J reached out to me for a surprise engagement shoot—but with a twist—they wanted it to feel spontaneous. As a photographer, I know that spontaneity and photography don’t always go hand in hand, but I love my clients and their visions, so I said yes.

After driving nearly 6,200 feet into the mountains from Los Angeles, I arrived at Sequoia National Park, camera gear in hand: my Canon 6D, my Ricoh GRIIIX, and a roll of Cinestill 50D loaded in my Canon Rebel film camera. Shooting in the forest in early spring means you still get those moody clouds rolling through, and they gave us some beautiful breaks of light in certain shots. My black-and-white style is all about focusing on the figure of the subject, letting the shadows do the storytelling—perfect for what was about to unfold.

On the way to meet J and A at the Chief Sequoyah Tree, I caught myself pulling over just to take in the views—rolling layers of green, patches of sunlight breaking through, and that crisp mountain air that feels different at 6,200 feet. Campsites are scattered everywhere, but the real magic is in the trails, where the redwoods stand over you like quiet giants, watching it all unfold.

Blending in like any other tourist, I wandered the trail until, between the towering giants, I spotted J and A—despite having no cell reception. I found a spot with a clear view but far enough away to not give myself away. People wandered in and out of the frame, and I had to time my shots between tourists stopping to take their own photos of the Chief Sequoyah Tree.

Then it happened—J got down on one knee. A’s face lit up, and the whole world felt quiet for a second, even with all the noise around us. Moments like this are why I love photographing proposals; you can feel the love before you even see the ring.

There’s something about Sequoia National Park that makes moments like this feel even bigger—the redwoods towering overhead, the stillness in between the breeze, and two people promising forever. Shoots like this remind me why I’ll always say yes to love stories, even the spontaneous ones. If you’re planning a proposal in Sequoia or anywhere the mountains call your name, I’d love to be there to capture it.

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