Ryan & Rachel's Big Sur Proposal | A Cliffside Engagement Session at Garrapata State Park
An unforgettable surprise proposal, happy tears, and a sunset picnic along the dramatic Big Sur coastline.
Some engagement sessions are about beautiful photographs, and others are about capturing a moment that two people will remember for the rest of their lives. Ryan and Rachel's proposal at Garrapata State Park was a wonderful combination of both.
When Ryan first reached out to me, he had a vision for how he wanted to propose to Rachel. He wanted to document this incredibly important moment in Big Sur, surrounded by the dramatic cliffs and the raw beauty of the Pacific Ocean. After several emails back and forth, we worked through the details of how everything would unfold, from where I would be standing and what I would be wearing to how he would signal me when he was ready to ask the question.
Planning a surprise proposal takes a little coordination, but I absolutely love being part of the process. There's something so exciting about helping someone plan a moment that will change their lives forever.
And this one was especially meaningful.
A Surprise Proposal Along the Big Sur Cliffs
Brian wanted a location that felt adventurous, wild, and connected to the things he and Rachel love doing together. The dramatic coastal cliffs at Garrapata State Park were exactly what he had in mind.
With the Pacific crashing against the rugged coastline below, the setting was incredible. The landscape stretches endlessly along the coast, with towering cliffs, ocean views, and the kind of scenery that makes you stop and take it all in.
We had everything planned out ahead of time. I knew where I would be positioned, how I would blend into the surroundings, and what to look for when Brian was ready. When the moment finally came, Ryan asked Rachel to marry him.
And she said yes!
After the proposal, Ryan waved me over, and I introduced myself to his now-fiancée, Rachel.
Rachel had been waiting for him to ask that question for quite some time, so it took her a moment to gather herself. There were happy tears, a few deep breaths, and that wonderful feeling of realizing that something you've been dreaming about has finally happened.
I love those moments after a proposal. There's no rush, no pressure, and no need to immediately start posing for photographs. It's a chance for the couple to hug, celebrate, look at the ring, and really soak in what just happened.
Once Rachel had a chance to catch her breath and the emotions started to settle, we began the engagement portrait portion of the afternoon.
Why Garrapata State Park Was the Perfect Place for Them
One of the things I loved about Brian and Rachel's vision was how much the location reflected who they are as a couple.
They love going on long, adventurous hikes and spending time outdoors together. They weren't looking for a traditional engagement session with a series of close-up portraits in a pretty location. They wanted the landscape to be a big part of their story.
And Garrapata delivered in every way.
The cliffs, crashing waves, and the endless views of the Pacific created the perfect setting for their engagement photographs. There is something so powerful about standing along the Big Sur coastline, looking out over the ocean, and realizing just how small we are in comparison to the world around us.
That's one of the reasons I love photographing couples in Big Sur. The landscape becomes part of the story, giving the photographs a sense of place, adventure, and scale that you simply can't recreate anywhere else.
For Ryan and Rachel, having that wild and dramatic scenery surrounding them was important. They wanted their photographs to reflect the places they love exploring together and the kind of adventures they look forward to sharing in the future.
Photographing the Grand Landscape and the Intimate Moments
One thing I love about working with couples who are drawn to Big Sur is that they often want more than just traditional portraits.
They want to remember the entire experience.
They want to see the cliffs stretching along the coastline, the waves crashing below, and the incredible landscape that surrounded them on the day they got engaged.
And they want to see themselves within it all.
One of my favorite ways to photograph couples in Big Sur is to incorporate the grand landscape into the images, allowing the couple to become a small part of the frame.
I love showing just how expansive and beautiful these places are, with the couple nestled somewhere within the scenery. Sometimes they're walking along a trail, sometimes they're standing together looking out over the ocean, and sometimes they're simply taking a moment to enjoy being there.
These wide landscape photographs tell a different part of the story. They capture not only the two people in the photograph but also the feeling of being somewhere wild, beautiful, and meaningful.
Ryan and Rachel, this approach felt especially fitting. They love adventurous hikes and exploring incredible places together, so having the landscape play such a prominent role in their engagement photographs was a natural choice.
Of course, we also captured plenty of closer portraits, the embraces, the laughter, and all the little moments that make an engagement session personal.
It's that combination of the grand scenery and the intimate connection between two people that makes photographing couples in Big Sur so much fun.
A Sunset Picnic to Finish the Day
After the proposal and engagement session, Ryan and Rachel had one more special part of their day planned.
A picnic overlooking the coast, where they could watch the sunset together.
I thought this was such a wonderful way to end the experience. After all the excitement of the proposal, they had time to slow down, enjoy the scenery, and celebrate this new chapter in their lives.
I love when couples build their own experiences around their engagement sessions. Whether it's a picnic, a hike, a favorite bottle of sparkling cider, or simply taking the time to watch the sun disappear over the Pacific, those personal details make the day feel even more meaningful.
And for two people who love spending time outdoors and exploring Big Sur, a sunset picnic was the perfect way to wrap up their engagement day.
A Special Connection to Big Sur
Another thing that made this proposal especially meaningful was Rachel's connection to the area.
She grew up in this part of California many years ago, and she never imagined that one day the most important question of her life would be asked here, along the beautiful Big Sur coastline.
There is something really special about returning to a place that holds memories from an earlier chapter of your life and creating an entirely new memory there with the person you love.
For Rachel, Garrapata wasn't just a beautiful location. It was a place connected to her past, making the proposal and engagement photographs even more personal.
I think that's one of the things that makes engagement sessions so wonderful. The location doesn't have to be the most elaborate or the most exotic place in the world. Sometimes the most meaningful places are the ones that already hold a little piece of your story.
And sometimes, the best memories happen in places you never expected.
Congratulations, Brian and Rachel!
Spending the afternoon with these two was such a joy.
I'm so happy Ryan reached out and trusted me to help plan and photograph this incredible moment. From all the emails and planning beforehand to the surprise proposal, the happy tears, and the engagement session along the cliffs, it was wonderful getting to be part of their story.
I especially loved that they came into the experience with a clear vision of what mattered most to them. They wanted adventurous, meaningful photographs that showed not only their connection with each other but also the incredible places they love exploring together.
Being able to capture that vision, while also documenting the surprise and excitement of their engagement, is exactly why I love what I do.
Ryan and Rachel, congratulations on your engagement! Thank you for letting me be part of such a special day. I hope these photographs always bring you back to the excitement of that afternoon, the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs, and the beginning of this wonderful new chapter together.
And here's to many more adventures, beautiful places, and sunsets together!
Planning Your Own Big Sur Proposal?
Are you thinking about proposing to the love of your life somewhere along the Big Sur coastline?
Whether you're envisioning a surprise proposal along the beach, a dramatic cliffside moment overlooking the Pacific, or an adventurous engagement session followed by a sunset picnic, I'd love to hear what you're dreaming up.
I help couples plan the logistics of their proposals, from choosing a beautiful location and figuring out the best time for sunset photographs to coordinating how the surprise will unfold.
We can photograph the proposal itself and then spend the rest of the session celebrating your engagement with portraits that reflect who you are and the places you love.
If you're planning a trip to Big Sur and want to document this incredibly special moment, get in touch and tell me a little about your vision.
Are you picturing yourself on the beach with your toes in the sand, standing above the ocean on the cliffs, or somewhere completely different?
I'd love to hear your ideas and help you bring them to life.
Inquire about a Big Sur proposal and engagement session, and let's start planning something unforgettable.
