Helena and Richard share a love for the outdoors, especially exploring the beautiful California coastline together, and they even got engaged near Big Sur. When it came time for their engagement photos, they decided to trade ocean views for the golden hills of Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, tucked away in the Santa Cruz Mountains. [ read more … ]

Paul’s proposal to Vivian took a bit of teamwork, and I think including their family & friends made it an even more memorable moment.

We first met up with Paul at the base of Sonoma Valley Regional Park before hiking to a quiet overlook tucked away among the golden hills and oak trees. Once we reached the spot, Paul waited on a bench hidden just around the corner while Vivian’s brother, Victor, and his fiancée, Karen, casually led her up the trail. [ read more … ]

Some engagement sessions just *feel* like the couple — and Lauren and Owen’s morning at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve was, quite intentionally, exactly that. [ read more … ]

Jeremy & Lydia’s evening in the Santa Cruz Mountains had all the magic: rolling grassy hills, a sea of fog in the distance, and the kind of light that turns everything to gold. They set out as a group of three — Lydia’s sister joined “for a quick hike” — and meandered along the ridge until the views opened wide over the foothills and forest. [ read more … ]

Clare thought the proposal was going to happen in Yosemite during the big trip coming up right after this day… but Ryan had been quietly hatching the real proposal plan long before this day rolled around.

Ryan had let us in on the secret over three months ago to lock in a golden-hour proposal at the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, a quiet local trail he knew from his cycling routes. [ read more … ]