Faith-Founded Artistic Storyteller
Based in Humboldt County, Northern California
Christian Photographer
hey there,
I’m Bethany
Growing up in Humboldt County, I developed a deep appreciation for God's beautiful creation. I would sit on the edge of my couch to look out the window, entertained for hours, watching the hundreds of gathered robins search for worms. I'd often bike to Clam Beach and I would sit until the sun set on the beach listening to the crashing waves and watching the seagulls fly by. I'd inhale the biggest earthy breath I could as I walked through the Redwood Forest and soak in all the sights and smells.
From the age of nine, I began using my mother's DSLR camera, and every birthday and Christmas I'd ask for film. I worked hard babysitting mostly to have the funds to be able to develop the film. Attempting to capture the beauty I saw and felt began when I was very young. And admiring God's intricate attention to detail; His incredible care for all He made, and the way He spoke to me in those quiet moments- single handily convinced me of His love for me.
At the heart of my business, a philosophy developed when I was young, I believe in proclaiming God's love in all I do, desiring to bring Him all the glory. I see God's beauty in His creation and I'm thrilled that I get to display His beautiful works through the art of photography.follow:
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How Do I know I’ve Chosen the Right Photographer?
Fair Question. Choosing the right photographer to capture one of the most significant moments in your life can feel overwhelming. With so many talented photographers out there, how do you find the perfect match for your style and vision?
I’m here to help make that choice easier.
If you love expansive shots that showcase the grandeur of your surroundings while making you feel like a small but meaningful part of the scene, I’m ready to deliver.
If intimate details—like the gentle touch of his hand guiding you into a soft kiss—resonate with you, I share that passion.
If you care deeply about authentic timeless colors and want to avoid orange sepia colors, overly exposed photos, or too dark of photos- I care deeply that my editing style is true to life.
If you prefer natural, images where you’re fully present in your environment rather than always looking directly at the camera, that’s exactly the style I embrace.
If whimsical touches and delicate light filtering through trees create the atmosphere you adore, I’m your go-to photographer.
If you’re someone who enjoys barefoot adventures in nature but also loves dressing up for special moments, I’m confident we’ll connect well.
When you dream of photos inspired by the timeless romance of Jane Austen or the epic love stories of Lord of the Rings, I’m excited to help bring that vision to life.
If a complete gallery might include the nature we saw like a perfectly cute mini mushroom on a log or a white solo flower amongst the clovers or the birds flying overhead as the sun sets- we might be a perfect match.
If eyes in photographs and all their brilliant detail is something important to you- I’m also deeply mindful and aim to have them perfectly focused throughout the session.
If you want a photographer who understands that not everyone is a professional model but still dreams of stunning photos, I specialize in guiding clients gently into flattering, comfortable poses. I pay attention to the little details—taming stray hairs, highlighting your favorite features, and respectfully minimizing any areas you’d rather not emphasize.
If you’re seeking an artist who is deeply passionate about photography——That’s me.
a little more…
Inspired by my faith, I'm passionate about capturing your unique story while boldly proclaiming the hope and joy I have in Christ Jesus, my Savior. My desire is that you can sense Christ's deep love for you through the art of photography.
Motivated by my Christian beliefs, I am a huge supporter of Christian marriages and will genuinely be rejoicing with you on your wedding day! The beauty in Christian marriages is one I find incredibly beautiful and sacred.
I believe in treating every person with kindness and respect. At the same time, I hold personal convictions that guide the work I choose to take on.
As a photographer, I focus on documenting marriages, elopements and engagements between a man and a woman, in alignment with my beliefs. I approach every interaction with care and professionalism, and I remain committed to serving others with respect while staying true to the principles that guide my life and business.
The Redwood Experience
Photographing the redwoods can be quite challenging. The forest floor often becomes very dark, and skin tones can pick up a green cast from the trees’ reflections. My passion has been to study the light and become a master of overcoming these challenges.
With precise timing, thoughtfully planned compositions, and expert editing, I am to capture and deliver stunning, unforgettable images in the redwood groves.
I confidently move and direct my clients to specific spots to capture the best light paired with the most ideal background. I am known to gently and confidently direct in a way my clients feel comfortable and beautiful.
Rest assured that when you choose Bethany Joy Photography, you are choosing an artist who has your dream photos in mind and is passionate about creating the most beautiful art to decorate your walls.
CLIENT LOVE
“Bethany is a true JOY to work with! Her easy going and sweet personality and her raw talent with the camera make things so effortless and fun! She truly will go above and beyond to get the shoot and you will be left with the most amazing memories in picture form! Love her and her work so much!”
Ashlyn Penner
Making Memories
to last a lifetime
“Bethany is an absolute ARTIST. She shoots in beautiful places, and through her mastery over the camera, her eye for angles and framing and light, she shows those beautiful places in even more stunning ways. Her shooting and editing style keeps the magnitude of the moment, when that can so easily be lost or flattened through the lens. If you choose to go to these unreal places for a special moment, you NEED a photographer who understands the spot, and who knows exactly how to shine the best light on it. Her placement and posing of the people she shoots in these locations make them feel as though they are a part of the environment— existing in it, instead of layered on top. She truly understands her craft, and her skill within and passion for it is evident in the images she delivers.”
-Aubrey
let’s work together
More KIND WORDS
Prior to my wedding Last November I had met Bethany because she had done a few weddings that I had attended and we connected over our interest in photography. I was particularly impressed with her from a professional standpoint when I saw she had edited and finished some of the photos from the wedding by the next day which showed to me her level of seriousness and professionalism with her business. Not to mention how great the photos looked. When it came time for our wedding we considered her to do our 300 person wedding For several reasons; First of all we loved her style she’s a great photographer. Secondly we felt like she was somebody we could trust and rely on. third reason which was a very big deal to me especially was that she has a very calm but effective demeanor and since my now wife doesn’t handle stress well at all, I knew it would be very important for us to be working with somebody who could help keep her in a good mindset. It turned out for our wedding, Everything we had hoped for in Bethany being our photographer came true. She was one of the few vendors who actually did what they promised and she did an incredible job at it. Our wedding was one of those where the rain comes through in Southern California and ruins all your plans and becomes incredibly stressful. But Bethany did an incredible job of maintaining a positive mindset which made our entire experience so much better than it could’ve been. But I can say with 100% certainty the photos and images she created with her visionary mind and incredible ability to execute that vision, Ended up as some of the best wedding photos I’ve ever seen. I know I sound biased but check out the photos on her page from the Indian wedding at the hummingbird nest Ranch. They look like they could be in Vogue magazine. I’m not exaggerating in the slightest bit. I could not recommend her more as a wedding photographer. Incredible person and incredible photographer, Who truly loves her job and loves working with people, And with her team I’d say single-handedly saved our wedding. -Paul
My fiancé and I are beyond grateful for our experience with Bethany. From the very beginning, she made us feel so comfortable and confident during our shoot. Not only is Bethany unbelievably talented behind the camera, but she has such a warm, kind, and calming presence that made the shoot feel natural and fun instead of stressful. Bethany captured our relationship so beautifully and gave us photos we will treasure forever. Every image felt genuine, romantic, and representative of the love we share. Her creativity, attention to detail, and passion truly shine through in their work. We have recieved so many compliments on our photos, and we honestly could not have asked for a better photographer to model for! If you’re looking for someone who is talented, professional, kind as can be, thoughtful, and genuinely passionate about what they do, I cannot recommend Bethany enough. We feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her & hope to work with her again in the future -Keylei
Bethany was such a treat to work with! I appreciate all of the extra time she puts in creating the perfect vision for your photos. She is an incredible photographer and a truly wonderful person! I had a fabulous time working with her! -HarmonySince we (my now husband and I) fell in love with Humboldt, it has been our dream to have a wedding photoshoot around the area. We love the giant Redwood trees and the majestic coastal area. I have been searching online for a photographer. Considering that we don’t know anyone around the area, google search has been my tool. I scrolled down the list and something within me caught my attention to open Bethany’s website. And as we looked through her portfolio, we knew right away that she had the style of photography we were looking for. Communication was easy and clear, she gave us opportunity to share our Pinterest dream photoshoot. During the shoot, she (and her team) were very professional and guided us all through out the photo session. And the results are stunning, we were totally blown away with the quality of the images.Way better than what we had imagined! -Meryl
Bethany is an incredible photographer with a great eye for capturing meaningful and beautiful moments. She also went above and beyond to help us feel comfortable; as folks who struggle with camera shyness, this meant a lot to us. She was very friendly and made the entire experience of our engagement shoot unforgettable. We look forward to continue working with her in the future!! -Caitlin
Bethany Joy Photography is absolutely phenomenal! From the very beginning, she brought such a peaceful and kind presence that immediately put us at ease. She goes above and beyond in every way, truly pouring her heart into capturing each moment with so much care and artistry. She was highly recommended to us, and now I see exactly why — she exceeded every expectation. Our proposal at Wedding Rock was perfect, and Bethany was such an integral part of making it unforgettable. She is not only professional, but also incredibly thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely invested in making the experience magical. Everyone is raving about her photos. They are truly unreal and so romantic! My friend who is a phenomenal photography is raving about how amazing her work is. Bethany is highly respected amongst other photographers and her work captures her heart for the people she photographs. We genuinely loved her sweet spirit and we hope to work with her in the future. Working with her was a joy in every sense — she is blessed with such grace and excellence, and her work reflects it beautifully. Bethany did not disappoint; she was incredible from start to finish. If you are looking for someone who is kind, talented, and will make your most important moments feel effortless and extraordinary, Bethany Joy Photography is the one. -Erica
I cannot say enough positive things about Bethany Joy Photography! Her work is BEAUTIFUL, her edits are magic, and she absolutely brings your dreams to life!
Working with her was an absolute joy, she is sweet, calming, funny, and made it an enjoyable experience for all. It didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable at any point. She went with our crazy ideas and ran with them. Her prices were very good! And she got us our prints within WEEKS! We had sneak peaks immediately. I couldn’t recommend her more. I wish she lived closer but if we are ever in the area again I will definitely be reaching out for more family photos! -Scott and DakotaOur wedding pictures came out so beautiful. They were everything we were hoping for and more. Bethany made us feel comfortable and told us how to naturally pose without feeling awkward. I highly recommend her! -Kenia
This was such a wonderful experience. I've never had professional photos done and I didn't know how the process would be but after working with Bethany I'm extremely happy and grateful. My husband and I eloped prior to our photoshoot but wanted to have something done as a keepsake. I found bethany through a Google map search in the area, I really liked her photo style. I sent out a consult request for her availability and she was very quick to reply. Bethany was so friendly and professional on the phone, she made me feel at ease with this booking. She sent out great recommendations with photo style and props we could bring. Bethany was also very flexible as the date we originally set up for photos was raining she was quick to set up a plan B for us which turned out perfect! We ended up with 458 photos for a 1-2hr photo package and we are in love with all of them! From start to finish I've enjoyed this photoshoot, I would recommend Bethany over and over, from the way the photos turned out, her flexibility, her kindness and professionalism were amazing. Thank you Bethany for such a memorable day and amazing photos that we can cherish. -Amber