I’ve said it before and I’ll always say it again – proposals are some of the scariest things I photograph. There are so many variables, so many different things that can happen. They are exhilarating to capture – but they typically require quite a bit of planning.

I worked with Joakie on this proposal for quite a while. Plans changed a couple of times (even right up to the fifteen minutes before the proposal itself), the weather threatened us, Joakie was nervous but excited – and in the end it all worked out perfectly. Natalie never guessed that the pair of creeps sitting alone at an odd angle to their table with a conspicuously large brown leather bag drinking Miller Lite were there to photograph her proposal. Every once in a while I bring Ray to a proposal with me if I think I’m going to look incredibly obvious by myself so at least we can pretend we’re talking to each other – which was what we did for this particular one.

After the proposal we did some portraits in the most perfect golden light, and then Joakie introduced us to his favorite drink – the Southside. Ray and I had a blast meeting and hanging out with these two. And it was such an honor to be able to document this proposal!