Late last summer, I met Natalie & Jeremy at San Clemente Beach for their Orange County engagement photos. Southern California sunsets this time of year are always so dreamy and this day was no exception.
I’ve been to San Onofre a handful of times for personal beach days, but this was my first time getting to photograph a couple here. It’s also the perfect meeting point between Los Angeles and San Diego (for my couples with a longer commute)!
Exploring the Bluffs of San Clemente Beach
When we met up, the partly cloudy sky cast a hazy glow over the whole coastline. This kind of diffused light is some of my favorite to shoot in because it creates a beautiful, cinematic feel to your images.
To start our session, we wandered to the edge of the bluffs for some dramatic views of the ocean. In my humble opinion, San Clemente is a little like Orange County’s version of Big Sur…just a lot closer to home.
Golden Hour Orange County Engagement
These two found the best seat in the house for nature’s golden hour finale. Natalie and Jeremy got cozy together on this cute little bench as the sky lit up fiery orange. Though they will adamantl deny it like they did to me before shooting, N & J have serious chemistry in front of the camera. 😉
We chased the light down to the beach just as the sun crested over the San Onofre Nuclear Plant. (Not pictured here: Jeremy’s solo session with the iconic fembot tribute).
And a footnote: the rocks on this San Clemente beach are no joke, but somehow, walking across them can look effortless in photos. These two are champs!
Like so many other 2020 couples with weddings affected by coronavirus, Natalie & Jeremy postponed their big blowout reception until next year. Today, I’m honored to document their intimate celebration at their family home in Los Angeles. It’s going to be beautiful.
Congratulations you two!
If you enjoyed this session, check out Maria & Darren’s Big Sur engagement or Janalyn & Ryan’s anniversary in La Jolla.
