close up couple face to face about to kiss on beach

GUYSSS, here’s how this gorgeous, windy, beachy couples session went down! March has been a month of back-to-back trips, so I was visiting my extended family in California (where I’m originally from!) for a family event that I was photographing. I had all my gear with me, so I figured if I could find a couple to photograph while I was there, why the heck not!

I love love love seeing the world and California is certainly not lacking in the landscape area! 😉 So, as I was out to dinner with my lifelong friend on a Tuesday, I asked her if she happened to know any couples who may be available and up for a shoot on Wednesday or Thursday.. yep, a day or two later!

She immediately said, “I know the perfect couple!” and she texted a friend she sits right next to at work! Lauren texted back that her and her husband, Chad, were all in! THANK GOODNESSSS! I only had a few days, because my boyfriend and I were heading to adventure around San Francisco for the weekend, so I had to make it happen ASAP.

I texted Lauren and introduced myself, explained how my sessions work and guided them in what to wear, and figured out a location that we could meet at after they finished work but before the sunset! The spot I originally wanted to go to was on the same route as allllll of the traffic during rush hour, but thankfully, Lauren knew that we should avoid that, so we picked somewhere new and met there!

Windy was an understatement, but I actually adore how much movement in her hair it caused! The sunset was vibrant and explosive, I was loving all of the lens flare and gorgeous color I was capturing. These two were such troopers, since the wind by the water made it crazy chilly, but I kept them running around and hugging each other to stay warm.

It was totally new for me to just be thrown into a shoot without ever having met the couple before even via email! I alwaaays get to know the people I work with, which helps foster a genuine relationship and a super comfortable environment on the day of a shoot or wedding, but in this situation, we both just texted each other and I gave her little low down on who the heck I was! Didn’t need them thinking I was a total creep HAH.

They were SO sweet and willing to go all in for any prompts and poses I threw their way. They seriously are the mushiest and cutest ever, I loved how easily they could make each other laugh and how genuinely they looked at one another.

One of my favorite moments was when I asked Chad to think of a moment or time where Lauren made him really proud. He held her close as he whispered in her ear, and I just stepped back and let them have their moment. It was amazing seeing Lauren’s expressions change from humbled by his words to pure joy in her eyes. WHEW, this stuff gives me the chills, friends!!!

How they met:

These two met back in college during their freshman year general biology class! They had to sign up for lab time the first week, and it just worked out that they went to the same one and were put in the same lab group. Chad asked Lauren out on their first date after going to an extra credit event together 2 weeks later, and they never stopped hanging out after that!

The Proposal:

Lauren says, “Chad told me his sister invited us over for family dinner, so I planned on meeting him at her house after work that evening. When I got to the house, it was almost sunset and there was a note on the door that said “come find me by the lake…” and a trail of flower petals. I walked down the path behind her house following the trail of petals, candles, and lanterns until I found chad with a picnic all set up. He said all the right things about why he loved me and then got down on one knee. Of course, I said yes and we celebrated with sparkling drinks and Fettuccini Alfredo (my favorite). Everything was perfect and I loved that I had no idea he was going to propose that day!

The Wedding Day:

“We got married in the Oakland Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was the perfect day and the vibe was a little boho with my flower crown, flowy dress, and dainty gold details. After the ceremony, we drove to my family’s house where we had the reception in the backyard with everyone. It NEVER rains in my hometown during the summer, but it rained on our wedding day haha. Luckily, my parents are flexible geniuses and all the tables managed to fit under our outdoor roof! I feel like that seems to be the pattern in our lives together…things almost never go according to our plan, but we make the most of it and it turns out to be better than ever. June 17th, 2016 was perfect, and it feels like yesterday!”

All I can say is I am beyond grateful my friend put me in touch with these two and they were so up for quickly planning this shoot with me! I am blessed to have this passion that allows me to meeting amazing new people and connect me with humans who live across the country! Like wuuuut, so freaking cool.

Lauren and Chad, you two are the sweetest souls and your love is so beautiful. Thank you endlessly for making this shoot happen with me, I hope you adore these photos as much as I do. They are a celebration of your marriage and love for one another, especially since you two made the effort after a long day of work. That’s love for each other AND for photography – heck yes! 😉 Obsessed with you two!!! Enjoy all your cuteness! <3