“We’ll have to come back to Ireland again in the future, so you can propose to me!”
Kelsey only had to wait a couple of minutes for her dream to come true.
This photo shoot made me feel like a spy! Secret Instagram messages, code words, mapped out targets... Was I overreacting by feeling way too secretive and borderline guilty? 100%, yes. I quickly came to the realization that I, just a regular Cork Photographer, was not made for the secret life! Hats off to any legitimate spies out there.
A couple of months ago Bryant contacted me via Instagram, all the way over from Arkansas, USA. He and his girlfriend were planning a trip to Ireland and Bryant, being an opportunistic person, chose this holiday to finally propose to her. What did he want from me? He wanted me to secretly photograph the proposal and do a couple shoot with them afterwards.
After some suggestions for locations around Cork city and even further abroad in Ireland, we settled with the Blarney Castle. “I really like the idea of Blarney Castle I think she’d lose her shit hahaha” were the exact words. Well shit was most definitely lost!
I sent Bryant some photos of the Blarney Castle grounds, different spots and backgrounds where he could pop the important question. Since everything had to be done in secret and without her noticing, we decided on using a wicker basket with a bouquet of flowers in it as an “X marks the spot” kind of marker. Since Nic Flanagan, the second photographer who joined me on this shoot, and I would be hiding in the bushes, far away with telephoto lenses, their positioning had to be exact so that we could get the iconic photo of the proposal with the castle in the background. At the same time, we planned it in a way that they did have some leeway with it, after all, it’s the proposal that comes first in this situation and not the photo shoot.
On the special day, Nic and I arrived a little earlier, checked our positions and made sure all the angles lined up as expected. But no setting up yet, as Kelsey and Bryant would be walking straight past this spot to the castle in about 20 minutes. They would continue on their tour of the castle and while checking that out, we finally got to set up the wicker basket with the lovely bouquet of flowers by @gypsywhatever, then sent Bryant a coded message, letting him know that he could come back for the proposal at any time he felt comfortable.
It felt like forever until they finally came walking down the path again. I was stressed out! I was worried Bryant might have misunderstood where he was supposed to go to. That he might be frantically looking in another part of the grounds or already proposed but in the wrong spot. Wedding photography is a piece of cake compared to this! Haha!
Down the pathway they came. Kelsey oblivious to the entire situation. Gingerly she walked forward to the basket, daring almost not too touch it. This was when Bryant got to have his moment, with him eventually getting on his knee to ask the big question. Things were going perfectly, everyone stood at the right spot and even the sun came out a little. Our ‘Secret Service’ operation, hidden (almost) in the bushes with our ambush style photography had worked splendidly. They had fallen right into our photography trap!
Having a second photographer there was great. It’s not the first time that Nic and I have worked together on photo shoots. Having her there allowed us to capture the surprise proposal from two angles. It worked really well to have different sets of photos, one focusing more on the overall setting with the castle and another closing in more on the couple themselves. Plus it’s always good to have two photographers in a scenario like this, just in case another visitor walks in front of the lens or something unexpected happens.
This is the moment Kelsey realized we were there! Utterly surprised she was.
After the couple had a few minutes to themselves and Kelsey had a few moments to compose herself, we finished off the day with a couple photo shoot, so that they could make their fantastic news public to their friends and family back home!
What a memorable trip this will have been for them! Both Nic and I wish the couple all the best for their engagement and hopefully they’ll return to Ireland to have a destination wedding. I already suggested the idea, might be a bit of a stretch to get all the family members from Arkansas here. But they were such a lovely couple that I would gladly photograph their wedding in the future. Or maybe Save The Journey travels to Arkansas??
If you are looking for a wedding photographer or looking to do a couple photo shoot in Cork city or county, contact me here!
