Emily + Sven’s effortlessly romantic Malibu engagement photography session!

This couple lives in the Seattle, Washington area. But they happened to be in LA doing some wedding planning at the same time I was in SoCal for some other shoots. Even though I had a hectic week scheduled, we managed to squeeze in this romantic engagement session. Ultimately, the final results made it worth making the time!

Emily, the bride-to-be, is an interior designer at The Cline Company, a family-owned design firm based in Edmonds, WA. But since she used to plan weddings, she’s also a fellow wedding industry insider. These two had just gotten engaged before this shoot and are planning a July wedding. And I so understand why current and former wedding vendors sometimes opt for a tight planning timeline.

Curating the perfect wedding as a vendor is tough! It can feel like you know too much, and you can easily find yourself bogged down by all the details. So, one way to avoid getting stuck under the weight of overthinking is to do it all last minute. It might feel like a whirlwind experience, but it’s so much better than second-guessing every little decision.

Since I’ve worked in the area before, I recommended shooting at El Matador State Beach. This beautiful stretch of SoCal coastline boasts sandy beaches surrounded by rugged cliffs. Even though it can get crowded, I love this location. Heading in, I already knew about the tricky parking situation here, so we planned to arrive early. Still, we parked on the street and walked down to the beach for Emily and Sven’s Malibu engagement photography session.

During the shoot, we had fun running around on the beach and in the water. The light hit the cliffs beautifully, allowing me to capture organic, coastal images this couple will cherish forever. Emily and Sven were so effortlessly romantic and joyful that it was easy to capture these nostalgic shots. I shot on film and digital and brought along my camcorder just for fun. Despite the crowds, it was a truly perfect night.

Though I live in Washington, I travel to Southern California very frequently. So, if you want organic, emotive photos in a stunning coastal setting, I may be just the right person to capture your love story! You can learn more about my destination couples photography services here. If you connect with my vision and artistic style, let’s connect. Please contact me here to inquire about your SoCal engagement photography session.