Let's get something out of the way.

You're probably not awkward.

I know you think you are.

In fact, if you're reading this, there's a solid chance you've already said one of the following:

"We're really awkward in photos."

"My partner hates having their picture taken."

"We don't know how to pose."

"We've literally never done anything like this before."

Cool.

Congratulations.

You are exactly like every other couple who's ever reached out to me.

I've photographed couples, weddings, elopements, families, brands, and a whole bunch of humans who were absolutely convinced they were going to be the most difficult people I've ever photographed.

Then we get together, wander around Malibu for a couple of hours, make some terrible jokes, talk about life, relationships, where they met, who proposed, and somehow by the end of the session, they're saying:

"Wait... that's actually us?"

Yep.

It is.

Here's the thing nobody tells you about engagement photos.

Most people don't hate photos.

Most people hate feeling weird.

And most engagement photos feel weird because they're treated like a performance.

Stand here.

Look there.

Tilt your chin.

Move your hand.

Laugh.

No, laugh more.

Nothing makes people stop laughing faster than being told to laugh.

That's why I love photographing engagement sessions in Malibu.

Not because Malibu is beautiful.

I mean, it is ridiculously beautiful.

But beauty isn't the reason.

Malibu works because it gives people room to stop performing.

And once that happens, everything changes.

Why Malibu Is One of the Best Places for an Engagement Photo Session

Malibu is kind of unfair.

If California was a movie set, Malibu would be the location everyone complains about because it looks too perfect.

You've got beaches.

You've got cliffs.

You've got mountains.

You've got hiking trails.

You've got sunsets that make people suddenly become poets.

One minute you're standing above the Pacific Ocean.

The next you're wandering through golden hills that look like they belong in a movie.

As someone who spends a lot of time photographing couples, that's a huge advantage.

The best engagement photo sessions aren't created by forcing people into poses.

They're created by putting people into environments where they naturally interact.

Malibu does that better than almost anywhere.

People explore.

They walk.

They laugh.

They trip over rocks.

They make fun of each other.

They forget there's a camera nearby.

And that's usually when the best photos happen.

The Real Secret Behind the Best Engagement Photo

Want to know a secret?

The location isn't actually the most important thing.

I know.

Wild statement coming from a guy writing an article about locations.

But it's true.

I've photographed people in incredible destinations.

I've photographed people in places that probably wouldn't make anybody's "Top 100 Most Beautiful Locations" list.

The thing that consistently matters isn't the scenery.

It's the connection.

Phones are smart now.

Cameras are smarter.

Anybody can get a technically decent image.

The hard part is creating something that actually feels like the people in the photo.

That's why my approach has always been less about posing and more about experience.

I want you to leave your session thinking:

"That was actually fun."

Not:

"Thank God that's over."

The funny thing is those two experiences create very different photographs.

El Matador State Beach: The One Everybody Knows

Let's start with the obvious one.

El Matador.

If you've spent more than five minutes searching for the Best Malibu Engagement Photo locations, you've probably seen this place.

And honestly?

There's a reason.

Actually, there are about five hundred reasons.

Huge rock formations.

Sea caves.

Massive cliffs.

Beautiful coastline.

Ridiculous sunsets.

The place is gorgeous.

But here's what I love about it.

It's not just beautiful.

It's interactive.

You aren't standing in one spot the entire time.

You're exploring.

Walking.

Climbing.

Looking around.

Experiencing things together.

Every few minutes the scenery changes.

The energy changes.

The photographs change.

That's one of the reasons couples tend to relax quickly here.

There's always something to do.

And when people are doing things, they stop worrying about how they look.

Point Dume: For Couples Who Want Movie-Level Views

Point Dume feels like Malibu showing off.

The cliffs stretch out above the ocean.

The views seem endless.

The light hits differently here.

Everything feels cinematic.

And as somebody who loves storytelling and imagery that feels like a scene from a film, that's a big deal.

I've always been drawn to photography that feels immersive.

Not stiff.

Not overly posed.

Not like somebody copied a Pinterest board.

I want people to look at a photograph and feel like something was happening.

Point Dume naturally creates that feeling.

You don't need elaborate poses.

You don't need complicated direction.

You simply need two people willing to spend time together while the Pacific Ocean does most of the heavy lifting.

The Couple Who Thought They'd Hate Their Session

A while ago I photographed a couple who were completely convinced their engagement session would be a disaster.

The guy hated photos.

Or at least he thought he did.

The woman told me she never liked pictures of herself.

They spent most of their inquiry explaining why they weren't photogenic.

By the time we actually met, I was expecting two people to arrive wearing shirts that said "PLEASE LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS."

We started walking.

We talked.

We joked around.

They told stories about how they met.

About their wedding plans.

About their dog.

About the fact that one of them apparently cannot load a dishwasher correctly.

An issue that seemed surprisingly important.

About thirty minutes in, something happened.

They stopped thinking about the camera.

They started interacting with each other.

And suddenly all those fears disappeared.

When they received their gallery, they told me something I'll never forget.

They said:

"These feel like us."

Not perfect.

Not posed.

Not polished.

Us.

That's the goal.

Every single time.

Malibu Creek State Park: For Couples Who Don't Want Sand Everywhere

Let's be honest.

Not everybody dreams about beaches.

Some people hear the word Malibu and immediately think:

"Cool. Sand in places I didn't know sand could exist."

If that's you, Malibu Creek State Park is worth considering.

This location feels completely different from the coast.

Rolling hills.

Rock formations.

Open trails.

Golden California landscapes.

It's ideal for couples who love adventure, hiking, exploring, or simply being outdoors.

As someone who co-founded Wondery Outdoors, adventure and storytelling have always influenced how I see photography.

Some of the strongest moments happen when people are actively experiencing something together.

That's why locations like Malibu Creek work so well.

The environment becomes part of the story.

Leo Carrillo State Beach

Leo Carrillo is one of those places photographers love because it gives you options.

And couples love options.

You've got beaches.

You've got caves.

You've got dramatic rock formations.

You've got open areas.

You've got texture everywhere.

What makes this location special isn't just the scenery.

It's the variety.

Within a short walk, it feels like you've visited multiple locations.

That creates a session that feels dynamic and natural.

Instead of spending two hours in one place, you're constantly discovering something new.

And discovery creates genuine reactions.

Genuine reactions create better photographs.

Zuma Beach: Proof That Simple Works

Sometimes couples think they need the craziest location possible.

The tallest cliff.

The most dramatic view.

The most unique destination.

The truth?

Simple often wins.

Zuma Beach is a perfect example.

Wide open shoreline.

Beautiful light.

Plenty of room to move.

No complicated hiking.

No climbing.

No stress.

Just space.

For couples who feel nervous about being photographed, that space matters.

It feels relaxed.

Uncomplicated.

And that's often exactly what's needed.

What To Wear If You Want To Look Like Yourself

Here's my professional opinion.

Don't show up dressed like somebody else's Pinterest board.

I know that's controversial.

But hear me out.

The best photos happen when people feel comfortable.

Comfort creates confidence.

Confidence creates natural interactions.

Natural interactions create great photos.

If you never wear a suit, don't suddenly become a suit person.

If you hate heels, don't torture yourself.

Wear something that feels like an elevated version of who you already are.

You should look at your photos ten years from now and think:

"Yep. That's us."

Not:

"Why did we dress like background characters in a period drama?"

Why Most People Think They're Awkward

This is probably my favorite topic.

Because almost everybody says it.

"I’m awkward."

No.

You're just not a model.

Neither am I.

Most people spend approximately zero percent of their lives being professionally photographed.

So of course it feels strange at first.

Imagine somebody handed you a violin tomorrow and expected you to perform at Carnegie Hall.

You'd feel awkward too.

Photography works the same way.

The difference is that you don't need photography experience.

That's my job.

You don't need to know what to do with your hands.

If you did, I'd probably be unemployed.

Why Experience Matters More Than Gear

Here's another unpopular opinion.

Most modern cameras are fantastic.

Technology isn't the difficult part anymore.

Experience is.

Understanding people is.

Creating comfort is.

Knowing when to step in and guide.

Knowing when to step back and let moments happen.

Those things come from years of working with real people.

Not cameras.

People.

Every couple is different.

Some are outgoing.

Some are quiet.

Some spend the entire session roasting each other.

Some are soft-spoken and sentimental.

The goal isn't to force everybody into the same formula.

The goal is to photograph people as they actually are.

The Best Photos Usually Happen At The End

Something funny happens during almost every engagement session.

The first ten minutes are usually a little weird.

Totally normal.

Then people settle in.

Then they relax.

Then they forget about the camera.

Then they start being themselves.

That's when everything changes.

The smiles become real.

The laughter becomes effortless.

The interactions become natural.

By the end of the session, most couples aren't thinking about photos anymore.

They're just hanging out together.

And ironically, that's exactly what creates the strongest images.

More Than Just Engagement Photos

While engagement photography is one of my favorite things to photograph, it's not the only thing I do.

Whether you're planning a wedding, an elopement, a couples session, a family session, portraits, maternity photos, or even branding imagery, my approach stays pretty much the same.

No fake photographer mystique.

No pretending I'm some mysterious creative genius who only communicates through black-and-white Instagram captions.

Just real people.

Real experiences.

And photos that feel like you.

If you're looking for wedding photography, couples photography, or engagement photography, you can learn more here:

Couples and weddings

If you're curious about my story, adventure background, and why I almost wanted to throw my camera off a cliff at one point, check out:

About

For photography services:

Services old

For family photography:

Families

For BFF sessions:

Bffs

And if you're wondering whether I only photograph in Malibu, definitely not.

I've photographed throughout Los Angeles, Southern California, destination weddings, destination elopements, and locations around the world.

Final Thoughts

The Best Malibu Engagement Photo location isn't necessarily the most famous one.

It isn't the most expensive.

It isn't the one with the highest number of Instagram tags.

The best location is the one that helps you feel like yourselves.

Because years from now, you probably won't remember every detail of the location.

You'll remember how you felt.

You'll remember laughing together.

You'll remember exploring.

You'll remember the stories.

The photos simply help bring those moments back.

And honestly, that's the whole point.

About Wayne Borromeo

Wayne Borromeo is a Los Angeles-based photographer creating cinematic, emotionally-driven imagery for couples who want more than traditional wedding photos. His work blends movement, storytelling, direction, and authentic interaction to create photographs that feel like scenes from a film rather than staged portraits.

When he's not photographing couples, weddings, engagements, families, brands, and elopements, he's probably rock climbing, road-tripping, playing board games, eating way too much KBBQ, watercoloring, journaling, or drinking enough Topo Chico to qualify as a personality trait.

Website:
https://youlookgoodtoday.com/

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