At the end of December, I was asked to photograph a surprise proposal at Morgan Memorial Park. A significant snowstorm was forecast for that day, and there was uncertainty as to whether the weather would allow us to proceed with the plan as envisioned.
I arrived at the agreed location around 2:45 pm. To remain inconspicuous, I positioned myself as a nature photographer, seemingly focused on photographing birds along the waterfront. I was holding a Canon 200mm f/2, which helped reinforce the illusion and allowed me to observe the scene discreetly from a distance.
James and Jordana soon walked along the path. Just a few feet past me, James stopped, turned toward Jordana, and kneeled to propose. She was completely taken by surprise. Her reaction was priceless — genuine, emotional, and filled with joy. Being present for such an intimate moment and capturing her authentic response is one of the reasons I love this work.
As they embraced, I switched to my 50mm f/1.2, moving quietly around them to document their connection from multiple perspectives while preserving the intimacy of the moment.
After the initial wave of emotion settled, we walked together through the park to find two to three thoughtfully chosen locations for their engagement portraits. The light was very flat due to the overcast conditions, so I introduced a 400W monolight, using it subtly to shape the light and create depth through controlled highlights and shadows.
Despite the winter conditions, the result was a series of images that felt timeless, intimate, and true to the moment they experienced.
