The Story about Mary and Michael
They had already been back once — for the proposal. Now they were back again, this time with Cindy.
Tongva Park in Santa Monica is one of those places that rewards loyalty. It doesn’t dazzle on first impression — no dramatic cliffs, no crashing surf. It has something quieter: a sense of being held. Tiered lawns, the soft geometry of the paths, and in the late afternoon when the marine layer thins, a warmth that feels earned. Mary and Michael knew this park the way you only know a place after returning to it. Their first date. His proposal. And now, nine months into their engagement, they were here again — this time with their dog, Cindy, bounding ahead of them on her leash.
As a Santa Monica engagement photographer, I look for couples who have stopped thinking about being photographed. Mary and Michael got there quickly. They’re both psychiatrists — people who spend their days reading other people, holding space with careful attention. On camera, that translates into a kind of presence that’s rare to work with. They weren’t performing for me. They were just together, in a place they loved, with their dog.
Cindy, for the record, had opinions about the session. She had opinions about the direction they were walking. She had opinions about the squirrel near the upper terrace. She is, in every way, a full member of this family — and the frames with her in them are some of my favorites from the afternoon. There’s a particular kind of joy that only enters a portrait when a dog is involved, and it has nothing to do with posing.
We moved from the park down toward the pier as the light shifted, the overcast sky softening everything into a gentle diffusion — no harsh shadows, just that even, coastal glow that Southern California does so well on cloudy September evenings. By the time we finished, the three of them were thoroughly comfortable and I had run out of light to chase.
Their wedding was already on the calendar for the following May. I knew, standing there at Tongva Park as they laughed at something Cindy had done, that the day was going to be a good one.
Thinking about an engagement session in the Los Angeles area? I’d love to hear about your story — and your dog is more than welcome. Reach out here.
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