Hi, I'm Lauren! Welcome to my blog! I'm a Maryland wedding and portrait photographer that loves beautiful light and has an obsession with the water. This is my pretty little place to show off all of my most recent photography adventures and the stories behind them. So get comfy and have a look around!

Rachel and Justin’s Great Falls Proposal

Great Falls Proposal Rachel Justin-30Whether we were seine fishing together or sitting in aquatic ecology class trying to learn everything from phytoplankton to coastal upwelling to the nitrogen cycle and beyond, us bio buddies at Hood College had to stick together.  Because that stuff was hard and we kept each other sane.  Those friendships were invaluable.  I hold all those people from my past in such high regard, so when Justin contacted me a few weeks ago saying that he’s heard my name a few times from his (then) girlfriend, Rachel (bio buddy!!!), and he wanted to see if I could photograph him proposing to her I was so excited to do that for an old friend.
Justin made plans to have it happen at a specific overlook at Great Falls at a specific time while he and Rachel were hiking and geocaching.  The plan included a box being placed on their dog Bailey and it all seemed perfect.  BUT…..stuff happens and the best laid plans get foiled by a super busy park…….and bar crawls the night before.  Way to go Rachel and Justin hahaha!  😉  After taking almost an hour just to get in to the park, and realizing that even if they could make it to the desired overlook it might be way too crowded, Justin and I had to wing it and he told me to just trail behind them and when a good moment arose then he would make it happen.  So I played creeper in the bushes with my sunglasses and baseball cap on and did my best to hide my face and not seem too weird while I followed them down to Overlook One and hung out down there while they looked around.  After taking a few minutes to let Bailey smell everything in the world and letting the crowd disperse, Justin chose the perfect moment to drop down to his knee and propose to Rachel.  She told me afterwards that she had a sneaking suspicion it would be happening and that he would even be asking me to be there, but she still couldn’t stop the tears from coming anyway.  The joy on both of their faces was priceless and I really could not be happier for Rachel (and Justin!).  She truly deserves so much happiness.  Rachel gives so much of herself to her work and to others and she is seriously one of the biggest animal and nature lovers you could ever meet in your life.  And I loved that at the end of taking a few pictures of the newly engaged couple, when I had Rachel give me her ring so I could take a few close up shots of it, she said “I know you’re totally going to be incorporating a lichen into these photos.”  She knows my nature loving heart all too well.  😉

Congratulations Rachel and Justin!!  Thank you so much for having me be a part of that amazing moment in your lives!
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10 comments
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  • JenniferAugust 26, 2015 - 7:50 am

    You totally rocked this proposal and I LOVE her ring! It is so sweet that you were able to capture this special time for them.ReplyCancel

  • Krista A. JonesAugust 26, 2015 - 8:16 am

    Aww!! What a sweet moment!! I’m so glad you were there!ReplyCancel

  • DaniAugust 26, 2015 - 8:58 am

    YAYYYY for Rachel and Justin!!! I love these two and I am so glad you were there to capture the proposal!ReplyCancel

  • TaraAugust 26, 2015 - 9:28 am

    Such a sweet proposal!! And I love that pup and his little vest!ReplyCancel

  • BreaAugust 26, 2015 - 10:37 am

    What an awesome moment! I love the ring too! Beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • NatalieAugust 26, 2015 - 10:37 am

    I absolutely love sweet proposals! This is the best!ReplyCancel

  • ashtonAugust 26, 2015 - 10:52 am

    Couldn’t make it through this without getting emotional. This is so so sweet and I’m glad it was the perfect proposal and they had the fabulous you to be there as well!ReplyCancel

  • RachelAugust 26, 2015 - 3:28 pm

    What a unique ring! You nailed the proposal and the expressions! Love.ReplyCancel

  • ShaleneAugust 30, 2015 - 12:42 am

    I know it’s been said before, but THAT RING!!!!!
    I mean, WOW! It’s crazy beautiful!!ReplyCancel

  • […] my old Bio Buddy from Hood College marry her love (you might remember that I photographed their proposal at Great Falls last year!).  I can’t say enough about how appreciative I am for this job that takes me on […]ReplyCancel

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