Some proposal stories are beautifully planned.


Others require a little faith... and a weather app that gets checked about fifty times.


Rob first reached out to me about a month before he planned to propose to Lindsey. Since we'd never met in person, we had to come up with a way for him to spot me without giving anything away. Besides the cameras I would be carrying, I told him I'd be wearing a green Boston Celtics hoodie so he'd know exactly who I was as they walked by.


The plan was simple.


Rob and Lindsey would enjoy dinner together at Tides Coastal Kitchen inside the Delta Marriott at Virginia Beach, bringing along their adorable golden retriever, Chloe. After dinner, they'd take what Lindsey thought would be an ordinary walk along Chix Beach.


I'd already be waiting.


The Weather Had Other Plans...


As the proposal day got closer, Rob and I found ourselves constantly checking the forecast.


Every update seemed to predict the same thing: rain. Lots of it.


We exchanged more than a few hopeful messages during that final week, wondering if we'd have to completely change the plan.


Thankfully, when the day finally arrived, the weather gave us exactly the window we needed. The skies stayed dry just long enough for everything to unfold exactly as Rob had imagined.


Sometimes that's all you need.


The Secret Signal


To make sure I was ready for the exact moment, Rob and I came up with a subtle signal ahead of time.


Just before proposing, he would casually stretch both of his arms over his head—something natural enough that Lindsey wouldn't think twice about it, but obvious enough that I'd know the proposal was seconds away.


It worked perfectly...


...well, almost.


She Knew Before He Even Knelt.


The second Lindsey realized what was happening, she couldn't contain herself. Before Rob even had a chance to get down on one knee, she started jumping up and down with excitement. It was one of the most genuine reactions I've ever photographed.


Pure surprise.


Pure joy.


Pure disbelief.


Those are the moments photographers hope for—the ones you can't pose or recreate.


And, of course...


She said YES!


Celebrating Their First Moments as Fiancés


Once the excitement settled (just a little!), we spent some time capturing portraits of the newly engaged couple along the shoreline.


The soft overcast sky created beautiful, even light across the beach, and Chloe happily joined in for several photos, making the evening feel even more personal. From quiet moments walking hand in hand along the water to joyful laughter and close-up shots of Lindsey's gorgeous emerald-cut engagement ring, every image tells a piece of their story.


One of my favorite parts of proposal sessions is that they're completely unscripted. The nerves beforehand, the overwhelming excitement afterward, the constant smiling because neither person can quite believe what just happened—it's impossible to fake.


Those first few minutes after someone says "yes" are filled with so much emotion, and getting to preserve that for my couples is something I'll never take for granted.


Thinking About Proposing?


If you're planning a surprise proposal in Virginia Beach, I'd love to help make it unforgettable.


From choosing the perfect location to helping you create a discreet game plan (yes—even down to secret signals and recognizable hoodies!), I'll work with you behind the scenes so you can focus on one thing:


Asking the biggest question of your life.


Congratulations again, Rob & Lindsey!

Thank you for trusting me to document such an incredible milestone. Wishing you both a lifetime filled with adventures, laughter, and many more walks on the beach with Chloe. ❤️

Sandy beach with dune grass leading to a multi-story oceanfront hotel and beachside homes under a hazy, overcast sky.
Chalkboard sign reading Welcome to Tides Coastal Kitchen, please see host for seating, bar is first come, first served.
Wooden stairs rise from the sandy beach through dune grass to an oceanfront hotel with balconies and an outdoor patio dining area.
Black and white photo of guests seated at a high-top table inside a beachfront restaurant, with glass doors and ocean views.
Busy coastal restaurant interior with exposed beams, string lights, a bar area, green armchairs, and diners enjoying ocean views.
Calm gray ocean and a quiet sandy beach with old wooden pier posts stretching into the water under a foggy sky.
Couple walking along the shoreline of a misty beach with a golden retriever, with gentle waves and soft overcast light.
Couple standing together on a foggy beach beside a golden retriever, with gentle ocean waves rolling in behind them.
Engaged couple facing each other on the sand with their golden retriever at their feet beside the calm, misty ocean.
A couple stands close together on a misty sandy beach beside a golden retriever, with gentle ocean waves in the background.
A man and woman hold hands on a foggy beach shoreline while their golden retriever waits beside them near the water.
A couple stands facing each other on the sand as ocean waves roll in behind them, with a golden retriever at their feet.
A distant couple stands at the water's edge on a wide, hazy beach with their golden retriever and tire tracks in the sand.
A smiling woman in a striped maxi dress stands with a man on the beach as their golden retriever in a pink harness looks on.
Black and white photo of a man kneeling on a beach to propose to a woman while a dog on a leash walks nearby.
A man kneels on the sand proposing to a smiling woman in a striped dress as their golden retriever in a pink harness watches.
A beach marriage proposal as a man kneels before his smiling partner while their golden retriever stands close by the ocean.
A man on one knee proposes to a woman in a long striped dress on a misty beach while their golden retriever sits beside him.
A wide view of a seaside proposal with a man kneeling before a woman on the sand as their golden retriever stands nearby.
Man in blue shirt kneels on one knee proposing to a smiling woman in a striped dress on a misty beach as their golden retriever watches.
A beach marriage proposal as a man kneels with a ring before his partner in a striped maxi dress, their golden retriever by his side.
Black and white photo of a man kneeling to propose to a woman in a striped dress on a quiet, foggy beach with their dog nearby.
Newly engaged couple embraces and kisses on the beach by the ocean while their golden retriever in a bandana stands beside them.
Man kneeling on the sand proposes to a woman in a striped dress at the ocean's edge, with a golden retriever lying nearby.
Couple shares a joyful kiss after a beach proposal as the woman is lifted in an embrace and their golden retriever looks on.
Excited couple hugs and kisses on a sandy beach after getting engaged while their leashed golden retriever stands close by.
Happy newly engaged couple kisses and embraces on the shore of a calm ocean as their golden retriever in a bandana waits beside them.
Engaged couple stands arm in arm on the beach facing the ocean, with their golden retriever beside them on the sand.
Smiling man in a blue shirt and shorts stands with his golden retriever as his fiancée admires her ring on a misty beach.
A smiling man in a blue shirt holds a leash while a woman in a striped maxi dress leans forward beside a golden retriever on a beach.
A couple in a blue shirt and striped sundress share an affectionate nose-to-nose moment with the ocean behind them.
A man and woman chat and smile on a sandy beach beside a golden retriever in a red harness, with gentle waves rolling in.
A black and white photo of a couple touching noses and smiling in an intimate embrace by the sea.
A couple shares a kiss on a misty beach while their golden retriever waits beside them near the shoreline.
A couple kisses on the beach as their happy golden retriever in a colorful harness stands nearby with its tongue out.
A man and woman embrace and smile at each other on a sandy beach with ocean waves and an overcast sky behind them.
A man lifts a golden retriever while a woman kisses the dog's nose, a joyful couple and pet moment on the beach.
A couple holds and cuddles their golden retriever on a wide sandy beach under a soft, hazy sky.
A man holds a golden retriever while a woman reaches out to pet it, enjoying a playful day on an overcast beach.
A man in a light blue shirt kisses a woman in a striped maxi dress on a foggy beach while holding the leash of a golden retriever.
A woman in a striped dress and a man in a blue shirt look at a small ring box on the beach with hotels in the background.
A man holds a ring box in front of a woman in a striped dress on a sandy beach as a golden retriever waits beside them.
A smiling couple embraces on the beach, the woman showing her new engagement ring as she holds the man in a light blue shirt.
A happy newly engaged couple poses close together on a misty beach, the woman's ring visible on the man's chest.
A couple embraces from behind, looking out at the ocean waves from a sandy beach on a quiet, overcast day.
A couple hugs while facing the ocean as a golden retriever peeks out from behind the woman's striped maxi dress.
A smiling couple stands arm in arm on the beach, gazing at each other with oceanfront buildings and dunes behind them.
A close-up of a smiling couple embracing on the beach, the woman wearing a striped dress and an engagement ring on her finger.
A portrait of a happy engaged couple embracing outdoors, the woman smiling in a striped dress beside a man in a light blue shirt.
Smiling couple in a striped sundress and light blue button-down shirt embrace outdoors near a beach engagement session.
Couple gazes at each other on a sandy beach as a golden retriever on a leash stands beside them near beachfront buildings.
Smiling engaged couple stands arm in arm on a foggy beach with their golden retriever dog at their side.
Close-up of a happy couple embracing on a misty beach, her hand resting on his chest showing an engagement ring.
Engaged couple look at each other with joy on a hazy beach, her hand with a diamond ring resting on his shirt.
Close-up of a woman's hand with a gold engagement ring resting on a man's light blue shirt during a beach engagement shoot.
Close-up of a hand wearing an emerald-cut diamond solitaire engagement ring on a thin gold band against a blue shirt.
Woman's hand with an emerald-cut diamond engagement ring rests on a man's chest over a light blue button-up shirt.
Black and white photo of an engaged couple walking along a misty, empty beach with high-rise buildings in the distance.
Engaged couple holds hands and walks along the sand while their golden retriever follows on a leash on a hazy beach.
A couple walks hand in hand along a foggy beach with their golden retriever on a leash near the shoreline.
Black and white photo of a couple walking away along a misty, empty beach toward the ocean and distant buildings.
A smiling couple holds hands and walks a golden retriever on a leash along a sandy beach on a hazy day.
A happy couple in a striped maxi dress and light blue shirt embrace on the beach with oceanfront homes behind them.
A man and woman share a close, affectionate moment on Virginia Beach with their dog and seaside houses in the background.
Seen from behind, a couple stands arm in arm on the beach looking out at the calm gray ocean on a misty day.
A man and woman stand facing each other on the beach near the waves while their golden retriever in a pink harness waits.
A man kneels on one knee proposing to his surprised girlfriend on Virginia Beach as their golden retriever looks on.
A smiling couple holds hands and strolls along a foggy Virginia Beach while their golden retriever in a pink harness sniffs the sand.
The date 5/23/26 is handwritten in the sand on a beach, with footprints visible around the numbers.