I love it when our couples want to explore new locations for their portrait sessions, because being adventurous with our couples leads to incredible little surprises like this amazing tree we found during Tiffany + Steve’s engagement session at Paramount Ranch in Malibu. Perfect light, perfect tree, perfect moment …

Tiffany + Steve met while she was on a cruise with her family. As fate would have it, they happened to have mutual friends on that cruise, so they hung out together and formed a friendship that would lead to their first date months later at a fun little Mexican restaurant for Taco Tuesday. In between tacos and margaritas, they shared laughter and smiles planting the roots of their love that would eventually lead to him proposing three years later on the beautiful island of Sao Miguel in the Azores.

THE LOCATION: PARAMOUNT RANCH AND EL MATADOR BEACH

Fun and adventure are often immersed in their relationship, so it was only fitting that we spend our afternoon with them exploring the Malibu hills and coast.

Paramount Ranch is nestled in the mountains of Malibu and it being our first time there, we were overwhelmed by all the beautiful pockets of greenery and gorgeous light. But Paramount Ranch is also used as a film set, so besides the incredible natural elements, there are also fun corners of the property that serve as a unique backdrop. To finish up their session, we hit El Matador Beach, which I’m convinced is one of the most gorgeous beaches on the Southern California Coast. Click after click the hills and the ocean gave us an overflow of magic and light, but this stunning pair and their infectious love and laughter is what really made this one of our favorite engagement sessions to date!

Here are some of our favorite moments from their session in Malibu …