Julia and Brandt’s San Diego micro wedding wasn’t just dreamy coastal views and soft light (though it had plenty of that). It was a full-circle moment because this wasn’t just a client asking me to document their day. This was a friend—someone I’ve known and admired for years—trusting me with something meaningful.

Julia and I met back in 2021 when I put out a call for a Valentine’s Day shoot model, and she answered. At the time, she was just starting as a headshot and branding photographer in OKC, and we clicked immediately. Since then, we’ve kept in touch, watching each other grow—her behind the lens, me behind mine. Fast forward to 2024, and she reached out asking if she could shadow me at a couple of weddings. Which, obviously, I said yes to—because she’s talented, eager to learn, and truly one of the most encouraging, sunshine-in-human-form people I know.

What I didn’t expect was that after that first wedding together, she’d tell me she wanted me to photograph her own. I mean, photographing another photographer’s wedding is a big deal. So yeah. This wasn’t just another booking. This was a shared story, years in the making.

Why a San Diego Micro Wedding?

San Diego was a piece of Julia’s heart. She grew up visiting family there, building memories along the coastline. It’s the kind of place that lives in your bones, even when you’re miles away. So when she and Brandt started talking about their wedding, she didn’t just want any destination—she wanted that one.

Luckily, Brandt didn’t need convincing. When she first brought him to San Diego while they were dating, he fell head over heels for the city too (as one does). Their first stop was Sunset Cliffs. They both knew a traditional Oklahoma wedding wasn’t what they wanted. The idea of guest lists was a hard pass. Instead, they craved something small, real, just the two of them and a handful of their closest people, standing by the sea in a place that already held meaning. Choosing Sunset Cliffs was a return to where it all started.

Private Vows at Sunset Cliffs

The day itself was mid-70s, partly cloudy skies, and a little wind. Honestly, I can’t imagine it any other way. What’s an oceanside wedding without a little disorder from the elements? It was intimate in the truest sense of the word. Their private vows at Sunset Cliffs felt sacred. And Julia—the literal human embodiment of joy. Laughing, hyping everyone up, fully herself in the loudest, brightest way. She carried the day with so much energy, and Brandt balanced her. And the way he looks at her is like he’s just happy to be there.

More like this: Eden Gardens State Park Elopement in Destin, Florida

Vendors

HMUA | Hair by Krissy

Planning | Socal Vows

Florist | Graceful Stems

Cake | Sugar and Scribe