DESTINATION ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION IN PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

It’s an honor and privilege to once again work with my amazing clients, MIKAYLA & SEBASTIAN. I initially traveled out to STINSON BEACH in MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA to capture their Surprise Proposal Photography session (VIEW HERE: Sebastian’s Proposal to Mikayla ).As if that wasn’t epic enough, this awesome couple had me travel back to the West Coast, this time to beautiful Palm Springs, California to work with them on capturing their Engagement Photography Session. Repeat clients, California Dreamin’, what’s not to love!? I’m so excited to share these highlight images!

This was a very VIBE inspired engagement shoot. Palm Springs holds a dear place in the hearts of Mikayla and Sebastian. They had spent the last several years there with family gathered from all across the map of the United States during New Years (late December through early January). SInce we had already worked together at Stinson Beach for their surprise proposal, they were hoping to continue the throughline with California for an engagement session (they live in Oakland). That's when it dawned on them that Palm Springs would be the perfect session spot. They love the beautiful neighborhood of Palm Springs, so rather than map out a particular spot, they requested that we just take a nice stroll and find some cool places to make images. As a former street photographer (where I got my start) this just made me more excited. I love taking a photo stroll, not knowing what's ahead but curating in the moment and finding beautiful imagery as we work.

Since their proposal was on the beach and inherently more casual, the clients wanted to dress it up a bit more but not go overly formal. Mikayla opted for a pretty, patterned, purple dress (triple P!) and camel sandals, while Sebastian donned a smart pair of dress shoes, an elevated, more dressed up pair of dark blue jeans and a two-tone, blue and white sweater.

The overall style of the shoot was obviously dictated by the ornate design of the luxury Palm Springs homes (often containing bright pops of color via front doors and other design aspects. The interesting part of the session is that we did not get the typical, Palm Springs sunny weather. It was quite overcast and cloudy with tones of aqua, purple and pink through the sky and clouds. This is why I chose a more nostalgic, dream and cinematic editing treatment. The photo and weather Gods were obviously calling me to create something quite different here. And I couldn;t be happier with the results. Congrats to this amazing couple and I'm so honored to have worked with them twice! :)