Surprise proposals and engagement sessions across the Bay Area, planned down to the parking spot, the walking route, and the light. You focus on each other. We handle the rest.

140+
proposals + engagements last year
275+
★★★★★ reviews on Yelp + Google
20 yrs
catching the moment
ZERO
deposit. You pay after the shoot.
The first step

Serious about proposing? Let's chat.

Most guys have a ring and maybe a general city/area in mind, and that's about it. Whether you have a specific spot and time in mind, or you need help figuring all of the above out, you came to the right place. I'll help you with location ideas, timing, and all the logistical details that aren't even on most of my clients' radars (until I mention them!). By the end of the call you'll have a clear sense of how your individual proposal could look, and whether we're the right team for the moment. P.S. If you're already engaged, just dating, or celebrating a wedding anniversary – everything on this website is still catered to you.

BOOK A 10-MIN CALL →
Or skip the call and pick a package below.
THAT'S A LOT OF SELFIES

Hey, I'm Chris. Let's plan the perfect proposal together.

Hundreds and hundreds of YESes, collecting more every week!
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris and an engagement couple, phone selfie right after the proposal
Chris taking a selfie with a couple right after the proposal

Man, I love my f*cking job. Yeah, I said it, but that's how I feel, even after doing this professionally for a couple of decades now. I get the privilege of being there for the best moments of my clients' lives. Not only that, but I get to help orchestrate the moment so it's executed as flawlessly as possible, better than you could have possibly imagined it. Since I live here, I know all the best places to go. I know the secret, epically beautiful locations that aren't overrun by tourists (yet), so you can enjoy both privacy for this moment as well as a beautiful backdrop as you go down on one knee. Twenty years behind the camera. Hundreds of weddings, over a thousand proposals and engagement sessions between me and my team. I still genuinely love the planning conversation as much as the shoot itself, which surprises me more than anyone.

Everything you need to decide if we're the right fit is on this page. Pricing, process, real photos, real reviews, every question you might ask. I'll be candid: I'm not the cheapest photographer in the Bay Area and I'm not trying to be. What I promise is that when the moment happens, nothing about it catches you off guard. That's worth what we charge. Keep scrolling for more info, or jump directly to Pricing / Availability / Packages if you're like "OK Chris, but how much does it cost?!?"

THE GOODEYE DIFFERENCE

What sets us apart from the rest.

Distance planning

Most photographers

Local-only quoting, or "we'll figure it out when you get here."

GoodEye

Most of our clients aren't local. They're making plans from Southern California, the midwest or East Coast, sometimes another country (hey Canada!).

Annual volume

Most photographers

First or second surprise proposal of the year.

GoodEye

140+ proposals every year. 1,000+ between Chris and the team since 2015.

Deposits

Most photographers

30 to 50% deposit. Signed contract. Non-refundable.

GoodEye

Zero deposit. You pay after the shoot. I can afford to work this way because in 20 years, nobody's walked away unhappy enough to test it.

SEE THE FULL COMPARISON →
WHAT WE PROMISE

Five things I'll commit to, right here.

  1. 01

    I plan the logistics with you.

    Time, place, drive route, sunset timing, contingencies if anything shifts, even the timing math for your dinner reservation after. Surprise proposals get interactive satellite imagery with links and paths for where to park, where to walk, where to propose, backup spots, and often a preview of where we'll explore for the post-proposal engagement shoot. I plan for traffic, crowds, and backup plans because you can't anticipate everything. Above all, we maintain flexibility throughout the process to ensure success.

  2. 02

    I'm responsive, on your timeline.

    Text me anytime, day or night, week-of or six months out. For surprise proposals we know exactly how to communicate around the secret. No random texts "hey this is Chris your PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHER," no calls when your partner is around. If we do reach out first, it'll be super generic until you respond.

  3. 03

    We don't hide, we blend in.

    We look like tourists with big cameras, often shooting from a distance on a long lens. But the biggest thing is we completely ignore you (while actually NOT ignoring you) until you get down on one knee. It's easy to pretend to be a nature photographer when we're at gorgeous locations already.

  4. 04

    We direct without making it feel like a photoshoot.

    Engagement sessions feel like a walk together with friends, not a posed / forced / uncomfortable experience. 30 to 60 minutes, no awkward poses, no "say cheese", just two people who kinda like each other. (For surprise-proposal clients, the engagement session begins right after the ring-on-the-finger moment.)

  5. 05

    Sneak peeks in 24 hours. Full gallery in 7 days.

    A handful of edited photos shared first so you have something to send family ASAP. Small retouch requests after delivery are almost always doable. We aim to have at least 150 final edited photos for you to pick your absolute faves from.

THE PROCESS

From our first call to photos in your inbox.

Every shoot follows the same process, so you always know what's coming next.

  1. 1

    I text you.

    Once you book a call, I'll text you personally within minutes during Pacific time business hours. Most proposals are planned discreetly so text keeps things flexible and all in one place. (Just make sure to mute the thread.)

  2. 2

    We narrow down the location.

    If you're unsure where to propose, I'll ask a few simple questions about the vibe (coastal, redwoods, vineyard, urban) and guide you toward strong options. I can send recent proposal galleries from any of our shoot locations for inspiration. Knowing where you're staying/visiting can also narrow down our location options.

  3. 3

    You reserve the date.

    Once we've had our initial discovery call, all you need to do is reserve a one hour session via book.goodeye.co/proposals?lp=editorial. No penalty if plans shift. If I'm already booked, you'll see the "team" option in the hour slots at time of the reservation. I'm still your main point of contact throughout the process, but I'll loop you in with my photographer on a 3-way text feed 24-48hrs before the shoot.

  4. 4

    I coordinate with you leading up to the day.

    Text me anytime with questions, adjustments, weather concerns, anything. If the spot has limited cell service I'll send detailed parking instructions, map links, and annotated/interactive satellite imagery so everything feels simple and clear on the big day.

  5. 5

    Day-of coordination.

    Send a quick selfie of you both that morning so we know who to look for (we don't want to "stalk" the wrong couple!). Share your location with us via Find My (iPhone) or WhatsApp (Android). We're typically on-site at least 30 minutes early, scouted and ready.

  6. 6

    The post-proposal session.

    After the initial proposal, we'll introduce ourselves and guide you through a relaxed engagement session together. 30 to 60 minutes depending on your collection and location(s). You don't need to know how to pose. We'll direct everything in a way that feels natural and fun.

  7. 7

    Payment + delivery.

    Payment is due same-day after the shoot. You choose your collection before the photos are delivered. Within 24 hours I'll text you a handful of sneak peeks. Full edited gallery within 7 days. Small retouch requests after delivery are almost always doable. And yes you can pay the difference if you want to upgrade your package after seeing the final gallery.

Where we shoot

Carmel, Big Sur + San Francisco.
Every weekend.

Tap a location to see recent proposals + engagements from there. Each page has the spots we love, photos from real shoots, and pricing tuned to that region.

Bay Area + Coastside
South Bay
Santa Cruz County
Carmel + Big Sur
Browse 200+ photos →Read the stories →

When you're ready.

No deposit. No commitment. We'll plan it together. Payment is due after the shoot wraps. Sneak peek shared within 24 hours. Full gallery within 7 days.

Book a 10-min call →OR TEXT CHRIS: (408) 431-4808
The DifferencePricingCost guideWhere to propose in SFWhere to propose (Bay Area)Where to propose (Carmel & Big Sur)Where to propose (Santa Cruz)Where to propose (Half Moon Bay)How to plan itPlanning timelineHow to hire oneBaker Beach guideTipping & depositsStoriesBrowse photos
GoodEye Photography · Santa Cruz · Bay Area · Carmel · Big Sur · Wine Country