Using the Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 Lens at Mont St. Michel for Epic Engagement Photos

Sometimes, the most unforgettable photo shoots happen when you combine a stunning location, the right gear, and a couple eager to create memories. That’s exactly what happened during my engagement shoot with Amanda and Hunter at Mont St. Michel, France, using the Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 lens.

Why This Shoot Was Special

Amanda and Hunter were married in 2020 at the Santa Barbara courthouse, with only a few witnesses and Zoom attendees due to the pandemic. There was no big wedding, no elaborate dress — just a cell phone capturing their moment.

Years later, they wanted to celebrate their love with epic photos at the very place they got engaged in 2018. With two full days at Mont St. Michel, the shoot was a dream come true.

Gear That Made the Magic Happen

For this trip, I packed my full photography arsenal:

• Canon EOS R5 Mark II 
• Canon R6 Mark II
  
• Canon RF 10-20mm F4 (perfect for wide architectural shots)
  
• Canon RF 28-70mm F2
  
• Canon RF 85mm F1.2
  
• Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 (for ultra-compressed telephoto shots)
  
• PowerShot V10 for BTS footage
  
• Profoto A10 & A2 flashes for creative lighting
  

The 100-300mm lens was particularly transformative, letting me shoot from a distance while compressing the background to make the abbey appear larger than life.

Exploring Mont St. Michel

Staying onsite gave us freedom to explore multiple spots without tourist crowds. Amanda even mapped out several viewpoints within a mile for incredible perspectives of the abbey.

Some highlights:

• Discovering stone walls with pink flowers near a winding river
  
• Capturing intimate portraits with the 85mm lens
  
• A spontaneous flock of sheep that made it into their album
  

It was a two-day adventure, balancing wide scenic shots, intimate portraits, and candid moments that tell their story.

Lighting, Composition, and Techniques

Natural light was beautiful, but I also incorporated flash and reflectors for balanced exposures:

• A reflector added subtle fill light without washing out the sky
  
• Profoto flashes highlighted Amanda and Hunter against the dramatic backdrop
  
• Reflections in the water and slow shutter techniques added a creative, cinematic touch
  

One of my favorite shots involved Amanda’s veil during a slow exposure, creating a dreamlike effect in-camera that perfectly captured the atmosphere.

Day Two: Abbey Interiors and Architectural Shots

The second day focused on Mont St. Michel’s stunning interiors:

• Canon RF 10-20mm lens captured arches, columns, and the grandeur of the abbey
  
• Flash lighting preserved the moody ambiance while illuminating faces
  
• Post-processing removed tourists, leaving the couple as the stars of the scene
  

The combination of environment, architecture, and emotion resulted in photos that are both personal and cinematic.

Editing and Retouching

Post-shoot editing included:

• Lightroom for basic edits
  
• Evoto for batch retouching, smoothing skin tones and correcting minor details like flyaways or wrinkles
  

The final product was polished, elegant, and ready for their album, preserving the magic of the location and the love between Amanda and Hunter.

Why the Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 Lens Rocks

This lens allowed me to:

• Capture compressed backgrounds for dramatic perspective
  
• Shoot from far away, giving Mont St. Michel a larger-than-life presence
  
• Balance intimacy with epic landscapes
  

Whether photographing remote locations or wanting a cinematic look, the 100-300mm lens is essential.

Final Thoughts

Mont St. Michel is magical, and working with Amanda and Hunter made this shoot unforgettable. Combining the right gear, lighting techniques, and creative vision allowed me to deliver photos that are cinematic, personal, and timeless.

If you’re a photographer aiming to elevate your travel, engagement, or wedding photography, experiment with lenses like the Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 and creative lighting techniques. Your photos will never look the same.

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