Leanna and Miranda’s Pasadena engagement photos actually started on TikTok… which still feels a little wild to say out loud. Of all the ways people find photographers. Social media can be chaotic, but every once in a while, it connects the right people, and this was definitely one of those moments. They reached out pretty quickly after finding me, and weren’t looking for anything overly staged or trendy. They cared about art, storytelling, and love museums. This turned into booking not just their engagement session, but their Iceland wedding next year… which, I can’t even explain how excited I am.

Museum Engagement Photos in Pasadena, California

Leanna and Miranda knew from the start that they wanted their Pasadena engagement photos to feel like art, not just photos. Museums have always been their thing, so building the session around that was easy. We landed on the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, which, if you’ve ever been, you already know the architecture, muted tones, and paintings all lean very timeless and a little editorial. Basically, the perfect backdrop for what they had in mind.

We got there early to beat the crowds… or at least attempt to. It was still a little busy, but that’s part of the game with public spaces. We just worked around it, finding pockets of quiet, using angles, and leaning into the space’s structure. When you’re shooting somewhere like a museum, you can’t just wing it. You have to be aware of composition, light, and movement.

It was a perfectly sunny Los Angeles day, which, coming from Minnesota in February, felt incredible. That soft, natural light filtering through gave everything a warm, cinematic feel. The result was a mix of quiet moments and more structured, editorial shots of just them, existing in a space they love.

Studio Moments & Golden California Light

After the museum, we shifted gears. I had a studio booked for us, and this is where things loosened up a bit. Museums are beautiful, but they come with rules, people, and a certain level of restraint. The studio is total freedom. We kept it simple. This is usually where couples start to forget the camera a little, and you can see it in the photos. The energy softens, and things get playful and a little more unfiltered.

Then we stepped outside, and the grounds were unreal. Warm light, textured walls, a little bit of that dreamy, almost film-like glow. And of course, we had to get some shots on film. We leaned into both polished and more playful shots. That balance matters. The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle, and that’s exactly where we landed. It also helps that these two are naturally photogenic. Overall, this was such a fun session for me, and their Iceland wedding is going to be absolutely unreal.

Fall Central Park Engagement Photos at Sunrise