Romantic and timeless engagement session in San Francisco

There are two love stories that intertwine Julia and Paul. The first and most important is their love for each other. The second is their shared love for San Francisco. They’re complementary and add to the intentionality in which they live - connecting them even further as a couple.

For their first date back in 2021, they went to two classic city attractions: Horsefeather and Alamo Square. They connected easily that day, and since then their relationship has always felt effortless. As they put it the first time we chatted, they’re best friends and they love doing life together. So when it came time for them to take the next step in their relationship, it was only too fitting for Paul to recreate their first date and invite some of their closest friends and family to celebrate with them. The intimate and thoughtful celebration even included signature drinks!

A San Francisco love story

When it came time to plan their engagement session, there was only one location that made sense - San Francisco - and they chose two timeless locations for their photos: San Francisco City Hall and Baker Beach! We planned to start the day at City Hall for some classic, timeless photos of them surrounded by the Baroque-inspired architecture and then regroup at sunset for some fun, uninhibited photos of the two of them frolicking on the beach.

To ensure we missed the crowds and tourists at San Francisco City Hall, we met first thing in the morning when the doors opened. While there were still other sweet couples getting married and taking photos at the same time, we managed to find lots of private and open spots. And with a little photoshop magic, I was ultimately able to make it look like we had the place to ourselves, allowing them, their love, and the architecture to be the focus of their photos. Julia opted for a fitted, minimalistic little white dress and white pointed heels while Paul wore a tailored black suit and white button up sans tie. Their outfits were timeless and elegant, pairing well with the French architecture.

That evening, we regrouped at Baker Beach and mostly had the spot to ourselves. It was slightly overcast and we didn’t get much of a sunset, but the moody lighting was quintessential San Francisco and created a romantic vibe. We kicked off our shoes and let our hair down for this portion of the shoot, letting the wind carry us away. Julia and Paul were so much fun and so natural in front of the camera. They were able to relax, have fun, and show their true personalities! We also had fun trying to recreate some inspiration photos they found on Pinterest. They didn’t just want their photos to be about them, they also wanted to include the city that they love so much. So we made sure to take a lot of photos with the Golden Gate bridge behind them - out of focus and in focus.

At the end of the day, we were capturing photos that were so much more than just their engagement photos. We were capturing their love, in a city that they love so much.

Now, as they continue to plan their dream wedding at the Santa Barbara Zoo, they’re being intentional with the traditions, people, and activities they want to include on their day. For them, their priority is getting good photos of the two of them together and with their loved ones. And it’s not the big flashy, social media-worthy photos that matter the most to them, but the sentimental ones. The ones that capture those small in-between moments that truly represent their day as it was, allowing them to relive it for years to come. These are the photos that they’ll print out and display, and they’re the photos they can’t wait to share with their future children.

Beyond the photos, Julia and Paul can’t wait for the toasts and blending all of their different friend groups! They look forward to all of the new connections and friendships that will come.

Plan an engagement session that captures your love

Want to plan an engagement session that truly captures and reflects your love? Let’s chat! The possibilities are endless and we can plan a session that isn’t just about the photo, but also about creating new, sweet memories from this exciting time in your lives.