Winter Walkabout Along Downtown Alvarado


Jordon + Ryan were so excited to visit Monterey right at the beginning of the New Year and take their Engagement Photos in the town where they're having their Wedding later this year. With all of the craziness that the holidays bring, including lots of travel and planning gatherings with the family, these two made it down to celebrate themselves before celebrating with the rest of their loved ones in a few short months. They liked the idea of mixing city with coastal settings and that's exactly what we did!

Downtown Monterey to the Monterey Wharf


Since we were downtown, I figured we'd meet at Alta Bakery (the literal best spot to stop to get coffee and some tasty food in the area) and it's connected to their venue! Since there was nothing going on, we were able to spend some time around their venue and are really looking forward to recreating some of those same shots on their wedding day.


For Engagement Sessions, I suggest bringing 3 outfits:

  • 1 Casual
  • 1 Semi-Casual
  • 1 Formal


This gives your gallery some diversity and you some options for your session! Different outfits make us feel differently and also allow for different types of posing. Think about it...a flowy dress is going to add a lot of movement to your photos and give you a prop to play with a as you swish it back and forth.

alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress

Choosing Colors That Match Your Backdrops


People always ask what they should wear for their session.


First, I always give my clients access to an online personal styler to help them choose their outfits. I'm personally a little fashionably challenged, so I love any and all help I can get! The online personal styler will show you outfits that photograph well but the best part? It's not just for you, it's for your whole crew! So if it's for your Engagement Session, it'll show you outfits that go together and photograph well. You can choose to either buy the outfits they suggest or use that as inspo to use what you have in your closet.


Second, you should choose images that complement your backdrops. We did their first outfit at Barns at Cooper Molera. They had on lots of neutrals with different shades of brown / tan and it fit perfectly with the gloomy day we were given. When we got closer to the coast, their outfits had more hints of blue and green so it matched with the ocean and colorful boats.


Thirdly, choose clothing that feels like you. Your Engagement Session is not the time to experiment with something "new" whether that's a new clothing style or risky shade of lipstick. You should look and feel like you for your Engagement Session.

alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress

Posing In Ways That Feel Comfortable and Natural


Since you chose outfits, hair, makeup, etc that feel like you, your poses should also feel like you.


I base my posing on each of my couple's unique relationship. Some are more open with their PDA and others are more silly and goofy. You wouldn't pose a goofy couple with serious / stoic / dramatic poses if that doesn't feel natural to them. I always love to embrace my client's personalities and their unique connection so I pay attention to how they naturally interact with one another.


Communication is key! It's important for couples to be involved in the process and communicate if anything feels really weird or truly not like them. These are their photos, their time, their memories so their photos should look and feel like them.


And when you stay true to yourself, you receive a gallery that feels exactly like you.


Check out some sneak peeks from Jordon + Ryan's Winter Engagement Session around Downtown Monterey, California below.

alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress

Downtown Monterey & Monterey Wharf Engagement Session

alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress
alvarado street downtown monterey wharf barns at cooper molera beach city engagement session jelau photography vietnamese wedding dress