Every year I'll get a couple of proposal inquiries that'll ask for just the 15 minutes of the proposal itself captured, which is something I don't offer as my proposal sessions are at least an hour long. The reason is this - I'm not just here to take a few photos and leave, I'm here to create an experience and document those memories. You might've heard that studies show that investing in experiences often results in greater happiness, and that's something that I believe is so important as a photographer. It's moments like watching these two have ear-to-ear grins when they call each other fiance for the first time, catching the glances when she'll stop just to stare at her engagement ring in awe, and hearing her say that her hand can't stop shaking from the excitement that are so important. Those moments are the ones I'm always looking for - not just the 15 minutes of the proposal - though those are some of my favorite moments! - but the ones that can only be found through taking the time to slow down and just enjoy the experience. Check out the rest of T + B's sweet Big Sur proposal below - bring on all the tears!
0 Comments
People sometimes ask, how can it be a surprise proposal if she’s all dressed up? I’m not sure about you, but I’m in PJs and leggings 95% of the time, and then dresses the remaining 5% of the time when we finally go somewhere nice just for us and not work. But even if it’s not 100% a surprise - a girl sometimes just knows - that doesn’t take away how special the actual moment can be. The exact moment it happens, all else fades away and it all sinks in. This is real. This is happening. Check out more photos from these two's romantic proposal on the coast of Big Sur for proposal ideas and inspiration!
When the emotion is real, capturing each and every moment is so much more than framing a beautiful couple in front of a beautiful backdrop. It’s capturing the minute movements and expressions that fly by so quickly. B knew that A had always wanted to see this famous landmark, so I suggested they get up early before the crowds hit. We quickly identified each other as the only two cars at the pullout, and walked out to the bridge where we had arranged for him to ask me to take a selfie for him. Watching their proposal unfold was so incredibly beautiful - A couldn’t stop crying and jumping up and down in excitement. And what I loved even more about these two was that even as we continued taking engagement photos after, she couldn’t stop tearing up in between shots and smiling from ear to ear. 10/10 would wake up at 5 AM any day to capture these moments - check out the rest of their Big Sur Bixby Bridge proposal!
There's just something special about sunrises. D persuaded S to go on a morning walk down by the coast on a quiet Saturday morning to avoid the crowds, but what she didn’t expect was a romantic picnic all set up for him to propose. They adventured down to the beach after and luckily the high tides didn’t get us...until the very end of the session. I might’ve returned to the car with wet shoes, socks, and pants and had to crank the foot heater on high, but it was well worth it! Check out the rest of their Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay proposal below!
One awesome thing that has come out of the pandemic has been the emergence of luxury picnic pop up companies! With so many restaurants and date night options closed, these companies have become such a great way to create a romantic experience outdoors. So when C started planning his proposal at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, he knew he wanted to make it special by having a picnic on the beach. On a cloudy winter day, they walked down the trail to find the picnic set up for them, where he surprised her with a ring - and yes, her reaction said it all that it was truly the sweetest surprise! Check out more photos from C + S's Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay proposal below!
 Capturing memories isn't just reserved for engagement sessions! These two just had their 5 year anniversary, and wanted to celebrate by booking a family session. Of course we had to sneak in photos of the two of them as well! Despite the rain, the kids loved running around and even got to see the chickens at the ranch. Check out the rest of their San Jose couples and family session!
Big Sur can be a bit tricky to navigate sometimes, especially as there's no cell service along Highway 1. I worked with K to help him plan his proposal on the coast of Big Sur, and he went the extra step to check out the trail beforehand. Confident that he knew where to go, I very subtly led the way for them to climb up to the hilltop where he popped the question. Though they had talked about getting married, the moment still caught her by surprise - check out the rest of their surprise Big Sur proposal below!
Did you know that Golden Gate Park is the third most visited park in the United States? It's even larger than Central Park in New York City! K + M wanted to celebrate their engagement in the park, so we adventured around Stow Lake and even stumbled upon the seasonal calla lilies. It was perfect timing as they had just walked around the park the week before and hadn't seen the flowers in bloom. We then continued on to the Golden Gate Bridge to watch the sun set and the city lights twinkle on the horizon. Check out the rest of their San Francisco engagement session!
Though sparks didn't fly immediately between A + E when they first met, slowly A managed to melt her heart through the course of a semester over college and they became best of friends. 4 years later, A reached out for help planning his Big Sur proposal. Having never been to the California coast, I showed him some of my favorite hidden gems and we set a plan to secretly find each other at the trailhead. Though smoke and fires had just hit the area a few weeks before, luckily we ended up with a stunning sunset and incredible crazy waves over the rocks. Check out their sweet and emotional Big Sur proposal below!
When T first reached out, we started laughing about how similar our stories were. T + J both grew up in the Bay Area like my husband and I did, started dating just before leaving for college in the same year that we did, and spent our first few years doing long distance. He even went to SJSU and studied business like my husband, coincidentally also where I had studied for graduate school as well. Having run in many of the same social circles, we even realized we shared mutual friends!
|
