Ashley + Jack wanted their engagement photos to feel like them—adventurous, laid-back and centered around spending time together somewhere beautiful. So we headed to Big Sur with their adorable dog, Lovebug, and their Jeep for an afternoon of exploring the California coast.
We started along Highway 1, which was new to all of us, and made our way through some of Big Sur’s most iconic scenery. From Bixby Bridge to quieter moments along the coast, the session was less about checking locations off a list and more about documenting Ashley + Jack enjoying the experience together.
And honestly, bringing Lovebug along made it even better.
Ashley + Jack’s Big Sur Engagement Adventure
Our first stop was Bixby Bridge, where we took some time to explore and ease into the session. Ashley + Jack were immediately comfortable together, which made it easy to focus less on posing and more on capturing how they naturally interact.
From there, we continued along Highway 1 toward Point Lobos. Along the way, Ashley had an idea I absolutely loved—recreating a little Pirates of the Caribbean moment with Jack. 😂 We leaned into it, had fun with it and ended up with images that felt completely different from the traditional engagement photos they could have taken anywhere else.
Midway through the day, we slowed things down for lunch and coffee. Naturally, we snuck in a few photos there too. Those quieter moments ended up being such a good contrast to the bigger coastal scenery and helped tell more of the story of their day.
We also got to meet up with my mom, who would later officiate Ashley + Jack’s intimate wedding in Maine that September. It gave everyone a chance to connect before their wedding day and made this session feel like even more than just engagement photos.
Sweet words from Ashley
“Holly is amazing, talented, funny, relatable, and super down to earth! She made us feel so comfortable and she is super open for any crazy ideas/recommendations while shooting!”
Getting messages like this after a session will never get old.
Planning Your Own Big Sur Adventure?
Ashley + Jack’s session is such a good example of why I love photographing couples this way. We had a loose plan, plenty of room to explore and time to stop when something caught our attention. Their engagement photos ended up feeling like a reflection of how they actually spent the day together—not just a collection of poses in pretty places.
If Big Sur is calling your name too, my Big Sur Elopement Guide is packed with everything you need to start planning, from the best time of year to permits, travel and marriage-license information.
And if you’re already dreaming up your own adventure, tell me what you have in mind. I’d love to hear about it.
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