Santa Cruz California Adventure Session at Shark Fin Cove

So… I’m not exactly known for being an extrovert.

I am super comfortable and outgoing around the people I already know and love, but when it comes to meeting new people, ESPECIALLY approaching strangers, I’m usually so shy. I’ve been trying to get more out of my comfort zone, because hello - breaking into a new market across the country and getting your business re-established means you have to be uncomfy sometimes. So when I saw this adorable couple on the beach in Santa Cruz and they asked me to take a photo for them with their camera, I decided to face my fears and ask them if they would like a little beach sesh with me.

I am SO glad that I did, because Kristen & Cisco were so sweet and so fun to work with - I wish we’d had time for a full session, but we wound up with only 5-10 minutes and it was still amazing.

Santa Cruz is a place I’ve wanted to visit for years, and it was an absolute out-of-body experience to be able to shoot at Shark Fin Cove. It’s unreal. I could’ve spent the entire day there (and I really wish we’d been there to catch a sunset, although we actually caught sunset that night at Steamer Lane, which was another bucket-list experience for me. Maybe I’ll share some surf photos sometime?)!

Please note that this location is rocky, the walk down from the parking lot is pretty steep, and the tide can be sketchy and dangerous at times. As always, if you choose to visit, please follow all Leave No Trace principles and be respectful.

Many thanks again to Kristen & Cisco for taking a chance on a stranger and letting me spend some time with them that afternoon!

Arabia Mountain Sunset Engagement Session

Abhish & Nishita. I don’t even know where to start. These two have to be one of my all-time favorite couples - they’re fun, gracious, down for a good time, and they ADORE each other. Their engagement and wedding were an absolute blast, and I’ll never forget it. I can’t wait to share some from their 3-day wedding weekend, but first let’s take a moment to appreciate this ridiculously beautiful engagement session at Arabia Mountain in Atlanta.

In my opinion, Arabia Mountain is one of Georgia’s best kept secrets. I don’t know how in the world it took me as long as it did to go, but I am so stoked that I made it out there! It has this totally otherworldly feel, and I highly recommend scoping it out for a hike if you have the chance. As always, please remember to Leave No Trace if you choose to do this hike! There’s an abundance of unique and fragile plant life, and we’ve got to make sure we take good care of it.

Cozy North Georgia Cabin Engagement Session

Today’s post is really special - part one of a two-day cozy intimate wedding weekend we spent with our friends, CJ & Tara, in the North Georgia mountains. CJ is one of Aubrey’s oldest friends, and he was actually a groomsman in our wedding almost 14 years ago! So when he and Tara got engaged, we were so so honored when they asked us not only to photograph their wedding, but for Aubrey to officiate. He’d never officiated a wedding before, but he got ordained online just so he could marry them ❤️

We initially planned their elopement to be near Joshua Tree National Park, but with the pandemic, we shifted the plan and stayed closer to home. It ended up working out beautifully, because their immediate families (and their dog, Hank!) were able to join them for their ceremony at a beautiful cabin in the mountains.

Aubrey and I spent the night before the wedding at the cabin with CJ, Tara, and Hank, and we were able to do a cozy little session for them to document their last engaged day. Honestly, I don’t get to do day-before sessions very often (just because we usually shoot engagement photos pretty far in advance before the wedding), but I’d LOVE to do more of them in the future! They are so sweet. We kept it low-key and snuggly, with some absolutely killer sunset light. I love these. I’m so stoked for Tara & CJ, and am so glad we’re all friends.

Next up, the ceremony (featuring Rev. Aubrey)!