Asilomar State Beach - Pacific Grove, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Jay + Akshata

In early December, Jay planned meticulously for his marriage proposal to Akshata, and he contacted me to see if I was available to capture the moment for them. I was all for it!

The proposal was going to happen at sunrise on Asilomar Beach. I was looking forward to dreamy sunrise shots, but as the day came closer, a huge storm rolled in. I advised Jay of the rain, and that if his heart was set on those romantic sunrise shots, we might want to reschedule. But he just said, “Let’s do it anyways!”

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting there to be much to work with during the rain, but Jay must have had a gut feeling because man, these photos turned out to be some of the most striking engagement photos of my career! His flexibility on the matter was very admirable. Sure enough, the day came, and there was enough rain that I actually had to cover my camera with a grocery bag to keep it dry.

Jay told Akshata that his boss wanted to see him out there before their day began to show him something. Jay is in tech, so I’m surprised Akshata didn’t suspect anything, but she went along for the ride.

Then Jay popped the question, and Akshata was shocked! With the rain falling around them, it was hard to tell if she was crying or not, but she was so touched and accepted immediately. Congratulations!

The wind was so fierce that I had to be careful which direction I pointed my lens. If it got wet, the images would turn out blurry, and I definitely couldn’t risk that. By positioning the couple strategically, we overcame this obstacle.

When I got home, I was still completely drenched. I’ve never experienced that on a shoot before, and it was definitely a wild ride. Even so, I would 10/10 do it again!

When Jay + Akshata saw their final gallery, they were in love with the photos. I can definitely see why! These two were so passionate and loving.

Thank you so much for choosing me to document this special moment, Jay! It was so much fun planning with you, and I’m so happy that we went through with the session despite the foreseeable challenges. Congratulations, you two!

Soberanes Point - Big Sur, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Raymond + Johanna

It was a foggy day on Soberanes Point in Big Sur, California during Raymond + Johanna’s proposal session. Even so, the mist was beautiful!

Raymond and Johanna drove from Paso Robles, but they’re originally from the Los Angeles area. By the time they arrived, the stage was set for a romantic proposal!

Unfortunately, it was difficult and sometimes impossible to see the coastline. The mist was so thick that my lens kept getting wet and I had to wipe it a few times.

It took some strategy to position myself where the lens wouldn’t get wet. Back turned to the mist, I captured winning photo after winning photo! These two lovebirds were naturals in front of the camera.

While the misty day wasn’t what Raymond envisioned for his proposal to Johanna, the shots turned out so soft, which added a unique touch to their photos. They turned out absolutely fantastic!

Soberanes Point doesn’t have the best cell service, so sometimes it’s hard to find the right location. Luckily, I was able to spot Raymond + Johanna as they came down the road because Raymond let us know what they were wearing. I flagged him over to the correct turn when Johanna wasn’t looking.

Raymond + Johanna didn’t come alone. They brought their adorable Chihuahua puppy with them! The dog was so friendly and well-behaved, the perfect witness to what was about to happen!

When Raymond popped the question, Johanna couldn’t contain her happiness! She said yes without any hesitation. Congratulations, you two!

To celebrate, they popped open a bottle of champagne. Surrounded by soft pillows, blankets, and a pair of romantic candles, the couple enjoyed this special moment whole-heartedly.

It was amazing to document your proposal at Soberanes Point, Raymond + Johanna! Congratulations, and I wish you both the very best going forward.

Carmel Beach Proposal - Catherine & Clint

We couldn't have asked for better weather for this Carmel Beach proposal! Clint, Jacky and myself had set a spot two weeks prior to this day. Everything worked out just perfectly. Catherine and Clint are from the Bay Area and Carmel is one of their favorite spots. Catherine  gave us and some bystanders a thumb up to show she said yes!

Congratulations you two. Thank you!