If you are from the San Luis Obispo area, you’ve probably been lucky enough to go hiking out at Montana De Oro State Park. If you’re really lucky, you’ve discovered the Los Osos Oaks reserve. These are two of my absolute favorite locations in the whole world for beautiful beach engagement photos. At sunset, there is nothing more breathtaking than the light filtering thought the moss covered oaks in the Oaks Reserve- which is a secret fairytale forest not known to many. There is no sunset more gorgeous than at Montana de Oro Beach, either in Schooners Cove or up at the cliff trail. As the daylight sets over the Pacific Ocean, you can run through the waves, explore a secret cave, take the stairs up to the cliffside, and watch an absolutely epic sunset.
I really like love authentic, candid photos. Part of the magic of what I do is to help my couple’s have a unique beach engagement session that shows who they are as a couple and isn’t posed or a repeat of all the other engagement sessions they may have seen on social media. This is achieved by keeping the session relaxed, fun, and simply allowing them to be together in a beautiful environment and putting them at ease. I love moments that are unscripted and natural, using the beauty of the environment and light of day and the love between them to tell a story about who they are.
Cassie and Tyler are both incredibly gorgeous to begin with and their love speaks for itself- and showing that is really what I do for my couple’s. I don’t do it by interjecting myself between them and having them recreate poses or follow a script- all it takes is involving them in a beautiful experience and the magic just happens.
Doing your engagement session near or at the beach and choosing a spot where there are several great locations to stop and play in along the way is a really wonderful way to not only have incredible photos but also another wonderful memory for you both in the process of getting married. And believe me there are so many amazing locations on the California Central Coast for an engagement session to pick from! If you don’t mind a little adventure and wind in your hair, and you love the beauty of nature, I’d love to help you explore somewhere amazing for your engagement session.
Santa Barbara based wedding photographer and videographer.
Leana Myra combines a narrative style with a film aesthetic, preserving genuine emotions and connections in stunning imagery that tells each couple's unique love story.