Now, I’m not going to go ahead and declare the west coast is the best coast, but I will say that California has a million different options for elopement destinations, engagement photos, and couples sessions. If you’re looking for a city to capture your love story in, San Diego has so many different locales that fit every type of love story. Here are just a few favorites!
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
With 68 acres to explore, you know there are some amazing views here, and I can help you find the most epic backdrops for your San Diego engagement photos! You’ll find intricately carved coastal bluffs, arches, and sea caves as well as the most stunning panoramic ocean views. During the right time of year, if you’re lucky, you can see California gray whales.
Scripps Beach
The long and photogenic Scripps Pier is not open to the public, unfortunately, but the beach on both sides of it is, and the pier makes a great background to your engagement photos in San Diego. Scripps Beach is much quieter than La Jolla Shores just to the south, which gives you nice, intimate photos.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
According to SanDiego.org, “Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, located on the cliffs above Torrey Pines State Beach, is a 1,750 acre reserve dedicated to preserving its namesake, the Torrey Pine tree and other indigenous wildlife in its native environment.” The park offers hiking trails of varying levels, sandstone canyons, and cliffside views of the Pacific Ocean.
Balboa Park
If you’re looking for something a little more urban, Balboa Park has a little bit of everything: more than 16 museums, multiple performing arts venues, lovely gardens, trails, and sweeping architecture from Spanish Colonial Revival to mid-century Modern. Depending on what kind of backdrop you’re looking for, I can help you find it at Balboa Park.
La Jolla Sea Caves
Want to take your San Diego engagement photos to a spot dating back to the dinosaurs? I mean, how cool is that? The sea caves take a bit of effort to get to, but the history and scenery are so cool! There are seven, but only one is really reachable by foot, Sunny Jim Cave.
Bernardo Winery
For a different kind of San Diego engagement photo session, Bernardo Winery has been serving the region since 1889. The winery is open Wednesday through Saturday 11-8 and Sunday 11-6. What’s more Californian than a winery?!
Want a San Diego adventure with me? Click here to plan it together!
With love,
Lauren
There is something undeniably magical about a summer wedding in Northern Michigan. The way the light lingers late into the evening, the shimmer of Lake Michigan at golden hour, the scent of pine and wildflowers drifting on a warm breeze—this part of the world was made for love stories. As a wedding photographer who spends summers between Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and the lakeshore, I’ve fallen head over heels for this region. If you’re dreaming of a romantic, sun-soaked celebration up north, this guide to summer wedding photography in Northern Michigan will help you choose meaningful locations, plan around the light, and create timeless images that feel like pure summer.
If you’re dreaming of a northern Michigan destination wedding, this is my photographer’s-eye view of what makes it so special, how to plan for the light and landscape, and what to know as you design an experience your guests will never forget.
There’s something quietly enchanting about Northern Michigan. The way the light softens over Lake Michigan at dusk, the whisper of birch trees in the breeze, the rolling dunes that look like they were designed for romance. It’s no wonder so many couples are drawn here for their engagement session. As a northern Michigan engagement photographer, I’ve wandered these shorelines and forest paths with countless couples, and I can tell you: when you blend this landscape with intentional planning, your engagement photos become more than pretty pictures—they become a love story you can feel.
There are some places that feel like they were built for love stories. Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Michigan is one of those rare, cinematic settings where every corner feels like a page from a fairytale. Between the ivy-covered stone walls, manicured gardens, and soaring turrets that catch the golden northern light, a Castle Farms wedding is the kind of celebration that lingers in your memory for a lifetime.
There is something undeniably magical about winter in Northern Michigan. Fresh snow dusting the pines, the hush that falls over the lakes, the way the sky glows soft and blue just before sunset—this landscape was made for romance. If you’ve ever dreamed of saying “I do” while snowflakes drift around you and candlelight flickers off crystal glasses, a winter wedding Northern Michigan style might be exactly what your heart is craving.
As a Lake Michigan wedding photographer, I’ve watched the light dance across the water in every season, from soft, hazy June evenings to crisp, glowing September nights. With a bit of thoughtful planning, your sunset portraits can be everything you’ve been dreaming of: romantic, timeless, and filled with genuine emotion.
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Photography by Lauren Case
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