Adalyn and Tyler's Engagement Photography Session June 4, 2025 Windandsea Beach, California

Engagement Photography LAdigitalPhoto - Life Event Photography by Tom Keene ©

Engagement Photography Location - Windandsea Beach, La Jolla, CA

It is always so great to get back into San Diego. It just has a totally different vibe that Los Angeles or even Orange County.

Unlike a normal engagement sessions, a proposal requires so much more planning. Really, it can be very stressful for both your photographer and the person planning the moment. How do you get your soon to be fiance at a place and time that is booked weeks in advance?

Hiding in my car and waiting for them to walk up

Finding the right place to hide while waiting for a couple can be an interesting process. I arrived one hour before the proposal, letting Tyler know I was ready when he was. They were staying a few blocks away up the road. So I had time to scope it out.

As we got closer to the time, I had a back up plan in case I didn't feel like hiding in my car. I approached a nice couple who were sitting there looking at the waves and asked if I could pretend to be talking to them about their engagement. They waited 15 minutes or more for Tyler and Adalyn to arrive. What great sports!

Tyler took his time and got out onto a rock very close to the waves. You can see it was wet, but he went for it. I could see the ring box in his right pocket. He didn't wait long and took the knee!

And just like that, Adalyn said yes and a wave nearly ended the moment. Luckily it as not one of the larger waves. We were really fortunate.

I love doing a shot like this for the couple. They get real close and your eye goes right to the ring, but even blurred you can understand the love of this couple.

I love Adalyn's first questions to me. "How long do we have you for?" I told her an hour and she was even more excited. Event with the foggy weather, I was able to save the sky and make it a little more fun.

Not an uncommon moment to capture during a proposal but then Adalyn did something I wasn't expecting.

She moved her hand towards the sky. And then in clicked for me especially when I saw the tears in her eyes. She was sharing this moment with her mom, who had passed. Oh geez I am tearing up just writing this.

I decided to be a bit more creative and wanted to do something fun. So I stood real still and waited for someone to walk by. I often do long shutter shots during weddings but I don't tend to do them during proposals. What do you think?

At this point I had over 500 images I think captured and we still had about 15 minutes to go. Adalyn mentioned she liked the blurred image and so I had a green light to get crazy.

Come see the rest of their engagement photos

Location of shoot: Windandsea Beach

Details of the shoot: Shoot Time - approximately 60 minutes, over 700 images captured, 6 hours of driving, 1.5 hours of editing, one hour to type this blog page... and a lifetime of amazing moments like this.

I hope they let me capture their wedding in Texas or Kansas. Thank you Adalyn and Tyler for sharing an amazing moment in your lives.