2011 was a great year for DGP! When I was looking back, I realized I was out of state for shoots at least once a month. So. Much Fun. It was work yes, but mostly fun. I got to see Hawaii, Las Vegas x3, Arizona, San Diego x2, Palm Springs x2, Santa Barbara, Maryland and DC, Placerville and Napa, New York, New Orleans and Texas. Whew! I’m officially a destination wedding and portrait photographer!

Personally, it’s also been an exciting year. I had my one year anniversary with my amazing/wonderful/special bestboyfriendintheworld. To say I am thankful for this relationship is an understatement. We’ve had way too much fun eating foodie food and having travel adventures together. I’m so happy and madly in love! And I have to mention that I turned thirty! I’m not anywhere where I thought I would be, but I am thrilled with how things turned out in my life. Thirty is my twenty! Plus I still get told I look not a day older than twenty four. I’ll take it! Some visuals to go along…

I can’t wait to see what fun adventures 2012 will bring. One new thing for this year include mentor sessions for photographers. Since I’ve had so many requests from past client-friends, newbie photographers and moms, I decided to start a mentor session program. I think I have something unique to bring to the table that involves my other love; psychology.

Here are some of my favorite images from my 2011 weddings. They are super random, just like me!


Of course, cameras centerpieces would be my fave.



Ponte Winery Wedding
Parker Palm Springs Wedding


Cute details from this Arizona Wedding

Vivienne Westwood Shoes






How often can you say you saw a peacock at a wedding?






I fell in love with the Sinatra House



Ambassador Mansions and Gardens Wedding



Mission Santa Barbara Wedding


Texas Wedding


One of the cutest cake toppers of all time.



Las Vegas Vintage Wedding

New Orleans Wedding







Smogg Shope Wedding


Las Vegas Temple

I’ll also post some favorites from engagement, family and others if I can get around to it!

Clarissa + Bensi were my last wedding of 2011! And it couldn’t of been of a sweeter couple. Their ceremony was at my absolute favorite Catholic Church to shoot in, Saint Matthews. Their reception was a fun party at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel.

This little gal stole the show! We took sooo many of her.

Here’s their same day edit by Impressive Creations.

Clarissa + Bensi // Same Day Edit // Marriott Anaheim // Orange County Wedding Cinematography from Impressive Creations on Vimeo.

Kelli’s family flew me out to Texas (by Houston) to shoot this wedding. “It might as well be cute!” is the saying I kept hearing all weekend. As you can see from this sweet handmade wedding, that is completely true. Since Kelli is allergic to flowers, her mom made the bouquets and boutonnieres out of fabric; so adorable!

The theme of their wedding was library books, keys and vintage. So many family and friends pitched in to help put everything together.

Kelli + Mike are a remarkable couple who’s love for God and each other is almost tangible. Thank you all so much for sharing this special day with me. It was truly an honor and a huge blessing to be a part of.

I love shooting a picture of what the day looked like.

This picture was so cute, I had to shoot it!

As I arrived, Shauna was finishing the pictures in the locket of the bride’s bouquet.

Even the name tags of the bridesmaids were cute!


Um, cutest bride’s shoes ever. And the bridesmaid bouquets had lockets too.

Each pin was different and Kelli’s mom made the sash for the Anthropolgie dress.


The garter was made out of the groom’s T Shirt.



Cute pockets in her dress!



Handmade programs in a cute burlap bag.













This is the cutest cake topper I’ve ever seen! Done by the Rebbeca at The Fox Glove:

I’ve known Erin for a long time and I was thrilled when she found someone just as special as herself. Jordan is a stand up kinda guy and the man of Erin’s dreams! They are so cute, it’s kind of annoying! Erin LOVES photos so course I ended up taking a ton a her wedding.

The theme was bicycles (since they love riding bikes. Jordan is a triathelte!) And their colors were gray and yellow. Erin and her wedding party made the paper wheel backdrops and the bicycle seating charts.

photographer – Dana Grant (me!)
venue – the sheraton carlsbad
floral design – rae florae
photo booth – the traveling photo booth
cupcakes/donuts – vg donut & bakery
hair – friend diane heinemeyer
make-up – friend sarah nicola, merle norman

wedding dress – paloma blanca
wedding shoes, jr bridesmaids & flower girl dresses- j.crew
shoe clips & hair piece – rachel larraine
jewelry – vintage canary diamonds
reception dress – aidan mattox
reception dress shoes – stuart weitzman
bridesmaid dresses – amsale
handmade bridesmaid clutches/ring bearer tie/flower girl hair piece – dreaming of dandelions
handmade bridesmaid jewelry by sister karie – my beading heart
groom’s attire – j.crew
groomsmen ties – the tie bar

Bicycle invites and printed items – pink hearts paperie

Bicycle wheel seating charts!

Jamia + Antonio’s wedding at The Ambassador Mansions and Gardens in Pasadena.

Their wedding was filled with so much style and personality, just like them.

Antonio’s Stingray skin shoes, no joke!






Dapper! Antonio dresses people for their weddings so of course he dressed himself amazing!