Karina Pires Photography

One of my favorite messages to get after delivering proposal photos?
“We want you to photograph our wedding, too.”

Casey & Paige loved their proposal photos so much that they hired me to photograph their wedding next year, and I truly cannot wait to have these two in front of my camera again.

Their story with me started on the cliffs of Palos Verdes, where Casey surprised Paige with a sunset proposal overlooking the ocean. Next time, it’ll be their wedding day!

Can’t wait for round two, Casey & Paige.

Sometimes you know exactly what you want your proposal to look like, even if you don’t know exactly where it should happen. That was the case for Casey.

He knew he wanted to propose to Paige somewhere overlooking the ocean. He pictured a cliffside setting with greenery, incredible coastal views, and enough privacy that the moment still felt like it belonged to the two of them.

Once he realized his initial location would be more crowded than he wanted, he asked if I had any spots I recommended - and I instantly thought of a cliffside in Palos Verdes!

The grassy coastal bluffs overlook the ocean and a small cove below, and at sunset, I knew it would be the perfect place.

If you know how you want your proposal to feel but have no idea where to do it, I can help. I’ve photographed proposals throughout Los Angeles and know how much the right location, timing, light, and level of privacy can change the experience.

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One of the biggest questions I get as a Los Angeles proposal photographer is, “Where should I propose?” Los Angeles certainly gives us plenty of choices.

You could propose on the beach, overlooking the ocean, at a beautiful hotel, or somewhere with an incredible downtown LA view.

But before I start suggesting locations, I always ask one question: Is there somewhere that already means something to both of you?

Those places can make a proposal feel much more personal. Of course, meaningful doesn’t always mean easy to photograph. Once you have an idea, I can help you think through the photography side of the plan. We’ll consider the time of day, lighting, crowds, privacy, and exactly where I should be waiting. That way, we can keep the surprise while making sure the moment is beautifully documented!

Couple:
Soma Chhaya
Antoine Martel

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Five years ago, Antoine and Soma met at Griffith Park for a hike.

So when Antoine started thinking about where he wanted to propose, he didn’t need the trendiest location or an elaborate setup. He wanted to bring Soma back to the place where everything started.

He planned dinner at her favorite vegan restaurant, but first, they returned to Griffith Park. This time, Antoine had a ring with him.

She said yes, we popped ch*****ne, and then spent some time taking engagement photos around the park. I love photographing a beautiful view as much as anyone, but sometimes the best proposal location isn’t about the view at all. It’s about what happened there before!

If you are looking for a proposal photographer in Los Angeles, reach out. We are quickly booking up for the fall, and I would love to document this moment.

Couple:
Soma Chhaya
Antoine Martel

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We often think of a proposal as a moment just between two people. But behind some of the best surprises is an entire group of friends and family quietly helping make it happen.

That was definitely the case for Veibhav and Shefali! Veibhav rented a beautiful Airbnb in Santa Monica for the weekend, a place that would be private with ocean views.

But he wasn’t the only one keeping a secret! Shefali’s friends helped prepare everything inside the house. They brought makeup, curling irons, and even a second dress for her to wear for their photos afterward.

At sunset, their friends and family arrived to surprise Shefali again and celebrate their engagement. I love when family joins after a proposal because we can capture that second wave of reactions!

Looking for a proposal and engagement photographer in Los Angeles? Send me a message!

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Ritz and Danish’s proposal in black and white is a dream.

One of the benefits of hiring a professional Los Angeles proposal photographer is that I am not only showing up with a camera. I can help you think through the entire photography plan, including what we will do if rain, wind, crowds, or another unexpected change makes the original location difficult.

For Ritz and Danish, the lighting was challenging, with a dark, cloudy day outside and a wall of windows behind them, but this is exactly where experience matters. Knowing how to use professional lighting and flash allowed me to preserve the skyline while still beautifully lighting the proposal itself.

Afterward, we switched gears and created some of my favorite editorial-style portraits. See more of this proposal on the blog!

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It is easy to become attached to exactly how you think a proposal should look. The perfect sunset. The perfect weather. The exact location you found online. But after photographing so many proposals, I can tell you that some of the most memorable moments happen when things do not go exactly according to plan.

It was pouring in Los Angeles the day Danish planned to propose to Ritz. Thankfully, Danish had already chosen an incredible indoor location with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Downtown Los Angeles, so the weather became part of the atmosphere instead of something to worry about.

Danish filled the space with dozens of candles and white rose petals and hired a violinist to play as Ritz arrived.

And while Ritz and Danish did not get a sunny Los Angeles day, they did get a candlelit proposal high above the city, with rain falling outside, a violinist playing, and the Downtown LA skyline disappearing into the clouds behind them.

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Who says you need a studio to create studio-style maternity portraits?

Sabrina wanted clean, editorial images that highlighted her pregnancy without a lot of distractions. So we brought the studio experience into her home with a simple white backdrop, a fitted black dress, and beautiful natural light.

Then we switched things up with a more relaxed look, using different areas of their home for portraits that felt personal and authentic.

One of the things I love most about at-home sessions is that they can be whatever you want them to be. Editorial. Casual. Emotional. Timeless. Or all of the above.

One of the questions I get asked most is, “Is it too late to book a proposal photographer?”

And the answer is, usually not! I’ve helped couples plan proposals in just a few days, and honestly, keeping things simple often creates the most meaningful moments.

All you need is a beautiful location, a thoughtful plan, good lighting, and someone there to quietly capture it all.

If you’re proposing along the Los Angeles coast, I almost always recommend sunset. The light is softer, the ocean glows, and you’ll have beautiful portraits afterward while you’re still soaking in the excitement of saying “yes.”

The planning doesn’t have to be stressful. That’s what I’m here for!

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