Torrey Pines Anniversary Photo Session — Washington Elopement Videographer & Photographer

Before scrolling any further, I want you to ask yourself a question. What comes to mind when you think of a photographer’s job description? Most people that I have come into contact with usually answer, “photoshop and pretty photos.” What about you? Was your response close to that? If it was, you aren’t totally wrong. While we do spend countless hours editing and preparing galleries for our couples, there is so much more to our profession than meets the eye.

One of the most important things we do? LOCATION SCOUTING which actually fits hand in hand with this Torrey Pines Anniversary Session in San Diego.

Interested in diving into the mind of a photographer? Keep scrolling, because I am just getting to the good stuff!

Married Couple Holding Hands While Walking Down Stairs | Torrey Pines Anniversary Session in San Diego

For those who are not locals of the area, Torrey Pines is located in San Diego, California. There are about a million and one beaches lining the coast of San Diego. Okay, there are actually only thirty-one, but that is still so many in a general area! I mean, picture having thirty-one beaches in your city. If you had to pick the best one to take photos at, you may get pretty overwhelmed.

Luckily, I am a Wedding and Elopement Photographer/Videographer, who has made the area her specialty.Torrey Pines just so happens to be my favorite spot because of its many nooks and crannies to take beautiful photos in.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCATION SCOUTING
BEFORE THIS TORREY PINES ANNIVERSARY SESSION

When Sydney and Aaron reached out to me to capture their photos, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity for a dreamy Torrey Pines Anniversary Session. Although I feel as though I know this spot like the back of my hand, I still spent hours canvassing the area beforehand to ensure that I was one hundred percent prepared to take on this environment with them.

The thing about photo locations is that they are constantly changing. Whether it is due to random weather cycles or an influx of popularity, you always want to find a photographer who will scout out the location before you show up. Ultimately, you are spending money on photos that you want to last a lifetime. If the spot your photographer chooses doesn’t meet your specific needs, you aren’t going to look back on that those photographs with as much fondness.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PHOTO LOCATION?

Here is a little insight into what is going through my head while I’m location scouting for engagements, proposals, anniversary photos, and even elopements.

light

Lighting is so, so important for capturing the photos that you hope to hang on your wall or share with friends and family. According to a blog written by Mark Brion, a fellow photographer, “Light determines not only brightness and darkness, but also tone, mood, and atmosphere.” Making sure the light in the location of your photo shoot is where and when you want is crucial in using it to your advantage in telling your story. When I scout a location before a shoot, I use the Sun Seeker App to help me determine exactly when and where the sun will be in relation to my subject and location. This helps me nail my sunset photos and plan out exactly when I will need to find shade to shoot in, and when I am able to shoot in direct light.

Here is an example of how this app shows the sun’s hourly direction intervals, its equinox, winter & summer solstice paths, sunrise sunset times, twilight times, sun shadow, and the golden hour.

texture

Texture is a great way to add depth and story to your photos. It can brings bring a gallery to life, and helps draw you into the emotion of the subject. Texture can look like tall grasses, wildflowers, sand, or other little details of the environment that transport you back to that space. I like to think of texture as the “broll” of each landscape. I ask my self while I’m scouting, “what is it that gives this specific place it’s feeling and mood?” Is it the sound of the waves, the smell of the wildflowers? I take note of these things while scouting and then aim to photograph couples amidst these things.

variety

When looking for a good photo location, I look for landscapes that have a variety of areas that we can shoot at. For example, in this Torrey Pines photo shoot I was able to find tall green grass nestled in a hillside, wildflowers, dramatic overlooks, layered canyons, and vast beachside — all in the same location. This adds variety to my couple’s galleries and prompts different types of emotion and composition throughout the photoshoot.

crowds/privacy

This goes without saying that photos that have been taken in extremely busy locations rarely turn out as well as ones that are more secluded. I want nothing more than my couples to feel the freedom to be entirely themselves and express their love for one another without fear of being embarrassed or being watched by curious bystanders. Even if we are shooting in a popular or busy location, I scout beforehand to find the right balance of beauty, meaning, and privacy. In even the most crowded of national and state parks, there are almost always places that are overlooked by your traditional tourist.

plan for The unexpected

There can always be unexpected hurdles to any location that you will want to know a head of time. This can be things like closed trails, construction, new parking limitations, or most commonly - unexpected weather. I cannot stress enough how important it is that your photographer or videographer is familiar with or has recently been to the location you are taking photos at.