Formal Desert Engagement Photos at Golden Hour - Katie and Lior - Desert Wedding Photographer

“She said yes (obviously!) and when she reached out to me to shoot their engagement photos I could NOT have been more thrilled and honored. Lior and Katie love adventuring to the desert of Joshua Tree, a getaway just two hours east of Los Angeles with tons of antique shops, unique handcrafted goods like the Crochet museum, and western style saloons. Since the two will be getting married in San Miguel, CA, a town in San Luis Obispo County about ten miles north of Paso Robles, taking engagement photos in Joshua Tree meant incorporating place that means so much to them into this next chapter as a married couple.

The desert around us was incredibly windy, really highlighting Katie’s dress and giving their shoot this super romantic vibe. As the sun set over the desert the two threw their heads back in laughter, wrapped up in each others’ arms, and made Joshua Tree look wild and free in the way only two people madly in love really ever could..”

Playful + Fun Palm Springs Engagement photos - Marissa + Alex | Palm Springs Destination Wedding Photographer

Palm Springs is the perfect place for playful, fun engagement photos! For Marissa and Alex - a couple known to their friends for their silly, carefree personalities and larger-than-life laughs - Palm Springs was an awesome place for an engagement shoot. It was insanely windy but luckily, Marissa and Alex were unfazed by it, and it honestly made for THE MOST romantic golden hour photos! With the sun setting behind them, windmills churning away in the distance, these two laughed, ran, danced, twirled, and kissed (and there were even a few piggyback rides!) til the last bit of light left. It was an epic adventure with two hilarious, amazing, wholehearted people and I LOVE how the photos really show their personalities.

Point Reyes windswept + romantic Engagement | adventurous elopement photographer | Morgan + Tyler

Situated in Marin County just a bit north of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore here has breathtaking views. It’s no wonder this spot makes a perfect backdrop for romantic engagement photos! The wind turned way UP and the sun came out just right - cue major romance magic!

Read on for information about planning a shoot or visiting Point Reyes, and to see some of my favorite photos from this epic adventurous engagement shoot!

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleJanuary 12, 2022adventure, california, northern california, san franciscoComment

Sunrise Desert Engagement Session - Joshua Tree, California - Sarah + Stavros

When Sarah first told me she wanted engagement photos taken in Joshua Tree in July, my first thought was: “wow, that’s going to be a sweaty session.” In the summertime Joshua Tree regularly hits 100+ degree temps without a second thought! Luckily when I suggested we shoot at sunrise instead, Sarah + Stavros were totally up for it. We watched the sun come up between massive ancient boulders and cacti for a shoot unlike anything else!

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleAugust 2, 2021joshua tree, desert, engagement, californiaComment

Ventura Beach Dog-Friendly Engagement Shoot - Jody + Melissa - Wedding Photographer Kept Record

I met Jody + her dog Marlowe at the Griffith Park Dog Park in LA back in 2019. A few months later, she started bringing Melissa, her new girlfriend, to the dog park with her. Fast forward, and now the two are engaged with plans to get married in Jody’s hometown of Traverse City, Michigan later this year! See photos from their beachy dog-friendly session, find tips for taking photos with your own dog, and learn more about Ventura, California here!

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleJune 17, 2021ventura beachengagement, beach, dogs, petsComment

LA Arts District Engagement Style Shoot - Luke + Emma - Downtown Los Angeles, California

Doing a photoshoot in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District can be tricky because it’s a popular place, but going at sunrise may mean you have the streets all to yourself! The LA Arts District is a great place for an engagement shoot or a couples shoot! I loved working with Luke and Emma, exploring the old brick buildings of DTLA’s Art District together.

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleMarch 27, 2020los angelesComment

San Pedro Engagement - San Pedro, CA - Izzy + Joe

A few months ago, I got to hang out with Izzy + Joe in San Pedro for an engagement shoot whirlwind! These two brought me to one of their favorite, secluded hikes with a couple of beers + their bikes and we had THE BEST TIME. When you think of engagement photos you may think of overdone, mass-manufactured props and awkward poses but I believe that your engagement is way more than that, so your engagement photos should DEFINITELY be way more than that. If you’ve been considering hiring your teenage cousin who “just got a really good camera” or not getting engagement photos done at all, simply because you don’t want the predictable, cookie-cutter images I’m here to tell you: it doesn’t have to be that way!

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleFebruary 28, 2020Comment

Franklin Canyon Engagement - Los Angeles, CA - Mia + Jeremy

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleJanuary 15, 2020franklin canyonComment

Moorten Botanical Gardens Engagement - Palm Springs, CA - Trish + Adam

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleJanuary 13, 2020moorten botanical gardensengagementComment

Hermosa Beach Engagement - Hermosa, California - Nicole + Justin

On a warm September day, I met up with Nicole + Justin at Hermosa Beach Pier for their engagement shoot. I’d sent over a list of a few locations I thought might resonate with these two, and Hermosa Beach checked all of the boxes! Hermosa Beach is the quintessential beach town. It’s got small-town charm with coastal vibes, surf shops, and mom-and-pop restaurants. Honestly, I kind of want to live there! It feels reminiscent of Venice Beach’s Boardwalk but on a much smaller, more family-friendly scale with far less of a crowd. Hermosa Beach is a perfect beach for an engagement shoot!

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleDecember 26, 2019engagement photographer, engagementComment

Fun OC Fair Engagement Shoot - Costa Mesa, CA - Lillia + Brian

County Fairs can be a magical place to shoot engagement photos! There are so many fun things to do and cool angles to shoot. If you're the kind of couple that would feel more comfortable having activities to interact with a fair or amusement park can be the perfect solution. It definitely brought a whimsical, fun, playful element to the couples' photos and subtly hinted at gaming - one of their favorite activities to do together.

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleDecember 23, 2019Comment

Downtown LA Rooftop Engagement Session - Los Angeles, CA - Will + Laurel

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleNovember 13, 2019 Comment

El Matador Beach Engagement Session - Malibu, CA - Hillary + Ethan

Planning an engagement session at El Matador beach? Read this post to see what to expect + how to make your beachy engagement session amazing!

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleOctober 10, 2019Comment

Griffith Observatory Engagement Photos - Los Angeles, Ca - Nick + Nicole

The Griffith Observatory is an iconic landmark of Los Angeles located near Hollywood, and it’s a place that Angelenos and tourists seem to love equally! I met up with Nick + Nicole on a hazy Thursday night for a moody, edgy engagement-inspired couples’ shoot. Griffith Observatory is a perfect blend of nature and architecture, lending itself beautifully to both engagement sessions and elopements!

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleSeptember 26, 2019Comment

Adventurous LA Engagement Session - Los Angeles, CA - Jacob and Michelle

For this adventurous Los Angeles engagement session, I took Jacob and Michelle to Bronson Canyon after grabbing drinks in East Hollywood on a warm summer night. After a short hike we took photos surrounded by caves, mountains, fields, and wildflowers all just a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleJuly 31, 2019Comment

Downtown + Donuts - a summer morning shoot with Hillary + Davis in Atlanta | Atlanta Engagement Photographer

Click here to see a summertime downtown Atlanta couples session! Hillary + Davis were super energetic and playful, and we had the best time visiting Revolution Donuts, Jackson Street Bridge, and a rooftop with the perfect backdrop of Atlanta’s Skyview Ferris Wheel at Centennial Park. If you’re looking for an Atlanta engagement photographer, wedding photographer, or couples photographer (like these two), I’d love to talk more!

Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleJune 18, 2019Comment