Surprise Proposal at Charles Point Park in Peekskill

There’s nothing cooler than being asked to photograph a surprise proposal in NY! My heart’s always racing because I know what’s about to happen, while she has no idea. Add in the undercover act, sneaking around with my camera, and it always gives me such a thrill.

When Justin reached out about proposing to his girlfriend, Angie, he already knew the park he wanted—but wasn’t sure which exact spot would work best. So I went there ahead of time, took some photos and videos of different spots, and sent them over. He picked his favorite, and I suggested sunset because the sun drops right behind the mountain there, creating the most beautiful light. Huge bonus points when clients care about good light!

On the big day, I headed to this Hudson Valley park with my camera gear and my wife (who pretended to be my “model” while we waited). The plan was to look like just another couple out taking photos in the park—and it totally worked. Angie didn’t notice us at all during the proposal. It wasn’t until after she said “yes” and Justin stood up, hugging her, that she spotted us. That’s when we introduced ourselves, and the surprise was complete.

Justin had mentioned to me over the phone that he wasn’t sure Angie would want to do a photo session afterward—he thought she might be too shy or overwhelmed. But the second she said “yes,” stood up hugging him, and realized I was there, she was completely comfortable. She wanted the photos, and you could see how happy she was to have that moment captured.

Honestly, it’s such a privilege to witness moments like this—one of the many reasons I know I’ve got one of the coolest jobs on the planet.

Without further ado, here are Justin and Angie’s photos from the day they got engaged.