Hi! I’m Aura Elizabeth Aguirre, owner and founder of Aura Elizabeth Photography!
I have been photographing weddings for 9 years and at this point have photographed over 200 beautiful and special weddings. Before I started photography, I was the Admissions Director and Registrar for a private, Christian school in the San Fernando Valley. However, once I had child #2, our daughter, I felt led to stay at home and raise our two little ones. I had a bit of a margin to pursue a creative passion at that point and picked up a camera to document my children. However, that evolved into photographing family friends and snowballed into what I do full time now: photographing weddings. Once I started photographing weddings, I fell in love with it! It’s such a happy occasion and therefore creates a pretty fun and happy work environment.
What is one fun fact about yourself that people may not know?
I am originally from a small town in the Midwest (Nebraska) and came to California for college. I met my husband in college and ended up staying here after we got married.
How long have you been a vendor at Rancho de las Palmas?
About six years!
What is your favorite part about being a photographer at a wedding?
I get to be a part of some of the most special, raw, and real moments in other’s life and to be able to document that is something I highly value.
What is your favorite thing about working at Rancho de las Palmas?
There are so many things I love about working at RDLP. I photograph weddings all across Southern California and RDLP is a true treasure of a venue. First of all, everything is available there on the property. It is not often that you have an Air B&B option right next to the venue, or that you get access to the bridal suite as early as you’d like, or that there are multiple ceremony/reception options, or that there is additionally an indoor option for wedding days. No need to worry about traveling from one location to another on a wedding day.
Secondly, the staff there are true professionals. They are on top of it the entire day and truly care about providing a seamless experience for couples, their families, and guests. I see them walking around making sure everything is as it should be and I can appreciate that as someone who also wants a couple to have a wonderful wedding day.
Thirdly, it’s just so stunning and beautiful there. There is not shortage of beautiful areas to photograph at!
What is one piece of advice you have for couples on their wedding day?
You do not need everything that social media tells you or shows you that you need to make your wedding day beautiful and memorable.
What is your favorite moment to photograph at a wedding?
I love photographing everything at a wedding; however, photographing the bride and groom during sunset time with that beautiful sunset glow behind them is absolutely priceless!
What is one thing you wish you saw more of at weddings?
I love it when there are breaks and downtime during the wedding day for couples and their wedding party to unwind, eat, and take it all in and wish more couples knew to schedule that. For example, I typically schedule all pictures to be done one hour before the ceremony begins so they can do touch ups, eat, and prepare for the 2nd part of the day. It all passes so fast and can be a big blur and the last thing you want to feel is to be rushed from one thing to another on such a special day.
What is the timeline for booking a photographer for a wedding?
A lot of amazing vendors book out 9-12 months in advance so that would be ideal.
Any advice for people who may be uncomfortable or don’t like having photos taken of themselves? How can they feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful?
Communicate how you feel to your photographer so they can know to help you when they photograph you. It is also important to have a photographer who has the initiative and takes the time to pose you so make sure to ask them how they approach photographing someone who doesn’t always feel comfortable in front of the camera. But most importantly, just have fun and be yourselves. That’s always the best to photograph!
If you could give couples one piece of advice, what would it be?
If I could tell couples one thing it would be to focus less on the details and esthetic and more on being intentional and present with your significant other, family, and friends. That’s where the true beauty lies!
