Kait and Matt decided to elope in Big Sur after the wedding planning in Virginia became overwhelming. They started to feel like they were planning a day for everyone else instead of celebrating their love. After seeing photos of Big Sur Kait and Matt knew immediately this was the place.

Monterey Family Photos // The Robbins Family

Kacie and Sammie joined me on a dark and stormy day on the Big Sur coast to capture their engagement session. Sammy brought her best dad jokes and Kacie kept Sammy warm with lots of hugs. We explored the coast with an adventure session to two different locations and lots of fog! Growing up in Big Sur I think this has been one of the foggiest summers I can remember and I have no complaints about it.

I often offer suggestions to my photography clients while they are here visiting either for family sessions, elopements, or engagement shoots. I wanted to make those suggestions available to anyone on my site! Being a self-proclaimed foodie who loves good food but hates up-tight atmospheres this list will not include black tie locations although there is plenty of them in Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur, and Pebble Beach. (L'Auberge in Carmel was recently given one Michelin star and is phenomenal without kids) For those families visiting I have two kids and spend the majority of my time at the beach or river here, I’ll include my favorite fast places!

The Presidio Yacht Club in San Francisco offers a perfect wedding backdrop for your wedding day, with the Golden Gate Bridge in view you can’t go wrong! Cameron and Emily incorporated their love for sailing and the beauty of the sea under the Golden Gate Bridge for their wedding day!

Josh and Alissa were married this past week in San Francisco among their closest friends and family. Alissa saw all her friends who had big weddings and determined that was not for her. The day before her ceremony she had a backyard party at her friend’s house downtown complete with a donut table made by a friend. But on her elopement day, she only wanted 5 close friends and family.

Elopement and Wedding California Photographer

Big Sur Photographer // Big Sur Family Photos with the Layrisson Family

Carmel Photographer // Save JT

Big Sur, California surprise proposal on the beach.

I’ve photographed the Payne family for several years now and I love it every time. Being a Big Sur photographer I’m often shooting outdoors by the beach or redwoods so I was so excited about this in-home lifestyle session. I love to photograph families and how they naturally interact together and I feel like home sessions provide a comfortable environment for just that. Being a mom I know how fleeting these moments are; I hope Ellery and Avery can look back on these moments and remember the sweet way their mom held them, and the careful planning that went into their nurseries and their home when they were little. These moments are what photography is all about, emotion, connection, and love.

Big Sur maternity session from the redwoods to the sea!

Pebble Beach Family Photos // The Farac Family

Big Sur adventure session finding waterfalls in the middle of the redwoods and chasing light as it disappeared below the sea.

It’s always fun to photograph a fellow photographer’s family and watch them as their children grow!! We choose Big Sur which was cold and windy this afternoon but the Redding family made exploring with the three boys look easy!