As both a past bride myself and a wedding photographer, I am a huge fan of engagement sessions! This is for a couple of reasons: First, it allows you to get comfortable in front of the camera. It takes time for most couples to warm up to being photographed and understand how your photographer prompts you into “poses”. Truthfully, wedding day timelines can be pretty tight day-of and 30 minutes may be all you have for portraits; this is exactly why we’ve found that wedding day portraits turn out so much better when couples have done an engagement session (with the same photographer) ahead of time. Plus, it’s a great “trial” for your wedding day. You can see what you like, and what you don’t like. And then, as another added bonus, you have a bunch of fun and dreamy photos showcasing you and your partner in your more regular clothes!

I feel so lucky to travel all over the state of California (& beyond!) to photograph love stories. A lot of the time, engagement sessions and weddings take me to the San Francisco Bay Area which is always so fun!! Here are some of my favorite San Francisco photo locations.

1. Baker Beach

2. Marin Headlands

3. Twin Peaks

4. Pier 7

5. Palace of Fine Arts

6. Lovers Lane

7. Black Sands Beach

8. Trojan Point Mt. Tamalpais

9. Battery West

10. University of California Botanical Garden

11. Shell Ridge Walnut Creek

12. San Fransisco Conservatory of Flowers

13. Half Moon Bay

14. Point Reyes

15. Ina Coolbrith Park

16. Legion of Honor

17. Filoli Gardens

18. Sutro Baths

Avoid the pre-engagement shoot nerves by checking out my free guide featuring 5 tips to help you prepare for your shoot! Download it by clicking the button below.

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