So August 11th was a magical surprise for Cindy! Her fiance (boyfriend before the photoshoot) and I cooked up a plan to add a surprise proposal into her what she thought was just "anniversary pictures". Cindy and Ray had been together for 9 years and Cindy wanted Anniversary picture done, little did she know she got a little surprise with that.
I remember when Ray texted me a picture of the ring. I was floating down the Stanislaus river in Knights Ferry and he said "Do you want to see the ring"? Of course, I said YESSSS. I could barley see my phone screen because it was in a plastic protective sleeve since I was floating down the river. As soon as I got a text back, I looked and could see the ring even through the plastic screen with water drops all over it! I was so happy because now it was becoming real that he was really going to propose during our photoshoot.
At the same time, Cindy would ask me what she should wear for her "anniversary pictures" because she wanted to look nice but not look like she was going to the prom. She was stressing because she had never had any professional photos taken with Ray since they have been together (9 yearsss!).
While I was helping Cindy figure out what she wanted to wear and prepare for pictures, Ray and I were talking about code words for the proposal. We planned a day trip so we could get several different locations and varieties in pictures. Cindy wanted trees and nature in the photos so we planned to go to a National Park along the coast and than to a beach! I asked Ray when he wanted to propose and he said that I am the professional and whenever works. We figured out a code word or code phrase so he knew that I was ready when he proposed (because I didn't want to be adjusted camera settings or changing lens when he actually proposed).
I remember when Ray texted me a picture of the ring. I was floating down the Stanislaus river in Knights Ferry and he said "Do you want to see the ring"? Of course, I said YESSSS. I could barley see my phone screen because it was in a plastic protective sleeve since I was floating down the river. As soon as I got a text back, I looked and could see the ring even through the plastic screen with water drops all over it! I was so happy because now it was becoming real that he was really going to propose during our photoshoot.
At the same time, Cindy would ask me what she should wear for her "anniversary pictures" because she wanted to look nice but not look like she was going to the prom. She was stressing because she had never had any professional photos taken with Ray since they have been together (9 yearsss!).
While I was helping Cindy figure out what she wanted to wear and prepare for pictures, Ray and I were talking about code words for the proposal. We planned a day trip so we could get several different locations and varieties in pictures. Cindy wanted trees and nature in the photos so we planned to go to a National Park along the coast and than to a beach! I asked Ray when he wanted to propose and he said that I am the professional and whenever works. We figured out a code word or code phrase so he knew that I was ready when he proposed (because I didn't want to be adjusted camera settings or changing lens when he actually proposed).
 | We started our anniversary photos at 6:30am! So to start the day off we drove about an hour in a half to the coast, heading for a National Park. On the way though, I saw this little crack off the side of the freeway from the window and I yelled "PULL OVER, GO OVER THERE" and they didn't know what I was seeing...but again they trusted me. We went to this small sketchy parking lot pier along the water. I liked the idea of having them in the frame with the free and pier. I also wanted to makes sure I got a few photos before the actual proposal happened so Cindy wouldn't be suspicious. |
After getting a few sunrise photos in the small sketchy parking lot, we kept going along the coast. Again I spotted another spot I liked...we were driving on a windy road through the mountains! I was getting nacuous so I wanted to stop, but I saw this HUGE private property and had to stop! The National Park idea did not go as we planned, so we moved on from that idea. We got several awesome shots here, but this was not the place for a proposal.
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Soooooo we kept driving until we hit the BEACH! We took some fun photos close to the parking lot at the beach before the actual proposal and beach! Ray and I secretly convinced CIndy to change outfits to a pretty dark dress with a jean jacket because these were going to be the photos and the dress was Ray's favorite outfit that she brought (Cindy brought several outfits to change into for different places we did photos at). Cindy really enjoyed the pictures we did on the bridge.
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NOW IT WAS TIME FOR THE BEACH and the PROPOSAL!
She was sooooo surprised and had no idea! Now enjoy engagement photos. We traveled to San Fran and finished out pictures throughout San Fran :)
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