Nancy & Nolan — A Golden Hour Engagement Session at Baker Beach
Not every couple walks into an engagement session feeling confident in front of the camera. Nancy and Nolan were open about that from the start. They told me they felt awkward being photographed and were nervous about how they would look — the kind of honesty I appreciate, because it gives me the chance to meet people exactly where they are.
They wanted their engagement photos to feel meaningful — something that reflected this season of their lives before the wedding — without feeling awkward. We chose Baker Beach and the Batteries to Bluffs Trail for their session, drawn to the openness of the coastline, the calm of the ocean, and the way golden hour light softens everything it touches.
We started at Baker Beach as the light began to shift. Early on, there were nerves — small hesitations, moments of uncertainty — and that’s completely normal. My focus in those first minutes is always to slow things down. I gave clear direction, shared the vision for the session, and guided them through simple walking prompts and positioning that allowed the landscape to do some of the work. I reminded them often that they were doing great, and I showed them a few moments on the back of the camera so they could see how natural they already looked.
As the session unfolded, things began to change. They relaxed. The movements became easier. We talked more, laughed a bit, and let the environment guide us as we made our way toward the Batteries to Bluffs Trail. By the time the sun dipped lower and the light turned warm and cinematic, the camera felt less present. They were simply together — walking, pausing, leaning into one another.
One of my favorite moments came toward the end of the session, when everything felt quiet and unforced. They cuddled close, completely at ease, and shared a kiss that felt effortless and real — the kind of moment that can’t be rushed or posed into existence. It happened because they trusted the process and gave themselves permission to settle into it.
By the time we walked back to the car, we were talking about life, the upcoming wedding, and everything in between. The nerves from the beginning were gone. What remained was a sense of ease and a set of images that reflected them honestly.
Nancy and Nolan’s engagement session is a reminder that you don’t need to feel confident in front of a camera to have meaningful photos. You just need someone who knows how to guide you, encourage you, and create space for you to feel like yourself. That’s always my goal to meet couples where they are and help them feel seen in a way that feels calm, respectful, and true.
