Kristine and Joseph opted for the stunning winery Kuleto Estate as the location for their winery engagement photoshoot. The stunning vineyard property is located on the eastern edge of the Napa Valley overlooking Lake Hennessey and the town of Rutherford, and holds a dear place in the couple’s hearts!

Hopefully this gives you plenty of ideas for your winery engagement photos and what we can do at a beautiful Napa winery or vineyard! 

Private estate winery engagement session

Private estates are a smart idea for couples that value privacy during their shoot (no random passers-by!). It’s also a way of incorporating a place with special meaning or significance.

It was because of their connection to the Kuleto Estate as valued patrons that they were able to secure this gorgeous private estate in Napa as the venue for their engagement photos

Kristine also happens to be from the Napa / Sonoma area, and they’re planning to tie the knot at a winery in the same area after moving back to the Bay Area from Los Angeles three years ago.

It makes so much sense selecting a venue that is meaningful and speaks to your hobbies and interests!

Local wine is a big part of life here in the Bay – so your engagement photos should reflect those passions.

At one point during the shoot, we saw a snake. Or rather, Joseph saw a snake a freaked out 😉 🐍 It was quite a surreal moment!

I had just positioned Joseph at his starting point for the running-up-to-his-bride from behind shots.

Little did we know that the snake was hanging out less than 3 feet from where we had been standing and waiting to run up to Kristine. Yikes! 

How the couple met

The couple first met because they happened to live down the hall from each other during their first year at UCLA.

2 weeks into the school year, Kristine’s outgoing roommate, Tawny, went from door to door asking if anyone had a basketball to play with. She knocked at Joseph roommate Wes’ room.

From then on, Wes and Tawny became friends. Kristine knew Wes casually through Tawny, and then another week later was introduced to Wes’ roommate, Joseph. The rest is history.

How their relationship deepened

Over the course of the next two and a half years, Kristine and Joseph’s friendship evolved into something more.

After dating and living together for eight and a half years, Joseph finally went down on one knee and popped the question.

But it didn’t matter how long it took. Sometimes you just know – and Kristine and Joseph have known for many years they love each other immensely.

They’ve traveled the world, have developed deep bonds with one another’s families – and drank a ton of wine.

Yes, wine is one of their main shared loves so it makes sense that this engagement shoot and their upcoming wedding both take place in beautiful Northern California wineries! 

The couple’s kind review!

I couldn’t be happier to write this review for Zoe Larkin. She is so friendly, funny, and really genuinely cares to know her clients and their needs….

extremely kind, passionate about her work, and just so easygoing.

….she genuinely cared about us and what we were into. We knew immediately that she would make us feel comfortable and get right into the photoshoot.

When we started, we had nerves.  I really wasn’t feeling it because I don’t like taking pics, generally.  However, after about 5 minutes that all changed….

Zoe just has a real gift – making people feel more comfortable in typically awkward situations.  The rest of the photoshoot was awesome, and we got to do a ton of different poses in different scenery.

…She had a natural talent for finding not only the right backdrops and scenery, but also the perfect lighting for excellent photos.  

…. You have to have a real eye for that sort of thing, and she truly does. Our photos came out excellent, and we could not be happier. ….She is an amazing person, and we couldn’t be happier to have gotten the chance to know her.

Aw thanks so much, guys! Congrats on your engagement, Kristine and Joseph!

More info

Planning to do some winery engagement photos yourself? More about my engagement photography services in the San Francisco Bay Area: check out the portfolio! And then get in touch for more

Vendor love

Venue Kuleto Estate / @kuletoestate

Related

Prepare for your engagement session!

Be sure to pin this graphic to your winery engagement photos Pinterest planning + inspo board!

For more details about our engagement photography services in the San Francisco Bay Area, please check out the introductory guide and fun welcome video at the link below! I can’t wait to meet you!