Hailey & Ross // Malibu Engagement Session

I was lucky enough to photograph these lovebirds just TWO DAYS after they got engaged, and ohhh man are they magical together. Before I get into how much I adore them, let’s time travel back to how they first met…

A few years back, Hailey & Ross both ended up at the same Irish bar to watch the world series. Ross was visiting California from SCOTLAND with his brother and friends. Across the bar, Hailey caught Ross’s eye, and Ross caught Hailey’s—but they didn’t speak or approach one another. Ross and his buddies left and had a multiple-course dinner, and after, Ross’s brother suggested they go have “one more drink at that Irish bar.” Well, as fate would have it, Hailey was still there. Ross came right up to her and said “you’re still here?!” to which she responded, “yeah, AND?!” and the rest is history.

I just love the idea that your soulmate can be someone across the dang world and a wild, perfectly-aligned chance encounter can introduce you. These are so clearly meant to be, and it’s brilliant that they managed to find each other despite growing up on different continents.

I met Hailey and Ross down in Malibu on a cold, windy evening.. and they somehow managed to make their photos look like it was 80º and wonderful out?!? I’m convinced this is because they are warm and lovely humans and it literally radiates… there’s no other explanation. The pure joy and positive energy these two have as a couple is contagious and tangible… I couldn’t help but lose my MIND while photographing them, occasionally yelling “WOW WOW WOW UNREAL” and “OMG HOW ARE TWO PEOPLE THIS BEAUTIFUL?!” I’ve got no self control when it comes to these things.

Ultimately, I just loved working with these newly engaged sweethearts, and low-key want to hang out with them without my camera sometime soon. You just can’t be around them or look at photos of them without smiling ear to ear! You’ll see what I mean.

Congratulations to this beautiful couple—a pair whose hearts shine through as bright as their dentist-commercial worthy smiles.