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.
Local-only quoting, or "we'll figure it out when you get here."
Most of our clients aren't local. They're making plans from Southern California, the midwest or East Coast, sometimes another country (hey Canada!).
First or second surprise proposal of the year.
140+ proposals every year. 1,000+ between Chris and the team since 2015.
30 to 50% deposit. Signed contract. Non-refundable.
Zero deposit. Pay after the shoot, after you've had the GoodEye experience.
Time, place, drive route, golden-hour 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.
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.
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.
Every shoot follows the same process, so you always know what's coming next.
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.)
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.
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.
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.)
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.
Once we've had our initial discovery call, all you need to do is reserve a one hour session via book.goodeye.co/proposals. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?!?"
Pick your faves after the shoot, pay same-day.
Pricing based on where + which day of the week.
5.0 average on Yelp and Google.
