Capitola proposal &
engagement photographer.

Pastel village by the sea, walkable charm, beach at your feet.

What we love about Capitola for proposals and engagement sessions.

Capitola is the most photogenic small town on the central coast. The pastel-painted Venetian Court buildings line the beach, the wharf stretches out into the bay, and the cliffs just south frame everything in golden light at sunset. We've shot dozens of proposals at the wharf (I stopped counting around 30) and on the sand below the cliffs. The whole village is walkable so you can plan a dinner reservation steps from the shoot location.

Destinations we shoot around Capitola.

2 spots we actually shoot around Capitola, ordered by how much work we’ve done at each. Capitola Beach alone accounts for 770 of the engagement photos below. Every one has its own page with the access details, and the ones we get asked about most have a full Santa Cruz proposal guide.

Capitola Beach

A small beach village between Santa Cruz and Aptos, known for the colorful Venetian Hotel painted in pastel stripes, the wharf, and a small protected beach. Quieter than the Santa Cruz boardwalk.

CoastBeachVillagePastel HousesPier

770+ engagement photosSee more →

Shadowbrook Restaurant

34+ engagement photosSee more →

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. 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.

Ready to plan your Capitola proposal or engagement session?

No deposit. No commitment. We'll plan it together. Payment is due same-day after the shoot. Sneak peeks within 24 hours. Full gallery within 7 days.