An Orange County Engagement Session Full of Golden Light

Okay, I have to start with the light because it showed up and showed off that evening for Eric and Melissa’s Orange County Engagement Session! That soft, hazy, salty air gold that really drapes along the OC coast in the last hour before sunset. Eric and Melissa got the good stuff and the kind of light that makes even me, someone who looks at this for a living, stop and go “oh dang!”

They knew they wanted to do their engagement session at a beach in Orange County and I think we chose a great one for their session. It’s so important to choose a location that allows you to be comfortable and enjoy your time together. These two are getting married in a few short months at the Rio Hondo Golf Club in Downey and I can’t wait to celebrate them!

Why I whole heartedly love photographing in Orange County

People ask me all the time where to go for engagement photos and the possibilities are endless because we live in such a beautiful place. A few of my favorite places in Orange County for engagement, maternity and family photos are:

Laguna Beach — Stunning! Does require a permit (worth it!) and is dependent on the tides. High tide makes a lot of locations inaccessible.

Dana Point — Gorgeous! A little easier to photograph at if high tide is an issue for other beaches.

Irvine — offers a lot of nature locations that give a different look from the typical beach spots

Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and San Clemente are also some other options.

If you’re planning your own OC session, here’s a few tips

Forget the “perfect” location — timing matters way more. Starting around 60 minutes before sunset will give you the best light. Even the prettiest locations may not look so pretty if the light is too bring and too harsh.

Go somewhere with a memory attached, not just somewhere Pinterest-pretty. Choose a location of significance and somewhere that gives you that home-y, cozy feel.

Wear what you’d actually wear. Coordinated, not matchy-matchy. Flowy fabric photographs better than anything stiff and neutral/natural colors always work best.

Limit the props. A blanket, a bottle of wine, your dog. More than that and it starts feeling too posed and forced.

If you’re engaged (congrats!!) or just starting to think about a session, I’d love to hear about the two of you and help you pick your engagement session location.

Contact me here and let’s chat!