleasure to document this event as it was very well thought out and perfectly executed ! Amy and Nick will be putting together a 100% ‘green’ wedding album with help from Becca at Wild Magnolia Designs. Congratulations Amy and Nick, talk to you soon!

Private Coordinator – Shelly Wakefield, Details Details Wedding & Event Planning
Florist/Event Designer – Suzanne M. Smith Designs
2nd photographers – Jeffrey Neal and Mike Villa
Hair/Make-Up – Ivy Chou
Videographer – Elysium Productions
DJ – Jeff Holmes, Moondance Mobile Music
Cake – Let Them Eat Cake
White Dove Release – Joe Irwin, Feathers from Heaven

Click here to view another Ponte Winery Wedding photographed by Hoffmann.

Central Park
18000 Goldenwest St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(714) 536-5486

Bennett and Eily came all the way from Burmingham, Alabama just to see me!! Actually they came for Disneyland and family, and I just happen to be close by. Hahahaha. I photographed their Mama and Daddy’s destination wedding a few years ago in Laguna Beach and they come back once a year for family photos! This is my first time meeting Eily and she is VERY sweet and very camera friendly. She is a champion upright sitter at 6 months and she even brought a couple outfit changes. She knows how to handle the photos shoots!

Bennett is a little different! haha, he can hardly sit still for a few minutes. The best way to actually get photos of this little guy is to just let him run around in circles and jump off of things! Such a boy . . .

Let’s see if I can get one good one before he gets bored . . .

hahaha . . . this kid is cracking me up . . .

Bennett!! Come back!! Just one more!! hahahah. . .

Laguna Cliffs Marriott
25135 Park Lantern
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 661-5000

If you make it to just ONE bridal show in south Orange County, this one should definitely be it. Held once per year, the Bridal Fair by the Sea is SO extravagant, and vendors galore!! At the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point this year, the entrance to the fair was a colorful hallway packed with crazy exotic colors of foods and candies, flowers and linens, just beautful. Beyond this there were five hotel ballrooms to walk through, each themed by season and just loaded with vendors giving out FREE STUFF! Once you make it through the ballrooms, you can head down to the main Marriott lawn for more. To top it off, there were seemingly endless amount of raffle prizes and wedding giveaways. Truly overwhleming.

I arrived in the morning to meet my friend Annie Kim from La Tulipe Floral Designs. I have worked with Annie at over 10 separate weddings in Laguna Beach and she always brings the most exotic creations. Great work Annie! Her mega booth was located in the ’summer’ room, here are a few of her floral presentations . . .


Don’t just get flowers! They will be naked! Accessorize your flowers!!! . . .

Check out these fascinating blue-dyed roses on the right . . . maybe for a winter wedding??


I accidentally found a couple “sweets” tables, hahahah. This first table from Itty Bitty Sweets is more of a baking extravaganza, really delightful and yummy looking goodies . . . way to go ladies!

When I was a kid, one of my favorite candies to get while at the beach was the Abba-Zabba. It’s sort of a really chewy toffee bar with peanut butter in the middle. So good, and takes forever to chew it. It also turns out to be a perfect fit for this themed table from Candee by Sandee. All black and yellow treats . . .

It was a fun morning, I also ran into some other wedding industry buddies: Berit Digerud Make-up Artist, Denise Empey Accessories, and Russell Fowler Cinematographer.

Wedding pictures from the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point.