A Surprise Proposal at The Chimney

A Friday the 13th Surprise: Ian & Her Sunset “Yes”

Some love stories are carefully planned. Others are perfectly disguised.

Ian and his fiancée’s story was both.

A few days before this session, Ian reached out through my website with a plan already in motion and nerves already kicking in. He wanted to propose somewhere meaningful—a park near the neighborhood he shares with his girlfriend, a place woven into their everyday life. The kind of place where memories already live, and where new ones would feel natural.

The brilliance of this proposal was in the misdirection.

Ian had enlisted help from her mom, who gifted her daughter new clothes for Valentine’s Day. Naturally, this raised suspicions. She *knew* a proposal had to be coming… so Ian flipped the script. Instead of Valentine’s Day, he chose **Friday the 13th**—the last day she’d expect a romantic surprise.

The Setup

They went for a walk at one of their regular spots, her wearing those brand-new clothes, the sun slowly sinking toward the horizon. Ian guided her to a swing overlooking the water, a quiet and familiar place that suddenly felt charged with anticipation.

And that’s when everything changed.

He sat her down, turned toward her, and dropped to one knee as the sky softened into sunset colors.

She said **yes**—sweet, shy, and completely genuine.

From the Water’s Edge

What she didn’t know was that I was already there, standing **in the water**, quietly tucked away to capture the moment without interrupting it. From that angle, I had a clear view of her face as realization turned into joy, and joy turned into laughter and tears all at once.

After the proposal, I stepped back and gave them space to soak it all in. We captured a few gently posed photos on the swing—nothing forced, just the two of them settling into the reality of being engaged.

Letting the Moment Breathe

As the sun dipped lower, they took a quiet walk by a reflective tide pool, hand in hand. I stayed far back with a long-range lens, letting them exist fully in the moment without feeling watched. That’s where some of my favorite images came from—natural, candid, and full of the kind of connection you can’t pose.

They were so sweet. So shy. And so clearly, deeply in love.

An Honor to Witness

Being trusted with moments like this is something I never take lightly. Ian planned a proposal that was thoughtful, personal, and full of heart—and I was honored to witness the beginning of this next chapter for them.

I can’t wait to see how their love story continues to grow. 💛