Being a San Diego engagement photographer has taught me that sometimes the best stories start somewhere completely unexpected—like Chicago, Phoenix, or, apparently, a Scottsdale bar.

Kait had moved from Chicago to Phoenix and was still getting her bearings in a new city when life handed her a pretty excellent plot twist. She was working as a kindergarten teacher for a little boy when she met his dad, Erik.

They met. They clicked. Things escalated in the very best way. And somewhere between kindergarten drop-offs and actual adult life, Kait and Erik went from Oh, hi to Oh. You’re my person.

Then came Scottsdale.

They were out having a drink when they ran into Troy and Sara—a couple I had just photographed during their surprise proposal in San Diego. You know that thing where someone shows you their vacation photos and you politely nod while thinking, Cute?

This was not that.

Kait and Erik saw their proposal photos and were immediately like, Wait. We want THAT.

Not a copy. Not a Pinterest-board version of someone else’s proposal. They wanted the same feeling: the surprise, the romance, the gorgeous San Diego scenery, and beach photographs that made the whole thing look—and more importantly, feel—like them.

So they made the trip from Phoenix to San Diego, and Erik got down to business.

The location? This one took a while to pick the perfect spot….the cliffs in La Jolla.

The timing? A warm summer evening when the whole coastline looked suspiciously like it had been professionally lit.

Oh, the lighting.

The sun had started slipping behind the cliffs, which created this soft, warm yellow glow that wrapped around everything. The kind of light that makes a La Jolla proposal photographer want to high-five the sun and say, Thank you!!!

And then there was Kait and Erik.

They were tattooed, gorgeous, completely themselves, and Kait showed up in a crocheted dress that fit her to a T. The whole look was somehow equal parts cool-girl, romantic, and I just casually look this good while getting engaged. It helps that she is really into fitness and it definitely shows.

Suddenly this wasn’t just a beautiful evening on the La Jolla cliffs. It was their evening.

The kind they had traveled for.

The kind they would remember every time they looked at these photographs.

And the kind that makes being a San Diego proposal photographer a pretty fantastic job to have.

Ready for your own moment and need a San Diego engagement photographer?

If you’re dreaming up a proposal, surprise engagement session, or ridiculously beautiful evening on the San Diego coast, I’d love to photograph it. Whether you’re planning something intimate on the La Jolla cliffs, a beach proposal, or engagement photos somewhere that feels completely like you, I’m here for the sneaky planning, the good light, the nervous pacing, and all the tiny moments you’ll want to remember later.

Lisa G (Elle G) is a San Diego beach photographer based in Pacific Beach, CA. Proudly serving San Diego’s coastal communities: La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Mission Beach, Mission Bay, Sunset Cliffs, Ocean Beach, Point Loma and Coronado. 858-344-1068. Looking for a San Diego engagement photographer who can capture the whole thing without making it feel like a production? Let’s make some magic. To chat about booking your own portrait session click HERE.