Desert Engagement Photos - Ryan + Clarice - Anza Borrego State Park
A few weeks ago we hit the desert to roam through the slot canyons with Ryan and Clarice for their engagement session. With high winds and moody incoming clouds, the weather definitely played to our benefit. Here is a look at a few favorites from their shoot, as well as a quick story of how Ryan and Clarice met. Enjoy!
Let’s start at the beginning. How did you two first meet? I met my fiancé on the dating app, Bumble. We "matched" in the Summer of 2015 and went on our first date on September 16, 2015 at a local gastropub after work.
What makes your relationship special? Tell us some things that you both value in your time together. (example: pushing each other to new limits, love to travel, huge comic book fans, foodies, etc.) What makes your relationship unique? If Ryan and I played a game where we checked off boxes on how much we mirror each other's hobbies and interests, we certainly wouldn't win by any means. For example, I love everything about the outdoors and being in nature; including hiking, camping, and enjoying beautiful sunsets. Ryan, on the other hand, had never gone camping. His passion is sports, sports and more sports! But, what makes our relationship special is that our opposites truly attract each other. It allows us to be open and continue learning and experiencing new things together. I never knew hockey had three periods and I have been witness to countless first time food experiences for Ryan. Together, we have experienced some of the best, most exciting games such as the historic 2017 USC Rose Bowl win. We have found a way to integrate our differing hobbies and interests, that makes for an exciting, enhanced life together. Most importantly, at the core, our values are very similar, which has laid a solid foundation of love that has grown since the day we met.
How did you know your partner was the one? There wasn’t one specific moment that I knew my partner was ‘the one.’ Rather it was a series of many special and simple moments overtime that were moments of confirmation that Ryan was the man I prayed for. I knew fairly early on that he was a keeper! Whether it was cooking an entire week's worth of meals and dropping it off for an anticipated long work week, visiting my mom with flowers, or providing selfless support when I accepted a new job and moved further away, Ryan has consistently shown his love and commitment. One of my favorite memories was camping together for the first time with our dog, sitting in the campfire and seeing how bright the stars were. We didn't have to say much, but it was a special moment. I knew Ryan would be the one I'd always want to share those type of experiences with in life.
Give us all the details about the proposal. How and where did it happen? Was it a surprise? What was the planning process? Ryan and I celebrated our anniversary together by taking a weekend trip out of town. Celebrating our 3 year anniversary, Ryan had mentioned he wanted to keep our destination a secret. I had my reservations of where he might be taking us, so he gave me a list of what to pack and prepare for. Outdoor activities was vaguely on the list. One quick flight and a rental car later, we found ourselves in South Lake Tahoe. The weather in mid-September was perfect, and the lake views were stunning. Finally, when pressed about the "outdoor activity," Ryan revealed that we would be doing a hike to Mount Tallac, the highest summit in South Lake Tahoe. Just some minor details about this hike. One - the trail is 10.2 miles round trip. Two - the trail has a 3,290 feet elevation gain. We packed some lunches in our day packs, filled up our hydration packs, and prepared for our journey. Along the trial, there were gorgeous views and serene landscapes with undisturbed lakes. The journey to the summit was certainly taxing due to some patches of steep inclines, rocky terrains, and the high altitude. At one moment, I even asked Ryan if we could cut the hike short. He immediately offered some support and encouragement, urging that we continue to the top. After finally reaching the top, we stood in awe of all the beauty Mother Nature had to offer. We sat and gazed as we ate our lunches and took plenty of pictures. Ryan suggested we move to a secluded area for additional photos. He asked that I turn around, so that he could take an 'Instagram-worthy' photo of me. Feeling silly, I quickly turned back around, only to find him down on one knee, with a ring box in his hand. He had planned everything to that exact moment and location of where he was going to propose. Of course, my answer was "yes!"
Are you excited to start planning your wedding day? Do you have any ideas in mind yet? We are both so excited to plan our big day! Ryan is in the creative field, so I am particularly looking forward to tapping into his creative skills and collaborating and working together as team. When I envision our wedding, I think of classic, clean with a modern romantic twist. What I am looking forward to most is having all the people we love in one room celebrating and dancing the night away.
About Us: Hi There! Thanks so much for stopping by to check out or website and reading our recent blog from our past engagement photo shoot in the desert! We are Andy and Brittney, San Diego engagement photographers focusing on local and destination weddings throughout California and beyond. We have had the privilege of traveling to some of the most amazing places to capture one of the most important days in a couple’s life and are extremely grateful to be able to do this together. If you are recently engaged and searching for your engagement photographer, we would love to connect and see what ideas you have in terms of location. If you are looking to have a wedding, whether that be big or small, we would love to talk details with you about your vision and what kind of wedding you dream of having. From destination elopements to local, large weddings with family and friends we have been a part of capturing those special moments that will last a lifetime.
We are based in Birdrock, California between La Jolla and Pacific Beach. So if you are from Southern California and searching for a California wedding photographer or engagement photographer in La Jolla we would be thrilled to chat with you. Congratulations, and hope to connect soon! Cheers.