Yvette + Austin’s beautiful Big Sur engagement session!

This was one of those last-minute photoshoots that turned out better than I could have imagined. Yvette and Austin reached out and scheduled their session for a Sunday when I just happened to be available. As we chatted more, it didn’t seem like their date and my travel plans were going to align, but ultimately, I was able to make it work! I recruited my mom as my travel buddy, and we made a super quick trip down to California just for this shoot.

One of the things I love about my work is the opportunity it gives me to travel far and wide, capturing couples’ special moments. And it’s even more amazing when I can share these moments with my loved ones. Whether it’s my mom or Chris, a business trip instantly transforms into a mini adventure when they’re with me. And this session was no exception. My mom and I took the opportunity to explore the beautiful Big Sur and Monterey, CA, area. Overall, we really enjoyed our time there.

It was also a lot of fun to location scout for this Big Sur engagement session. Big Sur is well known for its mountains and cliffs, but Yvette wanted a beachier setting for this shoot. So, I scouted around, exploring a few locations along the coast and taking photos of each spot to send to Yvette. I got to visit a bunch of new locations and pinned some cute spots on my phone for future Big Sur photo sessions. For this shoot, we ultimately settled on Garrapata Beach in Garrapata State Park.

The light for this session was perfect. We started during golden hour, and I shot in both film and digital. The couple chose outfits that beautifully coordinated with their shoot’s coastal setting. In the end, I had them running all around the beach so I could capture lots of movement and moments of connection. Finally, I finished the session by capturing some romantic silhouette shots as the sun dipped below the horizon. 

Big Sur, CA, is such a beautiful area. It has the perfect mix of SoCal and Washington vibes. It’s coastal and mountainous, with heavily forested spots and cliffside beaches. I can’t wait to go back in June! I’ll be shooting another engagement session and a wedding while I’m there, and it’s so lovely to already have a good idea of where I’d like to shoot. 

Does this Big Sur engagement session gallery inspire you? If so, I’d love to learn all about your love story and start planning your Big Sur photoshoot! Please connect with me here to inquire about my availability and upcoming travel plans. You can also learn more about my destination couples photography here. I can’t wait to hear from you!