It was a late afternoon at the Cape Meares Lighthouse in Tillamook, Oregon. I was hidden by a few bushes, anticipating the moment Athreya would propose to his long-time girlfriend Anokhi. As they made their way up to the lighthouse, they strolled right past me. I was disguised in all black, wearing a baseball cap, doing my best to act like a shutter-happy tourist. I could tell Athreya was a ball of nerves and Anokhi looked so happy and blissfully unaware of what was about to unfold…
As they reached “the spot” Athreya got down on one knee and asked Anokhi to marry him. Her eyes widened with shock and thrill! Of course, she said yes and Athreya couldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear!
Suddenly, Anokhi turned in my direction, and I waved –to her surprise, I had captured the whole thing! (Anokhi’s sister Amity and I used to run a fashion blog together so we had known each other prior to). She was absolutely blown away by everything that just happened and a few congratulations later, we started taking engagement photos!
Athreya had thoughtfully pre-packed Anokhi’s bags with extra clothes and makeup so that she’d be comfortable taking their engagement photos following the proposal.
I had actually visited the park a day early to scout potential photo locations and know where to take them once he popped the question. The spots I picked included the lighthouse, an 800-year-old Sitka Spruce tree, and the classic PNW mossy woods!
After spending time exploring around the lighthouse, we headed down to the Cape Meares beach for a lovely walk, as they held hands, basking in their newly engaged status. It was a truly memorable experience and I feel so honored to have been a part of it.
As the sun began to set, we decided to top it all off at Le Garde Brewing in Tillamook, Oregon where they had a chance to call their families. Athreya thought it would be a nice touch to end their engagement session there since they love checking out new dining experiences and tasting wine on date nights!
After we said our goodbyes, I began my journey back home with such a sense of joy and fulfillment. It’s moments like this that make me realize how lucky I am to be a photographer and document these beautiful moments of love and connection for my couples. ^_^
