Ellie + JC {Montana de Oro}

Montana de Oro is one of the beautiful national forests that is located near by. I find myself shooting lots of engagement sessions there. I joke that it’s ‘where I work’. Not a bad office space!

Ellie and JC were sweet and we just had an amazing little hike through the Eucalyptus forest to the beach. I can’t wait to get to know them more.

Marisa + Sean {Montana de Oro, Los Osos}

I got a call from Sean the day after he proposed, a Saturday, asking me to shoot their engagement pictures ‘tomorrow’ before he left town. I said… “Heck YES!” It was amazing to photograph these guys because they were exploding with excitement and love each separate moment I spent with them. Marisa would randomly shout out as if afflicted with tourettes, “I’m engaged!!!”

The story goes like this. Sean met Marisa at church in Santa Maria while stationed at the Air force base locally. Sean says, “it’s funny how sometimes you are in a place you think you shouldn’t be and then God brings you something you never expected. It’s then that you realize you were actually right where you were supposed to be.” They started out their friendship playing guitar and keyboard together at a friend’s house. Months after the friendship progressed to feelings, Sean writes Marisa a song. While on a camp out (in Montana de Oro) he tells her that he wrote this song, but can’t play it for her around their friends. A day later he texts her saying that the song is for her. She thinks it is a ‘I Just Wanna Be Friends’ song. But when he finally plays it for her it was a song expressing how much he had fallen in like with her! Thus, the start of their romance!

Months later and Sean is now relocated to Colorado. This past weekend he flew into town for a surprise proposal. He taped a card to her door with detailed instructions to get a glass of water, sit on the couch, and then to walk out to her balcony. He was waiting below with a ‘Will You Marry Me?!’ sign. She wasn’t expecting the proposal to come for at least a couple more months, so she was beyond surprised! The next morning he calls me when I’m getting ready for a wedding and within 24hrs I find myself hanging with these awesome people capturing the first few moments and emotions of their engagement.







And the last fun fact I will leave you with. Marisa has a superpower. She can look at a word, or think of it, and immediately tell you how many letters it is. She says it’s a blessing and a curse; she just can’t help it!

Christa + Paul {Montana de Oro}

Because Christa grew up locally and has since moved to the Bay Area she really wanted her engagement session photographed with some Central Coast Vistas as the glorious backdrop for their love story. She knew right away that she wanted majestic oaks, ocean-scapes and rugged coastline. Montana de Oro is just the place! I love venturing through this national forest, which is just 15 minutes from my house, to share all of it’s beauty with a new couple.

Because I shoot in these locations often, I force myself to approach it with fresh eyes, through the reaction and relationship of the people I am shooting. It was fun to watch Christa and Paul trip out about how beautiful and peaceful the forests and beach were. I think these images reflect that reaction. They are full of beauty and peace; great ingredients to begin a lifetime to come of love and marriage.










They had some silly humor-t’s to end out the session!

Jennifer + Patrick {Los Osos}

We had a beautiful afternoon shooting in some national forests that are minutes from San Luis. The air was so crisp and full of love. Jennifer and Patrick are the sweetest ever!



I get so excited to show visitors this gorgeous view of Los Osos to Morro bay. How amazing is it that this is just 15 minutes from my house?! When I get out there I am always overtaken by the majesty of creation. One of my favorite things if photographing people in front of the natural textures and colors that each season has to offer.

Sherwin + Karen {Engagement, Montana De Oro}

Sherwin + Karen drove all the way down California to my neck of the woods for their engagement session. Unfortunately for me, I wont be shooting their Hawaii wedding this fall because they have a photographer in the family. Fortunately for me, I got to spend a couple hours with them playing in the surf of one of our most beautiful beaches. They are a beautiful couple both inside and out and I am proud to have been able to capture their love.



I love where I live!

Raj + Mindy {Engagement, San Luis Obispo}

Raj and Mindy are one of the sweetest couples on the face of the planet! They booked me like 2 years ago because they had to have a longer engagement to prepare for the wedding. It was really fun seeing them again after what feels like forever ago.

We started out at Camp San Luis at an abandoned incinerator from WWII. Yeah; seriously! We arent exactly sure what they incinerated in there but it was pretty cool and yet slightly creepy. From there we ventured to Montana De Oro. They took us to these long branched trees that cover a hillside with their limbs as if they were too tired to reach towards the sky. The entire engagement session was magical and inspired. Thanks for the awesome time; you guys are beautiful!