Ellie and Houston’s Pebble Beach engagement session was SUCH a sweet day and it only made me even more excited to photograph their Holman Ranch wedding. Surprise! I get the pleasure of working with Pocketful Of Plans for their special day and we’re so excited! It was a ton of fun getting to know each other during their Pebble Beach engagement session. These two are the cutest, young couple from the Santa Cruz area. Ellie own a dance studio and is a dance instructor there too. Meanwhile, Houston is a personal trainer who prior to COVID, was also working in event production and is a DJ. How neat is that? I was so stoked to photograph their engagement session in Spanish Bay as a local Pebble Beach photographer! Read on for more!

The Proposal

“He REALLY wanted to surprise me and I am quite hard to surprise. We went on a date in the Carmel area where he took me to Roy’s At Pebble Beach and we walked all along the coast. Since we don’t normally do such fancy things, I was thinking ‘oooooh is he going to propose?!?’ but then… we drove home. I tried to pretend I wasn’t a little sad in the car, and thought I did a great job at it (I actually did not, haha!).

We got home and he dropped me off at my parents house for ‘Nana’s Birthday Celebration’. Then, he headed off to his ‘work meeting’. When I got upstairs, he had a video playing on the TV that told me it wasn’t actually a day for Nana’s celebration, it was a day for me. He then sent me on a scavenger hunt all around our town of Aptos. It led to lots of important places that all marked different special moments the two of have had over the years. They eventually led me to our condo, where he was, with rose petals and candles everywhere. SO romantic! And there, he asked me to marry him! Then we went out on our deck, and our families were down below to congratulate us. It was PERFECT.” – Ellie

What Do You Love Most About Your Partner?

“Houston and I met in elementary school and became close friends in the beginning of high school before ever dating. We began dating the summer before my senior year/his junior year, and we’ve really grown together over the years! I love that he is sooo kind hearted. Houston is patient and truly sees the best in all people. He loves me unconditionally. I love that we have really gotten to grow up together as a couple.” – Ellie

“I love that she is kind, that she is a badass that knows how to persevere. I know Ellie is going to be the best mom to our children in the future.” – Houston

Engagement Photography At Pebble Beach

Ellie and Houston LOVE Pebble Beach and Spanish Bay and enjoyed themselves with a drink before our session. The day told the three of us everything we needed to know. That we’re a great fit! It means the world to me that they’re so excited to have me as their wedding photographer.

I did Ellie and Houston’s Pebble Beach engagement session all across the surrounding forests and coastlines. The white and cream tones in their outfits made shoot so classic and romantic! As a Pebble Beach photographer, you can never go wrong with neutrals. And you can never go wrong celebrating with champagne either! I’m especially fond of their cool night portrait- so dreamy!

Engagement sessions like these are so fun because it gives your couples to get to know you before the big day, and vice versa. You’ll be seeing a lot of your photographer at your wedding so isn’t it much easier when they’re not a stranger? If you’re still looking for an engagement/wedding photographer, look no more. I’m your gal! Contact me here. Let’s capture memories together!