Welcome. My name is Joseph, and I have been photographing people in love for more than two decades.
Over the years, I have learned that the photographs I care about most are rarely the ones where everything is perfectly posed. They are the photographs where two people forget about the camera for a moment and simply find each other.
A glance that lasts a little longer. A hand reaching for another hand without thinking. Two bodies naturally moving closer. A burst of laughter that changes the entire rhythm of the session. A quiet moment where nothing needs to happen at all.
You do not need to know how to pose. You do not need to perform romance for the camera. And you certainly do not need to be perfect.
None of us are.
We move through life feeling confident one day and uncertain the next. We can be joyful, playful, tired, emotional, excited, awkward, peaceful, deeply connected, or somewhere in between. Relationships contain all of it.
That imperfection is not something I want to remove from your photographs. It is what makes them human.
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When two people genuinely care about each other, there is already something beautiful happening. My job is not to manufacture that connection. My job is to notice it, give it room, and photograph it.
My engagement sessions tend to flow rather than follow a rigid sequence of poses.
Of course, I will guide you. I will notice the light, the background, your hands, the way your bodies relate to each other, and the small adjustments that make an image stronger. But I do not want you spending the entire session wondering where to put your arm or whether your face is turned at exactly the right angle.
We may walk, explore, change direction, laugh, lean into each other, or simply let the environment create movement around you.
There are moments when I stop directing entirely and simply allow the two of you to settle into each other. Those can become some of my favorite photographs.
Over the years, my work with people has made me increasingly interested in how connection lives in the body.
You can see when two people relax around each other. Shoulders soften. Breathing changes. Distance disappears. Touch becomes less deliberate. People begin responding to each other rather than responding to the photographer.
This is one reason I do not believe beautiful engagement photography needs endless posing.
My approach is influenced by years of photographing relationships and by my own exploration of presence, somatic awareness, communication, and human connection. I am paying attention not only to how a couple looks, but to how they seem to feel together.
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There are moments during a session when people are laughing so hard that almost nothing is under control. I love those.
There are also moments when two people simply stand together and become quiet. I love those too.
Connection does not always need to look dramatic. Sometimes it is the way someone rests their forehead against another person. Sometimes it is an inside joke. Sometimes it is attraction. Sometimes it is silliness. Sometimes it is simply the feeling of being completely comfortable next to another human being.
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San Francisco gives us an extraordinary landscape for this kind of photography. We can be surrounded by the openness of the coast, wander through trees, explore dramatic ruins and architecture, move through quiet neighborhoods, or simply follow good light through the city.
The location matters, but it should never overpower the two people inside the photograph.
The Golden Gate Bridge may be spectacular, but I am still looking at the way you are holding each other. The sunset may be beautiful, but I am watching the expression that appears when one of you says something the other person was not expecting.
There are photographers who are extraordinary at creating highly polished, perfectly constructed poses. That has never been the part of photography that excites me most.
What keeps me interested after more than twenty years is the connection between people.
I want personality to show up. I want the photographs to have movement. I want you to recognize yourselves.
Some images may feel beautiful and composed. Others may feel spontaneous, funny, intimate, peaceful, or slightly imperfect. Because that is what being alive together actually looks like.
An engagement session should not feel like an hour you endure in order to receive beautiful pictures later.
I want you to walk away feeling that you spent meaningful time together. Maybe you laughed more than expected. Maybe you became more comfortable being photographed. Maybe for a few minutes the noise of everything else disappeared and you simply experienced each other.
The photographs then become evidence of that experience.
Years from now, I hope an image brings back how your partner held you, how you laughed, how the wind felt, and how young, nervous, peaceful, excited, or deeply in love you were at that particular point in your lives.
If you are looking for engagement photography that feels relaxed, human, playful, intimate, and not overly staged, we will probably work very well together.
Come as you are. We will create the photographs from there.
Schedule a phone consultation2–3 hours of engagement photography.
Includes color-corrected high-resolution files. Add $300 for weekend sessions.
5–6 hours of photography.
Includes color-corrected high-resolution files and more time for multiple locations, movement, and storytelling.
7–8 hours of photography with the option to split the session across two days.
Includes color-corrected high-resolution files. Travel fees apply outside San Francisco.
I am happy to help you shape the entire engagement session, from choosing a location and thinking about weather and light to selecting outfits that feel natural and work beautifully with the setting.
We can create something elegant, adventurous, playful, quiet, or a little bit of everything. The goal is for the session to feel like the two of you, not like a template.
Schedule a phone consultationIf you are looking for very polished, highly directed photographs where every hand, angle, expression, and body position is carefully controlled, I may not be the best match for you. I can absolutely guide you, help you find flattering light, notice beautiful angles, and make thoughtful adjustments, but my work is not built around perfection. I am more interested in movement, spontaneity, expression, and the way two people naturally exist together.
Some people feel most comfortable when they know exactly how they will look in every frame. They may have very specific angles they prefer, certain expressions they want to avoid, or a strong desire for every photograph to feel traditionally polished. There is nothing wrong with that. It simply means that my approach may feel a little too open or unpredictable.
I often see beauty in moments that are slightly imperfect, because they feel alive. A laugh that changes the shape of your face. A loose strand of hair. A strange little movement between two people. A moment where you are not thinking about how you look at all. Sometimes I may photograph something I find deeply beautiful before you are able to see that beauty in yourself.
That is an important part of my work.
I want you to feel like yourself, not like a version of yourself that has been carefully constructed for the camera. If you are comfortable with that idea, if you are curious to see yourselves through someone else's eyes, and if you are open to photographs that feel honest, joyful, intimate, and human, then we are probably a very good match.
And if what you want is something more classic, more controlled, or more traditionally posed, that is completely valid too. It simply may mean that another photographer's style will serve you better.
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With its tranquil beaches, beautiful parks, and stunning architecture, San Francisco is a photographer's paradise. You may be a nature lover or you may prefer urban landscapes, there is something for everyone.
The famous Baker Beach is a very popular location for photoshoots and for a good reason. Its pristine powdery sands and amazing ocean vistas are a wonderful background. Of course, there is the bonus of getting the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The best time for wedding or engagement photo sessions at Baker Beach is early morning when there are fewer visitors. And don't worry too much about the weather, the beach looks spectacular in both sunny and foggy weather.
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Moody and romantic, Sutro Baths is a truly unique location. The ruins of the old pools are part of San Francisco's history and offer majestic views. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this location provides a stunning color palette of vibrant blues and greens. The best time for a photo-shoot is during the golden hour or early in the morning if it is foggy outside.
If you want the finest views of the San Francisco skyline, go to Potrero Hill. It is located on the southeast side of the city and has incredible views. The city will be your backdrop. The best time to take photos there is on a clear and sunny day.
The Palace of Fine Arts, is a breathtaking palatial structure located in the center of a majestic park. This is a very versatile location where you can host your ceremony, reception, and photoshoot. A perfect blend of fin Beaux-Arts architecture and beautiful natural scenery, The Palace of Fine Arts is a popular wedding location. From the impressive doorway to the sparkly lake and ornate white columns, there is a range of gorgeous photo backdrops here.
Located in the beautiful Presidio area, Crissy Field is an expansive park with a myriad of great photoshoot locations. Here, you can take a photo on lush green grass, at the beach or in front of the iconic café called ‘The Warming Hut’. Inadvertently, you can see the most beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge too.
As a lively and picturesque waterfront hub of San Francisco, the Embarcadero is also perfect for wedding and engagement photos. You can pose in front of the gorgeous Ferry Building, at Pier 33, at Fisherman’s Wharf, or at the Ghirardelli Square.