Some sessions come together exactly as planned. And then there are ones like Thomas and Bella's, where everything is moving fast, the sky is about to open up, and you just have to trust yourself and go.
It started with a message from Bella's sister. She was the one who reached out to book me, quietly coordinating behind the scenes so Thomas could propose to Bella without her ever suspecting a thing. As the date got closer, Thomas decided he did not want to wait as long as originally planned. We moved the timeline up and made it work, which is honestly one of my favorite things about this kind of session. When someone is that excited to ask the person they love, you find a way.
Founders Memorial Garden on the University of Georgia campus is a beautiful location for a proposal. It is tucked away, full of lush greenery and architectural detail, and has a quiet intimacy to it that makes the moment feel private even when you are technically outside. For a couple with ties to Athens, it was the perfect backdrop. It also happens to be the place where I got engaged, so showing up to photograph someone else's proposal there felt a little full circle in the best way.
The day of the session I was driving to Athens watching the sky get heavier by the mile. I was driving in and out of rain the whole way and knew it was moving in fast. Once I found parking, which is not exactly close to the garden, I was rushing. Camera in hand, I got into position as quickly as I could, found a spot where I could hide myself and especially my camera, and messaged Thomas to let him know I was ready.
Then I waited. And here is the thing about proposals that I do not think people realize: I have photographed a lot of them, and I am always confident right up until that moment when I am standing there alone waiting for them to walk in. Then the nerves show up every single time. Not because I do not trust myself, but because you only get one shot at the moment and you feel the weight of that.
They came walking down and I stayed as still as I could, tucked into the garden, and captured the whole thing. The look on Bella's face. Thomas getting down on one knee. The moment she said yes. I got it all.
What I did not get, at least on video, was the behind the scenes footage I had planned. I brought my Meta glasses specifically to record a behind the scenes clip and in all the rushing and nerves I forgot to actually hit record. It happens.
I also realized after the proposal that in the chaos of rushing from the car I had grabbed my 70-200mm and left my 35mm behind. For a proposal that lens is actually my go-to because it lets me stay far enough away to stay hidden, but for the portraits after I would normally switch. With the rain about to arrive and parking too far to make a round trip worth it, I worked with what I had. And honestly, you would never know. The images are stunning and the 70-200 gave the portraits a compression and softness that works beautifully in that garden setting.
That is the thing about experience. You might forget a lens. You might forget to hit record. But you do not forget how to do your job, and at the end of the day the photos are what matter.
Congratulations to Thomas and Bella! It was such a joy to be hiding in that garden for you!
