A Romantic Engagement Session at the Samoa & Manila Dunes
Joaquin and Jasmine will be getting married at The Lost Whale Inn this August, so it felt only fitting that their engagement session took place somewhere that already held so much meaning for them.
The dunes are where Jaquin proposed.
We began at the Samoa Dunes, where the weather could not have been more perfect. A slight breeze moved through the beach grass while soft clouds stretched across the sky, catching hints of color as the evening progressed. A faint mist drifted in from the ocean, creating a romantic haze that softened the landscape. The sound of crashing waves filled the air as we explored the shoreline. At one point, Jaquin scooped Jasmine into his arms and playfully teased tossing her into the ocean. The result was lots of laughter and some wonderfully candid photographs.
After about half an hour, we made the short drive to the Manila Dunes. While only minutes away, the atmosphere felt very different. High above the ocean, rolling dunes stretch into the distance, covered in grasses that sway with the wind. From the top of the dunes, you can see the ocean but can no longer hear it roaring. Returning to the place where their engagement began brought a sense of nostalgia and excitement to the evening. Every path, every view, and every moment together seemed to carry a little extra significance.
We arrived just as the evening light began to turn golden. Birds sang from the brush around us, and bright yellow blossoms seemed to glow in the warm sunlight. The entire landscape felt peaceful and still.
As sunset approached, the sky became the star of the show. A layer of clouds along the horizon created the perfect opening for the sun to shine through before disappearing for the evening. For a few brief moments, everything was bathed in warm light—the dunes, the grasses, and the two of them standing together watching the day come to an end.
Sessions like this remind me why I love photographing couples in Humboldt County. The landscapes are beautiful, but what makes a location truly special is the story attached to it. For Jaquin and Jasmine, these dunes aren't just a beautiful backdrop—they're part of their story.
