Last month I got featured in my dream wedding publication, Rocky Mountain Bride, and it was pretty much the best thing EVER. 

If you have never heard of Rocky Mountain Bride before, they are a wedding magazine that features weddings, sessions, and styled shoots in the Rocky Mountain area. This includes: Colorado (where I’m based!), Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, New Mexico, and Wyoming. It is easily one of my personal favorite publications for wedding inspiration, planning tips, and seeing what is currently trending in the wedding industry. 

In November they featured a surprise proposal that I photographed this past September on their online blog, and while of course I am so stoked to see my photos in a major publication like this, getting to share this with the couple made it even better. Seriously, my couples make what I do possible, and it is such a gift for them and their story to be celebrated for the whole world to know. And of course, so everyone has a chance to love them as much as I do. 

AJ reached out to me this summer about photographing his proposal to his then girlfriend now FIANCE Millie while they were visiting Colorado from their home state of Florida. It was a dream of theirs to visit the mountains after living in Florida for so long, but little did Mille know that AJ had more than just stunning hikes and fun outings planned for this trip. 

They spent the day hiking and enjoying the beautiful late summer weather. Then, after a romantic dinner in downtown Boulder they headed over to the park where AJ was going to propose. AJ told Millie they were just going on a post dinner walk and take tripod couples photos to commemorate their trip, since AJ is a filmmaker. While he set up his camera and tripod with the intent of distracting her, I began heading up the path towards the proposal spot I scouted and sent his photos of a couple days before. Since the park was pretty open and there was nowhere for me to really hide, I decided to dress as a “hiker” (I don’t really hike if I’m being honest so i was not totally sure what actual hikers wore) and hid my camera under my sweater that way I would be less obvious if Millie happened to look my way. Then, I recruited a lady walking her dog to stand next to me and talk to me for a few minutes while I waited for AJ to get down on one knee, that way Millie wouldn’t get suspicious of seeing a strange girl with a camera just staring at them. 

As soon as I saw AJ begin to get down I rushed across the path towards the two of them and began rapid fire snapping photos, to ensure that no moment from the proposal went uncaptured. When Millie turned around she was so surprised and had the CUTEST reaction. She truly had no idea it was going to happen this trip. (also guys- for tips on how to pull off the perfect surprise proposal that will leave your girlfriend absolutely surprised and speechless, check out THIS blog. It’s a must read for anyone planning a proposal. And it even walks you through different ways of doing it while incorporating a photographer.)

After the proposal, we spent the rest of the session taking more photos, and getting some stunning headshots for Millie’s model portfolio (I mean look at her, she’s stunning, it just makes sense that she’s a model!!!). The mountains and setting sun made the perfect backdrop for their photos, and their neutral outfits fit in perfectly with the scenery around them. And of course we made sure to get lots of photos of the ring, and their matching tattoos that they got after just a couple of months of dating. (They knew right away that they were each other’s person!)

AJ said he wanted their photos to feel warm and true to life, with a vintage film vibe to them. He mentioned that he and Millie both really liked candid shots, but felt it was important to get a few more posed photos mixed in too. He also wanted to make sure that every moment from the actual proposal was captured, because that was most important. Anything beyond that was extra. At the end of the day, his biggest priority was to make this experience as special for Millie as possible. AJ knew that this was something she had spent her whole life dreaming about, and his biggest priority above all else was making sure that she loved every minute of it. 

After taking photos, AJ and Millie hung out at the park longer to walk around and soak in their new fiance status. They also called their friends and family to tell them the good news, and celebrate their new fiancé status with them, before heading back to Denver where they stayed during their trip. 

Helping couples plan and bring to life their perfect proposal brings me so much joy as a photographer. This is one of the most special and intimate moments in a person’s life, and it is always such an honor to be asked to document it. 

If you are planning on proposing and need help making it as perfect as possible for your soon to be fiancé- I got you! AJ and Millie are one of MANY couples who I have helped plan the proposal of their dreams. I am Currently serving couples in Northern Colorado, and have limited availability for sessions in California as well. To inquire about your proposal just click HERE and you will be directed to my contact form. To see if I will be in your area you can see my upcoming travel by clicking HERE.

Who knows- maybe your proposal will be featured in a nationwide wedding magazine like AJ and Millie’s was! Oh, and to see the full blog article published in Rocky Mountain Bride , you can click HERE.