We had so much fun photographing Shelby and Brandon’s sunrise session at Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach recently, and we’re thrilled to share their images. They opted to have a pre-wedding portrait session just a few days before their July 4th wedding, and Crescent Bay at sunrise was the perfect fit! We can’t wait to share more from their wedding soon, but keep reading to see more from this gorgeous morning at the beach. 

A Sunrise Shoot at Crescent Bay, Laguna Beach

For their wedding, Shelby and Brandon were planning a sweet, intimate backyard celebration with their closest family and friends. They really wanted to be fully present on their wedding day and to be able to spend as much time with their guests as possible, so instead of trying to squeeze in beach romantics that day, they opted for this sunrise shoot a few days before. 

Wedding day portraits are wonderful, but they do take a significant amount of time, and if your primary goal is to maximize time with your guests, this is a great alternative! You get an unhurried session where you can truly relax, and we can focus on capturing you two together and your love. Shelby and Brandon really wanted portraits at the beach, so not having to leave their friends and family on their wedding day and still get photos there was a major benefit.

We shot Shelby and Brandon’s session on a Leica Q3 and a Fuji GFX 100II which is such a powerful duo for this kind of shoot. And even though there wasn’t much of a visible sunrise on the morning of the session, the foggy morning made the lighting really even and beautiful for photos. It also added to the secluded, romantic feel of the shoot. Sometimes overcast days are actually the best days for photos. 

We were also so grateful to Julian Budge for being there to capture the session on video:

About Crescent Bay Laguna Beach

Crescent Bay is located on the north end of Laguna, right at Cliff Drive and the North Pacific Coast Highway. It’s a beautiful quarter-mile stretch of sandy beach with rocky areas on both ends, and it’s one of our favorite spots in the area. 

It does get pretty busy, especially on a nice summer day, so arriving early for this sunrise shoot worked out perfectly. We had the entire beach to ourselves! Shelby and Brandon were able to completely be themselves and fully enjoy the moment. It was so fun getting to document their pre-wedding excitement for them.  

We’ve done quite a few shoots in Laguna Beach over the years, from engagements to proposals and more–it’s one of our favorite locations in California. We helped another couple, Brandon and Nyomi, with a surprise Valentine’s Day proposal here, and also photographed Noam and Sharon’s proposal this year, too. Noam was really hoping for a secluded location to propose to Sharon while they were visiting from Germany, and we helped him scout out the perfect spot with no one around. Laguna Beach is such a special place, and we absolutely love shooting here!  

When we work with our couples on location, we always talk about your vision first and then recommend the best spot and time of day, both for the lighting and the overall experience you’re looking for. Having that local knowledge makes a huge difference! 

Southern California Wedding Photographers

If you’re planning an engagement session or a pre-wedding shoot like Shelby and Brandon’s in Laguna Beach, or anywhere else in Southern California, we’d love to photograph it for you.  Reach out to us through our contact page, and we’ll be in touch to hear all about your vision!