As a Big Sur wedding photographer, I have a couple of favorite places to take engagement photos. From shooting weddings and elopements there to engagement sessions here, I absolutely love this location!!! Rori and Brett are getting married near the bay area, but wanted adventurous engagement photos in Big Sur!! Rori grew up nearby in the Monterey area so she grew up coming to the area often!!

Bixby Bridge 

First of all, the iconic Bixby bridge is an absolutely amazing place to start!!! There’s a reason this place is so famous- it’s absolutely gorgeous. When arriving from the north, there’s a tiny parking lot off to the right as you approach it or up to the left of it. You just need to make sure you’re parked in one of these designated spaces for safety!! 

Another tip is to visit Bixby Bridge on a weekday and/or early morning! You’ll run into less people and you’ll get gorgeous lighting! Honestly no matter the time is beautiful because harsh light really brings out the blues and turquoise in the water below!!! Spend some time here and then head back north for another favorite location of mine! 

Garrapata state park

I loveee this beach access location! It’s actually relatively quiet compared to other stops along the famous Hwy 1! Parking is easy to find along the road here (it’s safe to park on the side here). There’s an easy path to follow leading down to beautiful iceberg plant covered dunes and then down to the beach! You also get views of the rolling hills that make Big Sur so famous!!! While sunset here is unreal, you can’t go wrong in the morning or evening! Just make sure to pack warm clothes as it always gets pretty chilly here!!!

If you’re looking for a Big Sur wedding photographer or Big Sur engagement photographer, definitely reach out!!! 

Need some Big Sur engagement session inspo?? Click here!

Big Sur engagement photos by Big Sur wedding photographer, Rachel Christopherson Photography