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Sunstone Villa engagement session

Mika and Lucas traveled all the way from San Diego to have their Sunstone Villa engagement session photographed in Santa Ynez!

Sunstone Villa is a breathtaking retreat in the heart of Santa Barbara County wine country. Built to resemble an old-world European chateau, it is constructed of salvaged limestone imported from France! According to their website, “Sunstone Villa took five years to build and was constructed entirely from artifacts and materials recovered from rural villages in France.”

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A Sunstone Villa engagement session was an obvious choice for Lucas and Mika. They initially considered hosting their wedding at the luxurious estate. Mika first spotted Sunstone on the Netflix show, “World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals.” She saw it before she and Lucas were even engaged! But she knew it was special and remembered it when it was time to schedule their engagement session photos.

Mika and Lucas hit a small snag on their way to our session. Their tire popped just a few miles from Sunstone! It was unexpected, but they were all smiles when they arrived. It was a warm day in Santa Ynez, but pre-sunset temperatures were perfect for a dreamy Sunstone engagement.

For more Sunstone Villa inspiration, check out our spring editorial shoot.

Venue: Sunstone Villa
Wedding planner: Kathryn Rataczak
Hair + makeup: Samara Beauty

Meet EMILY

As your wedding photographer, my specialty is capturing effortless images without pulling you away from the moments that actually matter (the giddiness, happy tears, tiny details, and everything in between).

My approach is all about keeping you present, relaxed, and feeling like your very best self while I document your day from start to finish. If you want a photography experience that feels seamless, personal, and genuinely joyful, let’s create something unforgettable together.

I’m here for the big feelings and the dance floor chaos.