My husband and I wanted to do our engagement photos in Santa Monica, at a couple of our favorite spots. We did some portraits at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, because I’ve always loved the style and decor – it is very ‘me.’ The yellow chairs, the plate wall, the mirrors: it is the perfect combination of vintage and modern influences, and makes for some great pictures. And then we headed to the beach and pier for lots more, so scroll down for those.
Since moving to California four years before, we’ve always loved the beach. We were starting our life together, and eventually our family, in California. What better place to have our engagement pictures than the beach and pier in Santa Monica? So after our portraits at the Viceroy, we headed for the beach and had some fun!
So if I could take this opportunity to give a few tips on what I think makes a great engagement session, it would be these:
1. Pick a place you love and that has meaning to you for at least some of your photos.
2. Get outside if possible – the light is always so much better!
5. Relax and try to have fun. And if you need a little help, have a drink first! We had a drink or two at the Viceroy bar before we started just to loosen up a bit.
And here are tips for styling your wardrobe for your engagement session.
{Photos by Jennifer Roper / Location: Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Pier + Beach / Chandra’s wardrobe: Dress and tee: J.Crew, Jeans: Joe’s Jeans / Hair and Makeup: Flawless Faces}
You guys are so stinking cute. Thank you for sharing your engagement photos, they are just beautiful! We just did ours the other day (despite the fact that we have been engaged for a year and a half, and the wedding is two months away). Posting on Monday, but was feeling a bit weird about it as well. I figured because our shoot was so rainbow-splattered (like the blog itself) it would be appropriate.
And who knew when you took these photos that just four short years later, the hubs would be shot in the head on cable while flipping the bird. 😉
Thank you Natalie! And yeah, who knew! 🙂
I love the pictures on the beach. Love the sun!
This is the cutest shoot ever! You are so beautiful, Chandra 🙂 xo
Aw, thanks Rhi! That made my day 🙂 xx
What great pictures! I love looking back at my engagement pictures. I still can’t believe so much time has passed since then. We’ve been married for 6 years now, and each time we get into a disagreement, I pull out my engagement pictures. They remind me of the love we share. Then, we are happy again. Best of luck!
These are great! Yay for posting them 😀 and I’m in love with the plates on the wall shots – superb!
You look gorgeous! I love that you chose two distinctly different parts of your personalities to show off – the glam and the beachy still go well together.
I feel like so many couples think they have to pick a garden location or something really stereotypically pretty, but some of my favorite sessions have been centered around an activity – like a hike, or dinner, etc.