Christopher contacted me late in 2021 seeking a photographer for his short Monterey wedding followed by photos on Carmel Beach. Lucky for them, photos on Carmel Beach happen to be my specialty! Carmel Beach is the most popular destination for my clients. If you’d like to learn all about it and take in amazing images, please see my blog on it right here!
However, this wedding was different for me than any others I have photographed. Not only was I to be their photographer, but also their witness!
Monterey Wedding Ceremony
Their day began at the Monterey Stone Chapel with a very nice, short ceremony officiated by Sherilyn. This was my second wedding officiated by her and she’s very good!
So much emotion in this photo! Love it.
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Carmel Wedding Photography
Once the tears were shed and wiped away, we whisked ourselves away to Carmel Beach which is only a short drive south of Monterey.
Once we arrived at the beach we began our photography session on the cliffs above the sand, then we made our way down the photogenic stone staircase and onto the beach.
I really enjoyed the low tide giving us such a clean beach to pose on. When you get wet sand like this you can use their reflection to your benefit.
They sky was fantastic that day. I love a good cloudy, moody sky like this. Clouds add so much texture to the sky and create that picturesque, moody lighting. Once we finished on the beach we walked out onto this rocky outcrop that juts into the pacific ocean on the south end of the beach for a more dramatic look.
This is such a great location for dramatic, “romance novel book cover” shots.
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We still had a little bit of time left when I noticed this fairytale looking house. I took a few photos of them with this amazing house as the background when the owner waved at us through her window and said we could shoot on her property! So we used their back patio and front steps briefly and these photos turned out great!
Straight out of a fairytale.
Loved the framing of them by the trees.
Could not resist this spot.
But we weren’t done yet! Carmel Beach has so many unique angles to offer. On our way back to the car I found a few more spots along the trail for some great poses.
That’s a wrap! Another successful wedding shoot in the books! I was a witness to their marriage and now you are all a witness to these amazing photos! This was their first time doing a shoot and they nailed it!
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John Ruddock is a professional photographer based in Salinas, CA. John grew up on the coast in Half Moon Bay and has spent over 30 years on the beautiful California central coast. He photographs weddings, engagements, families, sports, and landscapes from Half Moon Bay to Big Sur. Contact him today to book your session! You can also buy prints of his best images right here.
