From growing up to growing old
A lot of life happens from 14-18, and a lot of maturing happens from 18-21. Relationships can either be made stronger through learning to grow together and giving each other space to mature, or things can quickly fall apart. These two benefitted from the former. They started dating as 14-year-olds, back when they still had to have a parent drive them to their "dates". Now they are planning forever together from their apartment with their cute dog and three cats.
They were finally coming out to Vegas to celebrate both of them turning 21 recently, and I had convinced them to let me take photos of them while they were here. Then a few weeks before their trip I got a text from Gage asking if I still knew which engagement ring my sister had been eyeing....I was ECSTATIC! He and I worked together to put all the details in place for him to propose while we were doing photos.
She of course said yes
Unsurprisingly she said yes. Equally unsurprisingly she was not completely shocked. She was happy though, I think she would have been more shocked if he hadn't proposed on their trip. The photos were just the beginning of the night. After we headed to a nice dinner and then swept the happy couple away to Freemont Street to enjoy the craziest nightlight Vegas has to offer.
Things i learned doing a surprise proposal
Doing a surprise proposal is nerve-wracking for both the person proposing and the photographer. There is nothing like being asked to capture one of the most magical moments in a couple's life and having to worry that you are going to miss focus or miss the moment completely.
Having a plan is the best way to ease a few of everyone's nerves. Discuss cues that will lead you both to know exactly when it is THE moment. The least complicated way is probably to have a decided-upon pose or prompt that you will direct the couple into so that you have them in focus and the one with the ring knows it is time. Then on your end have it on continuous shot as opposed to single so that you don't miss any expressions.
