It’s wedding season, and that means several things simultaneously: uncles abusing the open bar and splaying an embarrassing performance on the dance floor, micromanaging mothers, and lots of smooches, happy tears and laughter. As notable as the occasion is to commit yourself to one person for the rest of your life, it comes with a freakish financial sacrifice that starts with the engagement photo shoot. This tradition to commemorate the proposal averages around $200-$500! While my partner and I wanted to partake in this tradition, we weren’t about to shell out that much, or rather any money, for something we figured we could do ourselves...so we decided to do just that. With a camera and some confidence, we made our way up the PCH to the beaches of Santa Barbara where we first met. Here we set out to do our very own DIY photo shoot. After hours in front of the lens, many mishaps, and awkward stares, we’ve come up with a selection of shots we’re proud of. Here are some things we’ve learned during our experience so that you can achieve those professional-grade photos yourself.