Storytelling San Diego Engagement Photos | Isabel + Jeremy

If I had one piece of advice for my future Southern California engagement clients, it’s this: engagement photos can be anything you dream of. By including favorite and sentimental spaces alongside stunning backdrops, you’re left with a gallery that feels true to your individual story rather than something mass-produced. For Isabel and Jeremy, they came to me with a plan and wanted to incorporate locations that were special to them. So that’s exactly what we did!  We made a day out of their San Diego engagement photos in Pacific Beach, California and I’m absolutely loving the results.

San Diego Engagement Session

We began our shoot at the apartment Jeremy lived in when he and Isabel first met. It’s where their story started, and bringing that into their photos added a level of authenticity you just can’t fake. After capturing them before the colorful buildings, we made our way to Tourmaline Beach, another key component to their story that made for beautiful imagery.

Tourmaline Beach Engagement Pictures San Diego

Isabel and Jeremy are both surfers and they met at Tourmaline Beach. It’s still one of their favorite shared activities so it was only fitting to photograph them there!  If you’re unfamiliar, Tourmaline Beach is a scenic surf spot at the north end of Pacific Beach. As a Southern California native, I’ll admit I’m a bit partial to the scenery here.  The stunning cliffs, rocky beach, and all of the surfers are the epitome of coastal romance. However, it’s not just a beautiful location. This beach is where they met, fell in love, and continue to make memories. Choosing this spot was an essential part of telling their love story.

Candid San Diego Engagement Photography

If you look through their gallery, the photos create a  visual narrative.  From their sun-soaked beginning to the energetic, joy-filled present and all that the future holds, I aimed to include every heartfelt detail in their photos. Each image reflects who they are and the love they share (which, by the way, is apparent within moments of meeting the two of them!) That’s the power of storytelling through photography and it’s at the heart of everything I do.

Isabel + Jeremy’s Narrative San Diego Engagement Session

Isabel & Jeremy’s  shoot was fun, heartfelt, and incredibly personal. Walking through their love story throughout the evening was a reminder of just how powerful candid storytelling can be. My photography style leans into those natural, in-between moments. Why? Because I believe your images should feel like you instead of a checklist of poses. Your story is unlike any other, and the photos we take should reflect that.

Planning Your Own San Diego Engagement Photos

If you’re planning your own upcoming engagement photos, keep a few things in mind. As you’re dreaming up your own session, don’t limit yourself to what you think engagement photos should be. Instead, think about what really matters to you as a couple. What locations are meaningful to the two of you?  When it comes to date nights, what is your go to activity or restaurant?  If you’re an adventure-loving couple, like Isabel & Jeremy, by all means incorporate that into your session!  You get what you give when it comes to personal details.  A little bit of planning and a few discussions with me about your vision is a tried and true way to get the photos you really want. That’s always the goal for me: delivering a gallery that feels honest, timeless, and truly yours.

San Diego Engagement Photographers

Hey, I’m Allison  and I specialize in laid-back, sun-soaked engagement and wedding photography in Southern California. I believe in capturing candid moments on the West Coast that feel as real and radiant as your love story. Are you dreaming of engagement photos that feel authentically you? No matter what you’re envisioning whether it’s a surf session or a picnic , I’m here to tell your story in a way that feels like you. Are we a match?  Take a look at my curated packages and let’s talk about your dream engagement session!