Bethany Beach Photographer | Alex + Megan’s Sunrise Engagement Session

Sometimes you get to capture something really special. And really nerve-wracking. And just super happy. My friend Alex asked if I could photograph him proposing to my best friend Megan on the coast of Bethany Beach. Obviously I said yes… and so did she!!

Then, a few days later, we did engagement photos. We met at sunrise, much to Alex’s very vocal dismay. However, Bethany Beach in the early morning is something else entirely, soft light, empty shoreline, the kind of quiet that makes you forget the rest of the world exists. It could not have been a more perfect morning for an engagement session. As a Bethany Beach photographer who shoots this stretch of coast regularly, I can tell you: there is no bad morning here, but the early ones are the best.

Alex spent the entire time making all of us laugh. He’s a genuine dork (meant with so much love), and watching him make Megan crack up over and over again – that’s exactly what I love to capture.

Their relationship has always been easy, joyful, a little ridiculous in the best way. I’ve had the privilege of watching them grow together, and photographing their engagement at the beach felt like the most natural thing in the world.

They’re getting married next year, and I cannot wait.

Scroll down for their full Bethany Beach engagement session below.

A quick note about gear: these photos were taken on my original Canon Rebel… the afternoon before the proposal, I had a camera meets water accident with my professional camera, and my only backup that was with me was the DSLR I was gifted back in 2009. I’m sharing this because I hear “your camera takes such great photos” all the time, and I always want to say: your computer writes great papers. Your guitar makes beautiful music. The camera is a tool. These images came out beautifully because of light, timing, and connection, not equipment.

What to expect from a sunrise session with your Bethany Beach photographer

Since I’m often asked about timing for beach sessions, here’s what I tell every couple considering a sunrise shoot at Bethany Beach:

You’ll want to arrive about 15 minutes before sunrise. That pre-dawn window is genuinely magical. The sky starts shifting before the sun clears the horizon, and the light is at its softest and most flattering. By the time the sun is fully up, you’ve already gotten your best shots.

The beach is empty. Bethany Beach is a quieter, more residential stretch of the Delaware coast compared to Dewey, Rehoboth, and Ocean City, MD, which means early morning sessions rarely have foot traffic. You get the whole coastline to yourselves.

It’s worth losing the sleep. Every single client who has ever grumbled about a 5am alarm has texted me afterward saying it was worth it. Alex would probably agree now, too.