Marshall Beach Sunset Engagement Session

The Most Romantic Beach Engagement!
I absolutely love it when a groom is the one reaching out to me to plan the engagement session. I find it very sweet and endearing when they're willing to get involved and be just as excited as the soon-to-be bride.
Steven contacted me and he had a general idea and a few pictures of what he was looking for, as far as the location and timing. He wanted guidance on the timing, what to wear and was interested in what ideas I might have for them.
His original idea was baker Beach because he's seen a photograph, and a lot of people "think" they want to go to that beach, but there are a few other beaches nearby that are actually a little better for what we wanted to do. I sent him photographs of a few of my favorite locations, and he chose Marshall Beach as their spot.

How should you decide where you want your engagement photography session to be?I'm going to give you a few ideas as inspiration for your brain to spin around because if you're reading my blog, I bet you're thinking about your own planning.
Favorite neighborhood haunts.Do you have a favorite vintage movie theater, retro bookstore, or cozy coffee shop where everybody knows your name and all you have to do is murmur "We'll have the usual" as you head over to "your table"? That's a no-brainer as a possible photography backdrop.
Your next couple's weekend away.Surprise proposals and engagement sessions both fit hand in glove with someplace romantic enough that you've already planned an intimate weekend away together. Whether it's warm sandy beaches, a quaint small town, the splendor of national parks, or the glamour of a big city, you've got all the makings of the perfect outdoor backdrop for your photographer to wow you with pictures of the two of you. I'm based in San Francisco, and as a big tourist destination, I often get requests from couples coming in from out of town for their engagement-moon!

The place you had your first date. (Or where you met each other.)Nothing stirs up emotion as much as revisiting the past and the very place that your love story began to unfold. Engagement photographs are used for many purposes. One is to keep this memory forever, another is to share with friends and family, or maybe use the pictures on save the date cards for your wedding. By choosing to have your session in this very special place, you're inviting everyone to see the very first chapter of the book!
Steven and Miriam wanted a location that was within a few hour's driving distance from their home, had a pretty beach at sunset and would have nice restaurants that they could book a romantic dinner at afterward. San Francisco checked off all of their boxes and so we planned their time with us.
I gave them the general colors that work best and they came up with the perfect outfits that complimented their skin tones and didn't detract from the moment.

I'd wanted to set a stage for them, and bring my votive candles and light up Marry Me sign. They'd decided to get married during a chill conversation, so they hadn't had that big surprise "will you marry me" moment. We decided it would be fun to recreate it so that they could experience it after all.
Our half-mile hike down to the beach with all the gear was more than I could do on my own and Amelia came to help me out. I have to give credit to her for the beautiful heart set up as the sun was sinking fast. Props are an excellent way to add a little wow-factor to your couples photography session, but another second set of hands is the best way to make sure that your photographer can focus on you and have everything perfectly set up and broken down without costing you precious sunlight. This was a great lesson for me in testing out these props, and I now know that an assistant is always going to need to be included, and they're well worth the extra fee.

Everyone had an exhilarating time, and as Steven, Miriam, Amelia, and I headed the half-mile back up to the parking lot, we agreed it was worth the work and the vertical climb back up. They were thrilled with their images and I know they feel more confident posing for their June 12 wedding pictures, since they've had this trial run.
Please reach out if you'd like to inquire about your own engagement or surprise proposal session.