Revelstoke Proposal Photographer - The one where Logan proposed to Kallie

A couple weeks prior to the world-wide physical distancing, shelter-in-place, quarantine, self-isolation, and curfew mandates governments have instilled in efforts to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic, Logan reached out to me on Instagram. He was a groomsman in a wedding I photographed last summer and wanted me to photograph his proposal to his girlfriend, Kallie.

There’s something to be said about documenting this specific moment in people’s lives. The sureness and expectancy in the eyes of the partner who is proposing. The utter surprise and joy in the reaction of the one being proposed to. It’s something that just can’t be recreated and the images captured keep those feelings locked in time.

Logan and I chatted back and forth about potential dates, times, and locations before deciding on one of my favourite hidden gems on a forecasted warm evening later in the week. Wanting to finalize the details in person, we met up at the spot the day before to come up with a plan.

These sessions are some of my favourite to be a part of. I love listening to the proposing partner explain their ideas to me, oozing excitement and anticipation with every word. They’re just so thrilled to spend the rest of their lives with their partner and can’t wait to share that joy with them. They’re also often super proud of their secret moves needed to pull off their surprise, which is always cute to witness.

We decided that it would be a little creepy if I were outright hiding in the bushes taking pictures of them - what would Kallie think if she noticed me? Instead we planned for me to pose as a casual nature photographer, taking pictures of the river from the viewpoint where he would propose. This way Kallie could see me and then pass me off, thinking little of my presence. It would also allow me to move around as needed in case something didn’t go quite as we penned out. I brought my camera with me that evening, showing Logan the best place for him and Kalie to stand to get the money shot. I made sure to be clear, however, that the photo was the least important part of the event. If he forgot to stand or face the right way - don’t worry, I’ll make it work.

As we walked back to the parking lot, Logan told me about the months leading up to this moment. How he snuck out and bought the ring that Kallie had her eyes on and then hid it at his friend’s house. Later, when she took him to the store to look at it “just once more”, the sales woman completely sold her on a story of a different couple purchasing the ring. She was convinced that it was gone and he was waiting for his tax return to make the purchase, not that he’d purchased the exact one she was in love with months ago.

When the evening came, I got set up at the spot we had picked. The day prior was cold and windy but the forecast came true and it was a beautiful, mild winter day. I wanted to create a time-lapse of the event, so I set up a tripod with a camera and wide lens. Not fully confident that my $6 time-lapse app would work without a hitch, I left this idea as a surprise for Logan. I also had my main camera with a long lens in my hands, ready to catch the moment without intruding. Logan kept me updated with their location through instagram DM, sending me a message when they were at the parking lot for the trail. I’ve since realized that he could have shared his location with me instead, so I could track them without him needing to be on his phone. Either way, it worked just fine. I started the time-lapse and it wasn’t long before the couple came around the corner.

I busied myself with my camera, taking pictures of random leaves and looking about as if I were bird watching. Logan later told me that as they stood on the hill, looking out at the river, he asked Kallie if he should ask me to take their picture. Kallie responded that that would be weird, I was just a stranger taking pictures of the sunset. She clearly had no idea what was going on. And with that he turned to her, moving them both into just the right spot, reached into his pocket, and got down on one knee. I don’t know what was said in that moment, those words are their’s to hold close, but I know there were smiles, tears, and all the joy.

After a minute or two of hugs and kisses Logan looked over at me, now very obviously taking photos of them, and called out “thanks Katee!” Kallie realized that I was all part of the plan and she was definitely impressed! “What now?” she asked as I approached, and I explained that I could either get out of their hair or we could spend some time taking more photos. She was up for some pictures with her fiancé so I collected my other camera, switched out my lenses, and we set off on a little adventure.

As we walked and posed for photos, Kallie and Logan told me more about the lead up that day. Kallie pieced together little oddities that were now explained and lots of laughs were shared. I’m so thankful for this joy filled evening that marks my last shoot for potentially a very long time.

In all of the uncertainty we’re experiencing, it’s important to remember that love is never cancelled. And if you’re thinking of proposing to your love during this time, I can still practice social distancing while hiding with a camera in the bushes ;)