Pfeiffer Beach Honeymoon Photos | Big Sur, CA

A Honeymoon Evening in Big Sur—

After their San Luis Obispo wedding (photos coming soon!), Erin and John cruised up the coast to a very special place in their relationship for their honeymoon, the coastal wonderland of Big Sur. This was the first time in our eight year career (!!!) a couple of ours has invited us to join them (!!!), and I hope this sparks a trend we see more often in the future! We offer complimentary engagement sessions with all our wedding packages as a way to get to know our couples prior to their weddings, and to help them feel comfortable with us before one of the biggest days of their life together. We do offer them the option of swapping this with a post-wedding session instead (usually bridals), and Erin and John had the brilliant idea of using this opportunity to have their Big Sur honeymoon documented. We excitedly said yes, because we love them and also will never turn down a trip up to Big Sur! What happened was absolute magic.

As most of their relationship has occurred in Central California, Erin and John have made very frequent trips out to Big Sur over the years together, with Pfeiffer Beach being a must stop. This beach, located really in the middle of everything, boasts a sandy shoreline, big waves, and super rad rock formations. On a low tide day, you can walk for what feels like miles. It makes a gorgeous place to spend a day, and also to take photos. We met them here to reminisce about memories of past trips (before the session, Erin shared with me a bunch of photos they wanted to recreate), and to continue the celebration of these two madly in love people. We do a ton of couple photos (engagement, maternity, anniversary, you name it), and, let me tell you, the honeymoon session just hits different.

A few days post wedding, Erin and John had a chance to breathe, to relax, to come down from the excitement that was being surrounded by all their people celebrating them. They got to be alone, just the two of them, and have restful moments to let the “we’re really married!” feelings sink in. Capturing this feeling, this ever popular “honeymoon phase” was so cool. These two were so in the moment and absolute naturals in front of the camera at their wedding (because they were so focused on each other and being present the whole day!), and this seemed to just be turned up to a thousand for their honeymoon session. They weren’t even phased by the literal hurricane force winds we experienced at Pfeiffer Beach that day.

We had the most beautiful, sunny Big Sur sunset for Erin and John’s honeymoon session, and I was so excited to capture the golden sunlight hitting the ocean and the rocks, something I’d always dreamed of since I first saw Pfeiffer Beach! We spent the evening— golden hour giving way to sunset— wandering the beach with them, dodging the gusts of wind (and all the sand that came with it). I think I am still picking sand out of my hair 😂. I’m so grateful these two were up for the adventure that this session became, being so in the moment, wanting it captured authentically, and truly radiating joy to be married! They were even willing to jump in the ocean at the end, contributing to my true favorite photos of the whole session.

I really love the way these turned out. The “cinematic” look is so popular these days, and I hesitate to lead with the goal to create that “style” when I approach a session. To be honest, not every couple’s way of showing their love for one another fits the mold of these movement filled images. I like to try a few different things out at the beginning of the session and see where things lead. Erin and John’s very playful, laughter filled relationship did translate to some really fun and sweet, more “cinematic” photos, and I cannot stop looking at them honestly 😂. I hope you love this peek into their Big Sur honeymoon as much as I do 😉.

We’re Katie & Joseph, California wedding photographers.

We love our job because we get a unique, intimate, deep dive into a couple’s life that not many others get to see. We make close friendships with our couples, and these days, often end up working with them from their proposal, to their wedding, and in all the milestones that come after.

We are big fans of documenting wedding days in an unposed, raw, genuine, and honest way that allows our couples to maximize their experience on their day while also receiving a gallery full of stunning images that communicate how it felt to be there.

Though we’re based in California + Arizona, we’ll travel anywhere for a good love story (and dance party). We invite you to follow the links below to learn more about us and our services, and to get in contact with us!

>>>>> MORE ABOUT US <<<<<

>>>>> COUPLE PHOTOGRAPHY INFORMATION <<<<<

>>>>> THE POPPY AND VINE WEDDING EXPERIENCE <<<<<

>>>>> EXPLORE OUR PORTFOLIO <<<<<