“Down on one knee…”
I got a text from a potential client, we share a mutual friend who referred me (thanks Marian). James messaged me asking if I was available to photograph a marriage proposal! I had done it before, actually a few times, but it had been a while. Sometimes people picture this particular shoot to be one of very high pressure, and that makes sense. You’ve got a big build up to one climactic and life-changing moment. The man gets down on one knee, proposing that he and his lover merge roads for life. It’s a big moment.
For some reason that never bothered me! I only felt excitement to capture such a meaningful moment in a couple’s life. So of course, we agreed and made our arrangement. The planning begins and we schedule a phone call to make sure we’ve got everything on the same page.
When organizing a shoot of this sort, I always make sure a couple of things are clear. First, we must stay incognito. Will your partner get suspicious of a new number showing up? What are the best hours to text? Is calling better? Should you exclusively message me instead of vice versa? Can’t let this information out, that’s a top priority. We are spies in dangerous territory, we can’t get lazy.
Next, we find the location. James and Rebeca regularly enjoy their sunsets on the beach with a glass of wine. What better place than along the beautiful Santa Barbara shore while the sun illuminates the beach spray a beautiful gold. It’s the best option, and so we find our date.
Before we know it, it’s proposal day.
“I stay as far away as my lens allows…”
I arrive at the beach before they show up, scouting the area for the optimal angle. My goal is to both stay inconspicuous, as well as capture a good angle to capture the moment. I’m shooting with a super telephoto (the Canon RF 100-500 f/4.5-7.1 for all you other photography nerds out there), which allows me to stay far out of sight. With that being said, it can still be suspicious to have a person pointing a massive lens at you no matter the distance, so I stay as far away as my lens allows, attempting to get into James’ line of sight so he can see that I am prepared while avoiding Rebeca’s.
I always suggest to have the proposer do some sort of lovey-dovey stuff right before the moment to indicate that the kneel is about to happen. Also, though, while we do have these goals, I reiterate that the most important part of this whole experience is to enjoy it. I’ll deal with the photos, you live in the moment and savor this experience. Never again will you be able to ask the love of your life to join lives with you. Anyway, James begins to tell her how he feels about her, what she means to him, and holds her close. I know it’s coming.
James gets down on one knee, and asks Rebeca if she will spend the rest of her life with him…
She says yes.
I capture the few moments after the fact of them embracing. Very regularly it takes the receiver a moment to really get emotional about the moment. There tends to be some shock for a bit, and then the tears come flowing. She was joyous about the proposal, and said she was suspecting it to some degree. Supposedly she had a doctor’s appointment scheduled for this day, but James insisted she change it to another day. I said “James! We could have moved the date!” But it was all fine in the end, love waits for no doctor. And love heals all wounds? Or something like that.
I showed up for the surprise reveal! It always feels like an episode of “Punk’d” when Ashton Kutcher comes running from the distance. Except this proposal was no prank…
We got a photoshoot going to bask in the emotions of such a moment, and got our feet wet for all the onlookers on the beach to see.
We then make sure we can get a good posed shot of the proposal for social media. It’s what you’ve gotta do. I have them run down the beach and let the mist float by them. He gets on one knee… Again! A second proposal. I capture it from down the way and the people cheer that hadn’t already seen the real deal.
“The proposal is a huge success…”
All in all, the proposal is a huge success. He’s in love, she’s in love, and now there’s a glowing diamond on her finger. Not a bad deal.
I congratulate and thank them, say my goodbye’s, and hop into the car. Down the 101 freeway I go, blasting Led Zeppelin with the windows open, and a big smile on my face. I love my job.
