A Lake Chelan Proposal Surprise, Starring Selah and Her Horse

Some sessions start with a plan and end up somewhere you never saw coming. This one is the best example I've had all year.

A Session for Her Horse

Selah booked this session for one reason: to spend real time with her longtime horse companion. He's been by her side for years, and he's getting older now, the kind of aging that makes you want to slow down and hold onto every ordinary moment with him a little tighter. That's not a small thing to ask a photographer to help preserve, and I felt the weight of it the moment we started planning the shoot.

We met at the Lake Chelan Saddle Club, right by the rodeo grounds. Golden light, wide open space, and a horse who clearly knew he was the star of the evening.

Family Joins the Golden Hour

Selah's mom and her boyfriend Aaron came along to watch, and toward the end of the horse portion, we shifted into a few photos of Selah with her mom.

Easy, sweet, unscripted family photos, the kind meant to close out a session that already felt complete.

Except that's not how it closed out.

We moved into a handful of shots with Selah and Aaron too, both of them relaxed and clearly comfortable in front of the camera.

The Surprise No One Saw Coming

Aaron had other plans. As we were about to wrap up, I asked if they had any other pictures they wanted and Aaron said, well do you have time for one more? And then right there, with Selah's horse, her mom, and me all standing witness, he got down on one knee and asked Selah to marry him.

I've photographed a lot of meaningful moments, but capturing an engagement I didn't even know was happening, in the middle of a session that already meant so much to this family, is the kind of thing that reminds me why I love this work.

Selah came for one moment and left with two: one with a horse who's given her years of loyalty, and one with the person she's going to spend the rest of hers with. Huge congratulations to Selah and Aaron. I'm so honored I got to be there for this one, and I'm not going to stop thinking about it for a while.

Planning Your Own Proposal or Portrait Session

If you've got a moment like this you want documented, whether it's a milestone you're planning or one you don't even know is coming, I'd love to be the one behind the camera for it. Take a look at portrait photography sessions or a bit more about my approach and story.

Ready to book your own session in Chelan or Wenatchee? Get in touch here.