Ben and Mikayla’s Engagement Photoshoot at Alameda Beach, California
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February 16, 2024
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It was such a joy doing an engagement photoshoot for Ben and Mikaryla! They are the sweetest couple who live and work in Oakland, California. I had the best time planning and capturing these photos for them. I hope you enjoy their story and their engagement pics!
The Perfect Setting
When Ben and Mikayla reached out to me to do an engagement photoshoot photos, they were looking for a location that fit their personalities, how they met and of course how they got engaged. After a little bit of research, we landed on Alameda Beach as the right spot for their pictures. While I was hoping for a sunny day and a gorgeous Bay Area sunset, January had other things in mind. The session started with moody clouds in the sky, but as dusk got closer and closer, the clouds started to part – giving us a gorgeous pink and orange sunset.
Ben and Mikayla’s Meet Cute
Their story began on the water! Ben and Mikayla met in high school where they both were athletes at their local row club. These two knew of each other but never really connected all through out high school. Then at some point, rowing opportunities took them in different directions. Ben moved to Seattle while Mikayla headed to Tenneesee, but thing reamined, they both always came home over the holiday break to help with the local row club.
It was holiday break in 2017, where Ben finally asked Mikayla to hang out after row practice, which he had never done before, Mikayla said yes and they never looked back.
A Love for Travel
Rowing has brought these two to different coasts and landed them in Oakland where Ben coaches the jr. olympic rowing team and is also a on the US Olympic rowing team as well! But between their rowing adventures, these two have been able to travel around the US and abroad. In fact, while their families are in Florida and the UK, these two have chosen an gorgeous home in Ohio to get married at because, why not!
But on one special trip to Croatia where they rented an Airbnb in Split, Ben asked Mikalya for a walk on the beach, where they strolled at sunset and Ben got down on one knee to propose.
The Photoshoot vibe
Okay so now we understand the need for engagement photos on the beach, right? These two met on the water, live by the water, and their relationship thrives on the water. Being able to find a gorgeous location in the Bay that fit their vision was easy – like mentioned above, Alameda beach is such a beautiful and quite strip of beach that I feel like is the quiet little secret.
Mikayla warned me that Ben was nervous about being in front of the camera and that he would need someone to help him loosen up. And honestly, that’s my favorite kind of challenge. Photography is my artistry, but people are my skill set. I truly love getting to connect with people and meeting them where they are at with photoshoots.
By the end of the shoot, Ben was MODELING. He was a natural, and of course it’s so helpful that he has a partner who also hypes him and makes him feel comfortable. And Mikayla, she rocked this session. From her outfits to accessories and overall style, I loved the vision she had for these photos and I am just honored that i got to help bring them to life.
Cheers to Mikayla and Ben! I can’t wait to see what marriage brings you two.
Book an Engagement Photoshoot
Did you know that you don’t always have to book the same photographer for your wedding and engagement photos? I can hear every photographer cringe as I wrote that. But seriously, you can book those two things separately! Or you can book them together (I offer packages for both!) But if you loved this engagement session and hope to have one like this, reach out! I book sessions year round. Learn more about my portraits here.
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