A Perfect Mountain Surprise: John and Olivia’s Proposal in Durango, CO
Few moments are as unforgettable—or as full of emotion—as the instant someone says “yes” to forever. Photographing proposals is one of my favorite parts of what I do because it’s about capturing pure joy, surprise, and love in its most authentic form. John and Olivia’s proposal in Durango, Colorado, was one of those perfect, heartfelt moments that I’ll never forget.
The Planning: Crafting the Perfect Surprise
John reached out with one clear goal—he wanted the proposal to be a complete surprise for Olivia while still being beautifully documented. Together, we began planning every detail to make sure everything went smoothly.
Since proposals can feel nerve-wracking (especially when trying to keep a secret!), I always walk my clients through the process step-by-step. For John, I created a video guide ahead of time, showing exactly where to park, which path to take, and where to stand for the best view and lighting. We even went over how long to stay down on one knee—long enough for Olivia to take it all in and for me to capture those priceless reactions.
To keep things seamless, I had John save my phone number in his contacts as the ski resort where they had lift tickets to or a restaurant they had reservations to—that way, if I needed to text him any last-minute updates, Olivia wouldn’t suspect a thing. These small touches help the surprise stay completely intact while ensuring I can coordinate from a distance.
The Moment She Said “Yes”
The big day arrived, and the mountain backdrop could not have been more perfect. As John led Olivia down the path to the spot we’d planned, everything came together just as we envisioned.
When he dropped to one knee, time seemed to stand still. Olivia’s reaction was pure joy—tears, laughter, and disbelief all at once. It was such an emotional, beautiful moment to witness, and being able to freeze those emotions in photos is what makes proposal photography so meaningful to me.
After the initial excitement, we spent a few minutes capturing some post-proposal portraits—those first few minutes of “We’re engaged!” are always so full of energy and love.
Why I Love Photographing Proposals
Each proposal tells its own story, and I take pride in helping my clients not only plan the moment but feel confident and at ease when it happens. From detailed planning and communication to understanding light, location, and timing, my goal is to make sure you can focus on what really matters—the love and emotion of that unforgettable moment.
For John and Olivia, it was the start of a beautiful new chapter, set against the breathtaking beauty of Durango’s mountains. And for me, it was an honor to capture the exact second Olivia said yes to forever.
Thinking about planning your own surprise proposal?
I’d love to help you create a moment that’s as stress-free as it is unforgettable. From scouting locations to coordinating the details, I’ll guide you every step of the way—so you can focus on the love and let me handle the rest.
📸 Reach out to start planning your surprise proposal in Durango
