Claire & Gabriel // Malibu Engagement Session

I met Claire & Gabriel three years ago on a trip to Israel, and quickly grew to love them. They have a calm, warm, joyful vibe together, and brought a grounding energy to a VERY hectic adventure (fifty 20-somethings.. on one bus.. in 102º heat.. traveling around a foreign country for two weeks). We shared a few wonderful conversations, and I even snapped a couple pix of them throughout the trip—I distinctly remember saying “this is practice for when I take your wedding photos!!!!”—but I think I was joking? That, or psychic.

Recently, they got engaged, and I was SO excited to hear from Claire when she reached out about photography. Reuniting to shoot their engagement session, I got to know this lovely couple so much better. Their wedding is coming up in April, and I absolutely can’t wait to be a part of a celebration that has been almost two decades in the making.

Claire & Gabriel met at summer camp when they were in second grade. They then attended middle school together and became close friends. When I asked if they had crushes on each other during the MANY years they were not a couple, they BOTH said yes. Gabriel even asked Claire out over AIM (or text, depending who you ask) in high school, but she shut him riiight down (lol). She DOES claim that she had their best interest in mind, and that if they started dating when they were 16, they’d never be together now. Claire is the real MVP, if you ask her.

It took a while for the stars to align, and it wasn’t until they were freshmen in college that the couple actually began dating. On a night out at the end of their first semester of college, after seeing another guy hit on Claire and realizing he SIMPLY couldn’t wait any longer, Gabriel made the first move. A couple weeks later, he officially asked her to be his girlfriend, and the rest… is history.

7 years into their relationship, on Claire’s birthday, Gabriel proposed. Making up (tenfold) for denying him 10 years prior, she said yes. Their love story spanned years and years (and years,) and they were finally engaged. ☺

I had the BEST time with these two in Malibu for their engagement session. We caught up on the last 3 years of our lives, randomly decided to pull off at beautiful views on the side of the road, almost got eaten by a 5 foot snake, ran around the beach during the most STUNNING sunset, and just enjoyed a perfect evening together. It was the e-sesh of my dreams—chatting, laughing, and documenting their incredible connection. There’s no two cuties I’d rather third wheel.

I love ya, G & C!!!