My first blog post of 2022 is actually a 2021 surprise marriage proposal and oh, the gloriousness it brings into this beautiful new year!! We were back at our beloved Bethesda Fountain in New York City for this one, and the magic was as radiant as ever. Ilia’s initial email to me detailed his trip to New York from Canada with longtime girlfriend Chelsea and his vision of proposing right in the Big Apple. After looking over and discussing locations for his magical moment, Ilia picked the fountain and it was the PERFECT fit!! I loved learning about this sweet and fun couple via email, but nothing prepared me for how fantastic they would be in person!

In true, Central Park fashion, it was a busy day but Ilia found the perfect spot to drop to one knee and ask Chelsea to be his WIFE! (Never not crying while typing this part!) With the sweetest “yes” these two were engaged! It was so hard to give these two their first initial moments to take everything in, I just wanted to meet them so badly! After getting acquainted, erupting into laughter and happy tears, we were off for the prettiest batch of romantic post-proposal portraits.

The most fun sessions are the ones where my couples hardly know I’m there, where I’m more of a documenter and less of a photog whose job it is to pose and guide you; an observer of the pure joy and the raw emotion that’s just emerged. Watching Chelsea and Ilia interact, the way they looked at each other and their hints at wedding plans already made this a session a dream. A DREAM! Of the hundreds and maybe even thousands of proposals happening all over New York City at any given moment, I was so honored and so proud to be the one a part of this one. Congratulations, Chelsea + Ilia! xo