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santa cruz engagement photographers

A Picture-Perfect Proposal: Daniel and Elizabeth's Sunny Afternoon at Twin Lakes Beach, Santa Cruz, CA

A Picture-Perfect Proposal: Daniel and Elizabeth's Sunny Afternoon at Twin Lakes Beach, Santa Cruz, CA

In the golden embrace of a sunny afternoon at the picturesque Twin Lakes Beach in Santa Cruz, CA, a moment unfolded that was nothing short of a fairytale. It was here, with the iconic Walton Lighthouse standing majestically in the background, that Daniel chose to embark on a lifelong journey of love and commitment with Elizabeth, a momentous occasion that I had the privilege of capturing through my lens.

Daniel and Elizabeth, accompanied by their adorable black dog adorned with a red handkerchief, brought a delightful touch of familial warmth to the shoot. Their furry companion seemed to sense the love in the air, adding a playful and heartwarming element to the already blissful occasion. Each frame captured not just two people in love but a small, happy family ready to face the world together.

As the gentle waves kissed the shores and the lighthouse stood as a beacon of hope and steadfastness, Daniel knelt, and with a proposal, promised forever to Elizabeth. Her joyous acceptance was met with cheers from bystanders, as seagulls soared above, almost as if celebrating this union with their harmonious cries. It was a tableau of love, pure and heartfelt, framed perfectly by the natural beauty of Santa Cruz.

Amidst smiles, laughter, and the sparkling reflection of the sun on the gentle waves, this session became more than a proposal shoot; it transformed into a joyous celebration of love, a testimony to the beautiful journey that Daniel and Elizabeth are embarking upon, together.

Santa Cruz Engagement Session (+Family) at Natural Bridges

Santa Cruz Engagement Session (+Family) at Natural Bridges

Weddings often unite more than two individuals; sometimes they create a whole new family. That’s why an engagement session is sometimes something a little more, and I’m absolutely here for it! While it may be a little embarrassing for the kids to see the grownups, well, grownupping – it’s always a fun, rambunctious experience for all. Emily and Matt are tying the knot later this year, but we were able to fit in an amazing session between these crazy winter storms we’ve been having. We started at the rear entrance to Natural Bridges to get that woodsy feel, then followed some back trails before finally making it to the beach, where we were treated with a breathtaking sunset. Enjoy a few of my faves below!

Marriage Proposal / Engagement Photo Shoot at Panther Beach, Santa Cruz

Marriage Proposal / Engagement Photo Shoot at Panther Beach, Santa Cruz

Aside from weddings, I probably put the most effort into helping plan surprise proposals for romantic guys who really want to make this moment special for their girls. From detailed and diagrammed satellite imagery outlining the target area for where I’ll be waiting, to making sure I receive a selfie of the couple so I don’t accidentally “stalk” the wrong couple, I go to great lengths to ensure all the randomness of nature and life don’t prevent me from capturing the moment, then expanding that moment into many moments, guided by my experience and natural feel for this sort of thing.

Even though we had a surprise river bisecting the beach, even though the tide (and waves) were so high that we couldn’t explore half the beach, even though it was a Sunday afternoon and we had a ton of partying teens cheering the couple on – everything came together in a magical way that I hope was everything Shamik imagined it could be. Here’s the highlights of our short time together, I hope you enjoy them.

Panther Beach - Santa Cruz Engagement Session

Panther Beach - Santa Cruz Engagement Session

Panther Beach is one of the more popular engagement photography destinations in the Santa Cruz area, mostly because it offers stunning natural features and is fairly private, as it’s challenging to access. But with great beauty, comes another natural risk – big waves! This is the only beach I or my couples have fairly routinely gotten wet at – usually by accident :) Luckily I was able to get a bunch of great photos before the risky shot at the end. A sneaker wave pummeled the rock these two were standing on and utterly drenched them. I got the shot (of course), because that would be a real bummer way to end a session if I didn’t! Luckily they were in good spirits and it wasn’t too cold (even though it’s March). Enjoy a few of my faves below:

Panther Beach Santa Cruz Engagement Session

Panther Beach Santa Cruz Engagement Session

We had nice soft light for Abbey and Andrew’s engagement session at Panther Beach just north of Santa Cruz, California. Just because you’re a little shy in front of the camera doesn’t mean you aren’t capable of amazing photos! By some miracle, we avoided getting soaked by the notoriously enormous waves at this beach. Here’s some of my faves from the session…