Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park Engagement Session | Oakland, California
There are so many beautiful places for engagement photos in the East Bay, and Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland is a new favorite for couples who want a little bit of everything: towering redwoods, greenery, natural light and plenty of room to let things unfold naturally.
Emily and David’s engagement session was especially fun because we actually met through a fundraiser at their school, Contra Costa Christian School in Walnut Creek. I had donated a photography session to the fundraiser, and after getting engaged, David purchased the session for the two of them. I love when a session leads to getting to know a couple and eventually documenting such an exciting season of their lives!
An Engagement Session Among the Redwoods
Emily and David were such a kind and genuine couple, and I had so much fun getting to know them during their session. We had about an hour together, which gave us plenty of time to get a good variety of photos without feeling too rushed.
For this session based upon the couple’s wishes, we included a mix of classic portraits and images that felt like the couple. For Emily and David, that meant getting some of those staple engagement photos, along with more playful moments like dancing and moving around together. A funny thing I hear from couples is that they don’t expect the photography session to be such a workout haha. It’s because I have prompts like chase, and tickle, and run a little bit (so keep that in mind haha). It prompts genuine and natural connection between a couple, but does expend some energy haha.
We also made sure to capture some of the little details, including their rings, along with plenty of photos that would work beautifully for their wedding invitations, save-the-dates and social media.
The beginning of a session can sometimes feel a little awkward when you're not used to having a camera pointed at you, but by the end of a session, couples are usually much more comfortable and I have a better sense of their personalities and how they naturally interact.
That's exactly what I loved about photographing Emily and David. We got the beautiful, classic portraits, but we also had plenty of time for the fun, genuine moments in between and throughout.
Why Choose Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park for Engagement Photos?
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is a great option for an Oakland engagement session if you love the idea of having a natural, woodsy backdrop without needing to travel far from the East Bay.
The towering redwoods create a beautiful sense of scale in photos, while the trails and greenery give us plenty of variety throughout a session. It's especially great for couples who want their engagement photos to feel natural, romantic and a little adventurous. I do want to note that if you want to do a session here, your photographer does need to have a permit through the East Bay Regional Park District (as I do annually). This is a requirement to respect the parks and make sure everything is done legally.
If you're looking for an East Bay engagement photographer who will guide you through your session while still leaving plenty of room for your personalities to come through (and one with the correct permits haha), I'd love to photograph your engagement story.
And Emily and David, thank you for trusting me to capture this season for you! I had such a great time getting to know you both, and I'm so glad that a fundraiser at Contra Costa Christian School eventually led to me photographing your engagement. 🤍
Planning Your Own East Bay Engagement Session?
I photograph engagement sessions throughout the East Bay and Bay Area, including Oakland, Walnut Creek, Castro Valley, Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, Danville and beyond. If you're looking for a session that combines beautiful portraits with genuine movement, laughter and moments that feel like the two of you, inquire with me and let's plan something together.
