Monterey Family Session // The Payne Family

Family Photos
Written By Flora Gibson

I’ve photographed the Payne family for the past four years and it’s so nice to see how they grow as a family year to year! They’re a local Pebble Beach family who spends a lot of time at Still Water Cove and wanted to capture their holiday session in a space they know and love. This cove can be tricky with tides but we got so lucky with a nice low tide and sunny weather! I love how Mandy styled her family, her dress is Anthropologie and the girl’s outfits are from Velveteen. Mandy always does a great job printing her pictures and I can’t wait to see what she does with these!

Recent work
Cannon Beach Oregon Elopement
Cannon Beach Oregon Elopement

C + N eloped last week at the beautiful Cannon Beach in Oregon. The fog slowly rolled in on their wedding afternoon as they got ready amongst their closest family members. They stayed at an Airbnb right on Cannon Beach, which was perfect for their first look. They had their ceremony with family and friends on Indian Beach with the beautiful black pebbles and driftwood, and shared cake on the tall beach grass. I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful wedding day!

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Cannon Beach Oregon Elopement Guide
Cannon Beach Oregon Elopement Guide

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful places along the Oregon Coastline to elope would have to be Cannon Beach. The romantic coastline with its sandy beaches and large rock formations makes for a beautiful backdrop for your elopement. This guide will help you envision your dream elopement.

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California Couples Photography
California Couples Photography

I’ve been shooting non stop weddings and elopements lately and even my adventure shoots have been arriving in long dresses which has made it hard to capture movement. I really wanted to have a full session shooting with a slow shutter, ZERO expectations of anything being perfectly in focus. I wanted rolling in the grass, running as fast as you can and gripping each other tightly. I was so excited when this couple responded willing to do it! With a brain that immediately wants to create when inspiration hits, I was so grateful for them coming out to spend the afternoon with me!

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Big Sur Wedding Venue’s
Big Sur Wedding Venue’s

K & G booked me for two-day wedding coverage over their wedding weekend in Big Sur. I had so much fun getting to hang with them the day before their wedding for portraits; It’s always so nice to be able to do portraits in a relaxed way . This allowed K & G to really get to know me and relax on their wedding. K allowed me to really just document most of her day which allowed so much opportunity to be creative, have a relaxed loose timeline without rushing from one thing to the next. I loved how they utilized the Wind and Sea property with most of their wedding day happening outside. Using the grassy lawn for the ceremony, the deck for dancing and cocktails, and the fire pit lawn for beautiful farm-style dining. It’s exactly how I think the property should be used.

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Vintage Car Engagement Session
Vintage Car Engagement Session

When B reached out to me, his immediate love of vintage cars came through. His question was how he could include a vintage Porsche during his engagement session and I connected him to Monterey Touring Vehicles locally. When he showed up with this beauty I was sooo excited, their willingness to sit down in the dirt and drive a little farther really paid off. Their shoot feels so editorial to me, and I was so excited they chose me for this one!

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Deetjens Big Sur Elopement Photography
Deetjens Big Sur Elopement Photography

Deetjens will always be my absolute favorite place to photograph eloping couples. The history, roaming cats, old leaded windows, unique styling and natural light make it such a fun place to start a wedding day. I loved that J +K also appreciated Deetjens and had stayed there before ! We stopped at the redwoods on the way to their ceremony on the coast, where their friends met up with us for the most windy and beautiful ceremony where her best friend and now husband dueled post ceremony. We ended the night at the beach overlooks as the sun set and it was absolutely beautiful !!

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California Couples Photographer
California Couples Photographer

Meredith and Knox came to Big Sur for the second time this March, and we had the most amazing session in the rain! Meredith and Knox were married a year ago but didn’t get professional photos of the occasion. Meredith wanted to surprise Knox during their Big Sur trip with photos of their time together with their two adorable puppies. Knox is an accomplished singer/ songwriter and guitar player, and I’m so honored they brought their guitar along to capture that part of their story. The rain really started pouring down while we were on the coast they were such good sports laying in the ice plant among it. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter couple to spend the afternoon with. Thank you both.

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California Couples Photographer
California Couples Photographer

N + K were married two days ago at the Santa Barbara courthouse but always wanted to have photos in Big Sur. I was so honored when N told me she had been following my work since before she was even engaged and knew she wanted me to be her photographer. They scheduled a three-hour elopement to have the best light in the forest and at sunset. A day before their session we saw that heavy rain and winds were in the forecast, so after a bit of rearranging, we were able to move it up by a day and skip all the rain. I actually normally love a misty, low-fog day, but three hours with heavy wind and rain can be difficult, so I was glad to be able to accommodate the move. Feeling so honored to be able to capture a bit of N + K’s love story in Big Sur.

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California Engagement Photography
California Engagement Photography

S and S are getting married later this year in Oregon, and I’m so excited that they decided to include a Big Sur, California, engagement session before their wedding. I had such a good time getting to know them both and showing them areas of the coast they hadn’t explored before. We had some of the best moody light and big waves along the Big Sur Coast.

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Post Ranch Elopement Photography
Post Ranch Elopement Photography

Lucy and Dustin eloped in the beautiful redwood forest in Big Sur, California. They helped each other get ready in the most beautiful light in their room at Post Ranch Inn. We were off to the redwood forest for their ceremony and then adventured along Coast Highway 1 for some awesome photos along the cliffs, the incredibly rough waves were amazing for their elopement day, the weather was perfect!

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Flora Gibson
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Monterey Family Session// The Maskos Family visits Monterey
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Old Whaling Station Adobe Wedding of Sean and Nicole