Portola Valley proposal &
engagement photographer.

Open ridges, hilltop views, redwood-lined back roads.

What we love about Portola Valley for proposals and engagement sessions.

Portola Valley sits between the Bay and the coast range, all rolling hills and open ridgelines. Windy Hill Open Space has trails that climb to 360-degree views of the entire South Bay. The backroads through the valley are lined with oaks and redwoods. Most of our Portola Valley proposals are at sunset on Windy Hill — you can see from the Pacific to the Bay from the top, and at sunset both are lit up.

Our spot in Portola Valley.

Where we shoot around Portola Valley, with the access details on its own page. For the wider area, see the the Bay Area proposal guide.

Windy Hill Summit

Open-space summit above Portola Valley with 360° views of the South Bay. Short hike to the top from the parking area; rolling grass and a single oak at the peak. Best in the last hour of sun, when the wind drops and the bay glows.

RidgeMeadowBay ViewHike

37+ 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 Portola Valley 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.