Foggy Montana de Oro Engagement Session | Katiebelle & Nick
When we first talked to Katiebelle & Nick about their wedding, we really dug deep into why we choose to photograph in a more authentic, candid style.
When these two arrived at Montana de Oro for their engagement session, they came prepared to be photographed just that way. We began their session the same way we always do, by explaining to the couple that we’re here with no expectations. We appreciate the fact that they’ve never stood in front of a professional camera before, and that we by no means expect them to look like models. Instead we want them to feel free to be their real, raw, genuine selves, and focus on loving each other the way they do in real life-nothing exaggerated for the camera.
These two were so grateful for the little pep talk, and immediately relaxed, just being their real selves. When you scroll through their photos, I hope their emotion makes you smile bigger than you ever have before, especially knowing that nothing is fake. I am so proud of this gallery not because of anything special I did with my camera, but because it just feels like them, and what it is like to spend two hours with Katiebelle & Nick.
These two are avid mountain bikers, and have spent a ton of time traversing Montana de Oro’s miles of biking trails. They were excited for their session, because they’d never slowly taken in the beautiful state park before, they’d only zipped through it on their bikes. So we decided to explore the place a little more than we normally do, follow the trails a little longer than usual, and really take in the evening.
Every inch of Montana de Oro is absolutely blooming with wildflowers right now, and it seemed like every little turn revealed some new patch of color we’d never seen before. The foggy weather gave us the opportunity to capture all of it too! Katiebelle and Nick spent a few years living in Santa Cruz, and grew to love its nearly always foggy weather, so it was a welcome treat for us to drive in and have a foggy day.
Going on a total adventure and capturing Katiebelle & Nick’s sweet, excited love for one another was the best way to spend a Sunday evening. Our time together was so full of lighthearted conversation and laughter, and we ended smiling BIG at the thought of seeing them again in September when we get to celebrate their wedding day with them!
