Hanna + Zander | Luce Loft Wedding | San Diego Wedding Photographer

June 27, 2022 Sage Burke-Cabados

A quick intro:

In 2015, I was introduced to Hanna & Zander by one of our mutual friends, Melissa McClure (another local photographer). H & Z were also local photographers, and between how close we were in age and our mutual love for photography, we became friends almost instantly.

I was still living in North County at the time, and as I was getting busier with shoots, I realized I needed to move a bit closer to central San Diego, where most of my shoots were. Within months of meeting, Zander and I bounced the idea around of becoming roommates, and ended up moving in together in 2016 after our leases ended. We lived together until he moved in with Hanna, and the rest is history!

Bridget + Luke | La Valencia Wedding | La Jolla Wedding Photographers

October 14, 2018 Sage Burke-Cabados

So for those of you that know me, I take the business side of things very seriously - this includes rarely being late and always being as reliable as possible. When Bridget & Luke inquired about me possibly photographing their wedding, we quickly set a date to grab coffee and get to know each other a bit more. The problem? For the first time ever, my studio management software neglected to remind me about the coffee date, and the stars aligned perfectly because I managed to not check my calendar that morning either. I remember it clearly - I was in the process of editing some photos when I received a call. I quickly answered, and hear, “Hi Sage, we’re over at Lestats and wondering where you’re seated.”

Jenna + Andrew | La Jolla Woman's Club Wedding | La Jolla Wedding Photographer

October 6, 2018 Sage Burke-Cabados

For those of you that don’t know, I picked up a camera almost 9 years ago and exclusively shot nightlife photography (bars, concerts, and events). I switched gears when I first moved to California in 2012 and stopped shooting nightlife for a bit, but then started up again in 2014, where I met Andrew (another fellow photographer) at one of the clubs I frequently shot at. This was also a huge plus because it means that all of Andrew & Jenna’s friends were a freaking blast throughout the day (as you’ll soon see below). Although I knew next to nothing about Jenna and Andrew initially, I really got to know them when I shot their engagement photos (check out their San Diego engagement session here).

Lea + Martin | The US Grant | San Diego Wedding Photographer

May 1, 2018 Sage Burke-Cabados

Oh hey everyone! It's been a few months since I blogged and I'm pretty stoked to share this gallery with you. I was originally connected to Lea & Martin after their friend (who also happens to be an awesome hair & makeup artist) Emma found me through Instagram. I chatted with them about their wedding and quickly figured out how fun these guys are and was beyond stoked when they mentioned wanting me to fly up to San Francisco to photograph their engagement session. We started at the famous San Francisco City Hall, and then headed over to Sutro Baths shortly after. We talked movies, favorite wines, and cracked a few corny jokes - these guys had awesome chemistry and were troopers during the session (read: Lea hiked through bushes in her heels and both her and Martin held still for a million years while I got the perfect sunset shot of them). Since I never got around to blogging their session, I've included my five favorites at the start of this post.

Anyways, fast forward to their wedding day. It's a sunny day in downtown San Diego on New Years Eve. We start off in the Presidential Suite at the US Grant Hotel while the girls are getting ready and I quickly realize how much fun the day is about to be when Lea let slip that the coordinator, Thomas Bui, somehow was able to secure TWENTY-SEVEN confetti canons in for when the ball drops. GAME ON.

Lisa + Chris | Leo Carrillo Ranch Wedding | Carlsbad Wedding Photographer

January 6, 2018 Sage Burke-Cabados

Lisa and Chris are two ultra sarcastic, incredibly talented individuals who have a slight obsession with cats and fine wine. They're both in the television industry, where they've worked on shows like Orange is the New Black, My 600 Lb Life, and Catfish - so rad!

Upon meeting Lisa & Chris, I quickly figured out how nice they were and loved that they wanted artistic, fun images. For their engagement session, I drove up to Los Angeles for the day and photographed their Burbank Engagement Session, which included lots of hiking, champagne, and lots of goofiness.

On their wedding day, we started off at the Beach Terrace Inn in Carlsbad, where they got ready and then saw each other for the first time on the beach. We then took a large bus to Leo Carrillo for some portraits, and then headed to Oceanside for their ceremony on the beach. After the ceremony and a few more portraits, we headed back to Leo Carrillo where the couple danced and partied the night away!

Jamie + Alex | The Dana Mission Bay Wedding | San Diego Photographer

January 3, 2018 Sage Burke-Cabados

I met Jamie & Alex through my good friend Shelby Owens with Simply Classic Events and clicked with them instantly being that we're all from the Midwest (Michigan, to be specific!). They felt incredibly genuine and were quite camera shy at first, but immediately opened up once we started shooting their San Diego engagement session.

Their venue, The Dana Mission Bay, was incredible, and had a fantastic view of the bay where people were driving boats, paddle boarding, and sailing. After the girls got ready, I walked with Jamie to the opposite end of the hotel where her and Alex had their first look. We then photographed the bridal party and headed back to the opposite end to start the ceremony. The couple had their grandmothers act as the flower girl, which was absolutely precious!

After the ceremony, we photographed a few more portraits before the sunset and then the couple ate, danced, and partied the night away at their reception! :-)

Denise + Michael | Cape Rey Carlsbad Wedding | Carlsbad Wedding Photographer

September 5, 2017 Sage Burke-Cabados

I originally connected with Denise through my good friend Nicole (who's also the fantastic coordinator who owns/operates Love Marks The Spot) and absolutely loved how optimistic and sweet she was! I later met Michael at their engagement session (I was so slammed in the beginning of the year that I didn't have a chance to blog their session, so I added my favorite five to the beginning of this post) and was stoked because he was extremely laid back and easy to work with. We got some amazing engagement sessions and they both gave me some great tips about finding/owning a dog, since they (at the time) had 1 adorable little pup (which now, after the wedding, are two adorable pups!).

Fast forward to Denise & Michael's wedding day! Although it ended up being a little gloomier and in Carlsbad, it ended up giving off a perfectly soft light that really helped make their wedding images that much more amazing. After photographing the bridesmaids getting ready, I quickly rushed Denise off to see Michael for the first time in the Cape Rey gardens. From there, we photographed tons of portraits until their ceremony started. Their ceremony, officiated by Rabbi Ian, was both hilarious and emotional - two must-haves for a ceremony!

After the ceremony ended, we photographed a few more portraits and headed over to the ballroom for the ceremony where the couple ate awesome food, laughed, celebrated, and then ended the night with a lantern send off - epic!!

Tara + Noah | Ponte Winery Wedding | Temecula Wedding Photographer

August 9, 2017 Sage Burke-Cabados

I lived in San Diego up until I was 10 years old, and throughout the first decade of my life, my awesome parents took me to a fantastic chiropractor by the name of Kenny Sheppard. Fast forward 16 years, I revisited Kenny for an adjustment, and as I was walking into the office, I hear him mention that I was a photographer to his secretary, Tara, who just recently got engaged and was on the market for a wedding photographer. The rest is history!

Tara & Noah decided to have their intimate wedding with their closest family & friends at the gorgeous Ponte Winery in Temecula. Ponte's lush vineyards, cleanly decorated getting ready room & balcony, and wine barrel decorated reception made this a really interesting venue to photograph...

Kerry + Igor | Ace Hotel | Palm Springs Elopement Photographer

May 23, 2017 Sage Burke-Cabados

Wooooo! After a few weeks of traveling, I'm finally back to blogging.

Kerry is originally from New Zealand & Igor is from Australia, but after moving to Seattle, they wanted a sunny elopement in Palm Springs with lots of color and energy - CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

The intimate elopement started off at The Parker Hotel where they were literally limited to getting married on the small 5x15 foot rectangle balcony outside of their room. After the short ceremony, we basically drove around to a few epic portrait locations - first, we headed to The Saguaro (HOLY COLOR), then we headed to a remote location with some awesome windmills in the background (with a freaking 60 MPH sandstorm going on - I might have gotten a full body exfoliation), and after, we headed to Ace Hotel to finish up...

Nubia + Pavan | Hilton Torrey Pines | La Jolla Wedding Photographer

January 10, 2017 Sage Burke-Cabados

Having never attended an Indian wedding (yet alone photographed one), I was quite ecstatic when I got the chance to photograph Nubia & Pavan's wedding celebration. Indian weddings have such beautiful color, ceremonies, and traditions, that I really wanted to make sure I focused on capturing the event at it's best - from the gorgeous ceremonies & baraat, to the pure joy and epic dance moves at the reception.

Caroline + Jesse | Vancouver Portrait Session

January 2, 2017 Sage Burke-Cabados

Back in October, I flew over to Vancouver, B.C to attend a photography conference - something I try to do once or twice a year in order to get inspired, learn new techniques, and network with the ever-growing creative community.

Before I took my trip, I was lucky enough to book a session with Caroline & Jesse...

Jamie + Alex | Sunset Cliffs | Ocean Beach Engagement Session

November 3, 2016 Sage Burke-Cabados

I've been getting more and more requests for at-home sessions lately, and each time, the sessions end up being some of my favorite ever! There's nothing better than allowing a couple to be fully relaxed in a familiar location while working around the unique light of their home - and Jamie & Alex's bright apartment in Mission Bay was no exception.

We started off in their apartment, and before sunset, we headed down to Sunset Cliffs to shoot at the bluffs and ended up lucking out with a colorful sky. Here's a small preview of their San Diego engagement session! :-)

Cara + Patrick | Paradise Point | Wedding Photographers San Diego

August 18, 2016 Sage Burke-Cabados

So, when I first met Cara & Patrick, I immediately felt a little intimidated - Patrick is tall, has his head shaved, and is a veteran of the Marines, while Cara is a world-traveler and looks like a model. But after chatting with them for a few minutes on our way to the first location at their engagement session, I realized what an awesome couple they were. Patrick never takes himself seriously, is one of the most humble guys I've ever met, and is extremely appreciative for everything (he even called me after the engagement session to thank him for making him look so good - I've NEVER had a groom personally call me to thank me before!), and Cara is hands-down one of the most kind and caring individuals I've ever spoken to while also having a similarly appreciate attitude that Patrick has...

Abbie + Evan | Temecula Creek Inn | San Diego Wedding Photographers

July 26, 2016 Sage Burke-Cabados

I know this sounds cliche, but Abbie & Evan's wedding day was a rollercoaster of emotions starting from the very beginning of the day. As a photographer that shoots very photojournalistic, this wedding was a dream to document. So much laughter. So many tears shed. So many different unique traditions...

Stephanie + Mike | Orfila Winery | Best San Diego Wedding Photographer

June 17, 2016 Sage Burke-Cabados

When Stephanie & Mike told me about their wedding venue, I was pretty ecstatic to finally get a chance to photograph at Orfila Winery - a small vineyard & gorgeous wedding venue out in Escondido. I immediately bonded with Stephanie & Mike at their engagement session in Orange County because of their willingness to do whatever in order to get an awesome photo, so I couldn't wait to capture their wedding day.

With some intense heat, a packed day, and a wild wedding party, this wedding kept me on my toes from start to finish.

Delia + John | La Jolla Photographer | UCSD Engagement Session

May 19, 2016 Sage Burke-Cabados

With a surge of La Jolla traffic, I ended up meeting Delia & John a little late, but even with an hour of light, that didn't stop us from creating some amazing art right up until sun down. Check out this small preview from their engagement session by clicking the image above!

Juli + Harold | San Diego Engagement Session | Poway

October 1, 2015 Sage Burke-Cabados

I met Juli & Harold last year when meeting with them to chat about their wedding. It didn't take long for us to warm up to each other, and after a little coaching in front of the camera, these two blew me away with how comfortable they looked in front of the camera. Check out a small preview of their Poway engagement session below and keep an eye peeled for their intimate wedding at Frank Sinatra's old mansion later this year!

Enjoy!