Engaged couple walking on the beach

Planning an engagement shoot in Santa Cruz, California can be stressful, but I have a special location and some clothing tips that you might find helpful. It's called Panther Beach.

I had a wonderful time taking engagement photos with Laura and Jarrett. They were so comfortable in front of the camera and I could tell they were ready to relax and have a good time. They even brought their dogs along for the ride, who were very well trained and were great models themselves. We first took photos on top of the hill by the railroad that cuts through the beach coastline. Then Laura and Jarrett changed outfits and we went down to the beach for more photos. We had a beautiful beach sunset that softened the sky in such a smooth way. The waves were aggressively crashing against the rocks creating so much drama during our rock shots.

Where should you go to take great photos?


There are so many places to choose from when planning an engagement shoot along the California coastline! Here is one my top picks Santa Cruz, California. It's called Panther Beach. Panther Beach is a beautiful sandy beach in Santa Cruz, CA with a huge sand area and towering rock formations. There is plenty of public parking along the highway.

Is the beach accessible?


One tricky thing to note about Panther Beach is that there are no stairs leading down to the beach area. There is, however, a dirt path along the railroad that will allow you beach access. This path is quite steep and can be slippery at times, especially during the more rainy seasons. Make sure you wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes.

What should you wear?


I always recommend couples to wear simple and solid colors. One benefit when shooting outdoors in beautiful locations is that the scenery does a lot of the work for your photos. Simply being present on an epic beach surrounded by rocks is enough to make your photos pop. Don't overcomplicate your outfits. Keep it clean and classy!

When should you do it?


There's no right or wrong answer when planning an engagement shoot. However, there are certain times when it makes sense to do so. I personally love shooting around sunset, as you get the best soft lighting right at sunset and shortly after. So if weather permits, try to schedule your photoshoot one hour before sunset or even right after during "blue hour".

If you love what you see, reach out and let's book your engagement photoshoot.

I'm Jed Horca.


I would honored to capture your wedding day!

If you read this blog and are feeling excited and inspire, I encourage you to reach out to me and say "Hi". I would be happy to connect with you and help you plan your wedding day.


Click below to send me a message.

= GET IN TOUCH =