Rip reached out to me about making surprise engagement photos. We discussed what location to use with him suggesting a few places, and then after thinking about each carefully and considering things like cpermission to shoot there, and access for me to be close, but not so obvious and spoil the surprise we chose the Carmel Meadows Trail area.
Then we came up with a signal for him to give to let me know he was about to propose. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans! I did not see him give the signal as I was still far away and making my way down, but I did suddenly notice him get on one knee and luckily I already had both cameras ready to go, including the one with the telephoto lens so I was able to get some shots of the live proposal!
Surprise Engagement Drone Video and Photography in Pacific Grove with Tim and Anna and Goose
This surprise engagement drone flight and photo shoot was long in the works. Tim first contacted me a few months ago when we started discussing locations and ideas for how to pull off this surprise! The location Tim chose, I knew very well since I walk the Pacific Grove coast often myself. I knew exactly where the spot was he showed me in just one reference photo! With the location decided, then how to capture the candid engagement moment? Tim ultimately chose for the actual real, candid moment to be recorded with drone video (see the above video). I got there early with my assistant, Felix, and was in position with the drone already in the air so I could capture their walk up and approach to the coastline. Tim told me he stoop down and pick up three shells, and the third would have the ring hidden under it, so that was my signal. Being as discrete as possible I had the drone hovering near the couple, and as I saw him make his move, I slowly brought the drone in closer and closer until you can see in the video Goose started barking at it, but by that time I had already recorded the actual proposal moment!
