Big Sur Engagement Session

One thing I know for sure is that Emma is my platonic soulmate. Since our very first conversation about her wedding a few years ago, we haven’t stopped talking. When we finally met in person for Emma and Nilay’s Big Sur engagement session, it felt like the most natural thing in the world—like reconnecting with someone I’d known my entire life.

The trip to Big Sur from Los Angeles was… memorable. Let’s just say it involved a winding drive along Highway 1, intense nausea, and a brief, humbling moment on the side of the road—waving at a few unimpressed cows. But any discomfort disappeared the moment we arrived.

Big Sur has that kind of magic. Stretching along California’s central coast, it’s a place where the Santa Lucia Mountains plunge straight into the Pacific, creating one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. For centuries, this land has been a place of awe—first for the Esselen and Rumsen Ohlone peoples who lived and tended the area long before it became known as “Big Sur,” meaning “the great south” in Spanish. Its isolation, rugged cliffs, and misty forests have inspired countless artists, writers, and dreamers. There’s a stillness here that feels sacred, like time slows down just enough to let you breathe.

We wandered through the trails and talked about everything and nothing while I photographed Emma and Nilay against the backdrop of wild coastline and golden light. The air smelled of salt and redwoods. Every frame felt effortless because they were simply being themselves—two people completely at ease in love.

That was back in 2022, and now Emma is one of my baby’s favorite aunties. Watching her and Nilay with little Elio feels like a full-circle moment—proof that the best part of this job isn’t just the art we make, but the lifelong friendships that come from it.