Charlene and Richard were married this past July, so this was, technically, a "newlywed" session! However, it was a newlywed session with a twist -- Charlene lives in Miami and Richard lives at Camp Pendleton. Obviously, this is a difficult situation for any couple, let alone newlyweds!

Charlene came out to California for a brief visit to see her husband. We met with them in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego for an hour of portraits on and around the historic Crystal Pier. If you've never been to Pacific Beach, it's a very lively area, with numerous restaurants and shops. Parking can be difficult in this area, but especially so on a summer weekend. Because of the warm weather we've been having all around Southern California lately, the beach was quite crowded.

There were quite a few surfers in the water, taking advantage of the last weeks of summer. The light was beautiful as the sun began to set. There is nothing like the light in Southern California. It's always fun to work with couples who are playful and very much in love, and Charlene and Richard were certainly both. It was an added treat for us desert dwellers to dip our toes into the cool, refreshing waters of the Pacific!

Charlene and Richard, congratulations on your marriage!