Engagement session at Pasadena City Hall

Engagement sessions · Pasadena City Hall · Los Angeles

Engagement photos
that feel like you.

Editorial engagement photography at one of Southern California's most iconic locations — gentle posing, beautiful light, and a relaxed experience designed to feel effortless.

Natural · Comfortable · Beautiful Available Wed & Sun · 12+ years

An invitation

A rare way to experience our work — without the wedding-day stakes.

A first chapter,
told well.

For years our work has lived inside full wedding days. These Pasadena City Hall sessions are a quieter way to meet us first — to feel how we direct, light, and edit before you ever decide on the wedding.

The session is short. The experience is full. The images are made to the same standard as everything else we deliver.

Most couples who book a session this way end up choosing us for the wedding too — and they tell us the engagement morning was the moment they knew.

Pasadena City Hall sessions · by invitation

Three ways to be photographed.

Each session is shot, guided, and edited by the studio — small in time, full in care. Available on Wednesdays and Sundays.

No. I · Studio sitting

30-Minute Session

Location · Pasadena City Hall

  • 25+ professionally edited photos
  • Gentle posing guidance throughout
  • Private online gallery ready in 2 weeks
  • Available on Wednesdays & Sundays

Deposit $49 · Remaining $150 on the day. Perfect for a short and elegant session at Pasadena City Hall.

Investment $199
No. III · Photo & film

1-Hour Photo + Reel

Location · Pasadena City Hall

  • 50+ professionally edited photos
  • Vertical Save-the-Date reel · 30–60 sec
  • Gentle posing guidance throughout
  • Online gallery + reel delivery in 2 weeks
  • Available on Wednesdays & Sundays

Deposit $49 · Remaining $500 on the day. A beautiful photo session with a short vertical reel for your save-the-date, social, or keepsake.

Investment $549

Bookings open Wednesdays & Sundays · Spots are limited and tend to fill quickly.

Selected · Pasadena City Hall

A few recent mornings.

Why couples start here

Three reasons it works so well.

The engagement morning is the lowest-stakes way to feel the experience — direction, light, color, delivery — before anything bigger.

I

Try us, then trust us.

A short, beautiful first experience before any wedding decision. Most couples who book a session here end up choosing us for the day itself — and they tell us this morning is when they knew.

II

Gentle, natural direction.

No modeling experience needed. We guide you through small, real moments — how to stand, where to look, how to hold each other — so the photos feel like you, not posed.

III

Studio standard, fully edited.

Every image is professionally edited to our wedding color and tone. Hand-finished, delivered through a private online gallery within two weeks, in high resolution and web-optimized formats.

Engagement portrait at a beach

Prefer somewhere else?

Beyond Pasadena.

If Wednesdays or Sundays don't work — or you'd love something more personal than Pasadena City Hall — we photograph couples across all of Los Angeles. Beaches, parks, rooftops, cozy streets, anywhere meaningful to your story.

1-Hour Custom Location $500
  • 50+ edited photos at a custom location of your choice
  • Gentle posing and natural storytelling
  • Private online gallery delivery within 2 weeks
  • Deposit $100 · Remaining $400 on the day
  • Travel fee may apply depending on location
Leave an inquiry
5.0

From 70+ Google reviews by couples we've photographed across Los Angeles.

We didn't want trendy presets that would feel dated in ten years. Zatonsky Moments gave us exactly what we hoped for — photos that feel like us.

Recent couple · Los Angeles

Read every review on Google

From recent sessions

Couples on their engagement shoot.

We couldn’t be happier with our engagement photos. The Zatonsky Moments photographer and editor were incredibly talented, creative, detail-oriented, and great with lighting. From start to finish, the experience was seamless, professional, and so fun.

Manuela Castano A.
Manuela Castano A.Engagement Session

We had the most amazing time working with Mikhail and Katya. They brought our engagement vision to life, including our Dalmatians and a video, and completely knocked it out of the park. We received so many compliments on both the photos and video.

Navneet R.
Navneet R.Engagement Session

We’re very grateful we found Mikhail and Kate. They made us feel special, comfortable, and cared for throughout the shoot. We cannot stop smiling looking at their amazing work, and we will treasure these memories forever.

Rotrice Lavalan
Rotrice LavalanCouple Session
5.0 · 70+ Google reviews Read all reviews

Frequently asked

Everything you might wonder, answered.

Click any question to expand. Multiple can stay open at once.

01

I've never done a photo session — will I know what to do?

No modeling experience needed.

Absolutely. We'll guide you throughout the session with easy, natural posing directions, so you don't need any modeling experience. Our goal is to make the session feel relaxed, comfortable, and enjoyable.

02

Is it safe to enter my card details when booking?

Yes — payments via Stripe.

Yes. All payments are securely processed through Stripe, a global leader in online payments. We never see or store your card information.

Zatonsky Moments LLC is a registered business in California, and we use trusted platforms like Calendly and Stripe to keep the booking process secure.

03

What if the weather is cloudy?

Cloudy light is gorgeous.

Cloudy light is actually beautiful for photos. It's soft, flattering, and creates a timeless, elegant look.

04

What if it rains?

Pasadena City Hall is rain-friendly.

Pasadena City Hall is one of the few rain-friendly locations. Its beautiful architecture provides plenty of covered areas for photos, even in wet weather.

If the rain becomes too heavy or unsafe, we can reschedule your session to the next available date that works for you.

05

When is the best time of day to shoot?

Mornings or late afternoon.

For Pasadena City Hall, we usually recommend morning sessions before 11 AM or later in the day when the light becomes softer.

One of our favorite windows at Pasadena City Hall is from around 2 PM until about 2 hours before sunset, depending on the season. This location works beautifully during this time because the architecture gives us many bright, elegant, and flattering spots to work with.

For beach sessions or many custom outdoor locations, we usually recommend shooting closer to sunset, when the light is softer, warmer, and more romantic.

06

What if we're late?

Sessions are back-to-back.

Please arrive on time. Sessions are scheduled back-to-back, and late arrivals reduce your shooting time.

07

Can we change outfits?

One outfit recommended.

There's no changing area onsite at Pasadena City Hall. If you'd like to change, we recommend booking the 1-hour session and using your car for a quick outfit swap.

However, we generally suggest sticking to one outfit. It helps keep the session smooth, relaxed, and focused on the experience.

08

Can we shoot at a different location with this offer?

This offer is City Hall only.

This special offer is valid only for Pasadena City Hall.

Yes, we can shoot at a different location, but that would be booked as a custom location session. Our 1-hour custom location engagement session is $500 and includes 50+ professionally edited photos. A travel fee may apply depending on the location.

09

How and when will we receive our photos?

Private gallery in 14 days.

You'll receive your edited photos through a private online gallery within 14 days. All images are delivered in high resolution for printing and web-optimized versions for sharing.

10

Can we request faster delivery?

Rush available · $50.

Yes, we offer rush delivery for an additional $50. Just let us know in advance, and we'll do our best to prioritize your gallery.

11

Will all our photos be edited?

Yes — every delivered photo.

Yes, every delivered photo is professionally edited.

You'll receive at least 25 edited photos for a 30-minute session and 50+ edited photos for a 1-hour session, including a few stylish black-and-white images for variety and visual balance.

12

Do you offer photo albums?

From $350.

Yes, we offer beautiful custom albums. Prices start at $350. The final price depends on the album size, page count, and selected materials.

13

Do we need a permit at Pasadena City Hall?

No — we already have one.

No need to worry — we already have a valid permit for photo sessions at Pasadena City Hall. You don't have to arrange or pay for anything on your side.

14

Are there any location restrictions on weekdays?

Ground level only on weekdays.

Yes. On weekdays, photography is allowed only on the ground level. Access to the upper floors, the balcony bridge, and the higher staircases is restricted during weekday hours, so shooting on the second and third levels is not permitted.

Don't worry — there are plenty of beautiful spots on the first level, and we'll guide you to the best and most photogenic areas.

15

Do you offer video too?

Yes — the 1-Hour Photo + Reel.

Yes. We offer a 1-hour Photo + Reel package at Pasadena City Hall for $549. This package includes 50+ professionally edited photos and one edited 30–60 second vertical reel.

One photographer captures both photos and short video clips during the session, naturally switching between photo and video moments. Afterward, we edit your photos and create the vertical reel from the captured footage.

Please note: this is not a full videography session with a dedicated videographer. Drone footage and full video production are available separately at regular pricing.

Engagement inquiry

Let's plan your session.

Pasadena City Hall sessions book quickly. Choose a time below and we'll see you on the morning of your shoot.

Need a different location or date? Leave a custom inquiry