Couples & Engagements

Surprise Santa Barbara Proposal | Sean & Karen

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When Sean first reached out to me about photographing his Santa Barbara proposal to his girlfriend Karen, he was cool as can be. As he described it, the two were of mutual understanding that an engagement was the clear next step forward after almost nine years together. This was a very natural progression for the two of them.

At the recommendation of friends, they had planned a getaway to up the coast to the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Bacara. Sean knew that the scenic overlook of the ocean views would make for the perfect location to pop the question.

We hopped on a final phone call just a few days before the surprise to iron out the final details. For his part, Sean told Karen they were getting dressed up for a private wine tasting event. They would need to walk around the back of the resort property to get to their location. Little did Karen know that Sean was really leading her to a specific spot along the bluffs that I had scouted days prior. Kudos to him— even under the immense amount of nerves he must have been feeling in the moment, he hit his mark perfectly. And that’s when the magic began. Sean asked, and Karen said yes!

After giving them a moment to take in the entirety of what just happened, I got to formally introduce myself to Karen and be the first to congratulate them on their engagement. We then took some special photos of the two of them, basking in those newly-engaged feelings.

Sean, thank you for trusting me to capture this special moment. Wishing you and Karen the best as you embark on this next chapter of your relationship.

Enjoy these highlights from Sean and Karen’s Santa Barbara proposal.

Interested in having me capture the memories of your Santa Barbara proposal?

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BEHIND THE LENS

meet LESLIE joy

Passionate about turning your most heartfelt moments into your legacy of love

When I was first getting to know my husband, Michael's, family, I loved hearing the stories of their marriages— the good times and bad, better and worse, joy as well as sorrow, and always love. But the very first time I saw his grandmother’s collection of family wedding photos perched atop her mantel I had to stop and take in what over 200 years of marriage looked like on display. As I looked on at the images framed on the mantel, immediately all of the stories shared by Michael’s grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins came rushing through my head, and it was so easy to trace them all back to the days they said “I do.” In my role as a wedding photographer, I capture all of the raw emotions of your big day, so when you look back at those images you are reminded of the fullness in your heart and you can see how that first day of marriage created a legacy of love.

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