Photos from Vanessa and Garrett’s Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session in Anaheim where we explored the leafy walking trails and rustic bridges. We then headed over to Laguna Beach for a romantic sunset e-session on the sands of Victoria Beach, backed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session photos:
Vanessa and Garrett inquired earlier this summer about capturing their Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session, having found me online through a wedding directory website. After just a couple of emails, they decided to hire me and I was excited to hear more about their story and proposal when we met up at the end of October for their Orange County e-session.
Vanessa is from Colorado while Garrett is based in Southern California, but they’d met in voice class and hit it off as best friends. It wasn’t until a few years later that they started dating and have been together ever since. Garrett popped the question in June after asking Vanessa’s best friend to fly out to LA and be part of the surprise. He initially proposed with an orange peanut (which was an inside joke between the couple) before revealing an engagement ring, which Vanessa happily accepted.
They’re planning a Catholic wedding ceremony next summer, followed by a private club reception at the beautiful Kellogg House. However, they wanted to celebrate their love during a romantic e-session at two of my favorite Orange County locations.
Capturing a tender moment between Vanessa and Garrett during their nature-themed e-session at Oak Canyon Nature Center.
Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session photos:
It was gorgeous weather when I met up with Vanessa and Garrett in the mid-afternoon one Sunday at the end of October and we hit it off from the word “go”. They were such a sweet and wonderful couple to work with and openly shared their love for one another in front of the camera. For this nature-themed e-session in Anaheim, they’d opted for casual-formal attire, with Garrett wearing a white sweater and maroon pants while Vanessa was in a flowing, floral shirt and jeans.
I photographed them embracing on the leafy walking trails and standing hand-in-hand beneath the sprawling trees, as well as some tender moments as Vanessa leaned on Garrett’s shoulder and he affectionately kissed her hand. We utilized a rustic, brown bridge for some romantic embraces, then captured a playful shot as Vanessa pretended to pull Garrett away from falling into a cactus.
Garrett lifts Vanessa into the air on a rustic bridge during their Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session.Garrett affectionately kisses Vanessa’s hand during their nature-themed engagement session in Anaheim.Vanessa and Garrett kiss on one of the shaded walking trails at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim.Capturing Vanessa’s reaction as she embraces Garrett during their romantic e-session at Oak Canyon Nature Center.Vanessa and Garrett embrace on one of the leafy walking trails at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim.Vanessa leans affectionately on Garrett’s shoulder during their nature-themed engagement session in Anaheim.Vanessa and Garrett stand hand-in-hand beneath the sprawling trees of Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim.A close-up portrait of Vanessa and Garrett during their Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session.Capturing a tender moment between the newly engaged couple, backed by the leafy greenery of Oak Canyon Nature Center.Vanessa and Garrett look lovingly at one another while walking along a trail at Oak Canyon Nature Center.Garrett lifts Vanessa into the air on one of the picturesque walking trails at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim.Garrett embraces Vanessa warmly during their romantic engagement session at Oak Canyon Nature Center.The newly engaged couple walk hand-in-hand through Oak Canyon Nature Center during their Anaheim e-session.Garrett affectionately kisses Vanessa’s hand as she embraces him during their Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session.A playful portrait of Vanessa trying to stop Garrett from falling against a cactus at Oak Canyon Nature Center.Capturing an intimate embrace between the couple during their romantic e-session at Oak Canyon Nature Center.Vanessa and Garrett share a laugh while walking hand-in-hand through Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim.Vanessa embraces Garrett while the couple share a laugh during their Anaheim nature-themed e-session.Vanessa and Garrett kiss while exploring one of the many walking trails at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim.Garrett embraces Vanessa on a rustic, brown bridge during their Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session.Vanessa embraces Garrett warmly, framed by a brown bridge, during their Oak Canyon Nature Center e-session.A wide-angle portrait of Vanessa and Garrett looking lovingly at one another amidst the natural foliage of Oak Canyon Nature Center.Vanessa and Garrett kiss with their hands pressed against one another during their Anaheim nature e-session.A playful portrait of Garrett pretending to bite Vanessa’s hands while seated on a bench at Oak Canyon Nature Center.A creative portrait of Vanessa and Garrett embracing while looking out from a rustic, brown bridge in Anaheim.Vanessa and Garrett look lovingly at one another during their Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session.
Victoria Beach engagement session photos:
We then made the 30-minute drive from Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim over to Laguna Beach for a sunset e-session on the sands of Victoria Beach. Garrett changed into a white shirt and black slacks while Vanessa opted for a flowing, floral dress as I photographed them walking along the beach with the Pacific Ocean behind.
We were really lucky that there weren’t many people around to disturb us throughout this Victoria Beach engagement session and that there was some cloud cover to create beautiful, diffuse lighting. I grabbed some wide-angle shots of Vanessa and Garrett standing beneath the iconic stone tower of Victoria Beach and walking across a rocky outcrop, as well as a creative shot as they kissed while Vanessa showed off her engagement ring.
After a whimsical portrait of them running through the shallow waters together as the sun began sinking towards the horizon, we took full advantage of the romantic light. I grabbed a silhouette shot as Garrett helped Vanessa up onto a rocky ledge and utilized my off-camera flash to illuminate the couple embracing with the sunset behind.
Garrett carries Vanessa along the sands of Victoria Beach during their sunset e-session in Laguna Beach.Vanessa and Garrett stand on a rocky cove looking out across the Pacific Ocean during their Victoria Beach e-session.A creative portrait of Vanessa smiling at the camera while embracing Garrett at Victoria Beach.Vanessa and Garrett spin one another on the sands of Victoria Beach during their Laguna Beach e-session.Vanessa and Garrett look lovingly at one another during their sunset e-session at Victoria Beach.Vanessa leads Garrett along a rocky cove during their engagement session at Victoria Beach.The newly engaged couple walk arm-in-arm along the sands of Victoria Beach during their sunset e-session.A creative photo of the newly engaged couple backed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean at Victoria Beach.Vanessa leads Garrett along the sands of Victoria Beach while the couple smile lovingly at one another.Vanessa and Garrett run through the shallow waters during their Victoria Beach engagement session.A whimsical portrait of the couple kissing while being illuminated by the sunset at Victoria Beach.A close-up portrait of Vanessa and Garrett looking lovingly at one another during their Victoria Beach e-session.Vanessa and Garrett embrace on a rocky outcrop during their beach-themed engagement session in Orange County.Vanessa and Garrett hold hands while looking away from one another during their sunset e-session at Victoria Beach.A playful portrait of the couple surprising one another during their Orange County beach e-session.Garrett embraces Vanessa and tenderly kisses her forehead during their Victoria Beach engagement session.A wide-angle portrait of the couple standing beneath the iconic tower at Victoria Beach in Orange County.Garrett affectionately kisses Vanessa’s forehead during their late-afternoon e-session at Victoria Beach.Vanessa and Garrett kiss while the sun sets behind them during their Victoria Beach engagement session.A creative portrait of the couple kissing while Vanessa shows off her engagement ring in Laguna Beach.Vanessa and Garrett embrace beneath the stone-built tower at Victoria Beach in Orange County.The newly engaged couple share a laugh while looking out across the Pacific Ocean at Victoria Beach.A close-up portrait of Vanessa leaning affectionately on Garrett’s shoulder during their Victoria Beach e-session.A silhouette portrait of Garrett helping Vanessa up onto a rocky outcrop at Victoria Beach.An off-camera flash portrait of the couple embracing at Victoria Beach with the sun setting behind them.A portrait of Vanessa and Garrett kissing on the sands of Victoria Beach during their Laguna Beach e-session.Vanessa and Garrett look lovingly at one another during their sunset e-session at Victoria Beach.
Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session photos:
It really was such a privilege to meet and get to know Vanessa and Garrett during this Oak Canyon Nature Center engagement session and I couldn’t have asked for a friendlier couple. I look forward to reconnecting on their wedding day next year and hope they enjoy these photos as much as I did capturing them.
