Sand Dunes Engagement Photography

Sand Dunes Engagement Photography

The Place | Glamis Sand Dunes

It’s been a long time coming, but finally I got a Glamis Sand Dunes Engagement Photography shoot. It didn’t disappoint me! It was jam packed full of off road vehicles so we had to take a pass on the larger sand dunes and hit up the milder yet still epic sand dunes on the opposite side of the road. This mean’t less tire tracks and less chance of being taken out by an off roader, seriously it was packed full of them everywhere. The noise was pretty intense too, here was me expecting peace and quite and perhaps a few bikes every now and again. Anyway off to the other side of the road we ventured and after a short walk we found a nice area of untouched sands.

Full Gallery - Glamis Sand Dunes Engagement Photography -

The Couple | Alexis & JJ

Alexis had a stella dress that she wore, it was really so cool and it just perfectly just popped out of the muted tones that I exposed for. You know I love light and airy imagery, so I was never going to expose for the orange sand and blue skies, it’s just not my style. I much prefer making it dreamy, warm and understated so the maroon red dress, with floral accents was amazing for me to work with. Alexis and JJ are pretty much a model couple so I was quick to put them at ease and let them be themselves knowing that they look great with very little effort. The trip to and from the dunes (about 5hrs total) was a great way to get to know Alexis and JJ. I can’t wait for there wedding which is going to be in Pioneertown!!!

The Technical | Fujifilm X-T1 35mm f/1.4 & 56mm f/1.2

The shoot was relaxed, we wandered about and set the “dreamy, in the middle of nowhere” kinda scene, putting footprints in the sand and using leading lines to draw the eye to the subject. Shooting with the sun behind the couple as much as the landscape would allow to give that great California glow. Timing is key with the sun, too early in the day and you can’t get the flare into a standard portrait lens, and too close to sunset and you lose the skin tones or the sunset color. You can of course use lights & strobes, but I’m a minimalist when it comes to gear and I certainly don’t make a production and shine lights on my couples. It’s a sure way to get them feeling un-easy, I’m strictly natural light, at weddings also! I push my cameras to the limit and use any natural (or market) lights that I can before bring a direct flash into the equation. So here I had the best light period from 1.5-0.5hrs till sun down, when the sun is roughly just above the heads of the couple.