The Klimas family session started out as a normal family photoshoot with my good friend Mckenzie… or at least that’s what she thought. Behind the scenes, Tim and I had actually been planning a surprise proposal for weeks. We had been messaging back and forth, figuring out how to build the moment naturally into the session without giving anything away.

Family photos became the perfect cover. While we were taking photos and chatting like usual, we had a secret code word planned, Hawaii. At some point I would casually bring up wanting to be somewhere warm, like Hawaii, and that would be Tim’s signal that it was time.

When the moment came and I said the word, he didn’t hesitate. He got down on one knee right there during the session, and Mckenzie’s surprise was absolutely priceless. Of course she said yes, and the sweetest part was that her daughter was right there to celebrate with them too.

It ended up being such a beautiful moment, not just a proposal, but a moment where two families were coming together. Getting to help plan it and capture it all unfolding in real time was so much fun and something I’ll always remember.