Half Moon Bay proposal &
engagement photographer.

Coastal bluffs, working harbors, and the Ritz when you want to do it right.

What we love about Half Moon Bay for proposals and engagement sessions.

Half Moon Bay is the underrated coastal stretch between SF and Santa Cruz. The Ritz-Carlton bluffs are world-famous and they earn the reputation. North of town you have Moss Beach and Montara with tidepools and quieter sand. Down the road in Pescadero you get a harbor town that looks like 1940 and a state beach with no crowds even on weekends. We've planned proposals at every spot along the coast here. The morning fog usually burns off by 10am and the late sun through the eucalyptus turns the whole bluff gold.

Destinations we shoot around Half Moon Bay.

5 spots we actually shoot around Half Moon Bay, ordered by how much work we’ve done at each. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve alone accounts for 218 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 Half Moon Bay proposal guide.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

Protected tide-pool and bluff reserve in Moss Beach, just north of Half Moon Bay. Cypress grove above, dramatic rocks below at low tide. Quiet weekdays; the cypress canopy is famous in its own right.

CoastTide PoolsBluffsForest

218+ engagement photosSee more →

Manhattan Beach / Ritz Carlton HMB

Sheltered cove tucked below the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. Wider and calmer than the bluff above. Direct access via the resort's stairway, or from the Coastal Trail just to the south.

CoastBeachBluffsCove

209+ engagement photosSee more →

Gray Whale Cove

Sheltered crescent beach below tall bluffs just south of Devil's Slide. Accessed by a steep stairway. Often quieter than nearby beaches; the cliffs form a natural amphitheater that frames couples beautifully.

CoastBeachCliffsCove

153+ engagement photosSee more →

Montara Beach

beachcliff

43+ engagement photosSee more →

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

A 115-foot lighthouse on a rocky promontory between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, one of the tallest on the West Coast. Open grounds with dramatic Pacific bluffs and a hostel tucked beneath the tower. About 50 miles south of San Francisco on Highway 1.

CoastLighthouseCliffsBluffs

33+ 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 Half Moon Bay 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.