Love You More - Beach Proposal - Boston Photography LLC

I love how things work out, but let's start with the back story!  Brandon and his family have been coming to Amelia Island for family vacations for 20 years.  But this weekend was different.  Brandon, Makayla (girlfriend, but now fiance'), their dog Thatcher, Brandon's brother (Dalton) and Brandon's mother were all coming here for a long weekend to celebrate his Mom's (Scarlett) Birthday and Mother's Day!  But that is not all!  Brandon was ready to propose to his girlfriend Makayla after dating for 5 years. Brandon and Makayla live in the small town of Gray, Georgia.  They met at restaurant that Brandon managed.  One day Makayla stirred enough courage to leave him a note after he had waited on her and a group of friends.  Well that started their story as Brandon had mutual feelings.  Fast forward to May 9th,  Brandon contacted a friend for advice with his beach proposal!  I was delighted that he was referred to me (Thank you Sarah)! This started all of the wheels turning to make their proposal unique to them and absolutely perfect in every way!  With proposals, it is always important to either make it look as though I am photographing someone else, but in reality I am capturing the proposal or I have to make it look like I am there photographing them for another reason.  Brandon and I talked about different possibilities and bounced ideas off each other.  He knew that he wanted to somehow have the phrase "Love You More" used in the proposal, as this was something he and Makayla said often to each other.  After some conversations, we solidified the details!  Brandon's Mom was going to say that she ran into me on the beach the day prior and she booked a family portrait session with me!  I was going to start the session photographing the family, and separate out Brandon and Makayla for a few portraits as well.  I had a whelk that I had at the studio and wrote their phrase on it "Love You More -B" and was going to hide it nearby dune before the session for her to find and then Brandon would propose.  Brandon contacted me again closer to the session and said that he had asked Makayla's parents for her hand in marriage and they too wanted to come to Amelia Island to witness the proposal and they had each written her a note that they wanted her to have at the proposal.  I loved how this was unfolding, but I wanted to give the best advice so I made a trip out the condos a few days prior just so I could find all of the best hiding spots, i.e. the shell and the parents! 

On May 20th, the proposal went even better than expected!!!!!!  Of course, I acted like it was great to see Scarlett again and we began with those family portraits.  At one point, I told them I was going to capture a few of just Brandon and Makayla and of course positioned them right next to the shell.  Now Makayla did not see it initially, but after I asked her to grab that cute shell for the picture, she did and by the time she turned around Brandon was on one knee.  Tears starting flowing....(I MAY or may not have had my own tears flowing behind the lens!)  But it did not stop with surprises just yet, Brandon handed Makayla the letters that her parents had written to read and after she was reading those letters, she was surprised again because her parents were all standing behind her......are ya'll all crying yet!  (I May or may not be teary-eyed while writing and reliving this!)   Honestly it was perfect.  We finished the session with a few portraits of everyone and some great ones of just Brandon and Makayla!  Congratulations you two!!!!  They are going to enjoy their engagement this year but will likely wed in 2018!  Can't wait to hear more about this love story!