Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur Proposal Photographer
$950+
Whether you are planning to propose on the beach in Carmel, or the cliffs of Big Sur, I got you.
Where to propose
From Monterey to Big Sur, there are a plethora of gorgeous coastal locales on the Monterey Peninsula. If it’s views your after, you can’t go wrong with Asilomar, Carmel State or River Beach and any of the many parks along the Big Sur coast. Pebble Beach is also a fantastic area with lots of iconic coastline for your proposal. If privacy is most important, consider a venue such as your hotel grounds. With permission, this is a great option as we can create dream location with the help of the hotel staff.
A few details
when to propose
Sunset is the most popular time of the day to propose. There is nothing more romantic or memorable as the golden skies and the soft light it creates against the ocean. While I always recommend this time if an option, it also tends to be the most crowded with tourists. Therefore if you can plan your proposal for a Sunday-Thursday there will be less people around. Keep in mind that during the summer months we often has foggy days on the coast so you may not get that sunset, and that’s ok! The soft dramatic fog is a signature look for Monterey and is beautiful in it’s own right.
structure
There are two ways you can structure the marriage proposal. One is by arranging a photo shoot to celebrate you two. This gives me close access to the proposal moment without giving it away. This option allows you also to make sure you can get your partner to a designated spot on time and dressed up, which can be one of the most challenging part of planning a surprise proposal. The second option is stealth mode. This is where I am playing tourist nearby, watching and waiting. With this option, we carefully coordinate the moment so you are positioned perfectly.
proposal package includes
• Location Scouting
• Consultation and Planning Call
• 45 Minutes of Photography
• Posing guidance
• Sneak Peek within 48 hours
• Online Gallery delivered within 14 days
• High-Resolution Downloads for printing
• Social Media Downloads for sharing
$950+
step 1
Contact me below to inquire about your date and time. Once a date is decided, I will send over a contract and retainer invoice. A signed contract and $150 retainer is due to hold the date and time. The reminder of the balance is due three days before the proposal, and all signing and payments are done easily online.
step 2
Next we will set up a time for a phone call to discuss your vision and plans. I take your vision and create a detailed plan with timing and exact location to make sure everything goes perfectly. A few days before the proposal we have a second call to confirm it all and go over exactly how to stand a direction to face.
step 3
On the day of the session, I arrive 15-20 minutes early to stage and get ready for your arrival. Once you have proposed, I help guide you through some natural, fun poses to celebrate your engagement. You will receive sneak peek images within 48 hours, and your full gallery ready for download within 14 days.
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![A couple kissing outdoors on a dirt path with mountain hills and a rainbow in the sky.]()
“I couldn’t have asked for a more seamless process putting together my surprise proposal for my fiancé! Maria was helpful and very detail oriented from the first meeting and put together very thorough packages to where I felt like I knew these places I had never been! She scouted my choice (Garrapata state park) and drew out a map to exactly where to go and made sure everything was perfect the day of! She was in constant contact leading up to the big day and made sure I knew exactly what to do and where to be for the best pictures. During the pictures, everything was very natural and she made the day so fun. Couldn’t recommend her more for anyone interested in proposing in this area!”
— Bradley + Parker
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![A couple embracing on a rocky coastal area, with the ocean and sky in the background. The man is giving the woman a kiss on the forehead while she is smiling, and they appear happy.]()
“Maria was so easy and fun to work with -- chatting through the plan for the day, helping to pick the perfect location, and being totally flexible until we came up with the ideal plan of action.
On the day of, she made everything so easy and we absolutely loved how the pictures turned out. So happy that Maria was part of the big day and couldn't recommend her enough!”— Max + Cara
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![A couple stands close by the rocky shoreline at sunset, smiling at each other with the ocean waves behind them.]()
“Maria is the BEST!!! We worked with Maria for our proposal shoot - my fiance planned the proposal in advance with Maria, and she was super helpful in helping him pick the perfect spot and set up in Big Sur. After the proposal itself, she spent time with us on the photo shoot and made us feel super comfortable and relaxed. Later that day when we received a first look of some of the pictures, we were blown away!!!! Absolutely STUNNING. Her work speaks for itself - highly highly recommend working with Maria!!!”
— Ishani + David
