How To Turn Your Engagement Session Into a Full Day Adventure Date
An engagement session does not have to be a quick one hour shoot where you show up, take a few photos, and head home.
It can be an experience. A full day. A date. An adventure.
Many couples choose to get married with a big ceremony, but still crave something intimate and intentional just for the two of them. You see all those epic and incredible adventure elopements, and you think “well, I’d love photos like that, but I want to celebrate my big day with all my friends in family!” You can do both! You can use your engagement session to scratch that itch of going on an adventure and getting those epic photos together while celebrating this special time in your lives together. Somewhere beautiful. Somewhere meaningful. Somewhere you can slow down, explore, and create memories while also walking away with incredible photos.
That is exactly what Vlad and Darlene did.
Instead of a traditional engagement session, they chose to turn theirs into a full day adventure in Big Sur, a place that already held so much meaning for them.
It was where Vlad had proposed to Darlene just one year earlier.
So we planned something that felt almost like an elopement, just without the actual ceremony.
A full day date adventure centered around connection, exploration, and their story.
Making Your Engagement Session About More Than Just Photos
This is something I love offering couples. Your engagement session can be whatever you want it to be. It does not have to feel rushed or structured. It can feel like a day you would have planned anyway, just with me tagging along to document it.
Think hiking cliffs, stopping for cocktails, walking barefoot on the beach, popping champagne, watching the sunset, and ending the night under the stars.
This session ended up being around six hours total. And every part of it mattered.
It gave Vlad and Darlene the space to really be together, soak in the moment, and celebrate this season of their lives.
Stop One: Garrapata State Park
We started the day at Garrapata State Park, exploring the cliffs and wildflowers while the fog rolled through the coastline.
This area is always stunning. Big open views. Dramatic cliffs. Soft light. And in the right season, wildflowers that make everything feel even more magical.
They walked, laughed, held hands, and took their time soaking it all in. No pressure. No rush. Just the two of them taking in the beauty around them.
It was the perfect way to begin the day.
Cocktails and Connection at Nepenthe
Next we headed to Nepenthe, one of their favorite spots tucked into the redwoods of Big Sur.
Here they grabbed cocktails and snacks and just enjoyed each other’s company.
This part of the day is always one of my favorites. It gives couples a chance to reset, talk, laugh, and simply be together. These moments are just as important as the epic portraits. Sometimes even more so.
Your engagement session does not have to be nonstop photos. It can include real life pauses that make the experience feel natural and meaningful.
A Full Circle Moment at Keyhole Beach
Then we made our way to Keyhole Beach.
This was the exact place where Vlad had proposed to Darlene a year earlier.
But this time, Darlene had a surprise of her own.
She had secretly created Vlad’s wedding ring and brought it with her. So in the very same spot where he had once pulled out her engagement ring, she pulled out his wedding ring.
The moment was emotional, joyful, and completely unexpected.
The last time they stood here, he gave her a ring. This time, she gave him one.
They popped champagne, shared quiet moments together, laughed, teared up, and soaked in everything that brought them back to this place.
It was full circle in the most beautiful way.
Ending the Day Back at Garrapata
As the sun went down, we drove back to Garrapata for night photos to close out the day.
The sky darkened. The air cooled. And they wrapped up their adventure exactly how it began, together on the cliffs, reflecting on everything the day had held.
It was the perfect ending to a day that was never just about photos.
You Can Do This Too
Your engagement session can be so much more than a quick shoot.
It can be a full day adventure. A date. A celebration of your relationship. A chance to explore somewhere special together. A way to slow down before the chaos of wedding planning fully sets in.
You can hike. You can grab drinks. You can revisit meaningful places. You can build an experience that feels like you.
Whether that is in Big Sur or somewhere else entirely, I love helping couples turn their engagement sessions into intentional, story driven adventures.
If you are dreaming of something bigger than a traditional engagement shoot, let’s create it together.
Your love deserves the time.
Make Your Engagement Session an Experience, Not Just a Photoshoot
One of my favorite things to tell couples is this: your engagement session does not have to be just about taking photos.
It can be a reason to finally go somewhere you have been dreaming about. It can be a full day together. It can be a date. It can be an adventure. It can be a chance to slow down and do something meaningful side by side.
Instead of thinking of it as a photoshoot, think of it as creating a memory.
This is your time to build something special into your story. Choose a place that means something to you. Or pick somewhere totally new that you have always wanted to explore. Add in things you genuinely love doing together. That is what makes your session feel real and personal instead of staged.
Here are some ideas to get you inspired.
If you’re feeling adventurous
These are perfect if you love experiences, exploring new places, or doing something a little outside the box together.
Go somewhere epic you have always wanted to visit
Ride horses along the coast or through the mountains
Take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise
Hike to a hidden viewpoint or waterfall
Explore cliffs, redwoods, deserts, or beaches
Rent a vintage car and road trip for the day
Kayak, paddle board, or wander tide pools
Plan a full day adventure with multiple locations just like an elopement
These kinds of sessions feel big and cinematic, but they are also incredibly intimate because you are sharing something meaningful together.
If you’re more into cozy and intentional moments
Adventure does not always have to mean hiking cliffs. Sometimes the most special sessions are simple and slow.
Have a picnic with your favorite snacks and wine
Go wine tasting somewhere you love
Bring your dog and play on the beach together
Visit a place tied to your story, like where you first met or got engaged
Play a card game you both love while sipping coffee
Walk through a farmers market and grab flowers
Cook a meal together in your Airbnb
Stop at your favorite bar for cocktails
Spend the afternoon wandering a town you love
These moments are just as powerful. They tell your story in a quieter, more personal way.
Planning Your Own Big Sur Adventure Engagement or Wedding Day
If this story has you inspired and dreaming about your own Big Sur adventure, whether that’s an extended engagement session like Vlad and Darlene’s or a full elopement or wedding day, I’ve got lots of resources to help you get started.
Here are some blogs and galleries I’ve written or photographed that will spark ideas for locations, timelines, accommodations, and overall inspiration:
💡 Inspiration & Planning Guides
• Intimate Big Sur Cliffside Elopement with Their Closest Friends and Pup
• Liana and Dino’s Dreamy Big Sur Elopement
• Top Big Sur Accommodations for Elopements and Intimate Weddings
• The Ultimate Guide to Eloping in Garrapata State Park: Stunning Locations, Seasons, & Planning Tips
📸 Full Portfolios for Visual Inspiration
• Cliffside Big Sur MicroWedding
• Big Sur Adventure Engagement
These galleries and guides cover everything from cliffside wedding ideas and foggy ocean portraits to where to stay, how to plan your timeline, and what locations photograph best in Big Sur.
If you ever want help brainstorming your own adventure — whether it’s a multi-hour day session, a full elopement, or a two-day experience like the one above — I’m here to help you dream, plan, and make it truly unforgettable.
Reach out here and let’s build something beautiful together 💛