Amannda & Ben // Malibu Engagement Session

I first met Ben and Amannda about 6 minutes before they got engaged. At a beautiful park with a stunning view of Downtown Los Angeles, I pretended to be taking photos of a male model while Ben and Amannda ~went on a walk~. Ben and I had set the entire thing up—down to the location he’d propose—but Amannda had no idea.

Seeing Amannda’s total + complete shock when she turned around and saw Ben on one knee, & then seeing her eyes fill with tears as he asked her to be his wife, my (fake male model) friend and I couldn’t help but shriek & giggle with excitement. We were crazy stoked about the proposal… even though we were all practically strangers.

I was SO excited when Benmannda (my weird couple name for them) decided to have me as their engagement & wedding photographer! Since their proposal, I thoroughly enjoying getting to know this sweet couple—from watching Game of Thrones’ final season with them, to constantly cracking up at our ridiculous gif-filled group text chat.

We decided to venture down to one of my very favorite beaches, El Matador in Malibu, to take their engagement photos. What we found at the beach when we arrived was 1) a high-ass tide, 2) 39 photoshoots, 3) 200 beachgoers. Despite the hilarious conditions, we made the most of our time and had a blast running away from waves (or, jumping on Ben to escape waves in Amannda’s case) & capturing photos which will eventually be on my fridge in the form of a Save the Date!!!

Ben and Amannda brought a whole freaking pizza to their shoot, and I was overjoyed to find ways to incorporate it into their session. They fed each other romantically, posed with slices to highlight Amannda’s ring, and then.. we just ate it. Nothing like a sandy piece o’ pizza to compliment a rad session.

ANYWHO, I love these two and cannot wait for their wedding next summer in NorCal. I scream and almost cry every time I see a picture of Amannda’s dress…

“Love is patient, love is kind, love is pizza, love is wine.” Sarebear 1:39