When Mat first reached out to me, it wasn’t just about booking an engagement session—it was about capturing one of the biggest moments of his life. He was planning to propose to his girlfriend Hue, and after a private proposal the day before, I had the honor of photographing them newly engaged on the coast in Santa Barbara. From the very first email I could tell these two were going to be a blast to work with.
I wasn’t wrong.
Mat and Hue are the kind of people you instantly feel comfortable around. Down-to-earth, funny, creative, and just so easygoing. But the most important thing is that they are completely, head-over-heels, madly in love. The way they interact with each other makes you forget there’s even a camera around, and that’s exactly what makes for the best engagement photos.
We had originally planned this session around golden hour, chasing that dreamy sunset glow. Instead, Santa Barbara had other plans and gave us gray skies and moody overcast weather. But here’s the thing: it didn’t matter. The magic came from how Mat and Hue connected with each other—not from the light. Every single photo feels natural, cinematic, and like it could be pulled straight out of a romance movie.
Their laid-back style played a huge role too. They didn’t overdo their outfits, and honestly, that’s one of my favorite things about their gallery. You can tell they showed up as themselves, in clothes that felt comfortable and true to who they are. That authenticity translates on camera so much more than a perfectly styled look ever could.
Looking back now, it’s almost funny that Mat ever mentioned he was worried about being stiff in front of the camera in his inquiry. Not once did I see that hesitation come through. Every shot was full of laughter, movement, and those in-between moments that show who you are as a couple.
That’s really the secret to natural engagement photos: leaning into the process, letting go of the pressure to “pose,” and just having fun with your partner. When you’re focused on each other instead of the camera, that’s when the magic happens. My job is to handle the rest!
Photographer: @marissa_kaitlyn_
