A & J’s Santa Barbara Engagement Session: Modern Architecture Meets Honest Emotion

They first reached out imagining something soft—lush gardens, greenery, florals. But as we got to know them, the vision started to shift. What they really wanted wasn’t just pretty—it was intentional. Elevated. More them.

We landed on a private estate in Montecito owned by close family friends. This space had everything: a bold, architectural home that looked like something out of a sci-fi film, and just steps away, the historic Brooks Institute building with aged stone, quiet corners, and California light pouring through the trees. That contrast—the modern and the timeless—gave us the perfect canvas to bring both editorial edge and emotional depth into their Santa Barbara engagement session.

We did a site visit a few weeks ahead of time to walk the property, feel out the light, and plan how to move between each space with purpose. That extra step helped us build a rhythm into the shoot before the cameras ever came out.

A Favorite Moment from the Session

Toward the end of the session, we found a small nook tucked behind the Brooks Institute. It felt like we had stoled a page from the Tuscany guide book and brought it to life. The stone walls, the trees, the filtered light—it all came together so naturally. Quiet. Golden. Still.

I brought A and J into the space and asked them to hold each other. I stepped in close, softened my voice, and explained what I wanted them to do. 

I told them to take a few deep breaths together. To forget about me to not worry about the cameras. That in just a moment, I would step away and give them a minute to just be with each other to sink into their senses, Sight, Sound, smell, and touch. Before I left them I gave them a prompt to really bring out that emotional moment we so badly needed to match the space. 

I told them. 

“When you're ready… hold each other, take a few breaths, and share the proudest moment you've had of one another.”

I stepped back and gave them space.

And what followed—you could feel it. The shift. The way their bodies softened. 

The way they looked at each other—you could feel the gravity of it. Not for the camera. Not for anyone watching. Just for them.  This wasn’t a pose. This was theirs. And in that pocket of time, we captured something real, something so palpable one could almost feel what they felt. 

The photographs we made in that moment weren’t created by accident. They came from trust, from presence, from care. And to me, that’s everything.

Planning Your Santa Barbara Engagement Session?

Santa Barbara has no shortage of incredible locations for engagement sessions—but it’s not just about where you are. It’s about how you feel in the space. Whether you're drawn to modern architecture, historic backdrops like the Brooks Institute, or private estates tucked away in Montecito, we help you shape a session that feels like you.

If you’re planning your own Santa Barbara engagement session or looking for a Montecito engagement photographer who blends editorial style with emotional storytelling—we’d love to connect.