Pinnacles National Park - Soledad, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Sal + Gaby

Sal + Gaby are huge outdoor junkies. They’ve even started converting a van into a camper! I have been following their progress for awhile now, since Gaby posts updates through Instagram. It’s so cool to see their dream coming together!

Because they love being in nature so much, I can’t think of a better place for their engagement session than Pinnacles National Park. We headed out before sunset to make sure that we had enough time to hike up.

I should have brought hiking boots. It was a good thirty-minute hike up to one of the peaks, so we got sweaty (at least I did, haha). Sal + Gaby are definitely way more experienced than I am with this stuff.

We set off at a good pace so we could make it to the peaks in time. There, the light was amazing, and we still had a decent view of the surrounding areas. It was key that we captured the gorgeous trees and surrounding mountains.

I used the Sunseeker app to help keep track of the sun, and with careful scheduling, we had just enough time to hit all of Sal + Gaby’s must-have locations. There were plenty of edges and viewpoints that made for stunning backgrounds.

During all that hiking, we also got to know each other, and that was a real treat. Sal + Gaby are super easy-going and flexible, the sort of people who emulate a fun and calming vibe. They have a great sense of adventure, as expected of a pair who are about to be on the road a lot.

We discovered that we live literally four blocks away from each other. How crazy is that? I loved their sense of humor, too. They have an inside joke using their favorite weird masks. Sal’s is a Bigfoot mask and Gaby’s is an alien one. They totally owned it!

Sal + Gaby came prepared with two outfits. Since we were out in the middle of nowhere, they changed behind some big boulders when it was time for formal outfits.

There was so much joy and laughter during your engagement session, Sal + Gaby! You two are medicine. I love your outlook on life, and I can’t tell you how happy I am for you two.

Here’s a big congratulations on your upcoming marriage! I can’t wait to see what life brings for you two. I’ll be eagerly following your van conversion!

San Lorenzo Park - King City, CA - Drew Zavala Photography - Nate + Paige

Nate + Paige have been together since high school. How adorable is that? As high school sweethearts, they radiated such a sweet joy throughout our engagement session. It was great to help them celebrate their biggest milestone to-date!

On the day of our photoshoot, San Lorenzo Park in King City was so gorgeous. We had some beautiful back lighting that made the couple just pop! They were so excited to be engaged. What a magical phase of life. Savor it!

The beautiful weather was a welcome change. King City hardly has any overcast days, in comparison to the Monterey Bay Area, so those sunshine rays were beaming all day!

Nate + Paige were so relaxed and easy-going the whole time, trusting my expertise all the way. They followed my instructions well, and had sunny attitudes to match the perfect weather.

Bringing multiple outfits is a great way to add variety to your photos. Nate + Paige brought two different sets, both of which were perfect for the golden sunlight and foliage around the park.

The dog was so energetic and playful! He wanted to run, play, and bark at others. Dealing with puppers can be tough, but Nate + Paige brought plenty of treats to reward positive behavior.

I always tell my clients to let me get the dog’s attention, because if the pup is turning to look at you, that’s when we’ll miss the shot. If you let me call them, I can make sure that everyone is looking at the camera.

After we took the necessary shots, we put the dogs back in the car so we could focus on capturing the love of this couple. Nothing is more precious than these moments!

Prompts are really fun, but I also loved letting Nate + Paige interact in a natural way for some great candid shots. These smiles are so genuine! It’s clear that you two have found your other half.

Congratulations, Nate + Paige! Our engagement session was a blast. Happy wedding wishes to you both, and thanks again for letting me document this part of your story!

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.