{Joyce and Luis} Balboa Park Engagement Session

Wow! I had a fabulous weekend! I hope you did! I took a few days off to enjoy time with my family and husband...hiking (about died climbing up Torrey Pines), lots of delicious food (finally found coconut pineapple ice cream, don't knock it til you try it), and movies. 

Plus, I got to hang out with my cutie of a niece! 

I love love this couple...I am a little backwards with the posting? hehe! 

Considering, I already posted their Wedding. Nonetheless, I adore them completely! We hung out and had lots of fun perusing Balboa Park...

Congratulations you two!! We are sooo happy for you! 

And they live happily ever after...

xoxo

{The Joy of donuts} Balboa Park Family Photographer

Life is sweet...

 Happy Friday, plus it is a Holiday Weekend, which makes life that much sweeter. 

xoxo

{Balboa Park Family Photographer} Preview

Hello to you! How has your week been? Yesterday, I had an "UP" inspired Kids Session and was worried about rain, but happily smiled and did a happy dance as the sun broke through the clouds to reveal a gorgeous San Diego day.

On another note...I love Balboa Park and was elated when the lovely Endemann Family wanted to have their family session there! Here is a one of my favorites from the day...

Love this family! More photos to come soon...

Happy Thursday! 

{Sloan's First Birthday} San Diego Portrait Photographer

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! What did you do? What adventures did you have? 

Mine was uneventful, but suuuuper relaxing, which was just what I needed. I stayed up super late, like I was in high school again, slept in until 11am everyday. After my husband and I woke up we read on our laptops til we were hungry (which didn't take long), then went to a delicious lunch at the Silk Road Cafe and after the food coma ensued... I decided to take another nap... Sooooo great! 

But on to the lovely Plonka Family! I absolutely adore this family! 

They are incredibly kind, fun, and just plain amazing :)...

They asked me to take photos of their daughter Sloan's First Birthday, which was Lady Bug themed (too cute), then we had a mini family session before the party... 

These are a few of my favorites...

I love that the whole family is looking at the birthday girl :) 

Momma and daughter...love this! I melt!

Cutie pattootie with those gorgeous brown eyes...

Pierce is Sloan's older brother and he is a big bunch of cuteness...he was pretending to fish:) 

up up and away...

"I love walking!!" 

Dad and his birthday girl...

When I said Lady Bug themed...I wasn't exaggerating... Real lady bugs were there to fly. The kids flipped for this idea...

Brother and Sister...

 One of my favorites of the day...

he was sooooo happy telling me the story about Winnie The Poo and his honey, while eating one of the incredible lady bug cupcakes :) Isn't that sweet? 

 Amazing right!?

And a lady bug cake...genius! 

Happy 1st Birthday Sloan!! 

There are lots more photos on our facebook page...

 if you like our work, then show some love and like our page :)...We absolutely love meeting new people and making friends...maybe we could get some ice cream sometime...I love food, sweets especially! 

xoxo

{Yay! Rue is here}

{plushpalate}

Hello and happy Monday to you and yours!

 The new issue of Rue is here!!

 I cannot tell you how much I love this magazine!

 I am still mourning over the loss of my beloved Domino magazine...I know it's been too long, but my heart be still when Rue arrived.
Check out the new issue :) 

xoxo

{Featured on The Brides Cafe} Vintage Wedding Photographer

Hello and Happy TGIF! 

It is an exciting day here at Natalie Bray Photography!

 Yes, I am referring to myself in third person...it is that great of a day! 

We are featured on The Brides Cafe today!!

I want to graciously thank Janie for the wonderful feature of Erika and Tommy's Wedding Inspired Photo Shoot! 

Also a big thanks to E + T, you are amazing!!

In case you didn't know we are now offering Personally Styled Photo Sessions for you and your loves! 

Also, we adore making new friends, so say hi on facebook.

Here are a few more pics of the session...

Styling and concept: Natalie Bray

Dress: J crew

Cardigan: Target

Flowers: San Diego Wholesale flowers

Headband: Nordstrom

Cake and banner: Handmade by me!! 

This shoot was part of our Personally Styled Sessions! We take care of all the details and you can relax and enjoy! Email us at hello@nataliebray.com for more info.

P.S. I did make an inedible cake and I said I would share why, so here it goes...
I was in baking mode. I had my apron on, all my ingredients measured to perfection and set out neatly on the counter. I prepped my beautiful Kitchen Aid mixer and began to read line by line the delicious recipe. Taking great care not to add an ingredient early or too quickly.  At the point of no return I had added all the ingredients except for the eggs and the recipe calls for 1 egg at a time (Right? Right!). Mind you the lovely Kitchen Aid mixer was blending away, steadily coalescing all the sugary goodness together, which is one of the beauty's of having a non hand-held mixer, you can let it go and it makes life a little easier (Right? Right!). Then, I gently grabbed the egg and placed it over the bowl to crack it, when all of a sudden it slipped. Yes the entire egg slipped out of my hand. OMG! I think my heart stopped! I screamed bloody murder (My husband thought I cut my hand off or something)! Time stopped, then actually slowed down as I watched the egg fall into the perfectly blended batter and get crushed by the moving metal beaters. Only I'm not able to do anything. AHHHHHH! I quickly stopped the mixer, but it is too late!  The egg shell has paraded around the mixing bowl and has waved its hands in the air mocking me.
I was a sad sad girl at this moment in time. I needed a cake for my shoot, so I sulked for a few minutes and decided to cook the batter anyway, egg shells and all. LOL! I would persevere and the cake would look amazing even if we couldn't consume the yumminess.

Happy Friday!! Have a delightful weekend! I hope your kitchen adventures are edible:) xoxo