The Summer I Turned Pretty Inspired Shoot
Not all summer love stories are told under blazing suns and cloudless skies. Some, like the best chapters of The Summer I Turned Pretty, live in the in-between—fog-draped mornings, quiet walks along windswept coastlines, and the kind of love that simmers just beneath the surface.
That was the magic we tapped into for this couple’s shoot in Pacific Grove, California—a quiet, coastal town that felt like Cousins Beach’s foggy cousin. With its rocky cliffs, sea-salted air, and storybook charm, it became the perfect setting to bring the soul of the show to life: raw, emotional, and irresistibly nostalgic.
The Mood:
Inspired by the emotional undercurrents of The Summer I Turned Pretty, we leaned into softness, subtle tension, and the kind of quiet intimacy that comes when two people know each other by heart. This wasn’t about posing; it was about feeling. Every glance, every touch, every lingering pause told a piece of their story—just like Belly and Conrad (or Jeremiah... we won’t pick sides).
The overcast sky gave us the perfect canvas: moody, cinematic, and full of depth. Think late-July mornings before the sun burns through the fog—when everything feels suspended in time.
This shoot was a love letter to imperfect weather, small beach towns, and stories that unfold slowly. If The Summer I Turned Pretty taught us anything, it’s that summer love isn’t always sun-soaked and simple. Sometimes, it’s foggy. Complicated. Bittersweet. And that’s what makes it unforgettable.
So here’s to rainy day romance, coastal kisses, and a love that feels like a scene from your favorite summer show.
Want your own The Summer I Turned Pretty-inspired shoot? Fog or sun, let’s capture your story exactly as it feels. Reach out HERE.
When Hanna and Nick invited me to capture their elopement—a dreamy, cave‑side ceremony with their favorite people, a shot‑ski that crackled with laughter, and private vows read high above the Pacific Ocean—it felt like the most perfect love story. It was equal parts intimate, wild, heartfelt, and oh-so-Carmel. And it’s the kind of story I live for as a Carmel elopement photographer.