I couldn’t be more excited to share these Santa Cruz engagement photos with you today. Katie and Dan are sweethearts and meeting up with the two of them to celebrate their soon to be marriage was an absolute pleasure. Thank you both for braving the cold with me to make these happy images and I can’t wait to be there to celebrate and document when you two tie the knot!

We started at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. We didn’t head there to taste cotton candy (although yum) and ride the rides (although fun), but rather to seek out some color and make the most of the sunshine for some pretty, poppy backdrops.

p.s. Thinking about your own engagement photos? Click through here to read my recommendations for the 25+ best engagement photo locations in California!

I love these shots of these two.

But these on the stairs might be my favorites from this location. Aren’t these two just the dang cutest?!

Whenever I do an engagement session, I like to make sure to capture some images of the couple alone. I always think it’s good to have a few solo photos, even when you’re celebrating your union, and I absolutely love these images of gorgeous Katie.

Dang, girl! You’ve got stunning eyes. 

And Katie’s handsome man! Love his style. Thanks for bringing it, Dan. (And for that killah tie.)

A quick and dreamy shot of Katie’s pretty engagement ring, because hells yes to diamonds! Isn’t it pretty?!

A few more sweet kisses.

This set, in black and white, might be some of my favorites. Aren’t they just the cutest?!

When we finished with the boardwalk, we headed to a field near the Santa Cruz shoreline (Wilder Ranch State Park) for some simple and stunning outdoor shots.

We only caught the light for a moment before it hit that marine layer, but I love this image. So romantic.

It was absolutely freezing outside on this day, but we decided mutually to go ahead with the session as planned and I am so so thankful we did. The light, these two, the wintery feel of the day… everything came together in a way that felt like love and happiness. These images, in black and white, with the wind and their kisses… these mean so much.

What a perfect pair!

All cuddled up with the one you love.

We popped in the car and did some last minute spot finding – this old building was absolutely beautiful and the perfect backdrop.

So dreamy. <3

I always deliver every session in full color, with my select favorites getting delivered as duplicates in black and white. For the blog though, I only choose one of the options (and only a small selection of the images, at that) and for this session, I just found myself picking black and white again and again. It wasn’t that the colors weren’t lovely – they were! – but rather that these speak loudest to me in black and white. It was a chilly, romantic, nostalgic kind of afternoon and evening, and I absolutely love the way those feelings shine in black and white.

Look at the color of the sky!!! We could not have asked for a better backdrop.

And this super sweet one to close out the session.

I love you two and these photos so so much and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be there for your wedding. It’s going to be the best day, full of love.

All my best, Simone

For more engagement sessions, see HERE. To see what it looks like when you have an engagement session on the cliffs of Davenport (just up the road from Santa Cruz), see HERE.