Once upon a time I lived in Southern California and I worked in motocross as a photographer.. pretty crazy, right? At the time, I already knew I loved living near the ocean but living in San Clemente really solidified it for me.
One of the first motocross riders I became friends with was Brian Burns, and not long after that I became friends with his girlfriend Rachel. They are the cutest couple, so I was stoked to meet up with them on a recent trip back to California for a sunset couples session in San Clemente. Besides Hawaii, San Clemente is my favorite place I’ve ever lived in. The beaches are beautiful, the cliffs are unreal and the sunsets, oh my gosh! Rachel is a professional photographer (you should check out her work, it’s stunning! @rachelwilkinsphoto) and most of the photos she has with Brian were taken with her camera on a tripod. She does a fantastic job with them, but they were excited to have a photoshoot without having to worry about the tripod and how to pose.
I am SO obsessed with these images. I didn’t set out to shoot this session any differently, but the vibes I got on the cliff were different than what I get in Hawaii, and I could really see it in the final edits. In Hawaii, I like to keep my images colorful and airy, while in California I went with a more moody tone. Rachel and Brian were so adorable and fun to work with during the session.
If you’re looking at these from anywhere not in Hawaii and wondering if I travel, the answer is YES! I would love to photograph you wherever you are, just email me for a custom travel rate. I have upcoming trips in the works, and I will announce the dates when they are available. For now, enjoy my favorites from this San Clemente session!
Chelsea Stratso is a destination wedding photographer based in Hawaii, and available for travel worldwide.
