Caleb: I was born and raised in the Bay Area. I work as a Housing and Financial Coach, which entails helping low income residents of Alameda County find, prepare for, apply to, and obtain affordable housing in the Bay Area. Outside of work, I've been getting into yoga, weightlifting, and gaming. Eugene and I have been getting into some new hobbies together, too.

We met at Dore Alley, Folsom Street fair's smaller, gayer, and more local equivalent. I was experimenting with my exhibitionist side, walking around naked and being the social butterfly that I am. Eugene and I passed by each other from afar a couple times, but we didn't talk until the end when he saw me putting my clothes back on and talking to a friend. He came up to me and asked me a little about myself and asked for my number. The things I remember standing out about him is that even though he was obviously sexually interested, he was still very sweet and respectful. We took a selfie together for his contact in my phone, and a couple weeks later, I hit him up for our first date.

Eugene: I was born and raised in mother Russia, Moscow; I moved to the States 5 years ago to get my Masters. I work as a Product Manager at Apple, managing Watch and working with engineering teams on coming up with cool new features. Caleb and I have recently gotten into rock climbing. I am really excited and passionate about it, to a large extent because I get to share a hobby with my loving boyfriend.

Our photographer, Marissa, contacted me via Instagram after seeing our photos from Pride this year. She graciously offered to treat us to a free session, and we gladly accepted after checking out the portraits on her page. I was lucky since Caleb arranged it for us. It was a unique opportunity for us to capture our feelings for each other and share them as pictures with our friends and family.

We chose Baker Beach because it's my favorite place to be in the summer on a hot day. Though it wasn't really beach weather, it's still one of the most striking spots in the city, and it holds a lot of memories both alone and with my closest friends. Caleb and Marissa agreed on the logistics—I just put on my favorite shirt and showed up!

Caleb: Marissa is great at capturing the softness in a relationship. Looking over her work full of couples I don't know, I found myself drawn in by them. It just seemed to me that she captured them remembering why they chose each other for the first time, and like they were remembering why they chose each other time after time since then.

Words by Caleb and Eugene, the couple, as told by Amber Marlow. Photos by Marissa Solini.

couples session baker beach san francisco california caleb and eugene walking hand in hand down sandy path with view of golden gate bridge

couples session baker beach san francisco california kiss with trees and hilly landscape in background

couples session baker beach san francisco california candid of couple laughing and embracing

couples session baker beach san francisco california embrace and kiss on forehead as sunlight streams through tree branches

couples session baker beach san francisco california caleb and eugene sitting on hill in a patch of sunlight surrounded by trees

couples session baker beach san francisco california candid of caleb and eugene holding hands

couples session baker beach san francisco california hug on beach with ocean in background

couples session baker beach san francisco california caleb and eugene leaping as they run toward the ocean holding hands

couples session baker beach san francisco california caleb leaping into eugene’s arms with ocean and cliffs in background

MARISSA SOLINI

I’m an Oregon elopement and wedding photographer who jumps at any chance to go exploring in nature or travel around the country. I'm a big foodie and love trying new foods and bonding with people over our shared appreciation of food. I'm a daily tea drinker—Chai tea and green tea are my favorites. I crave churros and Chinese food on a near 24/7 basis.
I support all kinds of love because I believe everyone deserves to love and be loved freely with whomever they choose. I find so much beauty and fulfillment in being able to create a space where people can let their wall down and be comfortable enough to let their genuine emotions shine through! Seeing a couple interact is pure magic to me, to see how someone lights up when they’re with the one they love.