Your proposal and engagement photos can be anything but traditional. If you know that you want unique, authentic photos that capture and celebrate your love story – you’ve come to the right place.
As a nontraditional engagement photographer in San Francisco/the Bay Area, I’m all for creative and fun photos that are outside the norm, reflect who you both are as a couple and feel genuine.
So, how can you get those magical, one-of-a-kind engagement photos?
Read on to learn my best tips on how you can have incredible engagement photos, a unique queer proposal, and different engagement photo locations for you to consider in the Bay Area.
How to Have Unique LGBTQ+ Engagement Photos
Here are my top tips on how you can have unique engagement photos!
Location
If everyone you know has gotten their engagement photos taken at the beach at sunset, that doesn’t mean you and your partner have to do the same thing.
Your location can be anywhere that you and your partner love. If there’s an activity you both enjoy doing together, like taking an art class, why not have your engagement photos taken at your art studio?
Or if there’s something else you both love doing, like going on Saturdays to your favorite coffee shop or an arcade where you always have a date night, you could choose to have your engagement photos at either of those spots.
Or, you can look for something totally unique like a hot-air balloon engagement session or at a museum, art gallery, aquarium, etc.
How about having your photos taken at the location where you both had your first date? Or the same place where your partner proposed?
Just because a location has a gorgeous background and is popular doesn’t mean that you and your partner should choose it—rather, consider a place that holds a lot of meaning for the two of you, a place where you both feel comfortable and where you feel like you can be your authentic selves.
Bring Fun Outfits
Going along with the theme of choosing a location that’s unique to you – you and your partner can also make your engagement session totally YOU by bringing fun, creative outfits that you both love.
You could bring clothes with pops of bright colors, a full ball gown, something with fringe or sequins, or anything that you love that authentically represents you. The most important thing is that it is something that you’re comfortable and confident in.
Props
Is there anything that holds significant meaning to you and your partner? Is it something you could bring to your engagement session? Then go for it!
Maybe it’s movie tickets from your first date that you still have or a souvenir from your first trip together. These can be highlighted in your photos and are also a creative, different way to tell your love story through the camera lens.
Embrace the Elements / Movement
If you’re planning a beach session, why not take it a step further and hop in the ocean for a few shots? Or if it rains on the day of your engagement photos, what about taking your pictures in the rain—playing in the puddles or dancing in the rain?
Another way to make your photos feel more authentic is to add movement. You and your partner can dance together, run hand-in-hand, or even ask for some photos that are slightly blurred while moving.
Your engagement photos don’t have to feel posed or stiff. The best engagement photos capture you and your partner as you truly are—laughing, touching, and expressing yourselves and the love you have for each other.
Different Engagement Photo Locations in the Bay Area – Queer and Non-binary Proposal Inspiration
There are lots of beautiful places in the Bay Area where you could have your engagement photos taken. Here are some queer and non-binary proposals to help you figure out where you want to have your proposal or engagement photos:
Pulgas Water Temple featuring Maraina (she/her) and Lu (he/him)
Pulgas Water Temple has gorgeous, looming columns inspired by ancient Greek and Roman architecture. You can take your engagement photos in front of the reflective pool surrounded by tall cypress trees, making you feel like you’re in your own private oasis. This spot is perfect for a couple that wants a bit of European aesthetic in their engagement photos.
Monterey Bay Aquarium – featuring Cordelia (they/them) and Jackson (he/him)
Monterey Bay Aquarium is the perfect spot for your engagement photos if you want a colorful and whimsical backdrop. With its unique exhibits and marine life, it promises to offer a captivating setting and incredible photos.
Cordelia wrote, “As a genderqueer neurodiverse individual, it’s hard for me to know if I can trust others to respect my identity and my needs, especially when I’m in an environment or scenario that differs greatly from my day-to-day routine. Jenni made sure that every step of our aquarium shoot felt comfortable and approachable, that we had plenty of time to relax and look at the animals, and that I could feel free to be myself during the shoot without disrupting their shots or process.“
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – featuring Kat and Bear (both they/them)
The Redwoods is a popular place for engagements, elopements, etc., and with good reason. This is the perfect location for your engagement session if you both love nature, want a mystical forest setting as the backdrop for your photos, and want to feature epic redwood trees. Kat and Bear wanted an engagement photo location that felt more private, and they were able to be more comfortable in front of the camera since there weren’t a ton of people around.
Capitola Venetian Houses / West Cliff Drive featuring Carly and Crystal (both she/her).
This was a double proposal. Crystal proposed to Carly at the Capitola Venetian Houses and Carly proposed back on West Cliff Drive.
If you and your partner love color and want vibrant photos that make a statement, you can’t go wrong with the Capitola Venetian Houses. These are iconic houses and really add such a vibrant touch to your photos. Crystal played it off like it was a regular couple’s photoshoot until she surprised Carly by dropping down on one knee!
If you are looking for more of those stunning overlook views, West Cliff Drive may be the perfect place. With incredible views looking out right over the water, you can’t really ask for much more. Since Carly and Crystal already knew me at this point, I hid one cliff over with a zoom lens to capture the proposal moment without ruining the surprise. Then I joined them for more close–up portraits!
At/around the Monterey Plaza Hotel featuring Hannah (they/she) and Raina (she/her)
Another beautiful spot is the Monterey Plaza Hotel. You can take stunning photos on the rocks overlooking the crystal blue ocean or photos at Monterey Plaza. This is California’s coastline at its finest.
There’s even some fun rock embankments around the water that can be the perfect place to explore a little bit and let your fun side out, while still getting one-of-a-kind engagement photos.
Raina wrote, “Everything Jenni did was with care and made us feel comfortable. She was enthusiastic and it felt almost like friends meeting up to take photos for us. The location was stunning and Jenni’s photography skills brought out the best of that beauty.”
Jack London Square in Oakland featuring Liz and Lauren (both she/her)
Jack London Square is along the Oakland Waterfront, which includes both the waterfront and a marina area. With the marina and the water as your backdrop, you can have gorgeous views and photos. This location is perfect for couples who want their engagement photos to feel more casual, from the vibes to their outfits.
How to Have A Unique Queer Proposal
If you want to plan a proposal that is creative, romantic, and will be a memory that will last a lifetime for you and your partner, here are my tips:
Double proposal
Just like Crystal and Carly, a double proposal is a great option for you and your partner if you both want to propose. You can both know about the proposal in advance or maybe you both want to surprise each other at different times. Chat with your photographer about options – I often do the “let’s pretend it’s a regular photo session until I say the secret phrase that means it’s time to propose” plan with my couples.
Recreate your first date
Recreating your first date with your partner is such a sentimental and endearing way to propose. It gives you both a chance to revisit and reminisce about those special first moments you shared, reflect on how much you’ve grown and changed, and re-experience your love story from the beginning.
Create a memory lane
For this, you can print out pictures, round up personal keepsakes that are special to you and your partner, write out special memories, and put everything together, creating a path to where you’re waiting with a ring to propose.
Involve your family and friends
Maybe you want to have your family and friends put on a special choreographed performance before you propose, or perhaps you want to share recorded messages from your family and friends that you play for your partner before asking the question. You can also have your family and friends involved in the proposal itself!
Final Thoughts on How to Have Unique LGBTQ+ Engagement Photos
I hope that this blog helped spark your creativity for your own engagement photos or upcoming proposal.
At the end of the day, your proposal and engagement photos should reflect your authentic selves and be a beautiful celebration of your love story.
If you’re in the Bay Area, planning your engagement session or proposal, and want to work with a photographer who will fully support your nontraditional ideas and celebrate you wholeheartedly, feel free to reach out here. I can’t wait to learn more about your vision and all the ideas you have in mind.
