An engagement for the ages

Love, Laughter, and Light: An Engagement Session in Balboa Park

Balboa Park: the setting of A LOT of photo session in SD, is a sprawling park that feels more like a canvas painted than a public park. Here, beneath the sun-drenched skies of San Diego, lovers, families, children , and performers congregate, unaware that they are unwittingly partaking in a ritual that has been played out for centuries—celebrating love amid stunning beauty. The park is alive with possibility, and as a documentary wedding photographer, I’m here to capture the unfolding story of a couple on the brink of a grand adventure.

Walking through the park, you can’t help but feel inspired by the weight of history and culture. Today, I’m inspired by the couple standing before me— Jordan and Tristan.

The Dance of Authenticity

There’s nothing stilted or artificial about love, nor should there be about capturing it. Sure, I’ve seen photographers orchestrate pretentious poses as if love were a Broadway act. But as I watch my couple, I encourage them to be, well, themselves. We wander through the lush greenery and the large avenues calling for spontaneity.

In this slice of paradise, I don’t just take photos; I become an observer of life unfolding. I look for slices of moments, tiny morcels of love that can help me understand who the couple is and how their love shapes their relationship. I enjoy talking to them to create a relationship so that I can both set them up for success while still letting them be themselves in the moment.

Reflections and Resonance

As the sun begins to sink, we make our way toward the amphitheater and the California Tower where the golden hour unfurls its magic. I let the light direct me. That’s how I work. Life is unscripted so why should my sessions be any different. A lot of my ideas for portraits or things to do depend on what I sense about the couple I work with.

The light spills across the bridge and creates hard shadows that make it my dream set up. This is it—the moment when everything aligns. Capturing this scene feels both intimate and grand, like a scene out of a classic film where everything suddenly makes sense.

Here, in this moment, it’s clear that love, much like photography, is about perspective—it’s about how you choose to see the world. Whether you’re scaling the peaks of joy or navigating the valleys of doubt, the essence of connection is always there, waiting to be captured, celebrated, and kept.

Why Balboa Park?

Because no matter how you look at it, it’s a question of prespective. You can either create photos that everybody has seen before, or you can strive to create something unique to you and meaningful to them… and I don’t think I would be doing my job correctly if I didn’t make these photos as unique as possible.

But I’ll you be the judge.