Asilomar State Beach - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Location Spotlight

Asilomar State Beach is nestled along the picturesque coast of Pacific Grove, California and offers an unparalleled backdrop for your photo sessions. This spot is one of my favorites of all time, so I hope you love it as much as I do!

Asilomar State Beach is renowned for its enchanting 1-mile long stretch of beach. Complete with a walking trail, the rugged coastline is sprinkled with fascinating rock formations and tidal pools that always make photos pop, so no matter what happens, you’re basically guaranteed amazing shots.

This is because Asilomar State Beach has everything we need to create great composition. From the tall cliffs to the ocean spray, there’s always plenty going on to frame you and your loved ones in the perfect photograph.

Asilomar State Beach has a tranquil stretch of golden sand, too, if you’re not into the rocky coves, and I’ve created some incredibly romantic shots along the sand dunes. From one end to the other, this beach is magazine-worthy.

I’ve taken every kind of session here, from engagements to family portraits! No matter what kinds of memories you’re looking to create, I know all of the most fun and romantic places along this shoreline.

The tide pools in particular are always a hit. You’ll often find little sea critters just hanging out, and kids and children at heart always go nuts for the crabs, starfish, and clams. This sense of wonder never fails to create powerful memories for you and your family.

If you’re looking to capture candid moments, portraits, or romantic couple shots, Asilomar State Beach is the place to go. As long as it’s not raining, we’ll have an amazing time—but I have been known to protect my camera with a plastic bag before! This location is too beautiful to pass up.

One of the biggest advantages to Asilomar State Beach is that it has ample parking. Unlike many other popular spots, you won’t have to worry about hunting for a parking space and walking a long distance to have an amazing gallery.

Asilomar State Beach also is equipped with restrooms, so if you want to hang around after your session or if there’s an emergency, you’ll be able to take care of things. This easy access allows us to maximize our time together.

Ready to choose this location? Let me know! I can’t wait to start planning your session at Asilomar State Beach.

Asilomar State Beach - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Milo + Maria’s Family Session

Asilomar State Beach was the perfect place for a family session. Milo, Maria, and their kids Hannah and Aden were absolutely fantastic. I’m so excited to share some photos from their session!

Milo is actually my second cousin, and this is my second time photographing their beautiful family. They wanted a different landscape from last time, and Asilomar State Beach popped out at them from my online location brochure. I have to say, it’s one of my favorite spots.

They took my advice and scheduled at the perfect time. The sun faced them at a beautiful angle, so they didn’t need to squint or look directly into the light. This made our photos so flattering!

Oftentimes, wind is also a tricky variable when it comes to sessions on Asilomar State Beach. It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen beforehand, so a lot of times it’s like rolling the dice. However, today there was not even a breath of wind, so we didn’t have to worry about some of the things I normally would, such as messy hair.

It was great seeing them again and catching up with all the family news. Hannah and Aden are growing up so well, and I’m excited to see what they become in the future. Hannah had just returned from a week at Science Camp, and she was still glowing! She loved looking in the tide pools for urchins and other sea critters.

As our session came to a close, the tide started to come up. I had them stand on a rock while the water came in. These photos turned out particularly awesome! Better yet, we didn’t get wet.

I had so much fun during our family session, Milo! It was such a blessing to work with your family, and I can’t wait until the next session.

Asilomar State Beach - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Jennsy + Alexis

Last month, I packed up my camera bag and headed to Asilomar State Beach—a favorite spot of mine! Jennsy + Alexis met me there for an absolutely gorgeous engagement session. Congratulations, you two!

One of my favorite parts about my job is that I get to meet new people and learn their stories! Jennsy + Alexis were so sweet and charming. I loved getting to know them during our session. It turns out, they have a pretty cute love story, too!

Jennsy + Alexis are both Registered Dental Assistants, and they actually work in the same office, but they have known each other for a long time. Alexis is friends with Jennsy’s sister, but he never really noticed her until they grew older.

After that, he started developing feelings for her, and then they began working at the same office! Coincidence? I think not!

Once we got to the beach, it was like the world knew we were coming! The weather was crazy good, and that really set the mood for our engagement session.

They brought two outfits, and both showed different sides of their personalities. With a casual outfit and a more semi-formal one, we got some fantastic variety! I loved both outfits, but the second set was definitely my favorite. I could tell it was theirs, too!

Jennsy + Alexis also brought some cheap champagne to the shoot for some epic spraying shots. Champagne can be a bit predictable, so I recommend bringing a couple in case the first one doesn’t spray the way we want it to! Overall, these shots were so much fun.

Watching them celebrate in the glory of the day was one of the most uplifting things ever. These two are so happy to be together, and I’m brimming with joy just watching them!

When I sent them their gallery, they were overcome with joy all over again. “THESE ARE SO INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL!! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH DREW WE HAD A BLAST!” Alexis wrote, caps and all. “THESE ARE LITERALLY THE WAY I ENVISIONED OUR ENGAGEMENT PICTURES COMING OUT!”

I had a blast too, Alexis! And thanks so much for your encouraging and heartfelt words! I’m so glad that you and Jennsy love these as much as I do. It was definitely one of my absolute favorite engagement sessions. Thanks for choosing me as your engagement photographer!