Danielle and Oscar Engagement Photography May 27, 2024 Pasadena City Hall, Pasadena, CA

Pasadena City Hall Engagement Session by Tom Keene at LA Digital Photo 9am Session

Now normally most couple's aim for a sunset time slot for their engagement session. The allure of a pretty sunset is nearly always their attraction to this time. Known as the golden hour, this time is very often set aside for shoots like this or romantics on their wedding day.

Now during a Monday holiday like Memorial Day, that might have worked for these two, but like many other plans can keep that from happening. But a 9am start is something I am going to have to start recommending more to my couples. Why? for the sheer fact that we were able to capture some 500+ images in about an hour and no one was there with us but 1-2 other photographers and that is unheard of at this location.

Danielle and Oscar also have a dog which they wanted to incorporate into the moment. Let's take a look!

Now I will admit that I have often taken a specific path through the Pasadena City Hall when shooting an engagement session with couples. In the end the goal is to capture something unique and always add something new to this location. Since we had full access with no one around, we got started. At the beginning of each session, it can take a while for a couple to settle in. It is not uncommon for these first few moments to not be used. Danielle and Oscar were really excited! This shows and made the capturing of their love so much easier.

The walk is a great time to help a couple settle into the moment. It really did help again that we were pretty much alone. Initially we had to wait for some tourists to walk by.

For years now I have avoided this location. But with now cue to wait in, I went for it. The combination of the arch ceiling behind and that overall architecture, it will be a place I try to get for couples going forward.

Yes, there is a lot of walking around and with no two sessions ever really looking a like, it is always heading to a great place.

I have had photographers ask me how I get this shot. It is not too hard if you know the location like we do.

Framing and shadows are what I am looking for here. The overall texture of these moments help bring the details to light. As your eye wanders, you search for what is in focus and what little things may lurk in the shadows and blurred spaces. Pasadena City Hall is perfect for moments like these. Today was overcast for most of the shoot and as you will see the blue skies came screaming out at the end.

This is where I usually focus on what is behind them, the archways. I also did not take them on the catwalk above it as I wanted to be sure I had something different and silhouetting them here was a new edition. Since the light is in a different place than a normally slotted shoot time of sunset, we were able to get this moment.

The Pasadena City Hall Fountain is a great break away from the halls inside the grounds. The entire center of the property is dirt. In the middle is a beautiful fountain. The last few times I shot here, it was off and or the rain had made the dirt so muddy, there was no way I would have anyone trash their shoes in it. Today, we were lucky and not a soul in the background, perfect.

So as we were finishing we got their dog. I was not apparently welcome but after feeding a few treats, it was good to go!

There finally some break in the gray skies.

Time to celebrate! Alcohol and glass are strictly forbidden on the property of the Pasadena City Hall, so we walked out and off the property to capture this sequence and it was a fitting end!

Congratulations to Danielle and Oscar on their engagement! We cannot wait to capture the wedding on September 15, 2024.

Come see the rest of the entire session