On a magical misty afternoon in October, Robert proposed to Katie on an overlook at Leo Carillo State Beach, above the crashing waves of the Pacific. It's always so much fun to shoot a proposal, because I get to be part of the excited planning moments. Robert and I scouted out the spot and talked through time of day and where I would hide; who would arrive and when. He poured so much thought into the details of his proposal and the words he shared with Katie, and when the moment came... it was even better than he could have planned!

I'm so excited for Robert and Katie to spend the rest of their lives together. Finding your person in this big world is a priceless gift.

Here's what Robert had to say about his experience working with me afterward! 
★★★★★
"Cecily is the absolute best. She photographed my proposal to my then-girlfriend, now fiancee! I wanted to propose at one location, but upon scouting it ahead of time, we discovered that it was completely overrun with other couples doing proposal and engagement shoots. There was no way I could pull off the surprise there! Cecily quickly swooped in with suggestions for several alternative, more discreet locations. She even went the extra mile and coordinated some perfect weather for the day of our shoot! 😄

"It honestly couldn't have gone better. On top of all the legwork Cecily put in before a single photo was taken, she also delivered an entire gallery of absolutely astounding photos, all edited and at full resolution. She sent us a few finished edits for family and social media the very same night of the proposal and had the rest of them sent to us before we knew it. She has an eye for romantic moments in close-ups, and I also appreciated the wide shots incorporating a broader view of the beautiful location we had worked so hard to narrow down! If you get the chance, hire Cecily. It's a no-brainer."
MORE REVIEWS HERE >>

​(Click the Read More link below to view photos from Robert's proposal.) 

How are Europeans always so effortlessly chic? (asking for a friend) 
Check out this epic set up: Frederik and Julia are German and they have been together for 20 years (what?!? were they 5 when they started dating?!?) and they decided 2024 was the year to tie the knot. Only they decided to jet off to Malibu for a just-them-and-the-officiant-and-me beach elopement. Julia brought a chic but surprisingly low-maintenance dress from Lulus.com (in my opinion, the smart girl's elopement dress shop) and Frederik brought an impeccably tailored tuxedo. 
They said their vows in a private pocket beach at El Matador State Beach, then we had the rest of the evening until sunset to document this grand adventure of theirs. What a dream! This is what I love about elopements: light on the planning, heavy on the beauty and serendipity. 

WONDERING WHAT A MID-DAY, BRIGHT SUNNY WEDDING LOOKS LIKE? CHECK THIS OUT.
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Nicci and Johnny's beautiful Malibu wedding is proof that you CAN get married and take beautiful pictures in the middle of the day! Most couples tend to plan their wedding for evening, in order to capture golden sunset light and a evening-to-nighttime party. But Nicci and Johnny aren't most couples! They're active and beachy SoCal kids (not night owls), so they opted to have an early afternoon outdoor wedding with a casual lawn reception with tacos and games. Their timeframe included a family-only ceremony at 1pm, couple photos at 2pm, and their friends arrived for the reception afterward at 3pm. In photographer-speak, this meant shooting couple photos in the middle of the bright afternoon sun (in late July)! Technically this is usually a photography no-no, but I made sure they understood what kind of look their photos would have—sunlight-drenched with strong shadows and bright blue water—and they were all in! Though these photos are non-traditional, we were still able to work with the angles of the sun and what shadows we had to shoot evenly lit family pictures and gorgeous sunny couple photos that Nicci and Johnny are thrilled with. 

Ceremony location: Malibu Gathering 
Family portraits: Malibu Gathering
Couple portraits: Point Dume, Malibu 
Photographer: Cecily Breeding (that's me!) 

Are you planning a wedding? I love capturing weddings of all sizes and styles. I am based in both Austin, TX and Malibu, CA, so if you're planning a wedding anywhere in central Texas or southern California, I have local availability and rates (no travel cost) for you. Please reach out to talk more! >> [email protected] or you can learn more about Wedding Photography Packages and Rates here >> 

Congratulations Lexie and Ryan on your beautiful Malibu elopement! What a special moment to share with your immediate family and celebrate the beginning of this new chapter in your life. 

Full disclosure: these are not couples. I just needed some Mt. Bonnell content BUT if these fake couples look this cute, imagine how gorgeous real engagement photos will look here! If you're engaged and you like the look of these images, shoot me an email and let's talk >> [email protected] 

Dalton and Lexi got married in a beloved family vacation spot—Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! I have known Dalton's family since I was 14, so being in Mexico to celebrate his marriage to Lexi truly felt like I was celebrating with family. My husband Dusty officiated their beach ceremony and we all partied late into the night after spotting whales in the water, enjoying a purple sunset, and topping the night off with fireworks!
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Photographer: Cecily Breeding (that's me!) 
Coordinator: Jesus (with the location) 
Venue: Pueblo Bonito at Sunset Beach
Officiant: Dusty Breeding
Food/Beverage/Catering: Pueblo Bonito 
DJ/Music: Live violinist, DJ at reception (both by venue) 
Flowers: Venue
Cake: Venue
Dress: David’s Bridal

Brantley decided to propose in Malibu! What a beautiful moment (and surprise) he put together for Hailey. He put so many personal touches into the day, including smuggling her favorite dress onto the trip so she would have something nice to wear for the moment. He rented the iconic Eagles Landing House in Malibu with stunning ocean views. After proposing, we shot a few photos at the house then went down to the little pocket beach on Pacific Coast Highway for more photos with the sand and waves. 
Congratulations to Brantley and Hailey on your Malibu beach engagement! Many many more special moments to come as you plan your life together. (Click "Read More" to view their gallery) 

Congrats to the Alfreds on growing your family! This little boy is so lucky to have you as parents. (Click Read More to view more photos from this Paradise Cove maternity photo session.) 

Grace and Kaity's Santa Barbara Women's Club Wedding was truly so joyful and meaningful. I particularly loved how both brides so sweetly incorporated their fathers with first looks and first dances. It's evident that their families are so excited to be part of one another's lives in a shared future. 

Happy fifth anniversary to Jordan and Mandee! We had so much fun snapping these sweet couples photos at Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura, CA. What a lovely beach and sunset and an awesome couple!