Capturing Emily and Joel’s Santa Barbara proposal was truly an honor and a dream come true. My associate and I kicked off the day with breakfast at Jeannine’s Restaurant & Bakery, where I had the best scones I’ve ever tasted. Afterward, we made our way to the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens, specifically to the redwoods section, where we did some final scouting. With the help of a friend of the couple, we fine-tuned the plan, and then it was time. Joel’s proposal went off perfectly, and of course, Emily said yes!

There’s always something amusing about introducing myself to someone right after one of their “big moments” has just happened. It’s a little awkward for me, like, “Hi, I know you have no idea who I am, but I know exactly who you are!” We captured a few images of their proposal spot with their friends, then spent the rest of the day wandering the gardens, chatting and capturing the beauty around us.

With some extra time on our hands, we decided to take a quick detour to the Santa Barbara Courthouse, one of my personal favorite spots to photograph. To our surprise, the courthouse was open! For the longest time, I had assumed it was closed on Saturdays, but there it was, doors wide open. I rushed back to my car to grab my flash, and we spent some extra time exploring the courthouse, taking photos on the lawn, the iconic staircase, and even up at the clock tower before wrapping up our session.

As the day came to a close, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for being a part of this special moment in Emily and Joel’s journey together.

As photographers, we’re gifted with the responsibility of documenting more than just moments. We capture the beginnings of journeys shared between two people. It’s clear that Emily and Joel are embarking on a lifetime of love and friendship, and I feel so privileged to have been there to preserve this moment of their love story.