When Allie and Derek reached out to plan their San Diego engagement session, I immediately knew we’d hit it off. They initially suggested Balboa Park as we talked back and forth about the day, and then Allie also emailed me about their shared love of the beach. Her only request was that we avoid the typical “beach photoshoot,” and wow oh wow did they deliver on some unique vibes instead!

One of my favorite things about Balboa Park is the variety of scenery. You could choose manicured hedges like the Alcazar Garden. Maybe you prefer The Museum of Us or the Institute of Contemporary Art for an indoor adventure. There are hiking paths at Palm Canyon and Juniper Stairs Bridle Trail for the nature lovers. And of course there’s the iconic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of California Tower and the Casa del Prado! There’s a little something for everybody at the park no matter the time of day or weather—choose your own adventure when planning a San Diego engagement! There’s something so special about exploring a space together and turning your engagement session into a full-blown date!

The Anti-Beach Photoshoot

After we’d had our fill at Balboa Park, we hopped in the car to Sunset Cliffs to finish the evening! We arrived just in time for blue hour and caught some truly stunning colors above the Pacific. After watching the final moments of the sun dipping below the waves, Allie and Derek popped some Veuve Clicquot to toast their recent engagement! We had a few mishaps with shaking the bottle, but it made for some truly candid and silly portraits. As a final nod to their “anti-beach” photoshoot, I prompted them to walk back to the car as if the paparazzi had followed them on a night out on the town. They slipped on some shades, grabbed the bottle of Veuve, and definitely gave any Hollywood duo a run for their money. Personally I’d rate this epic session an 11 out of 10. But what do you think? Would you book a beach photoshoot without actually setting foot on a beach?