engagements Archives

Shooting 35mm Film on the Beach: Black and White, Nostalgia, and Letting Go of Perfection

January 11, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

LAGUNA BEACH, CA… Grain—sand—and 35mm film. More and more engaged couples are looking for the nostalgia of film photography, and I am here for it. For this engagement shoot, I chose Ilford XP2, my favorite black and white film. One of my wedding couples gifted me their Dad’s old camera, a Nikon FG with a 50mm lens, manual focus only. Manual focus slows down the moment, makes images a bit soft, and has a certain feeling- difficult to describe. This […]

Categories: engagements • Tags: engaged, engagements

35mm film engagement photographs zine

December 2, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

SANTA BARBARA, CA… I LOVE MY COUPLES Spaceman meets decorator crab, an astronaut falls from the skies Diplomatic Relations, 7:14 a.m. He smelled of Ozone, she of Kelp Creative use of engagement photos shot on 35mm film by my rad couple for their meeting and wedding – a zine! . What a treat to get this in the mail.

Categories: engagements • Tags: engaged, engagements

Golden hour on 35mm Kodak gold Film | Laguna Beach Engagement session

September 17, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

LAGUNA BEACH, CA… To go along with the monochrome post- we gotta sprinkle in some color! The engagement session Shot with the Nikon FG on kodak 35mm film – grain and soft manual focus- DREAMY. Special thanks to these lovers for going in the water, and getting sandy.

Categories: engagements, personal projects • Tags: engaged, engagements

Laguna Beach Engagement Session | Monochrome, Movement & Warm Water!

September 9, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

LAGUNA BEACH, CA… Monochrome Magic Hour! Ok I know what you are thinking it’s golden hour… what about the colors, but I love a strobe and Black and white look. As you know, My favorite photographer is Weegee the famous- known in the 40’s for his journalistic images. Thank you to Julia & Corbin for going for it.

Categories: engagements • Tags: engaged, engagements

Santa barbara engagement photographer nicole caldwell

Decorator Crab, Astronaut, Engagement : Part 2 in Black and White

March 31, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

SANTA BARBARA, CA… Part 2 of the wild saga: the decorator crab meets spaceman on a Santa Barbara beach, now documented in black and white engagement photos. Because who doesn’t want to get engaged in the same place where intergalactic creatures and crustaceans engage in deep, meaningful conversation? It’s all about setting the right mood—romance, with just a pinch of surrealism. Forget sunsets; it’s all about a Decorator Crab & Astronaut at high noon- In the spirit of my favorite […]

Categories: engagements, personal projects • Tags: engagements

Santa barbara engagement photographer 35mm film couple on beach nicole caldwell

A 35mm film Space Odyssey in Santa Barbara: The Unlikely Collision of a Spaceman and a Decorator Crab

March 30, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

SANTA BARBARA, CA…Spaceman Meets Decorator Crab: A Cosmic Tale Captured Through GALAXY KONO 35mm Film– the grain, the depth, the rawness of film— the ability to make a spaceman and a decorator crab feel like part of a vast cosmic narrative. the magical surprise of seeing what develops. Photographed with GALAXY KONO film- fitting light leaks, nostalgia. This concept was completely developed by the couple.

Categories: engagements, film • Tags: 35mm, 35mm film, engagements

Engagement Photography in the Studio

September 28, 2024 by Nicole Caldwell

ORANGE COUNTY, CA… Black and white Classic engagement photographs in the photostudio for that Avedon classic feel! Shots between the shots, love the moments between Alex and Zach. Smiles, emotion, laughter and Love.

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35mm film engagement photos | OC studio

August 9, 2024 by Nicole Caldwell

ORANGE COUNTY, CA… Photostudio engagement session with my favorite black and white film, XP2 and Fujifilm baby!

Categories: engagements, film, personal projects • Tags: 35mm, 35mm film, engagement, engagements

35mm film Photo Studio Engagement Shoot

July 5, 2024 by Nicole Caldwell

ORANGE COUNTY, CA… 35mm film Ilford black and white- my fave- for this couples engagement shoot here in the photostudio.

Categories: engagements, film, personal projects • Tags: engagement, engagements, film

Engagement Photos | OC photo studio

June 13, 2024 by Nicole Caldwell

ORANGE COUTY, CA…. This, the shots between the shots, moments, movement. These are my favorite. We did two looks in the studio with Lauren and Brandon, a crisp clean classic black and white, and a colorful fun vintage brick!

Categories: engagements • Tags: engagements

35mm film engagement photography chateau marmont los angeles nicole caldwell

35mm film Sunrise on Sunset | Engagement Photoshoot

December 7, 2023 by Nicole Caldwell

LOS ANGELES, CA… Shooting at Sunrise on Sunset with color 35mm film and xp2. Waking up before the sun to avoid the crowd, poolside and room suite shots.

Categories: engagements, film • Tags: 35mm film, engagements

Film Fun in the studio | vintage Polaroid & 35mm film

August 17, 2023 by Nicole Caldwell

These two are getting married. Fun engagement shoot here in the studio with the polaroid- the rest if the film is off to the lab for processing- stay tuned!

Categories: engagements, film • Tags: engagement, engagements, film

Popcorn and Red Licorice | Frida Cinema Engagement

August 6, 2022 by Nicole Caldwell

First Date was here for these two. Fun to revisit and photograph this location at Art house Frida Cinema, where you will likely spot this couple enjoying the cinema! side note- go to Lazer Invasion this month only at the Frida, SPECTACULAR. Go See Lazer Invasion! Trailer Below.

Categories: engagements • Tags: engagements

Engagement Photography Laguna Beach and Studio

May 28, 2022 by Nicole Caldwell

Laguna Beach CA… The sun was quickly setting, I was looking at my camera, busily setting the photography strobe adjustments for a sunset portrait, I look up, and find this couple in this pose- brilliant. Congrats you two on your engagement, looking forward to photographing your wedding.

Categories: engagements • Tags: engagements

35mm FILM | Laguna Beach Engagement

April 23, 2022 by Nicole Caldwell

No golden hour here, Hi-Noon in Laguna Beach on black and white FILM! On camera flash, and a white lighting 1200 to overpower the sun, lucked out with a few clouds for a gigantic softbox. Can’t wait to photograph their wedding on film later this year at the Mint in Los Angeles.

Categories: engagements, film • Tags: engagements, film

Classic Engagement portraits in the studio- then some sand

January 11, 2022 by Nicole Caldwell

Desirae & DeLorean are having a destination wedding in Laguna Beach. They took it next level in formal attire! Bravo!

Categories: engagements • Tags: engagements

Proposal….and Engagement! Orange Hill Restaurant, hiding in plain sight.

September 3, 2021 by Nicole Caldwell

Congrats to Lauren and Jose, now engaged & on top of the world, with the view to prove it at Orange Hill Restaurant. Arrived early for a table before the couple, with Little Sis as Decoy. Celebrated with 2 martinis, and of course French Fries.

Categories: engagements • Tags: engagement, engagements, proposal

Veuve, Sequins & Polaroids- nothing but fun engagement

May 22, 2021 by Nicole Caldwell

“LOVE LOVE LOVE- These are exactly what I was hoping for. Nailed it! “- Shal In the studio with Shal & Amir. They love Veuve, so it made an appearance. Kept the shoot fun, and moving.

Categories: engagements • Tags: engagements

Nicole Caldwell Photo

Launching photographs beyond the ordinary—Film or digital, 35mm to 8×10.

Tag: engagements

Shooting 35mm Film on the Beach: Black and White, Nostalgia, and Letting Go of Perfection

35mm film engagement photographs zine

Golden hour on 35mm Kodak gold Film | Laguna Beach Engagement session

Laguna Beach Engagement Session | Monochrome, Movement & Warm Water!

Decorator Crab, Astronaut, Engagement : Part 2 in Black and White

A 35mm film Space Odyssey in Santa Barbara: The Unlikely Collision of a Spaceman and a Decorator Crab

Engagement Photography in the Studio

35mm film engagement photos | OC studio

35mm film Photo Studio Engagement Shoot

Engagement Photos | OC photo studio

35mm film Sunrise on Sunset | Engagement Photoshoot

Film Fun in the studio | vintage Polaroid & 35mm film

Popcorn and Red Licorice | Frida Cinema Engagement

Engagement Photography Laguna Beach and Studio

35mm FILM | Laguna Beach Engagement

Classic Engagement portraits in the studio- then some sand

Proposal….and Engagement! Orange Hill Restaurant, hiding in plain sight.

Veuve, Sequins & Polaroids- nothing but fun engagement