Posts tagged weekend retreat
Northern San Diego Engagement Session | Bar Date and Sunset Beach Photography
 

“We love spending our date nights trying new bars, so we figured this would be so us.” 🥰

The moment Myrissa and Chad said that, I knew exactly how their engagement session should feel. Instead of planning a traditional photo shoot, we turned it into one of their favorite date nights. We started with cocktails at a cozy bar 🍸 and ended the evening watching the sunset along the beach in Northern San Diego. 🌅

From the very beginning, everything felt easy and natural. Myrissa might out-emoji me, which honestly says a lot. 😂❤️ Chad reaches for her without even thinking, and those little moments say so much about their relationship. They laugh easily, they have fun together, and they make every moment feel effortless.

As the evening unfolded, they clinked glasses, wandered along the shoreline, and soaked in the golden light. Their engagement session felt playful, flirty, nostalgic, and full of genuine connection. Those are always my favorite sessions because they reflect who a couple truly is instead of asking them to be anyone else.

I love when couples choose an engagement session that reflects who they really are. Instead of asking them to pose, I get to document them laughing, talking, and enjoying time together. Those are the moments that tell the story of their relationship and become the photos they treasure most.

One of the sweetest parts of the day was knowing they drove all the way to Northern San Diego just to spend the evening with us. They kept thanking us throughout the session, but honestly, Brett and I were the lucky ones. We left feeling like we had spent the evening with friends. 💛

 
Erin and Jen’s Wedding Weekend at Venture Retreat Center
 

“How do you know Erin and Jen?”
“Did you go to school with them?”

We love when people ask us that. It happens a lot. Guests often think we’re old friends or cousins, and honestly, I take that as the biggest compliment. It means we blend in. We are present. We care enough to truly observe and document each unique wedding story like we are part of it.

That is the heart of documentary wedding photography. We don’t just show up with cameras. We step into the story and capture it as it unfolds, real and unfiltered.

Erin and Jen didn’t want their celebration to last only one day. They wanted a full weekend surrounded by their favorite people. So they invited everyone to Venture Retreat Center in Pescadero, California and said, “Come stay the whole weekend!” A summer camp with a wedding. Perfect, right?

Their story is just as beautiful as their day. They met on Hinge while Jen was hiking through Norway. Their first date was at a climbing gym. Years later, Jen proposed under the stars in Yosemite, and Erin almost lost her ring. Their love story is full of adventure, laughter, and real connection.

Their Venture Retreat Center wedding weekend was filled with hugs, cats, cozy cabins, handmade DIY details, and so much heart. 🏳️‍🌈 Every detail felt like them. It was joyful, colorful, and deeply personal.

As LGBTQ+ wedding photographers, we felt honored to document every part of it. This is what we love about authentic wedding photography in California. Every story is different. Every couple brings their own kind of magic. Erin and Jen’s weekend reminded us why we do this work - to capture love that is true and unforgettable.

📸: by me and Brett

💌 Let’s Make Something Real
If you are planning your own wedding weekend in Pescadero, the Bay Area, or anywhere in California, and you want photos that feel honest and alive, I would love to be your documentary wedding photographer. LET’S MAKE MAGIC TOGETHER ✨