Photography
This Engagement Session wedding photography package covers a San Francisco Bay Area documentary photography session at a flat rate of five hundred ninety-five dollars. The studio has been documenting weddings and portrait sessions across the Bay Area and Napa Valley since 2005, led by sole owner Christina Hernandez after a fifteen-year career as a staff photojournalist at the San Francisco Chronicle.
Ideal Session Use Cases
- newly-engaged couples scheduling pre-wedding portraits
- couples planning save-the-date cards and wedding-website portraits
- engagement sessions paired with a hair-and-makeup trial run
- engagement portraits in the Presidio, Crissy Field, Marin Headlands, or Sausalito waterfront
- engagement sessions at Bay Area landmarks like Pier 7 and Land End
What is Included
- 1.5 hours of continuous documentary photography with Christina Hernandez
- 60 edited high-resolution images delivered via a password-protected online gallery
- printing-right release statement granting permission to make prints and post images online for personal use
- online gallery delivered within 4 weeks after the session day with a one-year viewing window
- pre-session planning conversation to confirm timing, locations, and outfit preferences
Approach and Routing
The Engagement Session tier covers pre-wedding engagement portrait session. Christina meets the couple at the chosen location, walks them through the natural-light windows, and captures candid documentary frames between guided portrait moments. Ninety minutes of coverage allows time for one outfit change and two short location moves inside the same neighborhood. The documentary approach favors candid moments paired with classic formal portraits, drawing on a photojournalism background that values authenticity, adaptability, and the moments between the moments.
Travel and Service Area
Coverage is based in Oakland with primary work across the Bay Area, Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Lake Tahoe. Destination weddings have been delivered in Hawaii, New Orleans, New York, and Florida.
Credentials and Trust Signals
- Founded in 2005; twenty years of wedding photography across San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Marin, Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Lake Tahoe
- 5.0-star average on Yelp across 171 reviews; 5.0-star Google average across 45 reviews; 4.9-star WeddingWire average across 24 reviews
- Published in The San Francisco Chronicle, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Le Monde, Style Me Pretty, Grace Ormonde, 7x7, and Borrowed and Blue
- Liability insurance on file with active business license; backup photographer policy on standby
Service Areas Around Oakland
- Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and the broader East Bay
- San Francisco neighborhoods including the Presidio, Pier 7, Land End, and Crissy Field
- Marin County including Sausalito, Mill Valley, and the Marin Headlands
- Napa Valley and Sonoma County wedding venues including Wente Vineyards
Booking and Cancellation
The Engagement Session tier is a flat rate of five hundred ninety-five dollars. A retainer holds the date and the balance is due before the event day. Credit cards, Apple Pay, Android Pay, and cryptocurrency are accepted.
Common Questions About This Tier
Who is the photographer on the day? Coverage is by Christina Hernandez, owner and lead photographer.
What style is delivered? Documentary, photojournalistic coverage drawn from fifteen years as a San Francisco Chronicle staff photojournalist.
How fast is the gallery delivered? Within 4 weeks after the session day, with the online gallery accessible for a one-year viewing window.
Are albums and prints available? Yes. Albums and additional prints are available as add-ons after gallery delivery.
Do you travel? Yes. Christina has photographed destination weddings in Hawaii, New Orleans, New York, and Florida. Travel is quoted with the inquiry.
Check 2026 Availability
Browse real-time Engagement Session availability and confirm 2026 or 2027 dates on Events in Minutes.
