Stephen's Proposal to Zoe at Wolfe's Neck Farm in Freeport

Stephen and I had a plan to surprise Zoe with his engagement proposal and document it all without her knowing it was going to happen. At 6:26 pm, I received a text from Stephen that they were leaving the restaurant, David's in Portland, and it would be approximately 40 minutes. This was perfect. I was en route on 295 to Freeport from Kennebunk from a 4pm shoot and I would get there with my decoys plenty of time ahead of them.

I arrive at the bridge before Wolfe Neck Farm on Burnett Road at 6:43pm in my black VW pulling in sync with another woman also in black VW. She captured a second video below from the beach while eating dinner with her dog. Who doesn't love love, she said! My decoys are right behind me in a white VW. Team Engagement Photographers were ready!

So many cars kept coming down the road that night. It must have been busy at the campground. But I told my senior girl decoys we will know them because they will be young, good looking and well dressed!Now honestly I had never seen them before, but if you are in love you radiate and then sure enough here comes Stephen whipping down Burnett with a big grin on his face behind the steering wheel and Zoe smiling away looking out the passenger window while he parked. Stephen had never been here before and was going off of my map screen shot because I couldn't text him, remember. I hope the three of us were not standing there like big dummies staring at them awaiting for them to gt out of the car!

The plan went like this. Stephen arrives with Zoe. Sees me taking senior photos, like normal business, nothing to see here, folks! And then asks me to take a photo of him and Zoe. Ok great he did that! I knew where I wanted to set them up and honestly in hindsight I don't think my acting skills were top notch because I could have played it up a little bit more by saying ok let me see where do I want your photos. I did ask would you like the ocean behind? Because of course they do. I took their photos with his phone and was waiting for him to drop to one knee. I gave him back his phone and I swear Stephen and I glanced at each other for a slow motion second and the look on his face asked "um now?" and I replied in that millisecond with the expression, yes! Zoe must have picked up on something. When she looked at him again he was getting down on one knee. Oh yes. She turned away in disbelief. Love that. Lucia photographed beside me and her friend captured it on video. We spent some time taking photos after until it got cool enough that all the minuscule predators known as no-see-ums came at us like fog. But it was all good.

It was such a beautiful night. Congratulations, Stephen and Zoe!

Working with Stephen couldn't have been easier. His enthusiasm for this was off the charts. Here is what he wrote in my questionnaire asking about his fiance, Zoe. "She’s incredibly loving and the funniest person I know. She’s a homebody, like me, and enjoys quiet and calm. She’s a talented artist and adores babies and cats."

All of it captures my heart. So glad Stephen found me through google!