When you think of San Francisco do you immediately think of the Golden Gate Bridge, or is that just me? Many couples who book engagement photos in the Bay Area request views of this iconic monument, or other San Fran popularities. Being somewhat new to the area, I’ve made it my personal mission to find all the best engagement photo locations in San Francisco.

Capturing your love in one of your favorite places can make the photos all the more special. When you already have so many wonderful memories in a place, having professional photos taken there can really enrich the experience. When Camille and Joey reached out to book an adventurous engagement shoot, I was so excited to hear they wanted to capture their love in Yosemite Valley – one of my favorite places!

After my last blog post it’s no surprise that Lake Tahoe has quickly stolen my heart. The more time I spend here in these mountains, the more certain I am that I will be coming back for years to come! Between the serene forests, golden-hour sunsets on the lake, and lush hidden valleys tucked between snow-capped peaks — the possibilities seem endless.

I had the pleasure of photographing Jimmy’s proposal to Briana last year. I was delighted when they reached out again to photograph their engagement session. After a little debate on the location, Briana proposed we’d shoot at the San Juan Capistrano Mission! I was sold on the idea immediately.

As much as I love a simple, quiet elopement day in a scenic outdoor space, I’m a city girl at heart. And for some time I’ve been wanting to show clients that there is romantic beauty in even the densest city centers. Newly engaged couple Amanda and Alan agreed to be our bride and groom for the day. We met first at Exposition Park Rose Garden in USC. The afternoon light dissolved perfectly among large colorful roses. The glowy light around them was just breathtaking. Most people would be so surprised that these photos where taken in the middle of Los Angeles!

Spring blooms can be fickle in Southern California. If we don’t get enough rain, or if a certain area is ravaged by wildfires the year before, the flowers can quickly die out before I get a chance to enjoy them. This year, I didn’t have too much hope for a flower-filled spring engagement season. But Bekah, Austin, and I just happened to catch Malibu Creek State Park at the most opportune time.

I’ve been wanting to try out some new ideas for sometime now. Thankfully, I have no shortage of sweet couples who are willing to get their photo taken. Eunice and Christian were all about this elopement styled shoot. We worked together on a concept and location. I love how stylish and classic the scenery at Pasadena City Hall is. We met there early in the morning. Eunice brought fresh extra styling pieces, including a beautiful bouquet she made herself!

I’m falling in love with Northern California. Having lived my life in Southern California, I haven’t celebrated the north as much. I’m going to have to change that! I met up with Nicola and Matt just north of San Francisco in the Marin Headlands. We spent out day running around the hilltops enjoying the last of the light and talking about how awesome this area is.

Normally, a rainy day means a cancelled hoot. But this time, I purposely wanted to shoot in the rain. Luckily, Gabe and Avery were game to brave the weather and we set up a shoot for last month. We met at a nature park in Pasadena, CA for their couples session. This is the park that I run at! I love making some of the most normal places for me look beautiful.

Getting ready for an engagement session can be nerve wracking. This is probably one of the first times you and your partner have been photographed professionally. You want the photos to look perfect, and you feel at a loss for what to wear. And to top it all off, you are sooooo award in photos! How is it possible that you’ll get photos you like enough to put on a wedding invite?