If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that Big Sur is one of my favorite places on the planet. I don’t just mean this for adventure elopement photography. If someone were to ask what my ‘happy place’ is, Big Sur is, without a doubt, always my answer. As someone born and raised in the Bay Area, I’ve been coming here for as long as I can remember, but it was really during the pandemic that I really learned to appreciate the gorgeous cliffsides and the vastness of the ocean.

There is something so inherently romantic about the towering redwoods, the waves crashing along the cliffs, and the sun illuminating it all at once. There’s so many places to check out in Big Sur – you’ll notice on my Instagram that I’ve shot at a few of them – from McWay Falls to the state park itself. For this, we decided to go with Pfeiffer Beach.

My love for this place made Bree and Levi’s Big Sur elopement photography all the more special for me. We started off with a small stroll in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park itself amongst the redwoods, then made our way down to the beach. After a few days of chill and rain, the sun had shown up for the first time in days. The golden glow illuminated everything from the trademark purple sand to the keyhole in the rocks to the waves crashing on the shore.

With the sunset behind them as they took their vows, Pfeiffer Beach took our breath away. Ending it with a champagne toast, Bree and Levi’s shoot was a magical one – and a Big Sur elopement shoot I’m unlikely to forget anytime soon.

Riya Kataria is an international adventure elopement photographer based in California & London. She provides candid photography that is cinematic and romantic, while still remaining authentic. LGBTQ+ affirming and a BIPOC photographer, Riya works with couples around the world to bring their visual stories to life. True-to-life photography that brings luxury without sacrificing personality. Learn more at Riya’s website.