Surprise Proposal | Chelsea + Yvonne

Wow, this one’s going to be a doozy! Before I go on about Chelsea’s amazing surprise proposal to Yvonne, I want to touch on a really cool aspect of being a career photographer. Even after photographing over 100 weddings and way more engagement shoots, I still experience new challenges every time I shoot. There’s always a different lighting scenario, different timing, different backdrops. In fact, even when photographing in the same locations I’ve used dozens of time before, it’s always different. Why? It’s the people! The people are different, they have their own ways of interacting with each other, and a different attraction to the location. It’s so exciting to be faced with a new challenge every time I pick up the same 2 cameras and the same lenses I’ve been using for the past several years. You’d think it’d be routine, but the only thing that is routine is change. I use my cameras the same way, but what we produce together in the couple/photographer relationship is always different. What a cool thing!

Now, on the topic of different, when I was contacted by Chelsea to photograph her surprise proposal to Yvonne it slammed every emotion in my body! I was so excited for this new challenge. It was the first time I’d had this request and I knew it was going to be exhilarating. We met up a week before the shoot and scouted the area for the best locations, keeping in mind that Yvonne did not know I was going to be photographing the proposal. So we searched for spots that were appealing photographically that were coupled with a place I could hide with big-ass 300mm and 70-200mm lenses (photo geeks out there know how big these are and they are bright white…not so inconspicuous)! We chose the path by Lake Ontario Park, a place I’ve photographed countless engagement sessions and wedding day portraits. But this time, I saw it in a whole new way. Neat right?

So here’s the deal, Chelsea placed notes in zip lock bags (because obviously it had to rain!) along the path to guide Yvonne to the final note where Chelsea dropped to one knee where the ultimate surprise proposal happened, on the rocky shores of Lake Ontario on rainy fall day. I had my hiding spots all lined up along the path and my signals of when to move to the next as they progressed toward the final destination. Running along the wet, slippery path with about 30lbs of gear over my shoulders all while trying to not be seen was THRILLING! But what was most thrilling of all was watching Yvonne’s reaction as she read the notes along the path. I mean, can we all agree that this is the most romantic thing of all time?! We got to the end, I was hiding behind a boulder on the beach, praying to the photo Gods that our scouted positioning would allow me to see Yvonne’s reaction while being about 200ft away. We planned for Chelsea to turn her back to me so that Yvonne would be facing her (and me). IT WORKED! And….just wait until you see the photo.

Right, so that was a lot of words all to say how much I fall in love with photographing couples more and more every day. It’s exciting and different every time. Especially this time! Congratulations to you both, Chelsea and Yvonne, the love in your eyes is contagious and the way you are together is #relationshipgoals for the rest of us.

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