Proposal at Emerald Bay

Taylor knew he wanted to propose to Garin on one of their upcoming trips. As pilots, travel is simply part of life and while Garin had a feeling a proposal was coming, when and where it would happen was the real mystery. On a drive from Sacramento to an event in Reno, Taylor realized they’d be passing through Lake Tahoe. A scenic stop. A perfect surprise proposal plan.

Sitting on a rock overlooking Lake Tahoe, my camera bag hidden inside a cooler and my long lens tucked beneath my coat, I blended in as just another tourist taking in the view. I pretended to be FaceTiming a friend to show off the scenery (thank you to all the friends who actually answer when I call). When Taylor and Garin walked right behind me, it looked completely believable. One of my favorite parts of photographing surprise proposals, especially in beautiful, quiet locations like Lake Tahoe, is creating a believable story for why I’m there. This little distraction worked perfectly, and what was meant to be a quick stop to admire the lake turned into a proposal she’ll never forget.

Garin, already dressed and glowing for the event ahead, was absolutely picture-perfect when Taylor got down on one knee. Camera ready at my hip, it was go time. Moments later, her dad and best friend arrived with flowers in hand, turning an already unforgettable Lake Tahoe proposal into a full, joy-filled celebration. Scroll on to see how it all unfolded.

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