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Sonialena Photography Blog bio picture

Welcome to the Sonialena Photography Blog!

Thanks for taking a moment to visit my blog!

This blog chronicles my adventures as a wedding and portrait photographer. I'm based in Southern California but will happily and gladly travel to other parts of the universe.

My blog is also a place for me to share some of the personal photography that I do, as well as sound off on various topics that are tangentially related to photography.

If you're inspired to write a comment or send an e-mail my way, I would love to hear from you!

Bridal Shower: Jenny

I photographed Jenny’s bridal shower late last summer. The party was held at her parents’ home in Glendora – they have a fabulous back yard! What I wouldn’t do for that gazebo . . . .

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Wedding: Luan and Richie

I photographed Luan and Richie’s wedding in Emeryville, CA. They had a lively ceremony along the water, and the reception was held at the Hong Kong East Ocean Seafood Restaurant.

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Wedding: Shahla and Shazeb

It was my great privilege to photograph Shahla and Shazeb’s wedding at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach. Beautiful day, beautiful ceremony.

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Wedding: Goody and Mike

I photographed Goody and Mike’s wedding at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. The ceremony was in a beautiful little chapel on the university campus, and the reception featured performances by several of the guests.

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Wedding: Jessica and Ramy

I photographed Jessica and Ramy’s engagement party in June and was an assistant photographer for their wedding in July. I mostly helped photograph the bride getting ready, as well as some photography during the reception. AAcreation was the main photographer.

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Portraits: Naomi and Eric

We took these pictures shortly after Naomi and Eric got married – I see them as being in the spirit of engagement photos. We took the photos on and around Point Dume in Malibu back in July. Yes, it’s a bit tardy being posted!

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Website All Klabooey!

I’ve been having website issues for the past 24 or hours or so. It’s awful! None of my slideshows will load, and everything else seems to be on again, off again. Yesterday the company said everything will be online again soon – this was at 4:30 in the afternoon, after the server had been down for six hours. Fifteen hours later things are still not right.

In the meantime, if you are trying to look at my images, please browse through the blog! Hopefully the company will get the server back up – or I will have to take my business elsewhere.

UPDATE: It looks like things are working now – if not a bit more slowly.

Accepted into the WPJA!

I’m very excited to have been accepted into the Wedding Photojournalist Association. The WPJA is an international association whose members specialize in capturing weddings in a candid and unobtrusive style. And it’s not the type of organization that any photographer can join. Photographers must undergo a portfolio review before gaining acceptance, and must adhere to held to strict membership standards regarding image quality and content, technical and creative technique, website and marketing professionalism, business ethics and communication.

Becoming a member of the WPJA has been a professional and personal goal of mine since I started my photography business, and I’m so happy that it’s now a reality. I’m also honored that my work will be alongside that of some brilliantly talented photographers. I’m really looking forward to growing as a wedding photojournalist in the years and weddings to come!

Sonialena Photography Has Moved!

Please take note of our new mailing address, as the post office WILL NOT forward mail from my old address to the new one. Why must they be so evil?

Sonialena Photography // 1308 E. Colorado Blvd. #319 // Pasadena, CA 91106

Telephone number is the same.

I’m working hard to post some new events on here!

Personal: California Coast

I drove up to Oakland for Andrea and Linh’s wedding, mostly because I wanted to drive back to LA along the California coast. This is a loooong drive! But I love doing it when I get the chance – and when I can get up early enough! I woke up at five am and made it back to LA around 7. Partly because I had to stop and take pictures (of course) but also because the traffic between Santa Barbara and LA was a nightmare. It was, after all, a holiday weekend.

The weather was pretty dreary and grey at first – I was a little disappointed about the lack of blue skies, but it makes for some nice monotone black and white images.

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Pigeon Point Lighthouse

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Some seals hanging out on the rocks.

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The lighthouse – it’s all fenced off so you can’t get too close to it.

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Finally some blue skies!

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Near Hearst Castle. I think these animals are soooo ugly that they’re fascinating!

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