Zach reached out a few weeks before he wanted to propose, and right away I could tell he had thought about every detail. Really nice guy. He and Skyler met in college, they live in Philly, and they have been together for over seven years. They also have a place down the shore in Bay Head, and that is where he wanted to ask her.
The plan was simple and it was theirs. Grab drinks at Charlie’s, then walk home the way they always do, along Twilight Lake. There are two little docks out on the water, and on the second one, the one out in the middle, Skyler’s best friend was going to set up flowers and candles before they got there. That dock was the spot.
Then the weather fell apart
Rain, storms, even a tornado warning. We had already pushed the proposal later in the day to work around it, and when I got down there it was pouring. I always show up early to read the scene, check the wind, the light, where the sun sits, all of it, before I ever touch the shutter and long before Zach walks up. This time early meant standing in the rain watching the sky and texting back and forth with Zach and Skyler’s best friend, all three of us trying to figure out if this was even going to happen.
We had a backup. A gazebo behind the firehouse, all decked out for the Fourth of July. Problem was the waterway in front of it had flooded and it was rough to get to. Lucky break, Zach had driven over instead of walking, so at least we had options. I also scouted another spot right by Charlie’s on the bay, a pretty little rock path, and it would have worked fine.
But I kept coming back to the original dock. That walk is theirs. Every time they head into town or grab a drink at Charlie’s for the rest of their lives, they are going to pass that dock and remember. I did not want to trade that away for convenience.
The sky gave us a window
It came a little earlier than we planned, and I knew we had to move. They were only there for drinks, not dinner, so I texted Zach, come out now if you can, we are setting everything up for you. Skyler’s best friend came down with her friend and her boyfriend and got the flowers and vases out on the dock. I got everyone in position.
I put Skyler facing a certain way on purpose so the wind was at her back and her hair would stay off her face for that first reaction. My second shooter was parked on a park bench right by the dock, umbrella up, looking like he had nowhere in the world to be. I was across the street with my telephoto lens. Right before they walked up I grabbed a quick video of the scene, and you can see thunder and lightning going off behind the docks. Wild backdrop for a proposal.
She got out of the car, saw the flowers and the vases, and she knew. Zach walked her out onto the dock and told her everything he loves about her. Then he dropped to one knee. She said yes, and the energy that came out of her was unreal. So happy, so lit up. That reaction is my favorite part of this whole job, and she gave me every bit of it.
She told me to throw the umbrella
We did a quick fifteen minutes after. It was still spitting rain and Skyler could not have cared less. At one point she said forget the umbrella, I do not care, let’s just do it. They were skipping and dancing down the street, soaking wet and grinning the whole time. It was not a heavy rain, I physically cannot shoot in a downpour because I cannot see them, but a soft rain like that photographs beautifully. Romantic in a way a clear day never gives you.
Honestly, I think people worry way too much about weather. Shooting in the rain has become one of my favorite things. The photographs come out soft and moody and full of feeling. I might even start offering rain sessions, that is how much I loved this one. We could have hidden under cover the whole time, but Skyler was game for all of it and we had a blast.
Congratulations Zach and Skyler. Seven years in and you two still light each other up. Thank you for trusting me with this one.
In Zack’s Words
A few days after the proposal, Zack left this review. Sharing it here because it says more about the night than I ever could.
“Jordan did an absolutely amazing job with the photos for my surprise proposal. We knew we might get bad weather, so Jordan helped me come up with multiple backup plans ahead of time. Him and his team traveled to the proposal site early and helped my fiance’s friends set up flowers and decorations. He was great at communicating and made the whole experience as low stress as possible. It ended up pouring rain all night, and I can’t say enough good things about how amazing the pictures turned out. He perfectly captured the romance of the moment and made it feel even more special for us as we looked back at the photos afterwards. I would highly recommend Jordan Brian Studios to anyone with an upcoming proposal!”
Zack, via Google review
Ready to Start Planning?
Planning a surprise proposal at the Jersey Shore or around Philly? Mapping out the timing, the positioning, and the backup plans is my favorite part, so all you have to do is show up and be present. See more about surprise proposal photography, then reach out here and tell me what you are thinking.