Browsing Tag

engaged

Buzz & Bella, Love & Marriage, Wedding

San Diego Engagement Photo Locations

There are hundreds of beautiful locations for San Diego engagement photo locations. Where else in the world can you be surrounded by hundreds of miles of coast line, beautiful country sides, cozy mountains and stunning desert scenery! And all within 45 minutes away from each other! Makes for one killer engagement photo shoot location. We took our engagement photos last summer with Dan Rice Photographey after interviewing and viewing tons of San Diego wedding photographers I ended up going with my very first choice. He was the very first photographer I met at a Bridal Bazaar and happened to shoot in the style I was looking for. Casual. Romantic and Dreamy. At least that is what it looks like to me! So now the challenge was where to shoot.

I read tons of post and yelp reviews of locations to pick the very best location for my shoot. I wanted to do a beach photo shoot and I was also envisioning a beautiful field shoot kind of like this:

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So my photographer Dan suggested Marian Bear Memorial Park in La Jolla. At first look I was well….under impressed and thought how the heck is this going to look pretty in pictures.

park Not very pretty huh? Well do not be fooled!

That day my fiancé had forgotten my other outfit changes at home. Let me tell you something: Things will not go perfect! This was my learning lesson and we made the best out of it!

I originally was planning on wearing a very casual look my white Abercrombie & Fitch dress with my favorite brown cowboy boots that my fiancé Mark bought me…but because of our little mishap and I ended up keeping on the gold sequin dress. I bought the dress on Tobi for under $50. I wanted something form fitting to show off and preserve in pictures what I think is a pretty fit body! Lol hey I am going to want to show my kids mom has always been hot!

This is how our engagement pictures turned out:

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Our second San Diego engagement photo location was Del Mar Dog Beach. Mark & I LOVE it here so it was a very special place to us. There is no other beach in San Diego that captures beautiful shoreline and the amazing multi colored cliff formations and where we could bring the two loves of our lives, our Boston Terriers Buzz & Bella. We decided to go to the beach an hour before sunset so we can capture sunlight and the amazing San Diego sunsets. We took our engagement photos in July so the days are long, but make sure to check sunset hour during the time of the year you want to take photos. Also, check the tide…. We didn’t and as you can see by some pictures it was a high tide! The high tide made for a very interested and fun photo shot. We had so much fun shooting here! Our dogs were having a blast and Dan was amazing photographer willing to capture and pretty much do whatever it took to get the shot. I am talking about getting all wet and ruining his shoes! I am telling you he is a great photographer.

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Click here to visit our engagement photo shoot gallery.

Some of my other favorite San Diego engagement photo shoot locations include:

  1. Balboa Park – Love it here! I have reserved this location for our wedding day!
  2. Sunset Cliffs Beach – Beautiful secluded beach one of the best places to view the sunset. Cliffs says it all so you need to be daring to climb your way down to reach the beach
  3. Pacific Beach Board walk – great for traditional California beach boardwalk shoots
  4. Belmont Park – Right on the beach. Carnival rides & all!
  5. Gaslamp Quarter – Historic downtown area. Beautiful buildings.

Ask your photographer for more and remember chose what best suits you! Do you have any favorite San Diego photo shoot locations you love? Share with us!  Comment below.

 

Love & Marriage, Wedding

How to take timeless engagement photos

How to take timeless engagement photos is something some of us strive for. I mean how many times have you come across an old photo of your parents or an old wedding photo and thought “WTH were you wearing?” I admit I have. I have also come across old photos of them or my grandparents and still look at them and believe they are beautiful. I do not consider myself to be very fashionable. In fact I think I lack a lot of fashion sense and often times I dress for comfort more than I do to be “in” on a fashion trend, but it doesn’t mean I care to look like a slob! I love nice well fitted clothes and well made shoes. So the stress kicked in when I realized I had to plan my engagement pictures and live with them for life! I wanted a look that I can look back 20, 50 years from now and think “wow we looked elegancegreat!” I want to capture the moment of who we are and how we are right now. One of my fashion icons is Jacqueline Kennedy. Look at her wedding day look! Still looks good!

Engagement pictures can go and be done many ways. I have seen many beautiful pictures taken! Some are funny, use props, dramatic, formal, casual, with kids, with pets, you name it! Most importantly you have to do what YOU like and what showcases you and your fiancés personalities and preferences.

Here are some pictures showcasing different styles!

 

Casual & Symbolic Hometown  

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With Pets

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Formal

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Cultural 

 

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So determine the following for yourself….

  1. What is your style

Are you and your fiancé people who love to snuggle up in sweats and watch football on Sundays? Go on hikes together? Dress up and enjoy a five star dinner? This helps you determine who you are and what style photos to take. Biggest mistake to do is to take photos that are not very representative of you. If your friends and family know you as the couple that love to spend weekends at the park and bbq the it may be weird to take engagement photos in a 3 piece suit at a museum smoking a cigar and drinking champagne….

  1. What to wear

Look good, but look like yourself. I find it very interesting who people take engagement pictures and wear things that they would never wear on any other day or party. Wear what you feel the most sexy and confident in. Look good and do not be afraid of being cheap. These photos will forever be showcased in your home and in your story. Wear something you already own and love maybe a favorite watch or shoes or jersey. Buy a new outfit or rent one on sites like RentTheRunway. Ladies…. Do not cake on the make up! Professional photos are less forgiving on our skin and wrinkles so every little crease is noted and every layer of make up and powder you use is also noticed. Either lay it off or get your make up done professionally using airbrush make up. I got my hair done professionally, but since I have never been one to wear a lot of make up I decided to do it myself and wear my signature red lipstick. You chose what is best for you.

  1. Favorite Places & Things!

For me it was easy. We love our dogs, we love the beach and he loves his hometown of New Orleans! We took our engagement photos at Del Mar dog beach in San Diego with our two Boston Terriers and in New Orleans. We also took a very whimsical dreamy shoot at a park in La Jolla. Click here to check out our full engagement photo session. Our Engagement Photos

xoxo – Adriana