Garland Ranch + Colton Hall Museum - Carmel Valley, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Monica + Daniel

Monica + Daniel just got married on January 7th in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I wish I could’ve been a part of it, but I was a wee bit outside of their budget. However, they still wanted to work with me, so they hired me for their engagement photos.

I photographed Monica’s cousin, Maria, for her wedding a couple months ago. Tap here to see my blog post all about Maria + Noe’s big day!

Monica and I actually had multiple instances of mutual connection, and it was so cool to discover that during our session. She’s a Dental Hygienist, and it turns out that she actually worked with my sister at a dental office a couple years ago. Small world!

We scheduled the shoot for Mid-December, and at the time, the couple were knee-deep in wedding preparations. Monica + Daniel were both eagerly anticipating their big day.

Their smiles were so wide and genuine that I couldn’t help but grin along with them! Right from the start, I knew that we were going to capture some prize-worthy shots.

This engagement session included two gorgeous locations: Garland Ranch and the Colton Hall Museum. I’ve shot at both of these places a million times, so I know all of the tips, tricks, and special alcoves that will give the illusion of privacy even if the place is busy.

At the Garland Ranch, Monica + Daniel combined their wardrobe colors expertly, Monica with her bold purple dress, and Daniel with dark, neutral tones. Having that fantastic pop of color in Monica’s dress made the couple stand out in front of the greens and browns of their surroundings. Great job, you two!

When we arrived at the Colton Hall Museum, the couple changed into clean, bright white. Planning different outfits for each location really made this session special, and I’m thrilled that they chose the pieces they did.

Even though I couldn’t make it to your wedding, it was a pleasure meeting you both for your engagement session at Garland Ranch and the Colton Hall Museum. Congratulations on your marriage! I know you’re both excited to step into this new stage in life.

Colton Hall Museum + 17 Mile Drive + Asilomar State Beach - Monterey, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Noe + Maria

It was a joyful adventure to photograph Maria + Noe for their engagement session! I brought them to Colton Hall Museum, 17 Mile Drive, and Asilomar State Beach for a variety of fun photos that will last a lifetime.

Maria + Noe met when they were invited to Maria’s cousin’s house to help film a video for a Spanish class. Later, Noe found her on Facebook and messaged her! Eventually, they exchanged numbers and started dating.

For their first date, Noe picked Maria up and they went to the park. Right away, they understood each other’s sense of humor and all of Maria’s nerves vanished!

On Maria’s birthday, Noe told her that he wanted a future with her and that he was taking their relationship very seriously. A month after that, he asked her to be his girlfriend, and they have been together for ten and a half years!

He proposed to her on her cousin’s birthday! After a party at a winery, her cousin said that she had gotten a photographer to take pictures of everyone at the beach. They all stopped at a Starbucks before the beach to use the restroom, but little did Maria know, a videographer was waiting to sneak a microphone onto Noe!

As they approached the beach, Noe began telling her all of the things he loves about her, like the way she is caring, family-oriented, and smart! It all hit her very slowly, and by the time he knelt and popped the question in front of all of her family, she was in shock!

The videographer who filmed their engagement referred Maria + Noe to us for their engagement session! I was so flattered to learn that she had chosen us over a bunch of other options.

One of the places I brought them to was Asilomar State Beach, which is this neat rocky area. Then, we headed to a sandy part of the beach about a quarter mile away. Even though the weather was a bit muggy, that didn’t stop us from getting these stunning shots!

I’ve said it a bunch of times, and I’ll say it again! Wearing solid-colors and flowing dresses to your session like Maria + Noe adds so much movement and depth! One of my favorite shots of the session was when I had them do the “Titanic” pose! This always gets my clients giggling. A good mix of poses and actions brings out the best photos!

This engagement session was so much fun! Thanks so much for choosing me, and I can’t wait to photograph your wedding in September!