Balboa Park Sunrise Engagement Session: Vivian and Dale

Love languages include words of affirmation and physical touch, so when you state your preference on a dating profile, you hope you find someone who truly understands you. This is exactly what happened to Vivian, except that she wrote, "Cheese is my love language." A girl with good taste AND a sense of humor? Dale could not resist. Their romance began with a first date where Vivian brought along her dog, Pippa, as a companion, and led to an engagement with a light blue, custom sapphire engagement ring from Montana.

When Vivian initially inquired with me for an engagement session, she sent me a photo of the formal black dress she wanted to wear at her engagement session: a woman with a plan after my own heart! When we decided to capture Vivian and Dale's engagement photos at an outdoor San Diego brewery, in fact, the place where they had their first date, Vivian changed up her outfit to reflect the casual environment.

With the latest Covid restrictions in San Diego, that plan got remixed to a sunrise engagement session at Balboa Park (hello 6am meeting time!) Not only would we run into fewer people as Covid safety precautions, we would also have iconic park spots to ourselves, AND Vivian's elegant black dress was back in the picture! Even better is that we began shooting while the Balboa Park market lights were still on in the background of the Lily Pond, right by the Botanical Building, a background request from Vivian. Pippa is a part of this family, so it was only right that she was also included in this session!

Vivian and Dale, thank you for being so much fun to plan with! Getting up early was 100% worth it! Please keep posting cooking videos as I love them :) - Evelyn

San Diego Surf Inspired Session: Hannah and Casey

Casey asked, "Did we move to San Diego and become models?" and I replied while laughing with, "Yes, Casey, yes you did!" Let me back up: Hannah and Casey moved to San Diego from Milwaukee via San Antonio and to their surprise, really took to surfing! I have been wanting to shoot a surf inspired session and these two were the perfect models: FUN, in love, and willing to show me all of their bathing suits so we could pick out the best match!

Hannah and Casey, I'm so happy to have you in San Diego! Hannah, you know I can’t remember life without you HAHA! Can't wait to do this again ;) xo, Evmo

La Jolla Scripps Engagement Session: Melissa and Chris

To find a home away from home is quite special: Melissa, a California native and one time San Diego resident, found a ‘home’ with Chris in Chicago, where they are both medical students. Having braved countless classes, exams, and winters together, they are uniting their friends and family for a destination wedding in sunny San Diego! What better backdrop for their engagement session? A mix of land and sea…or beach, I should say! Melissa and Chris chose a classic San Diego beach session in La Jolla with Torrey Pines in the background. Scripps Beach is one of my personal favorites beaches in La Jolla because you walk and walk for what seems forever, and my favorite thing about these two: they are FUN! Melissa and Chris are all smiles and laughs!

Melissa and Chris, I am SO excited to be documenting your wedding this upcoming fall! I love your positive energy and infectious laughter! xo - Evelyn

Downtown San Diego Portrait Session: Matt, Mia, and Nala

For months, Matt, along with his girlfriend Mia, talked about the potential of adopting a puppy. A simple mention of a puppy is when the anticipation began for them and their friends, myself included, all along for the ride of this puppy adoption process. I love dogs and absolutely believe they become family members once they join a household, so to be a part of the build up for this puppy's arrival was so exciting!

At a few weeks of age, Matt and Mia's fur-baby came home - Nala arrived! - and to celebrate her and their new 'family extension,' portraits were a must! Nala will only be this little once in her life, as she'll grow up to be a full sized Goldendoodle, so now was the best time to capture her, and to see both Matt and Mia beam with joy was an absolute pleasure!

Scripps Seaside Forum Engagement: Cassie and Matt

"How to keep your terry white" may or may not have been the title of the work seminar where Cassie and Matt would cross paths for the very first time. Yes, 'terry' as in terry cloth, the soft fabric towels and bathrobes are made of. You see, Cassie and Matt both worked in leadership roles for the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, a brand close to my personal heart, at their Santa Barbara and Los Angeles properties in housekeeping and operations, respectively.

This first meeting, however, was not as soft and cuddly as terry cloth: Matt ill advised Cassie of the seminar start time; highly career driven, Cassie arrived late, embarrassed, and was not pleased with the gentleman who interfered with her first impression to company leadership.

Fast forward to a few years later where Cassie had transferred to the hotel brand's Palm Beach, Florida location and ran into Matt at a different work conference. This time was different: she was on time, and Matt was charming, made her laugh, and dare I say, left her thinking about him when they parted ways.

The two stayed in touch and during a weekend visit from Florida to her old stomping grounds in Santa Barbara, Matt was 'coincidently' also going to be two hours north of Los Angeles that same weekend. Read: Matt liked Cassie. He was going to do whatever it took to see this girl during her West Coast visit, and their long distance romance began. Visits to San Diego, where Matt now lived, ensued and California-to-Florida red eye flights resulted in their traditional early morning mimosas on Cassie's balcony. Distance did not prevent these two from falling in love and an engagement prompted Cassie's final cross country flight for their relationship when she made the move to San Diego to be with her new fiancé, Matt.

Cassie, your laugh gets me every single time - it's truly infectious! - and I've adored you to pieces from the day we met. Matt, I admittedly did not know you would bring so much GQ-esque flavor to this engagement session: get it, boy! Thank you for allowing me to capture your love in the first city for you to both call home. xo, Evelyn