I always tell my clients that getting engaged is the happiest moment one can experience in life. Of course, there are other moments, like the wedding or having your children that are joyous, but those first few moments right after you get engaged are like no other moment in life. It is because of that pure joy that I love photographing surprise proposals so much and I am always honored to be a part of the moment.

Not only does photographing this type of engagement session require the client to have faith in my ability to capture the moment, but he must also depend on my reliability during what is amongst the most intimate and joyous occasions that one can celebrate in life. Because I know how nerve wracking this process can be for a groom to be, my first priority for this type of session is to put the groom at ease and help him to feel confident in my ability to capture the moment. I do this by maintaining open communication throughout the planning process.

I was contacted a few months ago by my client in late May. He told me he was planning to propose to his girlfriend sometime in August and wanted to do so in Port Jefferson. He wanted to make sure he had a photographer to document the engagement and also capture photos of his family afterwards.

Once we got closer to the date, he opted for the pier in Port Jefferson at sunset. It is a gorgeous location with a view of the water, lush greenery, boats and, of course, the sunset. We met at the location a few weeks before the big day, chose the specific location on the pier, and came up with some contingency plans. I always meet with my clients prior to the proposal. At the meeting, we discuss where to stand, the best location with best possible lighting, and we also iron out any kinks in the plan. I find that this meeting really helps to put the boyfriend’s mind at ease on the day of the session.

For this particular proposal, I brought along an assistant, my husband, to help assist in crowd control. Because the pier is a public place that can get crowded at sunset, I needed someone to help me keep people out of the specific spot on the pier that my client chose and also to make sure no one obstructed my path once the proposal was underway. We had some help from a sweet group of sisters and a group of very polite and kind teenage boys, who also made sure that no one stood in the way.

While the proposal was taking place, both my client’s and his girlfriend’s family were hiding nearby the pier. My client wanted them to surprise her right after he proposed and after the session. He also had a celebratory dinner planned for the entire family. Once she said yes, the family walked down the pier to congratulate the couple. I was able to photograph everyone’s happy reaction to the news and also grab a quick few family photos.

Afterwards, I shot a brief couples mini session of the newly engaged couple. I chose a small rocky beach to photograph them and I was able to capture some really beautiful portraits of them while the sun was setting. I love capturing these images after they are engaged. You can see the true and genuine happiness in each and every photo.

I always leave engagement sessions with a warm heart. I love being able to capture the start of a couple’s journey through life together. There is so much happiness and joy and it is such an honor to be a part of that special moment.

Here are some of images from this awesome couple’s session.