Today’s Bodega Bay engagement photos feature Aimee and her fiancé, Max Bala. Now Max, being the crafty man that he is, booked this engagement session under the radar before the two of them flew off to Hawaii. Once there, he proposed to Aimee—after jumping out of a plane.
It was a dream proposal for Aimee, who enthusiastically said yes.
Planning their Bodega Bay Engagement Photos
Once they got back from Hawaii, we put together a plan for their photo shoot that would show off everything they love about Northern California—quiet forests, coastal hills, and rugged beaches.
We kicked things off at one of my favorite hidden spots near my old place in Occidental: the Grove of the Old Trees. From there, we planned to follow Coleman Valley Road out toward the coast so I could photograph them on the hills above Jenner. We planned to wrap up the day at Duncan’s Landing on the Bodega coastline—moody skies, ocean spray, and the kind of rugged cliffs that make California engagement photos so unforgettable.
Grove of the Old Trees – Occidental Engagement Photos
The Grove of the Old Trees turned out to be a perfect spot to warm them up in front of the camera. It’s a small redwood grove with an exposed western edge that lets the sun pour in, even late in the day.
When we arrived, the sun was just breaking through the clouds—giving us some great pockets of light to play with. I posed them in and out of the beams as they filtered through the canopy, using the glow to highlight their connection without forcing anything too posed.
A few hours before sunset, I called it and said we should head to the coast to catch the light as it dropped. But as we got closer to Bodega Bay, the fog rolled in—fast. Visibility dropped to maybe 100 yards, and just like that, my grand overlook shot idea was toast.
I could tell Aimee was a little bummed, though grateful we’d nailed some solid shots in the forest. I reminded her (again) to let go of what she thought the shoot should look like and just walk down to the water with me anyway. You never know what you’ll find when the plan falls apart.
Bodega Bay Engagement Photos – Duncan’s Landing
From experience, I knew Duncan’s Landing would be a great scenic spot for Bodega Bay engagement photos. With easy access to world-class beaches and coastal overlooks, it’s one of my favorite places for its epic backdrops and the variety it offers in such a small area. I also knew how quickly the weather could change out here, so I started scouting for anything we could work with.
Sure enough, the fog lifted completely, revealing some incredible light and setting us up for a gorgeous sunset. After all the uncertainty, the conditions for their Bodega Bay engagement photos ended up being as good as any of us could have hoped for—especially right at the peak of golden hour.
Engagement Album Design
Aimee and Max’s engagement session stretched from the redwoods of Occidental to the cliffs of Bodega Bay, and their album tells that story in a way that feels cinematic from start to finish.
Their album is the 10×10 size, bound in soft aniline leather that feels as timeless as the photos inside. The textured cover has just enough natural variation to make it feel personal, while the fine art pages inside were printed on 100% cotton paper to give the images a deep, tactile quality.
Every album I deliver is hand-crafted by Folio Albums in the UK using sustainable materials and archival techniques, so it’s made to last—not just through your wedding season, but for decades to come.
If you’re planning your own Bodega Bay engagement photos and want more than just digital files, this is what the final result can look like: a custom-designed, heirloom-quality album that captures your story exactly the way it felt.
Sonoma County Engagement Photographer Jason Guy
Ready to capture your story in one of California’s most dramatic and beautiful landscapes? Whether you’re drawn to the quiet stillness of the redwoods or the bold, windswept cliffs along the coast, Bodega Bay engagement photos offer a setting that feels both cinematic and deeply personal. Every couple brings their own energy to the location, and the light, weather, and terrain always give us something unique to work with.
If you’re looking for a Sonoma County engagement photographer who knows how to adapt to changing conditions and find the best light—even when the plan shifts—I’d love to help you create something meaningful. Reach out and let’s start planning a session that feels authentic to you!
This is my dream shoot! Thank you for capturing our love and keeping me at ease when I was worried at the beginning. We absolutely love how it turned out and these pictures will be cherished forever!
I LOVE that I was able to do this for you guys! I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together!