Vogue-inspired California engagement photos on film

The Authentic Storytellers

Film photography has had a major glow-up over the past couple of years as more and more couples are in search of film photographers to capture their wedding day. Luckily for us, Savannah and Mateo’s engagement session at this iconic Palm Springs wedding venue, The Sands Hotel, was the perfect place to show off our film photography skills. This is our official application to be your Southern California wedding photographers, trust us, we know exactly how to bring your California engagement photos and wedding photos to life!

We have prided ourselves on our reputation as excellent editorial wedding photographers and this shift to editorial-style wedding photography has been absolutely incredible for us. When shooting an editorial engagement session we aim to tell a story. For Savannah and Mateo’s session, we really leaned into the history of Palm Springs’s charming 50s style.

Wedding film photography vs digital

Film photography and digital photography are two different worlds and having a photographer who is experienced in both areas is huge. As film photographers and digital photographers, we love switching up our techniques and photography styles to make sure we’re really nailing our client’s visions. We highly recommend doing both film and digital photography for engagement shoots, especially if you are going for an editorial-style shoot.

Let’s talk about film photography. There is a huge difference between film photography and digital photography and many people don’t know the art behind both. As film photographers, we adore the timeless feel each image has when captured on film. You don’t have the same ability to edit film photographs the way you do digital so everything captured is authentic and raw. Film photography will often evoke emotion and feelings in those who view them and we love that! Creating raw and real moments is ideal for editorial-style engagement sessions.

Digital photography is in ways more complex than film due to the additional editing expectations most clients have, but we love it just as much as we do film! Digital photography has given us the ability to highlight immense detail and bring out vibrant colors and emotions. However, it can also bring out the awkwardness of posing and facial expressions you don’t want to see. When talking with your editorial wedding photographer, we highly recommend asking to see both their film photography gallery and digital photography gallery. Get a real feel of where their talents lie and if it lines up with your engagement session goals.

woman wearing a white with blue florals dress and man in a tan linen suit posing for their California engagement photos

The vision for this engagement session

Savannah and Mateo’s idea for their California engagement photos worked effortlessly with the natural style film photos give off. We were able to perfectly capture everything elegant, romantic, and iconic. Savannah and Mateo were taking their engagement photos in a Vogue-inspired direction and as editorial wedding photographers, we were ready to ace this challenge using Portra 400 film.

Savannah and Mateo’s California engagement photos are for sure trend-setting and Pinterest-worthy. As we knew from the start that this Vogue-inspired shoot would be iconic! Southern California has loads of engagement photo locations and it can be challenging for couples to pick their perfect spot. We encourage our couples to choose what vibe they want for their engagement session and to pick a location based on that. Savannah and Mateo are naturally drawn to retro and cool styles making this Palm Springs wedding venue the perfect setting for their engagement photos in Southern California.

Engagement photoshoot outfit details

When planning out these California engagement photos we wanted to align Savannah and Mateo’s outfits with the overall vibe of the shoot. Naturally, Savannah and Mateo absolutely delivered. It was important that their engagement photoshoot outfits were added to the engagement photos by incorporating a Southern California style.

In The Sands Hotel and Spa, we aimed for a more modern style. Savannah wore a chic white dress with luxurious white platform heels and chiffon bows tied around her ankles. Her half-up hairstyle was a nod to the iconic 70’s editorial styles she adores. While the delicate drop pearl earrings brought in a timeless touch. Mateo’s first engagement photoshoot outfit was classic and casual. His black tux was sleek and timeless but he loosened things up with a slightly unbuttoned white shirt and no tie.

Savannah and Mateo’s second engagement photoshoot outfits were by far my favorite. I mean, these outfits are the epitome of modern Palm Springs. Savannah wore a dreamy floor-length floral dress that featured a bustier top and bow-tied straps. She complimented this gown with chiffon gloves, a head scarf, and white cat-eyed sunglasses – what an icon. Mateo’s outfit kept things simple allowing Savannah to shine. He wore a cream suit with the same white undershirt and a blue pocket square. Their Southern California engagement photo locations were a true dream and we think any other film wedding photographer would agree!

Palm Springs wedding venue

A successful engagement session begins with an iconic engagement photo location. If you’re located in Southern California chances are wedding photographers have their favorite locations already picked out! But, if you’re searching for your ideal Southern California engagement photo locations we highly recommend this Palm Springs wedding venue.

The Sands Hotel and Spa is a Palm Springs staple. It gave us the best backdrop to create Savannah and Mateo’s dream Vogue-inspired session. Any editorial wedding photographer would agree that simplicity is often best, The Sands Hotel offers just that. With an all-pink old Hollywood style, this hotel is ideal for some artistic scenes. Not only does this Palm Springs wedding venue offer an amazing backdrop for engagement photos in Southern California, but it also is a dream location for your big day.

We loved the versatility of this wedding venue. We were able to use three different spaces and create a different vibe that completed this editorial shoot. Starting out the shoot against the iconic pink walls allowed us to get ready for the main event on the wide-open road of Palm Springs. Savannah and Mateo sipped on champagne as they posed by the outdoor soaking tub, this portion of the shoot felt extremely Vogue.

Engagement photos in Southern California are always incredible due to how the sun sets on the West Coast. We are seriously lucky when it comes to that golden-hour lighting because it is pure magic! We wrapped Savannah and Mateo’s session by the windmills. The sun set on our day we knew this was going to be an engagement shoot to remember.