It’s crazy how things can come together. 

Most of the people who book me already know my work either from having seen me work a wedding, or they’ve seen work online that’s been tagged of their friends and can check out my website before hiring me.

But now I can say that sometimes, just sometimes, someone can pull me aside during a Times Square session and book a session for their friend that’s about to propose.

Granted, I probably would’ve missed out on this sweet couple if my girl Spivey wasn’t at the portrait session running the lighting. She not only heard the inquiry, but gave him my instagram to be able to message me immediately to check if I was available for the proposal.

Once I was connected with the groom-to-be, we started talking locations.

Empire State Building was mentioned first. With any venue or location, I make sure each couple knows the additional cost, whether it’s a venue photography fee and/or an entry fee it can all add up on top of wedding planning.

What I love is that he took the time to see if I knew a romantic spot to propose that would  also be a classic New York City spot. I have only been living up here since June, and working up here twice a year for the past few years, and already have lists of places I like to shoot and still want to shoot.

I knew Bethesda fountain offered a beautiful backdrop inside Central Park. Central Park in itself can be utterly overwhelming if you try to wander into it without a game plan. If you spend your time at the American Museum of Natural History as much as Connor and I do, you start to know your way around the middle of Central Park quite well. Typically we would end up outside Delacorte Theater, ordering a glass of wine for me and a chocolate chip cookie for Connor before heading to the baseball diamonds to kick up some clay.

If you’re scheduling a session with me during the Summer, you’ll hear the same thing as far as time. Let’s do later. Less heat, more colors in the sky, more dramatic.

This surprise proposal was so much fun, especially considering we didn’t speak the same language! Thankfully their friends arrived beforehand, with Yankees jerseys that read “will you marry me“ and the date so I was able to coordinate and know that the bride-and-groom-to-be were not going to be there until it was already dark outside.

Carrying a giant bag of equipment anywhere (especially around NYC) is far from easy, but as time has taught me, it can be very necessary. I had light equipment with me to light up the proposal spot a little bit so I could try to focus my lenses during all the magic moments.

Now you can scroll down and see when she said “YES!”

We walked around the park a little bit in the dark and had way too much fun trying to communicate the crazy things I wanted them to walk around and do…. All the while people were passing by in the park yelling their congratulations.

I am wanting to do the same for this sweet couple!

CONGRATULATIONS!